> Macintosh and Dolphin - The Switch > by Electuroo > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin - The Switch Prologue In the field working hard Wayne had gotten into the swing of things through the red coated, light gamboge mane work pony and the only problem he had was his mouth, Applejack had started to suspect the whole amnesia story with the odd and ends that popped out of his mouth time and again, it didn't help that he was using some of the free time to use his own creative mind to make stories and drawings. Applebloom his mind thought of, it was her whom discovered the story he been working on and she showing it to her sister Applejack that was surprised by it, the grammar and spelling needed a little work he recalled but he never thought that it would be found but Wayne forgot one key thing since he was using the amnesia story he should of knew they would go into Big Mac's room and try to help jog back the memoirs of their dear beloved brother. The droplets fell and he looked up with the green eyes he had for two weeks now noticing the storm moving in from the Everfree Forest and the look of Pegasi trying to fight back this beast of a storm that came out of nowhere. "Big Mac have ya seen Applebloom or her friends?" Applejack came up to him. Wayne thought about it "Eeyup" he replied and heard the flash of lightning and a set of screams, without thinking he took off in that direction with Applejack trying to catch up with him yelling for him to slow down but he was gone galloping up to the river leading out of the forest as the rain fell harder with the rumble of thunder. The rain fell with lightning shooting around as the large red farm pony made his way to the swollen river his heart skipped a beat when he was Applebloom with her friends in fear on a small piece of land, he had to act fast for her own and her friends safety, he quickly saw a old tree by the river side it was buckling under the stress of the water. "Ah coming Sis! Don't worry ah coming!" Wayne yelled out through Big Mac's voice that he gotten use to through out the weeks... The tree wasn't budging and he turn around and did a powerful buck with a crack he was the truck splitting, stepping back he called out one more time "Keep y'all head down!" he runs at it with all his might and rams it hard causing the trunk to shatter and the tree to fall right into the river beside them, he held it with his front hooves with all his might sliding to the river edge. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle was the first to start crossing with Applebloom quickly got on and rush across the log "Hurry Ah can't hold it much longer!" they all got across but Applebloom got her foot stuck, without thinking Wayne let go of the log jump on, grab her with his mouth and toss her to the river side. "Big Mac!!!" was the last words he heard when he got struck in the back of the head as the tree was pulled down river by a over head branch knocking him out cold... ---- Big Macintosh was being to be noticed and his amnesia story was starting to lose grip since he knew that Wayne's life was into stories, drawings and gaming as well working at the restraint that sold a burger called 'Big Mac', but even with his short word greetings and pleasant attiude to the costumes with the hard working he done for the last week being 'back' to the job he knew Hazel was getting rather curious over the whole amnesia story... Suddenly the train of thoughts was broken when a huge explosion rippled through the restraint from one of the grill machines, luckily no one was near it when it went off but the flames was huge and the alarms went off with people told to get out right away as the fire expanded at a rapid rate... Fire burns as the restaurant was being evacuated by staff to get the public to safety, Big Mac looked around for Hazel, she was right behind him and now couldn't see her anywhere. "Where is Hazel!?" he called out The manager turn to the burning building "I think she still inside" Without a thought he runs back in and ignore the yelling from others, inside the building burned with oil fuelling the flames, he quickly saw the girl he was looking for "Wayne!" she cried out unable to get to him due to the oil bursting with flames, he saw the leaver that would put out the oil fire, it was his only chance. Taking hold of it he turn to her "Get down!" he pulled hard as he could and the leaver lowers causing a massive amount of auto fire dust and foam to flood the oil snuffing out the flames, He took hold of her and ran for the door, the sound of hissing and that he knew was going to be big, without a care to anything else Big Mac throws her ahead of himself as they got out of the building and the last thing he knew was a massive explosion of heat and force sending him flying and smashing into a car windscreen before blanking out and hearing the words "Bro!!!!" ---- Grey clouds of dust with purple sky full of stars, two figures stood before each other staying at what seem to be a mirror of what they should be and are not, two lives in two families closely together now hang in the balance. The two souls searched for answers as they kept looking to each other for the first to speak, a red coated pony or a tall pale skin human both in hospital gowns after each seeming at the same time risked their own lives for the ones that called 'little sister'... And the first words to be spoken for the first time they meet face to face in a reality of dreams was... “So...” both spoke the words and now the conversation would begin... > Chapter 1: As normal as it can get... > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin - The Switch Chapter 1: As normal as it can get... “Welcome to Summoner’s Rift...” the voice spoke through the game as it begins, Wayne a human without much in the way of a noticeable life did things as most would done nower days and spent time playing on his game on the Laptop, he was around six foot tall, short dark brown hair, brown eyes and a standard skin tone for a person like himself and did not go out much due to his past of social attempts, he was either too talkative about one subject or got nothing to add to anything that spoken of. Wayne playing the game was fun and sometimes a real pain in the ass for him but he enjoyed the game and the only friends he seem to have was those at conventions he went to or those on the gaming world and fourms. He did admit being a fan of My Little Pony sparked a new life in him sharing ideas and doing drawings creating his own personal character that reflected the inner him that he wished he was in some manner of speak. “Wayne you keeping a eye on the time?” a voice called out from downstairs. “Yes Mum I am” he replied with a roll of his eyes. “Bloody work... guess it better then having no work at all and get some form of money to spend on” he muttered to himself as he continued to play the game in front of him on the screen. One thing that he look to was his collection of three set pony collection, he finally got hold of the box with Granny Smith, Applejack and Big Macintosh in it. He stared at the red pony with a smirk “I bet his life isn't as dull as mine” he chuckled and went back to playing League. Sweet Apple Aches... The sun was out and the birds was singing over Ponyville and Sweet Apple Aches, the grass moving in the breeze of the wind with the trees swaying slightly to the wind, Applejack stood under a tree adjusting the basket for the wind, with one buck they all full into place, she picked up the basket placing it in the cart before her. Applejack pulled it back to the barn to see her big brother Big Macintosh doing the maths to the books they kept, even he was a hard worker he still had better mathematical skills then she could ever dream of having. “Howdy Big Mac are the finances ok?” “Eeyup” he replied putting the books away into the box shutting it with a tap of the rear hoof as he walked away and helped her take out the basket of apples placing each one in the barn ready to be sold. “Do ya'll know where Applebloom is?” “Ah think she with her friends at their club house” he replied glancing over to the direction of the treehouse sat. Applejack put a hoof to her big brother “Thanks Big Mac, why ya'll finish here and ah get us some cold apple juice, we been working hard and need time to relax” “Eeyup” he replied and continued to work with Applejack going into the house to get refreshments. Big Mac looked to the cart of apples ready to be taken into market to be sold he thought about it. “Maybe ah can sell the apples for Applejack today and those spare apple cider barriers too since it is a very hot day again, she'd been working hard today and spending time with her friends be a good idea” he whispered with a smirk from his broad snout. “What with the smirk Big Mac, y'all got a idea ah care to hear?” He turn to her taking the glass of juice with his hooves “Ah have and decided to sell the apples today at the market” “Well nelliy that mighty sweet of ya but ah can do it still” “Nnope” he took the cart without another word and leaves Applejack push her hat back with her hoof “Guess that's that...” Applejack knew what he just did, he gave her all the time she needed to hang out with her friends in Ponyville and see what Twilight was up to. “Thanks Big Mac” she trots over to the door putting the tray of glasses by the door “Granny Smith ah going to Ponyville to see Twi, see y'all later ok?” “Ok Applejack, have fun” the elder pony replied in a cheerful way. New Town, England... At work busy as normally it is for a Friday, both drive thru and front counter had queues with everyone going in for their McDonald meals, Wayne carrying two large boxes of fries set them down on the side and started placing them in the freezer “Another bloody heatwave isn't it?” he turn to the manager. The dark skinned man in the white shirt and black trousers couldn't disagree “I heard it suppose to be about 39 today... is there no end to this heat” he replied taking some of the bags putting them into the freezer as well. “I checked and it suppose to stay with us for tonight and we got thunderstorms tomorrow” Wayne replied “Matthew thanks for the hand” “Well with this heat we need to work as a team, specially with our smoothies and new Fizzy Apple selling faster then we can make them” he replied hearing a call out for more smoothie mix. “Better go get the mix Wayne, I will finish up here” “Right” Wayne walks off to the main fridge, freezer room and felt the cold air rush through him as he entered it was a god send for many that got to get stuff from the freezer, he never remember it being so hot and sticky specially for the UK. Suddenly all the lights went out “Oh your kidding me, not again...” the emergency generator that was installed into the store last year kicks in and turn all the lights and systems back on giving them ten minutes to sell everything that made, lucky for them the system would keep the main fridge and freezer unit going for another three days if they didn't pack out. The Manager was telling the customers that they selling off what they had quickly to make sure the food don't get ruined. It was a nightmare for him, the heatwave had caused more power cuts then ever before, the heat was overloading transformers. Wayne put the mix into the machine and had a hand on his shoulder “Hey bro, guess the transformers blew up again” “Yeah it sure did” he could see the staff hard at work trying to sell the last of the items that had before power completely cuts off. “Problem with heatwaves... it never nice when the power goes” he feeling the heat more now with the aircon was now shut off and people feeling the heat. “Hazel how long do you think it be this time? I say 10 minutes” “I say 20” she replied with a smile “Better get back to selling the smoothies” “Yep” he got up helped her out at the tills Ponyville, Apple Stand... Big Macintosh stood by the apple stand doing his best to sell the apples and keep them cool in the shade, Ponyville was having a bit of a heatwave since it was dull to have one, didn't do the apple family any favours but the weather was the weather, nothing could be done about what the weather teams had planned out. Rainbow Dash lands by the stand seeing they was selling some Apple Cider it was being kept in large bowl of ice that was melting fast. “Hey Big Mac, could I have a Apple Cider” “Eeyup” he points to the board showing the prince and she gives him the three bits for it. Rainbow Dash took the mug he filled up for her and she downed it in seconds “That sure hit the spot” she licked the foam off her snout. “Hey I'm sorry about the heat, I know it a real killer at the moment but it needed, we haven't had a hot summer for ages and Cloudsdale said it was about time to have one” Rainbow Dash said to the red stallion. “No hard feelings right?” “Nnope” “Thanks, well got to go. The skies won't clear themselves” she dashes off in a blitz of speed. Big Macintosh spent the next few hours selling some apples but mostly the cider, he was glad that they made extra spares this time around and for the hot weather, his sister was right about a good mug of apple cider is what the ponies needed to chill out a little from the extreme heatwave they was having. Big Mac finally choose to call it quits when night was closing as the sun was almost set. “Wait” he turn to see Lyra Heartstrings come up “Sorry could I possibly get one of those ciders before you leave?” she asked holding out a few bits with her hoof. “Eeyup” he pulled her the last mug of it and took the bits putting them in the case “Goodnight Lyra Heartstrings” he spoke and trots off pulling the cart along. Lyra smiled “Goodnight Big Mac and thanks! Your a really gentlecolt!” she called out and drunk the apple cider “Nice and cold...” she smiled with glee and trots off holding it with her magic. As Big Mac was making his way home he noticed something that caught his eyes as he left Ponyville. “Hmm?” he curiously looked at it with his big green eyes as it shimmered with rainbow colour swirling in a crystal ball of some sort. “Ah wonder what this is” he took off the harness from the cart putting the break on it and trots over to the crystal ball object to take a closer look at it. New Town, England... Walking home from work Wayne groans as he tried to cool down drinking his smoothie “This blasted heatwave...” he look to the distance where the sun had set, even with it gone and the moon shinning a orange glow it was still over 27 on his phone for local temperatures, the heat was really getting to him. “27... bloody hell...” he put his phone away looking at the car that broken down to his left, it had a tire that blown up. “Guess even cars are suffering from this heat” he chuckled lightly then a glow caught his eye. Wayne stopped in his tracks looking to his right in the field beside him before the set of houses, he saw something shimmering “What the hell?” he walked over to the hill and saw what looked like a crystal orb shimmering with rainbow colour that swirled. “That funky, I wonder if anyone dropped it” he looking around curiously to see if anyone was about. “Mum most likely have a go for me picking up more junk but this is awesome” he knelt down to it looking at the colour swirling around. “It almost magical...” he chuckled “That would be cool if it was, but most likely water mix with colour dye...” he paused for a second “Wait if that the case, how come it not cracked?” he tapped the crystal orb as it sounded like glass on contact. “Very weird...” Big Macintosh tapping the orb with his hoof wonder what exactly it is but he was amazed and curious over the rainbow swirling orb. “Ah wonder if it belongs to Applejack's friend Twilight Sparkle” he reached for it with both front hooves sitting on his rump. Wayne decided it be best to pick it up and by morning take it to the station since it looked pretty valuable from the perfectly shape of the crystal ball and the strange swirling mix of colour. At the same moment they took hold of the orb picking it up seeming to be harmless but that wasn't going to last long, suddenly their hands/hooves that held of the orb started to shake with the orb glowing brighter with every second, they tried to let go but they got no joy and also failing to pull their hands/hooves free too. This begins to scare both of them as they stood up on their feet/hind hooves with it held out, this was strange for Big Mac to do but he front hooves wouldn't let go as the shaking got worse and the swirling energy seem to speed up as it starts to shrink into the middle getting smaller but the light getting brighter. Twilight sees the light and feels the energy coming from it, while a driver that drove his car down the road noticed the large light building up to his right as he got closer. Twilight raced to the light on her four hooves galloping hard as she could, all the sudden the light was gone... Wayne and Big Mac stared at the orb still unable to let go as everything turn silent, the next thing it explodes with huge rainbow energy the swirling cloud expands beyond the orb causing a huge explosion of energy throwing Wayne across the road which the driver slammed on his breaks seeing this. Twilight saw Big Macintosh fly into the wagon smashing into it hard, she cringed from the impact while Wayne smashed into a tree hitting his back of the head hard against it, while Big Mac hit his head on the wagon first as he hit it. The blows made both bounce off them and seem to be standing on their feet/hind hooves staring with blank looks at the orb as the swirling mass shrinks again and what they see seems to be a tunnel vision of their sights being pulled towards it and everything goes dark as their vision folds into the rapid shrinking swirling rainbow colour cloud like being trapped in a whirlpool and being sucked into it, that is when everything for both of them goes completely black... > Chapter 2: The wild wakeup... > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin (MLP) Chapter 2: The wild wakeup... Voices was coming back to Big Macintosh he started to remember what happened too, the strange orb that he held with his hooves flung him head first into the Apple Cart smashing it mostly to pieces, he still had hardly any real vision but he felt wrong instantly, something didn't feel right as singles to his brain to the body seem completely alien to the feeling he felt... “Is the equipment working?” a male voice spoke and the vision that Big Mac could just barely see was strange, it was hard to make out but the white jacket he could see was something a doctor would wear. The nurse spoke next but still his sight couldn't make them out “Yes doctor, for the first time nothing is broken... but how can he only have a seriously blow to the head and not have anything broken?” “I don't have a clue... the explosion that was witnessed should of led to almost certain death but there no sign of a single broken bone, cut part from the back of the head... very lucky indeed” the doctor looked at the charts again and noticed Big Mac was awake staring at him blinking still. “Well Wayne Dolphin it seem you've got off very lucky” When his vision cleared with confusion in his eyes he realised the beings in front wasn't ponies and the dark skin doctor with black short mane but no fur on the face with a shortest snout he ever seen and the nurse was pale pinkish skin but slightly brown on the arms which made him a little confused, she had fire red hair and wearing a green set of trousers with a white top. “So how do you feel?” the doctor asked... Outside the ward a few doctors was walking about wheeling a patient to be x-ray. All the sudden the doctor checking on Big Mac came stumbling backwards through the door, he fell against the wall with Big Mac in the hospital gown stumbling out trying to get the workings of this strange body he was in. He looked at the pale skin hand he had flexing the fingers and thumbs with fear in, he had no idea what he was but he knew he had to get out of there. 'Ah need to find mah sister Applejack...' he thought looking to his right then left he felt two people got hold of him. “Sir calm down we trying to help, your going to hurt yourself if you don't stop panicking!” one of them said and two more doctors was coming to the aid of the others struggling to hold him as Big Mac was finding the strength to fight back, he jump off his feet and gives the two coming from behind a massive rear kick in the chest, sending both of them flying off their feet onto the ground on their backs. The other two couldn't hold him as he did this and fell forwards with him, Big Mac took his chance pushing off whatever he had instead of front hooves and stumbling as he tried to run on all fours but pushing up on his legs the body seem to by for standing on two, finding it strange and confusing he fell and got back up with the others getting up from their blow and yelling out to him. Pushing past so many strange beings he never saw in his life the panicking stallion turn strange being soon found a sign saying EXIT and pushing it open he found he was standing outside in a down pour of rain with flashes of lightning high above him, the cold cool rain splashing on his short mane and face was real enough, he legs was strange as he stumbled a little outside more looking around at the tall buildings in the distance the sound of metal machines moving by with more of the strange creatures driving them. He noticed that the colour was not as it been seen, the land looked full of life with trees, grass, flowers, pavement, buildings and the clouds seem to be very high up and moving on their own as he could see the lightning streaming across the clouds with some striking near by causing rumbles of thunder. Breathing heavy and the heart racing he glanced at his body for the first time seeing it was tall for one thing and had a crazy short snout he stared at a reflection in a small mirror of one of the metal machines seeing it wasn't the red stallion with the light gamboge mane and tail, lack of one with the pale wet skin with short dark brown hair and the eyes was smaller then a ponies but the shock in the brown eyes was present, he wasn't him anymore or rather something else. Big Mac stood against the wall sliding into a sitting position that was different to a pony for sure with his new strange whatever they was resting on the knees head lowered dripping with water from the rain, the sound of the thunder could be clearly be heard then a voice came. “Wayne...” he turn his head to a lady with semi grey hair and look like age was getting to her but the brown was still in some of the hair. “It me your mum...” he saw her hand reach out but he didn't budge. “Don't you remember me...” he shook his head “Oh my boy...” she sat in front of him in the rain, she was wearing a coat with blue items over her lower half and white foot wear realising he was wearing nothing on his but why would he. “Don't you remember anything? This is your brother Nigel and your Sister Hazel...” she points out to the two standing by the car getting soaked from the rain, the man was with ginger hair with a strong body build to him wearing what seem to be a uniform with a yellow vest over it and the other was a young lady with brown hair like his and being about the same height as the mother wearing similar clothing. He shook his head again with a “Nope...” he was confused it was suppose to be 'nnope' but it came out as a simple 'nope'. “Please trust me... come inside from the rain and let the doctors help you Wayne” she put her hand out to him again. He looked to doctors and nurses standing by the emergency exit. “Yep...” he cringed again the words not his own or the voice it was as if the sentence changed when he spoke it but in his mind he wanted to say 'eeyup' but he reached out his own new strange hand placing it on hers, she got up helping him up onto his hind legs or legs now... stumbling a little and unable to function now he was supported by the family he didn't know yet they knew him and calling him by the name of 'Wayne...' was this somepony else he was in or was his life a dream? Slowly they walked him into the exit and back into the Hospital with the doctors and nurses giving them room to move and allowing this to happen since he was surly frighten looking at them with a bit of fear as the soaked four walked through the hallway dripping with water as the exit was closed by a doctor whom stared out to the storm for a second and the door closes. Inside back in the bed he was dried off and given a new set of hospital gown and other clothing he never even seen or wore before, the body was alien too but he knew his was male still but very strange and see why they wore this things, the skin alone wouldn't protect them from elements of weather like a pony would, he was worried for his sisters and grandma... he was taken away from them and thrown to some crazy two legged world which the creatures walked on two feet and had hands which he found out after asking his 'sister' Hazel. He heard talking from behind the curtains by this suppose to be mother and the doctor, she was very aggressive with the questions she threw at the man, Big Mac could understand why from hearing this. “What the hell wrong with Wayne!? I never seen him look so scared and unfamiliar with everything around him in his life!” “Miss please remain calm, we haven't completed all the tests, specially the neurological ones, but from what I witness just now I do believe he has amnesia, quite the serious one at that, he doesn't seem to have any memoirs of you, what he is, walking and such or where he is” the doctor said seeing the pain in her eyes but she was really not too happy. “How the blazes did this happen!? All I keep getting is from the police is 'we can't answer your question till the investigation is over' and that not good enough for me!” she point a finger at him “So you better tell me something or I will show you what a mother do to get answers around here” The doctor raised his hands “I am sorry miss but I can't... if the police...” “Wrong answer bob” “Wait” Big Mac spoke out She pulled the curtain to look at her son “Yes Wayne?” “I...” 'not ah... strange words...' he quickly thought and spoke “picked up a orb and it glowed... then I found myself here... after being thrown through the air...” They looked at each other then back at him “Wayne there wasn't any sort of orb there” the doctor spoke and clap his mouth with his hand Hazel laughing at the sight of the doctor “Your in for it now” she spoke He turn to the anger mother “So...” “There was nothing there, only a creator where the explosion happened, seriously that all I know, the police didn't pick up any orb of any sort, if there was it was destroyed in the explosion, you should be happy that all is wrong with your son is the lose of memory and not killed by the force of impact against the tree... anyone else would of died instantly from that impact” The doctor said quickly to her backing up a little. “Get out and leave us alone with my son!” she points to the door. “Ma'am this is a hospital you can't just...” “NOW!” she raised her voice and he held the clip board tight to his chest “Yes ma'am...” he replied with a gulp. “I will erm... be right outside...” he quickly left the room. Big Mac stared at her with a open mouth she just kicked out the doctor just like that, Nigel shook his head “Mum you know that not going to solve anything” She crossed her arms “Frankly Nigel, I don't give a damn about the doctor at the moment, we got a bigger problem...” she turn to Big Mac “trying to help your brother regain his memoirs... we are family and that what really matters at the moment...” Big Mac look to each of them as they look to each other with a nod then look to him with a smile. “Son we going to do all we can to help you, I promise you this” “Yeah bro, we will do what we can to help” “But nice and easy though Hazel, mum... if we do it too fast it could make things worse then good...” Nigel pointed out to the two. Big Mac closed his hands into fists and sighed heavily “Thank you...” he spoke quietly looking at each and one of them and decided to play along with the amnesia that the doctor spoke of till he knew what better to do and find how to explain that his name isn't Wayne Dolphin but Big Macintosh a workhorse Earth Pony from Sweet Apple Acres...'Ah wonder if this Wayne character is in mah body if ah in his...' the thought cross his mind with a mental smile he thought the word 'Eeyup' Meanwhile... Wayne felt the warmth of the sun on his eye lids as he started to regain feeling in his body, he recalled what happened, slamming into the tree wasn't the nicest thing to happen. He felt rather odd as the signals in his brain was telling him all strange feelings one that he didn't feel his fingers or toes, the feeling was worrying instantly as he started to regain some of his senses opening his eyes to the sun light squinting them a little. Everything was blurry as he eyes trailed to the right and left unable to make anything clearly. “Is mah brother going to be fine?” a southern voice spoke as he saw what seem to be a orange blob of some sort with, yellowish blonde colour hair with a hat if he could make it out and to her left was a light brown being with dark brown hair with a white coat only cover the forward half of the body. 'Am I seeing things? Is that doctor half naked?' he was trying to clear the blurriness from his vision to make out what he was seeing. “Big Macintosh is going to be fine Applejack, luckily the only injury he seem to had was a massive blow to the back of the head” the doctor replied. “Thank Celestia that all, thank ya Doctor Stable. That put a great deal of relief on my back” Applejack replied with a smile. Wayne suddenly blunted out the name he heard with some confusion in his voice but realising when saying it, that wasn't his voice at all “Applejack?” Both blurry beings turn seeing he was awake “Ah here big brother, y'all ok right? Don't worry about the apple cart, it can be easily replaced, y'all can't” the one called Applejack he sure of put something on his arm and his vision was clearing now. What he saw made him almost gasp with shock, it was a orange hoof on a red furry front leg with a creamy coloured hoof at the end he moved it slightly with sweat rolling down his face that he realised it was his 'Sh-she said Big Macintosh...' he eyes trailed to a snout in his field of vision a red snout clear as day and then his eyes track to the being beside it was Applejack, the pony. Fear struck him as he quivered at the sight before him the orange mare with the western hat staring at him with confusion, without saying a word he pushes himself quickly over to the other side of the bed and off landing on his front struggling to get up he pushes his way past them both looking around as he came out the door hearing the sound of clopping made things worse for him. Wayne felt he was in a nightmare darting his eyes left and right for a way to escape this dream, he stumbling and struggling to use the body he never had in his life it was a real challenge using the walls for support he pushed his way past nurses that was trying to assist him but he was so freaked out and nothing clearly coming to mind. “Big Mac where y'all going!” Applejack quickly trying to catch up with him but he quickly got to the door leading to some stairs opening it and slamming it shut he breathing heavily eyes darting trying to make heads or tails of what was going on. “Big Mac open up! Y'all not well!” 'Me not well... what the bloody hell going on? I need to get out of this crazy dream world... only way is the exit, maybe crossing the threshold I will snap out of this...' using the strength he had with a front hoof his smashed the handle off with a clop, he quickly made his way down the stairs almost falling off with the hooves feeling strange to him and the weight behind the body as he tried to walk on the hind legs. Coming to the emergency exit it he rammed his whole body weight into it and lands outside. The heat of the sun could he felt as Wayne coughed a little feeling the cough his heart started to race again, it wasn't even his heart but it was well, then he stumbled on all fours tripping over so many times he lost count till he found what seem to be a pound, the land around him was bright and had a very warm peaceful feeling to it and even magical feel. Wayne found the strength to move towards the water edge and look at the reflection what he saw made his fur crawl that he had it, it wasn't him at all that was looking back, it was Big Macintosh. “Ah must...” he paused hearing the tone of voice and words, it wasn't what he was thinking of saying at all. “Nnope...” he hung his head with a groan the word 'nope' didn't come out right either. He noticed the gown still on him, with a thrush, Wayne tossed it off himself and saw the reflection of the workhorse pony Macintosh for sure, eye colour, mane, coat and the cutie mark. It was all there including the short tail... “ah really am Big Macintosh... but how...” he whispers trying to get to terms what was happening, he heard voices and quickly stumbled and hide pulling the gown beside him so no one could see it or him. Wayne glance through the bushes seeing Applejack again but this time she was joined by Rainbow Dash, he couldn't believe his own two eyes as he stared “Ah don't know what gotten into him Rainbow, he need my help, it like he never seen me before and that worries me...” “Alright AJ don't sweat it, I'll help ya out.” Rainbow Dash took to the sky in a blur, he watched her fly right above and went off to the east. Applejack sighed heavily “What in tarnation am ah going to do... how ah'm going to explain this to Applebloom and Granny Smith...” Applejack spoke feeling rather lost. Wayne still watching felt hard not saying anything he felt he should show himself but how, he never thought this would happen, it only a bronies dream to be in the world of My Little Pony, not be part of it and stuck in someones body... He turn his head away resting it against the tree beside him trying to think of what to do... 'My words I speak are not mine... the words and spoken as if I was really Big Macintosh... but how is this possible... how did I get here and what the bloody hell did that orb do... wait orb...' “Could he picked up the orb too and ah switch places with him? But how could anything like that happen...” he whispers hearing the voice of Big Mac with his ears twitching a little, the feeling of them was strange and the tail too... “Eeyup... definitively that fancy orb...” he muttered closing his eyes with a deep sigh. “Now ah got a choice of pretending to be her brother or spilling the apples on this... what to do...” he whispering to himself trying to figure out what to do. “Ah wonder if amnesia is even possible for ponies...” Wayne turn his head noticing Applejack was gone, moving out of his hiding place he glance at the reflection once more before he slowly using the four legs he had now stumbling and struggling to use the hooves he now had to walk to figure this out and why it had to happen. “Ah no one special... just gaming, working and socialize with fans of TV shows and such at cons... why me...” he muttered under his breath. “Wonder if my ma, sister and brother is ok” he trots slowly away from the pond seeing the hospital again ahead of him. He looked to it and with ears flat he turns away feeling lost heading far from it and the town he saw as he could. Walking through the field of flowers he stopped looking up at sky seeing the close and far clouds in the distance the view of Ponyville it was all too rule and this made him scared, scared to face anyone, he only knew of the Apple Family through a cartoon show not the real deal... Wayne sat there as the time past with the wind blowing unable to know what to do with himself feeling the pain of hunger it met it was all too real for him and this wasn't a dream but his mind wondered and wondered... hours became longer and the sicker he felt with a empty stomach and the headache that was still there. He reached his hoof to the head and felt the bandages still there “There you are Big Mac!” he ears perked up to the voice it was Rainbow Dash's for sure, his head turns seeing the cyan pegasi come in for a sharp and fast landing before him. “We got ponies looking all over for ya, you got your sisters and Granny Smith worried sick! Heck whole of Ponyville!” Wayne turned away staring to the ground “Big Mac! Did you just hear what I just said?” “Eeyup...” “Then why aren't ya getting up and coming back?” Rainbow Dash came around in front of him leaning down and looking up a little to get slight of his eyes. She could see confusion and fear in them “Big Mac... are you ok?” “Nnope...” Rainbow Dash put her hoof to her head “Ok let see...” she thought of a question and spoke it “Why did you run off like that? From your own sister Applejack” Wayne eyes moved up slowly to the eyes of Rainbow Dash “Ah...” he had to try to think of words that would work. “Ah can't remember anything... ah look at Ponyville and see it in my head but can't remember why... same with Applejack... ah can see her in my mind but not sure why... only images of here and there... Rainbow Dash... ah frighten...” Rainbow Dash was stomped by this for sure, she had zero ideas of what caused this “I don't get how you lost your memoirs...” then he raise his hoof to the bandage “Oh my gosh... the explosion Twilight saw! Of course it cause you to be thrown into your own apple cart and...” “Back of my head... ah remember that... the pain and the orb...” “Orb? What orb? There was no talk of a orb from Twilight, she said there was some crazy magical explosion right before you and wham you hit the cart at almost speeds that I always fly at” Rainbow Dash was slightly lost and explains to him that there was no sight of a orb. 'I bet my flank she kept that little detail out for a good reason...' Wayne gets up and starts to slowly trot away “Ah confused... scared and lost... ah need to understand what happened...” “Big Mac seriously you walking away isn't got to solve this, so your memoirs are all crazily mixed up and you can't remember anything before whatever happened, you walking away isn't going to solve it, you got your sister and my best friend, AJ and Applebloom to help you, don't turn away from your family pal” “Mah family...” he stopped and turn to Ponyville “Y'all right... walking away isn't the answer...” “So will you come back with me to Sweet Apple Acres?” Rainbow Dash asked “Eeyup...” she grinned and point her hoof to the direction of it and they start heading back to the town “Rainbow Dash... ah not sure this mean anything... thank y'all for helping a trouble stallion out...” It felt a little odd what he said but she knew he suffered from a massive blow to the back of the head and heard from Twilight for going out to the fields around Ponyville about something called Amnesia “Don't sweat it big guy, what are friends for right?” A small smile came to Wayne's snout and he spoke in reply “eeyup” making Rainbow Dash smile back as they continued their track through the meadow of flowers as the sun starts to set... > Chapter 3: One day to go by > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin - The Switch Chapter 3: One day to go by... Night fell over Ponyville as the search teams was called off and many ponies started to head back home, word has reached many of them that Big Mac was found and safe, Rainbow Dash was bring him back home, Applejack with Applebloom and Granny Smith was waiting at the ranch entrance for Big Macintosh's return. Applejack noticed them in the distance coming towards the farm but Big Mac seem to slow to a stop while Rainbow Dash was talking to him then came up to Applejack and the others in a blitz of speed “Hey AJ” “RD why is Big Mac not moving? What in the hay is going on?” Applejack staring at the rainbow mane pony. Rainbow Dash sighed “You better listen to what I got to say, it not a joke either” Wayne watched from a distance as Rainbow Dash was explaining to the three apples, he hoped this amnesia story worked or he was in serious hot water with only, stories, cartoons and ideas to go by he had no idea how they would be in real life. He was feeling really sick to his stomach more ways then one and spending almost the whole day in that field to make sure it was a dream didn't help matters. 'Lets think... I pick up some stupid crystal orb that I couldn't let go, it vanishes after the explosion of energy that knocks me into a tree, well with Big Macintosh, that was a apple cart... finally how can a human mind be in a pony head!? Seriously what the bloody heck is that all about... is this some sick magical beings joke? Or is this a realistic bad dream?' Wayne mind was so drifted in thoughts he didn't realise that Applebloom had came up to him “Big Mac is it true what Rainbow Dash said, y'all remember me but can't remember where or how?” He snapped out of his thoughts looking to the young filly, Wayne was amazed seeing her look at him but moved his tongue around in his snout along the inside of his teeth trying to think of what to say. “It true...” he finally replied. “Ah shouldn't of picked up that crystal orb... ah thought it was something Twilight Sparkle dropped...” 'Wait how can I possibly know that... unless...' he closed his eyes to think about and saw both innocents at the same time hearing the words of Big Mac and his own “Y'all remembered that?” “Eeyup” Wayne replied and was strange he recalled Big Mac's day at work. “Ah remember everything yesterday... the working on the books, tell y'all sister where y'all was, selling the spare apple cider...” Wayne was scared at this point sitting there with his head lowered with eyes closed. “Ma always said ah did things without thinking...” he whispered under his breath out of hearing of Applebloom whom wondered what he said. Applebloom got up on his back and her head appear by his “Y'all don't worry big brother, Applejack will help ya out” “That sure ah will Big Macintosh or my name isn't Applejack” Applejack came up to them and heard his stomach growl “Sound like somepony decided to not bother to eat while wondering around” “Eeyup...” Wayne answer to it was as he rose his head with a slight smile. “That the smile ah like to see, come on Big Mac, ah whip up ya favourite and Granny Smith can get out the photos so y'all can try to recall ya life” Applejack put her hoof to his left side with a warm smile. Wayne noticed Rainbow Dash giving a wave before dashing off into the sky to let rest know he was fine 'Playing along might be easy with that one day worth of memoirs, feelings and life but why can I remember sudden everything that happened to Big Macintosh and myself... wait the time... what if right now was the time it happened yesterday...' Big Macintosh... He sat by the window with a hand resting on his chin seeing the storm was still in full blown down pour since the morning, the mother named Michelle of the person he was in had taken time to talk to him and see if he remembered anything at all about their lives and Wayne's life, Big Mac first said nothing about with his thoughts trailing to those back in Equestria and his true family. Nigel came back into the room with a try of cup of tea and coffee “Here you go bro, two sugars as you like it” he put the cup down on the window seal “Bloody weather, last five weeks we have the hottest summer ever and now this...” Big Macintosh took the cup feeling the warmth from it he took a sip of the tea, it was sweet to the taste but he guess that the way Wayne liked it. “Thanks Nigel...” he responded “I know your trying to help, it just a lot to take in” “I know, just bear with it bro” Nigel put his hand on the shoulder and walks away sitting back down on the chair. Michelle decided to ask again “So do you remember anything at all? Other then yesterday?” Big Mac thought about it for some reason he could remember Wayne picking it up 'Eeyup, strange that ah remember his side of things yesterday... the work place selling...' the thought was shocking as he saw the memoirs as he closed his eyes. The place Wayne worked sold beef in term of cows this made his stomach instantly spin. “I think I am going to be sick...” “Here” Michelle gives him the sick tub and he just throw up into it almost instantly. “Gross...” Hazel covered her eyes. Big Mac coughing a little feeling very uneasy “I remember working at a place called McDonald’s... they sold meat in buns... I'm sorry thinking about it made me really sick...” Michelle was surprised to hear this but didn't seem to flinch “They do say when someone loses their memoirs, sometimes their taste in food and drinks change to as well the way they see things... I guess ham sandwiches are off the menu now” Big Mac put the tub to the side as a nurse came in and saw what happened, she took it from him and put a fresh one out for him to use “Ma'am the doctor said that the neurological tests have been booked for three weeks time, all you need to do is sign the paper work” “Three weeks? Seriously?” Michelle groans “I really hate hospitals with their waiting times...” she took the clip board and pen signing for it. “Will he have to stay here? During that time” “No, after tonight he can leave with you and we will give you the time and date on the way out tomorrow” she replied taking the clipboard. “If you need anything else just push this button and someone be with you soon as possible” she point to the device by the bed side and leaves. 'Ah do not like the idea of working in such a place but to keep my cover...' Big Mac didn't like the idea but if he going to pretend he will have to try and live Wayne's life part from eating meat part, no matter what he will not touch the stuff. “Wayne you won't have to worry about work anytime soon, I called them and explained what happened and they given you sick pay this week but expect you in to see how you will cope by next Wednesday, is that alright with you?” “Yes” a simple reply and got up walking over to the bed and sitting on it “Is it ok to be alone for a time, I like to be alone in my thoughts” “Sure sweetheart” she stood up “If you need to talk, just call this number” she put a piece of paper on the table side. “Goodnight Wayne, sweet dreams” she walked out the room without saying another word. Hazel knew that look and got up “I better go with mum... bro please get better...” “I will try, no promises” “Yeah all we need is Pinkie Pie to jump in” she joked and left. Big Mac blinked “Did she say Pinkie Pie?” Nigel rolled his eyes “Yeah it that show you and Hazel are into, I don't really like it myself but you two like what you like and I like what I like” he replied. “It called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, I think you can easily find it on the channel HUB UK. If your lucky you be able to see it right now” Nigel took the control and gave it to Big Mac. “Anyway I'll be back with Mum tomorrow to pick you up, it be easier to drive you home then using the blood buses...” with that he left the room. Big Mac sitting on the bed look at the controller Nigel gave him, he never held such a strange thing before, looking at the numbers, arrows and words he was puzzled over it looking under it and to the sides of it. 'How exactly am ah suppose to use this thing?' he nervously pushed one of the buttons that had a strange symbol on it and heard the large screen in front of him come to life showing moving images he never seen before. 'What in tarnation is that?' He quickly push the button again and the screen turns off, he put the controller down 'Ah not doing that again... that was some form of magic ah never seen before...' he choose to just lay there on the bed and listen to the sound of rain and rumble of thunder feeling rather homesick already with the feeling of this strange body he was in unpleasant for him... Wayne Dolphin... Sitting in what he believed was the living room, they all had gathered around Granny Smith whom had the photo album out and sitting on the sofa with Applejack and Applebloom beside her on either side. Wayne sat on his rump beside the sofa seeing the photos from where he sat and next to him on the table was set of apple fritters from him to eat and a mug of apple cider. He took one with a hoof and started eating it as he listened to Granny Smith doing her part to help her grandson “Aw look at that, remember mah telling about the family reunion before our last?” “Sure do Granny Smith, that Applejack when she was younger then me” Applebloom point to the young foal in the picture with the young colt Big Macintosh with slightly younger Granny Smith with a few mares and stallions, the two behind was a red coated mare with blonde mane and tail and yellow stallion. Wayne saw the image of them together on a photo of their own that was taken quite some time afterwards but as the page turns over it showed photos of the family reunion with Applejack sitting there with all the apple fritters, he couldn't help but laugh softly at that image “Sound like somepony remember something about that here old day” “Eeyup” Wayne replied “Y'all ate more apple fritters then an stallion” Granny Smith and Applebloom laughing with Applejack putting her hoof to her head. “What else do y'all remember then?” He thought about it “Bits and pieces... images ah seem ah can't explain” he turn away taking a apple fritter and eating it. “Ah sorry...” “Nothing to be sorry abut big brother, it not ya thought that crazy orb thingy blasted ya into the apple cart” Applebloom recalling what she heard of the event that took place that evening. Granny Smith close the book up “Ah better not continue, showing pictures that can't be clearly remembered by causing more confusion and maybe fear” Applejack gave her a very confused look “Mah brother afraid, hardly...” she recalled this morning the fear she saw in his eyes and shock of where he was. “Oh... yeah ah was there...” Applebloom thought about one thing in her mind “Do y'all remember what me and the girls did to ya on Hearts and Hooves Day?” Wayne knew that all too well from the show he watched, it was one of the advantages he had being in Big Mac, it was suppose to be all cartoons and such but he was sitting there eating apple fritters with night through the open door, he reach out for another and realised they was all gone, he didn't even realise he was eating them at a steady rate. “Ah do... but wish remember more of the family then that...” he drunk the apple cider. “Ah feel fear and confusion... nothing make sense to me...” 'It sure didn't... here I am pretending to be someone that I am not... thank god for my pretend plays when writing my stories and drawings when speaking them out from my mind... writing... drawing...' a shiver ran down his spine all the way to his tail. They watched Wayne 'Big Mac' quickly get out a piece of paper from a draw and a pencil, he quickly holding it with his mouth and using his hooves for support wrote 'Big Macintosh' down best he could and wonder if the written words was the same as theirs. “Big Mac are y'all ok?” she saw the poorly written word and guessed “Ah see...” she could see his name on it but notice a slight differences, it should have been spent as 'McIntosh' but it had the letter 'a' and remembered there was two ways of spelling out his name since 'Big Mac' had the letter 'a' in it. “Wow that really bad” Applebloom spoke out “Applebloom!” Applejack scold at her sister for that comment “Sorry... ah...” Wayne decided to intervene “It ok Applebloom y'all right it is really bad... guess ah going to have to relearn to mouth write again...” he rubbed his hoof on her head gentle “Granny... could y'all show me to mah room please... ah wish to sleep on this and promise ah won't do anything stupid...” “Oh course Big Mac, come along, ah show y'all to ya room” Granny Smith gets off the sofa and trots slowly away with Wayne following her close behind unfamiliar with the house. Applejack notice one letter that seem out of place “Ah wonder what that 'w' stand for...” Applebloom didn't pay much attention to that “big sis... ah sorry for what ah said, it just hard seeing our brother and he kind of not himself at the moment” “Ah know that feeling sugarcube but as we and ah seen...” then a idea came to her “Maybe that would work... he always been on the farm doing... yes ah got it...” Applebloom watch her sister leave the living room carrying the plate and cup to the kitchen “Got what? Applejack tell me! What idea y'all got!?” Applebloom galloping off after her sister for answers. Granny Smith open the door to Big Mac's room “Here ya go Big Mac, have a good night rest. Y'all don't want to freak out again do ya?” “Nnope and goodnight Granny” he replied softly and watch the old mare leave. “Oh and if ya forgotten, the bathroom is just down the hall to the right, ya can't miss it. It all fancy like not like back when ah was younger when it was a shack outside” she laughing a little remembering some of her past walking down the corridor to the stairs and turn left through a door, he guessing that was her room. Wayne walked inside closing the door behind him, inside was a semi sized room with one single bed in the middle against the wall stood between the hall and the room, he noticed a large picture of a stallion pony running across the field, by the bed was a stand with a picture of Big Mac and the others that lived on the farm together looking happy, the one he noticed was the doll on the bed “Ah remember this, it that crazy darn spell Twilight used and turn everypony crazy that saw it” he whispered He turn to the work neck collar by the wardrobe 'Big Macintosh's work collar... I wonder...' curiously taking it with his hooves and placing it over his head and now resting on his back of the neck and around his front he stared at the mirror before him with a soft chuckle 'Now I look like Big Mac' then it drawn on him staring at the image ears flatten against his head turning to the window standing before the full moon and endless stars. “First Star ah see tonight may ah have this wish tonight... ah wish for things to return to normal and never found that blasted orb...” Applejack was about to check on her brother when she heard this placing a ear to the door listening to the rhythm “Ah'm never heard of a rhythm quite like that or heard him speak like that too... that amnesia stuff is one tricky mule... ah hope y'all wish come true Big Mac... for all our sakes...” she trots away from the door whispering to herself feeling helpless to help her big brother out but she had a plan that might work... Big Macintosh... Opening his eyes staring at the same ceiling he looked at when closing his eyes, it was lit up by a glow from outside, he sat up in the bed turning to the sight of the full moon and clear night sky with all the stars out, he got up feeling the cold touch of the floor on the feet he now had. 'The stars look the same but the moon doesn't... am ah in a whole new world...' he noticed the brightest star in the sky being the north star “Doctor the Emergency Generators are on but we still haven't got power to much of the hospital” Big Mac heard the talking and saw through the window of part of the hospital was infact in darkness. “I know Mandy but the ones that still on are around the more critical injured though, we need to keep that up and running or we going to lose people...” the doctor seeming to be stressed Big Mac came up to the door and opened it seeing the two talking “Alright, I will see what we can do with the ones that are still opernating...” she pauses turning to the patient looking at them. “Oh sorry to disturb you sir, we just having another power cut due to the heatwave and thunderstorms we recently had, if you kindly go back to bed we will have it resolved soon as possible” “I might be able to help, I know a thing or two about fixing things” Big Mac offering his help. The Doctor rubbed his head “I don't know, your suffering from a form of amnesia sir and if you get hurt fixing it, your mother would grill us for sure” “And if we do nothing we could lose the last generators doctor” Mandy points out to the doctor. “Ok fine, but you go with him, if he tries anything stupid stop him ok?” The doctor turn to him “Mr Dolphin I hope you know what your doing... we don't want a problem getting any worse as it is, we have over 50 patients in critical conditions at the moment and with the fear of the last generators packing out and no one able to come due to the accidents caused by the black outs I fear we might lose some by morning...” “I will be careful” “Mr Dolphin come with me, I will get you something suitable to wear” he nods to Mandy and follow the nurse whom shined her torch down the hall way. “Quick question... how long these powercuts and heatwave been going on?” “Five weeks the heatwave lasted, the longest in UK history with temperatures reaching over 39 degrees... as for the powercuts the transformers can't handle the heat and the excessive use of air-conditioning units. The power output is greater then the input sad to say” the nurse came to the room and gave him a outfit that was some work clothing with gloves and boots. “I will be waiting out here sir” Big Mac found putting the stuff on rather strange and weird, he had problems putting them on with at first making some silly mistakes but he couldn't blame himself for it since he never worn this much in his life. Soon after ten minutes he was out “Sorry I took so long, it was kind of hard to put it on...” “It fine, please follow me” she takes him to the three generator that was off with the other three running are over maximum to maintain the critical systems of the hospital. “We have six generators to power the whole hospital for about three days but with the power going and coming it kind of caused some of the systems to fail” Big Mac “I see” he took the cover off one of them and saw so many strings 'Ok ah bitten more ah could chew... this isn't what am ah expecting to see, what on tarnation is this?' he was very confused, Mandy kept the light on it as he tried to make heads or tails of the machine in front of him, he never seen anything so complexed as this in his life. “Any luck?” Mandy asked as the time went by without a result to be seen as he tried to understand what was before him. “Darn it” he gets up and did what came to be normal for him and gave it a massive boot “Sir!” she yelled at him trying to pull him away from the generator. “Work darn piece of trash” he it it harder this time with a boot as Mandy try to pull Big Mac away. Suddenly the three before them came back to life with the lights turning back on. “I knew a good old fashion bucking would do the trick” Mandy let go off him with surprise “I guess it does... what is bucking?” she turn to him “It hitting a apple tree with your hind legs miss” she stared at him with confusion. “I mean I... sorry that show thing my brother spoke of must still be fresh in my head” he didn't like to lie or make something up but he hoped it works. Mandy grinned “Oh you mean My Little Pony, Applejack's apple bucking, of course silly me I should of knew that show be fresh in your mind, I heard from your sister Hazel and you a big fan of the show” she pat him on the back “Either way Mr Dolphin thank you for your old fashion bucking and don't worry I will leave that part out” “Thank you miss Mandy” “Now let get you out of those clothes and back into the gown before your mother realises what we had you do for us...” he nod in agreement and they left the basement area of the generators with them humming with full power to the hospital. 'My Little Pony? Applejack's apple bucking... fan of the show? What on tarnation does she mean by that, is my world not real to them?' his mind was wrapped in confusion 'Watch this show thing on flat strange box... eeyup...' > Chapter 4: The Mystery of Amnesia (part 1) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin - The Switch Chapter 4: The Mystery of Amnesia (part 1) Hmm hm hm hmm... The sound of humming of a tone came to Applejack's hearing as she came to her brothers room, opening the door she saw the large red work pony smiling and humming away in his sleep holding to the very doll Twilight used the crazy love spell on the Fancy Pants plush before Princess Celestia cancelled out the spell. “Why on tarnation has he still got that thing...” Applejack muttered and heard the singing under his breath making her smile. “We're apples forever, apples together. We're family and so much more. No matter what comes, we will face the weather. We're Apples to the Core.” Wayne doing what he usually do either talk or sung in his sleep every so often... Applejack step up to the bed side with a good grip of the sheets under the sleeping stallion she pulls and raises up on her hind legs causing him to tumble right over and off the otherside of the bed with a massive 'THUD' next thing made her regret doing it. Wayne sat up staring right at her with a flaming temper “What on tarnation y'all do that for!?” the green eyes of the red stallion pony glaring at Applejack. Applejack felt a chill when he glared at her, that look of dead seriousness “Ah sorry Big Mac... ah wanted to see if some part of ya was still there and ah right...” He sit sitting there rather ticked off at this point “So that give ya the right to come into mah room and wake me up so rudely!?” 'Did I seriously say that? That Big Mac's room is mine... guess it is since I am in his body...' Applejack sighed “Eeyup bad set of mistakes but one thing ah noticed with ya...” “And what in blazes is that?” he replied “Y'all are Big Mac but not Big Mac, this whole amnesia thing is a bit weird, one thing is that y'all more talkative” Applejack answered “And ya using words that never heard before ya say” He rolled his eyes as he slowly got up on his hooves “Y'all ever thought about reading about how one pony mind is effected with a big blow to the head... mah head still hurts and being thrust out of bed it not going to help me is it Applejack?” 'I can't believe I am going her a scolding... it almost as if I am him... Wayne you need to calm yourself down before you blow everything into thin air...' Applejack felt a bit shameful for what she did “Y'all right Big Mac, ah'm just taking this whole issue over blown and making a fuse over it, ya my big brother and ah'm sorry...” she took her hat off placing it over her chest with eyes closed. “Can y'all forgive ya're over zealous sister?” “Eeyup” he walked around the bed and gave her a hug after she put her hat back on and she returned it. “Mah memoirs might not be all there but ah can never hold a grudge to ya Applejack” he released her from the hug standing a bit back from her. “Y'all just need a little patients and give me time to recover... it not easy for one to have a big hole in his memories y'all know... if it wasn't' for the orb none of this would of happened...” 'And I be still the same old human being with his head stuck on a laptop playing games, writing stories and drawings with a everyday dull life of work... guess life is pretty normal and that norm I would love right about now... I am getting way too caught up into acting like Big Macintosh...' Applejack adjusted her hat with her hoof “Well ah got a plan or two that might work to shift that blockage” she smirked “After breakfast y'all getting those hooves back to work on the farm, if y'all don't remember everything is ah can show ya and we will do the chores as if none of this happened” 'Bloody great... now I am sure I want out of this body... I never done a single day of farm work ever and sure working at a restaurant doesn't count... but I should of see this coming, this is bloody Applejack I am staring an right now... and toying around with words as a joke is not one of her strong points...' “So y'all up for the challenge big brother?” “Eeyup” he knew by agreeing to her that was it, no way out. No if, buts or can nots. But he knew he had to do this to keep the act up, he just pray that he won't make a big ass of himself when trying to do Big Macintosh's chores whatever that would be, he only could think of the apple bucking but he lifting a hind leg up slightly and putting it down he knew that might a challenge indeed... Applejack watch her brother pick up the sheets with his mouth and with a toss of the head and lowering it, she watched as he made his bed with one swift motion “Aw dang it, ah was hoping ya forgot that trick...” he wasn't even sure what she was talking about and taking the plushy he put it on the pillow with his mouth and turn to her. “Ya got to show me how y'all do that trick Big Mac” “Nnope” he trots by her leaving her annoyed. “Oh come on Big Mac, this is ya sister Applejack! Ah'm want to know how the samhill y'all do it!” Applejack turn and follows him out of his room. “Nnope” “Ah will figure how ya do that Big Mac! Mark mah words” “Nnope” came his reply “Gah! Ya over bearing stallion y'all just teasing me now!” he grinned looking over to her and carried on walking “Eeyup” Applejack realised he wasn't wearing the work collar and got it quickly “Big Mac ya forgot this!” she toss it with her head letting go of it with her mouth. Wayne turn to see it come at him with a quick jump on his rare legs and lowers his head the work collar slides right over his head and into place “Show off!” Applejack spoke out as he landed on his front hooves with that same smirk she remembered all too well. As they all ate at the table Wayne was lost in a sea of thoughts, things he did seem to fit Big Macintosh well but something that was making him feel a little fearful already was that he couldn't say his name out loud, his true name it as if someone had put a padlock and key on his mouth so the word could not be spoken out. He decided to figure that part out later on when his got alone time to really brain storm it without any of the Apple family knowing about it, he eyes trailed quickly to each of them as he ate what Big Mac would usually eat which was a strange feeling of taste and experience chewing up the food that was prepared for each of them. His seem to had a fair number of apples, oats and hay on it, first thing was in his mind when seeing the oats and hay was 'Bloody hell you got to be kidding me, I have to eat this gross stuff...' “Big Macintosh ah heard from Applejack ya was singing our little song in y'all sleep” Granny Smith said with a smile He blinked with confusion “Ah was?” “Eeyup and quite the singing voice too Big Mac” Wayne was getting even lost by the second if he did that in his sleep then he gulped hard knowing something worse could come out of his slight talking in his sleep part when listening to Applejack. “That really cool, shame ah'm wasn't there, it would have been funny seeing my big brother singing in his sleep” “Ah'm here y'all know...” the third person as not here part got a little annoying for him. “Oh sorry Big Mac ah'm didn't mean anything of that...” she felt guilty her eyes showing please forgive. “It ok Applebloom” he gave the filly a hug “So Ah'm was singing? What exactly was ah'm singing in mah sleep” Granny Smith tap her hoof on her snout “Erm... let see, it was... ah'm can't remember but it there on the tip of mah tongue” Applejack decided to answer “It was the time when Pinkie Pie was with us in the wagon y'all was pull and we sung our song 'Apples to the Core', a family fun song that we had changed around since Pinkie was with us, do y'all remember that part?” “Nnope” She sighed “It was worth a try” “Don't worry big brother y'all get ya're memories back” Applebloom gave him her best smile. “Y'all still mah brother and that what counts” “Thank you Applebloom” Wayne replied softly to her. “Ah better get going, don't want to be late for school” Applebloom jump down from the table and trots off. 'If only that was really possible Applebloom... I remember different things but nothing of the day to day life of this stallion... I don't even know what he does in his free time, all I seen is a show of him in it time and again... I am not sure if I am being too talkitive but Applejack seems to think it... gah I want out of this nightmare! I want back to the normal dull life I had!' After breakfast was finished and cleared up, Applejack took him on a tour of the farm, he found it quite amazing for the size of it and how two ponies mostly do the work for it all, he recalled they did not only apples but wheat, corn, grapes and even own a few farm animals too that he had to remember had a social standards too. 'I am getting sick of speaking in his voice... it sounds so alien and I can't do a bloody thing about it, glad my thoughts still my own in wording and such...' The first job of the day came to him and it was Apple Bucking, he seen it number of times on the show and maybe this wasn't going to be so hard after all, but he was dead wrong... after Applejack gave him a quick show how it done it was his turn. “Now Big Mac it y'all turn, it rather simple and should be second nature to ya” He step up to the tree looking up at all the apples, he had no idea how to use the body of Big Mac to buck or how the body even works to do so, seeing it one thing but doing it... Wayne was now really nervous at this point and wonder what will happen if he messes this up... 'Ok Wayne...as the old saying goes... you never know till you tried...' Wayne had just gotten use to the hooves but this was going to be interesting for sure, he did what Applejack at the start but he found the strange workings of the pony body a bit too much and toppled over doing a forward flip landing on his back with a groan... “That was completely failure...” he turned over and got back up tried again and this result ends up with his front lets slipping and his body slamming to the ground with a thud. Applejack raise her front hoof with a expression of 'that got to hurt' “Big Mac ah should of real...” she watched him get back up again and try again and again. She saw determination to get this but she saw him failing each time and thought it was time to step “Big Mac it ok, y'all can sit this out and help me pull the apples back to the... “Y'all think with this all forgotten and ah'm not doing this right y'all say ah step back and do jack!” he replied with a temper that she seen when telling off Applebloom and her friends. “Ah sure y'all ah can do this!” he jump off his back hooves and with a pull back he pushes off with a buck hitting the tree hard causing all the apples to fall down into the baskets... he was breathing heavily from the anger that built up “See... ah might be slow at the mo but ah can do it if given the chance...” Applejack was a bit confused the words he spoke was some she never heard him say ever but she decided not to press on it “Ah was wrong Big Mac, ah'm sorry for stressing ya out, all forgiven?” “Eeyup” 'Ok Wayne chill chill... your temper getting the better of you... this is Big Mac's body not yours... just... need to take time to choose my words right... this talking part needs to ease it down she really expecting something strange out of this and... I am lost in my thoughts ago....' Applejack continued to help with her brother with the apple bucking and other chores to come, she knew it was going to be tough on him but she was going to stick by his side through this day and reteach him the methods of being a good Apple Farmer at Sweet Apples Acres. She had Granny Smith and Applebloom convinced with the amnesia and the fact the doctor she saw last night also stated it was a very strong reason that a blow to the back the head would cause long term memories and short term to be even beyond a full recovery... but she was only glad that somewhere he was there and that what mattered Ponyville Pinkie Pie arrived at the Golden Oak Library wanting to know if she could help Twilight out with what happened during the night the Orb throw him into his own apple cart “I hope Twilight is here” she knock on the door with her hoof. “Coming!” Spike voice could be heard and the sound of the door being unlocked, it opens with the purple dragon looking up at Pinkie “Hey Pinkie Pie what brings you here?” Pinkie Pie gave her biggest smile “Oh this and that, like normal and thinking about doing a get well party for Big Macintosh” Pinkie Pie endless party ideas was no surprise to the dragon. “Yep, she been up all night long researching everything she could on that strange orb she saw Big Mac was holding” Spike let her in and continued to speak and he put his claw out “From the mess you can see she searched almost every book” “I can see...” Pinkie Pie step over some of them with a soft movement of her hooves. She came to see a single book on the table with a picture of the orb on it and a letter from Princess Celestia too. “Twilight?” Twilight turn her head “Hey Pinkie Pie, I hope Big Mac isn't acting very weirdly” Pinkie Pie giggled “Maybe weirdly cause he got no memory of us silly, he did go fly and BAM you know” “Erm ok... as I was... gah Pinkie!” she cleared her throat “I found one picture of that crystal orb from a few nights ago but came empty through my search” she sighed “Then I sent a letter to Princess Celestia about it and a copy of the picture, what I got back was most troubling...” “Oh what troubling? Does the orbey thing cause craziness that the pony go nuts and want to destroy everything? Huh?” Pinkie Pie quessing away. Twilight pulled up the letter with her magic “It seems that the orb Big Macintosh found isn't any normal orb at all, no pony ever got to study one because everytime they randomly appear and held” she then put her front hooves outwards “poof it gone without a trace” she clop her hooves on the wooden floor “the poor pony is throw away and usually resulting in a massive blow to the back of the head but no other injuries from what Princess Celestia told me of the other six cases in the last 700 years” Pinkie Pie gasped “Ooo Big Mac lucky seven? Did he win a prize? Does that mean he going to be ok?” “No nothing of the sort, the last one was 256 years ago a personal friend of Princess Celestia in fact, he went completely crazy, saying weird things, speaking in a tongue no pony ever heard and one translation of it called Princess Celestia a” she coughs “Demon horse” Pinkie Pie was in fits of laughter “Demon horse that so random! I wonder what she say if I told her...” “No Pinkie Pie don't even think about it! And from what I can tell he seem to know whom he is and...” Twilight gets cut off by Spike “Yeah didn't Rainbow Dash convince him to come to Sweet Apple Acres?” Spike added “Oh yes Dashie was telling me all about it how he was scared like a little colt and really not sure of who he was or even as a pony, how crazy that huh?” Twilight looked at the letter from Celestia again “It seems that one of the effects too from the orb... I just wish I could of found it before him, maybe using some protective magic I could of prevented this” “Oh Twilight how was you suppose to know something crazy as this happened 256 years ago and maybe if you go to the scene on the crime you might figure something out” Pinkie Pie grinned Twilight open her wings with a sparkle in her eyes “How could I be so dense! Of course the scene of the crime, with my machine I recently built we could track what happened to the orb if the magical energy isn't gone!” Pinkie Pie was bouncing around “Oh cool can I come and help! Pleeeeeeeasssse!” “Say Yes Twilight I can't stand hearing her saying please any longer!” Spike held his claw hands over his ears Twilight raised her hoof “Ok you can come just don't get in the way” “Okie Dokie Lokie!” Pinkie Pie beamed. Twilight knew she was going to regret this and got her things together putting them into a small wagon and since Pinkie Pie choose to come she decided to pull it with Twilight's machine inside it “Be careful ok?” “Sure thing Twilight” > Chapter 5: The Mystery of Amnesia (part 2) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 5: The Mystery of Amnesia (Part 2) “The mystery over the unknown explosion and light from New Town has investigators still baffled after two days on, the light and explosion could be heard and seen for miles around and yet there is almost no damage to the surrounding area. These live pictures show it happening and the chaos that happened moments later” the images on the TV showing the expanding light then disappearing with the sound of a massive loud bang with people running for cover thinking it was a huge bomb going off. “Some say it was a terrorist attack but others believe to be a act of something else, we will keep you informed of this development with the mystery of New Town explosion” Nigel turned the TV off putting the controller down, he and Michelle brought a new fresh set of clothes for Big Mac to wear and been waiting for almost half an hour now. Michelle came up to the door of the room he was changing in. “Wayne are you ok in there?” “Yep I'm fine, just having a little difficultly putting them on” his came back in reply “I could come in and help you. You know” she replied “Thank you but ah'm got it” “Strange...” Michelle whispered and walked back to the bed side. Nigel look to her seeing that concerned face “Mum you need to remember what amnesia does to a person, you, I and Hazel was looking at everything we could on the internet about it” “I know I know” Michelle raised her hands “It just hard seeing the son you raised for all this time seem completely different to before the accident” “At least his trying to remember mum, don't you think that enough?” Nigel replied calmly to her. Michelle had to agree with her middle child with a smile “Yes your definitely right” They turn to see the door open, Big Mac walks out of the room wearing what would Wayne normal wear to his guess, grey black trainers made for all kind of weather with white socks, blue jeans and a t-shirt three creatures on it called the Silence with the words Doctor Who printed under it on the black t-shirt. “How do I look?” “Like yourself bro” Nigel put a thumbs up “Now your done let get going. Sooner we get you home the sooner we can help you” “Yep” Big Macintosh replied They left the hospital and as they headed for the car, Big Mac could see so many different shape and sizes of these machines parked all over the place, he noticed someone parked up and went out putting some money into a machine and taking a ticket out putting it on the inside the window. “Do they have to pay to park here?” “Yeah we do and a real pain in the neck... it day light robbery on how much it bloody costs...” Nigel replied with a slight annoyance as they came to a orange car but what surprised Big Mac it had three apples on the side of the driver door. “Erm... why is there three apples on y'all door?” he slipped up on a word but it didn't bother them. But he knew that was his sisters cutie mark. Michelle laughing at his expression “It was a bet he lost to you and your sister, if he won you two would go to the gym with him for one whole year every other day in the week but if he lost the bet he would have to paint his car orange and put the cutie mark of Applejack on the side of it for a whole year. You and your sister with My Little Pony, if I wasn't open minded as I always been I might of gone a bit batty over it. But have to say it Wayne, that Apple family on the show really helped us more then one way” “Hmm?” “Oh sorry you can't remember...” Nigel open the doors up and they got in, Big Mac watch them put seat belts on and followed their example “I got to admit the show inspired you bro to forgive our step brother for his careless actions all those years ago and we been to the last Dolphin family reunion which was a bit more interesting then the last” he chuckled. “Here have a look for yourself” he pulled out the phone and press play on the recording he made. Big Mac took the device and watched the moving pictures and sounds he was amazed by this level of technology or was it magic, he didn't really understand it but thanks to his calm and hard working nature he was able to have a open mind on what happened. He saw on the images a elderly women called 'nan' that was being spoken to by Wayne and soon followed up by a musical number being played and he realized the tune instantly, it was amazing seeing all these humans singing together and some was laughing at the fact they was doing it and using the Apple song he, Applejack, Granny Smith, Applebloom and Pinkie Pie had sung that one time. The final verse came up with everyone now singing really loud to it and he saw Michelle Wayne's mother joining in. “We're Dolphins forever, Dolphins together. We're family and so much more. No matter what comes, we will face the weather. We're Dolphins to the Core!” the music ends and everyone notice the power cuts out right then and causes the whole room to be filled with silence then a explosion of laughter from almost everyone finding the funny side of how it happened. Big Mac smiled seeing that and gave the phone back not quiet sure how to use it and didn't want to break it with it being so small and thin. “Dolphin Family hay? How many are there?” “Who knows” Nigel answered as he pulls out of the car park driving into the queue of cars going through the town centre heading to their destinations “I know there some members of the family living out in the USA, Canada and even all the way at Australia on the otherside of the globe, mostly about those members of the family are here say, we never had any real contact to them to prove they out there, but it funny how far spread we are even if most just doing a normal day to day life in different jobs” Big Mac nods upon hearing this and was quite amazed that a family was fairly sized as his own excised on this world too but he gathered there must be more of those kind of families all over the place with the number of humans he seen, it was mind blowingly crazy for him, he saw countless buildings, more then he ever seen unless in Manehattan which was a massive concrete city on the east side of Equestira. He saw even more number of these machines called cars and others that was even bigging pulling massive trailers of items inside, he could never pull that much even he tried but amazed by how the humans created such things. “Wayne I almost forgot, Hazel is waiting for us at home, she found your iPad and some of your personal video dairies and no she hasn't played any of them so don't worry” Michelle explained to Big Macintosh “She just got it all set up for you to play and maybe help you to remember” “Thank you” he replied as the car travelled he could hear the noise it made, the engine hard at work as Nigel drove the car to what seem to be a sign high above with a massive red M on it with the words McDonalds under it. “Hope you don't mind bro we stop by here first, haven't had anything to eat and straved, do you want anything?” He look to both of them. “Anything that not meat” Big Mac replied “Veggy Delux meal then” he replied “Mum?” “I'll have my usually a Quarter Pounder meal” she replied “And give me a Apple Fizz for Hazel, you know how much she loves that drink” “Ah'm have one too” Nigel whom stop the car taken note of what they want drives it through and around to a speaker, a voice came from it “Hello welcome to McDonalds, what would you like today sir?” “I will have a Veggy Delux meal and Quarter Pounder Meal both with Apple Fizz” Nigel begins to tell them “Yes sir I got it, is there anything else?” “Yeah I like a Big... meal” Nigel blinked with confusion he was suppose to say 'Mac' but the word never came out of his mouth. “Sorry sir and Big what meal?” “Big... meal...” Michelle sighed “Let me, he trying to say a Big... meal...” she looked even more confused “Ok that seriously weird... I can't say it, I can think it but I can't say it...” “Sorry what that a Big... meal” it happened to the person with the head set taking the order now concerned “Not again... I know what meal you want ma'am... it been happening for the last two days now, no one seem to be able to say the name to our popular burger” Nigel look to Big Mac “You try” he points to the word. Big Macintosh saw the words and tried to say 'mac' but nothing happened and he shook his head with a “Nope” “Ok whatever, let get our food and go home, not able to say one word not like it going to kill us or anything...” Michelle said rather annoyed by those trying to say 'mac' “We got better things to do” “Alright Mum chill...” Nigel replied and drives around to the window paying for the items then going to the next window to pick up the bags of food that was already made for them. “Wayne hold these for me, make sure not to spill any of that fizzy drink on my seats please” “Yep” 'That is very strange, it almost as if mah name is impossible to say or part of it, ah don't get it and why that happened... ah tried to say mah name Big Macintosh and only got one word out of it... ah'm know how they feeling at the moment... but what sort of unicorn magic could do that?' The car came by estate after estate of house till it came to a semi surprised view for him, Big Mac saw what seem to be a housing estate of about 290 odd homes with fields on almost all sides of it from the left, and to behind it and on the right a massive woodland that goes on for miles from the look of things “Hey bro welcome home, this is where we live, we live right on that middle row top corner of Twiosmicstar (Twi-os-mi-star) estate, it was named after the Twiosmicstar Forest.” he stated. “Twiosmicstar? Is there a reason behind that name?” he also took note of the massive farm land behind the fields behind the estate. “Yeah there sure is, the forest is one of the oldest in the country and protected from development by the Queen's order” Nigel replied “It so thick and huge that almost on a amazing sunny day like this it almost dark in there and have a real chill to the air, many people love coming to it and exploring the old woodland to see many of the wild life that live there. You even circle your bike through the dirt tracks once a week” Big Mac wasn't surprised by the queen part but a woodland like this sound something like the Twiosmicstar Forest but it seem to be loved by so many that they would travel through it or just to relax in there, it was a balance of nature and development. “I wouldn't mind seeing it for myself... is there any dangerous animals?” “Nah, unless you threaten a buck and his doe with their young” Nigel answered. “They deers before you ask, they the most common animals in the woods. The car comes to a stop in the carpark and they got out with Big Mac following them down a street to the last house on the block of houses that seem to be melded together. He watch Michelle put a key into the lock and twist it pushing the door open “Welcome home Wayne” He stepped into the house, he noticed that it seem rather small, to his right was a small loo then to his left was a kitchen, walking in a bit more he turn to his right again to a small corridor leading to a set of stairs leading up to the next level and the room he entered had a table in the middle with six set of chairs around it and then the next room had one large sofa and one slightly smaller sofa but he saw another one of those flat screen machines with another one attached to a box and some set of items on a table to his left against the wall. “How about you take your shoes off and go upstairs to your room, you can't miss it specially with that sign you had made” she smiled “And I will bring your good and drink up to you?” “Yep and erm... thank you mum” she nods and he does what she asked, he found it strange having to put on and take off footwear but he rather figure out way later and went up the stairs and instantly turning at the end he found the door with 'Wayne's Room' with a sign on it and had a yellow pony pegasus flying with Rainbow Dash what seem to be racing. “Whom that Rainbow Dash flying with?” he whispered “Oh that your character you created a few years back bro, you know Electuroo the bouncing bolt pegasi” Big Mac turn quickly seeing Hazel standing by her door with a grin. “Sorry Wayne didn't mean to make you jump” she pull the handle down opening it “But that was his first pony OC, his other one was 'Zaps' a yellow work pony that special talent is to do with Zap Apples” she points to a picture “That what you drew, awesome right?” “Two characters?” he look to the work pony drawing, it showed the stallion with same mane and coat colour scheme but wearing a hat similar to his sister Applejack wears and a jacket like the pegasus one had. He saw the room was filled with different drawings that Wayne must of done and put up in his own free time, but what caught his eyes was the large number of pony figures on the stand by a screen covered up. “Yeah, after watching six seasons of the show with it ending there, you decided to create his own Apple Family character 'Zaps' and even created a set of cool funky stories too” Hazel step up to the bed “Have a look you got all the Apple Family plushes” Big Mac couldn't believe his eyes, she was right and sitting there was small plushes of Applejack, Applebloom, him and Granny Smith. “I bought these?” he picked up the Applejack Plushy it was overwhelming that it got to him with tears falling from his eyes. He sat on the bed looking to it with a finger running across it. “Bro are you ok?” “Yep...” he replied staring at it “I am... just don't know...” “I bet I know, you've been riding to that Apple Orchard on the outskirts of town and lack of money making your crazy dream not work right?” Hazel sat by him “Two years ago at the Dolphin Family reunion you said that if you ever won the euromillions you would buy up that abandon orchard in a heart beat, guess looking at these plushes remind you for that huh?” “You could say that...” Big Macintosh was sad cause his world to them was nothing more to then a show a figment of someponies imagination. “Are these ponies real?” Hazel grinned “I believe they are, somewhere in the crazy multiverse there must be dozens or even endless number of realities where Equestria is real as here and we nothing more then a thought up story or two to them” Hazel sighed “I so wish I could meet one of them some day... but hey we all can imagine that right bro?” she put her hand on his shoulder. “Yep we sure can and from the look of it I have...” he staring at Wayne's collection of drawings 'And weird as it sound y'all got ya wish Hazel, ah Big Macintosh in your brothers body...' “I bet your wondering what Euromillions is right?” “Yep” “Stop pretending to be Big... you know that Applejack's brother... strange how you can't say... and ...” she put her hands on her head with annoyance “Why can't I say it!!!” Big Mac sighed “I know how ya feel Haz, I can not say it either” she gasped in delight “Wh-what?” “You called me Haz! That awesome bro! That your nickname to your little sister!” she hugged him tightly 'She just as strong as AJ... ah wouldn't want to get on her bad side then...' “Hazel please let... your squeezing the life of me” “Opps sorry, hehe. Well the iPad set up, all you have to do is press play, It be the triangle button on the screen” she points to it and leaves the room. “Mum he called me Haz!!!” “Oh that sweet honey” Michelle called back. Big Macintosh found it weird sitting a room of plushes, toys and drawings of his world, it felt rather intimidating specially the very large Pinkie Pie Plushy sitting on the end of the bed staring at him with the big blue eyes, he quickly turned it around. “Creepy...” he whispered then push the play button on the flat object Hazel called a iPad. The image starts to play and Wayne standing there with one hand holding the device looking right at it. “Just got back from the Brony Con at Manchester and it was awesome as always, wish it last forever though, it where I make friends sadly. But hey it worth going for the money I spent but as always mum grilled me saying that if I want to get that orchard it going to be no more spend spend spend and more saving up, money doesn't grow on trees as the saying goes.” he put the device down in front of him stepping back. “I kind of been holding onto luck for Euromillions to get it, every day I cycle past that large stripe of land, I would love to grab it before some rich snob bloody takes it but hey I am just some normal person as many others going on by day to day working at a place I can't say I enjoy but with the way the jobs go I am lucky.” He pulls up the Big Macintosh plushy “I got Big Macintosh through the post today as I got home, it finally completes my set and between me and you it was worth 300 pounds, now I got the complete Apple family of Ponyville, I wonder if they age like we do with time going by since the show finished a few years back and yet the fandom is still pretty much on fire across the world in a manner of speaking. Well that the internet for ya, we can't live without it. But I wonder if I could if I was a pony...” he put his finger on his lip tapping it. “Wayne dinner ready!” a voice came from downstairs. “Ok mum be down in a second!” he called back. “Well today also mark week five of this bloody stupid heatwave, tomorrow I am back to work and hopefully the thunderstorm due on Wedserday will end this stupid heatwave... still got the Twiosmicstar Forest to cool down in. Planning to go on a cycle through there tonight. Even things are a bit cheesy where I live the forest really makes up for it, well got to go. This is Wayne Dolphin signing off and Big Macintosh” he raised to plushy with a hand on one hoof it made it wave at the screen “Eeyup!” he spoke and chuckled stopping the recording. Big Macintosh turn his head to the red work pony plushy “Wayne I brought your dinner up, hope it ok” she had place it on a plate, veggy bugler and fires with an cup with a lid and strew through it. “I see you found your plushes” she chuckled putting plate on top of the computer table and the drink by it. “Do you remember getting him?” “Eeyup” he smirked “Haha very funny young man, well enjoy and I be out of your hair, I got a lot of house work to do. If you need anything just give me a holier ok?” “Eeyup” he replied, she just shook her head with a smile walking out of the room and he held the plushy once more in view 'Ah real which mean Hazel's multiverse idea is a mathematical possibility... means here they might think it not real but it is... ah wonder this has any connection to the magical orb ah... we found...' One thought came to his mind and it was a simple answer... “Eeyup...” he whispers > Chapter 6: The Mystery Deepens... > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 6: The Mystery Deepens... Applejack smiled seeing all the work that had to be done was finished at record time, she wiped the sweat off her head with her foreleg looking to Wayne whom she still believed to be her brother Big Macintosh was finishing up loading the creates ready for the evening train to Fillydelphia, giving them time to do a little extra work the north side of the farm to take down a old shake Wayne pushed the last create into place and with help from Applejack he tossed over the ropes over to her on the other side of the creates and she as he watched tied them up on the wagon. “Good work Big Mac” “Eeyup” Wayne knew that he would have to pull that heavy wagon to town in the evening since Big Mac's body was the only thing strong enough to pull such a thing 'I am so going to need a bath after todays delivery to the station... if I know where it is in Ponyville... and hell I didn't even realise how much he does around this place... I only done today and I already feel like I want to just fall over and go to sleep... and we still got to take out that shack...' Applejack came around the wagon and stood before him, he looked at the orange mare as she was twisting her front hoof in the dirt “Ah know y'all not all there and sorry that ya had to do the chores from not knowing what ya doing but without y'all help Big Mac this here apple farm would have problems keeping up with it orders. Ah might be as very strong mare but ya the heavy lifter in this here family and mighty glad part of ya still there” she gave him a hug with her front hooves and step back. 'Element of Honesty for sure... and you can rely on me Applejack till your brother returned back into his body, I will do my upmost to do what he does... that a Pinkie Promise...' He turn to her “So the shack?” “Of course sugarcube, come with me, ah'm show ya the way” Applejack trots to the north side of the farm with Wayne following Twilight Sparkle... Twilight sets up her equipment at the scene of the crime, being a princess got her some extra access to the scene which had the damaged cart still there with guard ponies blocking the scene for some other ponies to check out the area even two days after it happened. “Oooo look at that Spike that the point Big Mac hit his head” Pinkie Pie points to the smashed area of the cart. Spike cringed “Yeah I don't think I like my head getting smacked like that” Twilight almost finished setting up the machine putting the last touches to it “That should do it” she turned it on and results came almost instantly but what she was getting was wild readings “Whoa this is amazing look at this!” Pinkie Pie could see the read out “Wow that really crazy, it almost as if there a breach in reality” “Pinkie that just silly nothing that powerful part from the magical mirror in the Crystal Empire can do that” Twilight replied “Yeah you got a point Twi” Pinkie just smiled and continued to watch the read out as the power of the machine was increased. Wayne... “Alright ah'm going to give it a try...” sudden as that happened Wayne vision changed instantly as if everything warped and then found himself eating something, he looked down to see his hands. “I'm back...” he whispered with a mouth full of food and swallowed then saw what he was eating “Whoa... veggy deluxe...” then a thought came to his mind if his back then Big Macintosh is back but what if whatever did this had to do with Twilight, he heard from Applebloom she was investigating the place it happened and had a feeling she had used something to take a reading of it... Wayne took hold of the iPad pushing record on it. “Hope you understand how to read this Big Macintosh because I feel I am back in my body but not completely... I feel as if part of me still attached to your body and this means once something happens to Twilight's machine we will be pulled back like a bungee cord...” Big Macintosh blinked he recalled eating that veggy deluxe and now found himself back in his own body but he felt he wasn't fully back as if something was trying to pull him back into the human body but unsuccessfully. “Right Big Mac are ya ready?” Big Mac wasn't sure what was going on but he noticed they was by the old shack was they knocking it down? So he decided to go along with it “Eeyup” Applejack hits it with a buck and then followed by Big Macintosh doing so as well on the same side hitting it good and hard breaking the old wood “Good going Big Mac, keep it up” “Eeyup” Twilight... “Wow look at this now, it saying that there normal energy readings as if my machine cancelled out the magical effect, I got to write this down” Twilight got her quill and paper writing it down with her magic to get every detail of what she was seeing. Pinkie Pie's tail started to twitch “Uh oh...” Spike saw this “Twilight... twitchy tail...” “Spike I am writing here twitchy tail can wait and...” she paused seeing Pinkie's tail going crazy. “Pinkie?” “Something really big is coming and it coming right at us!” Pinkie Pie said with fear. “Ok everypony stand back we teleporting” she used her magic and felt a strange surge of energy as they all vanished ... Somewhere in the UK Capital... In what seem to be a busy large control room filled with people at different stations with others running around checking the systems a high ranked official step out of his office on the top of the room which was a glass box with a desk and a computer, he turn to one of them instantly. “What the bloody hell is going on around here?” he spoke with annoyance “Where is the bloody 200 million pound drone!?” “I have no idea saw, it was tracking one of those unusually energy spikes and wham it was gone... no warning nothing, General it wasn't even hijacked either... it just poof...” the young man replied The General checked for himself seeing the readings was scanning around the north part of the land near London then it simply vanished without a trace even the vision records to that point just stopped. “You do know if we don't find that we won't get another chance to use that experimental equipment...” “I know sir we got our best people trying to found out what happened to the X-19 Sensor High Altitude Stealth Drone...” the man said looking through everything “Everyone work double time, feed all results into one database, we need to find out what the blazes is going on and if we don't we bloody going to have to answer to her majesty Queen Elizabeth! Do I make myself clear!” he spoke out firmly to them “Yes sir!” they all got to work to track the drone down. “200 million pounds down the bloody toilet just great... just great...” Equestria... Rainbow Dash was flying to the farm with great speed enjoying the sun and doing a fly by run to Cloudsdale and back to keep in shape but one thing that was shocking she saw something fly right by her heading for Ponyville not only that but to Sweet Apple Acres at high speeds with a flaming trail with smoke following whatever it was and from the look of it she knew it wasn't a falling rock it was adjusting it trajectory. “Oh sweet Celestia! It aiming for the farm!!!” Rainbow Dash with a mega burst of speed chased after it From the ground a few ponies close to Cloudsdale looked up to the sound of a roaring noise to see first something on fire shooting over head followed by a trail of rainbow but the sound was deafening for them with birds and animals running for cover, they decided to follow their example and hid too covering their ears from the roaring sound as it slowly fades. Rainbow Dash was closing the gap on the object she felt the air pressure building up again, she knew what that meant she was about to break the sound barrier just to catch this thing in time. “Nothing faster then me by a long shot!” Suddenly she gasped in shock seeing what seem to be dozens of flares shot right out of it coming right at her, she had to slow down and dive under it which lead her to crashing into the lake with a explosion of water showering around. Rainbow Dash quickly surfaced gasping for air seeing the strange object still on a trajectory to the farm and Rainbow Dash couldn't do anything now to get it... she had failed and was defeated by some sort of counter measure she never seen before... Suddenly out of the blue at Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight and the others appeared before them. A mighty bang caused everything to shake in the shack Big Macintosh saw it in the distance his eyes huge with fear, without thinking he grabbed all four of them, three mares and a dragon with one swift motion putting them on his back galloping hard smashing through the old wood and turning his head back to see it come in but he noticed something came out of it landing not to far but the object smashed right into the shack with a huge explosion. The blast wave set him tumbling over and that when his eyes reopened to see he fell off the bed and looked at himself quickly he was back in the human body of Wayne's... now the mystery has truly became my mysterious... he saw the device sitting by him he picked it up and Big Macintosh saw there was a new entry on it... Wayne eyes snap open he found himself back in the red pony body once more and turn to the sight of a burning wreck without thinking he got up pulling off the paper and saddle bag that was caught up on him and rushed over to the flames he quickly started to use his front hooves to scoop up dirt and throw it on the fire, he seen saw Twilight and Applejack helping him after their recovery, Pinkie Pie also joined in using her Party Cannon to shot dirt into the flames. Rainbow Dash soon arrived seeing that was left of a shack that was completely destroyed and smoking but to see a group of ponies working together to put the last of the fires out. “Is everypony ok?” she quickly landed before them looking very concerned “Boy we are RD, if it wasn't for mah brother Big Mac we would have been roasting in that fire” she hits him with her fore leg like a elbow nudge. “Eeyup” Wayne wasn't sure what happened but something did happen and for the short period of time he was glad to be back to his own body but now knew it wasn't going to be a simple fix... Twilight looked at what was left of her machine “True but why would something fall from the sky and destroy my machine? I don't understand... all I was doing was taking readings of that strange magical energy in the area” Pinkie Pie looked to it and found something odd “Oh lookly it got a funny symbol on it” Spike picked it up “It metal but I never seen anything like this, have you Twilight?” Twilight gasped with glee “No I haven't it something new for sure! Look at the marking it some sort of order, flag or even more! I got to study this at once and find out what this could all mean! The machine might be destroyed but...” “Twi ah know y'all are excited over this find but what on samhill would do something like this to mah farm!?” Applejack showed the damage around the shack was once was. Rainbow spoke up “It wasn't a rock I can tell you that much, it was awesome and annoying at the same time, that thing was flying so fast that it broke the sound barrier, I was about to do the same with my Sonic Rainboom when it unleashed all these crazy flares at me” “Countermeasures...” Wayne spoke out and they all turn to him. “Big Macintosh what in Celestia's name is a coun-cou-counter... whatever y'all said” Applejack staring at her big brother. Twilight look to the metal in her magical aura then at the wreck of what was left of the shack, nothing was left part from this one piece of metal. “It a old form of method used by pegasi in the old days when conflicts broke out between the unicorns, Earth and Pegasus ponies before the forming of Equestria. Pegasi would use lightning clouds to confuse the unicorns magical abilities which was a countermeasure but they also used today in different ways from redirecting herds like you and your dog did with the cows, you countered their movement by moving them away from harming the town” Applejack rubbing her head a little “Ah'm think ah get what y'all mean Twilight but why would somepony create something that travelled faster then Rainbow Dash here to just destroy ya're machine it makes no sense” “No it doesn't... that why I am going to find out what this mysterious metal is and this symbol means” Twilight put it in her saddle bag “Sorry about the shack... “Nah it ok Twi, it was very old anyhow, no pony was hurt that what counts right Sugarcube?” “Sure is and Big Macintosh thanks for saving our rumps” Twilight turn to the red stallion. “Eeyup” Pinkie Pie put a hoof around him standing on her hind legs “Well with that craziness over, how about you get those apples to the train and I give you my Pinkie Pie tour of Ponyville!” she grinned “What you say big guy?” “Eeyup” Wayne knew exactly what the symbol was and it was running through his mind a dozen times over 'That is the Union Jack forsure but how on earth did it get here and what exactly was that machine... was it some sort of spy drone?' Rainbow Dash shook her head “Well if you don't need me, I'll be going” she about to fly off but Applejack roped her tail and pulled her to the ground. “AJ what the big idea!?” “Sugarcube ah'm need ya help, with Big Mac going to the station” she turn watching him leave with Pinkie Pie heading off too. “Ah going to need help clearing this whole mess up and not going leave it lying around for Applebloom of any of the other youngsters get hurt, ya do the same for Scootaloo wouldn't ya?” Rainbow Dash sighed “Yeah I would” Rainbow looking “Let make this quick ok? I got tricks to do before getting some ZZZs” Applejack didn't bother to reply just a roll of her eyes she and Rainbow Dash got to work putting the wreckage of the shack into a nearby wagon clearing up the mess that was just made. “Twi y'all and Spike will help to, no ifs no buts, ya machine did this so ya helping” Applejack gave them both a stare “Yes ma'am” Spike saluted “Sure thing Applejack, sorry again” “it ok sugarcube...” Twilight picks up some of the wood with her magic “I wonder what that flying object was really...” Meanwhile Macintosh sat back on the bed eating one of the fries, he didn't really enjoy it much since it was sort of greasy and the veggie burger was too, so even he was in Wayne's body he was going to eat the right stuff no more of this McD stuff. He push the play button to see what Wayne had left for him... “Hope you understand how to read this Big Macintosh because I feel I am back in my body but not completely... I feel as if part of me still attached to your body and this means once something happens to Twilight's machine we will be pulled back like a bungee cord. So I will leave you this brief message...” He quickly check the door is closed and look back to the screen “Big Macintosh I only lived in your body for almost three days now with the time of evening coming fast and all, but the thing is your life is really amazing, I never knew you did so much work, I had a hard time adjusting to those hooves but I got the hang of it and guess you got the hang of my body, it a bloody nightmare I know” he chuckled lightly. “Point is that if you going to live my life and most likely not eat this stuff” he raised a fry up “Try the smoothies special the mango one, that amazing and got a typical taste to it and the people at work know I buy them on a regular bases when finishing work.. well part from that I will give you some of my personal details to help ya. First you know my name Wayne Dolphin, yep human and don't really done much in life part from a few things here and there. Age around 28 and as you can see I am a big fan of the world you come from, it a cartoon show here which means it not real but in my heart and belief it is very much real as everything else in the universe, it to vast and beautiful Take a chance to stare at the stars in the sky and let your imagination wonder, it will take you places that you never thought possibly... that what I do it sort of my own personal way with social life being low with only a few friends and such. Still this is my life and how I lived it, my newest dream thanks to you Apples is to open that orchard one day only if I can win that blasted money of Euromillions... well Big Mac I know we not even met yet and we lived in each others bodies for the given time so far but if anything if this means to you... I count you now as my brother...” he smiled softly “Yeah I know it all weird to say but it a feeling in my gut that twisting more ways I can say... and I know your going to eat the healthy stuff in my body just don't eat cheese or drink orange, trust me on this one it not a pleasant experience for me when I do... so I be avoiding it too in your body just as a safety reason. Well hope to meet you face to face one day bro... oh and one last thing get my sister to help you understand how the tills at McDs work. Laters!” he push the button ending the video.... Big Macintosh just got a insight of Wayne's life and now determined to help the Dolphin Family out and this would be taking a chance at this Euromillions if he knew what exactly is a Euromillions was as he rubbed his hand on his head trying to figure that one out... “The mystery deepens” he whispered lost in a sea of thoughts once more staring at the iPad again and at the room he sat in... > Chapter 7: The Twiosmicstar Forest > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch(MLP) Chapter 7: The Twiosmicstar Forest... A hang-glider sails over the massive forest that was a beauty from the sky, the dark green leaves blowing the air, the man on his glider taking pictures of the forest from the air, the small gorge ridges within the woodland could be seen with the flow of a small river into a small pond like lake area close to the small gorge a tourist sight of heaven seeing the beauty of the nature. Big Macintosh walked along aside Hazel through the housing estate up to the forest entrance by the residential area, he could see the shop she spoke of. He came up it looking at the little figures of different type of wild animals that seem to be native to the UK including by a set of postcards on a twirling stand of different parts of the forest he saw just to his right. Hazel stood by the entrance seeing Big Mac look at all the items on the front stands she could easily see her brother as he usually would scan different items to think about buying but very carefully not to since there hardly room left in the house for anything else. “Hey bro why don't we get something to eat inside before going into the forest?” Big Mac turn to Hazel holding one of the little fox figures and placed it back down “Ok” they step inside and for him he was seeing to his left a long table with five tills with two people on them and to his right was six isles of different items that was sold, he walked with Hazel seeing on the first isle having baked goods from bread to cakes, cookies and some other stuff, he noticed on the right against the wall was magazines. He saw next was a small freezer of ice cream and lollies then ready made sandwiches the shop had almost everything all in one, the other isles had tin food, animal food, frozen foods to be cooked and even fruit and veg, he took a red apple from the shelf seeing the UK flag mark on it. “What does this mark mean?” “Oh that it the flag of the UK, you know the country we live it, that sticker says it grown and picked here in the UK from one of those orchards” Hazel pulled out her purse “Come on bro, I'd get you that apple and we can take a walk into the forest” Big Macintosh gave her the apple and she took a two bottles of apple juice as well going to the till paying it with paper money he stared at the cash with confusion the money he knew of was with coins called Bits, he noticed also some coins was giving back to her each seem to be different shapes and sizes. “Is that the type of money used here?” he asked with wonder “Yeah it is bro” she took the bag of items “Thank you” “Your welcome miss and hope you have a great day in the woods today, it sure be cooler then in here” the lady at the counter said “But better then two days ago” “Tell me about it” Hazel chuckled and they left as some people entered to get their food. Big Mac ate some of the apple looking to the entrance of the forest he noticed two men standing at either side of the a arch saying 'Welcome to Twiosmicstar Forest' he noticed the guards had black shoes and trousers wearing a red coat with the biggest and longest black fluffy hats he ever seen and both men standing and staring right out into seem nothingness holding what look like some sort of weapon. “Erm... are those royal guards?” “Yep there sure are bro, they more like a symbol of the British being the guards of the royalty and such, they stationed them at the forest main entrance for the last fifty or so years now after Queen Elizabeth the Second made it official that the forest is now a protective heritage for many generations to come” Hazel replied walking up one waving her had in front of him “One we can't touch them but another thing they never move, smile or anything, they always look that serious” she came back to him. “It strange telling you all this you know?” “Yes it would be” 'Not for me since ah never saw such a strange outfit for guards, ah'm saw the pegasus guards that Princess Celestia had but never thought the queen keep some of her guards all the way from the palace for a forest...' “Come on bro I think you will find this interesting” they walk by as some people with a whole bunch of kids walked by them with the boys and girls in two by two line talking to each other and showing their drawings to each other about the forest. “Hi Miss Edwin another trip with the kids I see?” “Yes Hazel and good to see you again, sorry I can't stay and chat, we got to get the kids on the bus and back to school” the teacher replied and leaves with Hazel waving her hand to them. Big Macintosh watched them all get on a very large metal machine with wheels that he guess was the bus and hearing the sound of the engine come to life it reverses out of the large carpark driving off down the road. “Bro this is the map” He came to the large display case showing a map of the forest it was huge. Twiosmistar Forest Size: 6.5 sq miles Founding: 1621 Protected by the Crown “The forest is over 400 years old in the record books but many believe it far older and been around since all the way back beyond 1000AD. No one really can determine it age but it ancient historic site though” Hazel turn to him “You told me all this when you first took me here” she smirked “Now I get to tell you it” “Yep” he saw a small red button and pushed it. “Twiosmistar Forest... this ancient woodland was once upon a time far larger then it is today, due to the effects of demands of wood for the latter part of the 14th and 16th century it was led to believe that the trees was cut down to create forts and homes quickly reducing the size of the forest for also farming” a display on a small screen showing the size of the forest shrinking to the shape it was today and Big Macintosh found it strange the shape of the forest if made it round would look like a crescent moon with a unicorn to the left of it with the gorge marking out the lines of it with some clearing. “In 1951 in the need for homes New Town was built” another image shows the town growing “By 1962 the crown order of the Queen made it a sanctuary of beauty and wonder stopping development for cutting down this ancient woodland being smaller to Epping Forest this histrionic landscape has also it far share of stories from woodland horrors, mysterious and wonders with a many from far and wide exploring the Twiosmistar woodland. May your visit to the woodland be a wondrous and magical experience...” Big Macintosh noticed the footpath was huge but also there was a area marked for bikers to ride as he saw some ride by or going into the forest. Without saying anything he walks to it with Hazel walking alongside him as they got deeper into it he turn to the entrance the trees been cut back a little into a arch or tunnel but what made him feel strange was the sudden coolness of the area even with the sun light coming through gaps in the tree line. “Cold isn't it?” “Yep it is...” he walking with her down the path seeing benches every so often with bins, there was park keepers there too picking up litter or doing some pruning of some bushes or tending to flowers that grew in the chilly felt woodland. He saw lamps every so often as well which mean the paths was lit up, they came up to different paths leading else where but with massive signs with cycling with a cross through the person a bike. “Are some of these paths off limits to these bikes?” “They sure are Wayne, it a safety reason for those that walk those paths, this main path we on leave around the lake or pond whatever you like to call the bloody thing and out the other side, it was the only main path created to go through the main part of the woodland, it would take us roughly two hours to walk through it to the otherside, but there a shop half way there in the open field part with that amazing gorge and lake, it would take us about a hour to walk there if you don't mind the walk bro” she explained about the distance and how far it was to walk. Big Macintosh thought about it “Ok lets do it” “Right lets go!” she waved her hand in the direction of the large foot/cycle path and they started to walk again. After walking for quite some time Big Mac was looking around with wonder and amazement, this forest was huge but the feel of it and sight was to be beyond a doubt beautiful. He even saw what look like a large wooden bridge kept in good condition over parts of the gorge that they was close to seeing people standing on it taking photos or pointing to the wildlife in the small river flowing under it. Soon the clearing came to view seeing the building she spoke of but he did take note of the one toilet felicities that past on the way. But the shop looked like was a old house from the look of things compared to the buildings he seen, Big Macintosh noticed many families sitting together on the field enjoying the day with a safety barrier along the gorge that was in plan sight but what caught he eyes was a large ruins that seem to be some form of palace of castle that had more of it going up hill slightly with trees and plants growing all over it. “Is there a history to those ruins? Hazel” “Sure is Wayne” Hazel step up to it with Big Mac standing by the gorge barrier seeing some people take photos of the ruins “It offlimits to everyone cause of it age and the fact there a lot of mystery to it, no one knows it real age but believe to be built by a powerful man, he was the lord of the land to what some believe but no one really knew what he name was or why build a castle in the middle of the forest specially here near this clearing. But most things we heard it older then the name of the forest” “What exactly happened to it?” “Well from what you told me I believe you said that the lord of the castle was nocturnal and never awake during the day but was a kind of gentle soul that was turned on by his people and they razed the castle to the ground and what was left was this, it surprising how much of it still intact but some people he had the power of magic through his hands and able to call upon the night for strength, it all myth and legends with no real evidence to say other wise, since it a protected site, no one can enter it without being sent to jail” Hazel explained to him. “Pretty neat forest isn't it?” “Yep and full of history too” “That is for sure bro, come on lets get a bite to eat in the café before heading back” he nods to her recalling that he eaten the apple and drunk the drink already since it was a nice day and the sun was starting to set with the mix of colours coming, he wondered if the Queen was lowering the sun and rising the Moon if she was royalty. “This might be strange to hear but how are the sun and moon controlled?” Hazel looked at him weirdly “Erm it not... I guess you forgot that too” she tapping her finger on his forehead reaching up at it since he was over a head taller then her. “The Earth moves around the sun and spins while the moon moves around the Earth, it all to do with gravity and motion bro, I will show you when we get home, but think of everything in a manner of speaking as a big Everfree Forest, we guild plants to grow but mostly they grow by themselves, animals mostly are wild and take care of themselves like foxes and such and the weather can not be controlled or mother nature has a way of fighting back, trust me you wouldn't like to see what happens when man meddles with the weather” He stared at her with surprise “The Earth is one big Everfree forest?” she nods “that certainly something I didn't expect” “Wow your brain must be really rattled up to think Earth to be like the world Equestria in, make sense that some of your memoirs still there is of the show, you loved the magic and mysterious of that world, that why you created so many stories and drawings” Hazel put her hand on his back “Come on bro let get a bite to eat and I will show you some pictures on my iPad” she pulled it out of her bag with the other hand. “Is that cool with ya?” “Yep” 'Mah sister never going to believe how crazy this world is... no weather control or making, sun and moon works on it own, animals mostly wild and plants mostly grow on their own without help. For sure a big Everfree forest yet ah bet it has it dangers too...' He turn his head back to the castle ruins again with wonder of what this world could really throw at him and what else he needed to know but one thing for sure he wanted back into his own life and body... Through out the rest of the day Big Mac learned a lot about the Earth and how many rules with regulations made things to be a massive headache rubbing the still bandaged head, he also learned that the forest shape looking like a moon and unicorn was not intention and really noticed after season one of MLP Generation four beginning episodes. He also learned about the Grand Oak, being the oldest and largest tree in the forest that sat just under a mile away from the ruins and towered over many other trees for it size, he never expected that the tree was not only old but still full of such life with it branches hanging over a great deal of it area, the tree of a piece of what nature had to show. They soon arrived back home with the sun complete set and the night sky with all the stars out with the moon full with a illuminating light “About time you two got home, I was starting to worry since Wayne can't hardly remember a thing” Michelle said seeing them both step into the house grilling her daughter “But did you have fun?” “Yep” “He sure did mum” “That good, why don't you run yourself a bath and take those bandages off, there plenty of hot water in the tank” Michelle said to Big Macintosh He was unsure by this and didn't say anything taking the footwear off he went upstairs finding the bath room but he noticed a set of clothing sat on the side on a box, he look to the note “here is your nightware” he whispered and guess it was Wayne's mother, he turn to the door and locked it now he turn to the tub before him “Knobs” he whispered seeing the way the water was run and saw the plug, he put it in and started running the hot water. 'Ah guessing with the lock on the door they rather bave and clean in private... this is going to be strange... ah'm not even sure how to clean myself with these stuff' he took a look at the bottles left out, one saying shower gel and another saying face wash and finally another saying shampoo. 'Ah guess this what Wayne uses... ah'm wonder if he figure out how to run the bath in mah house and lack of locks, since ponies got nothing to hide unlike humans but when the door is shut they know it in use and mah sisters and Granny Smith always knock... one reason ah want to return home... humans just very weird...' > Chapter 8: Penny for your thoughts > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 8: Penny for your Thoughts... Wayne sighed in relief with the hot steaming water against his red fur, he didn't care how strange it felt it just glad to had figure out how to use to stuff in the bathroom all by himself even using the toilet which was something of a odd experience for him being what he was now being all hoofed at such. The tub he was in was easily big enough and easy enough to get in and out of but surprising to find such something like that in a farm like Applejack and the others lived in, but he could guess why they modernised it for Granny Smith easy access seeing she was around when Ponyville was created which reminded him of home... Resting his forelegs on the sides clop the right front hoof on the side, the sound he gotten use to since being in this body was strange but he was thinking about why there was no locks on the door, he did tell Applejack he was having a bath so they know he was in there and his guess was the lack of a lock since they all ponies and particle worn nothing at all for the most part. 'Finally got some alone time... maybe now I could be a bit more of myself and not Macintosh...' Wayne lift his right hind leg up out of the water staring at it with Macintosh's green eyes “Almost myself” he whispered putting the hind leg back in the water. Staring at the steamed up mirror he could make out Macintosh's eyes staring back at him, those most of the time gentle green eyes and the stallion face with those three freckles under each eye and when he gave a smirk he saw the same smirk in the cartoons. “Creeepppy...” he whispered watching his mouth move when saying it and laughed softly turning his head resting it against the side of the tub. “Eeyup... this is going to be taking some getting use to, just need to keep cool and not make any bloody mistakes” he whispered keeping it low so none of the apple family even walking by the door could hear him speak, he need to clear the air and speak his own mind... Wayne sunk deeper into the water placing the front hooves into the water letting all his worries just sink for now just wanting to relax with closed eyes he let out a deep sigh of relaxation and wondered if Big Macintosh ever felt this way when having a bath after a long days work at Sweet Apple Acres. One thing that nagged his mind is that way things work in his world, Big Mac most likely sitting in the bath trying to think of what he be doing since it would most likely be the case that work would give quite some time off before getting him back behind a till and such... 'I think he going to be bored out of his mind over there... I would be gaming, drawing or writing a story... aw crap... how am I going to do my stories? Maybe I can do it on the free times I can get... yeah I could do that...' Macintosh... Morning had came for him already and staring at the items in the house, he wasn't sure what to do with himself, the computers and TVs was just a bit too weird for him, he would be working hard at Sweet Apple Acres by now by he knew Wayne would be doing that since Applejack would still believe he is him and would get him back into the swing of the farm... Big Macintosh step out into the garden seeing how untidy it was, it was small but he knew a few things with plants since he grew up on a farm so he did what came natural to him and started to work on cutting back some plants and pulling out weeds after finding some tools, he had to admit the human hands had their advantages and using the thick gloves he found the thrones didn't bug him much. Michelle just finished ironing the clothing from the washing machine when she saw Big Mac working in the garden and was amazed how effortless he was doing it, she hated fixing up the garden but she guess it was some of the child hood gardening clubs he took was coming back to him. She decided to leave him to it and carried on with her house hold chores as Hazel and Nigel was both at work and she was keeping a eye on her son even it was a pony inside the human body of her son. He did take note that Michelle wasn't bothered by him doing a bit of gardening in the back garden of the house. 'Ah'm wonder if Wayne had some experience with farming or to do with plants...' he continued to work with many things on his mind “Penny for your thoughts?” “What?” Big Mac look to see Michelle standing over him with a hot cup of tea “I can see your a bit restless but you don't need to work on the garden Wayne” she put the cup down by him “It still good to see that you remember those lessons you had when you was a kid, you sure loved the gardening clubs at school. Not many did” He took a little drink of the tea “I'm just finding the TVs and Computers a little weird... I just felt more comfortable doing something then sitting around...” “Yeah I know, restlessness right?” he nods and she put a hand on his shoulder “Well keep up the good work, you really got the gardening down.” she stood against the wall. “I bet you got that apple orchard on your mind” “Yep” Michelle thought about it “Well after you finished up here, how about we take a bike ride there?” “Bike ride?” he looked puzzled Wayne... Wayne pulled the plug and dried himself off with the towel that he found to have Big Macintosh's cutie mark on it easy to tell whose towel is, he was surprised how smoothly it went to dry himself off with it even with the hooves but he didn't bother question how this world worked anymore, he just had to do what he had to do for Macintosh... Wayne put the towel over the rail to dry off, he step out into the corridor looking to the stairs he could easily smell the sweet scent of dinner then a twitch of the ears he heard the call “Big Mac get ya flank down here, dinner ready!” Applejack yelled up “Eeyup” he chuckled lightly making his way down to the dining room to join the apple family for dinner. Wayne sat with them as they started to eat, he was still thinking about what happened and wonder what could of attacked Twilight's machine, he knew something must behind the magical orbs and whatever the princess did stopped the magic from working for only about a minute or so... “How was it Big Mac?” Applebloom spoke snapping the red stallion out of his stray thoughts. “With Applejack working beside me it went well, made a few mistakes but ah'm starting to get a hang of it again” he replied and ate some of his oats which tasted good but guess he had Macintosh's taste buds... Applejack put her mug down “He sure did, but he stuck to his hooves and proud of ya big brother” “Thank ya Applejack that means alot” Wayne smiled and took a whisk of some of the apple cider and put it down with the girls trying not to laugh “Wat?” he looked down and realised seeing some of the foam, he took a cloth with both hooves wiping it off, laughing a little with them. Granny Smith felt happy seeing them having a good evening “This is what ah'm like to see, mah family having a good evening putting all worries to side” “Eeyup” Applejack, Applebloom and Wayne said together with a grin at each other. Unknown... “Consensuses has been made” “The lifeform named Sparkle, Twilight royalty Princess almost ended the experiment of test orb seven” “The term of the field of magic and individual thoughts is still being studied, test seven of soul switch is different to the last six...” “Action 3982 was taken to divert their attention from what they discovered blinding the humans and the ponies with the terms 'surprise' and 'misleading', the chance of experiment ending at set date is 98.7% likely” “Consensuses has been made... keep diverting the truth and watching test subjects for signs of misleading, data shows human Dolphin Wayne made a message to Pony Stallion Macintosh Big... consensuses has not been made on how they seem to be able to create this set of events...” “First results to show level of sanity as human and pony adapting and analysing, they are aware of the orb's influence, test subjects are failures, results are inconclusive... terminating the life forms should be made...” “Negative there is no consensuses, the test will continue” “Consensuses has been made continue to obverse events including the blockage of the words 'Wayne' in kingdom marked at Equestria and the confusion created by the words 'Mac and Macintosh' with humans, studies and analysing has picked up some unique results...” “Macintosh Big has arrived at New Town Apple Orchard Day Five, data shows 97% gardening home took longer then predicted... risk of detection has dropped by 19%” “Confirmed, there is consensuses... observing day five morning New Town Earth... Orchard Apple...” New Town Apple Orchard... The New Town Apple Orchard a once proud owned site on the southern tip of the Twiosmistar Forest now sits long empty of activity since the credit crunch forced it closure, since then the trees grown a bit wild with the barn and house falling into disrepair, the dirt road leading up to the house even had better days, it been over twelve years since anyone step foot on the land with fences up saying 'private property, Keep out' and 'For Sale' with a phone number under it. Big Macintosh arrived on Wayne's bike which he managed to get a hang of in one go, it was all down to balance and pushing the pedals at the right time with breaks and such, he thanked the farm work for that and the Cake's cake too that he carried on his back, that was all to balance even though his sister and friends helped at the end. “Here we are” Michelle got off the bike putting it against the fence “New Town Apple Orchard or what left of the place, over twelve years ago this place was a business that sold apples to quite the number of super markets but with the credit crunch came the rise in cost, stock markets crashing and all the other political bull crap... I use to work here” Michelle sighed “Guess that why your so interested in this place for my own sake... but Wayne you need to just let bye gone be bye gones...” “What did you do here? Mum” he paused for a second before calling her mum. Michelle put her back against the fence with arms crossed “Nothing special, I helped with the apple picking and making sure they went to the right places once loaded, ladders and picking. Since they closed I been living off benefits unable to find a job, don't really want to go back to the capital working in the Underground.” she sighed “this was a peaceful job compared to the city life but nothing could be done so I just live my life as it is now and pay the bills and such, getting by day to day living it as it comes”. Big Macintosh looked through the fence seeing the size of the apple farm, it was about three quarters the size of their farm maybe less but this place had been abandon and almost forgotten since he learned the credit crunch as they called it put so many old businesses out of business for good. “Underground?” “Oh right sorry... forgetting the amnesia... it a network of trains that move around mostly under the city it self, it called the London Underground” “Hoovdon Underground” he whispered “Hmm?” “Nothing...” Big Mac lied feeling a bit uncomfortable saying that but he felt strange that some of the places had similar names to that of places he knew... “How much would it cost to buy this land?” Michelle sighed again rubbing her forehead “Wayne... son we been through this a dozen times already” she turn to view of the orchard “Since you don't remember it will cost close to almost half million pounds to buy the land from the council... that kind of money doesn't grow on trees” “On this Euromillions it does right?” “Only if your that lucky son” she push off the fence “Other then that it highly unlikely to happen and we got to keep the roof we have over our heads. Why don't we go to Mcd's and see about getting you back to work?” “Yep” he decided to just go with it and they got back on their bikes, he took one last glance at the orchard, he could see a lot of apples ready for picking as well many others that rotting away on the ground, if he did win this cash it would mean a lot of cleaning up to get this orchard back into tip top shape which got his mind whirling with a fair number of ideas, he will do what Wayne had gave him to go by and keep to pretence... including in working in such a place that cooked meat that gave him a cold shiver that made him feel very sick to the stomach and thought come to mind 'ah might not like the idea of what these humans do to animals but and the end this is their world and not mine... ah sure miss home... mah sisters and Granny...' tears fell from Macintosh which Michelle noticed but she believed it was just girth from the last few days of stress he was under as they left the orchard heading to the town. Strange enough when Wayne sat at the window looking at the Luna Moon of a clear night sky he felt sick to the stomach of the stallion he was in when thinking about what he ate for most of his life and sitting here in Sweet Apple Acres and the room of Big Macintosh hit home how much life was better here in this world compared to his... 'Home is where you make it... when I return to my own body meat is for sure off the menu for good... and got to hoof it to you Big Macintosh, yep hoof it for sure' he put his front legs on the window side putting his head against them looking out to the night sky watching a few streaks of light shot across the sky... 'I sure miss home... even it been a stressful living... I just wish I could go home... my mum, brother and sister... I miss them so much...' tears fell from his eyes feeling the pain of home sick > Chapter 9: The Sisters Suspicion > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 9: The Sisters Suspicion... Hazel just finished work at the multi chain restaurant McDonalds where she and her brother worked at. She was packing her hat and other things into her bag with Wayne only a few feet away eating the home made meal he prepared himself, to her it would be about 100 feet away since she still enjoyed the time with him but things was starting to mount up that she just couldn't ignore... “It is now day 12 of the unusually events that took place on that very day, the events that lead to a world wide lose of two words that still under investigate and no where near to solving, as you can see from these word cards we can still write the word out and think it but when it comes to saying the mystery over it still remains, the word even in different languages all over the world could not be said. We will keep you aprized of any new developments of this continuing mystery” The news report continued to other stories as Hazel watched Wayne just listen to it and hardly said anything, he was always over explaining things but most of the time she got a short answer response was 'yep and 'nope'. “Hey bro see back at home?” “Yep” he replied with a smile and continued to eat his break. Hazel smiled in return leaving the crew room and the store, on the way home she was lost in thought about the whole thing 'Almost two weeks now... Wayne watched almost every one of those episodes about three times over, I am glad he got back into it but other then that he seem to just spend his time and money on the garden... heck he even made the garden look like something from one of those shows... still he seem to visit that Orchard a lot and even bought a small apple tree that he planted in the garden... a apple tree!' She continued down the path to home seeing the large forest to her right “The short answers and the apple tree... if I didn't know any better he was acting some what similar to that farm pony Big...” sudden she walked into someone “Sorry I wasn't paying...” her eyes glued on what she walked into and it staring wide eyes too “WHAT!?” she closed her eyes rubbing them and opened them again to see nothing “N-no way... but I...” she was looking at a man at her with shock. “Miss... erm you ok?” he said a little freaked by what she screamed out. “Ye-yeah sorry mister” she turn and walked on home “Ok Hazel your going a bit nuts your starting to see ponies in your day dreams... just relax...” then she paused “Wait a second that happened when I started to suspect Wayne of being someone else...” she tried to recall what she saw, it was a pony for sure a big one at that but nothing else came to mind then she realised whom it was. 'I saw Big Macintosh, for the spilt second I saw him and walked into him or was it that man, he seem to had dropped that brief case of papers... but why would I see a fictional character and walk into one if it was just my imagination...' Hazel arrived at home putting her stuff down seeing Michelle in the garden feeding the plants with water. The garden looked like a piece of eden with it being blooming with flowers and the tree they now had looking that little stronger every day with first signs of apples starting to grow. “Hello Hazel how was work?” “It was good, Wayne being polite and short answered as always, he got the hang of the tills again but I think he just does the job but rather not be there” Hazel replied walking into the garden “He seem to have more joy making this garden smile” “If that was so Hazel but you have to admit he did a amazing job, look at these roses that never bloomed so well, if I didn't know any better I would of thought he grew up on a farm all his life and knew how to take care of plants and you wouldn't believe what he got us as well” Michelle points and Hazel gasped. “A puppy!? He bought a puppy!?” she knelt down to the little black dog wagging it tail happily barking. “When did he get this little guy?” “Today before going to work, he managed to get a good deal on this alsatian after we haven't owned a dog in over seven years... I thought we would never but I got to admit this little guy is full of life and character...” Michelle turn the water off and pick up the puppy “I've named him Buddy. I know it not original but I couldn't think of any better name then that” she rubbing the belly of the pup. “Isn't that right buddy” Hazel rubbing her head a bit “Mum don't you think Wayne acting a bit off more then lately?” “Well of course, you know he got amnesia and he will act and do things differently, I decided to give him a wide birth and let him do what he likes to do in the borders of reason, it might be strange he hardly on his computer anymore but still he my son and no matter what I love him” “Even he is not even Wayne?” Hazel said with a frown “What is that suppose to mean Hazel?” “Nothing... forget I asked...” Hazel turn away and goes back into the house. Michelle shrugs and put the pup down and continues to put water on the plants. “Not even Wayne... what the bloody hell was that suppose to mean?” she turn back to the door to the house... Hazel after getting changed decided to put all the pieces together to sum up to this day. “Day one... Wayne struck in the back of the head after being thrown by something... that still unknown but he states it was a orb... looked up information came up nothing about a orb part from 569 years ago when a king went a bit nuts but no real information about that too...” “Day Two he acts like he wasn't even suppose to be human, he charging around from what doctors told me... Wayne trying to move on his hands and feet as if he was four legged or something, but that could be due to the fact of being a baby and some memoirs of that around... and adding that the nurse told me he kicked a generator back to life after failing to understand how the wiring works...” Hazel pulls over another page in the book. “Day three he returns home and things seem to be ok then suddenly he seem to be back to normal almost... we visited the Twiosmistar Forest and told him everything as he was a kid. That was kind of funny in some ways...” “Day four when things really came a little more noticeable... I heard from mum he started to work on the garden and heck he was able to find and pick the weeds as if he knew exactly he was looking for and cut back a lot of the plants even digging out the old tree that died about four years ago to a lightning strike... still nothing too weird I guess...” “Day five... Mum takes him to the New Town Apple Orchard and reviles she use to work there before closure and seem to set off a spark in him that want to help out mum more then ever before, I never seen my brother so driven... also he got his job back that day and I helped him learn to use tills with a program on the computer, he still doesn't seem to trust computers much... he seem wary and confused on how they work but after putting some mathematical points to it he seem to get a head around it quickly... very weird...” “Day Seven through ten... this is when things get seriously weird, one was that he eating no meat at all now, not even his ham sandwiches with ketchup which is crazy... Well part from that he still like ketchup he has it with his meat free meals. But one thing that I did notice he seem to question about the human race and wonder why being the same race they was so far apart, I got to admit he had a very good point, over 150 countries or more all over the world, different laws, rules and whatever else you like to throw into it with all sorts of beliefs and such. So can't fault my bro on that... But one thing that don't add up is how the heck did he manage to not only made the garden amazingly beautiful but where did he get that apple tree from? I did a little research and shocked to find he bought it from a international seller in London... and to top it off he been talking a bit less then usually and spending some of his time checking up on that crummy old farm that no one wants, it in disrepair... over grown and to top it all off it not even liveable...” Hazel summaryizing up everything she wrote down. “And he just spent almost 50 pounds on next fridays euromillions! What the bloody hell he thinking about spending so much cash on trying to win something that he never won in his whole life since that came out... so there 97 million pound roll over doesn't mean spending all that cash you got a chance on getting it... as he told me with a mix of weird words yesterday... 'Taking a leap of faith is something y'all need to take...' that when I figured something was really up... my bro one thing but taking a leap like that? Buying a apple tree that bloody starting to show apples on it and to top it all off is those annoying short beat stupid answers 'yep' and 'nope'!” Hazel closed the book up putting it to the side. “And today I thought I ran into Applejack's big brother... unless...” she looked at all the stuff “Nah that not possible... but could it be? Could he be in my brother's head? But mum and Nigel don't see anything wrong with him and just see amnesia... but how can something like that even happen” she looked at day one again “The crazy king! That my answer!” she quickly got her coat on and about to leave when Big Mac came through the door. “Hey bro” “Hi Haz, I'll be ready for the movie in a moment, still having some trouble getting changed in and out of clothes” he said walking up the stairs. “Damn it I forgot all about it... guess the library going to have to wait... don't want my suspicious to catch on...” Hazel whispered then spoke up the stairs “Alright bro I'll be waiting!” Applejack... Walking to Golden Oak library she was a bit worried and wanted to get some answers, she knew only one pony to talk about this matter, it wasn't anything too concerning over the issue since her brother Big Macintosh was doing all the chores as if nothing had changed but she had noticed all the little things starting to crop up over the last almost two weeks. 'Ah'm need to keep this to myself and Twilight if needed... she the one that been studying about that weird orb thing... Applebloom and Granny Smith seem to be content with this amnesia stuff but ah'm not... not after what Applebloom found in his room, ah know she and the other girls shouldn't of been in there but what they found really started make me wonder...' Applejack arrived at the library to see Princess Celestia leaving “Howdy Princess what bring y'all to Ponyville?” The sun princess smiled to the element bearer of Honesty “I personally just brought back news from the a friend from Hoovdon” “Ah'm didn't know y'all had a friend all the way out to that city princess” Applejack was surprised. “Her name is Britannia, she was made captain of the guard at the city of Hoovdon, I can not be everywhere at once Applejack, so I send some of my most trusted and well respected ponies to places and send word back to me, she a kind and well sometimes excessive unicorn but her heart is always in the right place.” “Was it about that strange metal thing that Pinkie Pie found?” “Indeed it was, sorry to say we came up with no answers to why or where that strange metal thing was... I have duties to attend to in Canterlot now, have a pleasant day” Celestia got on her chariot and the pegasus guards take off. “See ya Princess” Applejack waved her hoof and went up to the door. “Howdy Twilight can ah'm come in?” Twilight sat staring at the metal shard in a glass case in the library “Sure Applejack, your always welcomed” she smiled to her friend turning to Applejack. “So what can I do for you today?” Applejack walked inside looking around “is Spike here?” “No he helping Rarity out making some new stallion outfits, I heard she asked if Big Macintosh would help her out with some measurements.” Twilight replied as Applejack closed the door. “That is true and he already had, which is one of the things ah'm noticed with mah brother in the last two weeks...” Applejack sighed sitting on the steps looking over to Twilight with some concern. “And now ah'm found these” she pulled off her saddle back and open it up. Twilight took them with her magic and was amazed “he drew these?” Applejack nods “Wow his mouth drawing is really amazing, he definitively caught your best side Applejack” she looking at the drawing of her and Applebloom working together on some grape smashing. “He sure did and look at these” Twilight took the next lot and scanning through it she glance to Applejack then back at the writing “This is story...” “Eeyup, Big Macintosh doesn't even know ah'm taken them from his room and brought ya them, he working out on the farm at the moment as always” Applejack replied “Equine Switch... got a nice ring too it” she read a bit more out loud “A experimental spell made by Princess Twilight Sparkle leaves Ponyville by morning different the ever before, the pegasi become unicorns, the unicorns become earth ponies and the earth ponies become pegasi, can Twilight undo the spell or will Ponyville have to adapt to their new forms for the rest of their lives?” Twilight skimming through the pages “There some grammar issues here and there with some spelling but this is amazing and it about us! I would love to read all of this, it... wait how did he get our personalities down like this?” “Ya can blame Pinkie Pie for that one sugarcube, she wouldn't stop talking to him about all of us for every so often” Applejack replied “But ya see what ah mean about my concerns do ya?” “Well with Pinkie Pie blabbering about us like that I would but that Pinkie Pie for you Applejack, not sure what wrong with this or Big Macintosh though even with his big gaps in memoirs but thanks to you and your family and every pony else he getting them back. I thought you be happy” Twilight looked a little lost to why Applejack seem to be a little suspicious over this. Applejack smiled a little “Don't ya get me wrong, it great that he got back into the role of his chores and book keeping, he even did good at the apple stall but ah'm noticing things that doesn't seem to be like him at all... he has those moments when he just plan old Big Macintosh but then ya have those moments he talk and sometimes over explain something, it just strange to hear him talk so much” Twilight thought about it and recalled that “Yeah I did notice that but I just believe it one of those effects of amnesia and that orb does cause it, in all six other cases it was more crazier” “What ya mean?” “Well from what I found out and been told they lost their minds completely, one case was Princess Celestia's personal friend 256 years ago, he went completely crazy and called her a demon horse” Applejack gave her the weirdest look ever when saying it. “Yeah I know weird right? But think about this... your lucky” “How so?” “He might talk up a storm, draw this amazingly and write this amazing fictional novel about us and Ponyville but he still your brother and that what counts” Twilight sat by her. Applejack sighed “Yeah ah guess so but...” “Applejack stop doubting him and being suspicious, he might never be back to his normal self ever but you have to remember this Applejack he not going crazy and he trying his hardest to be the brother you once knew” Twilight put her hoof around her friends back Applejack smirked “Ya know what sugarcube y'all right, Big Macintosh is trying his hardest to be whom he once was” A knock on the door and voice made Applejack's face turn into fear “Princess ah'm got y'all apples that ya requested” Twilight quickly spoke “Be there in a second!” the sound of books falling from the door could be heard then the door opened as she stumbled a little. “Sorry about that, you caught me sorting out the library” “It ok Twilight, here are ya apples” he put the basket down before her. Twilight gave him the bits “Thanks again Big Mac, oh and say hi to Applejack for me” “Eeyup” he got back into the harness and pulls the apple cart away walking back to Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack peered around the corner from upstairs “Is he gone?” “Yeah he is, it safe Applejack” “Thanks Twilight ah own ya one” Applejack look to the basket of apples “Ah completely forgot today was delivery day for ya sugarcube” Twilight grinned “Now whom the one that got amnesia” “Twilight ah...” she shook her head “Ya got me” “Sure did” they laughing a little. “Ah better get back to the farm and put these back before he notices” she notice Twilight was staring behind her with eyes shrunk “Twilight?” she saw a shadow form over her. “Big Mac behind me isn't he?” she nods “Aw nuts...” Unknown... “There is growing suspicion between the two named Dolphin Hazel and Pony Earth Applejack” “The experiment must continue, results are becoming uncertain with each passing day...” “Yes consensus has been made... analysing what has happened, not happened and just happened we have decided to act” “Yes act on this and see how it works, creating a natural storm and a accident?” “Be warned there is a 23% chance of innocent fatalities” “A acceptable risk for the experiment” “We are in consensus prepare for results...” “Agreed” “Agreed” “Agreed” “Day 14 will be the mark... now we watch and see” > Chapter 10: Finally we Meet > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 10: Finally we meet... Applejack tapping her front hooves together sitting by Twilight's work table feeling like she let her own big brother down just like that by snooping around after what Applebloom and the other Crusaders found when doing something for her big brother. Twilight just sat there with Spike seeing the big red work pony trotting back and forwards in front of Applejack with a bit of a disapproved face to say the least. “Ah'm sorry for taking ya stuff Big Mac... ah was just concerned over the fact ya been acting a bit strange... ah'm should of came to ya not be some stupid filly sneaking around to find something bad on another pony...” Applejack confessed to her big brother. Wayne wasn't sure how to work this out he didn't have the heart to tell her off at all, even with his own sister he couldn't be anger with her for long even after some of the crazy things they got into when they was younger... “Ah accept ya apology AJ” she raised her head looking at his big green eyes. “Ah'm would be doing the same if y'all hooves if it was ya acting strange... ah'm not sure if ah'm acting out of character or not being much of a big brother to ya, it hard to not know when ya got big gaps in y'all memoirs and ya don't even know it...” Twilight found it weird hearing this lengthy speech from first hoof and so did Spike with his jaw hanging, she knew he wasn't much of a talker but when he had to say it... he said it perfectly and with meaning... “Ya right Big Mac, ya don't know if y'all acting off since ah'm never said anything about it in the last few weeks...” “It ok AJ” Wayne decided to give Applejack a hug and she returned it. “Whoa look at this story! It got me and the others in it...” they all turn to see Rainbow Dash looking at the sheets of paper “What the hay!? Big Mac why have you got me without wings and a cursed horn on my head! I am not a unicorn!” Twilight took the papers away “Rainbow Dash it a story and fictional, plus did you read the summary it a crazy spell that switch all of Ponyville ponies types around.” Twilight then frown at her “And when did you show up?” “Oh when I saw Big Macintosh not looking so pleased with AJ, I heard she took his things from Scoots so I came to see if I can get a peek of this so called cool story and what I see I like, not sure much of this unicorn thing but what the hay, it a story and we in it” “Rainbow... you just said...” “Yeah yeah I know what I said Twilight but it just a shock to even dare thing I would have a horn over my wings, glad it fictional though” Rainbow Dash turn to Wayne “great story big guy, hurry up and finish it so I can read the rest” Wayne gulped a bit “ah'm just did it to pass the time in the evening... it just y'all all did things no pony else did in a life time, ah'm just didn't write to be published or anything, ya think others might take it too serious and well... ah'm a work pony by trade and writing isn't mah strong point” Twilight thought of a idea “How about we rewrite this and change some of the words around, like the names, the town and such, that why it doesn't have to be about us or Ponyville and still get to be published as a novel by the Apple farming Big Macintosh of Sweet Apple Acres” Applejack grinned “Ah'm like the sound of that, well Big Mac ya got mah vote” “Same here big guy” Rainbow Dash smirked “Yeah I would love to see how it turns out, and making up pony names and such will be a cool thing to do, each of us could create one to help Big Mac” Spike added “Great idea! Like replace my name with Mythic Moon a stallion of great magical power that always has his head in the clouds thinking of new possible spells!” Twilight beamed Wayne gulped with sweat rolling down his face 'What the bloody hell have I got myself into...' he thought and look to each of them “if ya incise only during mah off times... chores at Sweet Apple Acres will always come first, the farm will not run it self” “Too right Big Mac, the farm comes first but if that ticker of a brain keep going ya get this finished in no time flat!” Applejack gave her brother another hug feeling happy. Rainbow Dash saw a drawing of her and Scootaloo “Whoa this is awesome! Hey Big Macintosh can I keep this one?” “Eeyup” “SWEET!” she took it and rolled it up “Well got to buzz guys! Got some awesome training to do!” with a blur she was gone... The memoires of that day two days ago surfaced as Wayne was hard at work... he sighed knowing that he gotten into something real deep now... In the field working hard Wayne had gotten into the swing of things through the red coated, light gamboge mane work pony and the only problem he had was his mouth, Applejack had started to suspect the whole amnesia story with the odd and ends that popped out of his mouth time and again, it didn't help that he was using some of the free time to use his own creative mind to make stories and drawings. But luckily for him he was able to turn some of the mistakes he made around and Applejack was off his case a little but he still didn't like pretending to be someone he wasn't really and it was getting to him more and more as he lived the life of a hard working pony like Macintosh... 'Applebloom' he thought of, it was her whom discovered the story he been working on and she showing it to her sister Applejack that was surprised by it, the grammar and spelling needed a little work he recalled but he never thought that it would be found but Wayne forgot one key thing since he was using the amnesia story he should of knew they would go into Big Mac's room and try to help jog back the memoirs of their dear beloved brother. The droplets fell and he looked up with the green eyes he had for two weeks now noticing the storm moving in from the Everfree Forest and the look of Pegasi trying to fight back this beast of a storm that came out of nowhere. "Big Mac have ya seen Applebloom or her friends?" Applejack came up to him. Wayne thought about it "Eeyep" he replied and heard the flash of lightning and a set of screams, without thinking he took off in that direction with Applejack trying to catch up with him yelling for him to slow down but he was gone galloping up to the river leading out of the forest as the rain fell harder with the rumble of thunder. The rain fell heavier without the seconds that past till it was like a waterfall and the dark clouds turning day into dusk, with lightning shooting around as the large red farm pony made his way to the quickening swollen river his heart skipped a beat where he was... Applebloom with her friends in fear on a small piece of land, he had to act fast for her own and her friends safety, he quickly saw a old tree by the river side it was buckling under the stress of the water. "Ah coming Sis! Don't worry ah coming!" Wayne yelled out through Big Mac's voice that he gotten use to through out the weeks... The tree wasn't budging and he turn around and did a powerful buck with a crack he was the truck splitting, stepping back he called out one more time "Keep y'all head down!" he runs at it with all his might and rams it hard causing the trunk to shatter and the tree to fall right into the river beside them, he held it with his front hooves with all his might sliding to the river edge. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle was the first to start crossing with Applebloom quickly got on and rush across the log "Hurry Ah can't hold it much longer!" they all got across but Applebloom got her foot stuck, without thinking Wayne let go of the log jump on, grab her with his mouth and toss her to the river side. "Big Mac!!!" was the last words he heard when he got struck in the back of the head as the tree was pulled down river by a over head branch knocking him out cold... Big Macintosh... People streamed out of the cinema as they had finished watching a movie called Star Trek: Eclipse, a new sci-fi that was only recently released with the cast of a remade series, Hazel recalled how much her brother as a big fan of the sci-fi and wanted to treat him to it and what she found he was liking it all over again as if it was he first time seeing it. Stepping out into the rain she pulls out her umbrella standing with her brother waiting for a taxi to come pick them up. “So bro what you think it?” Big Mac smirked a little “Got to admit that was amazing, these glasses really give the effect of 3D a whole new meaning...” he look to the shades “I can see why I use to like Star Trek” “Yep you sure did, by the way how did you get that apple tree in the first place? If I recall right that tree is the name we can't even say...” Hazel turn to him with a bit of wonder. Big Mac knew instantly why he got but choose to play along “I just wanted to try raising a apple tree before I get that farm some day... I want to make mum happy” “She is happy since she has us even we all wasn't angels” Hazel laughing a little after that little bit. Big Macintosh wasn't sure how to reply to that “I guess all kids never are, look at Applebloom on My Little Pony she and those two filly friends of hers get into more trouble then we like to know” “Hehe that true bro... and Wayne” “Yep?” “Thanks for trying to make mum happy again, losing her job at New Town Apple Orchard did hit home not only for her but all the other workers too...” Hazel sighed “Look at me I am ruining a perfectly good evening with my big brother about some farm that mum use to work at...” “It fine Hazel” he put his hand on her shoulder with a warm smile. “Not really I been kind of thinking that you won't my brother... that was that big red pony the way you been acting but now I see I was wrong... I can see that your still the same good brother that always dream big even if sometimes it out of arms reach” Hazel put her free arm around his putting her head against his shoulder. “Can you forgive me?” “Yep” he grinned “I can Haz” 'she as fast and witty as mah sister Applejack... ah need to be careful but ah'm want to help the Dolphin Family out... that not going to stop me for doing so, if she figures it out ah tell her whom ah'm really am...' Taxi pulled up “Hazel?” “Yep that me, come on bro. Home time” they got into the taxi with the umbrella closed up and the taxi drives off back home... Big Macintosh was being to be noticed and his amnesia story, that night was starting point on losing grip, since he knew that Wayne's life was into stories, drawings and gaming as well working at the restraint that sold a burger called 'Big Mac', but even with his short word greetings and pleasant attitude to the costumes with the hard working he done for the last week being 'back' to the job he knew Hazel was getting rather curious over the whole amnesia story... Suddenly the train of thoughts was broken when a huge explosion rippled through the restraint from one of the grill machines, luckily no one was near it when it went off but the flames was huge and the alarms went off with people told to get out right away as the fire expanded at a rapid rate... Fire burns as the restaurant was being evacuated by staff to get the public to safety, Big Mac looked around for Hazel, she was right behind him and now couldn't see her anywhere. "Where is Hazel!?" he called out The manager turn to the burning building "I think she still inside" Without a thought he runs back in and ignore the yelling from others, inside the building burned with oil fuelling the flames, he quickly saw the girl he was looking for "Wayne!" she cried out unable to get to him due to the oil bursting with flames, he saw the leaver that would put out the oil fire, it was his only chance. Taking hold of it he turn to her "Get down!" he pulled hard as he could and the leaver lowers causing a massive amount of auto fire dust and foam to flood the oil snuffing out the flames, He took hold of her and ran for the door, the sound of hissing and that he knew was going to be big, without a care to anything else Big Mac throws her ahead of himself as they got out of the building and the last thing he knew was a massive explosion of heat and force sending him flying and smashing into a car windscreen before blanking out and hearing the words "Bro!!!!" Unknown... “The Results are positive... no fatalities and all believe to be a accident an natural storm. The test was a success” “Yes but there is a unknown and consensus can not be made” “Another factor to watch and learn, it taken 700 years of their temporal existent to require such results” “We shall watch, wait and see... results are now forever changing there is no consensus on how events will turn out...” “We will watch and wait...” Unknown 2... Grey clouds of dust with purple sky full of stars, two figures stood before each other staring at what seem to be a mirror of what they should be and are not, two lives in two families closely together now hang in the balance. The two souls searched for answers as they kept looking at each other for the first to speak, a red coated pony or a talk pale skin human both in hospital gowns after each seeming at the same time risked their own lives for the ones that they called 'little sister'... Any the first words to be spoke for the first time they met face to face in a reality of dreams was... “So...” both spoke the words and now the conversation would begin... > Chapter 11: Strange Dreams > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 11: Strange Dreams... The silence between the red stallion and the human seem to last for a life time with them staring at each other with endless thoughts being thrown around seeing each even with the gowns on through the eyes they was in was very strange feeling, it was as if they was staring at a mirror of themselves when there was no mirror. “Y'all know what this is stupid, we staring at each other like pair of little colts...” Wayne finally broke the silence “Yep” Wayne trots around him “So we finally meet huh? Strange... hearing mah own voice from ya” “Same with you Wayne... I never thought we meet unless you count that message you left me” Big Macintosh replied. “It good to hear my name again... been unable to say it since been in y'all body Big Macintosh” a smile appeared on the human face. Big Mac noticed a table that seem to appear out of no where “I was thinking about a chair to sit on and that appears... strange” Wayne shook his head lightly “This is some sort of dream plain... it means we must be asleep or counting being knocked out again as asleep” rubbing the back of his head with a hoof “Ah acted on impose and throw Applebloom to safety she ya sister and had to do what ah'm had to” “Same, there was a explosion and raging fire at your workplace, I throw your sister to safety just as the whole place exploded...” “Eeyup...” then a pause with shocked eyes “The place mah work at is gone!? Ya not pulling mah hoof are ya Big Mac!” “Nope it gone, the whole place if I saw right just exploded just as I got out, what about the farm?” Big Mac was concerned “Nnope no damage, unless ya count the old shack that got blown to pieces by something from mah world... other then that normal as it gets” Wayne sat on the otherside of the table on top of a large stall that looked like a mushroom reminding him of the café in ponyville. Big Mac took a seat with a sigh “So what do we do? We both talking about only about things that happened” “True so true” Wayne tapping the hoof on the table thinking about it. “But ah'm don't really want to live the rest of mah life acting like ya y'all know...” “Same...” both sighed heavily “How about we got out of these things?” Wayne suggested and with a thought the gown was gone replaced by the work collar “Eeyup, that better” Big Mac did the same seeing he was wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans with trainers. “Yep that is” they both laughed and felt a little bit more relaxed. “How Applejack and the others doing?” “They doing well Big Mac, ah'm doing my complete best to help out at Sweet Apple Acres as being ya, it strange but ah'm been kind of enjoying the experience after things settled, even doing drawings and stories again in some of mah free time” “You are? Wow I am kind of been doing a bit of gardening in your garden and even got a apple tree planted after removing that poor dead tree, what exactly happened to it?” Big Mac was wondering about the dead tree “Big storm massive lightning hitting bursting to flames... ah'm guess a bit of us is in both worlds now” they smiled “Ah'm do like to know how mah family is” He nods “They fine and seem to be happy with how things working out of me, they very supportive and understanding under the difficulties they been put through, but your brother seem to be not around as much” “Oh that because he either working from eight in the evening to about 5 in the morning, it his job, so he sleeps mostly during the day to cope” Wayne explained “It nothing really it the same old thing with Nigel, y'all just have to put up with his attitude” “Noted” Big Mac replied “Hope mah sister AJ hasn't caused any problems” “Nnope she not but she almost figured me out there but one thing ah'm made sure that Twilight don't use that memory spell on me, whomever did this to us could harm them and rather not risk it...” Wayne words was true as he spoke them with Big Mac's voice. Big Macintosh was finding it hard to hear his own voice with those words but he knew the same with Wayne was felt. “You sister Hazel is very sharp... she almost figured me out a few days ago, I am sure she put the pieces together and saw right through me but lucky things happened and I think she questioning it” “Knowing her she is but be on y'all guard she will put them together again one way or the other, she is a very cleaver mare... ah'm mean human... gah!” he put his hooves over his head resting the head against the table. “Mah words always changing when ah speak it rather annoying” “Same here, but luckily I can still say 'eeyup' but it just doesn't same right” Wayne raise his stallion head up glancing at Big Mac “Still glad to meet you Wayne even under this weird event...” he put the hand out “Eeyup” placing the hoof in his hand they shook with a fellow greeting “Ya do know this strange event kind of making the bond of family stronger, me and y'all sharing each other bodies and unable to do much it kind of making us like brothers” “I been thinking the same thing” Big Mac replied looking to the hands “I've done things that never so easy unless your a Unicorn” “Eeyup” Wayne looked to the hooves “Ah'm know the feeling missing mah hands quite the challenge but what y'all lose ya gain, but we better figure out what did this to us or why” Big Mac looking around now and was a little concerned “Wayne if we talking together in a dream how is that possible?” Wayne saw what he meant and glancing around “Ok y'all scaring me... ah'm didn't even notice...” They had looking around very concerned now with them back to back with Wayne on his hind legs pressing to Big Mac they now got their guard up “I only know one being that could do this... Applejack told me so” “And ah'm know as well ah saw the episode” “Same” “Do y'all think its...” They heard laughter and turn their heads in the direction of it both of them had the biggest look of shock ever... “PRINCESS LUNA!” The night princess smiled see two figured it out “It took you boys long enough to figure this out” she walking up to them circling around them as they stood in the positions they was turning and watching her with shock still in their eyes. “Thou this is something I know was coming but had to happen at the right time so no pony knows that I am doing this” “Wh-wh...” Wayne couldn't get anywords out of his mouth seeing the princess of the night was one of his wildest dreams, he always like the night seeing the stars and imagination travelling through them even most of it was sci-fi... the day was one thing but the night was another he couldn't believe it. “Darn it ah do not have mah autograph book...” Big Mac looked at him oddly “What?” “Am I to believe young human you are a fan of mine?” looking at the red stallion. “Yes I know your in Big Macintosh's body and he in yours I known from the first day this happened” Wayne couldn't get his head around it “What? Y'all knew!? But couldn't ya do anything about it from day one? Like put us back into our own minds without all this pretence of being somepony we not” “I see you speak through Big Macintosh's words Wayne and no I couldn't my magic isn't strong enough to counter the spell on you two” she stood before them as they stood on their own four hooves/two feet before her. “Come I have answers you sneak...” they followed her as she walks. “It is strange peering into your mind within the body of a pony, you are not for the alternate world we know of and Twilight has visited, yours so different your dreams are of strange and wondrous things that I have never witness” “It is ma'am but ah'm just a no po... ya know what ah mean” “Indeed I do, you are of nothing important yet for some reason you two have switch minds through powers I can not even imagine.” she turn to Big Mac “How do you find the world you are living in Big Macintosh's is the world Wayne is from different to ours?” “It is strange, there seem to be so many different type of humans of belief, rights, laws and other things I can not get my head around but in the small corner I lived in, the family that is Wayne's just get by on a weekly bases... I want to do something for them” Wayne gave him a funny look when Big Mac said it “I do not know what caused this but when we return to our bodies I want to make sure he has a happy life with his family” “Thanks Big Mac” he smiled to the pony trapped in his body. “Curious indeed but this is why we here” they stood before what seem to be a swirling mass of colour “This is the magic Twilight Sparkle discovered before they stopped her from finding it, I had been watching had saw what happened, I haven't spoke to Tia of this and will not, it best that none of this gets out, you two will have to continue to pretend being each other till the time comes or they find out, I will keep my word not to say a word.” Luna said with some serious advice. “Ah have to agree they been doing this for 700 years” Wayne said and they looked at him “Twilight found out, last ones was 256 years ago, a personal friend of Celestia's went nutty and called her a demon horse” “You don't say” Luna was trying to suppress her laughter “I can do some checking on my side... maybe Wayne's sister could help, I am not too good with your technology” Big Mac admited Wayne nods “Eeyup” “This has been a interesting experience to say the least but you two we will meet in another time, I do not know when or how but we will, be safe my little ponies and I will be watching and Wayne Nightmare Night is coming soon, I hope you enjoy it and we will meet in pony” she turns with ripples of energy flowing around. Wayne turn to Big Macintosh “it been a pleasure meeting yer Big Mac, say howdy to mah family” “Same to mine Wayne” they clapped hand and hoof “Take care” The ripples came faster and soon the dream came to a end with the window of talk now closed... > Chapter 12: Luna's Journal > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 12: Luna's Journal.. . Date... 1006CE Summer of the eighth month day 25 Six years... today marks the sixth year of my release from the darkness that held my heart and caused forever darkness and pain, I was banished to the moon for 1000 years and then a few years later I turn on my fellow ponies once again... but thanks to Twilight and her friends I over came the darkness once more... I stare at my starry night watching and growing, it is truly a blissful night but then I felt it... a strange feeling like no other a feel that turn my attention away from my sky and to the ponies that slept at night, but this was early not all was asleep something was a miss and I felt it a magic like no other more powerful then the elements... it was focused on one single point a pony... why? I searched the night for my answers and it came to me in the dreamscape as I searched the dreams and found what I was looking for it was of two minds seeing the same thing at the same time in two different worlds, I knew of the mirror and what Twilight Sparkle did but this is was different to that other world it was alien and strange... I saw the hand and hoof take hold of this orb. That it the magic was tightly focused on that one orb and once it did it job the orb would turn to dust as if it wasn't even there, why would somepony create magic that would do such a thing? And nothing more what is the purpose of this? I will have to investigate this further to understand what has happened... Date... 1006CE Summer of the eighth month day 27 It has been two days and a troubling letter arrived for my sister Tia and my suspicious conformed. I haven't spoken to my sister about this and plan not to incase there is more of a threat then a simple switch of the mind, I discovered this when seeing into the dreams of one called Wayne and the other called Big Macintosh the big brother of Applejack Element of Honesty... I do worry that there is more to this switch and why these two play each other lives. It is really puzzling and seeing into a dream of this human is even so, I see adventure, magic and beyond things that of imagination. It is hard to describe the wonders of this human as he dreams, during the day he lives at Big Macintosh but in the evening and beyond he does not, he live his mind with explosions of thought. The dream of Macintosh is of wonder and thought, he dreams of helping Wayne's family like if it was his own, it is quite puzzling by a pony that I seen a few times at Ponyville during the night of Nightmare Moon night would be thinking about practical things such as this? Is one not to inferer with worlds bad enough? Date... 1006CE Summer of the eighth month day 28 It happened again a strong magical force I sensed this time greater then anything I could understand, it sensed Twilight Sparkle's Alicorn magic and her devices as it switched them back to their right bodies, then I felt it as I watched the skies of the day a object appearing from no where burning and aiming for Twilight Sparkle's machine, word got back to me that it was destroyed by something strange and new... A piece of metal and my sister knows the colour and of the flag it is of the Britneigh Kingdom to the east on the borders of Equestria, the flag that flown for Princess Britannia, I personally only met her once a year ago with my sister, she is a strange Alicorn whom resides in her Buckingham Palace within the large and crowded pony city of Hoovdon the capital of that nature. Celestia sent a letter with a picture of the metal to Britannia to get answers and see if it was one of their inventions but I have my theories that is not from our world but from the one Big Macintosh the brother of Applejack resides in and of the human body Wayne Dolphin a name that is strange but most likely a name that is normal for that world. As for my visit to Hoovdon last year as I think about it now and write this in my journal I did get to meet the author of the Daring Do Series, she left Equestria to the Britneigh Kingdom for a more quiet life for her after putting her exploring days behind her over 20 years ago when Celestia told me she was the best at what she did and the books reflect on her archaeological past and raising a son that changed her world forever. I never thought about having a relationship with any pony... Date... 1006CE Summer of the eighth month day 30 I felt them the beings of magic I could sense their presence within both worlds, they are observing their experiment I heard them speak, four voices... this is troubling so I decided to take action behind Tia's back, forgive me sister but this must be done, I have used my magic to shield the dreams and thoughts through their minds from those that I sensed. I fear that the questions around Macintosh and Dolphin are rising eyes from two sisters, Applejack and Hazel, I sense they will discover the truth soon or something will happen to divert the truth once more. I worry because with all my studies I can not seem to figure these creations out and yet Tia speak of events like this happening in 700 years, six in which I had not be around for... The last is of 256 years ago when her friend if I dare say called her a demon horse, I found this very amusing instantly and laughed, Tia saw the funny side to, we both had a good laugh over it but what bothers me is this orbs, they been tormenting our ponies and the humans for 700 years studying them and us like some form of creatures that seem to be nothing to them but to experiment on. So I decided to look deeper into this and find a way to stop them... Date... 1006CE Summer of the ninth month day 6 As my fears are for the last seven days it came true, I felt them again and I know why, the dreams I looked into and felt they are of being discovered and more so then ever, I wish I could do more for my little ponies, but I am a princess of the night and my power is to do anything could bring harm, I must know what we dealing with before I can bring any of this forward to my sister, if I told Tia it could lead to unseeable events that could bring harm... I arrived at Ponyville using my disguise spell I watched and saw how events took place with the one called Wayne taking the life of Big Macintosh. As I watched and heard the events almost showed Applejack to believe he not him, I thought that was it but then Twilight Sparkle seeming to be unaware of this taken the story of Amnesia and believe he is suffering from it explaining the strange behaviour and the story I heard they talk about, I wonder what story they speak of, did he create it? I glanced into the library and saw a drawing Rainbow Dash had taken from Wayne, even relearning skills the drawing of her and Scootaloo is quite amazing in detail maybe when I can talk to him directly I would like to see this human side of things and wonder why we are to most of them just cartoons. I discovered it in his dreams, we was characters but events that took place was very much real and he knew before seeing our world through Big Macintosh's eyes. A amazing find in deed... Date... 1006CE Summer of the Ninth month day 8 I am in fear now and concern... I just spoken to both of them directly in their dreams and now my concern is deeper then ever before, the creatures have the power to control the Everfree weather at will and cause a explosion in a restaurant making it seem to be a accident, they both awoken and gone back to their disguised lives as I told them to do so, it is hard not to tell the other bearers of this threat but what I saw and they did it would bring harm then good. I still wonder why they are not aware of me, is it cause of my magic? Is it because of me? I can not answer what I do not know... These beings whatever they are must be dealt with and I will find a way to do so and believe the elements are one of those keys to it. I still question to tell Tia of this or not, I know how are pretending nothing wrong when I the princess of the night have seen things that not even Celestia could see... my sister Tia unaware of those creatures but one word I found and now believe they are called... Overseers a name that feel like the soul is being watched and studied... why are they interested in seeing reaction, family, lies, truth, bonds and all else in life? Why don't they experience it for themselves? I wish I knew more about them but I am certain they are... by two months and 3 days will be Nightmare Moon Night and I will be speaking to Wayne directly on a face to face, but my hoof in on the dream on how I can contact them again without drawing the eyes of the creatures called Overseers... All living creatures have a weakness I just have to find theirs... for the sack of not only them but for all life on these two worlds... now I know how Tia feels at time of trouble... > Chapter 13: Discovery > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 13: Discovery... It had been almost two weeks since the accident in New Town that destroyed the restaurant with headlines bleeding away as if it was another day in the news business but this was taken aware of by the X-19 project within the confines of London, more so by the chain of events that led to the disappearance of one of their newly experimental drones that could scan energy waves and give images with almost exact detail. The General stood looking out the window to all those working in the room below he turn to his desk and walked over to it pushing a few keys brought up the only image they got for a brief second. A beep through the comm made him turn his head to it and push the button with his finger “Yes...” “Sir the Queen here...” Matthew turn to the door as it opened, two royal guards step in with a elderly lady dress in blue “Your highness” he stood and saluted “At least general” she put her hand up “I am only here because of the results you have found” He nods “Right your highness...” he push up a few keys on the computer causing a screen to lower in front of the window and metal blinds to lower and close off the window view then the screen came to life to show the image and data to Queen Elizabeth. “Is that a city of clouds?” she looked a bit puzzled by the image. “Indeed it is ma'am... we found out that on the disappearance of our drone it was taken by a force beyond anything on this planet” Matthew brought up the data “This was the energy reading just before the drone vanished and for a second there was a hole in reality itself, the power to make such a thing is beyond anyones abilities” Queen stood there looking at the results “So the drone even lost was worth the money spent?” she turn to him He nods “indeed, we know that a force took the drone but for what reason we do not know, but the same energy spike appeared only two weeks ago at the site of the accident that lead to a McDonald’s Restaurant being destroyed and one of the employees strangely enough won the Euro Millions the day after it and within a week bought the farm on the south side of the Twiosmicstar Forest ma'am” Matthew showing all the evidence that he gathered on the screen before them. “So you believe this person is connected some how to the unusually things that happened in the last month?” she look to the information “I do ma'am but there no solid proof and X-19 isn't known to anyone but a selective few ma'am, since our division is top secret” Matthew replied turn to her. “Do you wish for us to follow up on this?” “Yes but with caution, no actions no suspicion just observe” “Yes your highness” he replied and she walk to the door with her guards “General keep up the good work, this project so far been worth it, just make sure we don't lose any more drones” with that she left and Matthew sat down in his chair with a sigh looking to the screen tapping his finger on the table then taking the phone off the hook. Matthew dials a number and speaks “Clearance granted... just observe. Report any findings that are odd or strange” he put the phone down “Now we wait...” the screen rises and the metal blinds open up as he stared out to the control room. “Till they make their next move...” New Town Apple Orchard... The three main buildings, the barn, house and processing centre was under heavy construction with workmen and women working inside and out of them, Big Macintosh walked up to the place with the rest of the family, Michelle, Nigel and Hazel seeing how the progress was coming along. Michelle was surprised at the rate of work had kicked off since Big Mac bought the place lock, stock and barrel. This was the first time Michelle had step back onto the orchard and hard to come to terms that this was now their land “This is amazing... you know how to pull out a surprise don't you?” she look to him with a smile “Not only you won the big bucks but you kept your promise... now what do we do?” “Well I was thinking about buying one of those empty shops in the town high street and start up with selling the apples there, including all forms of apple products like cider, pies, fritters... you name it” Big Macintosh speaking to her 'And a promise to make the Dolphin Family happy like mah know family... Applejack would be proud of me if she knew what ah did for this family' Nigel looking to the machines lifting the new frames into place “That quite the idea bro but your cutting it close since we near the end of August.” “I know but I believe it be worth it. The processing plant be up and running by two days from now, the last of the equipment is being brought it that why I thought you might like to continue your lorry job for me” he toss the keys out of hand to Nigel. Nigel look to the keys that he caught then saw what Big Mac was looking at “Whoa... when did you become a businessman...” he looked at the new rig he be using. “This is amazing...” he was checking out the trailer and the lorry itself “This is top of the line...” he checking it out “You definitely won me over” Big Mac turn to Hazel “So that why you asked me to check up on everything to do with running a apple orchard business on the internet, pretty crafty bro” then she lean up to him whispering in his ear “Or should I say Big Macintosh” his eyes widen she said the word not that his name. 'How did she figure it out... ah was being careful... ah know those computer things are weird and still don't quite get to use them but... oh... she good...' Big Macintosh turn to her “When...” “I sort of put it all together and a little snooping around” Hazel replied with a whisper “I will tell ya later in private” she smirked “What are you two up too...” Michelle look to them both “Nothing” they said together. “Mmm hmmm...” Michelle stared at them and shook her head “You two are bad as each other...” she turn and head over to the rig to see how Nigel is doing with his check out of the lorry. Hazel turn heading down the path “Come on bro I'd explain” he was surprised she still called him that even he wasn't even her sister. Big Mac walked with her down the path alongside the road as the metal fences was still being taken away by the council. “I am still trying to figure out how you knew... and how your able to say my name Hazel...” Hazel shrugged “I don't get it much myself but I figured it out after a few things that came into question. It kind of struck me weird that you knew a lot about taking care of plants and the way you took special care of that small apple tree even buying it was odd, you don't use computers much and when you do it was for special reasons and you tossing me out of the way of the blast you some how not getting hurt much. I came up with two possible reasons, either your amnesia got your mind so confused that you was coo coo or traits of a curtain red pony came over and when we talked about My Little Pony you seem to know things that wasn't in the show so that kind of tipped it off as well” Hazel explained to him in detail how she figured it out. “Why haven't you told anyone else?” He looking to her as they walked towards the forest. Hazel glance at him then back to where they was walking “Because I saw the video Wayne left for you... I had to make sure that I was curtain of it and check on the iPad” “I see, well it best not to tell anyone else or whatever did this might do something worse then switch our minds...” Big Macintosh only thought would be to switch was the bodies completely. “Something like put you back in your body in our world?” Hazel smirked “That be kind of funny to see but not so cool at the same time, you don't have to worry I promise not to tell anyone bro” Big Macintosh smiled slightly “Guess you saw that part of the message too?” “Yes” they walked up to the forest “Since Nigel most likely to give the lorry a spin and mum keeping a eye of the workers, why don't we enjoy a nice quiet day in the forest?” Hazel then said “You can tell me all about Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres bro” “Ok... guess that only fair” Big Mac accepts to tell her any questions she has since he was in her brothers body after all. Hazel grinned “Sweet, I know this perfect place in the forest that hardly anyone goes to and it got a really nice view as well” Hazel runs into the forest past the guards with Big Mac running after her no idea where she was leading him to. Sweet Apple Acres... Wayne checked through the paperwork as Big Macintosh did doing the books, he checking through the income over the costs and other outgoing payments, it was a monthly thing and he could understand why it needed to be done, he never really been one for business and had to do some catching up with some books he read overnight that he borrowed from the library. He place the quill on the table side from his mouth and closed the book up with his hoof “Another month out of the way” he whispered and taking the book with his mouth placed it into the slot and closed it up. 'How does Big Macintosh do all this and never seem to be out of it.' Applejack walked through carrying baskets of bad apples with Applebloom placing them into the Pig Feed barrel. “Big Mac have ya done the books?” Applebloom asked with wonder. “Eeyup” he replied “Ya and the other girls still gonna to that lake aren't y'all?” “Sure are, we want to try to get our cutie marks like ya and Applejack” Wayne knew that means he had to foalsit the three trouble makers when Applebloom said that. Applejack shook her head “Can ya give me and Big Mac a moment and he will take ya to the lake” “Sure” Applebloom leaves and Applejack closed the barn door behind her. Wayne kept a natural look on his face staring at Applejack “Is there something the matter AJ?” Applejack made sure that Applebloom wasn't near by and turn to him walking up to Wayne looking him in the eyes direction and then pull out from under her hat a rolled up drawing and place it in front of him. “Open it” He did so and saw a drawing of Ponyville but he saw the rubbed out mark that was scribbled over. 'Oh no...' he look to it and look at her in the eyes “Wayne” she spoke and saw the reaction. “Ya name is Wayne...” he sighed heavily and lowered his head “Tell me where mah brother is...” Wayne raised his head and look her dead in the eyes “In mah body... we both somehow been switched... but ah like to know how y'all found out...” Applejack smirked “Ah thought something was up from the beginning but couldn't prove it till ah saw the drawings and story ya created... don't get me wrong ya a hard working just like mah brother. In a way ya kind of mah brother as well” “Really?” “Eeyup” Applejack hit him softly on the side with her hoof “Ya didn't have to keep this from me, but the question is why...” Wayne thought about it “Do ya remember the machine Twilight made?” she nods “That sort of fixed it...” “Then we...” “No AJ ya can't... when she did it, something knew and attacked, it brought a machine from mah world to this world and used it as a missile to destroy the machine, ah do not know what it is but the less that know about this for now the better it is, ah made a promise... well that other one in mah thoughts that ah do whatever it takes to be much as ya brother ah can... that means protecting ya too” Wayne instantly stopped her from going down that road and explained to her why. Applejack was a little surprised but she understood what he meant “Ah hear ya Big Mac” he frown and she hints to her left and he saw Applebloom close to the barn. “We will talk later Big Mac” “Eeyup” he walked up to the door and opened the barn door “Ready Applebloom?” “Sure thing Big Mac” Applebloom spoke with glee. “Have fun” Applejack called out and Wayne wish he could just groan, he had to keep the act up and hope Applejack didn't do anything stupid why they was gone since he knew Applejack too well since the month he been there in Macintosh's body and she was able to say his name and still he couldn't but glad to hear his true name again. Unknown... “It seems that our prediction of events have not gone as viewed the odds seem to be in their favour” “Believe it is true, the one Applejack and Dolphin Hazel discovered the truth even with our methods” “Both lives should be removed, they are at risk of discovering us” “No doubt that they will or have, but as seen they are not spreading the word yet keeping it to themsleves and the two Dolphin Wayne and Macintosh Big... we should wait and see how this plays out” “Indeed we should” “The risk is too great, they have discovered the truth and that means discovering us and the risk of that happening is greater, they should be removed” “There is no consensuses on this matter, there will be no action. We will discuss and formulate... we will reach a consensuses till then no action” “Fine, we agree... Time in this is liner. This may take months” “Months and study is worth it” “Agreed” “Then we better not be wrong...” “What of the unknown humans” “They are still unknown and unable to be detected, they are aware of us but still unknown...” “Then if they are unknown and unable to be found then the answer...” “Why is your answer destroy the root of the problem then study and understand it, you are speaking of wiping out life of trillions on one world because of the risk of being known. Have we excised to now understand why so many live one life time while we do not live or die, we exist. To learn what the meaning of living is to study and destroying them will not answer it as it has been done many times over. “Indeed that is a point that need redirected, destroying the lives because of risk of us being discovered is became too causal for us, we will now wait till all agree” “That is a big risk, we do not agree” “Indeed action shall be taken in two of their months if the unknown is not discovered and the cost will be of two worlds not one” “That is unacceptable” “Agreed there is a even divide action can not be taken such as this” “Divided doesn't mean action and action will be taken for the threat” “Threat... we are many yet four existence with no meaning to what life is, by taking lives away that threaten this realm is a mistake” “Negative” “Action” “Consensuses!” “Study!” The swirling endless clouds caught in a mass of disagreement with flash of light and mix of colour as they continued to not come to a consensuses... > Chapter 14: Spokey Evening (New Town, England) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 14: Spokey Evening (New Town, England) The sun started to appear in the morning sky over the New Town Apple Orchard, it had been a month since the repair work begun and all the apples that was picked in time sold to many shops all over the south east of England as a start, the official reopening of the orchard was on Halloween so they decided to officially open it on the evening the sun will set. Michelle stood outside after taking their young little dog Buddy for a walk which was growing fast, she looked out to the trees that mostly lost their leaves with orange and yellow leaves still hanging from many of the apple trees as the nights also grew colder making mornings just as cold. “Move in completed...” She turn to the tree in the garden of theirs it was the same one that was bought and planted at their old house, it was strange for her standing out there staring at a place she worked for and now live on it, the land was plenty and beautiful in any season, she was proud of her son, he was now making a difference in life. “I wonder what mum would be thinking right now if she was still around...” Michelle chuckled lightly tossing a ball for Buddy, he chasing after it. The lorry pulled in and Nigel got out of it after it parked inside the process building where they process, check and load the stuff they grow on the farm from mainly apples, to wheat and grapes. She thought about they could sell of the loose branches as well as the tree wood from the ones that had no choice but to cut down. “Hey mum, I see tonights opening festival is almost ready” Nigel turn to the large set of tents and ribbons, stalls and other venues that was being brought in and set up for the official reopen. Michelle sat down patting the little pup as she spoke to her son “It strange how in a few months how things changed... I just wake up and think it a dream then see this every morning, rain, shine or mist... this is our home and you even work for your brother” “I know, it crazy but I don't mind, the money we living off alone is amazing, we can run this business and still be fine... I never felt that we would be in such a position” Nigel look to the lorry. “I wonder how tonight going to be like...” “Who knows” Michelle shrugged as she glanced over to the greenhouse structure that housed apple trees, grape yields, veg and fruits. Michelle was impressed that her son did all that research on running a orchard even out of season. Big Macintosh stood looking out the window of the room that he taken as Wayne, he look out to the completed greenhouse that had cost a fair penny but he knew that this was in the right direction for the Dolphin family, he felt also happy with the talks he had with Hazel about how strange the human world over the pony world was and cross talking over these stories specially at the largest tree of the Twiosmicstar forest closing his eyes he thought about to the last major talk two weeks ago. Hazel sat on the bed fixing up the two fursuits doing the finishing touches to them looking over to him with a smile and continued to work on them as the night time festival and really looking forward to it with the opening of the Apple D Greenhouse. “Almost done bro” Big Mac nods and smiled 'Ah wonder what AJ would think if she saw me now, how ah helped this family into a better life. A story for sure to tell mah sisters, being part of this family is part of the apples and no other then Hazel shined better then that, she head strong just like yer AJ. She would make ya a proud sister for sure, Michelle a amazing mother then watch her siblings grow into something to be proud of and raised, ah may only knew her for a short time now but she reminds me of our own mother... and Nigel might be a bit head strong but he always know what he doing and believe what we done in the last month has worked for the better.' Big Mac thought as he glance back out the window. 2 Weeks ago... Laughter came from the Grand Oak a very old tree that been around longer then most trees around and towered over the rest, it also had the perfect view of the old castle ruins that was off limits to the public. Big Mac sat on one of he massive branches with Hazel sitting against the trunk “Alright Macintosh is question time once again” Hazel sat back against the trunk looking out to the view of the forest tree tops as well the clearing showing the path, building and field by the stream. “Yep it is and a nice sunset too” Macintosh replied looking over to the sun that was setting. “I learned that you never control the weather or how the sun and moon rise but it was strange to me” “Yeah when you live with a curtain way things like that could be weird by another's view. What do you want to ask today?” Hazel said turning on the electric lamp she brought with her. “It sort of a bit more on a personal level about your real brother, why did it take me to be in his body to change so much for everyone?” Big Macintosh's question was for sure a personal one. Hazel sighed “He always had so many dreams that he couldn't do, but one thing he cared the most was his family, me, Mum and Nigel, he even let the grudge go between him and our step brother. What you done for us is what he always dreamed of doing for the last few years. He wanted to do what any older brother wanted to do and that to not only make mum proud but also to show he was able to handle the tough chooses” Big Macintosh could understand why now Michelle and Nigel was very pleased with what he done and why the work in the orchard really taken a liking to them. “Your turn” “You seem a bit distance today what the matter?” “It nothing” “Bull, it not nothing, you seem to be tense all day and you even asked to come here before sundown so what the deal?” Hazel stared at him. Big Mac look to the sky as the first stars started to show as he look through the branches and the orange colour tree leaves “Today my birthday” “Seriously!? Big Mac your birthday is today!? Why didn't you tell me, I know I am the only one that know the truth but come on! Seriously you have to keep this to yourself till today at the end of the day!?” Hazel put a hand to her face with a groan “Sometimes you behaviour so much like Wayne leaving something to the last second...” Big Mac chuckled lightly “I wonder how Wayne is handling a Pinkie Pie surprise party” “Yeah...” Hazel blinked “Did you just say...” she started to laugh “Oh I so got to know how that was like from him when you two return to your rightful bodies” “You still believe that going to happen aren't ya?” Hazel just kept the smile “of course bro and when you get your body back you've got quite the tale to tell too” The sound of jets could be heard looking up they saw a set of nine planes flying over head to the near by airfield about nine miles away, all red with white lines through them. “Jets... I can never et use to seeing flying machines in the sky to that of pegasi...” “Those are the Red Arrows the best ariel performance team in the world, think of them as the Wonderbolts in flying machines” Hazel said to him as they watched the planes head of into the distance the airfield over the horizon Big Mac heard of them but never thought he see the planes for real “What happening then? Some big event?” “It just the annual airshow this weekend, no big deal to it, they show of all sorts of planes and choppers including the legendary Spitfire Fighters and the Lancaster Bomber” Hazel replied “Spitfire? They have a name of a plane called Spitfire?” Mac was amazed and curious “I wouldn't mind seeing this performance” Hazel grinned “Oh sweet and we can get Nigel to take us there! It going to be a lot of fun watching the air show!” Hazel then put a finger up “Only under one condition” “And that is?” “Did you really have to wear Granny Smith outfit after losing that beat to Applejack?” Hazel asked “I never saw it on the show” Big Macintosh nods “Yes I did... one of the most embarrassing things I had to do.” “Oh I so wish I could see that” Hazel laughing loudly as she could just only imagine it. Big Macintosh recalled something Hazel had did when he gave her some of the winnings of Euromillions “Hazel what did you buy? I know it something to do with this Halloween but other then that you left me curious” Hazel smirked “Oh you know those measurements and such I took of you and mum took for me?” he nods “You see I got someone to make fursuits for us and picking them up by next week. You going to love it bro” Hazel chuckled “Do you like to know?” “Ok What are these fursuits?” “Big Macintosh and Applejack ones” he stared at her with a stunned look “Yep your going as yourself in a fursuit for Halloween and I am going as AJ, how cool is that?” Big Mac rubbed his head looking down at the ground far below them. “Are you trying to get me found out?” “Nope it all in the name of fun and Halloween is going to be fun this year specially with it being the day of the official opening of the orchard, what better way to dress up as Apples” she grinned. “I am not sure to even be scared or surprised” Big Mac blinked “One you knowing who I am but going this far to get a fursuit of myself... you know how strange that sounds?” “I know” she chuckled. “But come on I bet your dying to be yourself just once even without your true voice you still can act more like yourself in it” She moved over a little to sit by him “Right?” “It would be nice and...” she put a hand on her shoulder “I think I can go with it, you already paid for it and all, it would be a shame to put something you paid to waste” “Yes!” Present, Evening... The sun was starting to set with the chill in the air from the brisk wind that was around through out the day keeping temperatures down, Big Macintosh walking around the venue as things was being set up for Halloween event, it reminded him of Nightmare Night seeing how their holidays was similar. He watched as cars started to come in and the smell of food of all sorts in the air as the venues and stands started to open up for those that was coming since it was a open party venue and all was welcomed, the police and medics on hand as well. Michelle could see the volunteers directing the cars to the field where they was to park. “I see the party just about to start” “It is mum” Big Mac replied and glance over to the DJ coming over “Thank you for coming at short notice” “Not at all, name Nicky but my DJ name is Wriskey Disc X and look like that my gear been set up on stage” the man in the blue trousers and white t-shirt with black trainers on with blue dyed spikey hair with head phones around his neck. “I better get the music starting, this is going to be one heck of a event and going to spin some of my tunes for those to listen and just go wild to” he chuckled and walks off to the DJ station. Michelle put a hand on Big Mac's shoulder “better get into costume son, the main event be starting soon” she smiled “Yep” he turns and leaves for the house. Nigel in his ninja outfit eating a candy frost on a stick came up to her “This is really amazing. You seen how many people arriving? This is going to be a big event for sure” Michelle also noticed the number of cars pulling in “It sure will be son, I never expected so many people to come, since it Halloween and all” “Knowing Wayne he most likely will be scared what to say to a crowd of this many, I say with got at least 200 people here tonight” Nigel turns to leave “I better check on the police to see if all the areas that are offlimits stay that way. Don't want anyone ruining the orchard after so much money been put into it” Nigel walks off towards a police officer. Michelle put a hand to her head rubbing it “Guess it better safe then sorry, but I am sure they will respect that the area that been marked in the only area they can access” she turn to hot drink stands “Better a cup of tea while I still can” One of the people in the cars that parked up sat in his car checking around for no one looking at him then he push a button on his ear piece “I've arrived at the New Town Apple Orchard” the man in a black suit, shoes and white shirt with a black tie and wearing sun glasses spoke. His hair gel in a smooth crop cut. “Remember to keep a low profile and pretend to be one of those that there at the event to see it open, we need a close scan of Wayne to figure out if that energy we been picking up is still coming from him” “And what if it is?” he asked sitting in his car getting ready to leave. “Then we know that the six other times this switch happened is still be caused by the same beings. It was nice of the Queen to revile this to us about those strange orbs, so don't do anything stupid, if the energy is coming from him then it wasn't his fault and this time around the person isn't gone nuts and we can figure out how to go on from there.” “I got it sir, I will keep the line open” he open the door and step out seeing kids running in with their parents trying to keep up with their kids. “This look like it going to be one heck of a Halloween even” “being the opening of the orchard I am not surprised, all what Wayne has done is pretty normal he had goals and completed them, it seem that the orchard is even making up for the cost of repairing and upgrading it, the greenhouse alone was a dozy of a price list” “It sure looks it, I am very impressed by it size and how it was constructed.” he notice the land was bought and it was a plain open land with hardly anything the grew, even there a building there now it was fertile land under it. “I will keep you posted” He straighten his blazer out and walks into the festival Inside the house Big Macintosh just finished putting most of the suit on and the head piece sitting by the window side he looking out to the event, it was filled with adults and children having a great time even for the muddy ground from the rain a few days ago, no one seem to mind it at all. “I'm done, what you think?” he turn around to see Hazel in the full fursuit that look very similar to Applejack but standing on two legs. “I say creepy is the word in mind... it strange wearing something that look like you but when seeing your own sister as a costume is very creepy” Big Mac said feeling a shiver when looking at her. “I am sure AJ would be giving a real hard stare at ya and wondering why ya dressed like her” Hazel chuckled “I would say the say for her if she was dress up as me” Big Mac thinking about it almost burst out laughing at the sight of that and covered his mouth with his hands trying to hold it back. “Got ya” she chuckled pulling the hoof parts off her hands hanging freely she took the head piece off. “Wow it really stuffy though... but hey it all in the name of fun and opening of this orchard right?” “Sure is” Big Mac took hold of the head piece looking at it seeing nearly his own face on it brought a few tears to his eyes “I just wish to return to my own body and home... I feel more and more sick every day that pass pretending to be someone I am not...” “I guess that how that guy felt over 500 years ago when he a pony was in a human body and no one believed him back then and thought he was some nut job” Hazel sighed putting the head piece down and put a hand on his shoulder looking up at him slightly. “But unlikely those times you have me and that what counts right?” Big Mac put a hand on her shoulder in return “Yes that is” “Hazel, Wayne you got ten minutes to get your butts on stage or your going to be late for the opening announcement!” Michelle yelled from downstairs over the loud music. “We coming!” Hazel yelled back then turn to Big Macintosh “And remember Wayne got your amazing family to support him as you been supported by us” Big Macintosh hugged her “Thank you Haz” he pulled back and carrying the head piece under his arm he leaves the room with Hazel taking hers and following him out of the room. The man in the Men in Black suit was enjoying himself as he had photos taken of him with his little fancy pen light out as part of the costume with some kids or some people. He walked through the venue seeing people at stalls or at seats on wooden placed platforms enjoying their meals from the stalls that sold hot cooked meals. Kids playing games at one of the stands was a race to toss balls into the score slots and the winner would get a plushy, he noticed they was from the cartoon series from MLP mostly being Apple family ones, he guess being a opening of the Apple Orchard it would be a fitting scene to see plushes that matched the venue in all it colour, some of the plushes he noted was of a Halloween setting too not related to MLP. “How is it going?” “Full of music and fun, everyone seem to really enjoy themselves and have to say I am too” he chuckled lightly “But if I read the program right in about two minutes the host of the evening be out on stage dress up as a red pony anthro by the name of...” he paused looking at the name “it that word we can't say” “That word... strange after two months no one been able to say it” The man blinked and thought about it then look at the picture on the program “I get it now!” “Get what?” He quickly slip behind a stall and put his back against it looking around he spoke into it “The switch we spoke of, I believe and now sure of it, Wayne is in fact has the mind of Big Macintosh” “Bloody hell! You said it!” He gasped putting a hand on his mouth “So once I believed and knew who it is really I was able to say it... amazing... so he is really Big Mac... but how is that possible? A cartoon right?” “Give me the headpiece... this is the general I believe your right, the image of the probe caught must have been Cloudsdale. Which mean Wayne is in the mind of a farm pony...” The man took the device out of his pocket inside the pen it was a scanner “You sure we need to do the scan then?” “Yes go to the front and scan him. If the energy levels match get out of there and return with the results...” “Understood sir” he turn to return but then before his eyes was a rainbow orb floating right in front of him. “Oh crap...” “What is it?” He step back from the orb as it moved closer to him “It that rainbow orb, it right in front of me floating... my scanner is going hay-wall! This is it!” “Sir we got reading it through the roof, we tracking it original” “Keep it up Lt... we can't lose it now, captain get your ass out of there” “You don't have to tell me twice!” he dodged the orb as it flew at him and he made a run for it towards the forest with the orb hot on his trail. Big Macintosh saw it when coming to the stage “Hazel keep them busy” she look at him with wonder and saw him run off into the darkness through the orchard in the fursuit. Hazel was puzzled by this and look to the stage steps with a gulp “Ok I will try...” she thought of a idea and whispered to one of the men. The man nods that was working on the stage for lighting and such then gave her thumbs up, “Hello everyone or shall I say Everypony!” Hazel called out in her fursuit trying to mimic a southern accent. “Now ya know my brother should have been here by now but we going to do something extra special tonight! You all got amazing costumes so we got two amazing awards here for best cosplayers! Now one for adults and one for the kids! Our people going around picking out the best ten of each and when your picked you will be brought up on stage!” she spoke into the head piece which was on the Applejack head piece she had over her looking through the eyes at the crowd in the high beam lights. They cheered and she was happy that this idea worked “Now y'all know what to do!” she almost giggled at the way she sounded and the men and ladies working for the evening, three of them in total started to walk around the crowd before the stage picking out the best, the DJ doing the sound effects for those that was picked. Meanwhile Big Macintosh was running hard he could, being in the fursuit made it hard making him stumble but he knew he had to stop that orb, he saw a branch taking it with the fursuit hooves scooping it up and carried on running. The man dodged the orb again rolling around in the wet grass he, got up to see it floating over ten feet from him with swirling light in it as if it was looking right at him. The orb went right for him but Big Macintosh hit it with the branch hard he could smashing it and causing a massive explosion of energy sending both him and the man flying from it with the branch exploding into pieces of wood. The blast of energy caused everyone to turn to the sight of it lighting up the area with rainbow coloured light and mist that died down, the crowd cheered thinking it was part of the evening event. Michelle hint Hazel to continue and she with Nigel leaves for it right away. “Alright! Now we got our lucky 20 let hear it for them again!” another cheer, Hazel stared out from the fursuit to the scene before her and hoped Big Mac was ok... Michelle and Nigel arrived on the scene in one of the new vehicles for getting place to place fast on the apple orchard, what they saw first was a man in a black suit coughing and getting to his feet “Are you alright?” Michelle asked him “Y-yeah... this strange magic orb chased me and your son smashed it to pieces... he saved my life” Nigel quickly raced to the red pony fursuiter lying on the ground with a flash light on him he stared and quickly turn the light away “Mum get that guy back to the venue I will take care of Wayne” “Ok” Michelle nods seeing what she saw she was dumbfounded but needed to keep cool since the man didn't see “Can you walk?” “Yes” he replied and they head back to the venue walking through the apple part of the orchard. Nigel saw they was gone and turn the light back to him “Bro...” “Erg... mah head...” he realised the voice and slowly sat up looking at Nigel “What?” “Ok...” Nigel saw the mouth move “That orb must of fused the suit to you some how...” Big Mac turn to see the light was in his eyes raising a hoof he realised “Ah erm...” Nigel walked up to him and put and hand under one of the forelegs “here Wayne let me help ya up, take it easy...” Big Mac was confused he still believed he was Wayne but the appearance was himself in true form. “Thank ya Nigel...” Unknown... “Uh oh...” “We are not seeing this... it cant be... this isn't possible! How did Macintosh Big do that!? Explain!!!!” “As a human and pegasi say... chill is the word, please calm down” “CALM!? Are your cosmic sights blinded!? The orb was suppose to destroy that life form cause he discovered us! Not get blown up and turn Macintosh Big into his true self!” “The term magic they call it will end by the time the sun rises we took caution to this action” “Knew of it and not tell us!? How can you keep this from the rest?” “It was only 3% chance he would stop it, it impressive that these beings seem to be beating the odds” “BUT THE HUMAN STILL LIVES!!!!!” “Yes but by morning he will forget what happened that night, he was caught in the blast too” “Fine... that acceptable...” “What of the other humans?” “They are very close to discovering us, we have one of their months left to decide” “We have a plan to destroy both worlds if that time comes” “As we knew you would. This may not happen yet or something unexpected will happen” “That has happened more then normally it would... strange how they beat the odds” “Does not concern this eternity...” “We will see what will happen now” “Indeed........” “Erm the magic might had a bit of a strange effect on Dolphin Hazel...” “What do you... uh oh...” “NOT POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!” New Town Apple Orchard... Nigel drove up to the stage and stop the open top jeep like vehicle behind it. Cheers could be heard as the winners was picked and given their awards while Michelle was tending the injuried man with the medics on hand, he was out cold now and was taken away to hospital. Hazel step off stage wobbling a little trying to keep balance and this gave Nigel a wide eye look if he ever had one “HAZEL!?” “Ya it me...” she groans almost falling but he caught up and felt the fur then let go causing her to fall. “Ahh!” “Sorry that just creepy... not only you but Wayne too... what the hell going on around here!?” Nigel was looking to the large red earth pony getting up and walking over to them on all fours. “First Wayne and now you? Is this some sort of sick joke?” Hazel slowly got up looking to Big Mac “what the heck happened? ah...” she groans hearing her voice “ah was doing the awards and then this happened in a blinding light, then found that this was real! Ah hope this isn't... BUCK!” she failed to stand up again really anger over herself at the moment. “Hope this isn't permanent bro or y'all in for it...” “Ah don't think it is... do ya feel that strange feeling inside as if it feel like magic?” Hazel thought about it and closed her eyes then open them “ah do... so ya saying ah stuck like this till this magic wears off!? How we suppose to do the Halloween opening like this!?” “Just act it” Macintosh grinned “Why ya...” “Eeyup” he chuckled seeing her fall over in attempt to hit him. “Ya ok?” “Just annoyed!” she groans. “Fine ah do it...” Nigel rubbing his head “O......k” he turn to Michelle whom arrived looking at both siblings Michelle looked at them blinking at her with the contracting and increase of the eye size of both green eyes “So...” “Hi ma” Hazel laughed nervously then point a hoof at Big Mac “Blame him” “Thanks” Big Mac rolled his eyes. Michelle rubbed her head “Get on stage and do the opening and we explain it all for the big effects or something... with what we can do nower days it easy to get away with it” Michelle turn to the stage staff coming up to them. “Ma'am it time” he place one head set on Big Mac his ear twitching a little “Wow you really gone all out on the quad suit mate, can I have a picture of you and your sister after this?” “Eeyup” he smirked “Special effects really give it all a mind blowing experience right?” “Sure does” the man nods and give him a thumbs up “All set Mr Dolphin” “Thank ya” he nods and trots up the steps with Hazel figuring out how to use them stumbling up behind him. Michelle laughing at the sight of them “Well this is one evening we won't forget” she laughed a bit more and so did Nigel. The DJ Wriskey Disc X plays some theme with lights shining on the two when they step on stage, he lower his glasses staring at them with amazement so did the others, he saw the effects used to allow Hazel to step up with the lights and look almost realistic. Now everyone was seeing the host of the event also looking very real with the mouth moment too. “Hey you got to tell me what you used for these amazing effects!” he spoke up Big Mac smirked “Nnope” “Ah come on! Seriously man your just going to keep this as a family thing?” “Eeyup” “Dang it!” Wriskey grumbled “Oh well, I still got to DJ this awesome event and you two really blow it away!” the crowd before the stage cheering in response to this. “See they love it!” “Sure that do” Hazel rolled her eyes. “Now ah like to thank all those that took part in the contest once again and to our lucky winners! Give 'em all a hand” they all clapping again with the lights shining on the two people that won, a father and his little daughter both waving as everyone cheered. “Now without further a due ah give y'all mah brother Wayne!” she step back a little the sound of the hooves clopping on the wooden stage with each step. “Howdy all” they all cheered back 'HOWDY' making him chuckle lightly. “Ah see y'all having a great time?” they cheered again. “Ah glad that ya all are and happy to see that this event is a big success. 12% of the total earnings will be going to the charity for UK cancer research.” he walking back and forwards on all fours talking to them. “The event is specially for opening of the New Town Apple Orchard greenhouse that will continue to grow our amazing apples all year round so ya get a taste of our mighty good treats” Some of the people raised their toffee apples and others laughing seeing they had some of the treats that was on sale at the venue. “Me and mah brother be also wondering around if ya like to take a photo with us be happy to ask” Big Mac turn to her as she smirked with a wording from her mouth 'pay back' he closed his eyes and open them turning back to the crowd. “Right bro?” “Eeyup” they got some laughter from it. “The Venue will finish by midnight and hope ya all have a great evening! Also give it up for the police and medical services for making the venue go so smoothly as well with the men and women that set this all up! And one for our DJ Wriskey Disc X!” the crowd cheering and on cue some of the police and medic teams was lit up by the stage lights with the DJ and some staff members helping out at the venue getting a cheer from the crowd. “Time to light up the greenhouse!” Big Mac and Hazel step up to the stand with the red button. “3! 2! 1!” the crowd counted down and at “ZERO!” both hoof from Hazel and Big Mac push down activating the lights. The whole greenhouse was lit up by the lights before the crowd with fireworks going off high above them. Wriskey Disc X starts to play a big some music with the curtains raising to show a picture of the Sweet Apple Acres Barn with a group of people with the instruments and has some people standing at mics. “Bro...” she whispered “Ah forgot” he replied she groans as the music started to play for 'Raise this Barn' with clapping coming from the crowd and some dancing to it. London, Location Unknown. Base X-19... Matthew stood before the computers the readings they got was through the roof and the data was coming in faster then they could sort through it. The staff was working extra crazy over it and images they got from their new improved drones had gave them all they needed. “This is a gold mine... this information is amazing, look at the energy spikes, this proves that magic is real yet it coming from another plains...” “It is sir, but whatever they are also far more advance too” one of the ladies said looking at the data “We can't pin point where it coming from, it as if they are right on top of us and we can't even see them, that would explain the unusually surges of energy through the power grid in London” General rubbed his chin “It would indeed, it seems they are very aware of us but can't seem to pin point where in London we are... is it to do with the design of the base?” “Maybe, it does have all top of the line prototype technology including a new form of metal we recently created” a man replied showing the data they got. “Very well keep up the good work and I will let the Queen know at once of our progress and find out if Ricky is ok” the people nod and he heads off up to the office to contact the Queen with the results they gotten. “Thank you Mr Aliens you helped us a lot” he smirked and enters. New Town Apple Orchard... The music was coming to a close with the crowd and chores singing with Big Mac and Hazel “Raise this barn, raise this barn One, two, three, four Together, we can raise this barn One, two, three, four” Hazel sings the next part by her own having a bit of fun now mimicing Applejack's voice perfectly. “ Take your brushes, young and old Together, paint it, bright and bold Turn 'em round quick by the left elbow Grab a new partner, here we go” At the last point everyone sung together “We raised this barn, we raised this barn Yes, we did Together we sure raised this barn Yes, we did Being together counts the most We all came here from coast to coast All we need to strive to be Is part of the Apple family” A mighty cheer came from everyone as the song finishes with clapping as well. Big Mac spoke out to everyone “Enjoy ya evening and have fun!” Both of them step off stage waving one hoof out to the crowd as the band starts to play another musical number with the DJ together. Hazel got off stage and met up with Nigel and Michelle with Big Mac “Way a go you two, that was awesome” “Thanks Nigel” Hazel smirked with a sigh “ah just be glad to have mah own body and voice back by sunrise” Big Mac look to Hazel “Indeed ya be happy just happy to be like this for awhile it good to be back in mah own body” Nigel and Michelle gave him a confused look “Ah will explain after the party over” “You better young man...” Michelle giving him a hard cold stare that gave him a shiver. Nigel smirked “It just one of Wayne's lame jokes mum” Michelle held her hand on her head “Wayne...” both human turn ponies grinned sheepishly and darted off before she could say another word “Should of saw that coming...” she groaned leaving Nigel to laugh at his mothers on expense but she joined in afterwards seeing the funny side of it. The evening carried on with music, fun, food and photos, Big Mac and Hazel was getting a lot of attention with photos being taken with them and among people with the realistic effects of their cosplays as those believed. The sound of kids having a great time brought smiles all around and with some screams as some scared others with their costumes, it was going to be a evening many wouldn't forget for some time, being the best Halloween party ever they been too. Big Mac walking through the muddy grounds with Hazel as things started to wind down for the evening as most of the people started to leave and the stands being backed up and being pulled out of the orchard. Wriskey Disc X came up to them as his gear was being loaded into the “Great evening guys and love it all, give me a brohoof pal” he put his close fist out to Big Macintosh Big Mac lift his front hoof up and shook off some of the mud and place his hoof on Wriskey Disc X “Goodnight Wriskey” “Goodnight and thanks again” he picked up his bag and walks on by to his car with a smile and humming to himself. Many hours later close to dawn Hazel sat within the greenhouse against one of the apple trees with the hat over her head sleeping away, Big Mac saw her and chuckled lightly he took every chance to just experience being in his own body again even it was the fursuit that somehow merged with him for a short time, he knew the magic was fading and could feel that it was almost all gone. “Hazel?” “Hmm?” she push her hat up yawning a little “What is it bro?” “It almost time” he smirked “Damn and ah was getting use to it” she chuckled still resting against the tree. Big Mac sat by her “Eeyup” Hazel raised her orange hoof up to her view “Guess looking at me is looking at Applejack right?” “Eeyup” Big Macintosh sat against the tree beside her “Almost sunrise” she sighed looking at the colour of the sky 'Only if there was a way to stay like this longer... it be amazing gift to Big Macintosh specially he back as himself even it was due to the fusion of the costume with that magic... wait costume... this hat...' She took it off her head looking at the hat then at the work collar that Big Mac was wearing. “Oh that might work!” Big Mac turn his head with a slight confused look “What are ya thinking Hazel?” Hazel toss her hat a bit of distance making him even confused jumping up on her hooves she pulled his work collar off and toss it over to the hat landing by it “ah hope this works” “What are ya talking about?” Big Mac noticed the sun starting to appear through the glass of the greenhouse feeling the magical energy in him sudden strengthen and blinked a few times he looked at himself as the light touched his eyes and put a foreleg over his eyes to block to the light “Hazel what did ya do?” Hazel grinned trotting happily over to the hat and putting it back on then came back over and put the work collar back on him “Oh a loop hole in their magic” she chuckled “Ah guess that the hat and work collar was part of our costumes so removing them make the costumes incomplete so we stayed as we are till the next sun rise and all we have to do is repeat the process and the magic keeps going, awesome right?” Big Mac was trying to understand this “Erm what if it didn't work?” “Then we would be just in our costumes but they still fused with us and we get to be ponies even longer, awesome leap of faith right?” “Ya gambled it all by a leap of faith?” “Eeyup” she chuckled “Wow ah sound strange saying that, oh well live and learn right bro?” “Ah guess...” Big Mac staring at Hazel still looking like her sister but the voice was there but the tone wasn't also the mane was done up differently to that of Applejack's and the tail, he recalled Michelle redoing it up for the heck of it earlier. “Why did ya do it?” “My belated birthday gift, a lucky shot in the dark and wham ya got a awesome gift, it bloody worked” She trotted around almost stumbling a little but kept her balance “Oh ah going to love the next few weeks!” “Ya can't be serious, mic... ah mean ma is going to not like this” Hazel sat by him “Not if we explain it to her” “We!?” “Eeyup” Hazel sat back against the tree again with the hat pushed over her eyes “Ah going to get some sleep and this greenhouse is warm and nice, sweet dreams bro” she put her forelegs beind her head and lean against the tree soon asleep. Big Macintosh thought about it looking at his hooves and back to her “She right this is a amazing gift... Wayne was right about Hazel... she is one crazy sister...” he chuckled and lean against the tree to get some sleep too since he been up all night and felt at home finally able to sleep in his own rightful body even it felt it wasn't truly his with the flow of magic still felt within him. Unknown... “Interesting... she found a loop hole” “We should of knew better then not to use a... WAIT! your magic has a loop hole?!” “We know, it was part of our test and she past it, quite amazing how she took this 'leap of faith' as she spoke” “We do not care, this experiment is going from bad to worse!” “Maybe but we do not live yet we alive, we exist without meaning this is one of our mistakes and learn from it and to experience a weakness that was put there” “Whatever...” “We will watch and study this new experience” “Agreed” “Agreed” “Agreed...” > Chapter 15: Spokey Evening (Ponyville, Equestria) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 15: Spoken Evening (Ponyville, Equestria) As the sun set the evening of fun was about to begin with the shine of the full moon upon Ponyville and rest of Equestria, Nightmare Night had finally arrived and one crazy pink pony was more then pleased darting around from house to house in a yellow kangaroo suit. Applejack watch her bounce by on her hind legs with her front ones tuck against her chest, Wayne watch her go by and got a shiver from what he saw. Applejack wearing a mostly the Mare Do Well outfit part from the mask and keeping her mare and tail out of it too turn to Wayne whom was wearing a black cloak with black mask around his eyes with a similar hat to Mare Do Well but with also a sword tuck against the side of the red workpony on a strap with the belt having a 'Z' on it. She noticed his expression “What the matter Big Mac?” Wayne lean over to her and whispered “Pinkie Pie is wearing something that is almost exactly looking like my kangaroo fursuit back in mah world” he managed to explain without any of the ponies hearing him. Applejack wide eyed look at Pinkie Pie then back at him “Seriously!?” he nods “Hey Pinkie Pie what in tarnation are ya wearing?” Pinkie Pie hopped over them “Oh hi Big Mac, Applejack! I am a big yellow kangaroo! It cool right? And I got these cool buzzers on my hooves too to prank ponies with” she showed the hoof buzzers then bounces off. 'Please shot me... I can't believe this...' Wayne put a hoof to his head shaking it. “This is going to be a long night” “Ah don't think ya got nothing to worry about sugarcube, at least ya not pulling the fillies around, just enjoy ya self Big Macintosh” “Ah will AJ” Wayne took a look around at Ponyville, it was really done up and looking amazing, he saw Granny Smith walking with some of the children taking them on the 'Trick or Treat' but he recalled them saying the lines of 'Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!' if he remembered correctly. Applejack notice he was taking in the scene before him she whispered to him “what the matter?” “Ya wouldn't believe me but this is mah first real Halloween or ya call it Nightmare Night” he whispered back. “Ya kidding me...” he shook his head “But how?” they continued to talk quietly as they walked. He lowered his eyes to the ground “Ma never believe in it and called it another countries holiday and just another form of begging specially the knocking at doors, so mah brother and sister never allowed to do it when we young.” “Wow that kind of strange” Applejack replied “but not surprising what we talked about two weeks ago in our last private talk about ya homeworld sugarcube, might as well enjoy it now” He smiled a little “Ah plan to AJ” BOOOOOM!!!! Wayne quickly freaked and slammed into the wall as he bolted it and fell backwards lying on his back eyes swirling and Applejack also screeched with fright turning to see Rainbow Dash on a cloud laughing uncontrollable. “Hahahahhaaha that is so priceless!” “Rainbow Dash!” Applejack yelled at her “Look what ya did to mah brother!” Wayne turned over shaking his head as he stood “Ouch that going to leave a bump in the morning...” he groaned rubbing his head a little with a hoof and put the hat back on. “AJ don't worry ah fine, it was a prank afterall” he smirked looking up at Rainbow Dash and pulled out from his saddle bag a balloon “Rainbow Dash is that cloud electrified?” “Sure is, enough to scare more” she chuckled and saw the balloon “Uh oh...” Wayne twist around and with a toss the balloon hits Rainbow Dash with it exploding with confetti covering all over her and she screaming out. But when she looked to see it wasn't water, but pieces of paper, she saw Applejack and Wayne laughing at her expense “hahahaha good one Big Mac hahahaa!!” “Oh cool my confetti balloon bomb worked” Pinkie Pie giggled looking up at Rainbow Dash, she was in her shadowbolt suit and shook off the confetti. “Great one Big Mac you got me good” Rainbow Dash chuckled “Not bad at all” she darts off with her cloud soon afterwards to find her next victums. Wayne turn to Pinkie Pie “See I told you they would work” “Eeyup” Pinkie pie hops off again. “Ah can't believe we just scored a win on that” Applejack chuckled. They continue to walk to Sweet Apple Acres to get their part of the night to get started with their 'Apple bobbing' and 'pumpkin catapulting' as they walked Wayne thought about to about two weeks ago in the last talk he had with Applejack. 2 weeks ago... It was morning and the sun still rising in the sky but what made this very slow was the fact Wayne had nothing to do, he been told by Applejack that today was his day off and there was 'no, if, whens or buts' he was practically thrown off the farm to enjoy his time off leaving him to wonder through Ponyville with silence and the bits he carried in the saddle bag with pencils, paper, sharpener and rubber. Wayne came to the table and after ordering a strawberry milkshake he sat there watching some ponies doing their day to day stuff and doing some drawing of them with his mouth drawing which improved greatly. “Hey big brother what ya doing?” Wayne turn to see Applebloom with her friends sating by him as she sat there by the table, placing the pencil he spoke to her. “Ah just wasting time ah guess... AJ told me to have the day off and here ah am.” “Wow Applejack really did that, but I can guess why though since...” Sweetie Belle elbows Scootaloo in the gut “Gah!” “What she said since you been working really hard it just that you need some R and R right?” Sweetie Belle beamed with a big smile. Wayne knew something was up but knowing these three he didn't want to know. “Ah not sure what ya girls are up to but don't do anything crazy. If this is going to be mah day off ah rather not try to get ya girls out of trouble” Applebloom look to her friends all laughing a little nervously after what they did to the red pony. “We promise Big Mac, we not doing at crusading any how, today we just chilling right girls?” “Right” both replied. He raised a eye brow in response to this “What going on girls?” “Nothing going on, but can I see your drawing?” Scootaloo asked “I heard from Applebloom they awesome!” “Sure” he picked it up with his teeth and raised it up. “What ya think?” Sweetie Belle looked at it then Golden Oak Library then back at the drawing seeing the streets almost match “Whoa you wasn't kidding Applebloom that is amazing! I never knew your brother had talent like that!” “Ah know right?” she smiled with pride “Mah brother might be the best farm pony around along side mah sister but each have their own interests that go beyond their cutie marks” she still speaking of being proud to be a Apple. Wayne notice they all came around to the other side of the table “Can we stay with you and watch you draw! I want to see how you do it” Scootaloo and the others gave their cutiest looks possibly can. Wayne nods “Eeyup” “YAY!” they cheered “But don't blame me if ya get bored” Wayne explained A few short hours pass and he had his second milkshake with some apple fritters. Looking to the girls they was speaking to themselves looking at the drawings he had done, for the first time he felt fine with the girls being there but that what made him very suspicious since even time he was about to leave they begged him to do another, at first Wayne enjoyed the attention they was giving him but now something was bothering him. Wayne started to back the items away putting them back in his saddle bag “Big Mac where ya going?” “Home to drop of mah gear” Wayne answered and place it firmly on his back and starts to leave. “Ah come on! Those drawings you did was awesome specially the Rainbow Dash one!” Scootaloo said hoping around him and right in front. “Sorry Scootaloo but ah'm going back home” He walked around her not seeing the worried glances they was giving each other. Rainbow Dash suddenly slam into him causing both to crash into a cart of hay, Wayne fell out of it with Rainbow Dash by him “What in tarnation ya doing Rainbow Dash!?” he got up looking at her with a bit of annoyance. “Hehe sorry big guy, didn't see ya there, I was doing some of my stunts and sort of lost control” Rainbow Dash got up dusting herself off getting the hay out of her mane and coat. “So how the memoires?” Wayne sighed “Apology accepted Rainbow Dash but as for mah memoires most of the past still a blur but getting by day to day thanks to mah family” “That great” Rainbow Dash replied “So why aren't ya at the farm?” “AJ gave me the day off and forced me to have it too” he grumbled rubbing his head a little “so for the last few hours ah being doing nothing much...” Rainbow Dash shrugged “Your lucky I been training and dealing with some rogue clouds from the Everfree” she flew up a little and around him with a short pause she stared into the distance then look back down to him. “What going on Rainbow...” Rainbow Dash smirked “Well I just remembered, AJ sent me to find ya, something about getting your big red flank over to Sweet Apple Acres on the double” Rainbow Dash disappears in a blur of speed. Wayne turn to see the fillies was gone then back to the cart noticing no pony seem to react from him and Rainbow Dash crashing into it “What the hay is going on?” he decided to get answers by going to Sweet Apple Acres. Upon arriving at Sweet Apple Acres he found that Granny Smith or Applejack was no where to be seen and expected something odd about it, the last place to check was the barn. Wayne opened it and with a sudden huge surprise made him almost leap back in shock “SURPRISE!!!” they all yelled then shouted out “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” Wayne was shellshocked he saw the sign saying 'Happy Birthday Big Macintosh' it was Big Mac's birthday... “It mah birthday?” he blurted out with surprise slowly walking in with others laughing a little. “Sure is Big Mac” Applejack winked “That why ah had to get ya off the farm, no hard feelings right?” “Nnope” Wayne chuckled lightly and the others still beaming with excitement. “Ah guess this was Pinkie's idea?” Applejack turn to the pink pony getting the music going “Sure was sugarcube, we all knew ya might not remember y'all own birthday” “Indeed... ah...” he was chocked for words this hit Wayne like a tone of bricks and felt all sorts of feelings he never had before, no one in his life ever thrown such a party like this for me it brought happiness with tears in his eyes, wiping them with his hooves he hugged Applejack “Thank ya AJ this is one of the most happiest surprises ever” “See I told you it would work!” Rainbow Dash sailed down to a landing before them. “This is going to be the best party ever for you Big Mac” Wayne smiled to the rainbow mane mare “It will be Rainbow Dash” 'more ways then you can ever think possible...' The party itself was amazing to say the least for Wayne, he didn't say much but the feelings was there to show and enjoyed the surprise birthday party through out the day as it continued till wind down to a close with the ponies leaving and heading home, the girls decided to stay behind as true friends to Applejack and help clean up the mess and one of the surprises was that the story he finished was bounded in a hard back cover. Twilight had gotten it from Applejack and managed to get it bounded with it being the only copy he stared at it at the northern part of the farm looking at the writing, some of it was changed but he didn't mind it was just a surprise to top it all off and made him feel bad about it too since it was his story and not Big Macintosh's... “Ah thought ah find ya out here” Applejack came up beside him “Don't worry Applebloom and Granny Smith asleep we can talk freely” Wayne turn to her “Ah didn't know it was his birthday... ah feel like ah robbed him of it being in his body...” Applejack lay down beside him feeling the cool calm night wind blowing around “Ah know Wayne, but if we going to keep them out of harms way for now and figure out how to return ya back to ya body without the risk of the others safety we going to have to play it safe and including the birthday party, ya seem to be happy with it even it was a shock” Wayne turn to her “Indeed ah was, it was the first ever surprise party ah ever had in mah life” “Really? Y'all never had one as a human?” he shook his head “Was it because ya was picked on?” Wayne look to the stars “Eeyup and kind of mah fault... never really got over it and hardly socialized... ah just kept to myself mainly and when ah talked it was a bit too talkative as ya noticed” “Indeed ah have sugarcube but don't let that bother ya now. Ah also was surprised at what Twilight did, ah didn't expect she would do that” Applejack look to the book “But ah bet it made ya feel bad too” Wayne glance at the book “It does in some aspect but back at home all ah got is mah stories, drawings, online friends and such... nothing too big or crazy, here ah sort of helping the family gain something more then the farm, is that wrong of me?” “Nah it fine Wayne, ya mah brother after all. Y'all worked hard and done so well in the last month, ya even created that amazing Apple Cider, that was a big seller and Granny was over the moon” Applejack chuckled “if that not something special to add to the family ah do not know what is” Wayne chuckled lightly “Ah bet Big Mac having a similar talk at mah home with Hazel” he turn to the sky once more “but ah do wonder what Earth be like if everyone just got along... no stupid divide between countries, languages, beliefs and such... those just live in fiction mostly...” “Not here is rosey either, everything has their ups and downs” Applejack replied “Ah sure they doing fine, now let go get some shut eye we got a lot of work to catch up tomorrow” Wayne nods and gets up putting the book into his saddle bag and giving her a hug “Thanks for being a awesome sister” he said to Applejack Applejack return the hug “Same to ya big brother” Granny Smith watched from her window with some binoculars “Big Macintosh where ever ya are, ya new brother doing a great job being ya and making this proud granny smile” she look to the stars in hope her whispers was heard. Present Day... Princess Luna arrived by her chariot with her bat ponies pulling it along, it came to a landing by Sweet Apple Acres, stepping off she noticed Applejack in the Mare Do Well outfit having a bit of fun with her friends catapulting pumpkins into the bullsize with other Ponyville ponies enjoying themselves. “I see we came at the right time” she spoke seeing Rainbow Dash in her shadowbolt outfit with Pinkie Pie what seem to be a kangaroo “What a odd costume” she spoke with a frown “I know right? I was thinking it was weird too but being Pinkie Pie it just normal” Rainbow Dash chuckled “Just don't let her put her hooves on ya” “Why?” Rainbow Dash hints to the buzzers in view “Ah I see” Luna smiled then turn to see Twilight joining them in a light blue armour on her back, head and on each off “Princess Twilight I see you looking quite battle ready” Twilight smiled “I thought I try looking like something from a book a read, a princess that fight for her friends in the name of friendship, kind of a odd story but it still interesting” Twilight said looking to the night princess. “As for my research on the metal it came up with some interesting things” Rainbow Dash frowned “Is that what you been doing? Looking at some junk for almost two months?” “Not really just off and on, good thing to because I found out that some force of magic beyond anything I seen pulled it from another world, if anything I found evidence of this in one case over 500 years ago” Twilight explained “But guess my results can wait, we ruining the fun of the evening talking about this” Wayne pulled his sword out with his mouth and slash and the cloth on a plank with some ponies watching and cheering as he pulled off a Z with it. “Ah reckon we should, ya just almost missed mah brother finally got that sword slashing down” she chuckled Rainbow Dash flew over to the cloth “Nice cuts, you got the Z perfect Big Mac, now your really are Zorro” Wayne look to her with Big Mac's green eyes with a small smile “Ah don't know about that Rainbow Dash, all ah did was do a Z (British saying)” Rainbow Dash frown when he said it “Z?(British) don't you mean Z?(American)” “Huh?” Wayne look at her confused for a second “Isn't that what ah just said?” Twilight brought it up now “I heard of that, the ponies of Hoovdon say 'Z' (British) not 'Z' (American) I guess some ponies from there said it a few times and Big Mac just used it with the slip of the tongue, it commonly done, right princess?” Twilight turn to Luna Luna chuckled “Indeed, I am not sure why Rainbow Dash making a fuss over one letter” “I am not making a fuss over it! I am just saying his said it weird! I didn't know there was another way of saying that letter” Rainbow Dash protested Applebloom spoke up “Ah heard that y'all, it something Miss Cheerilee been teaching us about differences between ponies in cities, towns and villages or from far away places outside Equestria” Applebloom recalling her lessons. “That is true and ah did take Big Mac to the city of Hoovdon when he was quite young and Applejack was a little filly” Granny Smith spoke up “oh Ah remember that day so well. The day those city folks got a taste of our Zap Apple Jam, it really made our trip to that city to mah cousin all worth while.” Twilight smiled “I recently heard that a pony called Britannia whom a captain of the guards there” Granny turn to Twilight “Oh I remember that name too, she was only about Big Macintosh's age when ah saw that little filly, she loved the sandwiches we offered and the funny looking red coat guards that protect that here old tower by the river” Twilight recalled reading up about it recently “That Tower of Hoovdon I believe, it something to do with it holding some sort of jewels. Something Princess Celestia once worn about 300 years ago when going to the city on her yearly visits, I only recently got this information and still trying to get everything about that city” Twilight recapping on her recent studies “One thing that surprise me though about that place, it had a malfunctioning weather station out to sea that no pegasi can get near” Wayne had a good idea what she was talking about 'It sure sound like about London and the British weather but a city that resembles London... now that something...' Wayne saw how bored Rainbow Dash was getting with Twilight talking on and on about the city then he look to the storm cloud she had that was just above. He pokes her and points up with a hoof. Applejack, Applebloom, Granny Smith and Luna saw Rainbow Dash sneak off and jump into the air on the cloud moving it just behind Twilight with Spike trying not to laugh as he knew what was about to happen. “Also it was believed that it was a prototype before Cloudsdale since Hoovdon is somewhere close to 1800 years...” BANG!!! “AH!!!” Twilight jumped with fright and the others instantly burst out laughing at her sudden fright. “Hehe you got me good” Twilight look up at Rainbow Dash kicking the air as she laid on her back on the cloud laughing her head off at Twilight's expense of a scare by her lightning. The night went on with everypony and dragon enjoying the evening with scares, treats, music, fun and pranks. Wayne enjoyed Nightmare Night, he never really had done in the past but he was having a great time with the Apples he been calling his family for the last two months, he still missed being back in his own body but with the support from them and from Applejack specially he was able to over come it and keep up the story of being Big Macintosh but this was drawing on to him feeling heavy hearted about keeping a lie up with Applejack also keep it up but as he watch Pinkie Pie bounce around and having laughs with everypony he knew that this was one page he had to turn soon... As the evening events draw to a end Applejack stood with Wayne at the Nightmare Moon statue, Luna step up to them as they was busy talking to each other and laughing a little “Evening to both” Both of them turn “Princess Ah thought ya would be back in Canterlot” Applejack was a bit startled. Wayne turn to Applejack “It ok AJ, Luna knows” Applejack faced the red stallion “Seriously?” “Eeyup” Applejack took off the Mare Do Well hat with a hoof “May ah ask how y'all found out?” Luna smiled standing before them looking to the green eyes of both ponies before her “His dreams are a wondrous insight to a very imaginative mind and quite the one at that, no dream is the same, he mind wonders with so many different dreams of worlds that beyond our own, stars, worlds, aliens, ponies, humans and so much more. Some maybe dark but that because the mind created it in a dream, dreams can go wild as I noticed with yours Wayne” “Eeyup” Wayne chuckled lightly “Mah mind is one crazy mix of building blocks that impossible shapes can match” Applejack listen to them and sighed with a smile of her own “Woowee that really something Princess, so y'all knew from the first day?” Luna nods “Wow and it took me over a month to figure it out, he did good on pretending to be mah brother but all for a good reason those magical beings that caused this mess is still at large and ah'm not going to tell anypony about this until it really a must... just to keep them safe from harm” “Wise move Applejack but I sense they may grew worried that more as time goes by will know, even Twilight figured out their magical energy but not aware of what happened to Wayne and Pinkie Pie... something odd about her outfit that brought a shiver when seeing her at first” Luna turn her head slightly to Ponyville recalling Pinkie Pie's kangaroo outfit. Wayne had a feeling she knew “Ah don't even want to think how she knew princess... one thing ah learned from being here and from mah world, never question Pinkie Pie's randomness or y'all in for a headache” the three laughed after he said and sat looking to the night sky together leaving their thoughts to wonder... Unknown... “Sparkle Twilight Princess Alicorn has discovered us” “We need to remove the threat” “Negative, she may have found our magic as they call it but they do not know we are here, we will wait and see” “Two sides of a coin as the humans and ponies spoke as the term 'penny for your thoughts' are a reminder of why we study events such as this, it to understand the lifeforms and not to destroy them because they seem to be close to discovering us” “We can not understand why risk our realm of being found by these biological life forms, they are not of matter” “We study to learn to know life” “That is true we will continue for now of research to understand their methods and weigh all risks” “We could easily restart but then we be back to the beginning and start all over with the risks coming again, they are of one life while we are of no life, we need to understand life” “Very well we will wait... but a new test will commence” “New test in mind you have?” “Life of one or life of many” “Interesting, putting a test that would endanger the life of many or the life of one... how do you wish to proceed?” “By creating two storms one on the London of the capital to Untied Kingdom and the other to Ponyville, by reviling the truth of one set storm to two life forms of each world they may get those to safety or fight the storm at the cost of one love one, Macintosh Big and Dolphin Wayne.” “Intriguing... this has caught our attention, very well you may proceed with one action at mark event date at 3 of their one month period and 4 of the days to one of their periods within the month.” “That it will...” > Chapter 16: Overseers > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 16: Overseers... “ARE YOU TWO THICK IN THE HEAD!?” Michelle yelled at two of her three siblings seeing Big Mac and Hazel in ponyfied forms before her eyes as she came to check on the newly built and completed greenhouse that will house the harvest for the other periods of the year, and told by both what they did and now getting a scolding by their mother inside the house at the breakfast table. “Aw come on ma, we can easily turn back by keeping these here stuff on by sunrise” Hazel tapping the hat with her hoof with a grin. “Plus I did it as a super awesome birthday gift for Wayne” Michelle gave her a strange look “Hazel his birthday is not till December...” “I know but Wayne didn't” she chuckled looking over to Big Macintosh. Big Mac played along “Really ah thought it was today cause ya did it out of the blue and said it was for my birthday” Michelle just put a hand to her face shaking it “Hazel...” “Hehe” she sheepishly looked at Michelle “So it was a early birthday gift, still for the next three weeks it going to be awesome!” “No one week” Michelle replied “Oh come on ma! How about 2 and half?” Michelle crossed her arms “A week and a half” Big Mac cuts in “How about 2 weeks and leave it at that, ah don't want to see y'all two argue” Hazel put her hoof out to Michelle “Deal?” “Deal...” Michelle put her hand on the hoof and Big Mac put his on top gentle all three looking at each other then a click they all turn to see Nigel taking a picture of them. Nigel smirked “Now that a shot” Michelle sat in her chair by the fireplace with it being night time outside reading a book, she heard the sound of the hooves making the 'clop clop' sound as the two prepared for bed, she look to the table side seeing the glass photo of her and the two accepting the deal of two weeks, it had been a week already and she smiled looking at it and back to her book. “What a week it been” she smiled and continue to read her book. Hazel took off her hat tossing it onto the hook with a good aim, “Woohoo ah got it” she smirked and turn to the mirror seeing the blonde mane that been hers for a week now, she did it up differently to Applejack's, it had a hairband at the top of the mane began behind her neck and plated into another hairband at the end both being dark shade of purple. With her tail being free of any bands, it was a bit of a mess but she get it under control. “Goodnight bro!” Hazel called out to the next room. Big Mac called back “Goodnight Sis” he replied and look to himself in the mirror he was happening being in a body he was born in but the strange energy in him kept it from feeling truly his. “One more week and back to in the human body” he whispered and went over to his bed side seeing the Applejack plushy sitting on it, he smiled to it putting a hoof to it “Soon ah be back home Applejack” he whispered and got into bed hugging the door as he fell asleep. Hazel quietly look through the door with a smile “And ah get mah brother back, but as ah said before ya gained another” she smirked and quietly went back to her room without making a single sound which impressed herself with the hooves she had for a week now. Hazel settled down into her own bed and closed her eyes with a smile. ???? Hazel stood looking at the sun rising with the full moon still out behind her in the day time sky, she stared out to New Town Apple Orchard on a summers day with the cool wind blowing through the land the apples ripe for picking seeing her brother Wayne on the ladder picking some apples throwing them down to the basket with Michelle lifting up the baskets and putting them on the back of a cart. What she saw was strange that she saw Big Macintosh attached to the applecart with Applebloom tossing up those that fell on the ground to the cart and she trail her eyes to right to see Granny Smith rocking in the rocking chair happily looking at them, she turn to see mountains in the distance and the rainbow colour apples to her left next to the Everfree Forest but it was merged with the Twiosmicstar Forest. Hazel just enjoyed the view and walked down the path “need any help bro?” “Nah we good” Wayne put a thumbs up to her “Why don't you meet up with AJ at the lake, she chilling out for the day as well” “Ok” Hazel chuckled and walks off she noticed something odd from her walking and look to herself it was the pony form she was temporally in from the merge costume but she shrugged as if nothing to it. Applejack turn her head to the sound of trotting and saw what almost look like her but she noticed two things, one no freckles and two her mane and tail was differently done to hers but still had the same hat, colour eyes, coat colour and cutie mark. “Am ah seeing things, why in the hay do y'all look like me?” Hazel look over herself coming to a stop “Erm... custom merge with me, kind of a magic...” Hazel paused “Wait the others didn't seem to react out of question of how ah looked, but ya are” Applejack frowned “Same thing happened when ah saw those weird creatures helping mah brother and sister out, it was strange since Granny didn't seem to be bothered and we had Zap Apples hanging, as well including that weird looking old tree sticking out like a sore hoof from the Everfree Forest” Hazel thought about this “This must be a dream...” then look to the merge landscape seeing Canterlot in the distance on the mountain “Eeyup a dream but if ah'm dreaming and ya dreaming that means we sharing a dream across dimensions like Wayne and Big Mac did” Hazel smiled coming over to Applejack sitting by her “This is awesome, ah'm sitting by the one and only Applejack” she frown at Hazel “Oh right, name Hazel the youngest in the family and mah brother is Wayne, his in ya brothers body” Applejack lose the frown with a smirk “Well that explains who ya are but not this” she put her hoof on Hazel's foreleg Hazel chuckled “Oh that it simple, Big Mac was wearing a costume ah got him and mah self, they fursuits looking like ya and Big Mac himself for Halloween” “Halloween?” “Erm... Nightmare Night?” “Oh ah see so Halloween is what ya call Nightmare Night” Applejack said getting up on all fours “Why don't we walk while we talk, since this is a merge dream world, ah like to see some of the things of ya world” Hazel nods “Sounds completely fair sis” Hazel got up and walk alongside her by the lake shore “As ah was saying, one of these people that working for someone not quite sure who was discovered by whatever did this to Wayne and Big Mac. Macintosh managed to save the man's life destroying that bloody orb but then it energy merged us with the suits and wham ah was looking exactly like ya on stage wobbling all over the place standing on hind legs and Big Mac got to be back in his body well magical changed body and made it as a birthday gift to him, well belated one.” “But wouldn't it wore off or something sugarcube?” Hazel chuckled “Nnope ah found a loop hole and if ah not wearing this by sunrise”she tap her hat “And Big Macintosh not wearing his work collar we stay like this for another day, we planning to let it wear off by a weeks time. A deal we made with ma” Hazel explained. Applejack noticed they came onto a side walk heading down a tarmac road seeing cars drive by “What in the hay are those?” she watched one wizz by. “Oh that a car, ya got planes that carry lots of people all over the world, look up” Applejack did and gasped at what she saw, very high in the sky was a plane the sound of it could be heard. “Cool huh?” Applejack blinked “Ah say... ah never seen anything like it in mah life...” Applejack turn to Hazel “So ya have a ma still...” Hazel nods “Eeyup, she kind of yours too since Big Mac now calls Wayne his brother, so in a way ya are my sister” she grinned Applejack stops looking to her “Indeed same thing happened to Wayne, ah see him as much as mah brother as Big Mac” Applejack decided to give her a sisterly hug and Hazel returned it “But ya got to do something about that tail” Applejack release her and points to it “That looks like a mess” “Oh that, it just to tell me apart from ya Applejack” Hazel turn and saw what look like Twilight's library and home, followed by a scream. “What the hell?” “What in tarnation?” Applejack also spoke as they saw Twilight came out of the house pushing a man out of it “Get out you human!” She barked at him “I don't know how you got to Equestria but I am not going to have you snoop around my basement!” “Look miss I told you for the seventh time I don't remember how I got there, I went to bed and found myself there!” the man replied “And it Matthew” “I don't care get out and stay...” Twilight paused looking to the sound of a roar and saw the plane “Oh my gosh is that...” Matthew look up “It just a passenger plane, nothing big when you live in the Capital” Applejack and Hazel came up to them “Twil?” Twilight turn to the sound of the voice “Oh Applejack this is crazy I went to bed and woke as if it was summer all the sudden and...” she saw Hazel and gasped “What the heck!? Two of you!?” Hazel decided to ignore that question for a second “Did ya go to sleep too?” Twilight look to Matthew then the two Applejacks “Yeah just moments ago” Applejack saw where Hazel was getting at “We all sharing the same dream Twil” “But how is that even possible? I am sure Luna could put somepony else in another dream but not four at once” Twilight looking at them rather confusingly. “Make that five” they all turn to see Luna walking up to them Matthew look at the four ponies looking to Hazel “I and Miss Dolphin are from Earth that I am quite sure of” Hazel stared at him “How the heck did ya know who ah am!?” “Because my project been studying this 'magic' for quite some time and you with your brother haven't gone unnoticed by our team, one of our agents in fact was saved by the red farm pony which we do know he real name is Big Macintosh, your real brother body is in his body correct?” Next thing he knew was a hoof right below the belt causing him to gag and fall over holding his jewels with serious pain. “JERK!” she then upper cuts him knocking him over holding his nose in pain “Dream or not that what ya get for spying on us” she turns away and turn to the others staring in disbelief “My name is Hazel Dolphin and mah brother is in Big Macintosh's body at the moment” Luna nods “Yes I know but never thought I see you as a pony. I thought you were a human” Hazel chuckled “Sure am Luna, let say we had a dealing with a extra orb and the blast from it merged me with a fursuit that looked almost the same as Applejack” Hazel replied as the general slowly sat up. “Bloody hell that was sure painful” He whizzed a little. Twilight look to Luna “You knew about this switch and never said anything to me?” “Because I couldn't, it would risk harming not only you but myself too from whatever this magic came from, it did destroy your machine” Luna explained her reasons to Twilight. “Overseers” they all turn to Matthew “They are called the Overseers... we only got one reference from one of your ponies from 512 years ago that was in the body of one of the humans, the second to switch minds. At his death he told the king and that was held within the secret royal achieves, only for the Queen eyes and those of my project team to see” Hazel frowned at him “Why the bloody heck ya telling us then!?” “Because they here...” Matthew turn to the sky and they all look to see four beams of light shot of them and hit the ground forming into energy swirling light of outline forms of four Alicorns. Twilight gasped at what she saw and Luna was on the defence with her horn glowing “Are they the Overseers you spoke of?” “Maybe... no one really knows what they look like but all I know they meddle in the affairs of other worlds for their own gain...” Matthew said staring at the four Alicorns that they couldn't make out. Hazel yelled at them instantly “Return mah brothers to their rightful bodies ya no good for nothing assholes!!!” She ran right at one only to get picked up by a energy wave and thrown back hitting the ground sliding to a stop she slowly got up glaring at them. Applejack came up to her and helped her up on her hooves “Y'all four going to speak or just look fancy in that weird colour cloud y'all?” “We was right the one Dolphin Hazel was hostile to us” “Only because of what we done” “Does not matter of what we done we still testing their reactions” Luna spoke this time around “How dare you speak to us as if we not here!” she spoke and raised her voice to the canterlot voice “You will return them to their rightful bodies Overseers and that is a royal order from I Princess Luna of the night!” “We can not for what you are Luna Princess, you are a biological life form and nothing more” “We suggest terminating their lives this agreement to put them on test is pointless” Twilight was shocked at what they was suggested but she saw Matthew just staring at them with anger “I don't know what you four are but you can't just end someponies life just because of our defence to what you done, you interfered with our worlds for 700 years... I want to know why?” “A test of life” “A Meaning of life” “Living the life with testing those to react” “One mind of ones thoughts the single life that exist” Matthew raised a closed fist at them “You mean we all test rats to you!? Nothing more then pones to some chest board!? You have no right to meddle in our lives! That why we been trying to find you” he points at them now “To understand why your doing this and to get you to stop” “Yes we know of you and your Queen but we can not find where you are, even in this dream you are still a unknown and that is a threat to us, you will be found and destroyed” “Bah same old bullcrap” Matthew said back to the four. Luna raise a hoof “I am just as anger as you are but we need to know why they brought us five here” “Indeed there most be a logical reason behind it” Twilight also added Matthew sighed “Fine...” “Ah don't trust these things...” Applejack stared at them “They not only switch Wayne and Bic Mac around but attacked Twilight's machine with some machine from Earth and then tried to hard Matthew's guy... now we talking to them...” “I don't like it either Applejack... but we have to go with it” Twilight spoke to her friend and turn to them. “Now tell us why you brought us all here...” “A test in two periods of one circle of the moon to four of the two periods in time” Luna heard this and spoke “You mean in 2 weeks and four days something going to happen...” “Indeed Luna Princess” “What exactly?” Luna press the question. “Two storms will hit the City of London and the Town of Ponyville. The test is warn them and two shall die or do not warn them and many will die but the two will not” Twilight gasped in horror “Wh-what!? You can't be serious! Creating powerful storms that would harm innocent lives just to see what happens!? That sick!” “It not sick or evil, it is a test and we wish to see the results of what you will do” Hazel knew instantly whom they spoke of “my brothers...” Applejack saw fury when she realised this too “What!? No way mah brothers going to die for some twisted test!” “Two or many, that is your choice and the storms will hit either way” Matthew stood staring at them “I already can give you that answer I will warn them in London soon as I awake” “Then you shall die and they will not” “What!? What type of crap is that!?” he yelled at them. “You all agree or do not agree, if one do not agree the rest will die” Twilight gulped at this “Wh-why would you do such a thing... it monsters...” “We need to know the meaning of living and we will find it out by this test” Luna lower her head with anger but she didn't yell “Not even my sister can know of this... I feel helpless...” “That you are Luna Princess, events we set will come to pass many or two, it the choose of you, once a week you all will meet in the dreams you sleep, that will be two meetings from now, at the end there will be death.” Applejack swallowed hard feeling sick to her stomach “Ah can't believe this...” she stared at the creatures “All ah want is mah brother to come home... Big Macintosh and ya saying ah won't even hear him ever again...” “That is correct Applejack Pony Earth, you will never see him again” “That ya sick...” Hazel spat “Mah brother Wayne is awesome as much as Big Macintosh y'all think we will sit here and let ya get away with this!?” “You can not stop us, we are Overseers and you are nothing” Hazel growled at them with a snort through her snout “When ah can get mah hooves or hands on ya ah going to kill ya...” Matthew sighed heavily “You made your point..” “We have now this dream will end and you will ponder while we watch” Twilight look to Applejack with defeat “I don't know what to do Applejack...” “Ah know sugarcube...” Applejack gave the same look of defeat in her eyes. “Interesting they seem to lost all emotion they seem to be in a state that means they have not got a idea how to prevent this. Interesting expression” Luna sneered with magic flowing “THIS DREAM ENDS NOW!!!!!!!!” with a explosion of white light the Overseers was startled if they had a look of it but could not be seen as she ripped the dream world apart by her fury. --- Applejack shot up in bed gasping with sweet rolling down her face breathing heavily “What the hay... was that a dream or was it real...” Applejack whispered with small eyes showing real fear darting them to her left to her right trying to collect on what just happened. --- Hazel gasped falling out of bed with a thud looking around quickly “Wh-what was that...” Hazel whispered feeling very scared “Ah... was that all...” she turn to the view of the window of the half moon in the sky shivering with terror like she never felt before... --- Matthew open his eyes staring at the celling “Now this gets interesting...” he whispered turning his eyes to the video screen showing a window view of the city of London “Millions or two...” --- Twilight screamed as she woke up “Twilight are you ok?” Spike quickly came up to her. Twilight gasping and breathing heavily “So-sorry Spike really bad dream...” “It must be for you to scream like that” Spike said looking at her “But it over now isn't it?” “Y-yeah it is... goodnight Spike” “Goodnight Twilight” he went back to sleep and left Twilight looking out at Luna's moon with questionable eyes... --- Luna awoke with anger in her eyes “Those Overseers will not harm my subjects... none of them... I Luna will find a way to save thou lives...” she step up to the window looking to her moon “Fear not Twilight and Applejack I will try to save all life...” Unknown... “We made contact and what expected by the biological lifeforms” “Indeed, they was hostile and risk to our existence” “We will wait and see for their actions to follow” “Impressive that the one called Luna Princess was able to disrupt our power” “Alicorns are impressive indeed so are the humans, we will have to study this to find out answers” “A risk we are not going to take” “Until we all agree the deadline will be three of their weeks” “Very well... will they choose two or many?” “A question we have no answer to” Silence came over the four Overseers... > Chapter 17: Winter Wonderland > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 17: Winter Wonderland It was only mid November and the weather had quickly changed over the UK, only about a few months ago people would never expected a snow storm but the weather quickly changed within a week with snow fall almost everywhere in the UK bring many transports to a grinding halt due to the heavy snow fall. Big Mac stepping through the snow from the greenhouse head back to the house with each hoof sinking into the snow as he walked. He choose to sleep in the greenhouse since it was very warm, but the mistake came when the only way back was across the snow. “Strange weather we havin'” he look to the sky seeing it was pretty cloudy with fresh snow falling. “Never get use to the fact, here the weather isn't controlled” he whispered and step up to the house porch tapping his hooves with the snow falling off them. The door opened meeting the face of Hazel “Morning bro” she smiled “I was about to come over to get ya” Big Mac look at her “Ya let the spell run out but ya had two more days...” “No morning to your sister?” she put her hands on her hips “Morning” he grinned sheepishly “Now about ya” Hazel sighed “I had enough of it to be truthful and wanted to see if I was right” she look over herself “And I was, it feels kind of strange being a pony for almost two weeks but heck I had fun, just glad to be back to normal” Big Mac walks in and close the door behind him before all the heat in the house escaped. “Morning Wayne” Michelle smirked then said “Or should I saw Big Macintosh” he jaw just drop with shock with his eyes shrunk “Don't give me that look mister, I figured it out by myself just this morning” she tap his snout “But I wouldn't if you didn't seem to fit too well with being what you are son” Big Mac put a hoof on his snout and then lower it “Ah guess so” “Well Nigel haven't figured it out so your secret safe till he does, plus he not here for the next few weeks” Michelle went to the dining room sitting at the table with Hazel. Big Mac joined them and recalled that Nigel was with his girlfriend in the USA at the moment. “Hazel already explained to me why you two never told me this and I very much understand and still glad to call you my son even your not really are.” She put a hand on his side of the neck with a warm smile. “So if you wish to keep this magic over you to keep working till Wayne returns to his own body I don't mind” Big Mac took in all what she said and it made him feel very strange inside, he felt this when his true mother cared for him before she and his father was lost... the feeling of a caring parent... “Thank ya... ma” “No need to son, you done a lot for this family, since you've been in Wayne's body... it would be better if Wayne did it Big Mac but I bet he done things that you never did.” Big Mac looked at her and knew that would be the case. “So I heard you talked to him a about a month or so ago in a dream” “Eeyup” he ate some of his breakfast at the table Michelle felt happy that Wayne was ok even it been a long time “So this was all done by some orb two months ago?” “Eeyup” “And you been living Wayne's life best as you could?” “Eeyup” “And your happy to be part of another family?” “Eeyup” “And you spent £50 just trying to be Lucky on Euro Millions?” “Eeyup” “Are you 28?” “Eeyup” “Will you give us a slay ride through the forest?” “Eeyup...” he paused and stare at her “What?” Hazel chuckled “Oh mum you got him” she drunk some of her juice Michelle drunk some of her tea with a crafty smile “Thank you son” He facehoofed himself and laughter came from the other two. “Ah should of saw that comin'” Michelle ate some toast with Hazel pulling out a map from her pocket and unfolding it “We going here” she points to the map “We going to the island, the freezing cold weather froze the lake over, I been over it already and plot the best path for us to cross” “Ya sure it safe to cross?” “Of course yesterday I was all hoofed and crossed it safely, so two girls ice skating and a stallion sliding on his hooves should be fine and with the forest close to the public today it the best chance we got.” Hazel said not telling him that she arranged it with Matthew the General that based in a secret base in London. Michelle turn to Hazel “I heard of that, you know Hazel we can get in trouble” Hazel shrugged “Not my fault our home borders the forest to the south side and have our own private entrance into the woodland” Big Mac listen to this and had to agree “With private access that would mean we have free access to areas that are not being sorted out by the government” “The gritters and such? It make sense” Michelle replied and they went on to eat their breakfast at the table. A little later Big Macintosh strap into the harness to the slay seeing Michelle and Hazel get on wearing very warm clothing, boots and gloves with the ice skates in the cargo part of the sled. Big Mac wearing a scarf around his neck and over part of the work collar and a woolly hat over his head and ears. “Are y'all girls ready?” Michelle felt a little unsure “I don't know... this is the first time I been on something like this and well never been pulled by my son turn pony either” “Think of it this way mum, it a whole new experience” Hazel said with amusement in her voice “Right bro ready when you are!” Michelle took a grip of the sides as Big Mac started to pull the sled across the snow towards the Twiosmicstar Forest “I heard of sons pulling their weight around but this is ridiculous!” Michelle spoke out loud “Wayne... Big Mac... gah this is stupid can I just call you Wayne...” “Eeyup.” she sighed hearing him reply as they cross the open gate into the path leading into the forest with the leaves all gone now the trees looked very beautiful with snow on the tops of the branches with the clouds breaking up a little with sun light shining through the clouds. “Amazing...” Big Mac spoke seeing the large tree in the distance seeing men and women working on the tree cutting down some of the thin out branches. Hazel waved and called out “Hello! How the view!?” One of the men look down seeing the two women being pulled by a red large pony through the snow towards the lake the others stop and smiled seeing this knowing they came from the orchard to the south of the forest “Morning to you miss and it great! With the sun out it really gives meaning to magic in the air!” “Cool!” Hazel replied as Big mac came to a slow as they came up to the massive tree trunk looking right up to it with a smirk and salute with his hoof “Good mornin' y'all” he then trots away pulling the sled with Michelle and Hazel waving to the men and women. One of the women look to her tea then back at one of them “Was it mean or...” “Nope it not the tea, I heard it too that pony talked...” the man replied holding a hacksaw as he was cutting a loose branch. “Do you think we should report this in?” another spoke The women frown at him “Right... a dozen people working high and low on the Grand Oak hear and see a red pony with a green apple mark on it rump speak... do you think our boss will believe us?” “No” a group of them said and just went back to work. She put a hand to her ear piece “General Big Mac is heading to the lake just as you said” she whispered under the sound of one of the machines in use. “Also covered his rump with a few words to my co-workers” “Good keep up to good work” “Will do sir” she smirked and went back to working on the tree with the rest of the team. Michelle look to the red pony “I think you've spooked them” “Nnope” Hazel chuckled “No one would believe them anyway” “How so?” Michelle asked as Big Mac entered the clearing towards the lake trotting through the snow as it wasn't as deep since the gentle winds was drifting it into piles by tree lines. Big Mac know that answer “Ah believe she means that twelve workers in a tree would be a prank or somethin'. Is that correct Hazel?” “Right you are bro” Hazel said and saw the lake coming into view “There it is!” she points to the island Michelle could see the trees everyone calls Christmas Trees “So we ice skating across to a frozen island?” “And there something awesome there, I found it yesterday and got to show you two” Hazel beamed as Big Mac came to a stop and she got out of the sled and help Michelle out while Big Mac unhooked himself for it. “Bro why don't you see if it will hold your weight” she joked Big Mac frowned at her “Ya just..” “Kidding bro” Big Mac put a hoof to his head “Ah should of knew that was a joke...” “Some things never change between two people huh?” Michelle chuckled “Hmm?” “You and... Wayne... you know you two” she spoke and sighed. “This is getting really stupid I can't even make sense of what I am saying with you now” she chuckled lightly. “What I am saying you two can't see a joke unless it slap you in the face” Big Mac nods “Ah understand ah think” Hazel and Michelle put their skates on and got onto the ice with Big Mac walking on to it and using his weight of the hooves he slid across it along side them skating with his hooves across the ice, he could feel the cold through them but he handle it. “I see someone knows how to skate” Michelle said looking to the earth pony. “Ah took some lessons from Pinkie Pie when she first moved into Ponyville, she quite the talker and really wanted to do her part for winter wrap up” Big Mac replied “Oh the season changing thing you ponies do, that pretty awesome” Hazel beamed “Eeyup” “I bet you look forward to that next year” “Eeyup Hazel felt a kick in her stomach when he said that, she knew there was a chance that he never see a next year “That cool...” her tone seem to be off and Big Mac noticed it but choose to wait to ask what the matter as they continued to skate across the thick lake ice to the island. They arrived at the island with Hazel and Michelle switching skates for boots they all stood before the snow covered path that lead into the small island. “Come on this way” Hazel went off the path instantly heading towards the rock out crop that stuck out on the island. Michelle sighed “We better catch up to her, no telling what will happen if we lose sight of her” “Eeyup” they follow her through the trees walking and taking in the view, the large tree could be seen in the distance as it was the landmark for New Town that could be seen for up to ten miles away in any direction depending on buildings and hills. “Ah never thought winter could be so lovely” he whispered looking at the beauty of the trees cased in snow and ice. “This world is sure different to mine in many ways” “And same with yours I bet” Michelle replied walking alongside him. “Son you really done a lot and want to thank you for it” she put her gloved hand on his back. “Still you should of told the truth right away” she clip him with her hand on the back of the head. “I don't like being lied to by my children no matter how old or from some other world” Big Mac raising his front hoof walking on the other three rubbed his back of the head “Ah understand ma...” “Good” she replied and they walked around the rock cropping to see a large hole in the ground it was about 100 meters across but hidden by rocks from the south to the west and partly north with bushes and trees on the other side, even with all the leaves gone it would be hard to make out unless you was in the air. “This is the Twiosmicstar Cavern... this area is made off limits to all... Hazel get back here now!” Hazel stood by the rocks pulled a loose one across showing a passage way “Why Mum?” she called back “Because being here young lady itself is a crime” “What?” Big Macintosh look really startled by this new news. “Hazel ah think ma right we should leave” Hazel chuckled “Nah not when you know someone high up” she chuckled and points behind them Michelle turn and gasped seeing man in uniform “Oh shi...” “Miss” he cuts her off instantly. “It a pleasure to meet you Michelle Dolphin and this must be your son Wayne or should I say Big Macintosh” they both gasped. “I am Matthew and work for the Queen directly and knew about your son differences from almost the get go” Michelle looked really anger “You mean spying...” she then punched him in the face and knocked him to the ground “Officer or not no one spies on my family!” she yelled at him with a closed fist ready to strike again “Wow...” Big Macintosh only could say with Hazel laughing. “I told you Matthew that would happen” Hazel chuckled. “I found out him by my own means so in return to keep both mouths shut he allowed us access to this off limits area and complete access to the forest at our own choosing even on days it closed to the public” Michelle turn to Hazel then back to Matthew getting up holding his jaw a little feeling the pain from it “Good” she turns and head over to Hazel “That went better then I thought it” Matthew rubbing his jaw a little. “So Big Mac how Earth been?” “Different in many ways but ya sneaking around will end here ya get it!” He put a hoof against the generals chest “Ah will protect mah family from those that spy on others or take advantage” Big Mac said in a serious tone. “You got it big man, seriously the fused costume thing that going on with you is pretty amazing since you get to live like you always had through out your life, and also like to say I am a big fan of yours” Matthew smirked and put a hand out closing it into a fist “Hoofbump or Brohoof?” Big Mac rolled his eyes “Fine” he place his hoof on the generals fist and turn away heading up to the entrance that was reviled Matthew smirked “This is going to be interesting.” He follows them into the entrance which was a cave like path way with lights hanging on the wall lighting the way with stone steps echoing from shoes and hooves with each step they took as it spiral around. Soon they came into a large open cavern with the sound and sight of hot steamy water coming out of a shaft to their right into a waterfall and hitting into a lake then going further into the caves but what caught their eyes was a single large white rose in the middle of the island seeing snow falling from above from the opening above. “As you can see there is what you call magic in our world but it rare and most of all usually the most beautiful thing you will ever see” Matthew said walking onto the bridge onto the small island. “We study this rose from the day it grows, bloom and dies, each year it a different cycle depending on the weather and with snow falling it bloomed early this year” Big Mac saw the sparkling light from the rose peddles he never seen any plant like this look so pure with the feeling of magic through his being as feeling it being a Earth Pony by nature he felt it internal magic. “Ah can feel it purity...” They all look to him “Wayne?” “Ah don't know if this might make sense by being a Earth Pony by nature ah can feel thin's about plants and such that no unicorn or pegasus can feel, ah can feel through mah being this rose is pure... it amazing and blissful feelin' ah ever felt...” Big Macintosh eyes watering a little feeling at peace. “Ah'm glad ya humans never disturbed this natural beauty...” Matthew sat on the bench looking at the rose “That why it off limits to the public and why there a set of royal marines stationed on the island at all times” “The SAS right?” Matthew nods. “Thought so...” Michelle said looking at the rose with arms crossed “It almost as if it watching us...” she smiled “So this is the term we used for a winter wonderland hmm?” “Indeed ma'am, you are the first in public eyes to see this rose for it beauty... we wish to share this to the world but there so many out there that would destroy this poor pure thing for studies, money and something to keep as a prized item that is rarer then gold... This is why you three have to promise to never tell of this place” Matthew looked over to them. Big Mac sitting right close to it and looking up slightly being how big it is just sat quietly without a word from his mouth with a smile, he put a hoof to it gentle and pulled away sitting content in looking to the white rose as it sparkled. “We promise” Michelle replied “But I don't think you will get much sense from my son for quite some time.” She smiled seeing how out of world he looked as he just sat there on his rump. “This be truly a day he will never forget but he would most likely tell his own family in the other world though” “I expected as much but since crossing worlds is next to impossible for us I don't see in any harm of him letting his own family know.” Matthew replied as Hazel stood by the red stallion with a hand on his back looking to the large winter flower. “Kind of reminds me of that animation that was made so long ago... Snowdrop” Big Mac heard him say that name and kept his smile going 'Ah know of that tale, the tale of first winters snow flake... the flake that Snowdrop made over 1000 years ago, ah remember those tales when ah was a small colt when ma spoke of those tales... ma... pa... y'all be proud of me, mah sisters and granny... and of the family ah gained... this is truly a moment of clarity... a feeling ah will never forget... Snowdrop where ever y'all are ah hope this white rose make ya smile as much as it did for me today.' Hazel saw how happy he was she gave him the best present any new sister could give a new brother but she turn to the rose and felt sadness in her heart 'Only a week to go... I have to tell him the truth I can't lie to him about this... no sir ree... I have to tell him what going to happen... I must... and I will...' > Chapter 18: An Apple Family Reunion > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 18: An Apple Family Reunion Speeding through the dusty plains heading to Appaloosa for the Apple Family Reunion being held for the first time by the host of the reunion Braeburn, whom thought it be a great idea to have their own Apple Family Reunion so the family could get together more often then just at Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville. Wayne sitting in one of the lower bunks of the train carriage looking at all the photos of the apple family that be there that weekend, he knew with autumn in full swing and most trees and such without leaves on them now there was little to do at Sweet Apple Acres. He took a view of the landscape as the train continued on it way, Wayne was going to meet quite the number of Apple family. He wasn't sure to be excited or nervous with a chuckle he recalled the word 'nervicited, that a word I would use for sure' Wayne turn to the photos again in front of his front hooves. “Let see...” he pulled up the first picture “Red Gala” then the next he point to “Red Delicious” then the next “Half Baked Apple... Golden Delicious... Caramel Apple” he then reach the next with his trying to remember the name tapping a hoof on it a few times “Apple... apple... there so many with Apple beginning with their names... how on tarnation am ah suppose to remember all these names...” he groaned slopping his head on piles of photos turning his eyes to the setting sun. Applebloom came up to the bed side “Big brother are ya ok?” Wayne turn his head a little looking to the filly with Big Mac's green eyes “Not really... ah'm tryin' my best to remember what everypony look like and remember their names... ah'm not sure if it me or ah just never been good at remember so many names...” Applebloom climbed up on the bed beside him looking to the photos “Ah have the same problem big brother, y'all be fine, Applejack sent a letter a head to explain to our cousin Braeburn that ya still not completely ya self” Wayne had a feeling she would do that but still looking at all these names on the back of the photos as he turn them over again and remember who who “Other words ya sayin' ah shouldn't worry too much?” “Eeyup” Applebloom giggled and Wayne put his front hoof over her putting her close to his red fur body “Thank ya Applebloom” he kissed her on the head and push the photos to the side. “No problem big brother” she yawned and slowly fell asleep against his warm fur. Wayne smiled softly picking up the bed sheets with his mouth and pull it over himself and Applebloom “Goodnight little sister” he whispered and settle down himself drifting to sleep with Applebloom still beside him, his little sister... Applejack smiled softly looking to Granny Smith whom was settle and ready to go to sleep “by golly they do get along, Applebloom been so sweet to support her big brother even he not truly is” Granny smiled Applejack look to her as she spoke quietly to Applejack “Ya knew from the beginnin' didn't ya? At the night we looked at the book...” “Indeed Applejack ah did but ah knew he had a good heard just as much as Big Macintosh and do what it took to be like him, ah proud to call him mah grandson” Granny Smith put a hoof to Applejack “And ya proud to call him ya brother right?” Applejack look her in the eyes “Sure thin' Granny and goodnight” “Goodnight Applejack” Granny Smith settled down and so did Applejack as she turn off the lights to join the other two in the land of dreams. Appaloosa... Braeburn standing at the station awaiting for his cousins arrival from Ponyville, there was still much to do for the rest of the Apples arrival but he knew he could count of Applejack on helping him out since this was the first Apple Reunion for Appaloosa. “Ah wonder when that here train be arrivin'” he look to the clock showing it was just past eight in the morning. He heard the sound of the whistle from the train as it came in and to a stop beside the station. Stepping out of the carriage was Applejack, Applebloom and Granny Smith coming out of another with a wagon of items was Wayne “Howdy Braeburn hope we not too late” Applejack spoke to him in a instant they got off the train. “Sure not cuz and see Big Mac got everythin' in here wagon, it sure was great for ya to come before everypony else comes, they should be here by about high noon” Braeburn look to the clock tower Applebloom spoke next “Sure did and he might not remember everyponies name still but he gettin' there, that amnesia did a real number of his memories” Braeburn look to Wayne “Then this would be sort of ya first reunion since ya forgot the others” “Well ah can remember pieces of the others but this be mah first fresh memory of Apple Family Reunion Braeburn” Wayne replied hoping he buy the story. Braeburn smirked “Well then let make this here best one ya can remember” he turn to the others “Lets head over to the orchard and great everythin' set up” “Indeed now which way is it young colt” Granny Smith looking around to get her bearings “Follow me” he said with pride and trots off out of the station and the rest follow behind and soon at the orchard seeing the trees still as green. Applejack chuckled seeing some of the apples on the tree “Ah see the autumn weather not hit here yet” “Not till next week cuz” Applejack heard next week and felt heavy hearted instantly looking to Wayne “Next week hay?” “Somethin' the bother cuz? Ya don't look too great” Braeburn notice her distance look in her eyes Applejack look to him “Braeburn ah'm...” “How about ya sit this out and let us do the work, ya don't need to worry yaself” “Braeburn...” “Because what a cuz like ah be if ya get all tied out for bein'...” Wayne step in and spoke “Braeburn ya gettin' Applejack anger” “Huh?” he turn to Applejack whom was about to yell at him but with Wayne's interfering more it stopped that for happen “Sorry Cuz...” Applejack “Thank ya for the save Big Mac” “Eeyup” he chuckled lightly Applejack turn to Braeburn “Ah'm fine Braeburn ah just a little sleepy that all, not got much sleep last night...” 'How can ah explain that the first meeting of two in a dream would go dreadful... no pony would agree on anything and getting to see Hazel for whom she truly is...' Applebloom giggled “She was tossin' and turnin' all mornin' as if somethin' was bitin' her” “Applebloom!” Applejack yelled at her. “Hehe, oh look there the orchard!” she quickly changed the topic and rush off to the orchard as fast as her little legs can carry her in a gallop. “That sister of mine...” the others gentle laughed in response and she joined them as they continued their way to the orchard. Through out the morning Applejack, Applebloom, Wayne and Braeburn with some of the local Appaloosa ponies aided in getting everything ready from the Apple Fritters that Applejack had to keep Wayne away from half the time since he loved eating them and blamed herself for that. Braeburn with help from Applebloom with a few locals raised the sign up saying '1st annual Apple Family Appaloosa Reunion' on it both looking at it with pride. Granny Smith prepared some of Sweet Apple Acres Zap Apple Jam up with some of the Zap Apple Cider that Wayne created and had left over, she was happy to see they had enough left over to share with those at Appaloosa since she had a good idea that the settler ponies would come over to the reunion and join in with the festivities. Applejack buck down some apples ready for the pie factory in town, they was going to bake way more then enough apple pies for the reunion and happy for their help. But after she finished and still over 30 minutes till high noon with many of the apple family ponies arriving now as the final touches came to the reunion event. She was proud of the work everypony did but her gut was swimming again with guilt cause of Wayne and Big Macintosh it was really getting to her after a week. “What am ah going to do... what in tarnation can ah do?” she sighed heavily sitting on the cliff side looking down to the orchard pushing a small stone back and forwards with her hoof. “That dream meet was a total failure... we could not agree on anythin'... ah agree that we got to do somethin' before it too late but how can we agree on ending two lives for the price of others... ah hated that word Hazel used... 'the needs of the many out way the needs of the few'... whom ever came up with that fancy-talk word need their head's bucked...” she whispered with annoyance. Granny Smith walked up to the sadden Applejack “So youngun' what seem to be the problem?” Applejack look up then to Granny Smith “Oh Granny ah'm not sure what to do...” “About our newest member of the family?” she nods “What the matter did he do somethin' wrong?” “Not at all Granny... it a tad hard to explain without making thin's worse...” Applejack trying to place the words in her mouth “Take ya time and explain to yer Granny ok?” Granny Smith sat by her with a hoof on Applejack's Applejack took a deep breath and slowly thought of the words “Ah been told somethin' bad goin' to happen at Ponyville... by something called Overseers... if ah don't tell them Wayne will live but many may die when it hits... but if ah tell them he will and so will Big Macintosh... we stuck in a lose lose position, me, Hazel, Luna, Matthew and Twilight Sparkle... we can not agree on what to do...” Granny Smith was shocked by this but she knew something wasn't right about this “Might ah ask how they goin' to do this?” Applejack was about to say something about she frown “No they didn't...” “Then we might be able to find out before it happens which mean all we have to do is hint it and they figure it out themselves which mean we win and they lose” Granny Smith smiled “Ah never thought of that” Applejack beamed with a big smile. “Thank ya Granny” “Not at all youngun' ah'm just dong what any granny would do for their grandchild” she smiled softly to Applejack. “Am Ah right?” “Eeyup” “Now get ya rump up and let join the others, ah'm old so this will take time” Applejack nods and get up walking alongside the old Earth Pony back to the orchard. Soon high noon came and the sound of the town bell ringing out as more cousins of the Apple Family came, most being from Appaloosa but others from far and wide to be at this new reunion and Braeburn was over the moon already seeing just how many of them was showing up. “Whoowee this is quite the turn out cousins!” he called out at the microphone with it echoing his voice over to them from the stage he stood on. “Ah glad that y'all showed” a massive cheer from them. “Fiddlesticks and a few other well play musicians in our good golly family will play on stage every so often to fill the atmosphere” he point a hoof to them with them waving their hooves with smiles. “Ah also like to give mah best wishes to Big Macintosh to getting his here old memioes back” he walk over to the stage edge holding the mic with one hoof walking on his three others “He been through a lot for the last few months pickin' up the pieces so don't be salty if he can not remember ya names” Wayne put a hoof to his face shaking it with some laughter came when they saw this reaction. 'I should of knew he would pull that out of a hat' Wayne thought “Other then that ah hope y'all have a great time and enjoy yerselves!” a cheer came from the ponies and the reunion got on it way. Applejack playing a game of horseshoes with Braeburn and two other cousins trying to out do each other tossing the horseshoe closest or on the hook it self. “Ah reckon that game” Applejack toss it over and hits the mark. Wayne watching from the table look to the horseshoe on the side and look it the hook “Daggnit ya got me cuz” Braeburn accepted his defeat so did the others “No pony can do better then ya at this” Applejack chuckled “When ya have a great friend like Rainbow Dash that play with ya this came quite a bit ya get good at it to keep her on her hooves” she smirked. Wayne shrugged “What the hay” he picked it up and toss in their direction high into the air. Applebloom saw this and yelled “Go big brother!” Braeburn look up and so did Applejack to see it fly over their heads and hit the hook spinning around and land on top of Applejack's “Wh-what!?” “Well ah say cuz... ah believe ya brother just beat ya fair and square” Braeburn chuckled Wayne blinked “Wow...” he whispered “That was amazin' big brother, try it again” Applebloom gave him another. Wayne look to it and saw a bit of a ground gathering he gulped at the numbers that was watching now even Applejack whom just smirked “Erm... sure...” he toss it high again and they all watch with a sound of 'ooooooooo' as it got louder from the gathered Apples it hit the hook but spins off landing on the sand “Nnope” he chuckled Applejack smirked “Ah got to say Big Mac that one mean right hoof ya got there” Braeburn look a little lost “Ah thought he was always strong with his left” “Amnesia cuz, it does some strange thin's as one bein' a bit more talkative right Big Mac?” “Nnope” Wayne teased with a smirk “Big Mac...” “Ah only teasin' ya AJ” he chuckled and walked on by her to get a drink of cider and some of the apple fritters. Apple Fritter watch him toss one fritter up and catch it in his mouth eating the delightful treat before having a drink of the cider. “Ah remember a story about one of our relatives about 300 or so years back bein' struck by amnesia on our side of the family, ah remember the story cause of the orb, the same thin' happened to her and she went all crazy like... didn't turn out all too well for her or the family...” Apple Fritter sighed “But ah'm glad we got off lucky with Big Mac, he really tryin' to be the brother yer once knew” Applejack look to green mane pony with the red bow in her mane “another of our family struck by that blasted orb?” “Indeed Applejack, but that was a long time ago and ah was told not to tell any pony unless it was to happen again in our family and sadly it did” Apple Fritter saw Wayne down another fritter “Ah better get to the table before he eats all the fritters and leave none for the others” she laughed softly and quickly dashes off to the food table. Babs Seed came up to Applejack “Hi Applejack sorry I'm late the train had to stop for the buffalo crossin' not to far from here” “It fine Babs, Applebloom just over by the horseshoes with the other fillies and colts” Applejack point to where Applebloom is and Babs rush over to greet her fav cousin. “Big Mac save some for the others will ya!” Applejack turn to see Apple Fritter having a go at Wayne. Applejack put her hoof to her head “Ah should of knew better then to get him into those fritters” she chuckled lightly and goes to give Apple Fritter helping hoof in dealing with her big brother. Applesauce and Apple Rose with Granny Smith working on the quilt again laughing as they could see Applejack and Apple Fritter having some trouble telling the full grown stallion to not eat all the fritters. “Ah see Big Mac divin' into the fritters again, run in the family right Granny Smith?” Applesauce laughed softly as she stitch part of the quilt together. Granny Smith giggled “And ah thought we made enough, but usually he knows when to stop” they all watch him step back and the two mares fall flat on their faces he helped them up and trots off at the expense of them falling flat on their faces. “Ah saw that comin' from a mile away and mah sight isn't all that good” Apple Rose giggled. “So did we” the other two elder mares said and laughed alongside Apple Rose. Braeburn trot over to Applejack “Ya ok cuz?” “Eeyup ah'm fine, only my pride a bit bruised but that the second time he got me with that...” “Same here” Apple Fritter chuckled “Last reunion he did the exact same thing, we should of learned that lesson” Wayne listen to them speak as he took a sip of the cider he was surprised that he did exactly what Big Mac did to them without even knowing about it. “So Cuz how the reunion, ya enjoyin' yer self?” “Eeyup” “And?” “The Reunion comin' out well but it early so ah'm not one to judge” Wayne replied looking around as the music plays in the distance on stage as Fiddlesticks play with her fellow musicians. Braeburn nods “Well ya right cuz and see what they meant about ya bein' a bit more open” “Hmm?” Wayne gave him a strange look as he drunk the cider. Braeburn sat by the large red earth pony “Ah'm talkin' about ya Big Macintosh, ah heard ya even done some fancy horse draw drawings and a story ah believe” Wayne put the mug down and stared right at Applejack “AJ!” Applejack flinched hearing Wayne called out her name “Ah might of slip a word or two about ya story Big Mac hehe...” “Who else knows?” Braeburn look around “No one else since they all enjoyin' the reunion to notice what ah just said so ah say yer secret is safe” Wayne turn to Applejack “Well Big Mac been workin' hard in his free time on a big one and when ah say big ah mean big” she points a hoof to the stage where the large covered up item stood at the back. Braeburn blinked “What? When did ah miss that!?” Applebloom giggled joined with Babs “We also put some of our own touches to it too, we thought it be a great gift for ya first reunion Cuz” “Wow that mighty swell of y'all” he smiled broadly to them. “Ah reckon we go and enjoy ourselves bit more, there still plenty of the day to go” The reunion continues with everypony having a great time and the race coming up and Braeburn dragged Wayne into racing with him in the seven legged race with Wayne's right hoof tied against Braeburn's left hoof with Applejack and Apple Fritter ready with other cousins ready to have a bit of fun in this race. Applebloom and the other youngsters all cheering on their families with Babs cheering for Applejack and Apple Fritter. Granny Smith sat by the microphone in a rocking chair “Are yer youngun's ready?” they raised their free front hooves up to show they was ready for this. “Then get on yer marks!” They all stood ready for the race. “Get set!” They positioned themselves ready to run “GO!” With fast trot they all left the finish line with Fiddlesticks and Red Gala falling almost at the start but got back onto their hooves and try to catch up with the other four pair of racers with all the ponies cheering them all on. Applejack and Apple Fritter picked up the paste with Wayne and Braeburn keeping up with them as their trots grew quicker with each step they made, both teams looked at each other for a second with smirks on their faces as they knew this was now a race between these two teams. “Go Big Mac! Go Applejack!” Applebloom yelled out for both her brother and sister. “Give it all y'all got!” Golden Delicious quickly rushed over to the finish line and watch as the two groups cross the line the ribbon snapping with the rest soon afterwards, Applejack breathing a little with her cousin as they look to Wayne and Braeburn clapping hooves with smiles showing they had fun and not caring if they can first or second since they knew they did their up most best. “So Golden Delicious who won?” Caramel Apple asked Golden Delicious look at both groups nervously and spoke “It was a tie” Applejack chuckled “Ah thought as much” she turn to Wayne “But if mah brother was 100% ah bet mah hat he and Braeburn would of surely won” Applebloom shook her head “Nnope he would of never competed” “True” they laughed Wayne blinked looking to Braeburn “is that true? Ah would of never competed?” “Not a clue cuz” Braeburn shrugged “But what the hay, that was a great race cuz and glad ya did it with me” he clapped hooves with Wayne again. Wayne chuckled “Eeyup” Applejack and Applebloom came up to Wayne “Ya did good big brother, ya and Braeburn was on fire!” “Indeed ya was, maybe y'all not completely there has it up and downs right Big Mac” Applejack winked “Eeyup” Wayne knew what she meant by those words talking about him not being Big Mac but being crypted about it. The day went by with them having fun and enjoying the time together as a family soon it came to the final part of the reunion as the dancing and music dies down to a close with some cleaning up by the Apples had begun. Braeburn stood on stage by the microphone seeing how busy all the ponies was making the orchard good as new as if there was no reunion. “Alright everypony ah'm got one more announcement from our cousins from Sweet Apple Acres, they got somethin' special to give to us Apples at AAAAPPPPLLLLAOOOSSAA!” he neighed as well with a jump on his hind legs kicking his front legs in a circle motion and land on his front hooves with a smirk turning to the four members of the Apples from Sweet Apple Acres coming up onto stage. “The spot light ya's cuz” Applejack stood in front of the microphone while the others stood around the covered item. “Ah'm guess all of y'all wonderin' what behind this sheet through out the day right?” “Eeyup!” they all said together and laughing instantly. Braeburn stood back a bit and listen to her speak on “We decided to do somethin' really special for ya Apples here at Appaloosa being this ya first reunion held here in these parts and mighty fun day we had too” Applejack turn to the sheet covering the item “Alright revile it!” With a tug from all three the sheet falls and everypony gasp with smiles and amazement at what they saw, it was a large frame painting of almost every member of the Apples from the Smiths to Apples to the present with a massive tree behind them with the largest apples hanging from it they ever seen with some being golden yellow, green, red and even Zap Apples hanging from it with the apple family from young to old and gone together. “This was the work from all four of us, Big Mac did most of the drawing while we did the paintin'. Ah hope Braeburn and ya rest of the Apples here in this town like our gift” Braeburn walked up to it and looking up and down the large framed painting “like it? Ah love it! This is the big dang amazin' present and any cousin can ask for by any apple family, this will be kept safe and for all to see and hope years later we can add more apples to it... Applejack... cousins” he turn to the four “Granny... thank y'all for this amazin' gift...” he wiped some tears away and gave them all a hug as they hugged him back with cheers from all the apples as the day comes to a close with the sun setting into the west dipping behind the horizon. At the train station as Applejack and the others prepared to depart for Ponyville they stood before Braeburn seeing other Apples heading back to their own homes and places “Ah really glad ya helped me out cuz, this been amazin' reunion and in 100 moons hope to see ya here again” “Ya can count on it Braeburn” Applejack smiled. “And better be at our reunion as well” “Ya got yerself a deal partner” they both spit on their hooves and shook. Wayne turn to the sound of the whistle from the train “We better get gonna AJ” “Right ya are, see ya Braeburn” Applejack gave Braeburn a hug and he returned it with a smile from both then they boarded the train for Ponyville all sticking their heads out the window waving goodbye to Braeburn as the train starts to depart and he waving back to them. “Don't forget to write cuz!” Braeburn yelled out and watched the train disappear into the distance. He turn to the sky at the blue star shining high above “What a star, ah remember seeing that last night, ah mighty proud that mah wish came true and got the best dang reunion ah could hope for” Braeburn chuckled and whistles to himself as he heads off back to his home for a good night rest. > Chapter 19: Eye of the Storm > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 19: The Eye of the Storm The October storms became the talk of people world wide and the news was filled to the brim with weather, no one even bothered to check about the usually conflicts anymore. “It six in the evening and this is BBC News. I am Jeremy Nickson” “And I am Lisa Spark, today summary is the storms of the century with record breaking storms striking all over the world once again and with more questions on how this is happened” Lisa spoke with images showing storms from different corner of the worlds. Jeremy spoke next “Snow fall in the UK for four days straight with blizzard conditions worsening for most parts, airports closed, trains seriously delayed and almost all roads are now impassable with food aid be delivered to those that need it with shelters filled beyond capacity” Images that was being displayed showed snow falling with whipping winds as some people tried to walk through it with cars left where they are, another showed a airport with hundreds of people in the terminal looking at the display showing every plane was cancelled and outside with planes stuck where they landed or parked with one plane showing people being taken out of it via a stair ramp and lead to the airport by foot through two feet of snow that continuing to drift. The next showed a train crashed into a wall of snow by a bridge where the winds and heavy snow caused a pile up. People including the driver being taken away from it. The final image was of choppers landing and dropping off major supplies to relief centres where they was over crowded with people having to be forced to leave their homes. “The Prime Minsters brought out a statement today that...” the TV turns off by a push of a button on the controller as Big Mac placed it on the table side with a sigh. He rubbed his head with his hands feeling a bit strange with the magic of the suit had wore off and he back into Wayne's body. Big Mac got up looking out of the bed room window looking outside of the October winter landscape seeing some more people just arrived help by the army whom was also setting up a thick metal dish on top of the barn with metal supports in place reinforced with foam to keep the metal from buckling under the heavy snow. He had a feeling these troops was under the Queen directly which meant this was the general's doing. Big Macintosh left the room walking down the steps to see a few soldiers fitting up the systems for the family to use so they had up to date information via the internet and also still had power thanks to the generators that was fitted inside the basement. “Ma'am everything been set up and the civilians that coming and staying at the greenhouse been made aware this is offlimits to them at all cost, we will keep soldiers posted in and outside the house at all times” “As much I hate seeing uniformed soldiers walking in and out of my house I have little choose in the matter... the emergency is as grave you put it then I will allow this” Michelle turn to the sound of foot steps “Hello Wayne how is it looking?” “Not so well... this is happening all over the world” he sighed 'What ah wouldn't mind a few weather pegasi about now... sure hate not having somepony control the weather...' Michelle looked out the window “It practically pitch black out there... doesn't help when you have heavy snow fall” she muttered. Hazel sat in the living room looking at the computer seeing all the crazy weather reports and what strange about it was the fact the weather changed rather fast and sudden, she had a bad feeling about it. “The time of sunset is different by a hour...” she whispered then looked at how the weather systems seem to blanket almost every part of the world with global temperatures dropping by a massive 7 degrees” “Hazel is something wrong?” Big Mac sat down beside her with a cup of tea in his hand drinking some of it. “Yeah... it just strange how fast all these storms hit, look at this” she points to the weather chart “That was when we went to the rose on the island two days ago, now look at this” she points to the next Big Mac could see it there was a change in temperature world wide. “Strange...” “Indeed and I usually would ask well... you know” Hazel sighed “He knew more about weather then any of us, he always looking at all the pictures, videos and such coming up with a answer to this or a theory...” Hazel said and looking at the images she had up. Big Mac could see a pattern “I am sorry for not understanding much about the weather Haz... sadly my talents is to do with the ground not the sky like a pegasus would” “Yeah I know” Hazel put the screen down “I just feel bad for everyone else out there... this weather systems are crazy it almost as if Earth is having a fit or something...” Nigel came in looking at them “Can you two give me a hand... we got quite the sum of people in the greenhouse that need these supplies...” Big Mac got up putting the cup down “Alright what do you need me to carry?” “Those boxes” Nigel nod his head to them “But better get some warm gear on, it quite the storm out there” they nod in reply and head off to get the outdoor clothing on for the track across the snow covered orchard to the greenhouse. Through out the night Big Mac and the rest of the family aided those that really needed it giving food and a hot drink to each that waited in line for something while they stayed in one section of the greenhouse and not damaging the apple trees, grape yields and many other assortments that was being grown there, the soldiers all with X-19 badges on watch with carefulness so no person would disrupt the operations to keep the greenhouse running day in and night at the moment, with marshal law now past down there was a lot of power a soldier had now... Big Mac was the last to leave looking at all the tents that been set up as the lights was dimmed to a minimum for those to sleep, he saw families huddle together trying to keep their kids smiling and explaining that they will go home soon and others being very restless and unsure what to do. He felt really bad for all this, he had no idea what exactly caused this crazy storms in the first place but he will figure it out. Stepping out in the snow he found the storm died down a bit with the stars shining in the sky “The air looks so much cleaner don't it sir?” he turns his head to one of the soldiers standing there looking to the sky. “Yep it sure does” he look at the full moon giving light to the planet. “At least we get a rest bite from the snow” She chuckled in reply “Indeed sir, but still butt freezing cold, pardon my french” Big Mac laughed a little at that comment and continue to watch the stars “Something familiar with these stars... I can't quite put my... finger on it” The soldier took notice what he said “Strange... I never seen half of those star formations before, but others I know in a heart beat, I did quite a lot of stargazing when I was little” Big Mac thought about it “What do you think caused the weather to suddenly change in the last four days?” She shrugged holding onto her machine gun “I have no idea sir, but I do have a theory which is a silly one now I put everything together” “Hmm?” “Well I think we been displaced... not us the world” “The World?” “Yeah silly as it sounds but I think the Earth has moved and the reason for all the snow, super storms and what else this planet throwing at us because the sun we near, it not so powerful as our sun, but that just my theory sir. I tend to slip in the world of impossibilities” she laughed a little Big Mac thought about it “I know you said this was a theory but what if it not, how would we know?” She thought about this question and turn to him “I would say if we are in a different area of space, I saw by day break just as the sun rise we might see another planet, but that crazy sir, the nearest is Mars and the weather been improving for the last day or so anyhow, global temperatures might of dropped by 7 degrees four days ago but during the last four days they been increasing, I just think the sun just had one of those circles but it lowered the solar output of the sun then increased” “Maybe so” he replied “I reckon that theory sounds more reasonable and hope it true” he walks off back to the house leaving her to star at the man walking away and back to the starry sky with more questions in her mind ever before. She saw a comet in the night sky with a smile seeing the dust trail “What a sight... even at the gravest of days the sky sure know how to cheer someone up” she whispered taking off her goggles to get a better view of it. One thing for sure that ran in her mind, it was closer then any comet ever been to the Earth. Equestria... Twilight and Spike was getting the astronomical stuff together for the night time spectacle of a comet that be flying close to their world, Luna gave her a heads up on the special event “Wow Twilight I can't believe we in for a cool treat” “I know right? A comet flying not to far from us either” Twilight beamed with delight “I can't wait to see it!” Twilight place some of the items into the trolley “Are we forgetting the snacks?” Spike chuckled “Not all Twilight, remember the Apples providing the snakes this time, they got all sort of cool treats including that Zap Apple Cider that they held back for such a event.” Twilight frown a little “I thought they had two barrels of that stuff left” “Yeah the other I am not sure what it for.” Spike rubbing his head a little “But still cool that Applejack and her family providing all the cool snakes this time” “If there fritters there make sure to get some for us Spike, you know how much Big Macintosh like those fritters” Twilight giggled Spike finished putting the last of the stuff into the cart “We all set Twilight” “Good, come on Owlicious your coming too” the Owl lands on Twilight's back and they all leave the library to meet up with the rest of their friends on the hill top. Rainbow Dash lands beside them “Hey there, your heading up to the hill?” “We sure are” Spike beamed “I want to get a good look at the comet that passing by” Rainbow Dash smirked “I would too and also like to know what that strange blue light in the sky is too, it look closer then it did two nights ago” Rainbow Dash looked up at the night sky setting in with the blue light shimmering and the comet seem to be crossing right by it in a short time. Twilight turn to her telescope “Well with this we will get a great sight of the comet for sure” she tap it with a hoof and trots on with Rainbow Dash and Spike. “Cool” Princess Luna look to the night sky at the blue light “Thou wonder what this star is... we never seen anything like it and yet it seem bigger” “Using the royal 'we' Lulu?” Princess Luna turn to see Celestia walking up to her. Luna turn back to the sky “The passing of the comet is a lovely sight is it not?” “Yes it is” Luna look to the blue star again “I have a bad feeling about that star Tia...” Celestia look to large telescope on the tower to their right. “How about we go take a good look at it” “That would be a good idea sister” both royal sisters leave and head to the observatory tower. Twilight, Rainbow and Spike arrived at the hill to see every other pony arrived as planned, the apples being Wayne and Applejack worked on the setting up of the blanket with snacks and drinks for the evening. “Howdy Twi, ya just in time” she turn to the sky seeing the comet moving across the sky. “Eeyup and what a sight it is” Wayne stared at the sight of some ice burning up in the atmosphere that the comet tail had discharged as it moved through the star system. Granny Smith smiled “What a sight indeed youngun's it beautiful, ah'm never seen anythin' like it specially that lovely blue star” Fluttershy look to Rarity “Oh my Rarity you look lovely tonight” “I do indeed darling, I wanted to look glamorous for such a night we all got together and watch the comet” Rarity turn to Twilight “Be the way dear what is the name of the comet?” Twilight brought out the telescope and look to her pink friend “Pinkie Pie wasn't it a relative of yours that named it?” “Sure is Twilight, my grand grandfather named it, he called it the Blue Tail comet!” she giggled “It a special comet to my family because of that reason” Pinkie Pie gave her biggest smile looking to the comet with glee. “Wow that really awesome!” Scootaloo beamed “Can I get a closer look at it?” “Sure Scootaloo, come over here and I will let you have a look through my telescope” Twilight said to the filly. Scootaloo walk up to it with it lowered and look into it “Whoa I can see why it called Blue Tail, that tail behind it is awesome!” she pulled away from it “What make a tail of a comet?” “Oh that really simple. The Comets are made of ice and rock, so when they get close to our sun they melt creating the tail you see that trail behind it” Twilight replied. “Oh cool!” Scootaloo went back to watching it through the telescope. Sweetie Belle eating a apple watched as some more of the ice burned up in the sky “Rarity have you seen any comets when you was my age?” Rarity nods “In fact I did, not long after I got my cutie mark, it was very far and you could even notice it but the beauty of it was divine” Applebloom looked over at Wayne “Big Brother what ya think of that? Pinkie Pie's great grandfather namin' the comet?” “A special somethin' for somepony as Pinkie ah think it part of her in some manner of speaking” Wayne filled up the cups with the Zap Apple Cider that they brought up with them. “So every pony whom like to try mah Zap Apple Cider?” Rainbow Dash was the first to come up “I am!” she took a mug and drunk some “Whoa this is awesome! How the hay did ya make this Big Mac?” “Too many attempts” he chuckled “Ah say, he blew up a few of them” Granny Smith giggled a little. “But this batch was the best he made and proud of him making somethin' extra special with those zap apples.” Pinkie Pie downed hers in seconds “Wow this is good! Can I have seconds?” All the other ponies part from the fillies took their mugs and took a drink of theirs all laughing afterwards to Pinkie Pie's comment “Please with a cherry on top?” Wayne smirked “Sure” he did a refill and put a cherry on top of the foam “There ya go Pinkie” Pinkie Pie look at him a little puzzled “Where did ya get that cherry from?” “There” Wayne points his hoof to the bag full of cherries and the others giggled in reply. As the night went on they kept stargazing at the comet and shooting stars but Scootaloo noticed something odd as the comet seem to move behind something she look through the telescope then moved away from it and stared at the sky then back at the telescope. “Rainbow can you check this out, I think this thing broken” Rainbow Dash chuckled “Nah it not broken it...” she took a look in it and then pulled away blinking then look again “What the hay!?” she stared at the sky without it “Twilight you got to see this” Twilight sighed “What is it Rainbow...” “Just look” Rainbow Dash points. “It very weird and I am not sure if I am seeing things here...” Twilight rolled her eyes “Seriously Rainbow Dash you make a big deal out of everything, look there nothing...” Twilight looked into it and paused “What...” she raised her head “That can't be possible...” she look again. “Big Mac can you come over here for a second” Wayne came up to her “What can ah do for yer Twilight?” “Can you have a look at that blue star through my telescope” “Sure” Wayne took a look with shock written on his face “No it can't be...” he looked again “Ea-Earth...” “Earth?” Applejack took a look into the telescope herself and saw the planet Earth and it moon with the comet moving pass it from the other side. “What it tarnation!? That impossible! There no way that Earth should even be there!” Rarity looked at Applejack in confusion “Darling what the matter?” “She talking about that planet, that what the blue star is, it a planet!” Rainbow Dash spoke pointing her hoof to it “I don't know how or why but that is a planet!” Twilight gulped “Not any planet... one that shouldn't even be in the sky...Earth is from a whole different reality...” Pinkie Pie gasped “That means my...” “What you said almost three months ago was the truth... you was right on the money Pinkie Pie about those orbs” Twilight sighed looking to the sky “Now I know what those Overseers are planing...” “What would that be Twilight?” Fluttershy feeling rather scared about this discovery. Twilight look to Wayne he fear could be seen “The end of both worlds...” London, Unknown Location... Matthew was looking at the live feeds of the storms all over the world at his office with the Queen looking out the window to all those that was working “Do they know?” “No your highness they don't... I don't plan on telling them....” Matthew knew what was coming and so did many others but they kept a lid on this “but as both worlds draw closer to each other the greater the earthqaukes will be” “What of these Overseers?” Matthew looked at his screen “The Earth is incased in some sort of magical energy field that pulling the Earth out of it own dimension and on the collision course with Equus” he sighed “There is little or nothing we can do, the energy they creating to do this is beyond any understanding...” “So all we can do is wait till the end comes?” Matthew looked at the old eyes of the queen looking back at him “Frankly... yes...” Unknown... “They know. And with that comes the end of two lives” “24 Earth Hours they will die” “Consensus has been made” “There is a 2% chance of them finding a way to us” “A minor percentage” “Agreed there is no threat to us” “Hope you three are right...” > Chapter 20: The Final Push > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 20: The Final Push... Applejack sat by the bedside of the red stallion whom rested in his bed with the Smarty Pants Plushy tuck under one of the forelegs, she put a cold damp cloth on his forehead trying to keep him cool. She look to him resting with worry in her eyes, the memoirs of little over eight hours ago hunted her... --- “Big Mac!” a cry that made Applejack jump, she and the others just learned of the appending doom from high above but the one right on the ground was Applebloom shaking the large red stallion that collapsed. “Oh no...” Applejack remembered what the Overseers said “no no no no!” she rushed over to his side and put a hoof over his head feeling the warmth from it. “Twilight get a doctor! NOW!!!!” Twilight gasped seeing how frighten Applejack looked “I am on it Applejack!” she teleports in a flash to get a doctor. Wayne looked at her “Ah'm ok AJ... just a little sleepy” “Don't ya close those eyes of yer's! Keep them open!” Applejack said resting his head against her hind legs. “Those blasted Overseers... they did this...” “Ah guess they done with both of us... hay?” he smiled weakly to her. “Don't ya say stuff like that, ah'm not going to lose two of mah brothers tonight! No ser re!” she had tears fall rubbing a front hoof through his mane. Rarity spoke with confusion “What do you mean by two brothers Applejack?” “Yeah what up with that?” Rainbow Dash saw the sadness in her eyes with tears falling looking back to the stallion she was holding onto. “AJ...” “Tell them... AJ...” Applejack chocked a little with tears still rolling down her orange fur “This here is...” she sniffs a little as her nose start to become runny “Wayne... he been in Big Macintosh's body for almost three months... Big Mac been in his body for the same period of time... ah found out the truth a while back but to keep everypony safe” she sniffed again as she cried and spoke on. “Specially mah brothers... that stupid orb that the Overseers sent switch their minds and caused this whole mess in the first place... now they done with us they doing this!” Wayne look to Applebloom “Big brother yer gonna to be ok?” “Ah try to be Applebloom... ah give it all ah got...” he raise his hoof to her and she out her small hooves on his looking back at the soft green eyes. “Ah'm surprised ya still calling me big brother...” “Ya might pretend to be Big Mac but that cause ya did it for the family, yer a good brother...” she said by her putting her head against his. “Applebloom” he put his foreleg around her and hugged her a little. “Oh my...” Fluttershy put a hoof to his head “You are really hot, I better get some water quickly” “Good idea Fluttershy I'll help” Rainbow Dash replied and both pegasi left Pinkie Pie look to Rarity “I don't like these Overseers... they sound like big old meanies...” “Indeed they do Pinkie” Rarity look to the sky “Just hope Princess Celestia can stop this madness before serious harm come to both us and those on that other world...” Granny Smith look to the Earth “Overseers... they don't deserve such a name... they toy with so many lives and only for what to learn about life? That make no sense at all...” Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash returned with some water in a bucket landing by Wayne, Spike took a cloth putting it into the water place it on his head “I hope this cools the big guy down...” “Yer such a good helper Spike” Granny Smith smiled and look to her grandson “Ah just hope we can do something for him...” Applejack knew it wasn't going to help she knew when Twilight returned with Doctor Stable “Alright everypony back up a little” he quickly using his magic to check on Wayne with time passing by for about ten minutes... “Strange... I don't see anything wrong yet all the signs are in plain sight...” he checked again “We get him to...” “No please take me back home...” Wayne slowly getting up wavering a little “Can yer run the tests back at Sweet Apple Acres?” “Sure I can but...” “Don't worry ah will take good care of mah brother” Applejack said supporting him as he try to stand on his four hooves. “Alright... let get him home” they all working together help walk the red earth pony back to Sweet Apple Acres... --- Applejack sighed “Wayne...” she whispered Wayne opened his eyes slowly looking to Applejack “hey there AJ, yer ok?” “Ah'm the one suppose to be sayin' that to yer ya be dummy” she chuckled lightly seeing that smile on his snout. “How yer feelin'?” Wayne look to the ceiling “wiped... ah feel like mah strength just being zapped for me... how long do ah have left?” Applejack put her hoof to his “Don't ya speak about dyin' Wayne yer not going to yer hear me!” “AJ... ya know how long ah got left... ah can see it in yer eyes...” “Ah never could lie...” she sighed “About 15 or so hours... ah was told when ah fell asleep... those Overseers are nothing but evil...” Wayne put a hoof to her mouth she look to him “Ah believe there is hope but ya not gonna to like it...” “What do yer mean?” Applejack looking at his green eyes and saw it “no ya don't mean...” He blinks with some tears rolling down his eyes “Ah am... and ah'm scared...” “Me too...” Applejack started to cry again “What do ya want yer sister to do?” “When the time comes use the elements of harmony... and aim them for Earth, directly up around me... ah believe it the only chance we all have... not only me but all life, humans, ponies... everythin'... even Discord” Wayne whispered to her. Applejack turn to the door “Princess Luna what...” “Applejack we... I need your and the elements help, my sister and Discord they won't wake up... I did everything in my power and yet they won't wake, they are dreaming as if awake, no matter how much I try to tell them they asleep they do not wish to listen” Luna walked back and forwards speaking to them as she trots then look to both of them with concern. “I do not know what to do...” Applejack had a feeling whom did this “Overseers... they must be behind it” “My thoughts exactly Applejack... but I do not know what to do to stop them... they wish to end two worlds and we have little time or methods of stopping them...” Luna look to the window looking up at the sky seeing the Earth closer then ever just to the left of the sun with only part of it could be seen. Applejack look to Wayne whom nods still in bed with little strength to get up now. “We have a plan but one yer not going to like princess...” “Please tell...” Luna turn to her “any ideas would be grateful...” Wayne spoke “The elements of harmony at the moment of my death...” “WHAT!?” Luna gasped “But that not acceptable! I can not agree that is the only plan!” “Sadly it is... ah'm very scared... ah'm going to die and ah can't do anything about it...” he started to cry again with fresh hot tears falling “Big Mac most likely thinkin' the same as ah am... and we both very scared because we can't stop them unless ya go with this... please...” Luna shook her head “I won't believe this... it... can't...” she look to his eyes “I am the princess of the night and co-ruler... protecting my subjects and I can't even do that for you... I am sorry...” “Ah am too... mah life cut short by some twisted creatures we never seen or met directly... they toy with life... what yer think about those before... they was pulled out of their bodies and put into others and used as experiments... it wrong and we need to stop them...” Wayne said in a serious tone of voice with his voice barely higher then a normal talking voice. Luna sighed heavily “I will get the elements and the bearers...” she left to room with a heavy heart. Applejack turn to him “Stay with me as long as yer can big brother... speak about our ma, brother and sister on Earth... speak about them to me...” “Ah will AJ...” he smiled as the other apples entered “Granny, Applebloom yer like to hear about the Dolphin family?” “Sure big brother” Applebloom beamed. “Ah might be old but this is somethin' mah old ears would like to hear” Granny Smith joined them by the bed side and Wayne started to tell them with a smile on the red stallions face and happy to tell them about his family that he may never see again. Twiosmicstar Forest, Snow Rose Cavern... Being eased down the stone stairs a stretcher carrying Big Macintosh by two army personal working for Unit X-19 with Michelle, Nigel and Hazel walking behind them slowly, it been just over eight hours since Michelle's son fell from a sudden weakness in the body. They soon discovered from Matthew that the Earth was on a collision course with the planet they called Equus and there was no way of stopping the Earth since it was being held and dragged by a powerful magical force that caused this from the start. Michelle saw the Snow Rose it was bigger then before and the magic aura from it could even be felt from where she stood, it felt like a blissful feeling of peace and harmonises magic flowing around it, she noticed a fair number of people inside the caverns with their children around small mobile heaters that was set up in the corners of the large carven. “When did the Queen allow this?” Michelle asked seeing the children talking to their parents and as they look to the sky through the cavern the clear sky could see the very world that they was moving to and the strange aura in the atmosphere. The soldiers place Big Mac down by the rose as ordered and one of them stood looking up to the sky “The Queen removed all restrictions soon as it was clear that we have little then 34 hours of life left... no one can panic, no one can do anything, the snow, storms everything that happened to this point has cut us all off from each other... all we have is all those around us” the man said looking to the people around whom looked up as he spoke. “My wife and kids are stuck in London and I can't do a damn bloody thing to get there... almost every chopper being used to give everyone something to live on for the remaining time we all have...” Hazel sat down by Big Mac “Hey Big Macintosh can you see it? It Equus your homeworld...” she whispered to him holding his hand. “Bro...” “I can see it... but we heading right for it... so many lives that should live and not going to... why are these Overseers doing this...” Hazel look up and knew what he meant as he spoke to her. “If it was just me and Wayne then it be fine but this... only because more knew about them? What is to fear if you can not reach...” Hazel rubbed her free hand on his cheek “I do not know bro...” Nigel standing against the stone wall look to the rose “What up with this rose? It nothing I ever seen before... is it suppose to be this big and glowing like that?” Michelle took a look at it herself looking up seeing that streams of light was going up “Not sure... I am sure it didn't do this when I was last here with the others, when did this start happening?” she was curious about it and turn to the solider beside her. “About 8 or so hours ago ma'am, we got reports that it reaching the point of full bloom” he replied to Michelle “This magic is strange, I never believed in such a thing till now... guess seeing is believing...” “Indeed” Michelle raised a hand to the flower with it through the light feeling the warmth from it. “For something growing in cold conditions it sure feels warm...” Big Mac look to the rose “Bro... you miss Applejack don't ya?” “Yep... I sure do...” The soldier raised his hand to the headset he was wearing “Sir I do copy” he turn to Michelle “Ma'am he wants a word with you” Michelle took the head set. “Matthew...” London, Unknown... Matthew stood in front of one of the control stations looking at all the images on the large screen showing the magical energy that was around the Earth that not only physical held Earth in another dimension but using it as a weapon to smash into another world. The general could do little but watch but something came up that might give them the slimiest of chances to give everyone hope or even survive, he thought the whole world would be a loss cannon by now with riots and such but no one seem to be doing anything or little they could do with the damage to the Earth from all the storms he witness with his own two eyes... Every life on the planet had been affected in so many ways that he couldn't see how riots could even happen. The east and west coast of the USA was under ten feet of water thanks to the super storms massive swells of low pressure forcing large sums of sea water in land, millions from both coasts fled inland to only run into snow storms... China was under snow almost on every inch with the deserts of Africa swimming in rain water, the muddy sands washing into cities, towns and villages displacing so many people. Australia and New Zealand was also suffering from massive snow storms with millions stuck with only aid and food coming from the air. Even London high above Matthew's head was frozen, no planes could get in and many people now using shopping centres as camps to keep warm from the freezing clear skies... “General we found something... odd” the lady spoke from her desk looking at her set of computers with a few others. “Define odd...” he walked over to her desk looking at the screens. “Well if this is right by about 23 hours 57 minutes and 56 seconds till impact for two minutes this column of energy will appear” she shows it on her display and on the larger screen with others looking at the image. “But what I don't get is how or why it showing us this...” Matthew turn to his office seeing the Queen standing at the window looking at him with a equal surprised look in her eyes as his shown then turn back to the screen. “What exactly are at the centre point of this column?” “Well Ponyville and Twiosmicstar Forest sir” she showed the satellite images of the forest and the images they got of Equus. Matthew looking at the column on the display then the images “That centre point is Sweet Apple Acres” he point to the screen “And basically is the centre of Ponyville since it was there before the town even was around” Matthew said rubbing his chin a little with his fingers “And New Town was built next to Twiosmicstar Forest...” “Sir?” she notice the pause “Bring up a the forest perimeter and the town perimeter” he ordered and they did so and it showed on the screen before them all. “Now bring them together” they did so and both was exactly same size and shape. “My god...” he whispered “Sir that not possible... how can two worlds completely different with one town not even 100 years old and a forest with no idea of it age have the exactly same size perimeter... that impossible it... this is...” she was trying to say the words to understand what she was seeing and so many others was talking among each other. General turn again to his office seeing the smile from the Queen as she turn and head over to his chair with the guards still standing where they been the hold time. “So there is hope...” he smiled “Get me Michelle” “Sir?” “Please” the lady nods and give him the headset. “Michelle...” Telephone conversation... Michelle “What is it general...” Matthew “How would you like to pull a Genuine out of the hat?” Michelle “There a way out of this?” Matthew “Not sure but it highly likely that the element bearers from Equus have a plan and it may have something to do with what these computers are saying” Michelle “And exactly what would that be?” Matthew “Are you next to the Snow Rose?” Michelle “Of course... Big Mac rather be here then anywhere else at the moment plus he feels a bit more connected to his world with the magic coming off this rose, it glowing at the moment with golden white light... it really something” Matthew “As I thought... so the legends are true” Michelle “What legends?” Matthew “Legends tell of a rose of harmonises magic that will bloom on the day that harmony will save the lives of all.” Michelle “So your telling me that the Elements of Harmony will somehow react with this rose's magic and save us all? Isn't that a bit far-fetched?” Matthew “Maybe a little Michelle but what other chance do we have? Billions of people are displaced across the Earth even if we somehow save the world it would take years to recover by that time will lose lives...” Michelle “So either way it could be the end of humans but there is a chance we live on if we go with this wild card” Matthew “Yes...” Michelle “I guess that better then the lose of life of both worlds in a whole... but the question remains how can two worlds magic connect” Matthew “23 hours 57 minutes and 56 seconds till impact we will have a two minute window if we or they screw this up we all dead in that said given time” Michelle “I get you Matthew... well hope this crazy idea works... what the rate of success?” Matthew “We estimate it to be 2%” Michelle “Better then nothing I guess... thank you for letting me know.” Matthew “No trouble at all... just hope for the best for all life on Earth... see you on the other side?” Michelle “In your dreams mate” Twiosmicstar Forest, Snow Rose Cavern... Michelle ends the call tossing the head piece back to the solider “Thanks” she smiled and sat with Hazel and Big Mac “I got good news and some bad news” Big Mac look at her in the eyes while lying there feeling that his body was not responding much at the moment “Why do I sense that both good and bad news are one and the same?” “Mum?” Hazel look to her realising what Big Mac said. “Is that true?” “It is... the thing is we have one chance of all surviving and it all up to the elements of harmony and this Snow Rose... as the countdown of this planet colliding with theirs reach 23 hours, 57 minutes and 56 seconds there be a two minute window with a 2% chance of both worlds unique magic connecting but we have no idea what the end results would be...” Michelle said sitting down by them. Nigel got up and joined them “Sink or swim huh?” “That would be...” Michelle replied looking to him. Nigel turn to Big Mac “Since you been with us for three months how about sharing with us a story or three about your home. I believe Wayne might be doing it bro” Big Mac smiled softly at the sound of 'bro' from Nigel “Yep” “So lets hear it” Nigel spoke and sat down with the others. “Time is a wasting” Big Mac laughing a little at that comment feeling happy “Alright... I'll tell” Everyone in the cavern turn and start to listen to Big Macintosh's stories of Ponyville, Equestria his homeland the stories which never been heard or seen on the shows, he gladly started to tell them of his own tales never once been much of a talker but this time he broke all bounds and gladly talk away about his home. Home... the land he may never see again, not the planet the land he grow up on and wished more then anything in his heart that both worlds could be saved and that somehow that a miracle could happen to all those he got to know, the family he got to know the home he started to call. Big Macintosh had two families now and this made him glow with passion like never before, he had new mother, brother, sister and so many more family members he yet to see but happy that Wayne also shared a link of experience that neither of them leaving not much of a impact but one on those hearts. That when he felt it Wayne's heart beat not just in the chest of the body he been in but right above, he could feel a connection like no other, he felt Wayne's presence in his red stallion body the heart beating together with each beat they could feel their strength losing and knew from that point forwards that both would soon die before the link.. he knew they had to do the right thing not for them but for all life, 2% is a heck of a gamble but to Big Macintosh sometimes you just had to throw the dice and wish on luck... two possible outcomes, the end of all life or victory over the Overseers and saving both worlds... they was only the small pieces to the larger puzzle and he realised the rose... he stared at it when speaking to the others he sense it magic, someone knew this was going to happen and planted the seed right here in this one spot a chance for all life to survive... 24 hours 2 minutes and 32 seconds till impact... Wayne's breaths became more shallow with every one he took, the stallion body was shutting down second be second that past and he could see Applejack was scared of how she was powerless to do anything for him. “AJ... don't... be... scared...” “Please hold on ya got to!” Applejack pleaded with tears falling as she hugged him with all her friends and the Apples of Sweet Apple Acres around the bed. Wayne look to all of them “Ya... got...” he felt it heavy to speak “one chanc... chance... everypony... do this please... all... life” Granny Smith look to the view of the Earth it was larger then ever she could make out one land that was directly above them “We will do not worry...” Granny Smith smiled walking over to his bed side “Now go to sleep and dream peacefully...” He blinked with the green eyes are her and look to Luna “May your dreams guide you” Luna whispered and he closed his eyes with a smile They watched as the breathing stopped and Pinkie Pie mane was starting to deflate but Luna put a hoof to her “Princess...” “Look at him and what can you see” Pinkie Pie saw the smile and her mane returned to normal “girls let do this! For Wayne and Big Macintosh! Let save them all and have a party!!!!” “For all life” Rarity replied “Oh yes and to everything that excised small or big” Fluttershy joined “For mah brothers” Applejack put her hoof out and the others did too touching hooves over the red stallion. Twilight smiled “We will make sure that we save the worlds and defeat those Overseers!” “That the spirit girls let kick their flanks till there no tomorrow!” the girls laughed at that comment Rainbow Dash brought forwards. Luna put her hoof on theirs “For the lives of all those dream of hope and salvation” “For mah big brothers” Applebloom on top of Applejack head put her hoof on top of theirs reaching out. “For mah family and friends” Granny Smith smiled putting hers on theirs The Elements around the necks and head of the six bearers started to glow with energy with rainbow whirling winds around them, the light became blinding as the whole room was lit up with Spike covering his eyes from the light, he fell back and as the light starts to dim he saw they was all gone every single one of them. “Whoa...” he step up to the window and gasped with shock he saw a massive whirling cloud of rainbow aura streaming from around him and above into the sky as he saw a beam of rainbow light shooting for Earth. “Good luck girls...” The rainbow swirling aura moved to the Earth while the beam shot right ahead and smashed right through a magical shield, the shield starting to break down in a wave as if it was made of glass and turn to dust with magical rainbow aura flooding around the Earth. Michelle held Big Mac as he smiled and fell to sleep and pass away she with the others Hazel and Nigel in a little circle of three around the body holding each other when the beam of light smashed into the rose the solider could see it engulfing the family and he stood back against the wall of the tornado of rainbow light spinning around the rose he look to the sky seeing a whirling cloud of rainbow aura forming all over and in the sky swirling up towards the other one coming from Equus with the spinning tornado of rainbow energy from the elements of harmony connected right in the middle of the slow whirling rainbow energy. Matthew look at his screen seeing the bridge with is own two eyes but he noticed something with all the other live feeds they was frozen he was looking at a image of people and snow to rain drop lets all frozen in time even the dust but why wasn't he or everyone inside the base of X-19 frozen “My god...” he whispered with shock “Report...” “Time has frozen sir... at 23 hours, 57 minutes and 56 seconds exactly...” the lady replied “I can't get anything from the feeds and the only one that seem to be working in the satellite that directly in line with the beam sir...” Matthew notice the timer going up “lieutenant...” She glance at him then the screen many others was startled by this “Impact due in 24 hours 23 minutes... wait it says 26 hours... now 29 hours... sir the timer speeding up” “I can see...” Matthew felt everything starting to shake “The Elements and the Snow Rose magic must of shattered the hold on the Earth, we being pulled back to our rightful dimension and time is also reversing for both us and Equus... amazing... are we getting all this?” “Yes we are and the timer is now at 7 days 23 hours and 54 seconds...” then the timer before their eyes vanished completely “Sir we back” Matthew look at the images seeing the cities, towns and villages was all fine and day to day life was going by as if nothing happened. “Bloody hell... we not only back but all the damage to the Earth is as if it never happened...” Spike back and Sweet Apple Acres was rubbing his eyes the Earth was gone and so was the aura that was around, he next saw Derpy land by the letter box with some mail and placed it in there. “Derpy did you see where the Earth went to?” Derpy looked at him with a frown “Earth? Isn't that what I am standing on, that want dirt is isn't it?” Spike nods “Yeah that right, sorry to bother you” “Bye got mail to deliver and...” Spike raise his hand claw up “Wait Derpy” she look to him with a pause and all the sudden lightning from a cloud from the Everfree forest hit the tree near her causing her to jump in shock “Whoa... that creepy” “Your telling me, that could have been me...” she gulped “Thanks for holding me back” she hugged him as he came out and flies off. “Aw it was nothing” he beamed and happy to stop Derpy from getting really hurt and hospitalized. “I hope the others are ok...” he look up to the sky with wonder. > Chapter 21: Last String of Hope > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Chapter 21: Last String of Hope... “Arrived is not to be expected this is not possible, there is a zero percent chance of this happening” “We must react this is unheard of, no being shall enter the universe of the Overseers, the experiment must end” “Unable to end it the energy that was created from the magic and the harmony is far to great and we underestimated these biological lifeforms. Defences are unable to stop their approached” “But able to deal with them when they arrive” “No action will be taken” “There is confusion why no action taken from a threat?” “A threat we caused from 700 years of their temporal plain and now we threaten to end their lives as a final test, it has gone too far” “Too far indeed there is what they call 'hope' and by defeating us they 'hope' to restore what we did” “Hope, harmony, friendship, magic, family and love all a biological formula we been trying to understand or far too long, it is still beyond our understanding how such things exist, for what we done they try to save” A Beam of rainbow light slams into the realm creating a powerful wave of energy the Overseers gaze upon the arrival of three humans and nine ponies on a platform of rainbow light with two stilled bodies of a human and red pony. They looked around with stunned looks at what they saw, it was endless clouds of energy as far as the eyes could see flowing around with sparks of different shades of colour lightning. “You have entered the Overseers realm” a voice echoed in their minds they couldn't tell where it was coming from. Rainbow Dash yelled out “Show yourself you cowards!” “We are and not, there is no form you can see, we are one and we are many” Twilight looking to the clouds they was moving in a pattern not just all over the place “Rainbow I think the cloud is them... look how the energy flow...” Rainbow was startled “Whoa your telling me this endless swirling mass of energy cloud is them!?” “That what I think...” Twilight replied “Element of Magic the key to the threat must be silenced” “There is no consensuses and action will not be taken” “Action will be taken even without consensuses the threat is in our realm and must be destroyed!” “No stand down” Michelle stood right before Twilight “if you want to harm her you will have to go through me buster!” “Then so be it” Michelle held her ground as it came right for her but the other swirling clouds held it back “What in tarnation is goin' on?” Applejack spoke looking at the endless sea of clouds Princess Luna could tell there was now a struggle between the Overseers “I do believe these beings are in conflict with each other” “Matters are of our own it has been sealed” “But the quest for answers will continue, crossing the void to our domain is no easy fleet” “You roughins caused this! You took the lives of these two and now our worlds going to die cause of you!” Rarity yelled at the cosmic force before them “Yeah like Rarity said you wind bags!” Rainbow Dash yelled out at the Overseers Fluttershy sat by the two bodies with Hazel and Applebloom “They played your game and you took them away... why did you be so crawl?” Fluttershy said staring out the whirling clouds. “This is not crawl or evil but a test and experience we do not die, do not live, we simply excise without meaning and without reason. Our experiments are to see those of other realms and other realities to see what we can not do or feel” “That no reason to switch their minds and then kill them! You big bully!” Pinkie Pie yelled at them firing her Party Cannon into the cosmic cloud. “Our realm is us and we are the realm, never ending never starting there are only four of us yet one cosmic force” Applebloom spoke out “Then where the other one!? Ya did this to both mah big brothers y'all meanies!” Granny Smith spoke in turn “Ya wipper snappers have no right interfering with the lives of others cause ya have no meaning to life, life has meaning as ya see and with the help of the girls and these humans we all here as friend and family to stop what ya doing!” “Elements are a threat” “ENOUGH” The fourth stream appears and two beams of light hit the two bodies “Wayne?” Hazel whispers seeing the human body awake and open his eyes. “Hazel?” he raised his hand seeing his hand “I'm alive...” he sat up seeing Big Mac also sitting up “Eeyup” he replied with a smirk and they both gave each other hug with the Apples and Dolphins joining with the ponies around them cheering with delight. Luna turn to the Overseers “Why?” “The test has gone too far and harm was brought, at the end you have proven beyond the doubt... coming before us in our realm is all the proof and beyond anything we have studied, trailed, watched and interfered for as long as the cosmic clock, space, fabric of reality” Luna turn to the others whom was happy with the results “What of our worlds?” “Events have never happened a simple task, we have repaired the damage we caused, all events have also been forgotten by all, only a few will remember and you are the few” Rainbow Dash yelled at them once more “What going to stop you for doing it again!? Huh! Your going to be without reason again and cause pain and suffering to satisfy your stupid thirst!” Twilight stood with Rainbow Dash “I have to agree, you might of undone everything but how can we know you wouldn't do it again?” “A Pin...” Wayne cuts Pinkie Pie off “A life promise” they all turn to him as he stood at the edge of the rainbow platform “if one of us give up our life you will promise to never harm, interfere or do anything wrong again!” “That is a acceptable agreement but by doing so this realm will be no more... we be no more” “That is the will of things, the Overseers would finally join the cosmic storm and one life then none” “A form with reason and to live...” “For one life, four shall live once and live with heart. How do you know of the life promise?” Wayne sighed “The orbs you sent it was embedded within it magic, you created magic to test us because you needed more then just observer in this realm, you can to live without living, no feeling nothing. So your option was one and one alone. And I get it” Wayne said to the Overseers “Now you get to live one life and I will take that step” “WHAT!?” they all gasped part from Big Macintosh whom seem to understand. “Wayne have you gone completely nuts!? Your talking about your life!” Rainbow Dash was in his face. “I know your back in your body but why this man!? Your awesome when you was Big Mac, you really acted and made us believe you was him all this time!” “I know Dash but he gave my family a life, out of the darkness into the light, he gave me more then anything. A new family, friends among each of you...” He turn to each of them “Luna also a friend n my heart” he smiled to the night princess, “Something you will know but your sister will not, events you will be proud of” “Indeed it will. I will not speak of it to Tia” Luna turn to the swirling clouds “So this is how it has to be? Always had to be?” “Yes the Overseers grown endless without end or a beginning, so we sneak what we only could do, one path one option, if you live how four of us have lived, with no form and endless mass of nothingness you shall try any salvation to live a life... what worth living if you don't have a life to live?” Michelle yelled out at them “Why this!? Why my son!?” “Because he wished it... he is of free will and of choice, he choose to do this not us” “Mum I been almost a nobody for most of my life, heck I hardly did anything part from cons, stories, drawings and gaming... till I lived Big Macintosh's life I never knew what I was missing... I knew my own isolation led to no many family outings, our life was under one roof but nothing really happened... now look at you all, a apple orchard, a shop in New Town. That a life Big Mac gave to you for me...” “Wayne y'all been good to mah family too and that ah'm grateful, ah do wish that this never came to this that ya can live the life but thin's never work as ya plan do they...” “Sadly they don't Big Mac...” Wayne put a hand on his hoof that he put out to him “Don't be shy to speak your mind big guy, you got a voice for a reason and also finish the second story I started” “Ah promise that ah will Wayne” Big Mac said with tears falling from his green eyes through his red fur. Pinkie Pie sighed “A Pinkie Promise would of worked you know...” “Sadly it wouldn't, you try getting them to do the Pinkie Promise with no form or body” Wayne smirked and she giggled at what he said. “Yeah your right that wouldn't of worked” she laughing a bit “It good to meet the real you Wayne but shame I can't throw you one of those awesome parties of mine” “You already have Pinkie and maybe you will” he winked and turn around “Now do we have agreement or not!?” “Consensus has been made” “The rest of the biological life forms make your goodbyes” “The window of your escape is short...” “And may your lives be filled with wonder...” Nigel sighed “Well I guess this is it Wayne...” “It seem so bro” they clapped hands with a smile and Nigel step back Michelle stared at her son “You did it again Wayne, rushing in without thinking” “Maybe but this time it wasn't, I did this because it the only way to end this once and for all, the Elements only can do so much” “Bro I will miss you” Hazel said “I will miss you too...” Wayne hug both of them and turn to the ponies. “Applejack, Applebloom, Granny Smith and Big Macintosh you all came to be my family even with the differences... I am sure going miss you all” Applejack smirked “Indeed partner, wish it wasn't this way and there was a better way Sugarcube...” she had some tears falling rubbing them away with her hoof. “It not fair, we was getting to know ya so well and the life y'all had with us was the best three months right?” Applebloom said with a soft smile with tears falling as she spoke “It sure was Applebloom even if you and the crusaders drove me a little batty, in the end I lived amazing 3 months, tell your friends this and make sure they don't say it to others and do the Pinkie Promise ok?” he whispers the last bit with a wink. “Ya bet ah will!” “Granny Smith you figured it out almost instantly didn't ya? Yet for three months you kept the act up” Wayne knelt down to her. “Thank you for everything Granny” “Well what sort of granny would ah'm be if didn't tell the differences between mah grandson and amnesia?” she put her hoof on his shoulder “but ah'm glad to call ya that now Lightning Apple” Wayne frowned “Lightning Apple? What type of name is that?” “The name ah thought of on the day ya was in Big Mac body and made that Zap Apple Cider” Granny Smith replied “Ya a Apple and needed a name that works, not that Wayne is ok but McApple is a perfect name don't ya think?” “Sure is” Wayne chuckled then turn to the remaining mane six “I know for the last three months I only spoken to each of you a dozen or so times each... I still count you all as my friends even I sort of tricked you all that I was Big Mac for so long...” “Most awesome prank ever in my books” Rainbow Dash gabbed Wayne with a hoof on his arm. “Just be cool alright?” Fluttershy step up to him “I am sorry for what you had to do... but your kindness really shows” “Well darling you might be going with a bang but got to say that jacket is really stunning” Rarity grinned. “Here you take it” Wayne took it off giving it to Rarity “your hoof work your design, make it bloom” “Oh my stars I will” Rarity smiled back at him. “I came so close so many times... if I didn't get distracted by...” “Twilight it fine, I wasn't able to tell you so there was no way of knowing” Wayne said to the Alicorn Princess. “Just take care of yourself and your friends ok?” “Sure and thank you for doing this for us” Twilight beamed. Pinkie Pie gave him a massive hug “Oh I am going to so miss you! I will have a party ready for the new pony when I get back! He going to be electrifying!” “I know you will you crazy pink pony” “Well at least somepony that understand my randomness!” Pinkie Pie grinned Wayne chuckled “I sure do, I know enough of it to never question the Pinkie Pie special” he hugged her and then step back turning to Luna “I know from the first day and kept these beings from knowing but it seem at the end we will lose a friend” Luna looked at the human with some sadness “Nah you most likely got more friends then ever” he put a hand on her side of the head. “You got to see the dreams of a human with a crazy amount of imagination” “Yes I did, thank you Wayne” Luna gave him a hug and he returned it. “Your window is almost gone, it time...” “Dolphin Wayne human step towards the rim of the platform” Wayne did so and look to each of them as they all stood together. “Big Mac take care of your family ok?” “Sure will Wayne” he replied “Goodbye...” Wayne smiled seeing the glow around them and in a flash they was gone going back to their respective worlds “Farewell... and enjoy your lives... all of you, don't let what I choose weigh you down” he whispered turning his gaze to the phasing clouds of light and energy knowing his time was coming to a end and he felt good that he did something by his own choose one that he wasn't going to regret... > Epilogue : The End is only the Beginning > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Macintosh and Dolphin – The Switch Epilogue : The End is only the Beginning... A clear winters day with snow falling over the land, Michelle stood at the window looking out at the New Town Apple Orchard that she owned, it was hard enough owning it now but losing her eldest son was the hardest thing, it been only a week since he was truly gone and it was hitting her and the family hard, the winter season was upon them and Christmas was only a few weeks away... She watched the lorry pull up at the warehouse and Nigel getting out of it closing the large doors up before moving to the house. Hazel stood with her by the window “Here you go mum” Michelle took the cup of tea with a sigh “Thank you Hazel... it just had knowing his gone... he was so sure of what he did was the right thing...” she look to the photo when Big Macintosh was in his body and dressed up as Big Mac fursuit and all, winning the lottery was something but that suit sitting on the rack in his room made her feel sad every time entering it... “Who would of though I be missing Big Macintosh as much as I missing Wayne right now...” she picked up the picture seeing that Hazel was in a Applejack fursuit and Nigel not looking to happy being in the picture “Yeah and Nigel in his ninja outfit looking not too happy posing with two people dressed up as ponies” Hazel smiled putting a hand on the picture “I am going to miss that red pony too... he might of pretended to be Wayne but he was still a big brother to me...” Nigel came into the living room “Sorry I'm late the snow really coming down out there, the gritters are out but I almost lost the rig a few times on the way home” “It fine Nigel, we just thinking about Wayne and Big Mac” Michelle sat down on the sofa. Nigel put his keys down looking to them “It not been the same since either them around... I was mad at first with Big Mac pretending to be my brother but then I knew why and that weird place...” “I know” Michelle drunk some of her tea then look to the window “We just have to move on and remember that he would like us to go on” Nigel thought about it then look to Hazel “Haz...” “Yeah?” “How about for the Christmas Party we dress up in those fursuits, for Wayne and Big Mac?” “For family huh?” Hazel smirked “Yeah for family” Nigel said and gave her a hug as she started to cry into him and Michelle joined the hug. Michelle whispers to them both “For family... Apples and Dolphins...” London, unknown location... The base was being packed away, all the computers being rolled out and the last checks going through at the desk by the general, he saw almost emptiness in the room as the project was closed down. “Matthew sometimes trying to understand something is best not to” he turn to the Queen looking out the window to the same room. “I believe this project would help the country and it did, it opened our eyes to the power of magic... the magic that brings harmony” Elizabeth turn to him “Yes your highness it does... but it sad to say that this had to come to a end...” he stood by her. “How is your husband?” “He well” she replied with a soft smile patting him on the shoulder “General keep up the good work and remember sometimes it more simpler to let things go” “Indeed it is” he watch her leave with two red coat guards walking by her. “But sometimes end is just a beginning of a new” he went to the door looking around the office once more before turning the light off “X-19 is over but there still a lot of numbers to go” he smirked walking out the life, pushing the button with the door closing and all lights going out. Sweet Apple Acres... Big Macintosh sat ideal on his own in the field just north of the apple trees staring out to the sunset that was setting to the west, he haven't really been himself since the events that took place a week ago, it was good to be home and able to do what he usually use to for what he done in life but it had been not only hard hit on him but on the others of the Apple family in Sweet Apples Acres... Granny Smith trots slowly up to Big Macintosh seeing him sitting there calmly looking to the evening sky as the stars started to rise. “Ah thought y'all be here” he turn to her. “Ya thinking about him aren't y'all?” “Eeyup...” “Ya have something that no pony would ever had, ya lived the life of one other while he lived y'all life, it a special bond that bring families together a bond that made ya both brothers” Granny Smith said sitting by him with a grin. “Ah gain a grandson even for the briefest of times” “Eeyup” Applejack and Applebloom came up to them “It is because of ya Big Macintosh that we sit together moaning a pony that became larger in life, ya helped him and his family more then any pony could dream of, it not always about how ya sister has but what we all do” “That is true, ah might be the element of honesty but what ya did and he did we never could of done... ya two are mah brothers and he will be missed and the choice he made even crazy was the one in his heart” Applejack sat by her big brother putting her head against his. “Remembering him will keep him alive just like own parents” “Eeyup like Applejack said, ya both are amazing and keeping him in our hearts will always be there as a Apple should always be” Applebloom sat in front of the large red stallion as they watch the stars start to shine and one big one caught their eyes as more appear to create a whole new consolation, one shaped of a dolphin “Big brother ya seeing that!” “Eeyup ah am little sis... Princess Luna making sure he never forgotten and we all remember by staring at this set of stars at night... two families parted from reality but bonded by family forever” Big Macintosh said to them in a calm and gentle voice. “One thing bothers me though...” “What would that be Big Macintosh?” Granny Smith turn to him. “Why did they allow themselves to end their realm? They had so much power” “Big Mac sometimes it not about power but what in ya heart and they felt it when we all was there, we changed their well being and made them a better pony then they thought possible” Applejack said still looking to the stars. Big Macintosh closed his eyes with a whisper “He be surely missed...” “That he will Big Macintosh that he will” Granny Said softly to her grandson. “And at the end he is a Apple to the core” they all carried on to watch the sky as two shooting stars streak across the sky... From a distance four ponies stood together watching the apple family they look to each other three brothers and a sister all silently gazing at each other and looking to the sky as the realm of the Overseers disappeared for the last time they was truly mortal and living the one life they was all given with a whisper from the bat pony she spoke. “Never forget those in your heart...” with that they all turn and left for their own lives to live...