Unfortunately for Big Mac, there is a new pegasus in Ponyville and he has his eye set on a certain red farm pony. It all starts on a night with a clear sky...
It was a regular night in Ponyville. The moon was dim and there was a slight mist in the air from the scheduled rain. Just a normal, regular night in Ponyville. Everything was as it always is.
That was perfectly true until there was a large crash in the proximity of Sweet Apple Acres, the best (and only) apple farm in Ponyville.
Maybe this crash was just a distant noise for most ponies in town, but for the Apple family, it certainly was loud.
Big Mac was startled awake. Instead of the early sun that he saw when he woke up, he was presented with the glow of the moon, not to mention the difference between a rooster and a loud crash. Once he recognized what had happened enough to get up, he slowly trotted to the door of his room. He knew that he would have to deal with this, after all, Applejack needed her sleep and there was no question that Applebloom was too young to be getting up at a time like this. Oh, and Granny Smith was Granny Smith.
He slowly made his way outside, feeling the crisp air that he was used to after years of getting up early to work the farm. He overlooked the rows of trees he knew so well, trying to pinpoint where the sound had come from. Even in the dark of the night, the round apples reflected the peaceful light from the moon.
After walking through the rows, Big Mac finally spotted the culprit of the unwanted wake-up call. It was a pegasus, a stallion, to be more specific. Thankfully none of the trees got hurt, but Mac couldn’t say the same for the pegasus. He was just laying on the ground with a crumpled-up box that didn’t look so good either in front of him. His wings were all crumpled and bent. Now, Big Mac knew next to nothing about pegasi, but he was pretty darn sure that that was in no way what healthy wings were supposed to look like. It was hard to see any details in the figure at this time of night.
The mushed-up figure stirred and came to a sitting position as Big Mac watched.
“Euughhh, hi there, sorry for …. dropping in on you… ehehhee…heh.” the pegasi managed to get out. His voice was hoarse and wobbly. His words sounded squished together, if his voice was an apple, it would be an Acklam Russet apple.
Big Mac plopped his butt down onto the grass, next to the wrecked pegasus. The grass was damp and cool.
“...Ya better get yer wings fixed up.” The pegasus looked over at the farm stallion sitting next to him, who was looking up at the sky.
“That would probably be a good idea… b-but I do NOT want to uh…wreck your trees until then…. nice trees by the way…” The voice still has the fluxation that it had a minute ago.
There was a pause. Big Mac exhaled, his warm breath clashing with the sting of the cold night.
“Eeeyup.” Big Mac drawled.
The stars were shining pinpricks across the sky, complementing the full moon. Big Mac wondered if that was where this mysterious pony came from. Not Cloudsdale, higher. That was a stupid thought, but stupid thoughts were things that kept Big Mac entertained throughout the day. Stupid thoughts and fantasies. This was not the way Big Mac would have chosen to spend his night, but it was pretty at least. He would always be proud that this beauty was something that would always be there, just like Sweet Apple Acres.
The unwelcomed visitor fussed with his wings, trying to get the feathers smoothed out. Big Mac reminded himself that the right word was "preening". That was one of the only things that he picked up from Rainbow Dash's expositions about how great it was to be able to fly.
The pegasus was going to have to preen for a long time if he wanted to get his wings back to their regular appearance.
“Well….I am just …going to go….” The pegasus said after his wings were as fixed as they could be. He hobbled out of a sitting position and into an upright stand.
Before Big Mac could even respond, the pegasus was picking up the smashed box and trotted through the trees. His walk was wobbly but sturdy enough to carry him to his destination, wherever that was.
“My name is Spacecake!!! REMEMBER IT!!!” His words got quieter as the pegasus, apparently named Spacecake, walked away.
That was enough time wasted for Big Mac, the sun was starting to rise and he had to get the trees ready for applebuck season. He figured that was going to be the last time he saw that pony, and since no trees were hurt he wouldn’t even need to think about what had happened. Despite the unorthodox start to the day, all the work throughout the clockwork motion of the sun was as productive as any other day.
At the end of the day the orchard was as beautiful as always. The reds and oranges of the sunset matched the variation of the apples but didn’t blend in. Every tree stood out in its own way, Big Mac knew these trees well and had the pleasure of working with them every day. They had some sort of a mutual agreement, he and his sister would nourish them and keep them safe while they would provide the product that kept his family together; apples.
Big Mac was never good at talking to people, everyone knew that, which is what made his job so great. He understood what the trees needed without having to talk to them or even communicate. Every day he gave his all into doing what he did best.
Sure, it was hard work, but it was simple work that came naturally to him after years of working.
He knew where his life was going and he knew it was staying here.
It was morning. Today Big Mac had to go into town to get nails…again. This time he KNEW that it would be quick trip with no distractions, unlike last time.
He walked on the paved path into the center of town, the sun shined down onto the gravel, Rainbow Dash really did do her job well, not a cloud to be seen. The walk was pleasant, nothing but the sound of crushing gravel and birds chirping in the air. The air was warm, but not too humid, which was perfect for the maturing apples. Couldn’t have them rot.
Big Mac came to a stop. Here he was. The thin gravel path was exchanged for a large cobblestone plaza with roads branching out from it. The blue sky gleamed, giving the market a warm glow. It was the perfect day to be out, which meant that nopony would want to stay inside. Chatter filled up all the empty space (which there was not much of) in the center of the small town. He really hoped the hardware store was open.
The large stallion’s pace quickened, weaving in between the groups of ponies and fillies socializing. He wasn’t the most nimble or small pony, but he managed to get through the crowd to the hardware store.
He let out a breath of relief, having cleared the battlefield without any complications. All he had to do now was get the bag of nails.
Just as Big Mac was about to push the door open, a blur of curly pink hair beat him inside.
“Hiya Big Mac! I was looking for you! Youseeiwasatsweetappleacrestopassoutinvitations, butyouwerntthere!” Breath. “Soiaskedapplejackwhereyouwentandshetoldmeyouwenttogetnailsandthatmeansyouwenttothehardwarestoreandsoicamehere… AND NOW I CAN GIVE YOU YOUR INVITATION!!!!” The pink party pony finally stopped talking.
“Say what now?” Big Mac did not understand a word of what was just said.
Pinkie Pie tilted her head a full 90 degrees, Big Mac swore that mare was something from another world. “Didn’t you hear?!?!?! There’s a new pony in town!!! So I’m throwing him one of my FAMOUS welcome to Ponyville parties!!! You have to come!!!”
The fluffy ball of hair on the pony’s head flopped up and down in rhythm with the comical “boing” noises that came from Pinkie well….boinging.
Reluctantly, Big Mac responded. “Uh…ah’ll be there.”
As soon as Big Mac finished his sentence, Pinkie Pie was already jumping off to victimize another innocent pony.
That was over with.
He was finally able to enter the dusty hardware store. Not that Big Mac minded any of the dirt, it made the place more welcoming. As the sun shined through the glass of the hardware store it reflected off of the particles in the air, making it seem as if the store was glowing. The shopowner was away, but Big Mac had visited him earlier to tell him to put aside some nails. After the incident, he always did. He would never go through that again. Never.
Big Mac slid two bits onto the counter and placed a small paper bag in his mouth. It made a soft crinkling noise.
As Big Mac exited the shop, he noticed a decrease in the number of ponies in the plaza. The sky was still as bright, and the air was just as warm, so it seem like there was no reason for everypony to leave. Then he noticed a familiar pegasus talking to one of the remaining ponies. That pony was clearly not pleased to be talking to the pegasus.
Did everypony really get run out by space-whatshisname? Big Mac didn’t want to find out. He quickened his trot into a canter.
Other than that, the walk home was much more pleasant than the walk there. By the time Big Mac got to the gate of Sweet Apple Acres, the sky was more yellow than blue. Had it really been that long? He was just glad to be back.
Big Mac eventually reached the door of the house he and his family called home. Judging by the sky, it was almost dinner time. The red earth pony smelled the warmth of potatoes and applesauce, seasoned just right. As soon as he made his way into the kitchen, he heard the familiar voice of his sister.
“Hey, Big Mac! Y’all got the nails?” She turned to look at her older brother, who was still carrying the brown in his mouth.
He dropped the bag onto the table so he could reply. “Eeeyup.”
Applejack turned back to the pot to stir the applesauce. She let go of the wooden spoon to continue the conversation with her brother.
“So, Ah reckon ya got the invitation to Pinkie’s party?”
Yes, indeed he did.
“Eeyup.” He drawled.
He wished he didn’t.
Applejack stepped away from the stove, her face turning into a smirk, she must’ve picked it up from Rainbow Dash. That smirk meant she thought of something. Uh oh.
“Say Big Mac…well Ah know you don’t really like these type’a shindigs…but don’tcha think it would be fun for ya ta come along? It’s fine if ya don’t want ta but…y’know.”
Big Mac loved Applejack. She was the best sister anypony could ask for. She would respect him and his choices no matter what, he knew that. But he also knew that sometimes you had to make sacrifices for family. Big Mac hadn’t gone to any type of party, other than when he was required to be there, in a long time. Applejack would be fine without him there, she was a strong grown-up mare, but she also needed to spend some time with her brother outside of the farm.
There was no way he was getting out of this.
“...Ah’ll come.”
Just as he said those words, a red bow popped up from the corner. Soon a set of large orange eyes followed. They were full of childish ambition that was just too sweet to ignore.
“Does this mean ah can come too?! Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are comin’!!!” The filly started jumping up and down.
Applejack and Big Mac looked at each other. This was going to be a long night.
The party started at 7:00 PM, which meant they had to be there at 6:30 since Pinkie Pie always liked her friends to come early…which meant Big Mac had to come early too, since he was tagging along with his sister.
The colorful sunset collided with the confectionary roof of the Sugarcube Corner, no doubt that inside there would be balloons with saturated versions of the colors throughout the sky. The chattering of Apple Bloom filled up the peaceful afternoon.
As the Apple family’s younger members neared the Sugarcube Corner, it felt as if the warmth from the bright candles on top was surrounding the shop. Pinkie’s parties had that effect.
Big Mac’s theory was proven correct as he stepped into the bake shop and saw it covered with bright balloons and streamers of all colors. Everything tied together into a friendly atmosphere.
As soon as Pinkie Pie spotted the family, she rushed to greet them.
“Applejack!!! And Apple Bloom and Big Mac!!!! But not Granny Smith!” Pinkie Pie had a weird way of making statements into questions.
Applejack chuckled at this sentence-question. “Well, Granny Smith ain’t feelin’ so well, so she had ta stay home, but we're all glad to be here.”
Pinkie Pie bounced as a response and Applejack went off with her to join her friends while Apple Bloom ran along to talk to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, Mac knew he would have to keep an eye on them.
Big Mac also knew that this was going to be a boring night, not as an insult to the party itself, but because he usually didn’t have much to do at parties. The mystery new resident had yet to show up and most ponies usually came “fashionably late” so there was nothing that exciting going on.
Even without all of the party-goers present the Sugarcube Corner still felt alive with all of the antics that Applejack and her friends got up to. As the bell tower rang out, the official start of the party was marked. It was only a few seconds after the full and sharp bell rang that a smaller and lighter bell also made its sounds. The bell on the door.
With that second bell the guest of honor was brought in. Big Mac should have known that it would be him. It was honestly pretty stupid of him not to assume that it would be that pegasus. A mysterious pegasus crash in Sweet Apple Acres, with the same pony seen in town the next day, and then there is a whole welcoming party for some unnamed pony? He should have guessed.
Big Mac got a better look at Spacecake, his coat was a creamy color, almost like the inside of a ripe apple, with light brown splotches. His mane was both white and a mess. Certainly an interesting fellow.
Pinkie’s attention was caught by the entry of the pony and bounced over in her usual fashion. “Hi there new friend! I’m so glad you came! Everyyyyone in Ponyville is coming! You never told me your name, but you should so then I can…”
Her words faded into the jumble of all the noises. More ponies came in and Spacecake followed around as Pinkie Pie showed him around, introducing him to almost everybody. With how much Pinke was talking, the stallion barely got any words in, which showed the gals talent in talking since it seemed like that pegasus could talk a lot.
At some point it was Big Mac’s turn to be introduced, even if he didn’t really need introducing, and Spacecake’s blue eyes stared at him. His cheeks began to match the pink surrounding his eyes. The pegasus opened his mouth but was whisked away again by none other than the pink pony that had been taking the poor stallion captive the whole night.
The night went on with Spacecake being dragged along. Big Mac noticed that he had grabbed a cupcake to eat and the amount of words he spoke after that amounted to zero.
It seemed like the inside of the shop got brighter the darker the outside got. It was like there was a little pocket of sun inside, which was something that the party pony would somehow be able to do weirdly enough. Several ponies came up to Big Mac for a few words but then left. The red stallion was stuck in that shop with nothing to do until the end of the party, which was at an undefined time.
Big Mac was almost glad that he never really got the chance to speak to him fully, since he seemed like an interesting pony with…certainly a lot to say. But he figured that he would get a chance to talk to the pegasus some time, naturally. After all, Ponyville was not a very large town.
Finally the party was coming to an end and the Apple family reunited again as they walked under Luna’s risen moon. The light glow shining on the roof of the store to remind them that the day was over. Apple Bloom was laying on Big Mac’s back and she slept quietly. Despite what that filly said, she was still young and had a lot to learn, so moments like these were what Big Mac and Applejack had to treasure before the foal grew up.
The siblings' hoofsteps trotted along with the twinkling stars in the sky multiplying the closer they got to the farm and farther from the town. The walk home was even more quiet than the previous one because of the sleeping filly. It was calm. A needed break from the excitement of the party.
At the sight of his home, Big Mac knew that everything would go back to how they used to be in a few weeks. Despite his interesting characteristics, Spacecake would fade into the background like everypony else. Maybe it would be even sooner than a few weeks, maybe it would be tomorrow. There was no point in guessing or trying to prolong the relevance of the odd pegasus because it was inevitable.
