Chapter Text
Big Mac bowed to his square dance partner across the dance floor as the fiddle ended its merry tune. Today Sweet Apple Acres, the cornerstone of Ponyville, had been turned into a dream wedding venue, complete with live music, home-style food, and tonnes of guests. The ceremony had taken place inside the barn, with the rest of the reception taking place outside. Fun as it was, Mac decided he needed a break from the crowd. In case he didn’t get a chance later, he sought out the bride before he made his way out into the serenity of the orchard.
Pinkie Pie, the bride in question, was never hard to find at a party. If she wasn’t dancing, she was mingling with guests. He spotted her by the barn doors and thought the pastel yellow tint of her dress looked lovely against her pink coat. Rarity no doubt designed her dress. Cheese Sandwich, decked out in a loudly patterned suit, approached her as she was talking to Matilda and a unicorn Mac didn’t know by name. He remembered seeing them walk in with Twilight, probably as her plus one.
They wore a stunning cloak in a navy blue that complemented their orange coat. Silver and gold thread stitched dozens of stars and constellations along their back, down to the tip of the cloak’s train. Delicate turquoise crystals wove through their dusty orange main and matched the crystal that dangled from their ear, as well as the glasses that sat over the white pattern of fur on their muzzle. Intriguingly, despite their feminine leaning attire, Mac noticed the smart looking beard hanging off of their chin.
They looked around the venue with a strained expression and backed away from the small group into the barn. Pinkie seemed to notice but had her attention pulled away by a shower of kisses from Cheese.
Wedding venue or not, Mac frowned, Sweet Apple Acres was still his home. Every single one of these guests were technically his and Apple Jack’s responsibility. Like Granny said, a good host always strives to make their guests comfortable.
He walked over to the barn, nodded at Pinkie and Cheese, and stepped inside. The chairs from the ceremony were still set up in neat rows before the altar. The unicorn seemed to be observing the architecture. They didn’t hear him enter.
“Doin’ alright there, friend?” Mac asked at an appropriate distance.
The unicorn startled and turned around, blue eyes wide and anxious, “Y-yes, sorry. I’m just looking for my friend.”
Mac pointedly looked around the empty barn, “Uh huh. I saw Twilight go up to the house with AJ and Fluttershy. I’m sure she didn’t mean to leave you behind.”
“No, of course she didn’t. It’s just… a bit loud out there.”
“Yep, I hear ya. I can take you to the house if you want.”
“Uh… no that’s ok. I’m sure Twilight wants some time with her friends.”
But she brought you along, ain’t you her friend? Mac thought. They stared at each other for a moment as Mac contemplated the social faux pas of criticizing the Princess of Friendship behind her back, straight to the face of her plus one. Maybe if they were friends, he would’ve done so.
“Ok, come along then.” Mac waved them over.
“I just said I don’t want to go to the house.”
“Never said that’s where we was goin’.” Mac started to walk and heard the other pony start trotting behind him. He stopped by the bride and groom first to congratulate them and wish them a good night. Twilight’s plus one said the same, though with a slightly more refined and awkward tone.
“Got a name?” Mac asked as led them over to the bar.
“It’s Sunburst.”
“Pleasure to meet you Sunburst. Name’s Macintosh. Most folks call me Big Mac.”
“I… can certainly see why.” Sunburst glanced up at Big Mac’s tall stature.
Big Mac smiled politely, “You drink cider, Sunburst?”
“Sometimes, yeah.”
“This one of those times?”
“It can be, I guess.”
Mac ordered two cups of cider and a bag of cinnamon nuts.
“Not allergic, are you?” Mac asked as the bartender passed the concessions over.
“Uh, no.”
“Good. Give us a hoof, please? You’ll have to forgive me, I’m a hair too tipsy to balance two cups, especially not where we’re going.”
“Oh, uh sure. No problem.” Sunburst carried both cups and the nuts with their magic and the crystals in their hair started to glow. They followed after Mac, who was making his way towards the endless field of apple trees.
“Where exactly are we going?” They asked.
“Away from the crowd. Just for a little bit.”
Sunburst hesitated. The implications of going somewhere isolated where they would be alone with a stranger made them feel a bit uncomfortable.
“It’s not too far out from the house.” Big Mac added without looking back, “In case you need something from inside. Just holler, I’m sure AJ will hear us.”
Sunburst appreciated the message. They started walking again. The music and party conversation faded behind them as they walked further into the trees. Birds called earnestly to each other and the silence of the orchard felt like a calming weight around their shoulders.
“Celestia, I really needed to get away from that party.” Sunburst sighed. They looked back over the hill at the barn, strung up with fairy lights and lit brightly with dancing and laughter.
“Not a fan of crowds, I take it.” Big Mac asked over his shoulder.
“Not at all. I spend most of my days reading books, mostly.”
“I see now why you an’ Twilight are friends.”
“Well, there’s that. But we actually bonded over antiquing!”
“Ah well, you’d like most of the stuff on the farm. Everything here is older than Granny.”
“Oh I noticed! I was really fascinated by the barn, though the bracings on the wood look a little too modern to be older than five or ten years.”
Big Mac chuckled, “Oh you can thank Apple Jack for those.”
He settled into the grass on top of the hill and gestured for Sunburst to do the same.
“Pass me a cider and I’ll tell you the story.”
Sunburst maneuvered around their cloak and sat against the big roots of a large apple tree. They passed a cup to Big Mac and placed the bag of nuts on the ground between the two of them. The glow from their crystals faded out.
“If there’s a story, I guess I can assume she didn’t just replace the bracings.” Sunburst smiled through a sip of cider.
“She brought the whole thing crashing down during a family reunion. Got it in her head that awakening the fruit bats of the east orchard would be great for sightseeing. But they distracted the hay wagon drivers and the cart barreled straight into the barn. We had all the Apples working to repair it. Took the whole weekend but we managed.”
“Well you all did a great job sticking to the original architecture! It would be considered what some like to call a heritage build. You stuck as much as you could to the original structure while building up to be good as new.”
“Makes me feel a bit better that the barn we’ve had for generations had to be replaced.”
“I mean… sometimes we get used to things that have been with us for a while. It's ok to let them go once in a while. I wouldn’t have my favorite antique sofa if somebody didn’t give it away one day. And I bet your barn looks shinier and sturdier than it has been for a while now.”
“You’re a wise pony, Sunburst.”
Sunburst coloured red in the shade and hid behind the rim of their cup.
A small evening breeze blew sweet summer wind through their manes. The sun arced slowly below the west orchard, casting an orange haze across the sky.
Big Mac liked the way the light shimmered through Sunburst’s mane crystals. They reflected flecks of light back out against the dark wood of the trees.
“Those are mighty pretty.” Big Mac said, pointing a hoof to the crystals.
“Ah, thank you! They’re actually magic aids.”
“Not sure I follow, sorry.”
“That’s ok, they’re a fairly new advancement in magic. Not many ponies know about them. I was very magically apt for a unicorn when I was a foal. But as I got older, I started to fall behind my peers… it’s actually why I dropped out of magic school. A-anyway, they enhance my magic so I can perform spells.”
“That’s quite cool, actually. I noticed they glow and stuff whenever you use your magic, must be why. And there’s nothing wrong with dropping out.”
“I know that now… I used to feel guilty about failing out. Really hit me in the self-esteem. But I got over it after some time. In fact, I’m actually working with the Minister of Education to create a program that provides free aids and support to youth struggling in schools across the Crystal Empire.”
“That sounds mighty important. Education is pretty rough. Nice to know there are folks like you working to make it a little kinder. You from the Crystal Empire?”
“Its where I’ve been living for the past few years. I’ve moved around a lot, but I was raised in Sire’s Hollow.”
“Haven’t heard of it.”
“It’s just a little town. Nothing exceptional, but it was home for a while.”
“I’ve lived my whole life on the farm.” Big Mac shared, “Must be exciting getting to travel. Sometimes I get to leave Ponyville to deliver a special order. I like to stay a few days and enjoy the sights.”
“Well, I was on the road mostly going between jobs. I got to see a lot of places… but never got to appreciate them.”
“You should… stay a few days in Ponyville. Start enjoying the places you travel to.”
“That’s… not a bad idea actually. I’m sure Twilight wouldn’t mind having me stay in one of the guest rooms for a few more days. But only if you promise to come visit the Crystal Empire.”
“Sure, I think I can make the time.”
“Toast on it.” Sunburst held out their cup. Big Mac clunked his heartilly against theirs and they both drained the rest of their cider.