There was a soft knock at the door just as Twilight was coming to the end of a chapter. She placed a hoof where she had been reading before looking towards the door and yelling, “Just a minute!” Quickly scanning what was left, she marked her place, closed the book, and rose to trot towards the door. A quiet burst of magic pulled the barrier open, and revealed who was calling at her step.
A cool burst of autumn air rushed into the house, bringing with it a few colored leaves and one large stallion.
“Howdy, Twi,” Big Macintosh said, bending down to give her a small peck on the lips.
“Afternoon, hun,” the lavender mare replied. “How are you feeling?” She shut the door, but upon realizing how wonderful it felt outside, telekinetically opened several windows around the library. A light cross-breeze kicked in, rustling a few papers Twilight had out on her table.
“Ah’m fine. Had a bit of a headache earlier, but Ah’m over it. Face kinda hurts, but Ah’m sure Fuji is worse. He had an icepack on when Ah left.”
It had only been one day since the brawl between Big Mac and Fuji, and Twilight could only guess that Mac had just woken up a few hours before. He was mightily smashed the day before, and even for his size, she didn’t see how one pony could handle so much alcohol that quickly. That morning, she had sent Spike over to Sweet Apple Acres with a message for the red stallion to join her at the library at his leisure, and that she needed to speak with him. The prior evening had been a tad unsettling for her, and she wanted to bring up with her coltfriend before it was too late.
“How are ya?” Macintosh asked, as he sat on one of the cushions Twilight had out before the hearth, which contained a small fire crackling merrily.
“I’m fine, just finishing up some studying. It’s been almost three days since I’ve done any major research into magical theory; I feel so out of the loop!”
Mac chuckled a bit, finding his marefriend’s hardcore study habits difficult for anypony to mimic. “Well, that’s good. So what’d ya wanna talk to me about? Spike said it was pretty important.”
“You could say that,” Twilight said, taking a seat on a cushion next to him. She leaned against his bulky shoulder, feeling the raw muscle underneath quivering slightly from natural vibrations. The two lovers shared in each other’s company for a moment, both staring into the images that the fire was bringing up. Finally, Twilight answered his question. “I wanted to talk to you about something Devine said to me last night. About the rest of your family.”
“What about ‘em?” Mac inquired, raising a brow.
“Apparently, it’s part of some apple family tradition for new members of the family to meet everypony? She said she had to do it. Is that true?”
Silence permeated the room, save for the crackling hearth. Leaning against his bulk, Twilight could hear Mac’s breath catch. She felt the quickening of his heart through the muscle tissue, and knew his breaths were shallower than before. After a moment, he replied, slowly.
“Eeyup,” her stallion whispered. “It’s only for the males bringin’ in females, though. Whenever Applejack finds somepony, she won’t have ta do it. Ah will, though.” The next part came even quieter than the prior. “Why d’ya ask, Twi?”
Now it was Twilight’s turn to stop breathing momentarily. This was where she felt the “make it or break it” moment could come. Depending on what she said here, she could either chase Big Macintosh away forever, or bring him home forever. Either option scared the hay out of her, and she wasn’t even sure if there was a gray area.
“I—we—I’m…” she trailed off. How to put it? “Could you—and if you don’t want to answer this, it’s okay—but could you, Big Macintosh, see us going through that ritual? And be honest. If you can’t see that, I want to know.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but was instantly shut down by Twilight holding up her hoof.
“And I realize this is very early in our relationship to be asking questions like this. I realize it’s barely been two-and-a-half months. I get that, Mac, I do. But at the same time, I don’t want to waste time. I want to make sure that, if your family has all of these crazy traditions, then the time I’m spending with you is worth it. If it isn’t, I want to know. I don’t want to continue a relationship that’s doomed to fail, you know? I want to—“
She was cut off by a kiss from her stallion, one that was deep and longing, as he pushed her over on to her back. She squeaked in surprise at his force, seeing his eyes shut in pure concentration. Twilight relaxed into the kiss, wrapping her hooves around his bare neck, which was a rare feeling for her.
After a moment of passionate making out, Big Macintosh pulled back and stared down into his marefriend’s eyes hard. “Don’t ya ever think that this ain’t worth it,” he said. “Ah’ll make sure it is, and if ya had let me finish earlier, I’da told ya that yes, Ah can see us goin’ through that ritual. Ah saw us goin’ through it the moment ya first kissed me, ‘fore ya ran away thinkin’ tha world was endin’. Ah wouldn’ta gotten mahself into this mess if Ah didn’t think it was worth it. So don’tcha ever, and Ah mean ever, think it ain’t worth it, Twi, because Ah love ya more than Ah could ever tell ya in words.”
She had no words for what she had just heard. In just a few sentences, Macintosh had effectively dispelled all doubt within her mind, made her feel completely comfortable and confident in him, and given her the greatest gift she could ask for. She could feel his undying love for her, and it was a flame that burned hotter than the fire in her hearth. Smiling, and with a few tears leaking out of her eyes, she pulled him back down into their kiss. They soon rolled over, and she was lying in his arms, sprawled out on the cushions in front of the merry fire.
“I love you so much, Big Mac.” She whispered into his soft coat.
“Ah love you too, Twi. Ah know it hasn’t been that long, but I know Ah love you. And Ah’ll always love you.”
“R—really?” Twilight asked, starry-eyed.
“Absolutely,” he replied.
The two lovers sat in golden silence, listening to the breaths of the other, and the pops from the fireplace. Twilight nuzzled Big Mac’s chest, kissing it a few times as she stroked his hoof. He kissed the top of her head, rubbing her back while basking in her presence. After a moment, he asked her a question.
“Is that all ya wanted ta talk about?”
“Well—well, yes, really. Kind of.”
“Kind of?” Mac asked, brow furrowing.
“Yeah. There’s something else, now that you’ve put to rest some of my…doubts.”
The farmpony’s mind rushed. What now? he thought, trying to come up with an answer. He wanted to know what she was going to ask before she asked it. She don’t wanna go that fast, does she? But Ah did just say Ah’d love her forever…
“If this relationship is going the way I think it is, Big Macintosh,” Twilight let on, “then I think there’s something we need to go ahead and do.”
Oh sweet Celestia, thought the stallion, not that. Please, not that. Ah promised Granny Smith not ‘afore Ah was married. Ah don’t think Ah can keep that promise if Twilight asks. “Um—uh, sure, Twi. What’cha thinkin?” His voice wavered ever so slightly, but fortunately, the detail-oriented unicorn didn’t pick it up.
Twilight gave him a devilish smile, one that would reduce most any stallion to his knees, begging. Fortunately, Big Macintosh wasn’t “any stallion.”
“Uh, no. If it’s what Ah think yer sayin’, no. Ah can’t.”
Twilight pouted. “What? Why? You just said it was tradition.”
Macintosh screwed his face up in confusion, trying to put two and two together. “What? What’s tradition?”
“Meeting all the Apple family members! You just said you’d love me forever, and I’ll love you forever, so why don’t we go ahead and get started?”
Mac’s mouth hung open as he stared down at those beautiful magenta eyes, trying to process what he had just heard. No, she didn’t want to have sex with him, which was good in his book. However, she wanted to go ahead and get started on a tradition that was normally saved for a sure thing. As in, post-proposal type sure thing.
Twilight continued talking. “I’m sure it’s obviously a tradition that’s saved for later in the relationship, but if these relatives are going to be tough about a horn-head joining the family, don’t you think we could use all the time we could get?”
“Ah—ah s’pose so, but Twilight,” Mac stuttered. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, doing a pretty good impression of a screen door on loose hinges.
“Yes?” she asked, after a few seconds of this.
He took a deep breath, before reciting something his pappy had once told him. “The Apple family tradition is somethin’ that a stallion goes through when he’s good an’ ready ta settle down. After everythin’s been decided, an’ he knows what he wants outta life, an’ the mare he’s with is a part’a that life. He goes around tellin’ everypony about what he’s doin’, and who’s gonna be at his side for tha rest of his life.”
Silence once more hung in the air as Twilight absorbed the full meaning of his words. Once it finally hit her, she looked away, face as red as a beet, and shuffled her hooves. “I wasn’t aware of the implications,” she said.
“Eeyup. It’s pretty heavy stuff.”
Trying to dispel her embarrassment, Twilight made a joke. “As heavy as your yoke?” she asked, playfully punching Mac’s chest.
His deep chuckle rumbled through his body as he pecked Twilight on the cheek. “A bit heavier than that, Ah’m afraid.”
The librarian giggled with her coltfriend, thinking to herself how silly she was for asking such a question. Of course it would be that important. She was crazy if she thought otherwise. But then, her large red coltfriend asked her something she had to play back a few times to make sure she heard correctly.
“How badly do ya wanna meet ‘em, though?” Big Macintosh asked, with an inquisitive look.
“W—what do you mean?”
“Ah guess a better question would be why do ya wanna meet ‘em?”
“Well, for one, so I know who’s in your family. And two, so I can go ahead and get past all the bigotry, and try to be accepted by them. We’ve already done it with Fuji, and—wait, we have done it with Fuji, right? I haven’t talked to you about it since you…passed out drunk.”
Mac chuckled at his own expense. “Eeyup, Fuji’s alright. We fought, Ah won, an’ he’s ready ta talk to ya colt-ta-mare pretty soon to apologize an’ get ta know ya.”
Twilight’s ears folded back as she let out a proud smile towards her lover. “Thank you,” she said, kissing his cheek. “You’re the best.”
“Aw, shucks. Thanks fer lettin’ me whup his flank.”
Twilight giggled again. “Anyways, like I was saying, I’d like to go ahead and get a head start. Get it done, you could say.”
Big Macintosh contemplated her words. Thinking of only one good question, he asked it, albeit hesitantly. “Well, Twi, Ah gotta ask ya…”
“What?” she said, leaning towards him slightly.
“…What if we go on this journey, but we end up…ya know, not workin’ out? What then?”
Twilight was silent as she thought this over. It was a good question, one that warranted worry. Multiple times, though, only one thing came to mind. She tried to think up something else, tried to think around it. But one thought permeated all others, and she knew it was the answer she had to give. “It’s going to work out, Mac. I love you, and I’m not going to stop loving you. Ever. I don’t see how this could not work out, and I’ll do everything it takes to make it that way.”
Mac didn’t know what to say. The sincerity in her voice, the sincerity in her eyes…it was just too much. He still had to ask, though. “But what if something happ—mmph!”
Twilight pushed into him, rolling him onto his back and pressing him against the floor with the force of her kiss. She pulled away and stared into his eyes, and with the most sincere voice she could, said, “It’s going to work out. Trust me. I love you.”
“Ah love you too,” Mac whispered back, before being cut off by another kiss. After they finished, and were laying back on their sides, Mac came to a solemn conclusion. “Guess Ah better tell Applejack what we’re doin’,” he said. “She won’t be too happy.”
Twilight looked back in confusion. “Why not?”
“It ain’t traditional for a couple to go on this thing without sealin’ the deal. Just ain’t how it’s usually done.”
“Oh.”
“Eeyup. Well, darlin’, Ah love ya, but Ah need ta get back and talk to AJ ‘bout all this while it’s still daylight. Wanna come out fer dinner?”
“Sure!” Twilight exclaimed, ears perking up.
“Good.” Big Macintosh rose from his position, stretching his limbs as he did so. “Well, Ah’m gonna head out and smooth this over a’fore it gets wrinkled. Come on out ‘round evenin’, Ah’m sure Granny’ll have somethin’ cooked up.”
Twilight rose with him, and walked towards the door. “Ok, Mac. I’ll be there. And, Mac?”
“Eeyup?”
“Thank you. I love you.” Twilight leaned in and gave him a peck, which he gratefully returned.
“Ah love ya, too, Twilight.”
She smiled as he left the library, and as she shut the door, the cross-breeze caught her mane in a small vortex of wind. She went back to the table where her books and papers lay, but found herself completely unmotivated to do any more studying. Only one thing was on her mind, now, and it was a question that she didn’t have the answer for. Deciding to write a letter to the Princess about it, she retired to her balcony with a quill, inkwell, and some paper, ready to ask her mentor one of the hardest questions she didn’t know the answer to.
Of course, the last letter she received from Celestia, not but a few days before, pertained specifically to this subject, and therefore no backstory explanation was required. Priming her pen, and levitating the parchment over, she wrote her normal salutation, and one question.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Am I ready for this?
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
Satisfied with her penmanship, she rose from her relaxed position and trotted into her bedroom, where a certain number one assistant was sound asleep in his basket. Twilight gently nudge Spike awake from his midafternoon nap, and he was none too happy about it.
“Ugh, what, Twilight? It’s still daylight out, I’m tired!” the young dragon exclaimed, rubbing his eyes of sleep.
“Spike, could you send this letter for me real quick?” she asked, putting on her best puppy dog face.
“Yeah, sure, Twilight. Can I go to sleep afterwards?”
“You can do whatever you want afterwards!” she said, ruffling his scales. “You’re my number one assistant, and don’t you forget it!”
“Heh, I am pretty awesome,” Spike said, swelling at her praise. He quickly blew a stream of flame, sending the letter on its way. “There you go! Need anything else sent before I’m out cold again?”
The Ponyville librarian beamed at her dragon friend, before turning back towards the cool air of her balcony. “Nope! You’re free for the rest of the day. Thank you!”
“Sure thing,” he said, settling back down into his basket.
As Twilight lounged out on the balcony, observing her small town as it went about its business, she thought about her life over the last two months or so. She thought about how vastly her life had improved since Big Macintosh had come into the picture. It was almost the same percentage of improvement as making her first friends in Ponyville, who were now the best friends she could ever ask for. As she thought, she imagined a future that included that red stallion of hers.
Is it really so scary a thought? she asked herself. I could definitely see myself with him in the future. It’s not intimidating, it’s not weird. It just seems…normal. As Twilight thought over this and many other aspects of her life and relationship, all while observing the small town below her, she heard a belch from inside. Soon after, her ears flicked towards the sound of claws clacking on hardwood floor, and before long, Spike’s weary form was standing next to her with a letter.
“Guess whatever you told Princess Celestia was super interesting this time,” he said, nonchalantly.
“Oh, Spike,” Twilight giggled, “You have no idea.”
“Whatever. I’m going back to bed,” he said. “You don’t need to send anything else, right? Too many of those things makes my throat hurt.”
“No, Spike. This should be the last one for a while.”
The purple dragon grunted in approval, then spun on his heel and walked back towards his glorious basket.
Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Whatever Celestia said was probably going to decide it for her. She had never once doubted her mentor’s wisdom, and she didn’t see how she possibly could now. After all, Celestia had never steered her wrong before.
The lavender mare carefully removed the seal of Celestia’s cutie mark, and unrolled the sacred parchment. Taking one more deep breath, she read the extremely short note of the Princess of Equestria.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
As long as you think you are, my faithful student, then you are. If it’s my own personal opinion you’re after, though, then I only have one thing to say.
Yes.
Yours,
Celestia
Quick note here.
I did not edit this chapter. Everything you see before you was completely not but twenty minutes ago, quickly gone through a second time, then formatted on the site. I fear quality may have suffered for this, and if it has, please notify me and I will fix it. I just don't have time to edit, not without withholding a chapter from y'all for a while. So, I just got this up here so y'all could finally have an update. Sorry it took so long, uni is a bitch.
Enjoy
Yes and onwards with meeting the rest of the family
I can't see anything wrong, but then again I can't pick out the subtle errors.
Good chapter, well worth the wait. Having Twilight send the letter is a nice touch, and I see her not asking for advice from her princess or teacher, but from her third oldest friend (Shiny and Cadence being 1 and 2) and second mother.
There best be a well written wedding scene at the end of this, darling.
Awesome. I await the inevitable meetup and Twilight possibly being forced to eventually put her own smack down on someone in the Apple Family.
Until the day you die, please don't end this fic
daww
Also, first.
The ties that bind and hold together. They the best relationships are the ones you really have to work for, hopefully the two can get past the bad apples to make this work if you'll pardon the pun. I just wonder how Twilight's family will react to this. I'd imagine Shining would have a few words with Mac about this.
I'm liking the pacing, looking forward to the next chapter
1328108
Your fears are unwarranted.
Although, I fear there is a lack of Big Mac shipfics with anyone besides Fluttershy that are of great quality.
Something needs to be done about that.
1328276
My guess... it would be about his bachlelor party. Note the similarities between Shining Armorial and Big MacIntosh in both personality and looks.
Those two would get along smashingly. Of course, what that entails is open to debate.
This is awesome.
update. epic.
1328241
Ee-nope!
I am curious as to what will finally be used to signify that they did the dirty deed.
Hmmm as I sit here reading I have to wonder, we are looking at the kind of family that comes with being an Apple, but we have yet to look at the kind of family that comes with marrying Twilight. She is after all a student under Celestia, looks after the only known civilized Dragon who himself owns a young pet phoenix, is sister to the captain of the guard and Sister-in-law to the ruler of an entire other nation. That tends to be heavy stuff, especially since it will likely grab attention from the elites in the country.
I guess my big question is whether or not Twilight and Big Mac will ever be dealing with her side of the family or any traditions that exist there.
Either way keep up the great work!
The Apple Family, fruit supremacists.
They founded the racist group the AAA.
1052391 Heterosexual ponies?! FAN-FIC BLASPHEMY!!! The ponies can ONLY BE TEH GEY!!!
No! I need to save my daww for the next chapter!! Aw buck it DAWWWWWWWWWWWWW
come on mac what are you waiting for? i mean twilight was hardly a stranger when you started dating her. what you need? a ring here *passes a bag of bits* GET ON WITH IT!!!
1328420 Just wait and see, my little pony....
This was me reading Celestia's response:
us12.memecdn.com/Really-EPIC-win_c_71778.jpg
Epic music playing helped only a smidge. Go Twilight, you can do this!
=. .=b
Excellent chapter, so many feelings. Really looking forward to the family visits starting.
1328219 I second this notion.
1328290 Depends on what type of smashing we are talking about.
Every time this story updates= Feature box and me doing this
iambrony.jsmart.web.id/mlp/gif/131327147782.gif before reading
During the chapter= to many dawws to keep track of
After pretty much this guys reaction>>1328469
1328108 After this chapter I think I'm finally gonna name TwiMac as an OTP. Oh and i think my head exploded when you used horn-head... did I just contribute to one of my favorite stories!?!?
This is one of the few Big Mac shippings that I can actually get behind. Amazing work, my friend.
Praise the almighty wisdom of Celestia
1328730 Yes. Yes you did. And I thank you.
The D'aaaaws have been unleashed!!! <3 <3
1328704
Drinking contest of epic proportions? Boxing match? Cow tipping... the favorite racist pasttime in Equestria? Playing poker? Going to Las Pegasus? Fighting crime?
Called it. Fighting crime.
1329006 I'm seeing a whole new fic out of this idea, The Zany Adventures of Big Mac and Shiny.
1329034 Quick, somebody write it as a side story! And save it for later, when....oh.
Whoops.
1329034>>1329078
All three of us were thinking the same thing.
i need MORE. such a great story i wish this was in the show be the best damn episodes in my book. now write more you master of storytelling
I think Mac should just propose at this point.
They both pretty much said they would marry each other, and it'll make meeting the family a lot less awkward by not breaking tradition.
1329034>>1329078
The real question is, can it be done and still have a decent plot?
Must...keep...from...cuteness....overload.....................................................I failed.
You get all of my D'awwws
1328469
Feels? There are more than just burning, all-consuming hatred?
Oh my gosh this is actually sooooo good! MORE! YOU BETTER UPDATE!!!! I mean, if you, um, don't mind...
1329078
Lulz.
On the story: LOVED this chapter, and I love how it is basically implied that Twilight is asking Celestia if she is ready for a serious relationship and marriage without ever actually saying either word. Excellent work.
I can't wait to see where this is going, Twimac is my favorite Mac shipping and you are doing show quality work. Keep it up!
I swear, this has to be the best shipfic I have ever read. I absolutly drop everything that I'm doing and read it. It is so amazing. I know what you mean about uni, but I hope you update soon.
Excellent chapter for no thorough editing! And I didn't see any major grammatical or formatting errors whatsoever.
Nicely done.
...
~Ura~
(Nuff said)
May have thrown a couple too many "I love you"s in there, but that's minor. I like how maturely they're both thinking about this, and how careful they're being of their future. I like Mac's confusion when Twi says they need to "go ahead" with those seductive eyes, and how Mac's not easy...though he has a harder time resisting Twi apparently
Interaction with Twilight and Spike seems about right complete with "Spike's slightly irritated with DracoFax" humor for good measure. Nice pacing overall, and enjoyed that little Brick Joke with Celestia
TwiMac is a criminally underrated pairing, and I've been struggling to find good qaulity ones, so this one will always hold a special place for me
I wonder how the meetings with the rest of the family is going to go, hopefully more hooffights won't be necessary. Poor Twilight would hate to see other ponies getting hurt like that, ESPECIALLY her Coltfriend
This story reminds me of me and my fiancee: We've known each other forever, only just got together half a year ago, and my (unofficial) wedding is this Saturday. Sometimes, moving fast is the best thing to do.
Anyways, great story so far!! I really can't wait to read more!
~Raxel~
1334300 I wish you the best with all that I've been single for two and a half years, and I don't really have time to try for a relationship. That, and I haven't met anybody of quality caliber yet. I take solace in other people's joys, so may you two have the best of lives together
dude this is by far one of the best shipping i have ever seen. Hell, I would say is even on par with, "Let's Find You a Date!" It has everything a romance needs. keep up the good work.
Semper Fidelis
They really haven't even had their first big couples argument where they are really mad at each other. I think they should consult Luna first, what does Celestia know about love? She just molests ponies whenever she pleases.
This is written well enough, but I'm not a big fan of "I'm sure I'll love you forever" moments, or decisions based off of them. "Sure, I have no former experience in relationships, with no sensations or scenarios to compare these feelings to, but it's safe to say it will be a constant for the (large) remainder of my lifespan." Of course, if Twilight decided to break it off, we wouldn't have this story. A lot of readers are eagerly anticipating the moments in which shit hits the fan in the form of pony racism (myself included). But you don't even need this short-sighted commitment to propel Twilight into meeting the rest of the Apples. The conflict at the source of it all is that Big Mac and Twilight are already bucking tradition! They can go cross country, and Big Mac can present her saying "This is my marefriend. We're still going steady, but want to get introductions out the way. If you have any problems with her, speak up." The point being that even if things end up sizzling out, and Big Mac does end up with an Earth pony one day, the rest of the Apples should accept that on principle, there's nothing that should stop a unicorn from being indoctrinated into the family tree.
1334722 Thank you so much~ It's a good thing you take solace in other's joy's. Very few people do these days. Most just get jealous or just don't see the love that's there. I hope you find your one soon!
~Raxel~