In an alternate universe where Discord is ruler of Equestria as the only one powerful enough to raise the sun and moon, Big Mac, the Element of Kindness, and Daybreaker, an ex-tyrannical fiery overlady, have been friends for quite some time.
Big Mac knows how to read certain details about her. It keeps him in tune with her. That’s what friends do, right? And that’s what they are. Friends.
Right?
Created for the 2022 Crackships Contest.
If you’re interested in this old AU of mine, you can check out more details about it here, but doing or not doing so won’t affect much of the story. Now on Fimfiction!
The title kind of came from the AU’s ‘parody’ of Keep Calm and Flutter On called Be The Bigger Mac Pony.
Chapters (1)
I only read the description and I’m already on board with this—
I am simple man. I see alternate universe with Big Mac being an Element of Harmony falling into romance with an all-mighty, all-powerful corrupted alicorn princess, I like.
Zeph as the Element of Generosity. Huh. I... didn't see that coming. Like, in any universe. Ever.
I approve.
Overall, very strong story, with some great character work between Big Mac and Daybreaker. While it does feel a bit heavy on the AU background (which I would really, really love to see you explore, it sounds fascinating), it was still readable, and a good read at that. Good luck in the contest, I'd say you have a good shot at winning or at least placing with this.
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With some sort of character arc (like all of the canon mane six have been through at some stages in the show) I think he’d be perfect.
He’s one of my favourite characters.
Honesty, Loyalty and Kindness were instantly off the table from what we saw of him in the episode Flutter Brutter. With him in the AU, it makes that episode really awkward, and Hurricane Fluttershy rather fitting.
Actually, his act of generosity in the ‘pilot’ of the AU (or at least how I imagine it) is after accidentally messing up Cadance’s hair for the crystal fair, he panics, and then decides to cut off his own tail to use as makeshift hair extensions.
I like him as the Element of Generosity, too. Oh, and as the Element of Generosity, he - mostly as he’s interning for her - bonds a lot with Rarity. Element to Element. Just a little fact I may as well throw out.
This is fascinating.
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I kept on asking my friend if the description was alright. I’m not that good with them.
Aw, thanks.
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Me neither, honestly.
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I hope the book was enjoyable enough, though, with or without a snappy description.
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Oh, it is!
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Oh, don't worry, I love Zeph too, I just didn't think of him as the "Element of Generosity" type. Also, those last words of your's just make me want to see more of this AU even more.
I’m not sure what I expected.
Aww! Nothing says 'thanks for saving the world' like a custom mug.
That monster! That is a worse crime than world domination.
I really hope you tell more stories with this Daybreaker! She's an amazing character.
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I’m not sure if I will, but seeing as this is part of an old(ish) AU I’m particularly proud of coming up with, I might. Maybe with other elements of the AU, and Daybreaker would just be mentioned? I don’t know. She’s pretty finicky to write for in this state.
In the AU, the ‘original’ Mane Six only saved the world once (with a few monsters here and there that only threatened small towns), with the ‘current’ Mane Six (Big Mac and his friends) having saved the world as many times as what Twilight and co. did in the show.
The way to kind of tinker with Brotherhooves Social with this is ‘Big Mac is never home enough to hang out with Apple Bloom, and when he is he’s either in bed or working’.
The mug (not it’s early demise by Daybreaker’s hoof) was to kind of highlight that AJ, even in this AU where she’s a retired hero and back to a worker, it’s her who’s Apple Bloom’s ‘favourite’.
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I didn’t see him as it either, at first. But the more I continued with the AU, the more I liked it.
turned out to be a surprisingly interesting universe. Not completely reversible, and at the same time quite unknown. You never know how the fate of different characters went here and I would like to know more details.
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Well, Big Mac is hardly the King of Forced Exposition. That title still goes to Twilight.
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then we hope that the history of this universe does not stop at this cute sketch.
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I linked my original Tumblr post on it in the long description, if you fancy taking a peak of that. Although, it doesn’t affect the story at all. Of course, in practice, a few things were tweaked (Starlight and Moondancer, and Applejack and Cheerilee for O&O, mainly, and in my head some character with Trixie, and Sunset with Flash).
Did this last apple make a BONK! sound?
Is it just me or do I suddenly hear angry cursing from somewhere in the background?
Good story!
I enjoyed reading it.
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To be honest, after reading the post on Tumblr, all the magic of interest has dissipated and the original universe now feels like a carbon copy with the characters rearranged.
It would seem that events should have taken a completely different path, but in reality everything is the same. :(
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Gee, thanks.
I tried keeping the elements of the canon show in the AU, and most of the ‘episodes’ about the canon Mane Six(‘s talents/jobs/etc) change drastically. It may seem “carbon copy”ish, but in more detail I don’t think it is.
And with what I mentioned in the story, referencing Horse Play, O&O, and whatever, I thought the ‘carbon copy’ basis was rather obvious.
It’s basically a roleswap AU, anyway. What were you expecting?
Very cute, and I'd like to hear more about this particular AU.
This is a very interesting alternate universe story and having big mac had to deal with daybreaker like Fluttershy dealing with Discord they have a pretty unique chemistry with each other Big Mac and daybreaker/Celestia after a few many days are whatever how long it is she started to having feelings for a Big Mac and despite everything she felt like she can trust him a lot this was a pretty cute story keep up the good work and in a lot of information about the other main six but hey sounds like a fun one
I enjoyed this two of my favorite pones falling for each other.
Well this was a delight.
Weird, world-buildingy, and heartwarming, and of course Daybreaker fics are always to my interest.~
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Well, there’s an anthology/sequel, because I couldn’t just leave these two behind me, if you’re interested.~
hehehe, very specific!
aww, love this twist on "Horse Play"!
hehehe, always love how scenery-chewing Daybreaker is
well, that's an intriguing bit of background information
augh, i just love Daybreaker!
agh, how did it strike me just now? i was so set on seeing Daybreaker as this AU's version of Nightmare Moon that i missed that her deliberate ridiculousness is more in line with Discord. these are some really fun AU swaps you have going!
aww, i found this very sweet! this is why crackships are so great
augh, it's always so nice and comforting somehow, to see the bits of Celestia show themselves in Daybreaker
hehe, always love pony versions of human expressions
aww, what i wouldn't give to see that interaction!
hehe, a crackship in the background!
oh hey Big Mac is me when writing
auaugh i love emotional vulnerability
aww!
this was absolutely adorable! not to mention just a very fun roleswap that had me excited to spot every switch. Big Mac was used just so well here, with all the different shades of meaning he could put into his repertoire of three words, and the contrast with the overdramatic Daybreaker constantly trying to get a rise out of him was a very fun dynamic! and augh, it's just very nice to see both of these characters used in a way that feels proper to me, unlike what the show did to Big Mac but hey.
just so very fun and heartwarming in the right amounts. thank you for it!
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When I got this notification, my face must have been absolutely priceless. Thank you for all your kind words, I appreciate them greatly. And hey, if you’re ever interested, there’s always the add-on/sequel/anthology in Daybreaker’s POV.
Zephyr as the Element of Generosity just aligns so many stars for me. The canonical manic episodes (Zephyr fending for himself, and Rarity stress-sewing/ending her career) speak for themselves.
Aaaaand now I’m realising the plethora of love interests I gave Zephyr in my head for the rest of the AU. Fleur De Lis… Rarity (sorta, they’re kind of a BroTP, at this point), Sassy Saddles… Treehugger… Soarin…
The origin of this AU wouldn’t exist without a quote I found from a past Roleswap Contest: “Don’t switch Celestia and Luna, that’s been overused”. Well, paraphrased, but still.
Most of the swaps originate from what my mind tends to automatically call “Brony golden age ships”, such as, FlutterMac, Dislestia, Sombruna (ah, edgy nightcore tributes and speedpaints, I shall never forget thee), SoarDash, Cheermac, RariPants/Fancity, and so on. Oh, and Maclestia.
Now you must ask yourself as I once did myself: If Daybreaker is now reformed, why isn’t she Celestia now?
Blame Loppodity. And tassled hippy paraphernalia.
It wouldn’t be
FluttercordDaymac without it!All born from my own resentment of fics, alternate universe or otherwise, where Big Mac becomes the chattiest bugger known to all of Equestria for no reason whatsoever.
Besides, inferring his limited speech is fun. Especially to write.