What Silence Hides

by FlugleWaffle

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Tragedy, Sad
Length: 6752

Big McIntosh wakes up one night with a hunger for something other than apples.

This is just a general test story to see if I can write or not and have people enjoy it. Basically its about how Big Macintosh becomes a vampire from a young age which is why he is so secluded and quiet. If people like this enough, I may turn it into an actual series.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-06 01:09:31 UTC

Episode 1: Pilot

FlugleWaffle Presents...

What Silence Hides

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My mornings began the same way they had for the past twenty-five years of my life, this one would be no different. I would wake up, take a rinse in our one family lavatory that was normally always occupied which is why I always wake up an hour earlier than everyone else. Somehow Granny Smith was always awake before I was though. I don't know how she does it. I would walk downstairs, treat myself to some nice cereal, apple-based of course, and begin my daily runs which entailed apple bucking, apple cleaning and then apple selling. Somewhere in my schedule I planned to purchase some nails. Granny Smith worked up a storm before I left about a squeaky board in one of our buildings and then proceeded to rant about how "Everything was better in mah days!."

On my way to the orchard, I had noticed one of the farm's sheep was still asleep. I walked to the pen where all the sheep were kept and discovered another strange anomaly: all the other sheep were staying as far from the sleeping one as the fence would permit. Entering the pen, I came closer to the still sleeping sheep and on further inspection found the sheep had died overnight. I couldn't fathom how this was possible as the dead sheep before me was actually one of the healthiest ones we owned. The corpse felt cold so it had to have died early in the night. I moved the corpse out of the animal pen so the other sheep could return to their own routine. I set the body inside the farm's shed and set a mental note to deal with it later. With that complete I went to tend to my apple bucking duties.

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Apple bucking was uneventful to say the least. It wasn't for another half hour that Applejack came to assist me. With her helping me, the job was completed in a much shorter amount of time than anticipated. While the job was boring, Applejack and I talked up a storm, debating who would do what when zap apple season came around. We may be simple farm ponies but we can talk for hours.

Apple cleaning was practically the same way except this time I had no companion. It was just me, my thoughts, and several pounds of apples to clean for sale. Applejack had left for town to do her shift at the apple-cart. Applebloom was at school and learning something new. I feel bad for her. I haven't seen her bring home a friend in years and something tells me she doesn't like that Twist filly very much.

I continued cleaning my apples until about eleven-fourty where I stopped for lunch, apple-based of course, and then left for town to take my shift of apple selling. On my trip to town I heard many ponies whispering and talking about something although I could not make out their dialogues. It was normal for ponies in Ponyville to gossip and talk but never whisper, and these ponies looked afraid too. Curiosity getting the better of me, I approached a mare.

"Excuse me miss, what is everypony talkin' about?" I asked

In a rather annoying accent and tone the mare responded "Haven't you heard!? A poor colt was attacked last night! He went into surgery this morning!" Petty things like theft was uncommon in Ponyville but an attack was downright unheard of. Granny Smith told us that no one in the history of Ponyville had ever been harmed before.

"Do ya know what happened, miss?"

"Only that the colt was unconscious when a young filly found him!" Responded the mare.

"Thanks very much for ya time mam." With that I went to go find Applejack. Perhaps she knew more about what happened.

When I arrived at the apple stand I saw Applejack sitting down with her head rested on her hooves. She appeared to be caught between bewilderment and boredom. She visibly brightened when she saw me trotting towards her.

"Thank goodness Big Mac, ah thought ya would never come."

"Sorry AJ, ah got curious about what everypony wus talkin' about and asked someone. Did ya hear somepony was attacked last night?" I said.

"Are you kiddin' me!? I haven't heard anything else the entire day! I haven't even sold a single apple." Responded Applejack.

"Well why don't ya head on back home. I can take it from here. No need to worry ya'self about this. Might not want to tell Applebloom about this either. You know how she can get about gossip."

"Your a good brother Big Mac. Ah'll see ya later tonight." Said Applejack before beginning her trot back home. I sat down in front of the apple stand and prepared for the next five hours of boredom. I couldn't wait to go back home if nothing was going to happen.

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I sat there for what seemed like days. No pony came by to purchase anything and anypony that went by was accompanied by another talking about that dang attack last night. If it weren't for mares and their gossiping, this town would be much better off. Eventually five-thirty rolled around and I couldn't have been happier to get away from this stand. Before I was able to close my stand, one colt, unbelievably, walked up to me. I hadn't seen him before today thought it could just be because I don't go around Ponyville a lot. This colt, a unicorn, had light grey fur with a slightly darker grey mane. He looked actually like a grey me save for his face which you would only expect to find on that of the Canterlot guard. I put on my best business face as he approached me.

"Hello there, I would like to purchase some of your apples. I'm new to this town and as it stands, I have no food. How much would it be for the entire cart?" He asked

Rather shocked that he wanted to purchase the entire load of apples, I was only able to stutter out "two hundred bits."

"Hehe, you look surprised, I'm sure ponies purchase a lot of your merchandise. You are, after all, the only apple producer for miles."

"Yes sir but never the entire load for one pony!" I replied as he handed over the bits.

"Well I think I'll be on my way. Thank you mister..."

"Macintosh! Big Macintosh! And thank ya for your purchase." I said

"Well thank you mister Macintosh. I believe Ill be seeing you around." With that the unicorn colt walked off with several baskets of apples. Still shocked at his large purchase, I stood there for a few more seconds until I realized I needed to be heading home. I locked up the cart and proceeded back to Sweet Apple Acres. I ate my dinner, apple-based of course, took my shower, read Applebloom a bed time story and the proceeded to my own room. I tucked myself firmly in bed and turned out the light next to my bed. I wondered if I would see that same unicorn in town tomorrow before dozing off to sleep.

The Morning After

Unbeknownst to me, Black Stone had followed me home that night. I didn't know this but I still had the sinking feeling I was being watched. That night was the first time Sweet Apple Acres filled me with fear. Every tree seemed to hide demons, every shadow filled with unspeakable terrors. Every sound sent a shiver down my spine. I trembled with each step and almost tripped a few times from my now rapidly increasing haste.

While walking on the path towards our family's house, I was alerted to the presence of a creature following me. A twig had snapped behind me and that was all I needed to run the rest of the distance. I looked around but that only made everything worse. It seemed now that everything was magnified. I felt small and afraid. The trees seemed to bend out at me, the shadows lurked towards myself and I truly felt fear. I knew it couldn't be real but it felt real. It seemed real.

Upon reaching the barn, I quickly ran inside, shut the door and got my new box of nails that I went through trial by CMC to get. I must have woke every one else up in the house because it wasn't long after filling the door with nails that AppleJack came down the stairs. She was still groggy from getting woke up at an inconvenient hour.

"Big Mac what the hay do ya think yer doin' at this hour o' night. And why did ya make one o' those street lamps that are always covered in staples out o' our door?"

"There's somethin' out there sis', I just know there is. I was walkin' home and I heard it followin' me!" I said through labored breaths.

"What do ya mean somethin's followin you? What could there possibly be that's dangerous out there?" Asked Applejack as she walked to the door. I covered my eyes and cowered in fear as she began pulling off the boards that now were the only thing keeping that door closed. As she pulled off the first, I cringed my eyes, the second, I rolled up into a ball, the third, I braced for whatever it was out there that wanted me so badly.

I waited for a few seconds and waited some more. When nothing happened, I slowly opened one of my eyes to see why the demon had stayed its hoof, or claw, or whatever extremity it used. Yet again nothing had happened. All I saw was AppleJack scanning the outside. "Big Mac you ol' scaredy cat. There ain't anythin' out here! That was a good prank ya pulled there."

"This ain't no prank AJ! I know its out there!"

"Come on Big Mac. Don't ya think yet being a bit pa- par- pap- para- Paranoid! That's tha word, paranoid, dont ya think yer bein' just a little paranoid?"

"When have ah ever been paranoid?!"

"Yer serious about this aren't you?" Asked AJ

"Serious serious!" I responded

"Look, if it makes ya' feel any better, ya can come sleep in my room tonight. But you get the floor! Understand?" Said AJ.

Since that was better than anything at the moment so I nodded. I got to my hooves to walk up the stairs. I turned to see AppleJack closing the door. Before she did, I could have sworn I saw two glowing eyes. This set me on edge again and I began breathing heavily through my mouth. I was briefly aware of AppleJack running over to me before I fainted on the floor.

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Far from Sweet Apple Acres, from PonyVille, a cloud of smoke and shadow entered a small cave dug in the side of a ravine. The shadow began to coalesce to form a figure which slowly emerged as a pony. A pony with a grey fur and a slightly darker mane. Black Stone emerged from the smoke as it faded away.

"Gyah!" Roared Black Stone as he smashed a hoof into the stone floor, making a small indentation where he struck. "I see this is going to take a bit more work than I thought. I shouldn't have been so hasty to take him, one more slip up and I could accidentally expose myself. Either he comes to me or I find a way to bring Big Macintosh away from everyone else."

Black Stone removed his hoof from the indentation made on the ground from his thrust. "What does one mere mortal have against me?" Chuckled Black Stone. His thoughts were interrupted as a sudden dark thought was forcefully brought to the front of his mind. A hunger. A primal thirst. "Blasted garlic food, always makes me hungry." Turning to the exit of the cave, Black Stone began walking towards it. As he walked, his body slowly dissipated as it turned into a cloud of smoke. The cloud exited the cave and turned towards PonyVille in search of a meal.

No more than a few minutes after leaving his cave, Black Stone touched down in a dark PonyVille night. Swiveling his ears from left to right, Black Stone surveyed the area for a particular sound, one only known to mortal beings: a heartbeat. Upon hearing the desired sound, Black Stone moved in the direction from it. Walking by houses, he also became aware of many other sounds. Breathing, snoring and in some cases, chattering, were all presented to him. Although they were all able to feed him, he could not enter a house without being invited first. It was a flaw but one he could not go against. Whenever he attempted to enter a house forcefully, something pauses him in place. This was one of the defining laws for all vampires.

Bending around a few corners, Black Stone became increasingly impatient as the rhythmic heartbeat became closer and closer. It was now a pounding in his ears as his thirst exponentially rose. Upon entering a park, Black Stone's target came into view. A bright orange mare sat in front of a water fountain surrounded by trees, apparently stargazing. She observed the night sky, looking at all the various constellations and stars.

Black Stone began to move toward her, the grass faintly crunching as he shoveled across the floor. The mare seemed to hear this and sat up instantly. Panning through the dark area underneath the trees, the mare looked for what had made the sound. Seeing nothing, she began to lie back down, thinking the sound was caused merely by the wind. As she was lying back down, she caught the glimpse of a faint glow coming from the trees. As she stared at it, the mare became transfixed on those two, red dots peeking through the foliage. Her mind became empty as she was bent to the will of her predator.

Black Stone approached the mare on the bench. In the moonlight she looked beautiful before him. Were it any other situation, Black Stone would have taken her right then and there with him into the night but he had priorities to complete. He was thirsty and a thirst needs to be filled. "Turn" was all he said to his new thrall. With no hesitation, the mare turned to expose her neck. Black Stone leaned in, exposing his fangs, his true nature. As he got closer, his hunger rose and he quickly bit down, piercing her neck.

He drank greedily of her blood, sating his every need. This mare was in his power and he felt dominant as his famish became fulfillment. Before long, he took notice of the labored breaths of his feast. Retracting from her neck, the mare flopped on the bench, weak and paralyzed from the experience. Black Stone took one fang to his hoof and bit down gently. A faint trickle of blood dripped off of it. He moved his hoof closer to the exhausted mare "Drink this, it will make you feel better." Still in his trance, the mare licked greedily at his hood, her strength returning instantly.

When all was well, the mare looked much the same she did before. "Return now to your house and rest. You must recuperate." Without emotion, the mare nodded and trotted off down an alley way. No longer hungry, Black Stone turned towards the edge of PonyVille and vanished into the night.

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"Granny, Ah'm worried about him. He's been freakin' out all day" Applejack said worriedly to Granny Smith. The elderly pony sat in her chair moving back in forth in a rhythm practiced over many long years. Being the oldest pony in all of Ponyville, she wasn't of the best of health. Some ponies even believe Apple family apples contain forbidden forms of magic and that's how she has lived so long.

"Ain't nuttin to it, yung one. He's just goin' through them puberties or whatever it is." Granny Smith responded in her heavy accent. Since Applejack, Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom were all raised around ponies that spoke differently than they do, Granny Smith had a much more prevalent accent.

"Granny, he's twenty one years old. He's done with puberty by now."

"Fiddlesticks! Ah remember that one tahm he ran naked aroun' the farm. It seems like it wus just yesterday!" Responded the jovial old mare.

"We're all naked Granny. Big Macintosh is the only one of us who wears any clothin' at all."

"Are yew sure yer naked? What's all that orange stuff on yew?" Responded the genuinely confused grandmother.

"That's my fur Granny." Replied annoyed Applejack.

"We have fur!? When wus this development!? Last tahm ah checked, ah had green skin!"

"That is yer fur Granny. But seriously, Big Mac ain't been himself recently. He came home last night screamin' about some monster followin' him around. Big Mac ain't ever been like that. What do you think, Granny?" Upon finishing her sentence, Applejack found that Granny Smith had fallen asleep.

"Granny? Granny? Ah ferget you, ah'll just go talk to him mahself."

"Erm... apples.." Muttered the elderly mare in her sleep.

Applejack picked up Granny Smith's blanket from the floor and pulled it over her. "Sweet dreams Granny." Applejack left the room Granny Smith was in and headed towards the staircase to the upper level of the house. The Apple family may live on a farm but they have a nice house at least. A three floor barn with a cellar in the basement, a kitchen, a few bedrooms and some other areas that contained other things. It wasn't one of those Canterlot mansions but it sure felt more homely than they did.

Reaching the top of the stairs, Applejack turned towards Big Mac's room. Knocking on the door, Applejack called out "Big Mac, yew okay in there?"

"Stay back, Demon!" Shouted a frantic voice from inside the room.

"Big Mac, it's me! Applejack. I'm coming in!" Applejack opened the door slowly and entered. "Big Mac, where are y-AGH!" Applejack recoiled as a fork lodged itself in the wall just in front of her. "Now what did you do that fer! Could'a killed me!"

Big Macintosh was huddled over on his bed with his blanket covering most of him. He slackened a little bit when he realized the mare that entered the room was the real Applejack. "Applejack! Get over here! It's not safe outside!"

"Big Mac, don't you think yer overreacting just a bit much?" Applejack looked at Big Macintosh with a feeling of sadness to see what her brave, stoic brother had been reduced to in a matter of hours.

"Overreacting!? Ah'm not overreacting! Yer under reacting is what's wrong! Ah'm perfectly content to spend the rest of mah life here if it makes me any safer!" Shouted the hysterical, quivering blob on the floor.

"Yer overreacting an yew know it! Ah know yew want to stay here forever but ah need yer help! If it makes ya feel any better, Ah just came from outside and ah'm perfectly fine and alive!"

"How do yew know yer alive!? For all we know, yew could just be a ghost!"

"Ah ain't no stinkin ghost you big oaf! Now ya better get outside before ah drag ya out there ma-self!" Shouted the now very annoyed Applejack.

"But it's not safe!"

"It's gonna be much safer out there than in here very soon unless yew get yer red rump out there now!" Threatened Applejack. A few seconds passed until Big Mac finally conceded, saying "Fine! But Ah'm taking ma safety fork!" Applejack helped bring Mac to his hooves and led him to the bedroom door. They began traveling down the stairs until the front door came into view. Upon seeing it, Big Mac froze like a rock, causing AppleJack to trip down the remaining stairs. "Now what'd yew do that fer ya oaf!?" Big Macintosh had been paralyzed upon seeing the portal to the outdoors. "Get down here now!" Screamed Applejack.

Big Mac remained frozen for a few more seconds until he began to move again. Slowly. At this point, Applejack was ready to pit Mac and a jar of molasses against each other in a race. "Come on now..." Said Applejack. Mac finally reached the bottom of the stairs and began to shuffle towards the door, savoring every last second he could of his life which he was sure would end as soon as he left the security of his home. Step by step, hoof by hoof, inch by inch, he slowly made his way. Applejack couldn't help but roll her eyes at the situation. "Hurry it up. We ain't got all day and ah need to start gettin' ready for the Summer Sun Celebration and you need to help!" She said with force as she began to push Big Mac out the door. With one final squeeze, and plenty of resistance from her brother, Big Mac was pushed out the door with Applejack sent flying. "Finally, now we got- Big Mac?" Applejack turned around to find her older brother fainted on the floor.

"Gosh darnit." muttered the farm pony.

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Many miles away in the capital city of Equestria

"Twilight Sparkle!" Signed Spike the purple dragon as he finished his companion's letter to Princess Celestia. "Got it!"

"Great! Send it" Responded Twilight Sparkle.

"Now?" Questioned the tiny dragon.

"Of course!"

"Uh, I dunno Twilight. Princess Celestia is really busy getting ready for the Summer Sun Celebration. And its like the day after tomorrow."

"That's just it, Spike." Hastily responded Twilight Sparkle. "The day after tomorrow is the thousandth year of the Summer Sun Celebration. It's imperative that the Princess is told right away!"

"Imperi- Impera-"

"IMPORTANT!" Shouted Twilight, throwing Spike back a bit.

"Ok, ok" Spike blew a breath of green fire, enveloping the letter and whisking it away. "There. It's on it's way. But I wouldn't hold your breath."

"Oh I'm not worried Spike. The princess trusts me completely. In all the years she's been my mentor, she's never once doubted me." Twilight was cut off as Spike's mouth inflated before belching out a letter with Princess Celesta's royal seal emblazoned on it. "See? I knew she would want to take immediate action."

"Ahem." Spike said, prepping himself to dictate Princess Celestia's letter. " My dearest, most faithful student Twilight. You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely. But you simply must stop reading those dusty old books!"

Twilight gasped at the words of her mentor.

"My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends!" Spike finished reading princess Celestia's letter. " Look on the bright side, Twilight. The Princess arranged for you to stay in a library. Doesn't that make you happy?"

"Yes, yes it does. You know why? Because I'm right! I'll check on the preparations as fast as I can, then get to the library to find some proof of Nightmare Moon's return." Said Twilight as she began to rush around her room, packing up her belongings.

"Then... when will you make friends, like the Princess said?"

"She said to check on preparations. I am her student, and I'll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends."

Upon finishing her brief packing, Twilight Sparkle boarded a royal carriage and set off for PonyVille.

Prelude

My body moved with a large degree of autonomy. My muscles and bones moved of their own volition, nerves guiding them with commands I did not give. My mind was filled with only one desire, beyond my colt-hood wishes I desired blood. In my state of heightened senses, I careful notice to my surroundings. Several buildings passed by in the dead of night as I turned through streets and allays looking for my food. A left, a right, down an alley, through a street, my search felt like hours in the span of minutes as my blood lust continued to rise.

It had been only a few minutes since I had first awoken after being changed. I only had a few moments to ponder my predicament before being swept off my hooves by some unknown force that had manifested itself in my conscious while I was sleeping. The voice in my head guided my limbs as it blocked out my own commands, making me watch as I hunted. The voice sounded like my own but menacing. It even had my work-pony accent.

For what seemed like hours I roamed until finally I came to the end of the town. I almost turned around to continue my search but fate chanced upon me a new smell, one coming from down the road. It smelled sweet, fresh, but best of all, mortal. As I continued down the path, new smells made themselves known. They too were much like that of the original one but not nearly as tantalizing. I could only assume that these were animals. I decided I would feast upon them as an appetizer first before moving to the one that resided within the cottage upon which I was closing.

Upon reaching the house, my newly heightened senses allowed me to hear a cacophony of noises. Inside I heard the dull breathing of an equine who I presumed was asleep. He or she was joined by another very faint breath, most likely an animal. Outside I heard the sound of other animals, heavy breaths and light ones too. Not wanting to run out of space for my treat, I, or was it the voice in my head, guided me to the chicken coop. I grinned letting my instincts take over as I grabbed one of the chickens.

I had not noticed them before but on the top of my mouth resided two long and slender fangs where normal equine teeth once were. I slowly lowered my head towards the writhing chicken in my hooves and tilted its head to the side to expose its small but sufficient neck. I then used my newly grown fangs to puncture its neck. As soon as I had done that, a warm and amazing liquid flowed into my mouth. It was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted, more delicious than a zap apple or apple cider.

All too soon, the liquid of this creature stopped flowing. I looked down at the mutilated corpse of the now drained chicken in anger. Realizing that it wasn't enough, I moved on to my second, then my third and then my fourth. Whilst drinking of the fourth chicken, I had a brief moment of clarity. My eyes changed from the glowing red that I had awoken with back to their natural green. I realized what I was doing and threw the corpse to the ground in disgust and self hate. The voice in my head came back all too quickly though and I once again lost control of my body, my eyes reverting to the blood red of the creature now inside me.

Seeing that it was beginning to lose it's grip on me, the voice expedited its desires and proceeded to move my own body towards the cottage. I opened the door and swiftly but quietly walked up the stairs towards to bed room. Upon reaching the room, looked upon my fifth and final meal. However, before I could, I noticed a small bunny on top of the sleeping pony. It looked at me and I at it but before it could wake its master, the bunny looked straight at me and then became stalk still. It was at this moment that I discovered one of my new powers granted to me by the one who had bit myself. I possessed hypnotism. With a mental command, the bunny walked slowly and quietly out of the room where it proceeded to faint on the floor.

I approached my last target, fangs bared and lust raging. I got closer and closer, hungrier and hungrier. When I reached the bed, I tore the covers off of the cream colored Pegasus mare not more than the age of twenty. She didn't even have time to scream before I enacted my hypnotic control. She too became still and then shortly thereafter, limp, her neck displayed to me in the best way possible. I knew she would live from my bite but I wanted to drink her entire supply of blood but the voice would not permit it, saying "pony corpses would draw attention."

I lowered my head like I did with the chickens and took a long drink of the mare. I had become a monster, a demon forever to be known as Big McIntosh.

Episode 2: Do colts call it a dinner date?

The following days proceeded much as they would any other day except for one small change. That unicorn colt that bought my entire supply of apples came by again. Only during my hours, spent several minutes talking to me, never to my sister and then walked off with Celestia knows how many apples. Around the fifth day I began to suspect he was stalking me. Rather curious, I decided to follow him around after our "talks."

It had been five full days since I first met him and I still did not even know his name, most of our chats were comprised of his lectures to me about his stay in other cities or his view of Canterlot upper class. The only thing I did get to say was a brief agreement about how much we hate Canterlot nobles. Normally I am very talkative but I barely can get a word in before he continues on. He is like Pinkie Pie except not insane, only very, very chatty. Still he has made good company compared to everyone else still talking about the colt that was attacked. I had decided to ignore that story.

It was on the sixth day that I planned to follow him. I would wait for him to show up, engage in his usual chat and then follow him to his house. I guess in this case, I would be the stalker, but it is in the name of personal security! I didn't know it at the time but I had still forgotten to deal with the sheep corpse in the farm shed. It is unlike me to forget things, especially something as hard to forget as an animal's passing but I had been pre-occupied recently.

I began that day with the same routine. Get up, shower, eat breakfast, apple-based of course, head out to the apple field, buck apples, fight with my sister, clean apples, have lunch, apple-based of course, and then head out to town. Things had been getting better at the shop recently. Ponies started had started purchasing again which was good for the farm. It's actually rather funny considering how more money was made over the period when only one pony was purchasing apples compared to when several do. I arrived at the stand and relieved AJ of her post.

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Unlike the previous five days, my new "friend" as he would call himself arrived about three hours early. I wasn't expecting him so soon and naturally was off guard.

"Hello there friend Macintosh! So good to see you again. I thought I would just drop by early to invite you out to dinner tonight. Nothing fancy really, just that restaurant near the library, what was it called? Ah yes! Sisko's I believe it was. I would be very happy if you would join me for dinner."

Again, off guard, I replied "Are ya sure ya want to have me out for dinner? Ah'm not exactly tha best at table manners."

"I wouldn't have it any other way" Responded mystery colt with a large grin. Clearly he doesn't know how manners at a farm and manners at a restaurant vary.

"Well, alright then." I said.

"Splendid! I'll see you there at seven thirty sharp! Don't be late or I'll have to hunt you down!" I was silenced by how quickly that had escalated.

"Oh what!? It's just a joke" continued the unicorn.

"Err... Alright, ah'll see ya later then."

Mystery colt, as I had become accustomed to calling him, walked off, this time without purchasing any apples. I can't blame him. He purchases hundreds every time he comes by. He must work out a lot to need to eat that much. I stood there for several minutes before realizing I was supposed to be following him. I ran down the street he had walked through and then looked in every direction. I had lost him somehow. It baffles me how one could possibly move that quickly. Rather disappointed, I returned to my apple stand.

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Being a simple farm pony, restaurant and proper attire is not my forte. Of course I had taken a shower but that's where my knowledge ends. Deciding that perhaps formal attire was required, I decided to go to the only clothing store in Ponyville: Carousel Boutique. Not many ponies wear clothes. It was about five thirty at night, I had closed the stand half an hour early on the account of my dinner date. Do colts even call it a dinner date?

I approached the boutique feeling uncertain about what to say and do. I had never gone clothes shopping before so I figured I would just let the store owner do all the thinking. The boutique was shaped like a over-sized, multi-story, poly-chromatic colored tent. It had a few windows and looked taller than it was wide. One look at it and I felt like I was descending into and area colts ought not go. I entered the boutique and heard a bell ring overhead.

Around the corner I heard what can only be a mares voice say in a sing song voice "Commmiiiinnnggg!"

The mare in question rounded the corner and visibly changed posture at the sight of myself. Seductive might be the proper term. Continuing in that same voice, she said "Oh Big Macintosh, so wonderful that you finally stopped by."

"Excuse me miss but how do ya know mah name? I'm pretty sure we've only just met."

"Rarity! Lady Rarity is my name and why wouldn't I know the name of a big, strong, handsome gentecolt like yourself? It would be unbecoming of a lady like myself to not learn the names of every pony in this town." Said Rarity "The handsome ones at least" She muttered that last sentence a little to loud to be considered private.

It would appear I now have two stalkers. "Um, Lady Rarity, ah need somethin' formal for a dinner between another pony an' ah. What do ah wear for a restaurant?"

Rarity seemed to visibly brighten when she heard I was looking for clothes. She dragged me into another room and sat me in front of a mirror. Rarity pulled out a measuring tape and took quite a long amount of time to measure every square inch of my body that wasn't personal. Finally rolling up her tape, she turned to me and said "One moment dear while I go get some clothes for you to try on."

Lady Rarity returned after about a minute with several black and white articles of clothing. I may be a simple farm pony but even I can tell those were parts to a suit. I should know from my childhood obsession with Manes Bond (I tried =/).

"Dear, why don't you try these on, all of them." She said that last part with a bit of glee.

"Alright, be right back then" I said as I headed for the dressing rooms.

"Where are you going Mr.Macintosh?"

"To the changing rooms Miss. Isn't that what they're for?" I asked.

"Well you dont need to do that when no one else is in the store. Just come here and put on those clothes." She said with force.

"Um, alright." I said slightly confused and perturbed.

I tried on pair after pair of clothing, each one feeling the same as the last. I would have gone with the first one but Lady Rarity insisted I try them all on. I finally reached the last pair and successfully fitted myself with it.

"Miss Rarity, Ah think tha-AUGH!" I yelled as I tripped over Rarity. I hadn't noticed but she had moved right next to me.

"What where ya stand miss! I coulda crushed you!" I yelled.

"Oh Big Macintosh, your so handsome when your clumsy." That was not the answer I was expecting.

I shot up and bolted for the door, leaving the appropriate amount of bits behind. I vowed never to return to that shop as long as I could.

======================================================================================

Since I was already dressed and myster colt and I were having dinner in less than ten minutes, I proceeded to the restaurant. As soon as I arrived, I realized I had made a big mistake. Traditional to Ponyville style, no clothes. Sure enough, mystery pony was already at a table waiting for me.

"Ah Mister Macintosh, Im glad you could make it. Why the suit though? You do realize this is just a casual restaurant?"

"Really? Ah just assumed fancy clothes were the usual."

"Not at all! Only really fancy restaurants like the ones in Canterlot require you to wear suits."

Excited to get this itchy thing off me I shouted "Yeehaw!" and tore off the suit. Everyone in the restaurant turned to me.

"However, one normally doesn't strip themselves in a dinner environment." Said Mystery Pony.

"Oops, sorry." I said.

Dinner was actually rather enjoyable. For the first time ever, I got to talk just as much as my companion did. The food was nice, apple-based of course and I did enjoy not having to wear the dang suit. Too bad I ruined it though. Towards the end of the night, I decided to ask Mysteyr Pony about his name.

"So sad really about that colt that was hospitalized. The doctors did as much as they could but for some reason, none of their treatments were working. Eventually the colt just died from whatever it was that was afflicting him. The doctors think it was some kind of snake bite. The weird part though is that after they pronounced him dead, he just disappeared the next day. Gone without a trace" Said my unnamed friend.

"Wow" I said. "Do ya think someone stole the body?" I asked.

"Whoever did has a sick desire to steal things." Replied Mystery Colt.

It was silent between us for a few seconds before I spoke up. "So up until now, ah had to call you by Mystery Pony but ya never told be yer name. It would be much easier if I could know."

"Oh forgive me mister Macintosh, where are my manners. I am Black Stone."

"Well Ah'm pleased to meet you Mister Stone. Finally, ah have a real name from you."

"Say, Big Macintosh. How would you like to come over to my house after dinner." Something was up, it seemed like more of a demand than a request from his tone of voice.

"Ah don't think I can, Stone. Ah got to buck some apples tomorrow and it's already much later than I normally go to bed." I said.

He stared at me, straight into my eyes "Oh I think you should though..." he said with more force than before. I felt compelled to consider his request for some reason. I was about to say "alright" when the waiter walked over and handed us the check. We broke eye contact and instantly I didn't want to go to his house. Something was definitely wrong and I decided that I needed to get out of there as soon as possible. "Goodnight, I said to Black Stone as I proceeded to the door, making sure not to make eye contact with him. I couldn't quite put my finger on it but something told me that going to his house would have been putting myself in pure danger.