Chapters Nervousness in a field of grain
Sweat trickled down Big Mac's face like raindrops on a glass window pane. "Breath in breath out" he kept saying to himself. Mac stuck his head out from behind the large purple curtain that drooped over the stage. It seemed like a million ponies watched from the many seats below eyes wide and dangerous but there was one pony Big Mac could not get his eyes off. His name was Mr. Walt Pony-man the greatest poet in all of Equestria. His great white beard dropped down to the floor and was knotted and silky like that of ancient Equestrian furs. The whiteness of his beard could only be matched by the pale green in his eyes that only shimmered when light's glistened upon them.
The crowd applauded and Derpy bowed. Big Mac felt light-headed.
"Now we will hear from the judge's" her voice cooed.
The judge's were as follows: Twilight Sparkle, AppleJack, and Mr. Whit-Pony.
Twilight spoke first "It was an enjoyable poem that I feel is about the funniest I have heard in quite a while good job" she grinned. The crowd roared with approval.
Next, it was AppleJack "That was a gosh darn good poem. It is really adorable and heart warming I loved it." the crowd was very pleased and clapped further.
The last to come was Mr.Pony-Man and the crowd hushed. Mr.Pony-Man supported himself with his cane made from silk black wood. He lifted a hoof and smoothed down his beard so that it would not ruffle when he spoke. His eyes gleamed in the light and then he spoke with a rough Manehattan accent.
"Mr.Hooves I have been writing for almost 40 years." He stopped and lifted the glass of spring water to his lips to sooth his dry throat the crowd's breath hung still like the lull before a storm. He breathed a sigh and spoke again.
"That was one of the worst poems I have ever heard" he said firmly in a soft but still assertive voice.
"It is not structured correctly, it drabbles on, and sounds like a bunch of words a drunk would say on his way home from the bar while stumbling in front of ongoing traffic" and then he sat back down saying nothing more.
Derpy looked on in disbelief trying not to grow teary eyed but still fighting tears back. The crowd soon resumed but in a negative tone.
"That was complete utter crap" others shouted. Derpy couldn't take it and tears dripped down his face as he flew off the stage.
Big Mac felt faint and began to hyperventilate and scream in his head.
"Maybe I should forfeit there is always next year" he said to himself. But before he could leave the young pegasus returned.
"And now Mr.Big Macintosh with his poem The Apples among the trees ".
Big Mac was suddenly pushed by a large Earth Pony to the center of the stage. His eyes drifted all around and tried to stay off the gaze of Mr.Pony-Man. He looked to Applejack and she winked at him as if saying "You'll do fine" he then looked to Twilight who smiled to him as if saying "Good Luck" his eyes then fell on Mr.Pony-Man who looked like he was looking into his soul. Big Mac sighed and gulped in nervousness. And then he.....began.
"The leaves were as red as crimson rubies,
Big Mac stood in an almost frozen position he watched the crowd. They were dumbstruck there eyes wide and jaws dropped it was almost frightening to say none the less. He looked at the three judges and all were just as wide eyed and surprised but not Mr.Pony-Man. Mac felt saddened and looked down at his hooves until he heard slow clapping from the crowd. He shot his head up and saw it was Mr.Pony-Man giving a slow and yet loud clap with a big grin that you could clearly see through his beard. The crowd then screamed and yelled ponies cheered and cheered like it was the Super Pony Bowl. Big Macintosh bowed before the crowd and they screamed louder and louder. Then Mr.Pony-Man raised a hand and the crowd's noise fell completely silent. He spoke in his usual drawl.
"Mr.Macintosh is it? As I have said, I have been writing poetry for 40 years" he took a large gulp of water.
"In my time I have heard numerous poems some good and some not as good, but yours is something special one of those diamond in the rough poems that you can only hear once in a apple-shaped moon, I believe that I speak for all the judges when saying that you have won the Equestrian Poetry Championship" he said with a bright grin.
Big Mac stood in silence as he was trying to comprehend with everything that just had happened his idol just said that his poem was one of the greatest ever for any pony that is difficult to comprehend. He then looked to the right of him and saw the pegasus pony and the large earth pony from before carry a huge trophy over to him. It was a bright gold and on top was a statue of a pony in a big arm chair writing in a book.
"Our new champion" the pegasus pony said into the mic as she and the earth pony lifted Big Mac's hooves into the air in which the crowd roared in approval. Big Mac felt like he was the luckiest pony ever.
Afterwards, as the crowd began to disperse and things simmered down as Big Mac was backstage.
"I am so proud of you big brother I knew you could do it" Applejack said nuzzling her head under Big Mac's chin.
"That poem was pure amazement and gosh darn it if I don't hear you write another one of those I am gonna have to kick some sense into you!" Applejack said with a playful voice.
Twilight soon went up to Big Mac
"That was an awesome poem you should write more and then maybe you could publish a book full of your poetry" she said with a huge grin. "This was really hard for me but I feel like I could write more if I put my mind to it" Big Mac said.
"Well see you back home" Applejack said as she began to walk off with Twilight. Big Mac let out a long sigh and then he heard a voice.
"That was the most pure thing I have ever heard".
Big Mac looked behind himself and saw it was Mr.Pony-Man.
"Mr.Pony-Man it is an honor" he said as he bowed before the great poet.
"You need not do that" Pony-Man said and Big Mac blushed slightly as if feeling rude.
"Your poem really stuck out to me and I haven't heard such a poem that well constructed and beautifully sentenced in a time to long to tell" he said in his slightly thick Manehattan accent.
"Thank You" Big Mac said with a slight bit of excitement in his voice.
"I want to hear more from you and possibly help me write poetry at sometime" Mr.Pony-Man spoke again.
Big Mac's eyes widened as he heard the words "Help me write poetry" they seemed almost like a foreign language to him.
"You want me to help you write poetry?!" Big Mac said quite shocked.
"Yes I haven't heard such good poetry in a long time and I am getting very old and need somebody to help me flow my words from mouth to paper" he said with a large grin from his long white beard".
Big Mac could only manage one word out of his mouth "OK".
"Great come visit me in Manehattan sometime and then we can work together on some poems" Mr.Pony-Man said with an out-stretched hoof.
Big Mac looked down at the out-stretched hoof and slowly grasped it and shook it.
"Thank You, Sir" he said and watched as the old pony walked out of theatre.
Author's Note
This is my first story and I hope that you all enjoy it. Walt Whitman is one of my favorite poets so I thought I would stick him in the world of ponies. I hope you all enjoy this story. If you don't know who Walt Whitman is he is a very famous American Poet and considered one of the all time greats especially with his book Leaves of Grass. But all I want from you guys is to enjoy this.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! *click* went Big Mac's alarm clock until he turned it off. The time was 3 am and Big Mac had to make the train bound for Manehattan at 3:30. The room was dark and everything was concealed by black.
"Where is my suitcase- OW!" a screech purged from Big Mac's lips as he tried to navigate his room without waking the rest of the Apple family. He reached his hoof around in the pale dark until he found something that felt like a handle.
"Yup that's my suitcase" he said to himself in a hush but proud tone. But the room was still black as midnight and Mac still could not see. He searched in vain all the while bumping into things and cursing under his breath. Finally he found the light switch. He flicked it on and he squinted from the sudden change in light.
"Big Mac what is with the confounded bright light- OH good heavens you are bleeding" Applejack said in shock as she walked into his room. Mac had badly scratched himself on one of the edges of his dresser and blood was dripping down his leg and on the dresser.
OH I guess it was so dark in here that I managed to bash my leg in" Big Mac said looking down now at his hoof that was trickling with blood. He didn't want his sister to be concerned about him but he had a rather large fear of blood especially since it was the same color as his coat.
"Let me go get a couple bandages and some spray" Applejack said with a sickly look on her face as she trotted off to the bathroom. Through all the commotion none of the other Apple family member's awoke. Applejack soon returned with a roll of white bandage tape and spray.
"This will sting Mac so just hold your tongue" she said as she sprayed. Mac let out a small yelp at the stinging sensation in the spray as it grazed the gash on his leg.
"Oh don't be such a big baby Mac" Applejack said in a motherly sort of tone. She slowly took the white bandage tape and wrapped it around Mac's leg. When she finished wrapping she kissed his "boo-boo".
"Does that feel better?" she said in a sarcastic tone. Big Mac only looked at her with a "stop trying to be funny" sort of look.
"Sister I know you try to be funny on a regular ba- *gasp* is that the TIME I got to go?" Big Mac said looking over at the clock. It read 3:20 am he had to be at the train station in 10 minutes. His sister looked at him puzzled and confused.
"Where are you going?" she said puzzled and confused. That was when Big Mac realized he never told his sister he was leaving for Manehattan.
"Sis you remember Mr.Pony-Man right?" Mac said into her bright green eyes. Applejack nodded in understanding. Big Mac knew he would have to let his sister down gently in telling her he would be gone for a while.
"Well he said I can come and help him write poetry, isn't that exciting!" he said in a ear to ear grin. Applejack continued to look puzzled which only caused Mac's bright smile to slowly turn into a drooping frown.
"But Mac how will we manage the farm without you?" she said rather stunned with tears forming in her eyes. Mac felt like the worst big brother ever not telling his little sister where he was going.
"Sister you know what this could mean for my poetry career" he said with an exciting tone in his voice. His sister only looked down at her hooves and began to cry. Her tears like pools of iridescent turquoise.
Mac lifted a hoof and propped up his sister's head and dried her eyes. He gave her a slight smile.
"Mac please don't leave you can't! Applebloom and I can't run this farm by OURSELVES!" she screamed as tears streamed down her face. Big Mac had to step back as if not to get punched by his sister. Applejack looked back at the ground her tears becoming thicker and thicker as she whimpered and cried.
Mac embraced her in a warming hug and wiped away her tears. He then put his hoof over her heart.
"I will always be right here whenever you need me" he said with a smile. He held her in the hug.
"If you really need to go and pursue your career" she said with a smile finally appearing on her face.
"This is a one and a lifetime chance and I want to pursue it with what limited time I have" Mac said in an explaining voice.
"I love you" Applejack said giving him a hug and kiss goodbye.
"I love you too" Mac said returning the hug and kiss. Mac picked up his suitcase and went downstairs and opened the front door. He looked back and saw his sister looking at him waving goodbye. Mac galloped off to the train station he only had 5 minutes to get across town to the train station.
"I'm not gonna make it" Mac said to himself. He felt as though his knees were gonna buckle right under him and he hadn't noticed the blood from the gash was starting to seep through the bandage. Mac made it just in time in front of the train. The conductor looked at him in a puzzled way.
"Ticket please" the conductor said. Mac handed him the ticket and the conductor cut out the initials M.N. which stood for Manehattan. Mac then slowly got aboard one of the cars and entered it. It was a bright red on the inside with beautiful green seats. Many ponies were sitting among these seats and eventually Mac found a seat just for him. He sat down and groaned in pleasure over his aching hooves running at top speeds. He slowly began to drift off to sleep when his stomach tried to do its best timber wolf impression.
"So very hungry" Big Mac said to himself. Then he remembered he brought along some biscuits. He opened his suitcase and took one out. It had a fresh grain and apple smell just the way he liked it. He bit into it he moaned with pleasure at the taste and moistness of the bread.
"So delicious" he said to himself. The train blew its whistle piercing the silent night air and its gears cracked and turned as it slowly backed away from the station. Mac looked out at the station and watched it until it could be seen no more. He then sat and enjoyed his biscuit until he saw the most beautiful sight. The sun rising its orangey gloom casting a ray of light over the plains of white lilies. Mac was in awe at the beauty of these flowers.
"This would be great for a poem" he said. He then jolted for his briefcase grabbing his parchment, quill and ink, and glasses. He shoved the more biscuit in between his lips and began to write.
"The beauty of Equestria could be summed in the delicate lily,
Mac then put away his newly created poem and other materials into his suitcase. He then finished his biscuit and stretched his aching muscles. He looked down at his wound and touched it he winced. It was still very painful but not over-bearing. Mac slowly drifted off thinking of poems, Manehattan, and lilies.
Author's Note
Well that is another chapter in the bag oh yeah! I love writing these stories and I hope everypony loves to read them. Feel free to leave a comment on what you think about the story.
"Next stop: Manehattan" said the intercom. Big Mac jolted from his sleep and rubbed his eyes slowly. He looked out of the window of the train car. It was early morning the point in which the rooster had not crowed and the early riser's were still asleep. It was slightly raining outside and the rain drops dribbled off the windows and on to the ground below.
"Ah my neck" Big Mac said to himself as he rubbed it with his hoof. He had been laying on a couch for quite a while. He looked outside and could see lights reaching into the skies. He was fascinated about how beautiful Manehattan was in the very early morning. The train began to slow and eventually enter a dark tunnel. All was dark and silent except for the few ponies that slept further. Eventually the darkness of the tunnel seeped away and light showed all around. Big Mac rubbed his strained eyes, the light blindingly bright. Big Mac looked up and saw a great array of white lights shining high along the ceiling with many ponies down below rushing back forth among the trains. He was amazed at the beauty of the Manehattan station with the many elegant suits worn by the colts and stallions and the long elegant dresses of the mare's. The many trains that hushed and whistled among the bustling noise arrived in jets of black with red trim, their great smoke stack's spewing choking black smoke. But Big Mac was extremely excited since he was finally going to get to meet his idol the Mr. Walt Ponyman. He looked down at himself and saw he was clean and shook out any drowsiness he might of had. He continued to look out the window at the many ponies dashing back and forth and trains coming and going when the train he was on came to a sudden halt and ponies began to get off. Big Mac grabbed his luggage and headed out the doors of the carriage car. A porter pony helped him down.
"You must not be from around here?" said the porter pony with a raised eyebrow.
"No, I am from Ponyville this is my first time to Manehattan" said Big Mac with a glint of happiness.
"Well just be careful" said the porter pony, "Manehattan can get dangerous at times if your not careful".
"Thank You I will remember that" said Big Mac seeing the information as rather helpful in the biggest city in all of Equestria. Mac grabbed his luggage and slowly walked towards the doors out of the train station. He was just so enthralled in the beauty of the station with its glimmering white lights, high ceilings, elegant ponies, and beautiful trains. He slowly approached the doors out of the station into the big wide city of Manehattan. He walked out and saw the moon was still up slightly but, the sun was getting the better of it as it cascaded it's red glow across the land piercing the dark and blue of the night. "Thank you for lighting this most special day, Celestia" Big Mac said to himself. Big Mac was about to take his first two steps into Manehattan when a colt stopped him.
"Excuse me, are you Big Mac?" asked the colt in a somewhat thick Manehattan accent that sounded slightly rude to Mac's ears.
"Yes, and who are you?" said Mac with a slight huff.
"Name's Lighting Streak" said the colt with a tip of his blue cap that he wore on his head that covered thick black hair. "I was sent here to escort you to Mr. Ponyman's house."
"Really?" said Mac with slight surprise and excitement. He knew Mr. Ponyman had alot of money but never figured he would be this gracious and kind.
"Sure thing Mr. Ponyman has been waiting for you" said Lightning Streak.
"Ok, that's cool. Let's get going then" said Big Mac. Lightning Streak opened the door to a carriage he was standing behind and Big Mac slowly walked forward and entered the carriage. He noticed beautiful red seats and the plush green carpet that covered the floor almost like an emerald hoard that a dragon would so ferociously guard. He sat down and felt the leather with his hoof it felt like cuddling a small lamb.
"Are you ready to go Mr. Mac?" said Lightning Streak who took the driver's seat.
"Sure thing" said Big Mac with a slight bit of glee in his voice.
"Okay hold on it might get a little bumpy" said Lightning Streak. Big Mac looked out the window of the carriage onto the many buildings that lined the streets. The many buildings that arched into the sky like grain in amongst a field. Many towering spires peeked in and above the clouds shrouding parts of the city almost into a mystic sort of state. Some ponies were rushing to work or simply out for a stroll. The street lamps slowly flickered off as the dawn began to approach and the city began yet another day. Great freight trucks rumbled past carrying everything from fruit to furniture. Bakery scent's filled the air ranging from freshly baked bread to cupcakes. Big Mac smelled the air as it filled with scents almost many of them unknown to him. Suddenly the carriage stopped. Big Mac looked out and saw they were at the docks.
"What are we doing here?" Said Big Mac.
"Oh I forgot to tell you Mr. Ponyman lives on an island a little ways off Manehattan. As he got older he moved away from the large hustle and bustle of the city. He felt his writing was getting slightly staled by the sound of carts and ponies arguing so he moved to a place far quieter".
Big Mac simply shrugged and looked out at a white paddle boat waiting to take him to Mr. Ponyman's island. It was a bright picket fence white paddle boat with the paddles being a bright crimson red. Big Mac slowly got out of the carriage, grabbed his luggage, and breathed a great sigh. He was soon to write poetry with his literary idol.
Author's Note
Well here is the next chapter of the Mr. Ponyman story I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I love writing it. Please feel free to comment about the story about what you think of it.
