A MacDash Wedding

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

Chapter 1

A MacDash Wedding Collaboration

Chapter 1: The Proposal

Written By: Captain Unstoppable

Tonight was the night! The night that Big Mac had been planning for the last three months was finally here. He had been working harder than ever before around the farm, taking up odd jobs all around town for extra bits. No matter how hard, difficult, or unbearable the job was, he did it, because she was worth it. Any time the pain became too much, or his body was too exhausted to keep going, all he needed to do was think of her and his weariness would fade with a goofy smile and he could do anything.

This night had to be perfect in every way, because she was perfect to him. Sure, she could be brash, rude, arrogant, and at time a little bit too full of herself. Still, all those flaws, every little thing that would make others roll their eyes made his heart flutter; they were what made her perfect to him. This mare had changed his life in so many way, making him a better stallion through it all, and he wanted to let the world know that he wanted her by his side till the very end.

Now the question was if she wanted him by her side till the end.

Mac shuddered as he thought of this. He could not let those thoughts seep into his mind; he needed to be calmed, relaxed, and collected. With a deep breath, he tried to slow his racing heart enough to think about what he needed to do. Currently, he was standing in his room, looking himself over in the mirror. He looked like he always did: big, strong, hay colored mane, dark red coat, and the ever present yoke around his neck. Other stallions would get dressed up for this event, to make themselves look as handsome as they could before this event. Those stallions, however, did not date a mare like he did.

She didn’t care for the fancy things of life; she didn’t want a highfalutin' dinner by the moonlight, an expensive bottle of wine, or anything of that sort. She just wanted something awesome and cool; if he did anything beyond a bucket of hay fries and some sparkling cider, she would probably be too embarrassed to react. Or more likely, she’d just bust a gut laughing…or buck him in the face.

Nodding to himself in the mirror, he walked over to his dresser and slowly opened the drawer. Inside was his prize, the treasure he had spent the last three months working for, and the object that would hopefully have a “yes” attached to it when everything came to an end tonight. Pulling out the small velvet box, he inspected its contents. Inside was an earring with a emerald apple the size of a acorn, a topaz cloud with a multicolor thunderbolt set in the middle with a gold ring circling it.

He had to go to Appleloosa to get it, just so no pony would catch him going into the jeweler. If one pony caught him, the whole town would have known what he was up to in a matter of hours. That was the life of a small town after all; it was hard to keep a secret, especially ones concerning an Element of Harmony and the former most eligible bachelor in Ponyville. A journey to Appleoosa was not uncommon for Big Mac, so no pony saw the trip as odd and didn’t question him. The only pony who raised an eyebrow was the one he was making the trip for; she would never admit it out loud, not even to him, but he knew she didn’t like it when he left.

She would always act so tough, brave, confident in everything she did, and seem almost untouchable, but when they were alone she would let down her barriers and he would see the real her. The side of her that sometimes needed encouragement, a side that didn’t have to act so tough all the time, that would feel relaxed and calm when he was near. This is how he knew that she was serious about him; that she would say yes to his question.

Wouldn't she?

“Dagnabit,” Mac muttered under his breath as he kicked his hoof against the floorboard. “Don’t let them thoughts get to yea,”. Giving himself one final look over in the mirror, he grabbed the small velvet box and placed it under his yoke, where it would be safe till needed. Heading out of his bedroom, he walked down the stairs to see Applejack and Apple Bloom in the kitchen, leaning over what looked to be a notebook, and Granny sitting in the living room rocking away as she knitted a sweater. Mac noticed that the sweater she was knitting was kind of small, most likely for Apple Bloom for the coming winter.

“Come on, Applejack,” Apple Bloom complained, looking down at the piece of paper in front of them. It was a five problem homework assignment from school, and so far the two had only gotten done with one. “Mac does this a lot faster!” she whined, unaware that Mac was in the hallway.

“Ah can do this fancy mathematics jus as good as him!” Applejack spat back at her. “All we got to do is carry this three here and... well... Ah think we add it here.”

Mac tried to hold back his laughter. He loved his sister just as much as a brother could, but the poor mare was just plain bad at math. It was one of her very, very few shortcomings, and was one she hated the most next to being weaker than him.

“Well, ain’t you lookin’ all nice and groomed,” Granny said, alerting every mare of the Apple family Mac was there. “Goin on yer nightly walk with that Dash filly again?” she asked, never taking her eyes off her knitting.

“Eeyup,” Mac said with a simple nod, walking into the kitchen for a sip of cider before leaving. “Granny, you can call her Rainbow Dash or just Dash?” he asked, opening the fridge to retrieve the golden liquid. “She’s been comin over fer years, as Applejack’s friend before ma marefriend,” he said, a huff coming from Applejack.

“She is still ma friend, you red lug!” she corrected, walking over to him and hitting his shoulder. Mac just laughed at this, as Apple Bloom trotted up to him with a large smile.

“Can’t yea help me first before yea leave?” she asked, trying to give her best puppy eye look. “No pony can do math like you can!” she said, sitting at his hooves, looking right up at him, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. Mac looked down at his youngest sister, before ruffling her mane with his giant hoof.

She had used this trick many times on him, trying to get him to either do her chores so she could go play with her friends, or to have him do her homework for her. The first few times he couldn’t say no to that face, but after awhile he caught on to her little game and could easily look away. He felt sorry for any colt that fell for her, for she would have them wrapped around her hoof in no time.

“Ah ain’t fallin fer that trick of yours tonight,” Mac said, taking the sip of the cider, reveling in the cool burn sliding down his throat, calming his frayed nerves as Apple Bloom’s face fell. “Besides, this is a great time fer the two of yea to bond over math.” Mac walked over to the piece of paper and examined it. “Got to subtract that three, Applejack, and yea did the first problem wrong.” Both sisters gave out groans of aggravation as they sulked back towards the table to look over the work again.

Mac didn’t tell any member of his family what he was planning; even Braeburn was kept in the dark when he went to Appleloosa, afraid that he would write to Applejack the second he figured it out. As much as he did love his sister, the fact that she was the Element of Honesty meant she could be a little bit too honest at times, and unable to keep a secret. Looking at the clock in the kitchen, Mac saw he had another fifteen minutes before Rainbow Dash was to arrive. Leaving his sisters to the math and taking his mug of cider, he went to the living room to sit with Granny as he waited for Rainbow to get off weather duty.

Sitting on the couch opposite of Granny, Mac took in the silence of the house, finding it relaxing for his nerves that were so worked up for the question he was going to ask Rainbow tonight. The sound of Applejack and Apple Bloom arguing over math was relaxing in its own way as well, and the silent clicks of Granny’s knitting came at an even pace. At that moment, everything seemed right in the world as he took a sip of cider.

“So yer askin her tonight to marry yea, right?” Mac spat out his cider as his eyes went wide. Wiping his mouth of the cider he looked up at Granny, who was still knitting as if nothing had happen.

“Everythin’ all right in there?” Applejack called from the kitchen. Mac looked to see her leaning over in her chair, trying to get a look at what might have happened.

“Just fine, Deary,” Granny called back, still working on the sweater. “Just havin a chat,” Granny said in her sweetest voice, still working on her knitting. Mac saw Applejack shrug as she went back to work with Bloom, who was still arguing about the math problems. Turning back to Granny, he saw that her eyes were now fixed on him.

“Ah, don’t know what yer—” Mac was cut off, as he saw her raise her cane from beside her and looking over the bottom of it: the whacking side of it. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he looked over towards the kitchen making sure his sister were still working. “How did yea—”

“At ma age, yea pick up on certain things,” Granny said with a laugh. “Ah’d seen how hard yea been workin’ for the last few months. Reminds me of yer Pa when he was getting ready to propose to yer Momma. He did just about anythin’ for a bit; no job too small or too hard fer him,” Granny said, getting a dreamy eyed look in her eyes as she remembered how her late son worked so hard for his wedding earring. “Now, let me see it,” Granny said setting down her knitting.

Giving one more glance towards the kitchen to make sure his sisters were still busy, Mac rose up from the couch and handed the small velvet box to Granny. The old mare opened the lid slowly and began to inspect the earring. She held it up to the lamp beside her and watched the light pass through it, causing a image of the two cutie marks that made the earring appear on the ground. A grin formed on her face as she placed it back in the box and handed it back to Mac.

“Yea did a good job, Mackie,” she said with a proud grin as Mac placed the box back in his yoke. “Nervous?”

“Eeyup,” Mac replied, as he looked over his shoulder and at the window. He was half expecting to see Rainbow’s face pressed against it looking in and ruining the surprise, or, in a even worse case scenario, Pinkie Pie’s. Seeing that neither was there he turned back to his grandmother. “Ah’m just worried to what she might say,” he admitted. Granny gave a short laugh as she patted him on the shoulder.

“Ah’ve seen the way she looks at yea. There is no doubt in ma mind that she’ll say yes,” Granny said confidently. “But if she has the nerve to say no, well…” Granny started to pat her cane against her hoof, reminding Mac of one of those Godfathers you always hear about in Manehatten.

“Granny,” Mac said rolling his eyes. “No need to get violent. Ah’m sure Applejack would beat yea to it anyway,” he said laughing at the memory of Applejack threatening Rainbow Dash about breaking her brother's heart. He always thought it was the brother’s job to threaten suitors, not the other way around, but yet again Applejack was not one to be underestimated.

“No, she won't!” Granny said, pounding her cane into the floor. “What will Ah do with all this foal clothing Ah knitted if she says no?” she asked, holding up the sweater from before. That was when Mac noticed that the sweater was way too small for Apple Bloom even, and had his and Rainbow’s cutie marks on it.

“Granny!” Mac yelped, as he looked at the sweater. This time Applejack didn’t ask what was wrong but came straight into the living room with Apple Bloom in tow.

“What are yea two goin’ on about in—” Applejack looked up at the sweater, taking in the meaning of it much faster than Mac had in the beginning. At once, Mac thought his plans were ruined, that Applejack or Bloom was going to spill what he had been planning on for the last three months the second Rainbow got there.

“Now, Applejack, don’t you-”

“Not this again Granny!” Applejack groaned, while Apple Bloom rolled her eyes as she went back to the kitchen. Mac just stood their, face blank and confused beyond belief. “We gone over this Granny, the two of them ain't ready to have no foals, and if yea keep swingin them things around, yer going to scare Rainbow away,”Applejack said, shaking her head as she looked up at Mac. “Sorry yea had to see that Mac; ever since you and Rainbow started dating, she been making foal clothing,” she said with a growl looking over at the older mare who was just laughing. “Now put that all away before Rainbow gets here!” Applejack said in a stern voice, more as if she was talking to Bloom instead of their Grandmother.

Granny just laughed as she put the sweater in the basket next to her, making sure to cover it with a blanket. Applejack just gave a huff before walking into the kitchen to try and help Rainbow again with her work. The second she turned the corner, both Granny and Mac looked at one another, the stallion with a face of fear, the mare with one of smugness.

“Now, Ah want a great grandfoal by this time next year. Preferably two,” she laughed, making the stallion’s face turn a shade of red so bright, that not even his coat could hide it. Before he could say anything however, the sound of a door flying open and hitting the wall, and of a shout of surprise filled the house.

“Celestia bless it, Rainbow Dash!” Granny and Mac heard from the kitchen, “Do yea have to make your appearance so well known any time yea come over!” Applejack shouted, followed by a fit of raspy laughter. Mac took a deep breath as he looked over at Granny, who nodded at him, giving him all the encouragement he needed as he walked towards the kitchen.

“Of course I do!” Rainbow laughed.“When I enter the home of my best friend and my coltfriend, I better make sure everypony knows that the coolest pony in all of Equestria is here!” Mac could hear her laugh again, as Applejack mumbled something under her breath. Upon entering the kitchen, Mac saw that Rainbow Dash was heading right for the fridge for some cider, as Applejack just sat at the table mumbling to herself. After seeing Mac, though, Rainbow quickly changed her course and headed towards the large working pony.

“And there he is,” she said, walking past him and brushing her tail under his nose with a small flick. At this action, Applejack just gave out a even louder groan of displeasure as Mac almost fell over from the sudden action. Before he could, Rainbow was next to him again and brushed up against him like a cat. This was her own way of showing her affection in public; it was mostly to annoy Applejack, who still didn’t like seeing her best friend and brother being so close.

“Will yea two take it outside?” Applejack shouted, a light blush covering her face showing how embarrassed she was. “Some of us don’t want to taste our supper again,” she groaned as she tried to focus on the work with Apple Bloom.

“Fine, fine,” Rainbow replied, as she started for the front door with Mac, “But we might be doing something later tonight in Mac’s room.” She laughed so hard at this part she actually snorted as Applejack gave a roar of anger. Mac had to guide Rainbow through the door as fast as possible, mainly to avoid the basket of apples Applejack had hurled at them.

Once the two were out of the light of the farmhouse and into the darkness of the orchard, Rainbow Dash fully leaned against Mac with a sigh. Even after eleven months of being together, including some more physical aspects of love, the simple act of Rainbow leaning against him made his heart skip a beat, and his face heat up.

Rainbow didn’t like to show emotions in front of others; even during dates in town, she wouldn't return a kiss on the cheek because she was afraid to look weak in front of other ponies. So when they were alone, and she felt comfortable, she would lean against him, and show him all the built up affection she couldn't show in public. With a content sigh from each pony, they walked through the seemingly endless orchard, feeling as if they were the only two in the whole world.

“Pretty night,” Mac said, after a few minutes of silence. The night was clear of clouds, showing off the thousands of stars in the sky, the full moon illuminating the apple trees in a pale light, that allowing the two to walk without the fear of tripping or falling. Mac felt Dash’s face rub up against his neck as she looked up at the sky with him. Mac cast his eyes down at her the starlight twinkled in her magenta eyes. Just looking at those eyes made his whole world come to a stop. It didn’t matter how many times he looked into those eyes, there was no escape from how beautiful they were to him.

“It really is,” Dash answered, still looking up at the sky with a grin. That grin slowly started to melt away however, into an almost frown. Mac noticed this right away, and nuzzled the side of her face. She leaned into it right away and returned the nuzzling. After a moment or two of this, Mac pulled away and looked down at Rainbow.

“What’s wrong, Dashie?” he asked in a low voice. She didn’t answer him right away. Instead she looked down to the ground, her ears flattening against her head, and a nervous twitch fluttered her wings.

“Besides you using that nickname?” she said, with an obviously forced laugh; which only served to make Mac worry about her more. Looking back into his eyes, she gave out a long sigh. “Well, it’s just I have been thinking Mac, about us. A lot,” she started. a wave of fear ran through Mac’s entire body. His brain felt like it went cold, as if everything became clouded and unclear.

Does she want to break up? Oh, Celestia! She want’s to break up! Mac thought in panic. He continued to stare into Rainbow’s eyes, trying to seem strong, but if she wanted to break up on the night he wanted to propose, he was going to break down.

“It’s nothing bad!” Rainbow quickly said, noticing the fear growing in Mac’s eyes. “It’s just... I think you know I like you a lot, and I think I know you like me a lot. I just want to know where we stand right now. Like, where are we going to be in the next year. The next five years and so on. Celestia listen to me, I sound like Twilight,” Rainbow said, this time with a real laugh. “Maybe it’s the whole loyalty thing making me this this way. It’s just...well, I tend to think of everything as a race, you know? So at the end of this race, I want to know who will be there at the finish line with me, and well I want it to be—”

“Rainbow, will you marry me?!” Mac shouted, cutting Rainbow Dash off before she could finish. His eyes were still wide in fear, beads of sweat were rolling off him, and he was shaking like no other. He heard half of what Rainbow had said; his mind was so clouded with fear of a break up that he didn’t notice that she said it was nothing bad. After this outburst, the two ponies just stood in the darkness of the orchard in complete silence. Not even the constant sound of crickets chirping could be heard.

“Wh-what did you just say?” Rainbow asked. As thoughts of an apology and clarification ran through her mind, Mac leaned forward, getting down on one foreleg and reaching back into his yoke, still shaking as if he had just come inside from the extreme colds.

“Ah said...” Mac placed the velvet box in front of her and opened it slowly, to reveal the earring he had worked so hard to afford. “Will you, Rainbow Firefly Dash, will marry me,” Mac said slowly looking up into her eyes, looking back at him with confusion and shock. “Ah know Ah’m not a fancy stallion of any kind, just a plain old Earth Pony with not much to offer yea. But Ah swear to you Rainbow, Ah will always love you no matter what. So, will you marry me?”

Rainbow stood there gaping for a minute, not saying anything, her eyes just fixed on Mac. Behind those magenta eyes, he could see the wheels slowly beginning to turn. She was stock still, save for a twitch of a pinion here, a quiver of her lip there, but through it all, she remained silent.

After several of the most agonizing seconds of his life, Mac heaved a deep sigh, his hopes and dreams leaving his body with his breath. Slowly, Mac started to fold up the box. “Ah... Ah understand, Dash. It was foalish, Ah know. Maybe later on—”

In a prismatic blur, Rainbow Dash tackled him to the ground. He barely had time to let out a cry of shock before her warm, soft lips mashed into his, kissing him deeply as she pressed his shoulders into the ground. To his credit, it only took an instant before his brain switched back on, and he returned the kiss with all the passion she was putting forward, wrapping his massive forelegs around her lithe body, pulling her close. The two laid there in the grass of the orchard, lost in each other.

Finally, when the need to breathe became too great to ignore, Rainbow slowly pulled away, her lips peppering his with a few smaller smooches. Mac gasped and looked up to see Rainbow Dash—fastest flier in all of Equestria, multi-time saviour of the world, and the single toughest mare he knew aside from his sister—sniffling as a thready tear worked its way down her cheek. “So...that’s a yes?”

She just smirked down at him as she leaned in close to him again. “Just shut up and kiss me.”

Author's Note

So here is the first chapter of this collaboration! So real quick I would like to thank a few people who helped with this chapter.

As always thank you jszellmer for the edits, I know it was hard this time because you are helping your sister. You need to tell her ponies come first.

Jake the Army Guy, thanks for the last minute suggestions, I think they made this chapter 20% cooler.

And now...Shrapmo...the magical stick of pain has chosen you to go next. Have fun!

Chapter 2

A MacDash Wedding Collaboration

Chapter 2: The Reaction

Written By: Shrapmo

“Rainbow Dash Apple.” The prismatic pegasus murmured to herself as she kicked another stray cloud out of existence.

“Mrs. Rainbow Dash Apple.” She spoke a little louder, performing a graceful loop before searching the sky for another victim.

“Mrs. Apple!” She yelled at the top of her lungs as she nimbly twisted into a corkscrew. Using the momentum, she dove through another small cloud, making it evaporate into the ether. Landing on a sturdy cumulus, she sighed in contentment.

“I can’t believe he finally proposed!” Rainbow shouted, practically prancing in glee.

She had been convinced that she was the one who was going to have to pop the question, but that stubborn stallion of hers beat her to it. The mare giggled, the image of herself kneeling in front of the large workhorse, a blush adorning his cheeks.

Rainbow burst out laughing, rolling on her oddly sturdy cloud.

“What’s so funny?” The voice came from below the pegasus, and she jumped in surprise, tumbling off the side of the cloud.

Righting herself and sailing into a gentle glide, she looked back up. None other than Pinkie Pie was floating above her, tethered to the very cloud she had been resting on.

“Pinkie! What the heck are you doing? How did you get up here… are you tied to a cloud?” Rainbow stared up at the unpredictable earth pony, who seemed to helplessly float along with the breeze.

“Haha, don’t be silly Dashie, I catch clouds all the time! This one just got the better of me is all.” Pinkie helplessly kicked her legs as a sudden gust raised her higher into the air. “So, why do you think getting married to Big Mac is funny?”

“Wait, how did you know that?” Rainbow asked with a large blush staining her cheeks, was Pinkie only up here to spy on her… again?

“Well duh, you’ve been talking about it the entire time you’ve been cloud kicking!” Pinkie smiled as the cloud raised ever higher. Her hopeless situation not seeming to bother her in the slightest.

“Oh, well yeah we are getting married, but that’s not what’s funny… wait, how long have you been floating up here?” Rainbow asked, not entirely sure if she was ready for the answer.

“Hmmmm, I think about three days now. Yup, three days sounds about right.” Pinkie smiled and continued to happily kick her legs, humming a little tune all the while. Rainbow came closer to inspect the rope that attached Pinkie to the wandering cloud.

“Hey, would you mind not telling anypony about this yet, Mac and I wanted to drop the big news together.” Rainbow gave the rope a tug, the knot on the cloud only tightened. “Did you lasso, yourself to this thing?”

“Sure did! But the minute I wrangled it up, the crafty bugger wrangled me back! This is the peskiest cloud I’ve ever caught!” Pinkie hummed happily before looking back at Rainbow. “And don’t you worry about me telling anypony about you getting hitched, I’ll be up here for a while.” Pinkie began to float away at a faster pace, until it seemed the cloud was actually propelling itself.

“I promise I’ll throw you a super duper awesomely spectacular party after I tame this thing!” Pinkie hollered as she sped into the distance, until she was nothing but a tiny speck on the horizon.

Rainbow could only stare in shock, Pinkie never ceased to amaze her.

Sighing, the mare shook her head and let a smile creep onto her face. No amount of Pinkie’s shenanigans could distract her today, now that she had bagged her stallion. Speaking of the big lug, they were supposed to meet for lunch today.

Looking up at the sun, she could tell it was a little before noon. Deciding that it was close enough to lunch to knock off work for the time being, she turned and headed for Sweet Apple Acres. Excitement raced through her as she descended towards the trees, it had only been a couple of hours since she had seen him last, (spending all night with him before going to work) but it felt like ages in her mind.

Speaking of last night, maybe instead of eating lunch they could have a repeat performance of their latest bedroom adventure. Rainbow’s face heated up at the thought and she increased her speed in response. If this was how being engaged felt, she couldn’t wait to tie the knot!

Her inner musings were suddenly interrupted as a charcoal grey pegasus abruptly appeared in her path. The mare came to a surprised halt as her coworker Thunderlane flared his wings, his face stricken with panic.

“Rainbow Dash! Is it true what everypony has been saying?” He flapped his wings frantically, as if he couldn’t concentrate.

“Uh… is WHAT true?” Rainbow was thoroughly confused, her and Thunderlane weren’t exactly the closest of friends. They did have a good working relationship though, so she figured whatever he was panicking about must have something to do with the weather.

“Is something wrong? Do we have to set up a sudden down pour? What the heck is wrong Thunderlane?” Said stallion only seemed to struggle with his words, becoming increasingly flustered, much to Rainbow’s annoyance. “Well? SPIT IT OUT ALREADY!”

Rainbow’s shouting finally seemed to shock Thunderlane enough to force him to speak. “Uh, is it true that you and Big Macintosh are engaged now?” The stallion looked at her nervously.

Rainbow was taken aback, she hadn’t told a single soul yet. The mare’s face creased into a scowl, Mac must have slipped and told one of his friends.

“Yes, that’s true, but how did YOU find out? Mac and I were planning to tell everypony together!” Rainbow huffed in annoyance, Mac was SO getting it when she saw him. “Also, why do you care so much? It’s not like it affects you in any way!” Rainbow gave the nosey pegasus a hard look, her sentence had seemed to rile him up.

“Caramel told me! Plus, it affects me because you’re not supposed to end up with Mac, you’re supposed to end up with ME!” Thunderlane was breathing heavily by this point as he finished his sentence slash confession.

Rainbow could only stare, wide-eyed, as the stallion started to fly closer. Backing up, she suddenly found herself on the defensive of this unexpected confrontation. Putting a good bit of distance between herself and her admirer, Rainbow decided to figure out just what was going on here.

“What do you mean end up with you, we’ve never even dated!” Rainbow flapped her wings aggressively as Thunderlane inched closer again. “Plus, you KNOW I’ve been dating Mac for over a year now, why would I just leave him for you? We barely even talk to each other!” Rainbow was starting to seethe with anger by this point, how dare Thunderlane assume anything about her!

“I just figured you were playing hard to get, I thought you were just trying to make me jealous!” Tears began to form in the misguided stallion’s eyes as he continued. “Remember that party we had for the weather team, and you said I was the cutest stallion you ever met, you told me I reminded you of a Wonderbolt!” Thunderlane began to shake as he revealed his secret.

“Thunderlane that was YEARS ago! I did have a crush on you then, but that was before I got to know Mac.” Rainbow decided reason was the best approach to this situation, she was used to adoring fans, but not delusional devotion. “Look, I’m marrying Big Mac, and nothing is going to change that okay?”

The stallion’s face contorted into anger and a determined glint shown in his eyes.

“Is it because Mac is bigger than me? Is it because he is stronger than me? Or are you only attracted to dim hayseeds?” Thunderlane beat his wings harder with each question he asked. Shaking his head furiously, he looked Rainbow in the eye.

Rainbow bristled at the stallion’s accusations, she loved Mac for who he was, and she wasn’t some shallow mare who only dated stallions for how they looked. Plus, how DARE he call Mac a dim hayseed! She wound her fore leg back and punched him right in the muzzle.

“Now you listen here buddy, Mac may be strong and good looking but that’s not why I’m marrying him!” Rainbow’s head was clouding with rage, she wouldn’t allow ANYPONY to assume anything about her and Big Mac’s relationship! “I’m marrying Mac because he is the coolest, nicest and most genuine pony I have ever met.” This whole day had gone from great to crap in a matter of minutes, and she wasn’t letting the one who cause that off scott-free.

“I love Mac because he is awesome! Not some jealous jerk like you!” Rainbow screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing over the tree tops. Breathing in she continued in a menacing whisper. “And don’t you EVER call Mac a dim hayseed again.”

Thunderlane rubbed at his sore jaw, his ears folding back over his head and his mane falling flat. Those words stung, more than her punch had, but he wasn’t about to give up so easily. Not when his chances with Rainbow Dash were on the line!

“I can prove I’m better than him.” The stallion spoke in a whisper, his eyes shut tight and his face scrunching. “I WILL prove that I’m better than him!” His eyes shot open and stared hard into Rainbow’s. “And I’ll do it TODAY!” With a whoosh of wind, Thunderlane took a sharp dive towards Ponyville.

Rainbow watched as he flew away, a worried and agitated look on her face. This was supposed to be one of the most awesome days of her life, and now because of a crush, it had been shattered. As the jealous stallion disappeared from sight, she gave a long exhausted sigh.

She needed to go see Mac, she needed to tell him what had just happened, and they needed to discuss what to do if the worst happened. Mostly, she just needed to see Mac. She missed his handsome face.

Spreading her wings wide, she allowed herself to glide in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, her home away from home (and her future permanent home). Taking a deep breath, she allowed the sweet scent of apples to invade her world, calming her mind and spirit. She loved that smell, not just because of the flavorful fruit, but because it smelled of him, it smelled of her soul mate.

Feeling a million times better, she glided lower in the sky, her hooves skimming over the precious trees that sustained the Apple family’s livelihood. She would have to start thinking about herself as a part of said family, what was theirs would soon be hers as well.

That thought alone was enough to make her forget about the unpleasantness from earlier, and she scanned the orchard for her big, red fiancé. Usually he was pretty easy to find in the sea of green, but you never knew when it came to him and his apple trees.

It only took a couple of minutes, but she soon found her prize… and the sight was enough to send her into a complete panic.

There, among the many trees, was Big Macintosh, running for all he was worth!

Right on his tail, and gaining fast, was a large group of frenzied mares. Rainbow stared in absolute horror as her fiancé galloped down the rows of trees with a look of sheer terror on his face. From the looks of it he had been running for quite some time, his coat shined with sweat, and his tongue hung out of his mouth as he panted with exhaustion.

Almost immediately Rainbow rocketed towards the chase scene, there was no way in Heaven or Hell that she would let anything happen to Mac, not while she was still breathing.

With speed enough to create a sonic rainboom, Rainbow slammed into the ground directly behind Big Mac, causing the unruly posse of mares to come to a sudden stop. The cyan pegasus wasted no time, quickly walking out of the miniature crater which she created.

“Back off! This stallion is taken!” Rainbow stood with her chest out, wings flared and stance wide. She was ready to bludgeon these mares within an inch of their lives!

Big Mac skidded and slowed down upon hearing the large eruption behind him. Turning, he was met with a sight of salvation. Rainbow had come to his rescue! Panting in exhaustion her wobbled up next to her and nuzzled her affectionately.

“Mah sky blue guardian angel.” He whispered into her ear as he collapsed onto the dirt.

Rainbow Dash returned his nuzzle and turned to the group of mares, who were standing with a little more confidence after the shock of her sudden arrival wore off.

“What’s the big idea? Why are you guys chasing Mac?” Rainbow asked with enough force to peel paint from the Apple’s barn. This day was bad enough the way it was, she did NOT need any more trouble right now.

An orange earth pony came to the front of the group, looking Rainbow dead in the eye. “Well what’s the big idea with you hogging him all to yourself?” This must have been the leader, as all of the other mares looked at her and nodded their consent. “We heard that you two are getting hitched, but that’s not fair! Big Macintosh is the biggest stallion in Ponyville, it’s only right that he makes a herd!” The rest of the group shouted in agreement.

“It’s because Ah don’t want no herd! Rainbow’s all the mare Ah want, and she’s the only mare Ah need!” Big Mac stood back up and draped a large foreleg over said mare’s withers. “Besides Miss Carrot Top, you know Ah’m not that kind of stallion.” The workhorse finished with a cold glare at his fellow farmer.

The orange coated mare was not happy to hear such a response and turned back to the group. “Did you hear that everypony? Big Mac only wants one mare in his life, but I say we convince him otherwise!” Every mare cheered in response and clopped their hooves on the hard ground. “I say we take him right here, and show him how much better all of us will be compared to just one Rainbow Dash, who let’s face it, is probably the most butch and undesirable mare in town.” Carrot Top turned her head and gave Rainbow a snide look over her shoulder.

Rainbow was beginning to see red, she was about ten seconds from beating every single one of these mare into an early grave. She opened her mouth to respond, but Mac beat her to it.

“You shut yer filthy mouth Carrot Top!” Big Mac marched up to the shocked carrot farmer and got right in her face. “If Ah EVER hear ya say something like that about my fiancé again, you won’t be farmin for the rest of the year!” Carrot Top had shrunk to the ground at this point, nopony had ever seen Mac upset before, and right now he was absolutely furious.

“That goes for the rest of you lot as well! In fact, if Ah ever catch ya on my land again, I’ll kick ya all clear to tha moon! GOT IT?” The crimson stallion stood tall and menacing over the group of mares, who cowered in fear. “Now GIT!” The entirety of the group was gone and out of site in a matter of seconds.

Heaving a deep sigh, the stallion turned back to Rainbow, only to be tackled to the ground. Before he could protest, a set of lips enveloped his own as Rainbow kissed him for all she was worth. After the initial shock had worn off, Mac found it in himself to kiss her back with just as much passion.

“That.” Kiss “was.” Smooch “so.” Smack “AWESOME!” Rainbow kept kissing the stallion between each word uttered. She had never seen Mac so angry before, the very sight of it was one big turn on for her.

After several more kisses she placed her head on his chest. “I knew there was a reason why I loved you so much.” She murmured softly as she listened to his rapidly beating heart.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac chuckled as he wrapped Rainbow in a tight hug, laughing again as a thought crossed his mind. “Are we always gonna end up with you tacklin me? Not that Ah’m complainin none.” He looked down at her colorful head and lovingly stroked her mane.

“You know you love it.” Rainbow buried her muzzle into his strong chest, and she gave a calm sigh. “Hey, there’s something I gotta tell you. But I think it can wait until after lunch.” She lifted her head and looked Mac in the eye.

“Alright, doesn’t sound like it’s anythin good.” Mac looked into her red pools, and she nodded in agreement.

“It’s not, but after going through that, I figured you could at least use a little break.” She stood up off of his chest and helped him to his hooves. As soon as he was up, she gave him a hard punch in his shoulder.

“Ow! What ya do that for?” Mac rubbed his now sore shoulder and looked over at a scowling Rainbow.

“Did you tell Caramel about us getting engaged?” The mare gave him a deadly stare, which he wilted to immediately.

“When he came inta work today he noticed my good mood.” Mac shrugged and looked down. “He kept beggin me ta tell him why for two whole hours, the guy don’t know when ta quit!” The stallion said in a defeated tone.

Rainbow shook her head and sighed, she knew Caramel could be annoying, even to the point of breaking the unmovable Big Macintosh.

“I forgive you, ya big lug.” Rainbow nuzzled the sullen stallion, and kissed him on the cheek. “But from now on, we tell everypony together okay?” Big Mac nodded in agreement. They turned and began to walk towards the farmhouse, their sides lightly brushing.

The sun had just reached its peak, the day was officially half over. As Rainbow looked up at Celesita’s charge, she couldn’t help but think that this day was only going to get worse. She just hoped that whatever Thunderlane was planning to do, it wouldn’t happen any time soon. If he tried anything that would hurt Mac, she was going to have to find a replacement storm cloud manager, because she would put that grey pegasus in a full body cast!

“So, what did ya have in mind fer lunch?” Her large earth pony love rumbled beside her. Rainbow Dash smirked, an idea popping into her head as she looked up into Big Mac’s face with smoky eyes.

“You.” Giving him a sultry look, she suddenly changed course, turning in the direction of the old barn. She looked behind her and walked away with a smooth sway to her hips, opening the barn door and disappearing inside.

The stallion only hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed in her wake, shutting the barn door tightly behind him.

Author's Note

As always, thank you for reading.

Chapter 3

A MacDash Wedding Collaboration

Chapter 3: Announcements

Written by: Jake the Army Guy

Okay, just get this over with.

Rainbow Dash paced back and forth across the plush cloud floor of her living room, her tail flicking behind her. After the... interesting encounter at the farm, she had left Mac there to prepare for their friends. While she couldn't wait to share the good news with them, there was somepony else she had to tell first.

Her young charge sat on her couch looking up at her pace with eager anticipation. Dash could only cast an occasional glance toward the couch; the prospect of seeing the possible hurt in those young eyes was almost too much for her to bare.

Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke. "Okay, you're probably wondering why I wanted to talk to you. There's something I need to tell you, some big news, and I wanted to tell you myself, in private, before everypony else knew. I... I owe you that much.

"Look, I know that when we first met, I was kind of a jerk to you. I didn't think you were anything special, thought there's no way I would waste my time with somepony so," she bit her lip, "lame. But I was wrong! I mean..."

Rainbow growled in frustration. This was so much easier in her head. "Look, I suck at the whole... feelings thing, but you know how much you mean to me! I took you into my life, taught you how to be cool, taught you how to fly! Sometimes it feels like... like you're the kid I never had. Which is why I thought you deserved to hear this first." Rainbow took a deep breath. "Macintosh and I are getting married."

She threw up a hoof to stem any questions. "I know, I know, this is a big deal. You know how much I care about you, but Mac is... well, he's like the missing half I didn’t know I was missing. He makes me feel... good," she said with a goofy grin, confident that nopony else could see.

"Now, yeah, this is gonna bring some changes. We obviously won't have as much time to spend together, but I want you to know that does not mean I don't care about you. We'll still hang out, fly, read comics and stuff. But it may not be as often as you like." Finally, she stopped pacing and knelt by the couch, locking eyes with her young charge. "You understand, right?"

With trademark slowness, Tank's wrinkle lips rose into a smile, blinking in oblivious happiness at her owner's face. Glacially, his stubby leg raised up expectantly.

Dash grinned and bumped her hoof against his leg. "Knew I could count on you, dude."

"Hey, Rainbow Dash!"

Dash rose from the couch and peered out the window at the ground below. Scootaloo stood atop her scooter, waving at her. "'Sup, Squirt? I'll be down in a second. Oh, Hey, guess what? Me and Mac are getting married!"

The scene around her should have had Rainbow Dash in the best of moods: her loving coltfriend—Fiance, she reminded herself with a silent and totally not girlish squeal—nestled by her side in front of a picnic table at Sweet Apple Acres; four of her five closest friends in the world around her, talking about random things, though also muttering about why they were all gathered; her young charge Scootaloo playing with her fellow Crusaders, sworn to silence about the good news under threat of duct tape. Yet even with this serenity, Dash could only think one thing.

Stupid Thunderlane...

What was his deal? She had known him for a while, considered him a friend, even, though not one she would regularly hang out with. He was an amazing flyer with great endurance, giving even her a run for her money at the Wonderbolts Academy. He was a bit lazy at times, but then so was she. In many ways, they were a lot alike—and if she was honest, he was pretty good looking: nice muscles, bright eyes, an affable yet goofy smile.

And yeah, if she was being honest and totally uncool, she did kinda have a crush on him at some point, but it never went anywhere. A smile here, a teasing taunt there, sure, but never an direct sign of possible romance. Heck, she never even thought about dating period before Macintosh, so why was Thunderlane so dead-set on “winning her over?” The thought sent a tiny shudder through her wings; what if he was some kind of stalker? SHould she worry about Mac’s safety? Nah, Mac was as tough as they came; he could handle Thunderlane. But still...

A gentle nudge at her side snapped her out of her reverie. She turned to look at Mac. “Hm?”

“I said, is everything alright? You’re grindin’ yer teeth harder than an cider press.” He leaned down to softly nuzzle her. “Nervous?”

“No, no,” she sighed. “It’s just... have you ever cared for somepony, but stil wanna punch them in the face?”

“Eeyup,” Mac said with a sly grin. “They’re called fiances.”

“Hm,” Rainbow said, nodding. “Hey!”

Mac just grinned wider. “See?”

As Rainbow grunted at him—complete with a hard elbow to his muscular chest and a protracted grown from Applejack—Rarity sighed dramatically from her seat at the opposite side of the table. “Rainbow Dash, do we really have to wait until Twilight gets here before you tell us your big news? It’s positively scorching out here! I think I’m starting to sweat!” she said as she fanned herself with a hoof.

“Rarity, I know you ain’t the most ‘rough and tumble’ of ponies,” Applejack said, “but are you really that afraid of sweating?”

“For your information, Applejack, I just came from the spa when Pinkie practically abducted me for this little soiree.”
“Rares, you always just came from the spa!”

Before Rarity could finish her indignant huff, a loud trumpeting fanfare made all the gathered ponies jump and look skyward. High above them, a grand chariot of pearl and gold inlays was swooping down, pulled by several stalwart-looking Royal Guards.
Rarity took one look at the buff, stallionly guards and blushed, primping her mane. “Well, now I am glad I just came from the spa.”

The chariot finally landed in the field beside them. The pegasus Guards unhitched themselves from the front and trotted back to the door. They opened it, and an orange pegasus in flashy armor stepped out, eyes hard in stark contrast to the affable smile on his lips. He nodded to the other two guards, then all three fanned out across the field, heads swiveling back and forth in search of danger.

A wrinkled, stuffy looking unicorn stepped out of the chariot and onto the grass. His salt-and-pepper mane was neatly coiffed, and his suit looked to be made of the finest silk.

The unicorn took a place beside the door, cleared his throat, and spoke in a loud, commanding tone. “Presenting Her Royal Highness, Keeper of Magic, Lady of the Everfree Province, Princess Twilight Sparkle!” From inside the chariot, a very pointed cough made the unicorn roll his eyes. “And company.”

As he spoke, Twilight stepped daintily from the carriage, Spike sitting atop her back. Twilight’s multi-pointed crown sat upon her purple and pink mane, and she was dressed in a very regal looking dress, one that even Rainbow Dash had to admit to herself looked beautiful.

As Twilight passed the old unicorn, Spike leered at the senchal, arms folded petulantly as Twilight approached her friends with a beatific smile on her face. She looked to be doing her best impression of Princess Celestia’s trademark matronly smile, but Dash could see the tiny hints of unease in her eyes.

Twilight approached the picnic table with regal poise, each step dainty and calculated, her head held high. The amassed ponies looked to each other in slight confusion... except for Rainbow, who couldn't stop a quiet snerk from her tight lips.

Eventually, Rarity seemed to fall victim to decorum and knelt into a bow. All the other ponies followed suit, albeit slowly. Dash stood, hoof pressed to her lips to silence her building giggles, until a sharp hoof to her elbow knocked her to the ground. She glared at Mac. "Hey!"

"Rainbow, it's a princess!" he hissed.

"It's Twilight."

"Who is a princess!"

Twilight gave them a cordial nod. “Please, rise, my subjects,” she said in a honeyed, regal tone.

Slowly, they all rose from the ground, shooting each other confused gazes. A thick silence filled the air until Rarity cleared her throat. “Umk, Twilight, is everything... okay?”

“Of course it is, my little pony.” Dash couldn’t take it anymore. She fell back to the ground in a hale of giggles, clutching her sides.
Instantly, Twilight's facade broke. "What? Too much?"

"Oh, no," Fluttershy said. "It was very, um..." She cast a glance to Applejack.

"Regal?" Applejack offered.

"Yes! It was very, um... regal."

Dash wiped a tear from her eye and looked up at the distraught princess. "She... S-she said my little po—" Another wave of guffaws escaped her.

Rarity placed a gentle hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "I think what Rainbow Dash is trying to say is that it's just so... er, sudden? You always talk about not wanting to be treated differently, after all."

"Well, yes," Twilight said hesitantly, "but weren't you the one who said I should 'embrace it'?"

"Darling, there's embracing it... and then there's smothering it."

Spike, who had jumped off Twilight's back, gently poked the rolling Rainbow Dash. "Uh, she may be right, Twi. I think you broke Rainbow Dash."

Dash wiped a tear from her eye and looked up at them. "Y—you... y-y-you... pfft-fft-fft-bwa-ha-ha-ha!"

"What brought all this on, Twi?" Applejack asked.

Twilight sighed, snatched the crown from her head and started to wiggle out of her frumpy dress. "Celestia is sending me—urf, stupid zipper—on a peace delegation to Dromidaria next month. She suggested that I brush up on... on my, oof, my royal etiquette!" With a mighty yank, she finally broke free of the dress.

As she finished, the orange pegasus walked up behind her and snapped a salute. "The area is secure, your highness."

"Oh. Uh, thank you," Twilight said, pointedly not looking at the studly pegasus.

Throughout this, Pinkie was openly staring at the pegasus guard. "Hey, Twilight, isn't that the guy who—"

"Guards me!" Twilight shrieked, causing everypony to jump. A toothy grin broke out on her face. "Yes, he's my... my guard! He, he guards me from... uh, things I , n-n-need guarding from!" She turned to the pegasus. "Thank you, Lieutenant Sentry. Now, would you mind putting this back in the chariot?" she asked, floating the balled up dress to him.

"Of course, Princess. Always happy to help," he said with a warm grin before trotting off towards the carriage.

As Twilight watched him leave with a goofy grin, Rarity spoke. "Twilight, that is him, isn't it? The hunky stallion you had a fling with in that other world?"

"I did not have a fling!" Twilight hissed. "And that wasn't him, it was his... counterpart. He," she said, gesturing towards the pegasus, "doesn't know anything about it."

"But didn't you say he had the same voice?"
"Well, yes, but—"

"And the same expressive eyes?" Fluttershy asked.

"Okay, he—"

"The same kind nature?" Applejack asked.
"Now, I—"

"And the same—what was the phrase you used—'dreamy smile'?" Rarity asked.

"Okay, okay! I get the point!" Twilight said with a huff.

"So, why don't you talk with him about it?" Applejack said.

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Yes, because that wouldn't be awkward at all! 'Hi, I totally had a crush on you in some alternate monkey dimension where we were high school students'!"

Pinkie Pie gave a dreamy sigh. "A tale as old as time."

"Uh... yeah, so anyway, we're all here now," Applejack said, looking to Rainbow, "how about we hear this big secret?"

Once Rainbow had calmed herself down; and hanging from Mac’s yoke she looked out at her friends and smiled. “Okay, are you guys ready for this most awesome news?” she asked, looking around and giving Mac a second glance seeing that he was ready as well. He just nodded as she turned back to the friends gathered.

“Well don’t keep us all waitin’, just tell us already,” Applejack said, tapping her hoof on the table. Obviously this had been getting on her nerves.

“Oh! Oh! I know!” Pinkie shouted, making everypony stare at her, Rainbow Dash in horror.

"Pinkie don't-"

“Rainbow’s pregnant and Macs the father right?!” Not a sound was made as everypony stared at Pinkie. Far off in the orchards of the farm a bird was chirping, not knowing it was adding to the tension of the situation. Then time started to resume as Applejack turned towards Rainbow and Mac whose faces had gone pale.

“That. Better. Not. Be. The. News.” She said through gritted teeth, giving a death glare at each of the ponies.

Mac gulped hard. "No, no it ain't." He cast a nervous glance to Rainbow. "It ain't... is it?"

"What? No!" Dash said.

Mac leaned down to her ear. "I mean, you were in season a few months ago..."

"Yeah, but remember I had that thing from Zecora that I stuck up—"

"Alright! That's enough of that, yeah?" Twilight chuckled awkwardly, her hooves clamped on Spike's ears.

"Okay, guys, me and Mac—"

"Finally decided to try out my chimi-Apple-chonga recipe?" Pinkie said.

"No, we decided—"

"You're giving up flying for farming?"

"Pinkie—"

"Oh, oh! This chapter was delayed because the hack author wouldn't get off his lazy plot and write something?"

"Pinkie!" Dash shouted. "What are you even doing? You already know the secret!"

"I know, but guessing is just so much fun," she said with a bounce.

"Ooo-kay. Uh, anyway..." Dash cleared her throat and did her best to control the goofy grin threatening to spill across her face. She actually had butterflies in her stomach! All her friends looked to her and Mac with expectant grins, and a swell of some odd emotion filled her. The picture in her head of their faces when she slowly laid it out for them, the building tension of it all! She could tell that Mac felt the same way; his muscles were twitching with the same nervous energy hers were.
She took a deep breath. "Well, you all know me and Mac have gotten real—"

"They're getting married!" Scootaloo squealed, then cringed under the fierce glare from Rainbow. "Uh, heh... sorry."

A deathly silence fell over the field. A cricket, blissfully unaware of its impeccable timing, chirped a happy tune. Rainbow Dash looked hopefully at the slack jaws and wide eyes I her friends. The oppressive quiet was finally broken by Applejack.

"What?"

The spell broken, her friends erupted into a chorus of clopping hooves and excited cries of congratulations.

Apple Bloom raced to her brother's hooves. "You mean you two are really gettin' married?!"

"Eeyup."

"Do you know what this means?" Scootaloo said.

"We're totally gonna be sisters!" Apple Bloom squealed.

Sweetie Belle spoke up. "Um, Scootaloo, you know that you're not really related to Rain—" She was cut off as the other two scooped her up into a bear hug, squealing and shouting with joy. With a sigh, she smiled and embraced them, joining as they began to hop around the table. Sweetie blindly reached out and grabbed the nearest pony to join them, which happened to not be a pony at all.

"Hrk!" Spikes eyes bulged from his head at the steely embrace of the Crusaders, swept into their cyclone of glee. "Twilight... help! Girly overdose!"

"Oh, Rainbow Dash, congratulations!" Rarity said. "Have you decided on a date yet? Oh, please tell me it will be a fall wedding. I can do so much with autumn colors."

"Actually, it's the Saturday after next."

"W... What?! That's... why, that's only ten days! Rainbow, this is your wedding! These things have to be taken slowly!"

"Rarity, did you just use my name and the word 'slow' in the same sentence?"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Still, how am I supposed to design your wedding gown in only ten days?"

Rainbow waved her hoof dismissively. "Don't with about that. I appreciate it, but I'm actually just gonna wear my mom's old wedding dress."

"No, no, no, no. Rainbow, darling, I'm afraid I must insist. I realize that you are not the most... eh, fashion forward of ponies. But this is your wedding dress. It simply must be fabulous."

"I..." Rainbow bit her lip. "I remember my mom always used to talk about seeing me wear it one day. "I know it'd mean the world to my dad..."

Rarity silenced her with a hoof. "Say no more, dear. However, you are quite the lithe mare. Should you need to have the dress adjusted, I am at your beck and call. Though, perhaps you would not be averse to me adding just a few accents?"

"We'll see."

"Rainbow, Macintosh, we are all so happy for you!" Twilight said. "All of us are willing to help out in any way we can."

"Well, actually, Miss Twilight," Mac began, scuffing the ground beneath him with a hoof, "we were hop in' you could do a bit more than just help out. We were wondering if you'd be willing t' officiate the ceremony."

Twilight gasped. "You... you do?"

"Eeyup. Granny tells me that th' princesses sometimes do it, and seeing as how you're the whole reason you six got together..."

"I..." Twilight brought a hoof to her chest. "I’d be honored."

"Awesome!" Rainbow said. "Of course, Pinke, you'll be handling the reception, and Fluttershy, you..." Rainbow finally looked to her timid friend. Noting the slightly more withdrawn than normal look in her eye, she stepped over to lay a hoof on her shoulder. "Shy?"

Fluttershy tensed at the light touch. She shook her head and turned to Dash. "Um, yes?"

"Is everything alright?"

"Oh, yes," she said, though not without a slight tremble to her words. "I'm just... so happy for you and Mac."

Dash arched an eyebrow, but quickly shook it off, giving Fluttershy a warm smile. "Heh, thanks. Now, I could think of nopony better to be my Mare of Honor. What do you say?"

An odd look passed over Fluttershy's face, though it was so brief that Dash thought she probably imagined it as Shy smiled at her.

"I'd be honored, Dash."

"Thanks, Shy," Dash said, leaning in to give her a light nuzzle.

Mac smiled warmly at the sight, then turned to Rarity. "Now, Miss Rarity, I know Dashie said she won't be needin' yer help with the dress, but we are gonna need you to spruce up the place. Think you could handle the decorations?"

Rarity positively beamed. "Macintosh Apple, just you wait. I guarantee that you shall have the most fabulous wedding hall in equestrian history! Why, I can already see the colors in my head: bold reds, rainbow accents, oh-ho-ho! Now, have you two decided where you will be holding the service?"

Mac nodded, then he and Rainbow spoke in unison:

"The farm!"

"Cloudsdale!"

Rainbow Dash never claimed to be the most perspective when it came to group dynamics, but even she could see the awkward, uncomfortable smiles on her friends faces.

The two blinked, then looked to each other with forced grins. Rainbow spike first. "Uh, heh, Mac, I thought we agreed on Cloudsdale."

"No, Dashie. We agreed to talk about Cloudsdale."

"And what's wrong with the farm?" AJ asked, walking over to Rainbow and Mac. "Granny was married on the farm, Ma and Pa were, only makes sense Mac was as well," she said, slamming her hoof on the ground.

"Applejack, know ain't the time ta-" before Mac could say anything else, his sister had taken her argument up again.

"Besides, if ya recall Dashie, most of our family, soon to be yours as well, are Earth Ponies, how are we supposed to get up there in them clouds?" Applejack was now inches away from Dash's face who was glaring at her.

"I told you not to call me Dashie!" she growled back at her.

"Ah'd hear Mac callin you that all them times yer alone," Applejack said, smirking at Rainbow. "And if Ah recall, any time he did you started to giggle like a little filly,"

"Say one more thing and you will be-"

"That's enough you two!" Mac shouted, stepping between the two, his massive frame almost blocking the each other from almost even seeing one another. "Applejack, Ah appreciate you defendin the farm, but this is Rainbow's and Ah's weddin. We will figure it out," Mac turned to his fiance and gave her a warm smile, trying to reassure her, trying to end any fight that could happen. After being with Rainbow for so long, he learned a long time ago he will never win an argument with her unless they were both calm.

"Dashie," he whispered in her ear so no others could hear him. "We'll talk about this tonight, let's not let this moment be ruined because of us actin like fools," he whispered. Dash who was still red in the face, out of anger at Applejack for using that nickname, and now Mac who used it making her want to either punch him or kiss him, just gave out a grunt.

"Fine." Rainbow huffed, looking away as Mac grinned. He nuzzled her affectionately to which Rainbow returned at once. Mac opened his eyes slightly to look at her as he did, but as he did his eyes caught that of Fluttershy who was looking at the pair with longing, but as soon as her eyes met Mac's her face went red and she turned away at once.

As the pair got lost within one another, each one of the ponies gathered there tried to do something else to escape the awkward moment. The CMC didn't seem to have noticed anything as they were still hugging each other as they jumped in a circle, Spike still there hostage and trying to escape. Rarity had moved over to Applejack, who seemed to be on the edge of beating one of the lovers still. Fluttershy was not paying any attention to the situation at all, and looked like she was just wanting to get away from it all. Thus leaving Twilight and Pinkie Pie to themselves.

That was when Twilight noticed something, Pinkie had not said a word since Rainbow told her she would be in charge of the reception. Turning towards the Party Mare, Twilight was shocked at what she saw. Pinkie Pie was perfectly still for once. She had a blank expression in her eyes, and it seemed like her mind had snapped.

"Um Pinkie? Is everything alright?" Twilight asked, taking a step towards her. She was unsure what this news did to Pinkie. Never had she seen Pinkie like this before.

Just then, a barely perceptible tremor began to wash over Pinkie. it started with just her tail, but soon her whole body was twitching. Sparks, actual sparks were dancing in her eyes, and Dash could literally see her every muscle spasming and preparing to explode.

Everypony at the table took a step back from Pinkie and raised their hooves to their ears, dreading the impending sonic assault. Her lips trembling, Pinkie stammered, "I...I-I get t-t-t-to p...plan Dashie's we—"

In an flash, Rainbow lunged across the table and jammed a hoof in Pinkie’s mouth. “Pinkie, Pinkie! Calm down. That’s it, ju—no, no! Breathe... breathe...”

Pinkie took a huge gulp of air and shuddered as it slowly escape her, her muscles no longer writhing beneath her fur. She cleared her throat and cast an even glance to Mac and Dash. “Big Macintosh? Rainbow Dash? Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. I look forward to planning the reception.” With a resolute nod, she calmly stepped back from the table and took up an even trot back towards Ponyville.

Even with Pinkie Pie gone, the crowed gathered were still enjoying one anothers company. Though the day’s events were starting to catch up with the rainbow mane mare, from cloud kicking, being confronted by Thunderlane, and putting a mob of mares in their place. She let out an involuntary yawn, that did not escape her fiance’s attention.

“Tired?” he asked, nudging the side of her face with his own. She shook her head no, but she let out another yawn. Looking towards the sky she saw that Celestia’s sun was beginning to sink in the late afternoon.

“Maybe a little.”

“Alright, how about ya spend the night at the farm then?” he asked, smiling at her with all good will he could muster up. “That way we can share the news with Granny, well, she actually knows already,” he said laughing a bit from the night before. “But she would like to hear it from you.”

“Fine,” Rainbow said smirking at him, “But I think there is another reason why you want your fiance to spend the night,” she gave him a playful smile while Mac just nodded to her, a small smile on his face. Their moment was interrupted by a loud grunt and the sound of hooves walking away. They looked up to see Applejack heading into town.

“Applejack, where are you going?” Rarity asked, surprised that Applejack would just get up and go like that.

“Into town,” she grumbled back at her.

“For what?”

“Heavy duty sleepin potion!”

Author's Note

Okay Crowquill Symphoney your up next!

Note from Captain Unstoppable, he will try to get Slow to Realize up soon. He has very little sleep and very stressed about work.

Chapter 4

A Mac Dash Wedding Collaboration
Chapter 4: Turning the Tables
Written by Crowquill Symphony

“Alrighty boys, you know why we’re all here.” Caramel said as he glanced around the table. The single lamp in the room cast shadows on the faces of the stallions assembled, but the matter that had drawn them together demanded a level of subtlety and secrecy. “We are an assembly of stallions who share a common factor, a single point that draws us together.”

One stallion raised a hoof. “We all get together for drinks on fridays?” he asked, and Caramel scowled.

“No, I’m talking about Big Macintosh. He is our friend, our confidant, our wingman, and he is getting married.” There was a murmur around the table as they discussed this revelation, but as soon as Caramel spoke again they fell silent. “Now gents, you all know that there is one thing absolutely necessary for his wedding to be perfect, one thing that we cannot even think to forget.”

Absolute silence, and then the same stallion from before spoke again. “A best colt?” There were murmurs of agreement, followed by Caramel rolling his eyes.

“Yes, he needs that, but there’s also something more important, something that happens before the actual wedding.” He rested his elbows on the table and templed his hooves, a moment of apprehension filling the room before he finally said those two words, those words that sent a feeling of joy through all the assembled stallions.

“Bachelor party, gentlemen. Bachelor party.” Caramel stood up and began to pace around the dimly lit room as the others voiced their enthusiasm. “Our friend is seeking a life of blissful matrimony, and it’s our duty to see that he leaves the world of bachelorhood with a bang. And so, I say we rally together in support of our friend, our comrade in arms, and salute the end of his single days in a glorious revelry of drinking and strippers that would leave a teenage dragon scared for life!”

The idle chattering had grown into full fledged roars of approval. Even Bulk Biceps could not contain the pure masculine pride he felt, a single tear dramatically rolling down his muscled cheek before he let out a roar. “What say you, stallions of Ponyville? Will we praise and honor our friend in the most befitting manner possible?” Caramel cried out.

“HELL YEAH!”

“Then come on!” He said, “Let’s plan this mule!” The roaring cheers continued, and Caramel took a bow. The kept cheering and cheering until their throats were hoarse, and only then did they stop. Silence overcame the table once more.

Finally, somepony spoke up again. “So, what’s the plan?” All eyes went to Caramel, who suddenly started eyeing the door.

“Uhh… well…” he started, but before he could come up with a plan one stallion cleared his throat, and Caramel seized the opportunity. “Yes Thunderlane? You have a plan?”

The grey pegasus stood up slowly, and he cast Caramel a sly glance. “Yes. Yes I do, and best of all, we can pull it all off tonight. I can promise that this bachelor party is going to be… unforgettable.”

Big Mac gave Dash a quick nuzzle between bites of his apple salad, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek and a loving smile. The two of them had been at it for most of dinner, not-so-subtly sneaking displays of affection into their eating while all the assembled ponies handled it in their own way. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were making exaggerated gagging noises at the mushy displays of affection, while Sweetie Belle, Granny Smith and Pinkie Pie watched with smiles on their faces, occasionally giggling at the lovebird’s socializing, and Twilight and Fluttershy were silently wondering how they had been roped into dinner.

“Ah love you, Dash,” he said with a small kiss.

“I love you too, big guy.” she replied with a longer one. They started trading kisses again and Apple Bloom groaned and buried her face in her plate.

Mac enjoyed this; the casual environment, the comfort of having his fiance sitting by his, and the general feeling of family that was filling the dining room. There was even some pleasant idle chatter, though inevitably the conversation turned to the upcoming wedding, starting with Pinkie Pie asking about the cake.

“Okay, so, first off, how many layers on the cake? Most ponies only go for three, but I think it’d be super epic to go for six like we did on your birthday, and we can have each layer held up by some decorative streamers with rainbow colored bows and have little figurines on top of you and Mac smooching kinda like you’re doing now, hey what’s with the stare? Oh, right! The cake! So, whaddya think Dash?” Pinkie’s rant drew multiple glances from across the table, but she seemed unbothered by it all.

“I, uh, I guess that sounds cool.” Dash replied, and Mac gave a slight nod. A big cake meant more fed ponies, and knowing his family six layers might just be enough. “And we’re going to have me and Mac as toppers, right?”

“Pfft, of course silly! Why wouldn’t we?” Pinkie replied without a second thought. “I still can’t believe you’re getting married! This is gonna be such a super duper mega awesome super special incredible wedding! Hee Hee!” Pinkie found herself bouncing again, and Mac simply grinned and went back to nuzzling his future wife in between bites of apple pie.

It had been like this all day, with Pinkie bouncing about and trying to get the happy couple’s opinion on everything from streamers to decorations to the music and catering at the reception. He’d done his best to participate in the planning as much as he could, but there was a limit to his knowledge in regards to planning any sort of social event. He’d helped to set up more than a few of them, but he’d never actually been invested in the planning of one.

Midway through listing all the flavors of cake she could bake up for their wedding cake, Pinkie stopped, her head cocked abruptly to the side and she stuck her tongue out at a strange angle before returning to normal and smiling. “Somepony’s at the door!” She exclaimed, and less than a second later there was a knock at the door. Mac gave Dash another quick peck before trotting over and opening it up.

He found himself greeted by a pair of ponies, two of the stallions he saw around the village. “Chimney Chute, Bulk Biceps.”

They nodded. “Mac. We’re borrowing you for a few hours.” Chimney said, and Mac narrowed his eyes.

“What’s up?” he asked, and the other two were silent for a moment before Chute spoke up.

“S’the tree. Y’know, the tree by Bicep’s house? We kinda need your help moving it.”

“It’s eight in t’evening.” Mac replied.

“It fell on into his bedroom.”

“Can’t he move it?”

“IT’S WING DAY.” Bulk interjected in his indoor voice, which still packed enough volume to knock over the coat rack. “PLUS, ITS REALLY HEAVY. IT’S HUGE!”

“We’re getting a couple of the other stallions to help out, but if you were there we could get it taken care of in no time flat.”

Mac said nothing, just looked from one stallion to the other before finally letting out a resigned sigh.

“Mac? Something up?”

He turned to Dash as she came in and gave her a weak smile. “S’nothing much, but Ah gotta go move a tree. Ah’ll be back soon enough.” He walked over and gave her a reassuring kiss before turning back to the door. “C’mon boys, Ah got a bride t’come home to an’ it’ll go faster if y’all pitch in.”

“Mac?” She said, and he turned back and looked to her with longing in his eyes, waiting for her next words before he set out. “If you’re not gonna eat your pie, can I have it?”

That hadn’t been what he’d expected. Nonetheless he gave a slow nod and turned back to the door, ready to trudge out into the night when there was the sound of wings flapping and Dash landed between him and the other stallions. She pressed her lips against his for a brief second before flashing a smile. “I’m gonna go take a shower, so I’ll probably be up by the time you get back, kay?”

Words couldn’t describe how joyful he felt over the simple display of affection. “Eeyup.”

They set out into the chilly evening air, Mac flanked by the interrupting pair as they set out towards the town. Almost as soon as they left Sweet Apple Acres a few more stallions joined them, followed by a few more, and even more, until it seemed almost every stallion he knew was there. Caramel in particular had taken a place right next to him, and had a wide smile on his face.

Curiosity finally overcame the great stallion, and he turned to Caramel and asked, “We all goin’ t’move the tree?”

Caramel smiled widely, and he patted Mac on the back. “Not quite, Mac. We’ve got something better planned for you.” he said, and the last sentence sent a chill down Mac’s spine made worse by him realizing exactly where the group had herded him. They were standing in front of a lavish building, a place of gold and gaudy wallpaper with pictures of mare’s in lingerie and expensive looking cocktails. Standing out front were a pair of large, burly stallions dressed in suits and on par with Macintosh for size.

“Where’ve you colts brought me?” he said, though he knew the answer clearly. “What’re we doin’”

Caramel’s smile grew to Pinkie Pie levels of width. “We’ve brought you to your bachelor party, Big Macintosh. And as for what we’re doing…”

“Strip clubs, Mac. All of them.”

“Eeenope.”

“Mac, we outnumber you twenty to one; you’re going to the strip club tonight.” Caramel put on a smile, but Mac remained unpersuaded. “We’ll buy all the drinks.” he added in a sing-songing voice, and Mac raised an eyebrow. Hook, line, sinker. “Come on boys, let’s get Mac some booze!”

There was a cheer from all the stallions assembled, and as a crowd they made for the door, with Mac being pushed along by the crowd. None of them noticed a single pegasus break off from the group and take off, flying away with a small, devilish grin on his face.

Dash dragged a towel through her mane after coming out of the shower, and began to plod along on the way to the bedroom. Mac was out and about, and after dinner the rest of his family had started doing their own things, Granny Smith knitting, Applejack doing the dishes, the CMC going to Applebloom’s room to play, and everyone else heading back to their own houses. She slunk through the door and lay herself across the bed.

It didn’t seem right, those stallions calling on Mac in the middle of the night to move a tree, especially since there hadn’t been a storm strong enough to knock down a tree in months. It all seemed suspicious, but when she tried to focus on it she found her thoughts were scrambled and disjointed, and with a groan she buried her face in the woolen sheets.

Then somepony started knocking on the window. Considering they were on the second floor, she guessed that it was a pegasus, probably Thunderlane. That or Pinkie Pie. She looked up and groaned even louder at the sight of the former rapping at the pane. “Dash? Dash, I want to talk to you.” Thunderlane said, his tone soft and apologetic. “I’m sorry for going off on you earlier, about Mac. I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.”

She squinted at him, hoping to determine whether or not he was telling the truth. After a bit she decided to get up and humor him. “Thanks for the apology, I guess… What are you doing here?” She said as she opened up the window. Thunderlane hopped down and circled slightly, looking her dead in the eyes with the same face he used when he asked her if she could take his shift.

“I… I just didn’t want to leave things like this. You’re a great friend to me Dash, and after clearing my head and thinking about it for a while, I decided… I decided I’d come out and wish you both well.” He cradled her hoof as he spoke, and she could see a hint of a tear at the corner of his eye. “I wanted to apologize to you in person, and I wanted to congratulate him. I mean, I thought he’d be here. Where is he?”

Dash sighed and rolled her eyes. “Bulk Biceps got a tree dropped on his house or something.” She replied, and then noticed that Thunderland was intently staring at her. “What?”

“Bicep’s house is fine,” Thunderlane said, “I passed by it on my way here.” Dash felt a hint of doubt creep into her mind, but she dismissed it.

“Well, I guess they’re out drinking. They do that sometimes. Heck, I’ve heard they make up stories to tell Mrs. Cake when they want to see Mr. Cake do a kegstand.” She smiled slightly at that; that had been a great Cuteceniera

“I dunno, doesn’t it seem a bit odd to just go out drinking after proposing to a girl? I mean, I’d imagine he’d be trying to spend as much time as he could with you.”

“Yeah, well, he’s got other friends, and I know I spend a lot of time with my friends without him. Why wouldn’t he do the same?”

“Aren’t you the least bit curious?” Thunderlane asked, and for a moment there seemed to be a flash of annoyance on the grey stallion’s face.

“No. I trust him not to do anything crazy. Besides, he’d be nuts to walk away from this awesomeness.” Dash said firmly. Thunderlane didn’t look convinced.

“I just don’t want him to hurt you, Dash. You’re one of my oldest friends.” Dash cringed slightly as he said that, not because she found it odd or anything, but just because she knew from experience that he would never play that card unless he was absolutely certain something was wrong. Every bone in her body said that she should just trust Mac, but there was still that slight nagging voice saying, ‘Trust Thunderlane, he’s always been a cool guy in the past, he’d probably just concerned.’

“Alright, I could use some exercise; we’ll fly out and try to track him down, but after that I don’t wanna hear a single word against Mac, okay Thunderlane?” The stallion nodded, and with that they took off into the night sky. The cool air rushed through her mane, and within a second she was flying above the clouds, looking around for any signs of her soon-to-be husband.

Down below, still standing in the bedroom, Thunderlane watched Dash take off with a sinister smile on his face. “We’ll find him Dash… don’t worry.”

The mare looked down over the town, searching for any ponies who looked like the stallions Mac hung out with. She made sure to pop into the town’s bars and see if he was there, but after four separate visits she was starting to get a little worried. Where was he? She took to the sky again, and this time she spotted a familiar looking stallion.

She landed with enough force to crack the dirt beneath her and walked up to the snow white mountain of muscle. “Sup Bulk Biceps,” She called out, and then she braced herself as the giant pegasus turned.

“WASSUP RAINBOW DAAAY-OSH!” he shouted, a slight slur in his booming voice. “YOU’RE LOOKING GOOD TONIGHT!”

She smiled politely and tried to ignore the potent smell of liquor on his breath. “Uh, thanks. Look, I’m just wondering if you’ve seen Big Macintosh.”

“OH YEAH, I HEARD ABOUT YOU TWO GETTING ENGAGED! MAZEL TOV, DASH!” Bulk pause for a second and looked around before pointing at a nearby building “HE’S IN THERE!”

Dash turned and felt her jaw drop as she looked the structure over. One story tall with a large sign reading, ‘Naughty Rabbit Gentleman’s Club,’ and pictures of eroticly dressed mares all around. She felt one eye twitching slightly as she tried to make sense of everything. “What… What’s he doing in there anyways?”

“IT’S HIS BACHELOR PARTY! YEEEAH!” Bulk produced a beer can, chugged it and crushed the can with his biceps after he spoke, and Dash gave a slight nod. Bachelor party. Alright, she could deal with that; it actually made a lot of sense, what with the guys coming to drag Mac out in the middle of the night. She remembered what Thunderlane had said, and suddenly her mind became clear.

“That son of a mule,” she growled. Thunderlane was a jerk, and a stupid jerk if this was his plan. Send Mac to a strip club for her to conveniently find out? Even if she couldn’t figure out mystery novels, she could figure out stupid plans, having come up with more than a few of them. She was angry, frustrated, furious! She wanted to get back at Thunderlane and drag Mac back home, but in an instant another thought occurred to her, and a sly smile crossed her face.

Might as well end the night on a high note, she thought, and she started walking towards the bouncers with a grin on her face. Thunderlane wanted me to find Mac in a strip club? She’d find him in the strip club. She’d find the heck out of him.

As Dash trotted into the club, a determined look on her face, Thunderlane watched quietly from a distance. Everything was going according to plan, and soon enough he’d be together with Dash. All that was left was for him to wait for her to come out upset and disheartened, and he’d be there for her; truly a perfect plan to his eyes. A smile crossed his face and he began to chuckle, softly at first but slowly growing into a full-blown villainous laugh that echoed into the night.

Eight shots worth of Apple-ritas in and Mac was still finding it hard to enjoy himself. All around him in the dim, smoky room were mares, beautiful mares of every shape and size, all dressed in entrancing bedroom apparel. His friends kept ordering him drinks and passing him one-bit coins to slide over to the dancers on stage as they came on, and while he participated and got more than a few personal dances he found his thoughts kept drifting back to Dash.

He’d been overjoyed when she’d stepped in between the rampaging horde of mares and him, but being surrounded by mares in lacy panties and knee high stockings made him worry about what she might do if she found him here. She didn’t seem the jealous type by any stretch of the word, but in his state he couldn’t help but ponder the worst possible outcome for being found here with his friends. What if she called the wedding off? What if she attacked him? What if she attacked the other women? What if she simply burned the club to the ground in a fit of passion?

These, and a thousand other implausible possibilities flooded his mind even as a sultry mare ground her hips against him. To any normal stallion the results would’ve been instantaneous, but Mac was made of stone at the moment, the alcohol withdrawing him and making him into a flawless marble statue of fortitude. A slightly drooling statue.

The song ended and the mare excused herself, and he felt a nudge in his ribs from Caramel. “Mac? Buddy, you alright?” he asked, and Mac shrugged.

“Ah’m alright,” he said, though with the combination of his natural drawl and the slurring from the drinking it came out as “M’al’ight.” Caramel didn’t look convinced, and he took a sip of his drink before draping a foreleg across the farmhoof’s shoulders.

“Look Mac, yer… yer getting married, man! You’re gonna have ‘sponsibilities, gonna have a wife, an’ yer gonna have kids, trust me. You... you’re tha big dog ‘ere Mac, an’ we all look up t’you. You… I love you man. Y’re like a brother t’me, Mac, and we’re giving you a big send off.”

Mac returned the brohug, but remained stoic. Their intentions were good, but it still felt wrong to be off at a strip club when he could’ve just as easily stayed home with Dash. He knew she had some lingerie; she’d shown it to him quite clearly on more than one occasion, and if he asked she’d probably wouldn’t mind dressing up. Heck, when they’d first started getting serious he’d gone out and bought a pair of black briefs that he’d slip on after he showered, just so he could surprise her.

He felt himself drooling again, and he wiped the thin strand off his face before glancing down at his half-finished drink. He shrugged and emptied the rest of the glass in a single swig, letting his eyes roll back as it flowed down his throat. He glanced at the stage, saw it was empty and let his head lean against his chest, just listening to the music and letting the alcohol kick in.

Then came the crackle of the DJ’s booth, and a voice calling out, “All right you crazy colts, we’ve got something special coming for you on the main stage! Please welcome a mare attending her own fiance’s bachelor party and looking to give the lucky stallion a good time, Rainbow Firefly Dash!”

Mac’s eyes went wide, and as a familiar cyan pegasus strutted out onto the stage in a sultry red outfit he felt his jaw drop and his heart start pounding. There were the usual hoots and howls from his friends, but he found himself stunned, frozen and petrified from shock at the sight of his bride-to-be on stage that he couldn’t even make out a word.

She caught sight of him almost instantly and crept forward, that devilish smile she wore whenever she was trying out a dangerous stunt plastered across her muzzle as she approached the bright red stallion. “Hey, big guy,” she crooned in her bedroom voice, “you come here often?” His mouth gaped as he tried to respond, tried to think of something to say, but she simply giggled and licked her lips lusciously as she leaned in towards him. “Or are you just here for me?” she whispered.

“Ah…. uh… Uh…” Mac stammered and glanced down at the empty glass in his hooves. She reached over, took it from him and set it down to the side.

“Ah ah ah,” she softly scolded, “No more for right now… you’re got something else on your plate.” With that she slid forward and set her hips against his, the soft satin of the panties rubbing against him in such a way that he found it getting harder to breath. He took deep, long breaths as she straddled him, rubbing him with her clothed marehood and stimulating the inebriated stallion.

“Dashie,” he gasped out, and she leaned in and gave a long lick up his neck that made him shiver.

She pressed her muzzle against his, and she whispered, “Whadya say we take this somewhere more… private?”

He nodded furiously, and she gently pulled him up and began to lead him aside as the other stallions cheered for him. “Go Mac!” Caramel cried out, “Yo’da man, muh man! Get sum! WOO!” He didn’t hear them, being too focused on those toned blue flanks delicately wrapped in red. He oogled Dash’s backside, eyes wide as he took in the sight of her in the dim lights of the club. She was beautiful, as beautiful as ever, and now she was going taking him aside for a private dance, and with that fact in his clouded mind he gladly considered himself the luckiest stallion alive.

She led him into a small room at the back of the club, a long narrow room with a bench stretching along the side, and dividers for the stallion who might’ve felt embarrassed or shy. She pushed him back onto the seat, his back against the wall as she smiled. “You know,” she said in that same sexy tone she’d been using that entire night, “you looked totally bummed out before I walked in.”

It took him a moment to find his voice, and when he did he was barely able to eke out, “Ah wanted t’see you.”

She ground her barrel against his, her hips carressing him lower down. “Me? At a club like this? Nah, that’d never happen. This is a one time thing, cowpony.” She began to grind against his stallionhood, and he let out a small whimper of a moan as he felt his little apple tree start to grow. “And we’re soooo gonna finish this when we get home.”

He nodded again, and with a smirk and a flourish her wing tips reached down to the sides of the panties, slipped beneath the hem and slowly, slowly pulled them down. In the glorious moment they slipped down and fell to her ankles, that glorious, perfect moment, Mac thanked Celestia and prayed that he’d remember this all in the morning.

Author's Note

Bad_Seed_72, your next.

Chapter 5

A MacDash Wedding Collaboration
Chapter 5: Confrontations
Written by: Bad_Seed_72

Perched on a cloud high above the strip club, Thunderlane looked at the imaginary watch he had drawn on his left fetlock. While no time had visibly passed, Rainbow Dash was still taking far too long. He had thought that she only needed a few minutes to locate her “fiancé,” drag him out by the ears, and deliver the tongue-lashing (and subsequent breakup) he deserved.

Considering that the bachelor party had been his suggestion in the first place, Thunderlane had it all planned out. Although Dash was acting oddly casual about this whole thing, she would be mortified when she saw some trashy mare grinding on her husband-to-be. The fact that her stallion abandoned her for a night of drinking and easy mares would finally hit her, smacking with more force than the big lug had in his clumsy hooves.

In Dash’s distress, Thunderlane would swoop to her side and comfort her, showing that he was the stallion of her dreams, not that dim hayseed. And that would finally be the end of all this nonsense.

However, as Thunderlane looked down again over the cloud at the club, he couldn’t help but worry. What was taking so long? What if the other stallions were blocking Dash from seeing Mac, feeding her lies? What if that big, red brute had erupted into a rage when Dash found him in the hooves of some harlot?

Worst of all, what if his plan didn’t work?

Tired of waiting, Thunderlane sighed, stretched his wings, and stood up. He was ready to take off when a group of laughing, hiccupping stallions emerged from the club, bottles of cider and beer in hoof.

Caramel led the group, which included Bulk Biceps, Chimney Chute, and Time Turner. The four reclined against a tree and clacked their bottles together, their whoops of laughter grating to Thunderlane’s ears.

“Woo-ey! Mac’s got the hottest mare in the club all to ‘imself!” Caramel exclaimed with a hiccup. He stomped the grass with a hoof and wiped his lips free of foam. “Lucky bastard! Bahahaha!”

“YEEEAH!” Bulk Biceps flexed his foreleg muscles. Standing on his hindhooves, he threw the empty bottle of beer in his hoof to the ground, shattering it into a million pieces. While the others backed away, he brought his forehooves to his mouth and cheered, “GET SOME, MAC! YEEEEEEEEEAAAH!”

Swaying, Time Turner snorted and pushed Bulk Biceps down to his hooves. “Hic! H-h-hey, buddy, hic, k-keep it down. Don’t wanna get us kicked out now, would ya?”

Chimney Chute leaned against the tree, raising his bottle of beer to his lips with a sly grin. “Y-yeah, an’ if you do that, Ol’ Mac ain’t gonna get to finish with that sexy lil’ thang, yeah?”

The group erupted into a round of laughter and glasses clinking together in merry agreement.

As his lips curled back in an instinctive snarl, Thunderlane knew he had heard more than enough. With a quick kick against the cloud, he dove down to the ground, spreading his wings as he made a soft landing on the other side of the club.

After steadying himself, he checked to make sure that the group of drunkards hadn’t noticed him, then headed off.

Caramel smacked Chimney in the ribs, a frown replacing his grin. “’Ey, waitaminute! That’s Dash, bro! Don’t you t-talk ‘bout Mac’s fiancée that way!”

Chimney didn’t even flinch, flashing a toothy smile. “Awwwww, c’mon, Mel! It’s all in good fun! Horseapples! Hic! ‘Sides, I got mares linin’ up at ma own door! What ‘bout you, eh? Anypony caught your eye? Mebbe… that crazy mare down at Sugarcube Co—“

Caramel smacked him again, his muzzle heating up from more than just liquor. “Dammit, Chute, shuddup will ya?!”

While the four continued their banter, Thunderlane approached the front doors of the club. The bouncers at the door simply nodded and stepped aside. “You’re gonna have a great time tonight, buddy,” one said with a smirk.

“Oh, I bet.” Thunderlane snickered.

The air was thick with the combined scents of sweat, smoke, and liquor. The booming thump of a DJ’s turntable, along with dimmed, glowing lights above, added to the atmosphere. The main room was packed wall-to-wall with grinning customers, mostly stallions. Some sat at the various stages, throwing bits into the tip-buckets as the strippers writhed on the poles, then approached them for some more intimate thank-you’s. Others occupied the free seats and benches, pounding drinks and getting an eyeful of beautiful mares for the price of cover alone.

No sign of a redneck stallion sitting at any of the stages. That just left the V.I.P. Rooms. The private rooms.

“Of course he would,” Thunderlane muttered with a low growl, shaking his head in disgust.

While he stomped his way towards the back of the club, Thunderlane braced himself for the horrifying scene to come. Once he determined which room housed a cheating stallion and a sweaty, filthy dancer, he would move on to finding Rainbow Dash.

And when the twain would meet, she would finally be his.

Grinning under the club’s glowing-red light, Thunderlane began his search, victory only one door away.

Big Macintosh ran his forehooves over his mare’s back and sides, closing his eyes in pure bliss as she straddled his hips, then laid a trail of kisses down his jawline and neck. “D-Dashie… Haah… Are we… R-really—”

“Shhh…” As her wings flared open to salute the ceiling, Dash exhaled hotly into her stallion’s ear and pressed her forehooves against his chest. “Shhh… Just relax, big guy… Relax, and get ready for the ride of your life…”

This was really happening. Really really.

Lowering her eyelids, Dash pulled back to meet Mac’s emerald eyes, smiling down at him before pecking him lightly on the lips. Wearing only the red stockings on all four hooves, she rose up to grind against his hips.

The stallion grinned back at her, then tightened his grip around her waist. Strong and steady, he held her close, his free forehoof traveling up to that special spot between her wings. Dash tensed, then sighed when he began stroking her there, making her wings spread further, stiff and wide.

“M-Mac… Haah… N-no f-fair…”

“Ah can be a t-tease t-t-too,” Mac slurred, running his forehoof along the primary feathers of her wings. Dash panted in response, her tongue lolling out of her mouth.

A part of him was beyond shocked that this was happening right here, right now, with only a door separating them from an entire club full of ponies. Though he would have normally wanted to save this until they were back at hearth and home, right now, Big Macintosh had no intention of stopping. And, despite her earlier statement to the contrary, it looked like Rainbow Dash didn’t either.

Perhaps it was the liquor rolling through his veins. Perhaps it was the sight of his fiancée in stockings and panties. Perhaps it was the entirety of the night itself, and his impending wedding, that made him so bold, so brash, so raw.

Equestria shrank down to just this bench in the V.I.P Room of the Naughty Rabbit Gentleman’s Club, to just this moment of intimacy between he and Rainbow Dash, the love of his life, his mare, his soon-to-be wife.

When Big Macintosh leaned over, nibbling playfully at Dash’s wingtips, he was rewarded with a high-pitched shriek of delight. Laughing, he moved over to her other wing and granted it the same honor, teasing her with light nips. “Y-yer so cute when ya do that…” he murmured.

“W-well… I know what gets you going, too...” A deep blush spread across her cheeks as she began to return the favor. She kissed his nape and the base of his erect ear while her forehoof trailed lower down his chest, past the thick tufts of fur on his barrel, then past his stomach, and then—

Behind them, Big Macintosh heard the sound of a door ramming open, its lock failing. Dash gasped and pulled her forehooves up from him, while he thrust his own pair down to cover himself.

Her wings flared in shock, Dash looked past his shoulder, wide-eyed, jaw agape.

“Thunderlane?! What the buck?!”

At the word Thunderlane, Mac felt a rush of adrenaline flow through his sluggish veins. Somehow, even in his drunken haze and the relative cleanliness of the club, he could smell a rat.

As he stood tall, crossing his hindhooves to hide his dissipating arousal, Big Macintosh caught eyes with Thunderlane. Thunderlane seemed to cower in his gaze, looking away. This only served to confirm Mac’s growing anger and suspicion, making him step forward.

Thunderlane stood in the doorway, his wings flared to full height and his cheeks tinged with pink. Rainbow Dash slipped on her panties and stood next to her stallion, her muzzle contorting and twisting into a myriad of emotions that ended in unmistakable rage.

Thunderlane raised both forehooves and started to back away. “S-s-sorry, Dash! I’m so s-sorry!”

“Sorry?! What the hay are you doing, Thunderlane?!”

Mac could practically taste the white-hot fury oozing from his fiancee’s words, could practically feel the fierceness of her stare. Her magenta eyes fumed, flames roaring up in her irises as she stomped towards the distraught stallion.

If there was one thing Big Macintosh knew, it was not to make Dash angry. Ever.

Mac stomped along with Dash towards him, an anger of his own rising to tempo in his chest as they forced Thunderlane back into the main floor of the club.

As soon as the couple emerged from the V.I.P Room, the DJ pulled the needle from her turntable, stopping the music with an ear-splitting scratch. The mares on the poles ceased their rhythms, all eyes within turning to the center of the club, where Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash had backed Thunderlane against the main stage.

From the corner of his eye, Mac saw Caramel, Chimney Chute, Bulk Biceps, and Time Turner stumble back in through the front doors, along with the bouncers. He didn’t glance too long their way, his narrowed eyes reverting back to Thunderlane.

“I-I-I can explain!” Thunderlane assured her, his forehooves still raised in surrender. Sweat trickled down his forehead as his eyes darted around the club.

“You’d better start,” Dash said with a growl, forcing her stiff wings to clamp at her sides.

“Eeyup,” Mac agreed, pawing a forehoof at the floor. The stallion lowered his head and glared daggers at Thunderlane. In a moment of lucidity, he hoped for his sake that his explanation was good.

“’Eyyy, it’s Thunderlane,” Chimney Chute said with a chuckle, joining the circle. The other three stood beside him as Chimney looked over. “An’ Dash an’ Mac! Hic!” He raised his half-full bottle of beer. “You two have some fuuuun, huh?”

Caramel smacked him a third time. “Dude!”

“What’s goin’ on?” Time Turner asked, leaning against Bulk Biceps for support.

Dash pointed at Thunderlane. “He burst into our V.I.P. room and inter—interr—“ She paused, blushing furiously. “He, um— Well, it doesn’t matter what he interrupted!” she exclaimed, throwing her forehooves into the air.

Dash pointed at him again, looking over towards her stallion. “Thunderlane went crazy when he found out you and I were getting married, Mac! Sayin’ all this crap about how it should be him, not you! He—he even had the guts to call you a dim hayseed!”

The entire club shared a collective gasp. Big Macintosh drilled holes into Thunderlane’s eyes with his own, his stare so intense that it may as well have been Celestia’s sun bearing down upon the jealous stallion.

Dash continued, “And then he showed up at Sweet Apple Acres and dragged me over here, made it sound like you were out… I dunno! It was like he was trying to get me to doubt you! Isn’t that right, Thunderlane?!”

Thunderlane stood frozen, the sweat dripping down his forehead and neck now landing in little plops of puddles on the floorboards.

“So ya want ma fiancee, is that it?!” Big Macintosh snarled at Thunderlane, stomping the floor again. His lumbering form raised to its full height, staring down at the smaller stallion with an unflinching glare.

“This whole bachelor party thing was all Thunderlane’s idea!” Caramel exclaimed with a growl, pointing over at him.

“It WAS!” Bulk Biceps chimed in, almost toppling Time Turner over. The stallion snorted, the veins in his neck beginning to pop to the surface.

Dash glared at Thunderlane and pawed a forehoof of her own at the floor. “So it was your idea to have a bachelor party all along? And you tried to make it sound like it was a bad thing! Are you freakin’ serious, dude?!”

Glistening with sweat in the low lights of the club, Thunderlane swallowed hard, then lowered himself to all four hooves. Instead of cowering, he took a bold step towards Big Macintosh and narrowed his eyes. “Yes, Dash, I did! And you know what? I should be the one marrying you, not him!”

Thunderlane pointed at Mac, his forehoof trembling. “You can do so much better than this oaf! I heard he was with some whore in here, and that’s why I—“

Dash deadpanned, “That whore was me.”

Thunderlane’s eyes slowly widened in terrible realization, his forehoof frozen in place.

Rainbow Dash, red as the stallion beside her from snout to tail, quaked with rage. The air was palpable with her anger, the atmosphere becoming as hot as the blood boiling in her veins. Ponyville became the Badlands in a matter of seconds, scorching and silent.

Big Macintosh, his heart pumping erratic fury throughout his tensed muscles, snorted steam through his nostrils, the veins in his own neck emerging from the strain of suppressing his wrath. Like a bull ready to charge, he pawed at the floorboards again, his forehoof digging deep indentations into the wood. All his prior shame was forgotten, that energy transmitted to nothing but the purest rage.

Nopony called Dash a whore. Nopony.

Like a bull before a foalish, unprepared, matador, Big Macintosh saw red, and rushed at him with all his might.

Suddenly, four sets of hooves were around his barrel and neck, pulling Mac back from the shell-shocked stallion just in time.

“Whoa! Whoa! Easy, buddy!” Caramel shouted, yanking on Mac’s thick collar. “Not worth gettin’ thrown in jail! Hic!”

“Calm down, Mac!” Time Turner struggled to hold the stallion back. Even Bulk Biceps was straining, his tiny wings flapping furiously to hold him in place.

Ears flattened, Mac exhaled a cloud of steam and stared straight into Thunderlane. “You. Take. That. Back!”

Dash draped a wing over her fiancé and turned to Thunderlane, gritting her teeth. “Thunderlane, if you know what’s good for you, get. Out.

“Now.”

The two bouncers approached Thunderlane, along with a few others from the bachelor party’s entourage. He was now surrounded on both sides, nopony rushing to his aid, or even speaking in agreement.

A few moments passed in thick anticipation, the four stallions still struggling to hold Big Macintosh still, before Thunderlane finally reacted.

With a droop of his wings and a crestfallen countenance, Thunderlane slowly nodded to Dash, then turned around, facing away from her. The sea of club-goers parted for the ashamed stallion as he trotted past, his head hanging low.

The bouncers warily returned to the door and held it open for him.

Before Thunderlane could finally make his exit, Mac roared and, with a burst of strength, broke free of the four holding him. Dash pulled her wing back, making no motion to stop him this time.

Big Macintosh grabbed Thunderlane by the shoulders with both forehooves, held him above his head, and, without so much as a warning, tossed him out of the club like a ragdoll.

Thunderlane skidded across the ground, caking his coat in dirt and grime. ”Oof!”

Above, the weather-pegasi gathered enough clouds for the evening’s rain and kicked them loose, sending rain hurling down to the thirsty ground. The dirt churned to mud on his coat. Thunderlane groaned as he laid on the ground for a few painful moments.

Then, retaining the last shred of his dignity, he weakly rose to his hooves. Looking over his shoulder, he shot a glare at Big Macintosh, then spat into the mud.

Mac leaned against the doorway with a smirk, unfazed and unflinching. “That’s right! Git! Don’t be showin’ yer face ‘round our weddin’, ya hear? Next time, Ah won’t go so easy!”

Thunderlane spat on the ground again and snorted. Then, without a parting word, he slinked away into the rainy night, shaking mud from his feathers and coat.

Both bouncers offered Big Macintosh a hoof, which he eagerly bumped.

“Way to show him, buddy.”

“Great aim.”

“Eeyup!"

Rainbow Dash met Mac in the doorway. Caramel, Bulk Biceps, Chimney Chute, Time Turner, and the rest of the bachelor party followed behind her. She looked over to see Thunderlane limping away, coated in mud and defeat.

Despite her previous sympathies towards Thunderlane, Dash couldn’t help but smirk at the sight of karma finally catching up to him. “Looks like he won’t be bothering us anymore, huh?” she said with a laugh, wrapping a wing around Mac.

Mac grinned and kissed her cheek. “Eenope.”

Dash leaned a forehoof on his chest and kissed his snout. “That’s my stallion,” she said with a giggle, prompting a hint of darker crimson on his cheeks.

As Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash trotted back into the club, the bachelor’s entourage raised their glasses and shouted in triumph:

”Way to go, Mac!”

“You showed him!”

“That’s our Mac!”

“YEEEEEEAH! KICKED HIS FLANK!”

Once the commotion settled down, the ongoing party resumed in full swing. Loud, bass music filled the club once more. The strippers began their dances, swirling and twirling around their poles for the satisfying clink of bits. Cider, beer, and whiskey were passed around, the waitresses trotting from bench to bench.

And, last but not least, the stallion of the night took his seat on one of the benches, grinning like the cat who had finally caught the mouse. Rainbow Dash crawled up and sat beside him, grinning just as wide as she curled up in his forehooves.

Caramel sat down on Mac’s other side, offering him a fresh bottle of cider. “Sorry ‘bout all that, Mac. If we woulda known Thunderlane was up ta no good wit’ this, we woulda stopped ‘im. Right, fellas?”

The other stallions grunted their agreement, brows furrowing and jaws clenching at the mere mention of him.

Rainbow Dash accepted a bottle of beer from Time Turner, twisted the cap off with her teeth, and took a long drink. After wiping her muzzle, she said dismissively, “Aw, that’s alright, Caramel. Forget it. He’s gone, and I’ll make sure he won't be coming back. Might have to assign him to work at the Rainbow Factory for a while, but, either way, I’ll make sure he’s far from me.”

“Better be.” Mac tipped his bottle back, shaking his head.

If Thunderlane showed his muzzle at the wedding, Mac had half a mind to make him a gelding, especially if he ever called Dash that filthy word again.

Dash grinned and traced circles on his chest with a forehoof. “It was pretty sexy seeing you throw him out like that, not gonna lie."

While his friends snickered at his blush, Mac rubbed the back of his neck. “Aww, shucks. Well, Ah wasn’t gonna let nopony talk ta ma mare that way.”

Dash’s tail swished across his hindhooves. “I know. It was awesome!”

“Not as awesome as you,” Mac said with a slur, making them both chuckle.

Caramel laughed and shakily stood up from the bench, raising his bottle of cider high. “’Ey! ‘Ey, everypony! S’time fo’ a toast! A toast, fellas!”

At his summons, the entourage assembled again, surrounding the happy couple. Caramel signaled for the others to raise their drinks. While the group raised their glasses and bottles, Caramel looked over to his best friend, grinning wildly.

“To Mac an’ Dash, the most flank-kickin’ couple this side o’ Equestria!”

Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash raised their bottles high to meet Caramel’s, huge grins spreading across their muzzles.

The others leaned in and shouted in unison, “TO MAC AND DASH!”

All glasses clinked together, then were knocked back, a toast to two of Equestria’s finest.

Wiping the foam from her lips, Rainbow smirked over at her stallion. “Heh heh, Thunderlane may have interrupted some of our fun—“ Mac blushed briefly—“but that doesn’t mean the party’s over yet!”

Mac hiccupped. “Oh y-yeah? What ya mean?”

Spotting a mare serving drinks to the patrons, Dash waved her over. “How about a drinking contest?” She tickled his chin with a wing, then folded it back to her side. “Or are you too chicken?” she taunted, flapping both her wings and clucking in mock challenge.

After grabbing another bottle of cider from the waitress, Big Macintosh smirked back at his mare. “Yer—hic!—on! In fact…”

Mac snatched an additional bottle from the waitress’s tray. “Let’s up the ante! Two bottles a round! First one ta quit or pass out loses!”

Dash tilted her head. “Two bottles a round! You sure about that, big guy?”

“Eeyup!” Mac declared, flashing her a confident grin.

Dash chuckled and took a second bottle. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya!”

To the hoots and hollers of Mac’s friends, the two clinked their bottles, threw their heads back, and began to chug the first of many drinks to follow…

“Ugggghhhh...”

The bag of ice did little to soothe the ache in Big Macintosh’s head. It felt as if a thousand angry hammers were knocking at his skull, showing no sign of relenting. The intensity and duration of the pounding sensation reminded him of the last Apple Family Reunion, when he and his relatives had built and raised a new barn in a matter of hours. The nails had been treated with more care than this torment.

The squeezing of measuring tape around his barrel only amplified his accompanying nausea, making him cough in protest. While he hadn’t been able to choke back more than a few bites of oats this morning, this seemed like a very bad idea in retrospect.

Despite his obvious discomfort, the mare responsible for compressing his torso only clicked her tongue in reply to his groans. A shaking of her head accompanied her dismissal, making him roll his eyes.

“Please hold still, Macintosh Apple,” Rarity chided, levitating the tape back up to read her latest measurement. “If you keep squirming, this will take even longer, I assure you.”

Mac sighed. “Yes, Miss Rarity,” the hungover stallion muttered.

While Rarity had been kind enough to offer him a bag of ice for his headache, if she kept squeezing him with that tape, he would need a bucket next. Hay, maybe even two, if his roiling stomach was any indicator.

Seated on a couch across from the Boutique’s stage, Dash only laughed at her fiance’s predicament. “Told ya two bottles a round was a bad idea,” she said with a grin, crossing her forehooves across her chest.

Mac snorted. “Ya shoulda told me ta stop after that fifth bottle o’ cider…”

Dash laughed again. “And miss out on that little speech of yours, Mister Poetic?”

Mac pressed the ice against his forehead, struggling to hold still. “Speech? What are ya talkin’ ‘bout, Dash?”

Fluttering her eyelashes, Dash brought a forehoof to her lips. “Oh, you don’t remember? That’s good. I was hoping you wouldn’t remember! Can’t say the same about Caramel and the others, though…”

Mac groaned again. Great, just great.

“Liquid courage” was an understatement; alcohol brought out a bolder stallion in him… one that didn’t seem to mind getting him into trouble. Not only had he gotten… frisky with Dash in the V.I.P. Room and thrown Thunderlane out by the scruff of his scheming little neck, he had apparently gone and spilled his romantic guts in front of everypony.

If Dash’s continued giggles were any indicator, his “speech” had probably been incredibly sappy.

Like his mare, Mac preferred to save those sort of private exchanges for… private time. Of course, there was nothing he could do about it now; he would just have to endure the jokes that were sure to come.

For right now, he focused on enduring his hangover while Rarity continued to take his measurements. His father’s suit was draped over a ponyquin nearby, ready to be altered. If his stomach decided to betray him, he would aim the furthest away from that garment as possible.

Rarity hummed while she worked, measuring the width of the stallion’s neck. “Don’t you worry now, Macintosh. Just a few more measurements, darling, and then I’ll start altering your father’s suit. Then I’ll have you try it on and make sure everything fits correctly. Sound good?”

“Thank ya kindly, Miss Rarity,” Mac replied with a pained smile. The hammering in his head returned with a vengeance, making him wince. “May Ah please have some more ice, ma’am?”

Rarity smiled. “But of course! Give me just a moment.”

While Rarity whisked away the bag of half-melted ice in her aura and headed to the kitchen to refill it, Mac gave his fiancée a cheeky grin. “Ya know, pretty soon it’ll be you havin’ ta git all measured, an’ then Ah can laugh at you.”

“At least I won’t have a massive hangover when I do,” Dash countered, sticking her tongue out at him.

“That wasn’t the only thing ya said was mass—“

“Baaaaack!” Rarity announced in a sing-song voice. She levitated the bag of ice over to Mac, who accepted it eagerly, pressing it against his head. Once he was settled, she grabbed the measuring tape again. “There. Does that feel better?”

Sighing in relief as rivers of ice raced down his fevered forehead, Mac could only nod.

While Rarity continued taking her last few measurements, Rainbow Dash stretched out on the couch, tucked a pillow behind her head, and closed her eyes to take a quick nap. Although she had won the drinking contest by a mile, she didn’t have even the hint of a hangover this morning. However, a few refreshing winks wouldn’t hurt anypony, especially on a day like this.

The couple had a busy day ahead of them. Once Rarity finished altering Mac’s suit, they would be heading to Sugar Cube Corner to choose a wedding cake. Knowing Pinkie, there would probably be at least a dozen cakes to taste-test, if not more.

With her fiancé currently slugging his way through a hangover, that left the task solely to her. Dash licked her lips in anticipation, nearly drooling at the thought of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, Germane chocolate cake, red velvet cake, lemon cake, vanilla cake with raspberry filling...

The bell above the Boutique’s door rang, snapping Dash’s eyes open and yanking her from her sugary daydreams. When she saw the culprit, she smiled and sat up on the couch.

“Oh, hey, Fluttershy! How’s it goin’?” Dash asked.

Fluttershy looked around the shop, briefly meeting Mac’s gaze. She took a step back, her mane falling in front of her eyes. From this angle, Dash swore she saw the mare blush when her eyes met the stallion’s.

After a moment, Fluttershy finally met Dash's gaze and answered her.

“Oh… H-hello, Rainbow Dash. H-hello, B-Big Mac,” Fluttershy said quietly. She did not look the stallion’s way when she greeted him, instead trotting over to the couch and sitting down beside Rainbow Dash.

Rarity smiled over at her visitor and nodded. “Good morning, Fluttershy. How are you, dear?”

Fluttershy paused before saying, “I’m f-fine. Thank you, Rarity.”

Mac smiled. “Mornin’, Miss Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy just nodded in response to him, hiding behind her mane again, making Dash raise an eyebrow.

Before Dash could comment on this odd behavior, Rarity looked between the two pegasi on the couch.

“This is going to take a little while, Rainbow Dash, especially with poor Macintosh being a bit under the weather this morning. Isn’t that right, dear?” Rarity asked asked him.

“Eey-urp...” Mac mumbled.

Dash smirked, crossing her forehooves victoriously. “Never gonna take me on a drinking contest again, are you?”

“Ee-nope.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, perhaps you should give me about an hour or so? Macintosh’s suit will be ready by the time you get back, and then we can do your measurements, Dash.”

Dash facehoofed. “Today?! I thought you said you would be doing that tomorrow!”

“Might as well get it all taken care of today so I can start on the decorations. Besides, it’s a lovely morning. Surely you’d rather go for a nice walk, Rainbow Dash?”

As Rarity spoke, Dash noticed her eyes darting back to Fluttershy. She subtly seemed to nudge her muzzle towards the Boutique’s front door. Confused, Dash looked over to Fluttershy, who had remained silent since she had sat down beside her.

Fluttershy said at last, “Yes, Rarity, you’re right. That sounds wonderful.” She turned to Rainbow Dash, a light blush on her muzzle. “D-Dash, would you like to stop by my cottage? I… I have something to show you.”

Rainbow Dash looked over at Big Macintosh, who was slowly turning a unique shade of green. “Go on, Dash,” he muttered, clearly fighting the urge to paint the floor with a unique palette of oats and stomach acid. “Ah’ll be here. Heh, heh.”

Dash looked between the three, two of whom seemed to be communicating telepathically to each other, before finally shrugging. “Um… Alright.”

After rising to her hooves, Rainbow Dash walked over and planted a gentle kiss on Big Macintosh’s muzzle. “I’ll be back in an hour, okay? Drink some water or something. You look like you’re gonna be sick.”

“Ah’m f-fine,” Mac insisted, returning the kiss with a soft one on her lips. “Y’all have fun. Bye, Miss Fluttershy.”

“B-bye,” Fluttershy replied meekly, joining Dash’s side. She turned around, craning her neck to look at her friend. “C-c’mon, Dash.”

While Fluttershy trotted out the door and into the morning mist, Dash looked over her shoulder at Rarity, shooting her one last inquisitive look. Rarity merely nodded in response, then squeezed her measuring tape tight across Mac’s foreleg, making his eyes bulge.

Ready to get this... whatever it was… over with, Rainbow Dash started for the door, then headed after Fluttershy.

When they reached Fluttershy’s cottage on the outskirts of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was not prepared for what she saw.

Though she had expected that Fluttershy might gather a few songbirds to perform the traditional Equestrian wedding march, or perhaps something a little more light-hearted for the reception, she was not expecting an entire flock of them.

Perched in every branch of a tall oak tree near the cottage were finches, sparrows, robins, jays, chickadees, and many more birds of every feather and color, some of which Rainbow Dash had never seen before. The flock of feathered friends looked down at the two pegasi as they approached the tree—cautiously, quietly, as Fluttershy had requested, as to avoid startling them.

Nevertheless, Dash couldn’t help but whistle, never having seen these many birds in one place, short of their yearly migration. “Wow, Flutters. All of these birds are gonna sing for me and Mac at the wedding?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Well, of course.” She turned to her, smiling, that same tint of pink on her cheeks. “It’s the least I could do for my best friend.” After pausing, she looked back up at the tree again.

Dash noted the odd tone in Fluttershy’s voice, but chose not to comment on it.

Fluttershy gave her a warm smile. “I hope you like it, Dash.”

Fluttershy whistled to the birds. Raising her forehoof like a conductor in Nature’s grand orchestra, she said quietly, “Okay, my friends, just as we practiced. A one, a two, and a…”

As her forehoof came down on the unsaid three, the birds began a steady but rising crescendo of chirps and trills, some rising high, some falling low. The melody seemed to follow Fluttershy’s forehoof, which danced up and down on an unseen sheet of music, directing each note of the birdsong.

Dash looked up in awe, both hearing and seeing each bird sing his or her note on cue and in tempo. It was the most beautiful music she had ever heard. In spite of herself and her own prerequisites against crying in public, she felt a single foalish tear form at the corner of her eye from the majesty of it all.

All Dash’s previous suspicions fell away into the wind, replaced by the final notes of Fluttershy's masterpiece—her gift to the couple for their wedding day.

And there was nothing more Dash could have asked for.

The final notes of the song’s crescendo faded away, leaving a rising warmth in Rainbow Dash’s chest. She looked over to see Fluttershy, her forehoof falling down to the grass as the song came to an end, a tear in her own eye.

“Flutters…” Dash sniffled the tear away, then laid a forehoof on her friend’s shoulder. “That was beautiful. You… You did this for Mac and me?”

Fluttershy sniffled in turn, then turned to face her fully, looking up into her eyes. “Y-yes, Dash, I did. I… I’m glad you liked it.”

The birds perched in the oak tree began to spread their wings, alighting and hovering, then taking off into the air.

Dash took a step back, her wings spread in surprise. “Flutters, where did they—”

“Dash…” Fluttershy took a step forward, gently pushing Dash’s forehoof from her shoulder. Her voice sounded stronger now, almost… bold. “There’s… there’s something I need to tell you.”

Dash looked down and met the smaller mare’s eyes. A lump rose up in her throat, pulling the last remnants of her suspicion to the surface. So she hadn’t brought her here to hear the gift after all… At least, that wasn’t the real reason.

“Sure, Flutters.” Dash folded her wings and steeled herself. “Go right ahead.”

“Okay…” Sighing, Fluttershy looked down at her hooves. “This is… This is really hard for me to say, s-so… Please… Please don’t be mad…”

The lump slid down from her throat into her stomach. Her suspicions confirmed, Dash smiled softly, then lifted Fluttershy’s chin with a forehoof. “It’s okay, Shy,” Dash said as the mare met her eyes. “I… I get it.”

Fluttershy blinked. “You… You do?”

“Yeah! Of course!” Dash released her grip, a small smirk replacing her smile. “I mean… Don’t get me wrong; I didn’t see what was so great about Mac when I first met him either. But after the Apples ran the Flim-Flam brothers out of town and we started spending more time together, I just…”

Dash sighed, almost dreamily. “I just learned what a great stallion he really was… The right one for me… And… And I get if you might have felt the same way. Or feel,” Dash corrected. “But, Flutters, Mac and I are getting married, and—”

“Dash, this isn’t about Big Macintosh,” Fluttershy said, that same boldness shining through her voice.

This time, it was Dash’s turn to blink in confusion. Tilting her head, she stared at Fluttershy, dumbfounded. “What… What do you—”

Fluttershy raised a forehoof. “Please. Please… I… I need to say this.”

In Fluttershy’s eyes and voice, Rainbow Dash saw a practiced determination, one that might waver at any moment.

Nodding, Rainbow Dash sat on her haunches on the grass, giving her friend her full and undivided attention. “Okay. Sorry. Please… Go ahead.”

Fluttershy sat down in turn, then poked a forehoof at the grass. Overhead, a few early morning clouds passed by, obscuring the sun.

The silence that settled between them was not borne of the peaceful enjoyment between friends. No, in this, Dash could feel the tension, as palpable as a third heartbeat between them.

And then, with a deep breath, Fluttershy sliced it at last.

“Dash… I… I’ve felt this way for a while, but…” Looking up, Fluttershy’s wide, blue eyes met Dash’s magenta. “I… I didn’t know what it meant, and I didn’t want to l-lose you… As a friend… As anything…

“And… Now that you are getting married… I… I think I should tell you…”

Slowly, the pieces began to assemble before Dash’s eyes, making them widen.

“Dash… this isn’t about Big Macintosh… I don’t have feelings for him…

“I’m… jealous of him.”

Silence again.

When Dash didn’t reply—only stared at her, wide-eyed and motionless—Fluttershy blushed furiously, a deep scarlet Dash had rarely seen, even from her, and hid behind her mane. “I… I’m sorry… I… I should go…”

“Wait!”

Rainbow Dash grabbed Fluttershy’s forehoof, still in mid-lift. “Please, Shy…”

Wrestling her forehoof from her grip, Fluttershy then stood to all four hooves and avoided Dash’s eyes. “I’m sorry… I… I didn’t mean to…”

“Shy… It’s okay…”

Fluttershy bit her lip.

“Really, it is…”

Without a word, Rainbow Dash wrapped her forehooves around Fluttershy’s neck and pulled her into a hug.

Without hesitation, Fluttershy wrapped her forehooves around Rainbow Dash’s waist, burying her face in her shoulder.

“I’m… I’m so sorry, D-Dash… I…I know you would never f-feel the same, and… I… I just…”

“Hey… It’s okay. C’mon.” Dash rubbed her friend’s back. “I know you can’t control how you feel. Nopony can choose who they fall in love with, Shy.”

Fluttershy sniffled. “I… I know… But—”

“No buts. If this is who you truly are, then I support you, one-hundred-percent.”

Fluttershy slowly raised her head, looking up at Dash as tears rolled down her cheeks. “R-really?”

Dash wiped her tears with her wingtips. “Really, Shy. You’re my best friend, and you always will be. Nothing could ever change that. Not you liking mares, or stallions, or both. Even if that mare happens to be me.”

Fluttershy wiped away the rest of her tears with her own wing, then shook her head. “B-b-but… How… How can you be so accepting? E-especially since I… thought of you like… that…”

“Because you’re my best friend. Duh,” Dash said with a chuckle, rustling Shy’s mane playfully with a forehoof.

“You’ve been by my side through thick and thin, even when it was hard for you. Like today. Like this gift,” Dash said, gesturing up at the tree, which was beginning to be filled once more with the songbirds. “Even though you had a reason not to be my Mare of Honor, or not do this for me and Mac, you did it anyway. And that, to me, shows that you value our friendship over your own feelings. And what would I be if I shunned you, especially after all that? A jerk, that’s what.”

Fluttershy nodded slowly, then asked quietly, “So… You don’t care if I’m… a… f-fillyfooler?”

Dash glared at her. “Hey! Don’t refer to yourself using that dirty word. The correct term is ‘lesbian,’ Shy.”

Fluttershy blinked. “Oh… O-okay. S-sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Dash said with a wave of a forehoof. “And no, I don’t mind. You honestly think nopony on the Weather Team swings that way, or anypony in Ponyville or Cloudsdale? I mean, sure, when I met the first pony who was like that, it weirded me out a bit. But I got over it. It’s not a big deal. Some ponies just love differently, you know? It doesn’t change who you are. You’re still a good pony.

“You’re still my best friend, and I’m glad you’re my Mare of Honor.”

As they embraced a second time, the rest of the birds returned to their branches on the oak tree, chirping happily as the two friends broke past the only barrier between them.

When they pulled away, Fluttershy beamed up at Rainbow Dash, relief visibly washing over her muzzle. “Th-thank you, Dash. You’re a good friend.”

Dash nudged her in the side. “So are you, Shy.”

They shared a giggle.

“So… Anything else you want to tell me?” Dash asked.

“Well… Actually… I was wondering if… I could bring somepony to the wedding,” Fluttershy said, a light blush returning to her cheeks.

Dash let out a squee of joy. “Ooh, you met somepony already?! Who's the lucky mare? Tell me!”

“Well…” Fluttershy pawed a hoof at the grass. “She’s… Not exactly a mare…”

“Not a mare?” Dash tapped her chin. “Um… Zecora?”

“No…”

“Um… Iron Will’s sister? Or cousin? Or something?”

“No…”

“... Spike have some long-lost female dragon relative?”

“Dash,” Fluttershy said, that same boldness returning to her voice, “it’s… Gilda.”

Dash stepped back, her eyes widening to the size of twin suns. “GILDA?!”

Fluttershy quickly held up a forehoof. “Just! Just let me explain! Please? Please, Dash?”

Dash groaned. “All… Alright.”

Fluttershy sighed. “Well... Last month, Gilda came to visit me… I… I guess she felt awful about what happened when she was in town a few years ago, and… She wanted to apologize. And she made me swear I told nopony that she had visited…”

Dash nodded slowly. “Uh-huh. And…?”

“And… We’ve been keeping in touch through letters, and… I… I think I like her, Dash,” Fluttershy admitted, smiling sheepishly.

Dash managed a smile. “Well… Considering what she did last time she was here, I can’t say I’m too happy Gilda’s the mare—er, chick? Hen? Ah, whatever, Griffon—that you have your eye on, but if she apologized to you, I guess that’s a little better. And her being gay would explain a few things, after all.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Mmhmm. Well… Anyway… Um… The reason I’m asking is because I told her you and Mac were getting married, and… She… She wants to come to the wedding. If… If that’s okay, of course.”

Sitting back down on her haunches, Dash mulled it over. Of the two revelations Fluttershy had presented to her this morning, Gilda’s possible appearance at her wedding worried her far more. Hay, Fluttershy could’ve been both gay and polyamorous, and Dash would’ve barely batted an eye. But Gilda? At her wedding?

Considering the mess Thunderlane had tried to make of Big Macintosh’s bachelor party, Dash had no doubt that Gilda—bigger, meaner, and definitely louder—could cause no small amount of trouble. Not to mention that their other friends, along with the Apple Family and most of the guests, wouldn’t exactly be too keen on Gilda being there.

On the other hoof, this was not only a request from her Mare of Honor, but her best friend in all of Equestria… From the same best friend who had just bared her soul to her.

When Dash took into account just exactly how brave it had been for Fluttershy to admit what was probably her deepest secret, she couldn’t exactly dismiss her request so easily.

And, on a third hoof, Rainbow Dash realized that if there would ever be a chance for her to bury the hatchet with Gilda, it would be now. What better time for a fresh start on a friendship than her own wedding, her own new horizon?

“Dash?”

A smile on her muzzle, Rainbow Dash turned back to Fluttershy, then nodded.

“Alright…. She can come.”

A high-pitched squee filled her ears, startling her. In a flurry of hooves and wings, Fluttershy was hugging her tight again, exclaiming, “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, Dash!! I promise you won’t regret this! Oh, thank you so very much!”

“You’re welcome, Flutters,” Dash replied, hugging her back. I hope you’re right, she thought, otherwise, I’ll join Mac in kicking somepony—er, Griffon—out of our wedding.

Author's Note

Sorry for the delay on this one, guys! I hope it was worth the wait! Last chapter to come!

Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Dancing with Danger

By: Shrapmo

Mac was going to lose it. He could feel his stomach turning and tossing again and again and again. He felt the bile building up in his throat, trying to force it back down, but Rarity’s constant prodding of his stomach, the bright lights of her business, and her incessant humming was not helping the poor hungover stallion. How he wished he could just curl up in a nice dark hole and die. Anything was better than this torture he was going through right now.

“Are you feeling alright Macintosh? Your face is turning the same shade as your eyes.” Rarity spoke, as she tightened the measuring tape around his stomach, almost letting loose the contents of Mac’s stomach, that was mostly alcohol, pretzels, and a few pieces of hay.

“Just fine,” Mac mumbled, as he willed his body to stay composed, to keep from throwing up everywhere. He was sure that Miss Rarity and Rainbow would not like it if he was to do that here. He just had to wait to get home to ask Granny for one of her hangover tonics.

“Alright then, just a few more measurements and we should be good! Oh Macintosh, you are going to look so dashing when I am through with you!” Rarity said, excitement building in her voice as she tugged on the tape again.

Ah’m never drinkin like that again Mac thought, as he held his breath, trying to keep the bile in check. Ah hadn’t drank like that since Braeburn and Ah went to cousin Red’s bachelor par- at that moment, a horrible, terrifying, and altogether quite frightening thought passed through Mac’s mind. The thought of an Apple Stallion Bachelor Party.

Anypony that knew the Apple Family, knew that almost every stallion that came from them was a gentlecolt that knew how to treat a mare, be honorable, tell the honest Apple truth, and be all together hard workers. What they did not know, was the wild side of these same stallions. They rarely showed it, and when they did, nopony believed that they were Apples.

The last time the Apple stallions went wild was at Cousin Red Apple’s bachelor party at the Lake of the Ozarks. Four days of drinking, partying, and debauchery. He had gotten there with Braeburn, but he did not remember how the two of them got home. From the time they arrived, all they did was drink and party. They had even rented a large boat for a day to do more drinking and hitting on mares. There was little evidence of what had happened there, and that left more than a few questions unanswered.
Such as:

How did Braeburn break his left hoof and why did he start that bar fight?

Where did Mac get a black eye and how did he burn the end of his tail?

What happened to Uncle Fuji Apple during the last night of the party that now causes him to look over his shoulder every few minutes?

Why did Jazz Apple show up to the wedding in a wheel chair?

And, most importantly, where did cousin Red Apple go that one night, from which he came back with his mane dyed purple, and his coat dyed hot pink?

Celestia Almighty! We got ta have the weddin’ in Clousdsdale! Ain’t no way am Ah goin’ to be the victim of another one of those dang parties! Mac thought nervously, his mind so far away that he did not feel the prodding of Rarity’s hooves anymore. All he could think about were the horrors that might be placed upon him if his family got a hold of him.

There were rules to a Apple Bachelor Party; horrible, horrible rules. The rules were that first the lucky groom cannot know about the date of the party, that it must be a surprise for him. Second, that those throwing him the party must be the ones to foalnap him and take him to the party. Third, the bride of the groom must have no communication with him. Fourth, the groom is to never be sober. Finally, the most important rule, it that the groom has to be alive at the end of the party. After the party, it was just pure luck if the groom was able to get to the wedding on his own.

“So your cousin Braeburn is com-”

“Where?!” Mac hollard, as he reared back and looked around in panic, expecting to see a yellow pony with a vest and hat. He could just imagine the smug look on his face as he and other Apple stallions got their hooves on him to take him to Luna knows where. However, the shop was quiet and calm, except for him and Rarity, who had taken a few steps back in utter surprise. Clearing his throat, Mac got back on his hooves and resume d standing still.

“Uh...sorry Miss Rarity, Ah was in the middle of a thought…” Mac trailed off, as he looked around the shop again, afraid that his cousins were going to pop out at any minute.

“N-no need to apologize Macintosh. Happens to all of us,” Rarity spoke, trying to calm her racing heart as she started to resume her measurements. All she needed was to finish his legs and he would be good to go. “But is he coming to your wedding?”

“Who?”

“Your cousin Braeburn, the one from Appleossa,” Rarity said flatly, as she looked up at the stallion in a amused glare. “What were you thinking about Mr. Macintosh?”

“Nothin’ just a bad memory,” Big Mac said, a half lie but still the truth. “And yes, Ah believe he is comin’. Doubt he would miss it…” Mac could not help but think of the chaos that his cousin might bring with him.

“Oh wonderful! I have not seen him in such a long time. I hope everything is going well with him,” Rarity said, her tone normal again as she used her magic to measure the last of Mac’s legs. “Tell me, out of curiosity, is your cousin seeing anypony by chance?” Rarity asked, her voice still very casual.

“Not that Ah know of. Thinkin about askin him to be yer date?” Mac asked, a grin coming over his face as he imagined the high class pony asking the simple farmer to be their date.

“Oh no. I was just curious to see what he might be doing at the wedding. I am just making a list of potential stallions that might be hitting on me.” Rarity laughed, as Mac’s face went back to it’s normal stoic look. Rarity was going to be one of those mares he could never read. Thankfully, he found a mare he could, and was going to be spending the rest of his life with her.

Mac’s mind began to drift off as thoughts of Rainbow invaded his mind. Closing his eyes, he let a small smile spread across his face. The pleasant thoughts slowly quelling the aches in his stomach. He still couldn’t believe he was getting to marry the mare of his dreams.

He remembered back to his colthood, how he would go well out of his way to catch the eye of the rainbow hued filly who would always practice right over the farm. Mac would jump fences, climb the barn, even going as far as to knock down a small tree, which got him the scolding of his young life, just to get her to look at him.

A small sigh escaped the large workhorse, he had always thought that he just wasn’t appealing to mares after that. He never did take the time to think that it was purely that fact that Rainbow Dash hardly ever looked down at the ground while she practiced.
The perceived rejection wasn’t all bad though; it did give Mac the determination to get better, to get stronger. The colt worked day in and day out, taking on all the work he could. He was dead set on winning the affections of that beautiful filly, and he would work for however long he had to to achieve it.

Then one day, he got his chance.

Big Mac did not even realize it at the time; he was far too concerned with the Flim Flam Brothers threatening his livelihood. Don’t get him wrong, working along side his long time crush was a dream come true, but he couldn’t afford to let nervousness get the better of him. The stallion had to give it his all, less his family be crushed and his home taken.

Little did he know, that very determination, that hard driven sense of loyalty, was what won the immovable Rainbow Dash over.
They had spent time together later that night, over a barrel of cider, talking about the day’s events and other times that they had met a challenge head on. The two ponies had discovered that they shared many things in common, despite their differences.

“Excuse me, Big Macintosh.” Said stallion was startled from his day dreaming by a very impatient looking Rarity.

“Ah’m sorry Miss Rarity, did ya say somethin?” Big Mac asked with a blush.

The fashionista gave a light sigh. “I was saying that I have all of your measurements, and I was hoping to get your suit finished up by this evening.” Using her magic, she slid a large stallion mannequin in front of her. “I will need my privacy while I work though, so if you don’t mind…”

Big Macintosh could take a hint when it was given and began to head for the door, picking up his yoke and placing it over his neck. He was halfway out the door when he heard Rarity call out to him.

“Big Mac, would you be a dear and tell Rainbow to come get her dress fit, she should've already been back by now and you know how she likes to put things off,” Rarity yelled as she continued to fuss over his father’s suit.

“Eeyup.” With that, Mac shut the door behind him. He stopped once he was outside and took a deep breath of fresh air. Just getting out of that stuffy boutique took some of his nausea away. He gave a deep sigh, thanking Luna that his headache had lessened slightly, but he still needed to get back home and get that tonic from Granny.

Mac started forward, but suddenly stopped when a large boom of thunder shook the very ground he walked on. The stallion reared back in panic; the sound was right above him, yet he didn’t see any clouds in the sky.

“I don’t remember Rainbow saying anythin’ about a storm today!” The farmer thought aloud as he quickly looked for the thunder’s source. His confusion continued until he noticed something odd, it was a bright and sunny day, everything around him was kissed by Celestia’s light… except for him.

As he looked down, he noticed that he was completely encased in shadow. This new information in hand, the stallion slowly looked up.

Mac’s eyes fell upon a very dark and unstable looking thunderhead, and peaking over the side was a very smug and maniacal looking Thunderlane. Lifting his hind legs, the pegasus drove them down into his impromptu lighting machine. With a great flash of light, the cloud erupted.

Not wasting a single second, Big Mac ran with all his might, a large blast of thunder echoing right behind him.
“What in tarnation are ya tryin ta pull?” Mac yelled over his shoulder as he continued to sprint away. Looking all around him, the stallion desperately searched for a suitable and lighting proof shelter. When none were found, he swallowed hard and sharply turned around to face his foe.

“What’s wrong Macintosh? I thought you were the strongest and bravest stallion in Equestria! And here you are, running from a little scary thunder!” Thunderlane laughed as he sent another lightning bolt in Mac’s direction.

Leaping out of the way, Mac got into a fighting position. There was no way he could keep this up; he was fast, but dodging lightning was an insane feat. He would either need to find a way to stop the crazed pegasus, or he would need to find shelter and quick.
Picking up a discarded wagon wheel he tossed it with all his might at the thunderhead. The cloud’s pilot quickly ducked, giving Mac enough time to sprint for the nearby treeline.

“Is that the best you got, Macintosh?” Thunderlane popped his head out once again to look for his target. “I’m in no mood for hide and seek, farmer! I’ll find you, and once I do, I’ll prove exactly who the better stallion is!” Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, the pegasus quickly turned and shot a large bolt, toppling a tree in the process.

Sweat dripped from Mac’s muzzle as the tree landed within inches of his hiding spot, he needed to something and he needed to do it quick. Staring at the fell tree, an idea popped into his head. Looking behind him, he noticed that Thunderlanes cloud was closer to the ground now, and he was right in front of the tree he was currently using for shelter.

“This’ll be a long shot, but I gotta try somthin’!” Mac closed his eyes, said a tiny prayer to Luna, reared up on his front legs and kicked with all his might.

The tree’s trunk shattered, surprising Thunderlane, who jumped and sent a volley of lightning in its direction. The resulting blast caused the tree to rocket into the air. Both stallions starred in awe for several seconds, until the pegasus’ memory kicked back in and he once again set his cross-hairs on Big Mac.

Said stallion backed up slowly, no longer seeing a way out.

“You think this will win ya Rainbow?” The farmer, now backed up into a corner, stood tall despite the hundreds of splinters embedded in his legs. “Ya’ll think this is what will impress her? Ya think killing her lover is gonna get her on yer good side?” The strong stallion was knocked to the ground as a bolt sent off right in front of him.

“Oh, I’m not going to kill you. I’m just going to make you the ugliest pony in Equestria!” The enraged pegasus sent another bolt directly at Mac.

A large boom shook the earth pony’s entire world, his vision going white. After a brief moment of disorientation, his vision cleared and he shook his great head. Smelling the distinct scent of burnt hair, he looked down, only to find that his already short tail was completely singed, the remaining fur was a horrid black color.

“Just a preview Mac! I hope you like the look, because the rest of you is next!” Thunderlane laughed as he closed in on his prey. “I wonder if Rainbow will even be able to look at you when I’m done? I wonder if she’ll still be able to marry such a hideous creature?” The pegasus now danced around in glee at the thought.

Big Mac tried to get up, but the pain in his legs was too much to bear. He never thought it would come to this, he had finally gotten the chance at true happiness with the pony he loved, only to be cut down by jealousy and hate. Closing his eyes, he pictured Rainbow’s smiling face, a face that might not want to look at him after this.

I love you, Rainbow.

As Thunderlane’s dance came to an end, he turned and prepared one final bolt, stirring up the cloud to release all its energy at once. Light swirled and shook inside its puffy container, looking ready to burst at any second. Once the pegasus was satisfied that the cloud was ready, he took one last look at his foe.

“Get ready for the new you, Mac! Can’t say I’ll miss the old one!” Thunderlane reared up on his hind legs, preparing for one massive stomp. Focusing all his power into his limbs, he made to move forward… but nothing happened.

He couldn’t move!

The pegasus struggled for several seconds, but his body wouldn’t listen. Looking around with his eyes, he tried to decipher what was happening, when he was violently ripped from his cloud and slammed into the ground.

Shocked, Mac looked from the cloud to the ground, where a very angry looking Rarity loomed over Thunderlane’s still petrified body.
“What is the meaning of this?” Rarity bellowed as she let her eyes scan the scene before her. She noticed Mac laying down, his legs cut and bleeding and his tail all but vanished. Her eyes widened in realisation at what Thunderlane had been firing lightning at.

She turned to said stallion, who was just getting control of his limbs back, and lifted him up with her magic. “How dare you attack a friend of mine! To be jealous is one thing, but to act out in such a violent and childish way… I will have none of it!”
Rarity, very purposefully, marched up to the incapacitated pegasus and slapped him hard across the cheek.

“You can’t have a mare, so nopony can, right?” She slapped him across the opposite cheek. “You think that attracts us, do you think that gets a mare’s rocks off?” Releasing her magical hold, the stallion unceremoniously crumpled to the ground. “I have news for you, you ruffian!”

Placing her front hoof on his chest she pressed down with enough force to break a stone and looked him straight in the eye. “Mares like stallions with class, intelligence and most importantly…” Rarity paused for dramatic effect. “Maturity.” The mare lite up her magic again, lifting the stallion above her head.

“Of which, it would appear you have none.” She twisted Thunderlane upside down, so that they were face to face. “A real stallion would have been able to see that the mare he fancied was taken, and quietly let it be.” Rarity gave her head two good shakes, causing her captive to shake as well.

“A colt like you though wouldn’t know of such things, and a when a colt is being bad he must be put in time out.” The unicorn turned and began to walk off, carrying the pegasus with her.

Thunderlane’s shock had worn off, and he began to struggle. “Where the hell are you taking me?” He shouted indignantly.
“To time out of course! You might know it as the police station, though.” Rarity turned to address Big Mac. “This won’t take terribly long, will you be alright until I get back?” Still in shock from what had just occurred, Mac could only nod his head in response.
Smiling, the fashionista briskly turned and headed in the direction of the Ponyville Police Station.

Big Mac sighed in relief, he never that the high maintenance fashionista would be the one to come to his rescue. She had always seemed so delicate. “Never judge a mare by her profession.” Mac chuckled lightly at his father’s words.

Finally out of harms way, he let his head fall to the grass, breathing deep. The farmer had always prided himself in his ability to always be strong, to always be ready. Yet Thunderlane was able to catch him off guard, and he almost got away with it, too.
“Never again.” Big Mac opened his eyes and stared at the sky. “Never again.”

“Here Big Mac, drink this.” The farmer started and turned his head to see Rarity returning from her house with a glass of water. “The ambulance is on its way, once they get here I’ll go and fetch Rainbow. I’m sure she will be worried sick once she finds out what happened.”

“Eeyup.” The stallion sighed as he downed the cool water.

“Why in Equestria would Thunderlane do such a thing? Rainbow had said that he was upset you two were getting married, but I never figured him as the type to become violent.” The mare took the empty water glass in her magic and set it aside as she sat next to the injured stallion.

“The only thing Ah can think of, is love will make ya do some crazy things.” Mac gave a weak smile causing Rarity to chuckle lightly.

The ambulance arrived in good time, medics attending to Big Mac and placing him gently on a stretcher. Soon he was wheeled into the back of the white wagon. Rarity walked up before the doors could be closed and wished make well.

“Don’t worry, Macintosh, I’ll be sure to let Rainbow know where you are as soon as I can find her.” Mac smiled at her sentiment and weakly waved his leg.

“Miss Rarity, before I go I just wanna know one thing.” Mac raised his head so he could see the fashionista clearly. “How in the hay did ya know what was going on outside if you were workin on my suit?”

At this the mare’s face went deadpan. “A tree fell through my roof.”

Author's Note

Sorry for the wait and the possible bad grammar in this chapter! Currently Captain Unstoppable is at BronyCon and posting this chapter for Mr. Bronius who is coming home today! We promised him a chapter and very sorry that we did this at the last moment. We will post a proper grammar for this chapter soon!

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Fun times in the Hospital

By: FelixTheBrony

Rainbow Dash burst into the waiting room of the hospital, distress written all over her face.

She galloped up to the reception desk to face the receptionist, a blue Unicorn with a white mane reading an old magazine with a picture of Fancy Pants on the front, a bored look on her face. “Where's Macintosh?!”

The Unicorn glance up at the prismatic mare and sighed, laying the magazine down and picking up a clipboard, blowing a bubble with the gum in her mouth before it burst. “Relation?”

“Fiancée!” The Receptionist rose an eyebrow.

“Can you prove that?”

“What?” Rainbow asked, confused.

“Is there any way you can prove you're his fiancée?” Rainbow's eye twitched.

“Why the heck do I need to prove anything?!” The receptionist looked at her, suspiciously before giving a sigh.

“For all I know, you're an assassin who was sent here by Macintosh's attacker to 'finish him off' or you could be one of his many fan girls.” She rolled her eyes. “You should have seen it a couple of years ago. He was in for a sprained ankle and at least fourteen mares came in, claiming to be his marefriend to get some of his mane.”

There was a pregnant pause while that information sunk in with the cyan Pegasus. “Seriously?!”

“Yeah. Security had a field day. So now, when it comes to him, we have to take precautions.” Rainbow let that sink in, before she grumbled and had to think about how to prove that she's Mac's fiancée.

She hadn't actually gotten around to getting her ear pierced for the earring and said engagement earring was in Mac's room at the farm! It'd take her twenty minutes to get all the way to the farm and back! And even then it didn’t necessarily mean she's Mac's fiancée.

Just as it seemed like she'd have to take flight, Applejack and Rarity rushed into the reception with just as much distress as she was. “Dash?! What're ya doin' out here?!”

“Ah, Applejack!” the receptionist said, indicating to Rainbow Dash. “Can you clarify that this is Macintosh's Fiancée?” Applejack’s look went from surprise to understanding.

“Yeah, this is his fiancée alrigh'.” She clarified, to which the receptionist nodded and studied the clipboard for a few seconds.

“Okay, he's in room fourteen, the Doctor is checking on him but you should be good to go in.” The three thanked her and went to find said room.

“So...Mac has his own little security questions, then?” Rainbow asked, still not quite believing what that Unicorn had told her. It seemed a little far-fetched to her and it seemed that she was just trying to make things more difficult than they had to be.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, both Applejack and Rarity nodded. “Yes dear, as I'm sure you've already seen, Macintosh is a rather big catch so to speak.” Applejack sent a glare her way and Rarity huffed. “Look, I don't know how to better explain it, would you like to try, Dear?”

“Certainly. Jus' a bunch a crazy old mules who can't take a hint an' jus' back tha hay off.” The two were surprised at Applejack's hostility and the choice language she chose to use.

She seemed to notice and took some breaths to calm herself down. “Sorry 'bout that, it's jus' that they won't leave 'im alone, no matter how many times him, Ah or even Granny tell 'em ta buck off—”

“Applejack! There are kids here!” Rarity scolded, motioning to a few foals sitting in the hall, looking up at them, curiously. “Uh...Don't mind us!” She declared, cheerfully, ushering the two of them forward a little more to get away from the foals before they could pick up on what they were saying.

Rainbow grunted at this explanation and picked up the pace so she wasn't being pushed by the fashionista. Like all those mares that basically tried to attack him on the farm a couple of days ago. Hopefully they got the hint, but something tells me that it's not the last we've heard from them.

Just as she thought this, they had arrived at room fourteen and entered to find Mac on his side, Doctor Stable checking over his flank, taking note of the extent of the damage.

Rainbow wasted no time in wrapping her forelegs round Mac's neck and giving him the biggest hug she could given the angle she was working with. Mac responded by wrapping his neck round her's in turn. “Are you okay?” She asked.

“Eeyup. Just a little sore on mah caboose.” He replied, cringe as he felt the Doctor prod at his burned nethers. “Ow!”

“Good, if it hurts you still have feeling there.” Doctor Stable mentioned, writing down something on a clipboard. “Well it seems that these burns are only first degree. It should clear up soon. I'll just have to apply some of this lotion to return your skin to it's more natural colour.”

“Um...A-Ah can do that Doc,” Mac replied, sitting up suddenly, causing him to cringe slightly as his burn was pressed into the bed. He knew he'd never be able to reach back there himself, but he did not feel comfortable with the Doctor rubbing anything on his flank.

“Now Mr. Apple, I don't see how you'd be able to that. Not many ponies are that flexible,” the Doctor explained.

“Uh, Ah don't know. Ah don't feel right comfortable about that.”

“I'll do it!” Rainbow offered, smiling. “I've felt him up plenty of times!”

“Arg! Rainbow! We're still here!” Applejack exclaimed, turning noticeably green. Rarity had just turned slightly red and turned her gaze on the ground.

The Doctor sighed and passed the lotion over to the Pegasus. “As soon as you apply that, I'll wrap some bandages around his flank...and I'd highly suggest he not *ahem* overexert himself.”

Applejack held a hoof over her mouth, her cheeks puffing out as she vomited into the nearest trash can. “Well thanks y'all! Ah was runnin' outta things ta think about when Ah scream mahself ta sleep!”

Rainbow trotted around Mac towards his flank, ushering the group out. “Well, unless you want more things to add to the collection, I'd leave us alone for a bit.” Without wasting a second, Applejack jumped out of the room, dragging Rarity with her. The Doctor averted his eyes in respect, but had to be present to dress the wound.

“Don't worry Mac, you'll be outta this place in no-time!” Rainbow declared, confidently, scooping up a bit of the lotion to start rubbing it in.

Mac and Rainbow walked into reception, meeting up with Applejack and Rarity. “Don't ya worry none, we took care of tha discharge papers, we're free ta git ya inta bed big guy.”

“Eeyup,” Mac answered, glancing back at the bandages that wrapped around his tail around both legs, covering his flank to keep the lotion on his skin. But there was nothing they could do for his tail, which was still scorched black by the thunder cloud.

Rainbow saw his look and growled, quietly to herself. Thunderlane's gone too far this time! If I ever see him again, I'll be sure to make it the last time!

Mac nuzzled Rainbow slightly as they walked outside. “Thinkin' 'bout how yer gonna git revenge?”

“Fantasizing about it...” Rainbow replied, grinning evilly. “Say, do you think they'd ever find a body in the orchards?”

“Ah wouldn't think so. Too much ground to cover. But look, he's gonna be in the police department fer a while. Ah don't think we need ta worry 'but it fer a while.”

“Right...But how did he get the better of you? You could've knocked him halfway to the Dragon Kingdom and back before he knew what hit him!” Mac smiled at her words. They did help to soothe his bruised ego.

“He sat on a thundercloud in tha air. Ah couldn't reach 'im.” Applejack growled when she heard that.

“No good, rotten coward can't even fight face ta face an' had ta hide behind his wings! That stallion has no honour.”

“He has good sense at least. If'n he were on tha ground he'd be leavin' with a few broken bones, ” Mac replied, to which Rarity interrupted.

“As fun as it is hearing you all swear vengeance on the currently imprisoned stallion, there are much happier things to be focussing on. Like your dress, Rainbow, I must have a look at your mother's dress and get some measurements!”

“Um...Can we do that tomorrow, Rares? I just...I don't want to leave Mac right now, ” Rainbow admitted, pressing herself against the red work horse. Rarity nodded in understanding and turned to leave.

“Of course, Darling, I'll just work on finishing Mac's suit for tonight.” She paused as a thought occurred to her, then quickly grabbed Applejack's hoof. “Ah! I know, I'll get your bridesmaid dress started! Let's go!”

“Wait Ah-Wahh!!” Applejack yelped as the surprisingly strong mare dragged her off towards the Carousel Boutique. Rainbow started to laugh and Mac let out a few chuckles as well.

Rainbow took the engagement earring from the night stand in Mac's room and gazed upon it, feeling some mixed emotions as she gazed upon it's beauty.

She was so happy when Mac presented it to her, she was ready to become his wife, ready to take that step, fully prepared to make that commitment to her significant other.

But then all of this stuff happened, all because they got engaged! They were fine before all of this. There was no Thunderlane, no mares and none of the stress that seemed to be finding a home in the pits of her stomach.

She sighed, noticing that the shower had shut off and Mac trotted out of the bathroom, his mane clung to his neck, matted down.

He noticed her dismayed look as she gazed upon the earring and started to panic. I-is she havin' second thoughts?! Please, please, don't be havin' second thoughts! “Uh...You alright Dashie?” She glanced up at him and smiled, warmly.

“Yeah I'm fine.” He sighed and sat next to her on the bed, taking a towel on his way out to dry his mane and coat.

“Ah know when yer lyin', Rainbow. Ah've known ya long enough.” She flinched when he turned to her, giving her a comforting gaze. “You can trust me Rainbow.”

“I-I know...” She sighed, of course she could. If she couldn't trust him, who could she trust? He was her rock, her anchor. He was the missing side that she didn't even realise hadn't been filled yet. He deserved to know what was bugging her; after all, it affected him as well.

“It's just...Ever since we got engaged we've been running into a bunch of problems...It's like...Something is trying to stop this from happening. Or trying to draw it out as long as possible.” She sighed, closing the box. “Before this we were fine, nopony had any problems and Thunderlane wasn't on our tails all the time...”

“Rainbow...” Mac interrupted, placing a hoof on her shoulder, causing her to look up. “If ya start second guessin' gettin' married cause of all this, then Thunderlane wins,” he said, causing her eyes to snap open.

Damn! How could I be so stupid thinking like that?! Mac's right, I was playing right into his hooves! She shivered as he wrapped his hooves around her, enveloping her in a tight hug.

“Look, Thunderlane can do whatever he damn well pleases, but neither he nor anything or anyone else is gonna stop me from marrying ya. If he breaks my hind hooves, Ah'll buckin' drag mahself ta tha aisle and sit on Braeburn's back tha entire ceremony! All that matters ta me, is that Ah'll be able ta spend tha rest o' mah life wit' ya.”

Rainbow sniffed as she felt a tear try to escape her eye. Yes it wasn't often that Mac let's out his more romantic and sappier side, but behind closed doors he could tell her exactly what she needed to hear.

She wrapped her hooves around him in return and connected her lips to his, initiating a passionate kiss. There was no tongue nor any other intention with this kiss, just a comforting one to let the other know that they were there for each other. Through sickness and health. For better or for worse.

They disconnected when Mac flinched as Rainbow's hoof accidently caressed his burnt flank. They stared at each other before Rainbow let out an embarrassed giggle. “Guess I'll need to apply some more lotion, then?”

“Only if ya want ta, Ah can just about manage...”

“No way, Mac! You've been through enough today! Just lay down and relax, I'll take care of ya.” She grinned, taking the lotion and quickly applied it onto his flank, sensually. Almost painfully so for Mac.

Soon she had finished with that, but it didn't stop as her hooves found their way up his back and towards his shoulders, rubbing out the tension in them, causing him to let out an aroused groan. “Dash...Tha Doctor said...Not to over exert mahself...” He said between moans.

Rainbow grinned, pushing him so he was laying on his back, her standing before him, grinning. “Don't worry, Big Guy, you just lay back and let me do all the work...”

Author's Note

So Felix just put all the other writers to shame with how fast he got this done. He was actually done like a week ago, but I have had very little time since the Con to really work on things.

We are actually now looking for more writers to add chapters! We might have someone for chapter 8 but please contact Captain Unstoppable via PM to see about writing other chapters! He will give guidelines there!

Keep on writing!