Flash Sentry steals your Waifu!

You are Princess Celestia

"He's alive..." Applejack tells you, "his wounds will heal; he will be as strong and functional as he ever was". Her unenthused tone fails to hide her grief, "Mentally, however, he's gone...and he might never come back".

You've lived the nightmare over and over again in your head for the past few days. The event itself seems like a dream, like you were witnessing it through somepony else's eyes but had no control over your actions. You saw Discord take Flash into another realm as the cave collapsed around you. Mac pleaded for you to leave as you thrashed about inconsolably. You finally regained your senses long enough for him to confess his love for you before a large boulder crashed down from the ceiling. Before you moved, you felt two strong punches to your chest as Big Mac shoved you out of the way to take the blow himself. You screamed in terror as the rubble covered him under an avalanche of stones. Once you fully took control of your actions, you used your magic to sift through the debris and find the battered stallion unconscious and gravely wounded. You retrieved him and teleported out, making all haste to the closest medical facility.

Now you sit around the dining table back at Sweet Apple Acres. Granny Smith and Applejack surround you while Apple Bloom would stay with Sweetie Belle so as not to see her brother in his current condition. He has just been released from the hospital today and his return was accompanied with scores of flowers, love letters and thank-you notes from the ponies he'd helped. A makeshift vigil even decorates the front entrance to the farm. Dozens asked the Apple family on his condition and if they could see the recovering hero, but what he needs now is time alone to rest. Being The Princess, you were allowed special access to visit the house.

"Is it all right if I see him?" you ask.

Both mares look at each other. You sense this is an idea they'd prefer to decline, but, being The Princess, they feel it improper to refuse you. Still, they must think about what is best for Big Mac.

"Ohh, sorry dearie," Granny Smith apologizes, "I dunno if Mac is fit fer seein' royalty right now".

"Yeah," Applejack adds, "he seemed real nervous-like when he first saw us. It was like he did'un recognize us! I aint sure how he's gonna react with The Princess!"

"I...understand," you lower your head in disappointment. Since his confession, all you've wanted to do is to see him again; he has awoken feelings inside you long forgotten. But that stallion is gone now, all that remains is an empty husk. And yet, you want to see what is left of him, just to make sure he is happy. Being the wise old mare, Granny Smith can sense your frustrations.

"Tell you what, let's just try and see what happens!" she jumps from off the chair.

Applejack looks back with a look of worried confusion. "You sure 'bout that Granny? We don't want to upset 'im anymore. We gotta think about what's best for-"

"YES, AH'M SURE!" Granny abruptly snaps. Her eyes swell with tears as she can no longer contain the grief within her. "It's better than not doin' nuthin an' hopin' fer the best! Besides, I'm tired of losing children! Ah've suffered enough when yer parents left us, I'M NOT LOSING HIM TOO!" She starts crying uncontrollably. Even Applejack seems stunned as she has never seen her grandmother cry. She approaches the grieving matriarch to offer a consoling hug.

"It's alright," Applejack comforts the green mare, "let's go see him". She looks over to you, "you can come too. Just...be gentle".

Big Mac sits under an apple tree, the red apples dangle above just out of reach. He obviously wants one, yet has no idea on how to acquire the tasty treat. Granny Smith already starts to cry seeing the confusion in his face while trying to figure out how to do something he has done his entire life. Applejack joins her, if only on the inside. Bandages wrap themselves around his head to further demonstrate how his mind has become a blank slate. He circles the tree, constantly staring at the lowest, most ripe apple. He makes a few ineffective attempts to jump for it before conceding at sitting back down to stare longingly at the unattainable fruit.

The pathetic display is too much for his family to bear as they turn away. Granny Smith grants you permission, "you can go see him, but Ah just can't see 'im like this!" She makes her way back into the farmhouse. Applejack rests a hoof on you in reassurance while you start to tear up as well.

"Ok, sugarcube, just take it nice and slow."

You approach the silent stallion, his attention still on the red orb above him. You creep up to within a few feet and he still does not notice you. Each step seems an eternity as this will be the first time he sees you since that horrible incident. Will he remember you? Does he still love you? Will that love bring him back? Your heart will not stop racing in anticipation.

Hearing your approaching steps, he finally turns to see the massive Alicorn nearly standing over him. His eyes widen, though you don't know if it's in realization or fear. He seems to do nothing for a few moments. You reach out a hoof to formally greet the newest hero of Equestria. Before you say your first word, he finally gives you a reaction.

Big McIntosh recoils and sinks to the ground, trembling at the sight of this imposing figure above him. It is painfully clear: he does not remember you! He covers his eyes, panicked and mortified of the unknown creature hovering over him. His fear pierces your heart more painfully than any spear could. You retract your foreleg to ease his fears, but he remains on the ground, trembling with terror as his hooves still cover his eyes.

You decide to offer him a present: the apple he had failed to acquire. Your horn glows while you attempt to retrieve the ripe fruit. The glow emitted frightens him even further. You feel foolish as you figure this is his first time witnessing magic since the incident.

You decide a more direct approach. Maybe if you hit the tree, he might remember how to Applebuck. He stares at you, still in fear, as you raise your hoof and strike the tree. The delicious apple falls beside him, only he ignores it and flinches back a few feet away from the sudden THWACK! Again, you feel foolish. He's already terrified, then I make a sudden and loud noise! Brilliant!

You pick up the apple and present it to him as a peace offering. As you outstretch your foreleg, it's painfully obvious he wants no part of it. He leaps from off the ground to hide behind the tree and use it for cover. His wide eyes and still trembling body is too much to bear, you start to audibly sob as you can no longer control yourself.

You turn back and drag your hooves on your way back to Applejack. If you weren't so emotional, you would notice that...she is crying too; actual, tangible tears! Tough as she may be, the sight of her brother in this state is more than she could handle. He was always so strong, so stoic, so in control. But now he is gone, and whatever is left is not him; an insult to his memory. She approaches and hugs you as the two of you share an emotional despairing embrace.

After a few moments and tears, Applejack requests that it's time to leave him be. "Ah'm sorry Princess, but Ah think it'd be best if we leave him fer now."

"I understand," you reply, "will you let me know if he gets better?"

"Princess," she obviously looks uncomfortable as she figures out a way to put it delicately, "Ah think it'd be best if you don't see him...ever."

Your heart rips again as the earth pony uses her special gift: telling it like it is with brutal honesty. Foolishly, you ask why.

"Look at him, Princess!" she points to Mac, now eating the apple. He is eating it from the bottom, including the core, as he can not remember even how to do that. "He's just not there! Whatever you want to see...gone! Fer-EVER! It's clear this is terrified of you. Please! Just leave him to us! We'll make sure he's comfortable." A tear starts falling from her eye again.

You say nothing more. You know, in your heart, that she is correct. He is gone. The best thing for him would be to remain alone with his family. If and when he recovers, then maybe he can start over again. However, his memories and love of you are irretrievable. It would also be easiest for you to never see him as well. You reflect on this while slowly plodding away from the dreary scene. You can't bring yourself to bid Applejack farewell before you take to the sky, away from Sweet Apple Acres.

You rest on a cloud overlooking Ponyville. All seems to have returned to normal, except that half the town is still in love with a pony who no longer exists. How will they respond to the fact that their love is no longer among them? Will they move on? Will they go back to their special somepony? Will Mac emerge as a completely new pony? Will HE find love? So many questions, and every one of them can be said about you as well.

You find yourself not wanting to move on. Not yet. You still haven't even had the chance to say good-bye! But you saw his reaction, he is terrified of you. How can you wish him farewell without him panicking at the sight of you?

You'd hate to do it, but you must use your magic to calm him long enough to give you the moment you need. Within the hour, you will head back to Sweet Apple Acres and hope he is still sitting alone. For now you just sit and think on what you need to say.

It is now around sunset. Apple Bloom is still with her friends and Granny Smith should already be asleep. You convince Twilight Sparkle to call Applejack away from the farm, if only for a few moments, so you could have the privacy you need. As you approach, you find Big Mac on top of the same hill where you found him to originally ask for his help.

Mac still has the bandages and a confused look on his face as he circles the lone apple tree in pursuit of another sweet treat. This time, he must have taken notice of how you acquired the previous apple as he attempt to knock another down. He turns to face away from the tree and kicks backward, hoping the impact will send one down.

It appears as if...no, it can't be! Is he trying to Applebuck?

He misses the tree and falls back in a futile attempt. He picks himself back up and raises both hind legs in another attempt. Again, another miss. Even if he has the muscle memory, the mental connections were just not there. The pursuit distracts him long enough for you to land without him noticing.

When he finally does notice, he once again cowers at the imposing presence of a larger Alicorn Princess. You use your magic to envelope him in a calming spell. You hate using magic on other ponies without their permission, but you need this moment for closure. Trapped and somewhat sedated, you approach him to say what you needed to say. You sit beside him as you face toward your sunset.

"This really is a beautiful spot," you comment on the view, hoping to put him at ease. In truth, you don't know if he can even understand you, but you need to do this for yourself. "I can see why it is your favorite...it was your favorite. I don't know if any of you is still in there or if I'm talking to a completely different pony, but I remember what you said before...this happened. I just wanted you to know, that I love you too! I will always love you, even if you are gone forever. I've waited for you for a thousand years only to lose you in the moment I truly found you. How cruel life can be! You will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of Equestria. I..." you find yourself choking up while you finish your last words to him. "...I just want to say: thank you, my McIntosh!"

He does not resist as you embrace the red stallion. You can no longer hold back the tears as you give him the first and last kiss the two of you will share. You hold the embrace as long as you can before acknowledging it is time to leave. He looks into your eyes with a confused look on his face, as if he does not know what just happened or what to do next.

"..."

He appears as if he tries to speak, but what words, if any, will he say? Will these be the first words of a new pony or is there hope he will remember?

"E...Eeyup!"