The Big and The Blue
written by Splash O'Color Harmony Shadows
edited by Harmony Shadows
The sun shone brightly over sweet apple acres, Big Macintosh was working in the orchard bucking some apples out of the trees, his body was beginning to feel the heat of the day along with the strain of good old fashion hard labor but he had to get the job done, soon he heard a voice calling out to him. Stopping his work, he turned his head towards the owner of the voice
“Big Mac! I’ve been looking all over for you!” it was Twillight Sparkle ,a purple unicorn and one of his younger sister's good friends, she was levitating a letter with her magic as she stopped in front of the stallion
“The princess has sent a letter for you and it seems important” she passed the letter over to the red colored stallion and waited until he had opened the letter in question before asking “Well? What’s it say?” Big Mac looked over the letter as he began to read it carefully.
Dear Big Macintosh,
I request your help with a most difficult problem involving a relative of mine by the name of Prince Blueblood whom has been acting quite , well there is no other way to put this, unseemly as of late and I was hoping that you would be able to help. My star student Twilight has told me much about your upbringing as a modest, kind and gentle soul so I've no doubt that you would be able to handle a problem such as the one I am facing. I hope with your abilities you can make my nephew Blueblood a bit more polite to both ponies of royalty as well as the common ponies of Equestria
I thank you in advance for your coroperation and have faith that you will chose to take on this task
Sincerely,
Princess Celestia
Big Mac looked up from the letter to the other pony with the same stoic look on his face that he always wore as he finally answered her question from earlier "Looks like I'm going to Canterlot” and with that he headed back to his modest house to pack what he needed for his trip. Once inside the house, he told his family, Applejack, Applebloom, and Granny Smith, that he had to go to Canterlot upon the request of the princess. The elder of the Apple sisters didn't understand why in Equestria her brother had been chosen for such a task “Why in tarnations do ya'll need to go there for?” said the orange colored mare as she sat in her brother's room while he packed
“Yeah I mean can't the princess get some other pony to do it?” chimed in the youngest sister Applebloom, all while helping her big brother pack hoping she would get a luggage packing cutie mark. “Nope.. princess sent for me because of my upbringing, she hopes I can teach this Prince Blueblood feller a thing or two about manners.” Explained the eldest of the Apple family siblings as he finished packing, gently patting a dejected and still cutie mark free Applebloom on the head before heading off to the train station. with Applejack following behind him, still going on about how this is just a dumb idea all the way until he hopped aboard the train, waving to his family and friends as it pulled away from the station.
Canterlot was a huge but dreadfully boring place for a pony of high class like Prince Blueblood as he trotted through the streets, even not stopping to pay any attention to all the compliments nor glance at any of the swooning mares he passed. It was unsurprising really, this was The Prince Blueblood and nopony could argue that he was the best in Canterlot so he didn’t have to cater to anyone plus these commoners where lucky he was even gracing them with his presence. The entire reason he was even here was due to the fact that he had been called to the castle to meet someone, undoubtedly another unworthy mare that wished to marry him.
Honestly who would want to marry these mares? They where all quite obnoxious and none come close to my beauty Thought the white unicorn. He arrived at the castle and entered looking around, seeing many guests admiring some of the art but he wasn't interested in such dribble when his presence was requested by the princess. Heading towards the throne room, he bowed before the princess of the sun and looked up at her with a simple question gracing his lips. “You wished to see me?”
The princess nodded before replying to her nephew “Yes I did Blueblood, I have someone who you simply must meet”
"Of course" thought Blueblood, "another mare that wishes to have me"
The princess looked towards the door, her voice gentle while still holding an air of command “Please come in Big Macintosh”. Blueblood turned to look oddly as a large red stallion with a green apple cut in half for a cutie mark entered the room and simply nodded to the princess who spoke once more“Big Macintosh is here to be your…. escort of sorts, he will teach you to be a little more polite to others”
The unicorn stared at the princess, she couldn't be serious could she? He was supposed to hang around a country bumpkin? Quickly turning back to look at her highness, he protested to her decision “I can't possibly be seen with Him.. why he's so… so… Common!” The large red stallion looked at the royal prince with a stoic expression as if he didn’t care what the other had to say or if he was too common for the royal pony “I am sorry my dear nephew but I say you must and I don’t think Big Macintosh here will argue with my decision. I did humbly request this of him so it would be rude of me to send him away” said Princess Celestia, all while doing her best to hide a giggle
Moments later Prince Blueblood found himself walking down the street with his head held low with Big Macintosh whom kept his head held high right beside him the entire time it was simply dreadful how his perfect life was destroyed by a brut from some back woods town. How could he be seen with something like this and out in public of all places, he had to find a way to ditch the thorn in his side and the sooner the better the royal prince thought as he watched Big Mac stop in front of some disgusting street vendor. Big Mac looked over the array of foods and spotted a tasty red apple that was practically calling his name, drawing the vendor's attention he asked. "Pardon me, Miss but if it wouldn't be too much trouble.. may I have that apple there?" The brown mare with shocking red hair giggled before being able to reply to such a handsome stallion. "Of course you may, it'll be ten bits" and with that out of the way Big Mac handed over the money as he took the apple in his hoof, he nodded to the mare and thanked her "much obliged Miss" before walking back over to the young prince who was baffled as he followed after him and questioning his taste in food. "How can you eat such a common food like...Apples?" Just saying the word apple made the white unicorn shudder. "They're good Mister Blueblood and good for you.. how do you think I got so big?" was the only answer that the prince could get from the country bumpkin and he could only shake his head at how he, the greatest stallion and most handsome in all of Equestria was stuck with this commoner whom was nothing more than a brute and a complete dunce one at that. He just had to get away as soon as he could, maybe when they stopped for lunch but Big Macintosh was good at figuring other ponies out and thought that Bluebood would try something crazy so the bigger stallion had come up with a simple plan. If he was here to teach the young prince then he would use the best way he knew how which was to let the student fail and to do that he had gotten a few friends of his to help him with this so called problem child. They were going to have to treat Blueblood in the same manner that he would be treated back on the farm if he was a rude colt. Since lunch was the most likely of places the royal pain would try something, he made the choice to begin the lessons on how to treat others there.
Blueblood noticed more mares looking all googly eyed at him and was unaware when he spoke out loud. "Mares are annoying creatures. How can one stand them" with that Big Mac smirked and walked right up to the mares in question "Pardon me ladies but my friend and I were wonderin' if y'all would join us for lunch, it would be a great pleasure to have y'all along." The mare nodded happily and after a long talk on where they should go with obviously no help from Blueblood other than a random comment about how all of this was far too tedious for a perfect mind like his to take so in the end they picked a little cafe that a certain stallion opted to not eat any of the so called commoner food, though by that point the young mares were finding Blueblood to be quite obnoxious as another pony back in Ponyville named Rarity had come to find out. While Big Mac had some hay fries with a glass of milk on the side, the mares were too enthralled in his kindness towards them with his referring to both as Ma'am or Miss and never treating them as a piece of meat on a stick.
Blueblood flipped his mane and stated "I'm going to the restroom" and with that he got up with Big Mac watching him go. The moment he was out of sight, he ducked behind the cafe and ran until he was finally free of the commoners, eventually slowing down he trotted down the street unaware that Big Macintosh's friends had spotted him and knew that it was their turn to set the plan in action. They began trotting right past him, laughing and chatting as they purposely bumped into him before one of them apologized "Oh I'm so sorry Sir.. are you all right?" and offered him a worried look. Of course Blueblood being a princely pain he was completely offended by somepony having the nerve to bump into him. "Ugh.. watch where you're walking commoner. I just had myself groomed today at the spa and I can't have your dirty hide ruining my perfect coat and mane". The three farmer ponies looked at each other while one, a caramel colored pony with brown hair said to him "Now look here partner, that's not how you treat ponies. My frie-" but before he could finish speaking Blueblood interrupted him by responding with "Well your friend should have been watching where he was walking and I don't believe I was even speaking to you 'partner'. Oh honestly are all you farm breed twits this dence?" One of the other farmers, who didn't like his intelligence to be judged, became enraged and smacked the prince across the face with his left hoof. The other two whom were also quite upset joined in on the fun of getting to beat up the pompous prick, Big Mac who was walking up the street in search of the prince noticed the fight and thought Ah pony feathers...didn't see this one a'comin and raced to chase off the three other farmers and luckily none of them dared to attack the intimidating stallion in return.
After the farm ponies has run off, Big Mac helped blueblood to his feet who had been staring at his savior the entire time during the ordeal. "Are y'all all right?" he asked and only getting a nod from the other pony "Good then I won't be feelin' so bad about yelling at y'all! What were you thinking?! There there is what could happen if you don't stop actin' like a useless prick who don't know how to treat others!"
The prince simply stared at him before finding his usual tone of voice again. "How dare you! You are just a farm hand and you are actually trying to scold Me? I am royalty and should be treated as such. I am a perfect stallion and every pony knows it!" Big Macintosh glared down at him, easily continuing with his lecture "I suggest you take a long look at yourself because there ain't nothing perfect about ya!" Blueblood looked at him in shock but the red stallion kept going. "You treat others like they're useless to you! You can't possibly think that treating others like that is a common thing.. it ain't right and you aren't gonna get away with it your whole life. Now go back to your palace before you give me any more trouble" The 'farm hand' who'd found the prince to be a special somepony that he wanted to spend time with walked away leaving the other with a gaping mouth due to the fact that nopony had ever talked to his royal highness in such a manner. He was after all The Prince Blueblood and perfect in every way, why else would his mother have named him Blueblood in the first place if that wasn't the case. The white unicorn walked home with his mouth still hanging open and questions about himself buzzing through his head along with the words that Big Macintosh had said. He had been awful but bluebloods were supposed to be as such, that's why they part of high society. Soon without knowing he had made it home and upon inspecting himself he realized that commercialized appearances aside he was a, as Big Mac so gently put it, a prick. As he walked to his bed and night soon began to fall he realized how it seemed to fit him, in that moment he vowed to make a change starting the very next day and he would take the other pony's advice seriously. The red stallion was handsome and kind if all else, maybe what he was doing was a good thing and maybe the prince should treat others with kindness and respect.
The next morning he awoke and immediately went to his butler, telling him to fetch Big Macintosh at once. While he waited, Blueblood set up his private lounge so he could properly learn what this kindness was all about. When Big Macintosh entered he stared the pompous prince down immediately saying "Y'all ready to learn how you should treat others?" when the unicorn nodded he smiled "Good.. then let's get this pony show on the road." Calling in a young pegasus with a light yellow coat and soft pink colored mane that held three butterflies which matched perfectly with her cutie mark. "This here is Miss Fluttershy, she'll be helping us today. I found her in town while wondering 'round trying to think how to get these lessons into that thick head of yours" Fluttershy nodded and said in her hushed tone of voice "Oh yes.. I w-was helping some small animals in the park". Big Mac walked over to his student and whispered low enough that the mare couldn't hear "And I suggest not makin' her cry. I suspect her mare friend isn't far and even if she is, she has a way of popin' up. Word 'round Ponyville is that Pinkie Pie is a quick one and hates people who make Fluttershy cry". Upon hearing this, Blueblood nodded, hoping he wouldn't have to meet this Pinkie Pie.. whoever she was.
And so the lessons began with Blueblood having to learn how to properly speak to a lady, addressing her as Miss or Ma'am and never talking down to them as well as having to learn that every lady needed to be treated like a delicate flower and never allowing them to feel as if they were useless. He went through each lesson getting more and more of it down until finally it was getting late and Fluttershy had to return to Ponyville. Bidding her goodbyes she left saying that the prince had done a very good job but of course that was the nature of such a kind and soft spoken pony such as her. Big Mac had noticed that Blueblood hadn't fully grasped the concept but was trying none the less so he continued on with teaching him next how to treat colts. "You can't go callin' them dense even if they are.. unless you want a few broken bones after doing such a thing" Blueblood, who'd been stealing glances at the other stallion throughout the lessons nodded as he listened while noticing how the Southern drawl of Big Mac's voice made his spine tingle along with how his eyes seemed to be the most perfect shade of green he'd ever seen. Sitting beside him, Big Mac asked "Do you understand now? You got your flank handed to you because you insulted those colts" looking over at Blueblood with a smirk, Big Mac said "Come on.. why don't we go out for dinner or something to see how you treat the common working ponies. Sound like a plan?" Bluebood had to snap himself out of his daydream of being snuggled up close to the other stallion by a fire and simply nodded as he followed him out of the palace while taking notice of some of Big Mac's other features which didn't help because then he had to quicken his pace to stay side by side with the slightly more built pony. Blueblood wonder what was wrong with him as they reached a small restaurant and picked to sit outside due to the stars being so lovely that evening. "Our Princess of the Night must be making the evening special for some lovers that she's takin note of" stated Big Mac while he kept his eyes up towards the sky as a waitress approached their table, her bright blue mane waved in the soft breeze and asked. "What may I get you gentlecolts this evein'?" Paying more attention to the red stallion, Blueblood answered first. "I'll have a coffee please Miss and if it's not too much trouble an apple on the side" he smiled as the waitress took his order with a polite "Of course sugar and for you Sir?" Big Mac simply answered "Just some orange juice Miss". The waitress scurried off to fetch the order.
after the short dinner they returned to the palace to sit in Blueblood's room. "Did I do all right?" questioned the unicorn, wanting some kind of approval for his behavior. Big Macintosh smiled and in his trade mark way said "Eeeyep". The prince loved his smile and couldn't help himself when he leaned forward, pressing his lips to the other stallion's for a brief moment. Big Mac's eyes went wide in slight surprise but still returned the kiss until Blueblood pulled away. The unicorn began stuttering "I-I-I'm sorry.. I don't know what came over me" The earth pony only smiled "I was waitin' for y'all to do that and it took you long enough" They moved closer together with Big Mac nuzzling Blueblood's neck. "I don't think I can say I love you yet but I would like to spend more time with you" said the prince as he looked at Big Macintosh with hope. "Would you come visit me more?" The red colored stallion nodded " Course I will as long as you promise to visit me in Ponyville some time" Blueblood nodded in return, he knew he would go there one day to continue practicing his manners. "Stay with me tonight?" Blueblood requested of his new friend, to which the other replied "I wouldn't dream of leaving"
