Shining Armor awoke in bed after a somewhat familiar scent hit his nose, somepony was definitely cooking flapjacks alright. He looked over and noticed Mocha Jon’s bed was empty, not surprisingly, if there was a lot of cakes with sweet syrup on them, that big eater wouldn’t pass that up. Shining also noticed he had a strange pain in his throat, which was strange as he felt fine the night before, “Ugh… What happened last night…?” He asked to himself, his voice very quiet and scratchy, his throat was affecting his speech. His memory was not exactly the best due to his mind being corrupted for so long.

When the unicorn walked into the kitchen, he noticed Woody, Big Mac, Mocha Jon, and Braeburn, who was turned back into a dog, were all eating breakfast. Shining Armor walked over and was nervous not to sound different. “Hey there Sweat Stain, it’s not lika ya ta be late for breakfast.” Big Mac said as he threw an entire stack into his mouth.

Shining Armor initially didn’t know to respond, using the name Sweat Stain normally doesn’t get a lot of attention to a regular stallion. “Huh? Oh yeah, sorry, I think I caught a bug or something.” He said, still quietly and with hoarse.

Woody seemed sympathetic, “Hold up, didn’t ya say ya got a tick stuck on ya back yesterday?”

“Oh yeah, why do you ask?” Shining Armor asked, trying not to seem worried, even though he knows Woody’s true nature, he can’t let him know that.

“It’s the Lickle Tickle Bug, not something I wish on anypony except city slickers, ya better stay here today, don’t want one of my best friends working while he’s sick.” Woody suggested, with the other stallions nodding along.

Shining Armor was actually surprised by this, “Really…? Okay I guess…” Shining wasn’t expecting this evil lumberjack monster guy to be so understanding of this.

Mocha Jon ate a stack of a dozen instantly in one gulp then grabbed the bottle of maple syrup and squeezed it directly into his mouth, “Sorry ya feel so bad man, I was hoping you would be coming with us, ya seem to get me the most.” Mocha said after swallowing and burping casually.

Shining Armor felt nervous about this, but he knew that if he disobeyed that Woody would suspect something was up, “Sorry man, but don’t worry, I know you’ll hold up.” He said as he winked at him, which just made the new lumberjack look confused.

“Stinky Boots, ya should stay with him, yesterday I left ya alone and I regret doing that, ya two should have some one on one time, that sound alright Sweat Stain?” Woody said as he stood up and put his boots on.

“Oh, yeah, I guess that’s okay.” Shining said as he remembered that he should be more willing, “Yes Sir, you always know what’s best!” He tried to say with more confidence, though his voice was still affected.

“Then it’s settled, you two stay with me, and we can go and do enough work for all of us!” Woody said as Mocha Jon also put his work boots on, now that he finally knew how they are put on.

“Perfect, I can’t wait!” Mocha said as he took an axe with pride… But he expectedly got too excited and accidentally flung it out of his hooves… “I recommend ya hold the axe…” HE said as the two and Braeburn made their way out of the cabin.

Shining Armor felt uncomfortable being left with Big Macintosh, what was he going to say, ‘Hey bud, I unhypnotized myself and am working on a plan to escape the woods’? Big Mac on the other hoof, seemed a little happy to be left alone with him though, like he had something to say. “Few, thought they’d never leave!” Big Mac exclaimed as he finished the last of the flapjacks.

Shining Armor looked over and was confused by that comment, he assumed he would be the first pony to say that, “Really? You wanted the Master to leave?” He asked, remembering to refer to Woody as Mac sees him.

“Eeyup, don’t get me wrong, I love him and love servin’ and sniffin’ him and all, but I have some stuff on my chest I wanted to get off, and I trust ya.” Big Mac said as he opened the fridge and pulled out some drinks.

“Believe me I know what it’s like to hide things from him…” Shining whispered to himself, but noticed Big Mac himself was confused by that remark, “Forget it… What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s simple, there’s something I know about ya that Master doesn’t want to talk about, I know all about it.”

Shining Armor looked extremely nervous as he tried to play innocent, “What? What are you talking about?”

Big Mac opened his drink can and plopped on the couch, “Eeyup, I know.”

Shining Armor just sighed and looked down, “Fine, he knew my phrase and…” He began until Big Mac cut him off.

“Ya miss ya family, ya miss ya wife, ya daughter, and ya sister.” Big Mac said as he looked at him understandingly. “I miss my family too.”

Shining Armor was relieved that Big Mac didn’t know he was freed from his mind control, but interested in what he just said, “Really? You miss the Apples? I thought you were so happy here?”

“Eeyup, of course I’m happy here! I love all the hard work, musky stallions, and seemingly unlimited supply of food we have despite the fact that the new guy keeps eatin’ everything.” Big Mac said, with Shining shrugging his shoulders at the latter comment. “But I still miss ‘em. I never even got ta say goodbye…” He said as he sighed and looked down.

Shining Armor looked deeply at the red stallion and empathized with him, “Yeah, like when a colt moves to a new school, even when he makes new friends he misses his old ones.” Shining said for a moment, forgetting that Big Mac was still technically hypnotized, “I know, I wish I could get a chance to tell them goodbye, or maybe have them come by. You know now that I think about it, I’m a little surprised nopony like Cadence ever tried to look for me…” Shining said as he got a huge epiphany…

“I mean I wouldn’t give up this new life for anythin’, but I just want the chance to know my family is still gonna be happy with me gone.” Big Mac said as he crushed his drink can and threw it back away. “I mean maybe just one last goodbye, or maybe we could get one last visit?”

“Yeah, a visit to them would be nice…” Shining said in depression until a lightbulb went off i his head… “Yeah! Actually, that sounds like a great idea! We can ask him to take us to say goodbye in person!” Shining Armor knew that this was the perfect way for Woody to let them back, and even if he wouldn’t let them free from him, somepony would be able to help them.

“Ya know, I really like ya Sweat Stain, I know Master likes givin’ me a lot of attention, but out of everypony in the woods, ya get me the most.”

Shining Armor looked over at Big Mac and grinned, after all the attention Woody gave him, hypnotized or not, it was nice to know Big Mac still cared, “You know, I really like you too, I hope soon we’ll be able to have a lot more conversations like this too Big M…” Shining tried to say until he noticed he was about to use his real name, “Bi.. Bu.. Ugh Ugh… Man, this throat thing is not fun… I hope we can have some more one on one time too… Stinky Boots…” Shining said, understandably embarrassed at having to call his friend such a humiliating name.

Author's Note

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