30 Minute Delay

Platonic Comfort

He shifted drowsily against the tree.

Big Macintosh loved these moments. After a day full of lucky breaks and extra effort he’d finished all his work by late afternoon, leaving his evening free. After putting away his tools and shrugging off his harness, he’d strolled out to his favourite place on the farm, one of the oldest trees that provided plenty of shade and soft bark to lean up against. Big Macintosh would come out here as often as he could and watch the sunset, well snooze through it more times than not.

This time had been no different, he’d cracked an eye open and spotted the sun a good site lower than when he last saw it. It never bothered him much, there was still a nice warmth to the air and he closed his eyes again. He still had a few hours until dark.

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He woke again, not long after, when he felt something shift against his side. Glancing down sleepily, he spotted a plum coat and light pink mane. Satisfied, he leaned his head back against the tree.

“Hey ‘lee.”

“Hey Mac. Good day?”

“Good enough, you?”

“Fine.”

The pony had become almost as familiar a fixture on days like this as the sunset and the tree. Ever since the Hearts ‘n’ Hooves day fiasco, the farm stallion and teacher mare had struck up an easy friendship. Whenever they had the time, one would seek out the other for a few hours of amicable companionship.

Big Mac grunted and shifted his posture to accommodate the lass leaning against him. With any other filly he’d be tense and nervous but found that was never a problem with Cheerilee. After nearly ending up as husband and wife thanks to the well-intentioned meddling of little Applebloom and her friends, the disaster-waiting-to-happen known as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, there really wasn’t much more that he and ‘lee had to hide. They knew exactly what they were to each other and it wasn’t ‘special someponys’, just easy friends. He felt it was a nice change of pace from Caramel’s constant nagging about finding a marefriend. Big Macintosh appreciated the concern from his closest stallion acquaintance but sometimes the guy could lay it on a little thick, at which point the farm pony would resort to his usual “Eeyup” or “Nnope”. It wasn’t the nicest way to handle it but it usually resulted in shifting the conversation to another topic.

Cheerilee poked him gently in the ribs.

“Make sure to tell Applebloom that ‘finding our Cutie Marks’ is not an acceptable reason for not doing her homework, I don’t want to have to talk to Applejack about this.” This roused Mac a little.

“She been skippin’ her homework often?” His baby sister was……energetic in her pursuit of a Cutie Mark but he didn’t want it causing problems. Cheerilee yawned before responding.

“Not often, not yet at least. I had her stay late a few weeks ago to redo some work she hadn’t put much effort into because she’d been with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, not saying it was their fault, they were there too.” Cheerilee’s eyes were closed and she seemed to be fading but pushed on regardless,

“Rarity wasn’t happy when she came to collect her sister.” Mac could believe that, from the interaction he’d had with the fashion pony she didn’t strike him as one who appreciated her sister slacking off OR having to take time off to deal with it.

“Hmm, I’ll make sure she gets it done. Don’t want her troublin’ you none, ‘lee.”

“’preciate it, Mac.” These last few words were murmured as the mare drifted off. Soon her breathing was low and even. Mulling over what’d been said; Mac couldn’t help but be glad to have a friend like her who looked out for her students so much. He liked being kept abreast of how Applebloom was doing; sometimes he was working too much to see her besides passing in the corridors. Cheerilee’s friendship helped ease the big-brotherly sadness of having others know more about his sibling than he did. At least this way it got back to him in good time. He was happy to repay the favour if she ever needed it.

With a smile on his face, Mac settled down to enjoy the last of the day’s sun.

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A clanging sound roused the two from their slumber. Cheerilee, the more startled of the two, had fallen over in shock. Helping her up, Mac cocked his head in the direction of the house.

“Sounds like Applejack’s got the food out. Wanna stay for dinner?” Smiling, she shook her head and indicated the sky, now dark and with forming clouds.

“Can’t, I have to get home and get everything ready for tomorrow’s classes.” Knowing how important her work was to her, Mac didn’t press the issue.

“Alright, want me to walk you home ‘lee?”

“No thanks, I know the way just fine. Go get fed,” She altered her voice to a rough impression of Applejack’s,

“Soup’s on everypony!”

Chuckling, the two said their goodbyes and parted ways. Cheerilee headed back into town as Big Macintosh steadily ambled back towards the homestead.

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Author’s note: Sorry shippers, they’re just friends.