The Hollow Kingdom of Big Macintosh

Exhibit O

"You seem awfully chipper today," Rarity says with a smile. "Did something good happen?"

Big Macintosh did not immediately answer, a forgivable offense for anypony who knew the reasoning. After his sister had laughed off the reason he had the world on a string, he had a certain hesitance about revealing it to anypony else. He trusted Rarity, so he did answer. He didn't want to offend her by not trusting her.

"I made a friend."

"Well that's nice," Rarity says. She continues with her work in the following silence.

Big Macintosh did not expect such an underwhelming outcome. A part of him felt disappointed, but the stronger part of him knew this was better than being laughed at. Still, he wishes that there was a little more to it. He realizes making friend isn't such a big deal, not at his age.

"So, who is it?" Rarity asks all of a sudden. Big Macintosh realizes she has been casting her eyes up at him with an inquiring look, as if he was expected to reveal the pony's identity by default. He wondered if this is what he hoped for.

"Well, you know that mare that was here a few days ago?" he asks, but his question is met with a puzzled look from Rarity.

"There are lots of mares around here everyday, darling," she says. "You might need to be more specific."

Big Macintosh coughs. He has made a novice mistake. If Applejack knew about this, she would have more ammo to go off on him again. He is not particularly fond of that thought, so he resolves to fix his mistake.

"Hippocampy, earth pony who was here when I showed up," he says, taking care to be more exact this time. "You said she needed a dress for something."

"Yes, I remember Hippocampy," Rarity replied. "You mentioned you knew her. You've only just become friends?"

"Yeah, we bumped into each other and hit it off," Big Macintosh says, not lying for the most part. "She's... odd."

"Well, she seemed normal enough talking to me," Rarity tells him. "Then again, I don't know her as well as you do." She laughs, but Big Macintosh knows she doesn't realize how true that is. Even with everything he knows about her, he hardly knows her. He doesn't know where she comes from, what her plans for the future are, or even where she lives around Ponyville. The main thing he knows about her is that she is willing to help him keep his secret; that deserves all the trust Big Macintosh can give her.

"She's odd, but she's a good pony. She's trustworthy, if nothing else," he says. He believes that if he trusts her, getting to know her will follow naturally. If the things she says and does are genuine, he can learn her by simply being with her. He enjoys being with her, even if partially for selfish reasons. Of course, he won't be telling anypony about those things for the time being. "What did you say she needed the dress for?"

"That's her business," Rarity says with a sly smile. "She's your friend; just ask her. I bet she'll be glad to tell you all about it."

"Fair enough."

It would be that simple. He could ask her all about it today. There are no secrets between them, save for the ones they had yet to reveal. One by one, they will fall open on the ground. It will be simple; Big Macintosh tells himself this.

Rarity continues working in the comfortable silence. Big Macintosh is just now remembering that he has been coming here for a reason. He had almost forgotten that Rarity is working on a special order for stallions' clothes. He counts the days he's been coming and wonders just how long it will take. It isn't that he minds terribly, but he'd rather not be coming to Rarity's every day for the rest of his life if he can help it.

"So how's the order coming along?" he asks.

"Hmm?" Rarity doesn't look up at him, but just keeps working away. Whatever she has Big Macintosh wearing today is a little tight around the collar.

"How is this project coming along?"

"Just fine." She doesn't miss a beat. Big Macintosh can tell she is focused now, so there is no breaking her out of it until their time comes to a close. He waits patiently, letting her fuss over and fiddle with every facet of the ensemble on his body. She's gotten very familiar with his shape and size.

She doesn't snap out of her work until happening to cast an idle gaze up at the clock. She is holding Macintosh a few minutes longer than normal, but she doesn't stop. She works slower, keeping one eye on the clock.

She gives herself just five more minutes with him. She adds a stitch here and a strand of silk here. She checks the slack around the collar and decides she should loosen it. She takes notes, makes cuts, makes adjustments, changes things. Five minutes passed five minutes ago when she allows herself to look at the clock.

Another five minutes wouldn't hurt anything, but she can only take so much time before the power is taken out of her hooves. Time running out is only a matter of time now. She can't stitch him to the floor.

"Pardon me." Big Macintosh finally speaks up once they are half an hour over. "It's getting late."

"Oh, terribly sorry," she says. "I didn't notice the time. I didn't mean to keep you." She lied to him again.

"No problem. I'm in no particular hurry." Big Macintosh trusts Rarity.

She helps him out of the clothes and lets him go. He collects his yoke and slips it back onto his broad shoulders, becoming whole once more. He never looks quite right in the costumes Rarity makes on him, but his form pulls itself back together as he walks out the door. Before he does, she calls out to him so that she might be at ease.

"See you tomorrow?"

"Eeyup."

His assurance does less than it did at the outset, and one day this alone will not be enough.