"Mornin'," gleamed the big red colt, taking the mail from the grey pegasus' hooves with a smile.

"Mhm. How's the farm and all? And your sisters," Ditzy asked, a little shy at the big figure before her.

"All's well, thank'ya Ditzy. See you next mornin'," replied Big Mac. With that, the googly-eyed pegasus nodded and flew away to continue her morning routine. The sun was only halfway above the horizon and most of Ponyville was asleep, but Big Mac always seemed to be one of the earliest to get up. He was also one of the only ponies in Ponyville who received Ditzy's deliveries in person. The early mornings allowed the both of them to enjoy beautiful sunrise while most of Ponyville was only just waking up.

------

"Aw come on, just come fer a lil' while!" whined Applejack at her big brother.

"Ah told ya, ah dun' want 'ta go to them parties," the big crimson colt replied, desperately trying to excuse his way out of the situation.

"Yes you do. We dun' haveta harvest 'till the day after tomorrow, so there's no 'scuse fer you to not come to Pinkie's party. Now come on, it's good fer you to socialize a bit."

"...Fine. But only for an hour," groaned Bic Mac at the thought of the pink pony who always seemed to like to bother the colt.

Big Mac wasn't much of a social pony, but he was friendly nonetheless. He did have a small group of friends he would get together with occasionally, but he just wasn't built for gatherings at bigger scales. It was a relatively rare sight to see the red pony at parties.

"Ah'm gonna get a head start - gonna help Pinkie with some of them preparations. You better be there in an hour!" noted the orange filly, quickly turning around and trotting towards Ponyville. Big Mac sighed in both disbelief and submission.

What could go wrong, thought Big Mac, Ah'll just be in and outta there within an hour.

------

The sun was bright and there were small collections of clouds in the sky. It was about midday and the sounds of Ponyville were close enough that Big Mac could hear them as he trotted towards the town. Even though he wasn't much of a social pony, it wasn't an uncommon sight to see the work-pony come into town. He often visited during his time off, even if to just get away from all the apple bucking.

Walking into town square, Big Mac took notice to Sugarcube Corner as many ponies entered the building. Conversation and laughter could be heard everywhere, and even the muffled sound of loud music from the party filled the streets. Big Mac sighed once again and decided to make it towards Sugarcube Corner. Only for an hour.

"LOOK OUT BELOW!" a familiar voice yelled from above - a phrase a bit too common for the rainbow-maned filly.

"OOF!" exhaled Rainbow Dash as she broke her fall on Big Mac. Among the heap of the two ponies on the ground, Big Mac was on top of Rainbow who struggled under his weight. "Errrrghh..." she squirmed.

"Oh, uh... Sorry," apologized Big Mac as he lifted himself off of Rainbow Dash and helped her to her hooves.

"Oh... Big Mac! Uh, hi! Uhm, heheh... Sorry!" the light blue pegasus seemed not only out of breath, but out of words.

"Eeyup, it's all good. You okay?"

"Uhmm... yeah. Uh, yeah... I'm good. Sorry again!" she seemed to scramble her words as she lowered her head. "Um - how are y - I mean you look nice - er, gotta go!" and with that, she zoomed off - leaving a trail of a rainbow behind.

"Uh... Okay," at a loss of words for himself, Big Mac brushed off the situation and continued towards Sugarcube Corner.

He entered the building that seemed crammed with ponies; a wonder how anypony made their way through the place. A few shouts acknowledged Big Mac's entrance and he simply nodded back, but he immediately found himself with nothing to do. That was until a lavender pony trotted up to him.

"Hello Big Mac! Nice to see you here," Twilight greeted him with a big - yet shy - smile.

"Eeyup. Ah guess it's good fer me to come to these parties once in awhile."

"Heheh. Well glad to know you could make it," the purple pony insisted. Twilight looked to the side; she seemed to want to make eye contact with the colt but couldn't.

"Uhm... What's the occasion anyways? Ah was never told what this here party was for," Big Mac attempted to make the small talk.

"Oh, uh... Nothing really. Just another random Pinkie Pie party - that crazy filly," Twilight seemed to shrink her figure more as she 'socialized' with him. "Uhm well, have a good time," she mumbled. With that, she seemed to forcefully trot away with a sense of failure among her body language. Maybe she meant to say something but couldn't?

Awkward moment after awkward moment, thought Big Mac. Through an opening in the crowd, Big Mac spotted the food table and decided to head towards the goods for a snack. He was starving anyways.

Many sweets and pastries lined the table: from cupcakes to pie to candy to muffins. They all looked delicious, but Big Mac noticed that there were only two cupcakes left as he took one into onto his hoof. Readying himself to take a bite into the sweetness, he immediately found that the cupcake had vanished.

"Wha-"

"AAHMNOMNOMNOMNOM" muffled through the mouth of the pink pony - who seemed to appear out of nowhere - beside him. Crumbs of various pastries were scattered around her muzzle.

"Uh..." Big Mac uttered slightly. Shocked with surprise and annoyance, he decided it was best to back away now while the filly was busy enjoying her stolen good.

"Big Mac-y Lac Mac! YOU'RE HERE!" she exclaimed; Big Mac closed his eyes and prepared himself to endure what was to come.

"WEEEE!" Pinkie Pie threw all four of her hooves around the neck of the colt as she clung to the stable figure. "I'M SO GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT ohmygosh it's the BEST when you come to parties - MY PARTIES!"

"Eheheh... Eeyup..." he mumbled through her fluffy mane that smelled like cotton candy, trying to keep his balance from the introduction of a filly clinging to his neck.

"OH did I eat your cupcake? I'M SO SORRY please don't be mad at me I'LL MAKE MORE! BIG MAAAAAAAAC" Pinkie shot words through her mouth like a machine gun. She climbed onto his back and rested her head on top of his, her front hooves still around his neck.

"Er... Pinkie..." He looked around, taking notice to the scene she was making as nearby ponies tried to contain their giggles.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm heeheeheehee," Pinkie mumbled as she rubbed her head against his mane. Big Mac rolled his eyes.

"Uh, Pinkie?"

"Nnnnnnnnnnnnnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!"

"Pinkie... Yer messin' up mah mane..."

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm OH! SORRY! Ummm..." she squealed as she lifted her head up. She noticed, sitting on the other side of the snack table, was a big and untouched pie, still steaming from being just recently baked. "Ohmygosh... PPPPPIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

The whole party went quiet as Pinkie's exclamation roared through the building. Windows in the Sugarcube Corner and nearby buildings cracked and birds in trees flew away. A few blocks down, the Cutie Mark Crusaders fell off a tight rope as the shock wave shook them off balance and they landed onto some safety mats.

"Ow - "

"What was that!"

"Still no cutie mark..."

And at the tree-library, the shock wave startled Spike who accidentally blew a flame on a few scrolls he was holding. Meanwhile, in Canterlot, Princess Celestia was in her quarters as a few scrolls popped up in front of her.

"Hmm.." She curiously opened one of the scrolls.

Look no further... Buy a Snuggie! A warm and soft blanket with sleeves!
It's like a sweater, but a blanket at the same time!
-Neighsbro Corps.

"Uh..." Big mac sighed as the party quickly resumed to its normal state, Pinkie Pie busy eating her pie. Slowly, Big Mac took the cupcake into his hoof and decided to go eat it somewhere else - in fear that the pink filly would return for his treat.

He walked to the wall that had seemingly empty benches. Seems like'a nice place to finally get some peace, he sighed with relief. He sat down on a bench and held the muffin up to his mouth.

"...Squeak..."

"Huh?" Big Mac opened his eyes and looked around - the source of the sound seemed to come from nowhere. After a small pause, he shrugged it off and went on to eat his cupcake... When in the corner of his left eye, he noticed he wasn't alone on the bench. A pale-yellow pegasus who blended in with the yellow wall was sitting beside him, almost curled up into a ball as if to protect herself from Big Mac.

"Oh, ah'm sorry Fluttershy. Ah didn't notice you there," he tried to speak softly to the delicate pony.

"Oh... It's... Okay..." the pink-maned pegasus replied - her voice just barely making it to Bic Mac's ears through the noise of the party.

"Well, ah can move somewhere else if you want. 'ts no problem," he tried to be polite. The very words from his mouth felt like he could shatter the fragile figure.

"NO!... I mean... No... You can stay. Beside... me..."

"Uhm... Well, if you insist..."

"Yes... Um... If you want... " She forcefully loosened her tension as she slowly uncurled from her protective ball, trying to sit normally - her head still down.

Big Mac continued to eat his cupcake. The sounds of the party filled the room around them, but there was an awkward silence between the pair. He glanced at Fluttershy every few seconds and noticed she was nervously rubbing her right hoof along her left leg.

"Um... So, what... What brings you h-here?" she asked. Typical Fluttershy.

"Ah nothin'. Mah sister insisted ah come to this here party so ah did," the big colt replied. Finished his cupcake, he stood up from his seat. "Uhm, ah guess ah'll leave you to it."

"Oh... Okay..." Fluttershy mumbled with a hint of sadness. She didn't look up as Big Mac walked away, but he almost felt heartbroken to leave the filly there alone. Pushing through the crowd, he came upon Applejack who had just finished mingling with the flower store owners; Rose winking at Big Mac as she turned away. Now ah remember why ah don' come to these parties, his mind reminded him as his stomach churned.

"Big Mac! Glad y'made it!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in excitement.

"Ah said ah would come, so ah'm here."

"So how're you findin' things?" she asked.

"Uh, ah'll tell you afterwords. Weird, as ah can put it at the moment," he responded, his thoughts hinting at his day of weird encounters.

"Well, ah see," she said, her eyes squinting in suspicion. Applejack tilted her head to look past her big brother and noticed an immensely red-from-blushing Fluttershy sitting alone on a bench. "Oh, ah see. Heheh, well have fun," she giggled as she walked passed Big Mac towards the lone filly. There was nothing Big Mac could do but shrug it off.

"Ooooh it's YOU!" said a very ladylike voice nearby.

"Hullo Rarity," he greeted the pearly-white unicorn who appeared in front of him.

"I see the big and muscular Big Macintosh decided to show up!" she smiled in an almost devious-like way.

"Eheh, eeyup. Ah'm here. How's the Boutique goin'?"

"Oh good, as always. Say," she began to closely eye his structure, "you... you simply must come by my place! We need to find an outfit for you. Maybe even a nice stetson!"

"Uhm, ah don't want to, you'know, intrude..." he nervously said as Rarity paced around him, eyeing every inch of his body.

"Mhmm..." Rarity paused for a moment behind the colt. He decided it was best for him to not think why. "I think a dark coloured stetson and a nice beige saddle would make you look... Amazing..." she said as she returned in front of the big colt. "I love the cowboy look... Heehee, how about tomorrow?" she pouted her lips and angled her head, as if to attain that 'adorable' appeal that females believe males find attractive.

"Ah... Fine. Ah guess ah could use a new hat and whatnot. Thank'ya kindly, Rarity," Big Mac forced through his mouth as he also forced a little smirk.

"Oohoo, you won't be disappointed. See you tomorrow then - ta ta!" she fluttered her eyes and trotted off, rubbing her tail against his face. Big Mac Shuddered.

"Why'd ah agree to this..." he whined to himself.

------

"New day, same route," Ditzy sighed, handing over the mail to Big Mac. Bills, letters to Big Mac from secret admirers (sometimes with cupcake crumbs accidentally included in the envelopes) and ads - the usual.

"Eeyup," he forced a smile, the events from yesterday's party still in his head.

"Welp, I'm off. Have a nice day!" Ditzy took off to continue her morning route.

"Ah'm not lookin' forward to today..." Big Mac mumbled to himself, trotting back towards the barn.

------

Why did today have to be a day off as well, Big Mac sighed as Rarity's Boutique came into view. Unlike the day before, the sky was mostly cloudy - the sun just barely shone through. As he approached the decorative building, he heard voices coming from inside. He peaked through a window to see Rarity and Rainbow Dash in a little argument.

"Rainbow Dash. He's going to be here any minute and I can't have you intruding in on our meeting," said the white unicorn, rolling her eyes.

"Well I don't see why he'd want to try on your dumb outfits anyways! I was going to ask him to, uh, hang out... Until I found out you invited him for a dress-up party instead!" barked back the light blue pegasus.

"...What are you doing here anyways?"

"Oh, uh..." she quickly shot back, thinking she could anticipate where the argument was going. Before Rainbow Dash could come up with an answer, the bell above the door jingled as Big Mac entered the building. He flinched at the sound of the bell as he hoped not to get their attention, but found the two mares staring wide-eyed right at him.

"B-Big Mac! I'm so glad you could make it," Rarity grinned. "I'm sorry, but Rainbow Dash here was just about to leave. Now."

"Ugh, fine. Hi Big Mac," the athletic pony winked as she trotted passed him towards the door, causing his insides to churn a little bit. After Rainbow Dash left and the door had closed, Rarity shot Big Mac a glance that almost caused him to flinch.

"Now... Come over here big boy," she teased and gestured him towards a platform surrounded by mirrors. He couldn't help but groan under his breath.

------

An hour - and a lot of measuring, cutting, stitching and fitting - later, Big Mac couldn't help but smile at his reflection; he did look a bit nifty in a stetson and matching saddle.

"Oooh you look simply... Cute!" Rarity commented, ignoring his new accessories and instead focusing her eyes on his broad flanks.

"Eheh... Eeyup. Thank'ya kindly Rarity... Ah think it's very nice. How much are'ya wanting for this outfit?" he asked, trying to pretend not knowing what she's looking at.

"Oh... No! Please, take this as a compliment from the beautiful Rarity," she snapped out of her trance. "If only I could have an equally as good looking and strong colt as yourself, I'd - "

"Now WAIT just a minute!" boomed Rainbow Dash who crashed through the door, "he's not going to choose Miss Schmancy-Pants here!" Rainbow then noticed Big Mac who was in his nifty new outfit. "Ooh, Big Mac, you look dashing... GET IT?!"

"Uh... What?" Big Mac's eyes widened. Why didn't I see this coming.

"Rainbow Dash! What - I told you we're busy!" stomped the unicorn.

"Come on, you're gonna hog him all day? I bet he's already bored of your dress-up... Thing," Rainbow snorted.

"NO he is not! He even said he likes his new outfit I - we've - come up for him. Right Big Mac?"

"Uh..." Big Mac didn't know what else to say as he began to panic. He never liked being the center of attention.

"Well I doubt he wants to hang out with you for now. What kind of a work-pony wants to play dress up anyways!" Rainbow desperately blurted out of her mouth. Neither of the mares took notice to Big Mac who was slowly making his way to the exit.

"I'm sure he's fine, staying here with little me. You wouldn't abandon your new best friend, right Big Mac?" Rarity put on a smug face and glanced at Big Mac who froze in place, only halfway towards the exit.

"Ah... Uh, girls... Ah think ah need'ta - "

"Did somepony say, ant-eater?!" said Pinkie Pie.

"Wha - "

"Where - "

"Hi!" the pink pony said in delight who was somehow on top of Big Mac's back.

"Agh, you... Okay, this is too much. Ah'm sorry y'all, but ah'm gonna head out," he braved up as he shook the pink pony off his back and galloped out the door.

"...See what you did?" Rainbow glared at Rarity.

"What did I do? You had to come and ruin our moment," she snapped back, as the two continued arguing.

Big Mac slowed his gallop to a stop in the town square to take a breath.

"Why did you run?" asked Pinkie Pie who was in front of him.

"Wha - Pinkie! Ugh... Ah don't want to take part of this nonsense. Ah don't like to be in the center of attention."

"But... But... I like you!" Pinkie squealed, her eyes turning big and watery. Big Mac rolled his eyes.

"Aw come on... Ah'm just not interested in gettin' involved in relationships. Ah don't like this here drama."

"Oh... I'm sorry..." Fluttershy mumbled, who was approaching Big Mac to ask if he wanted to get lunch with her.

"Golly - not you too!" His eyes wide in panic. Rarity and Rainbow dash appeared from the Boutique, Twilight from nowhere.

"There he is!"

"He's MINE!"

"I saw him first!"

"What are you - "

"But... I was going to..."

"Anteater!"

"Wait - "

"OW!"

"Stop it!"

"I'M GAY!!" Big Mac shouted. The ground seemed to rumble as the echo of his statement boomed in the distance - the five mares around him stared in sudden shock and silence. A vase on a nearby table had fallen off, shattering on the ground. And at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack fell off the rocking chair she was resting on.

"He - WHAT?!"

And beyond Sweet Apple Acres, a certain Great and Powerful unicorn who was making her way to Ponyville stopped in her tracks.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie can find another colt, anyways!" the smug pony stated as she turned away from Ponyville, her head held up high.

And in Canterlot, Luna (who was in the castle gardens) turned around to see nopony there except for the guards by the entrance.

"I'm sorry, you're what?" She spoke loudly across the garden to the guards.

"Uh..." he glanced at his partner who gave him a shrug, "I didn't say anything, Princess Luna," he yelled back.

"LUNA!" came a voice from above. Luna looked up and noticed her sister's head poking out of a window high in the castle. "LULU!"

"Ugh, WHAT?! I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME THAT!" Luna screamed back.

"GUESS WHAAT!"

"WHAT?!"

"REMEMBER THAT FLIER I SHOWED YOU YESTERDAY?"

"... DON'T TELL ME YOU BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE!"

"NO, I BOUGHT SEVENTEEN! DIFFERENT COLOURS!"

"WHY?!"

"I GOT ONE IN LUNA-SIZE, DO YOU WANT IT? IT HAS A PICTURE OF ME ON IT THOUGH."

"NO!!"

Back in Ponyville...

"Ah'm sorry... Ah'm not actually... that. But ah had to say something to get yer attention," he tried to say as calmly as he could, taking a deep breath. "Ah don't want to be in this kinda thing. Ah'm not sayin' none of you are lovely - you all are. And ah'm sure you'll all find a nice colt to be there for you, but ah'm not that one. Ah'm sorry," said the big colt as he slowly, but proudly, trotted away.

The five mares glanced at each other and shrugged, and then silently went their own ways.

------

"Mornin'," Big Mac greeted the grey pegasus, relieved to be able to talk to a mare without worrying about complication. Her blonde mane seemed to blend in with the surroundings as the sun shone its morning yellow embraces on the land. Big Mac matched her gleaming yellow eyes (even though they weren't always aligned) with the sun itself. Their daily meeting, although somewhat insignificant, held a deep meaning for the both of them.

"Hey. Another day of hard work ahead of you, eh? Oh, nice hat!" Ditzy replied, taking notice to his new addition and smiled at her first conversation of the day. It always made her feel better to hear the colt greet her a 'good morning' in his deep voice and accent.

"Eeyup," he responded, proud she approved of his latest accessory. He gently took the mail from her hooves as he noticed the simple smile on the mailmare's soft face. He couldn't help but smile himself - this time not having to force it. "Say..." he paused, thinking of his next words as a brief moment of silence crept up between them. Although there was an element of awkwardness, Big Mac felt himself wanting the moment to continue instead of it never happening, unlike the previous days' encounters.

"... Oh?" Ditzy tilted her head at the new turn in their daily, but brief, conversation; her heart began to beat a little faster.

Both ponies lived simple lives; they minded their own business and did their best not to intrude on other's. Alas, the history between the two ponies proved to be no more complex than the morning meetings to pick up the mail. But they shared something deeper that neither of them have ever felt before. This very moment was something they somehow had anticipated for awhile now.

"Wanna catch lunch later?"

Next Chapter: Luna's New Pet - Part 1 Estimated time remaining: 19 Minutes