Setting Things Straight

Chapter Three: Getting to Know Each Other

Applejack opened up a side door of the barn to let Prince Blueblood and Spike inside. The first thing that caught their attention were the several blocks of hay lined up against the walls. Also by the wall were various shovels, rakes, and other tools. Spike and Applejack took a look at Blueblood and saw that he appeared content. On the opposite side of the wall were stairs that led to the upper floor. Applejack spotted Big McIntosh up there, who was still tending to some flowers. She tried to get his attention. "Hey Big McIntosh!"

He turned around and said calmly, "Hey Applejack. I see that Prince Blueblood came all this way here."

"Yes, I have," Prince Blueblood stated. "I am sorry for how I treated Applejack at the Grand Galloping Gala. I hope that somehow, you are able to forgive me."

Big McIntosh looked at Applejack, then Blueblood, and let out, "Eeyup!"
"Really? I was rude to her when she was being nice."

"If my sister has forgiven you, then I don't see why I shouldn't give you a second chance as well." As he was making his way downstairs, Big McIntosh added, "My intuition tells me that you have another reason for coming here."

"You are right. I have visited Sweet Apple Acres, because I wanted to take a break from it all."

"I can imagine that higher class living can be exhausting. Applejack didn't like it much when she went to Manehatten."

So far, Big McIntosh seemed to be kind and understanding to the extent that anybody could feel comfortable to say anything about themselves to him. It was also comforting to know that he had feelings for other males as well and is in fact willing to go out with one. Prince Blueblood hesitated no longer with mentioning why he was inside the barn, "Applejack brought me into here, because she found out that I am gay and knows that you would be interested in another stallion."

"I sure would be. I never went out with another guy before, so this will be fun."

"How do you suppose we should start?"

"Just do what feels natural and everything will be alright," Applejack reassured.

"Alright then... Big McIntosh, may I get to know you better?"

As Big McIntosh situated himself by one of the exits, he told Blueblood, "Yup! Mind for a walk around here?"

"That sounds nice."

"Can I ride one of you?" Spike blurted out.

"Just let them be, Spike," Applejack said in a near scolding manner. "It would be good for the two of them to have some time with each other." She then spoke to the potential couple. "Ya two have fun!"

Big McIntosh replied, "We will!"

"Thanks," Prince Blueblood said.

Once Spike was left in the barn with Applejack, he asked her, "Since I'm here and all, are there any chores that I can help you out with?"

"As a matter of fact, there is," answered Applejack. "Because of your excellent hearing, you can really help me with checking this here building for any possible pests."

"Will do!"

Meanwhile, Big McIntosh and Prince Blueblood were strolling around Sweet Apple Acres. The first thing of interest they came across were four much smaller buildings that were lined up next to each other. Blueblood noticed that they all housed hay like the big barn. Big McIntosh told him, "As you can see, these four buildings hold hay as well."

"Not to be rude, but I noticed that they were all full of hay while that large barn we were in could of probably housed all of it. Do the bunches of them here serve a different purpose than the ones in that barn?"

"Yup! The hay in the big barn are all intended for meals, while the piles you see here are for buildings. Ponyville is expanding and it needs a whole lot of hay for new buildings."

"That makes sense. Has their purpose always been this?"

"For three of them, yup. However, the one that is closest to a field where we grow crops used to serve as storage for much of our tools. Once we needed more storage for building hay, all of those tools were moved to the big barn since it was so close by."

"I bet that building can be used for many more things."

"Eeyup. It has even been used for parties several times."

"I never had an informal party before. All of the parties I attended were of high class, so I would love to have a party at someplace like your barn someday."

"I bet that we could do that sooner or later." Big McIntosh began to walk ahead and Prince Blueblood followed. Soon, the big red pony got up to a nearby apple tree and kicked it with his two back hooves. Once the fruit fell into a basket next to the tree, he said, "That is how we harvest apples here. If you liked apples, I would let you have a sample."

"But I actually like apples. My parents frown down on them and they would scold me if they knew I had an apple and enjoyed it."

"It must be tough to have so many restrictions placed on you."

Prince Blueblood looked around as if to see if anyone else was watching, then asked, "May I please have an apple?"

"Eeyup!" Big McIntosh stated as he handed an apple over to him.

Blueblood took it and had a bite. Juicy sweetness flowed into his mouth. He said in a genuine manner, "Mmm! This is delightful! Thank you so much."

"Welcome!" Big McIntosh then led Prince Blueblood to what appeared to be an even smaller shed. Hanging over the entrance was a sign with an egg painted on.

"That's the chicken coop," he explained.

"Is that the only one here?"

"Yup!" Big McIntosh guessed what Blueblood would be wondering about next, "Plenty of other farms as well as Fluttershy have chickens as well."

"By Fluttershy, you mean that crazy pony who crashed the Grand Galloping Gala?"

Big McIntosh giggled, "Fluttershy is rather kind most of the time. It's just that she had a bad day."

There was a pause as Prince Blueblood stared at Big McIntosh's flank which had cutie marks in the design of a partially cut green apple. "I know this is sudden, but would you mind telling me the story of your cutie mark?"

"Eeyup. I believe it happened when a tornado came near this place. Me and my first sis were still children and my littlest sis, Apple Bloom, was born a few days ago. After leading me, my two sises, and our Granny Smith to the safest place we got, our ma and pa were just about to go inside when both of them got sucked into the tornado. After we mourned over them, I saw a sickle flying in the direction of Granny Smith. She was sitting in her rocking chair carrying Apple Bloom and I couldn't bear to lose any more family members. I leaped to protect both of them and got hurt in the process. After a few minutes, I lost consciousness. The next thing I knew, I was in the hospital. When I saw that Applejack, Granny Smith, and Apple Bloom were unharmed, I was overjoyed. Applejack then said that a green apple was on my hip. Once I saw a green apple on each side of me, that was when I knew I got my cutie mark."

"What you did back then was very noble. You didn't deserve for both of your parents to of been swept away... How did you get by without them?"

"Applejack and I helped Granny Smith take care of Apple Bloom. Things were made easier by workers from Cloudsdale Weather Factory paying for the damage caused to Sweet Apple Acres, my hospital bill, and even ma and pa's funeral. They felt very guilty for the tornado that was accidentally created."

"That was generous of them to do all of that."

"Eeyup!" Big McIntosh then eyed Prince Blueblood's compass star cutie mark. "If it's alright with you, would you like to tell me how you got your cutie mark?"

"Of course! I remember the night I got my cutie mark. Both of my parents headed for a meeting, so I was left home with some guards to keep watch over me. Despite my family's wealth, I grew bored and lonely. Fortunately, I was allowed to go to the balcony, so I went there. Out there, I found the cool air calming. Even though I was alone out there, I didn't feel that way. The moon and the stars that illuminated the night sky gave me the feeling of security. After gazing at them for a while, I decided to get a telescope. Peering through the lens, I felt more connected to the nighttime sky than ever. Once a shooting star streaking down the sky, I made a wish for the night to always be my friend. It was then when I first saw my cutie mark. Ever since then, I took comfort in the serenity of the stars watching over me."

"I'm grateful that no matter what, you have something that you can trust no matter what."

"The night sky isn't the only thing I trust."

Without saying anything, Big McIntosh moved towards Prince Blueblood until their bodies were touching. Both of them felt their hearts beating faster, yet they were feeling very calm. Blueblood laid his head on Big McIntosh's back and closed his eyes for a while. Once their embrace was finished and the two of them were walking again, Big McIntosh said, "There's something that I have been wondering."

"What would that be?"

"How were you able get from Canterlot to here without getting caught?"

"I didn't exactly have to traverse from Canterlot, because Princess Celestia sent me over to Twilight Sparkle's home for her to...to..." He paused for a moment because of the subject matter. "I'm afraid that Twilight Sparkle has been assigned to..to change me...to straighten me out..."

"Did she say anything explicitly about changing you in that way?"

"Twilight Sparkle did try to make me... a proper prince and help me win the heart of a mare, but she didn't mention my sexuality."

"I don't know what Celestia or Twilight think about gay ponies, but it is possible that their intention could be different."

"...maybe so... I have always been rude at the Grand Galloping Gala to make myself unattractive, so maybe Princess Celestia could of meant that, but she does ask me to go out with a mare each time..."

"What about Twilight? Is there anything suggesting she is just trying to make you behave better?"

Prince Blueblood thought about what happened at the library. One thing that stood out was what Twilight said to him in the bathroom. "She did say that everything she was doing was out of love and tolerance for me."

"Yup. Twilight could of been nice to make you behave better."

"I didn't think about that... Think that she'll forgive me?"

"Eeyup. If it makes you feel better, I can be with you when you apologize to her."

"I would be very pleased if you did so."

"Whenever you and Spike are ready to go back, I'll be sure to come with you."

Right after Prince Blueblood said his thanks, Big McIntosh stopped. A house was now visible in the distance. "Is this your house? It looks quite quaint."

"Eeyup! Apple Bloom and Granny Smith always sleep in there at this time of night."

"Do they know that you are bisexual?"

"Just Apple Bloom. None of us told Granny Smith, cause we are all afraid that she is too close-minded to accept me for who I am."

"You still have two family members who you can tell anything too."

Big McIntosh took a moment before saying, "Even though Twilight isn't part of your family, she sure could be somepony who is likely to understand. Ready to head back?"

"I am."

The two stallions headed back to the big barn. Once they went inside, they spotted Spike chasing what appeared to be an oversized rat with the head of a snake. The dragon took a leap and caught hold of the back half of the pest. A loud hissing sound was made from the creature as it attempted to turn around. "Hurry!" Spike screamed.

Applejack grabbed a hoe with her mouth and headed towards the scene. Taking aim on the pest, she wound back the hoe and swung with great force. After the head was cut clean off, Applejack put down the tool and said, "That's another of those dang varmints taken care of. You have been a great help tonight Spike."

Noticing the two guys, Spike asked, "Back already? "Big McIntosh confirmed in his usual way and Prince Blueblood stated that he wondered what was going on. Spike responded with, "We're getting rid of pests. This job would be a lot safer with a unicorn. You could use your magic to make them still."

"I would be happy to help out sometime," Prince Blueblood said.

"Now Spike," Applejack told him. "They probably came here cause they're done for tonight."

"Oh," muttered Spike.

Prince Blueblood explained to Applejack that Celestia made him stay over at Twilight's house and how he first thought that Twilight was trying to make him straight. He then stated that it is possible that Twilight Sparkle was just trying to make him polite and that Big McIntosh was going to come with him.

"I'll go with y'all as well," Applejack responded.

Prince Blueblood said to her, "That's very kind of you.

"Now can I ride one of you?" Spike asked again. After getting approval from all the ponies, he climbed up on top of Prince Blueblood. For some reason, Spike felt himself baking on the inside again. He never felt this way when riding Twilight Sparkle except for that time when Apple Bloom had the cutie pox. Once the ponies and Spike exited the barn, they headed on their way to the Books and Branches Library.

It took a while, but I got this chapter finished. I'm pretty excited about my idea for chapter 4, so I'm sure that it won't take as long to do.