Chapter 11: The Break Up Break Down
At Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac impatiently watches a baking pie. And right it's only half done.
He groans impatiently as Spike, Chase, and Clay are with him.
"You said it, Big Mac." Said Spike. "This is taking forever! I know it's wrong to cut corners when it comes to gifts from the heart, but this is an emergency, right?"
"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded.
Chase just pinched the bridge of his nose as if he was a little annoyed with this.
"Big Mac, come on." Chase said, getting Big Mac's attention. "Don't you think you're overreacting? I mean you can't rush something like this. These kinda things just take time."
"Time?!" Big Mac repeated with an agitated look on his face. "Chase Young, you have a wife in your life! I don't understand how you intend to be calm at a time like this! Why won't atleast freak out?! Just once?!"
This of course caused Chase to smirk at him teasingly.
"Because good meditation and deep breaths always soothes the mind in a time like this." Chase answered with a smirk before he became serious while Big Mac looks away with an unamused look. "Besides, you made it in a hurry for Sugar Belle, Big Mac. Be patient. If your father was still here, he probably would've said-"
"Ah know." Big Mac sighed as he turned to Chase. "No matter how much apples ya have, experience ain't something ya learn overnight." He then focuses his attention back on the pie in the oven. "That may work for you and your family, Chase. But I'm gonna make sure that this will be the best pie for ma special somepony even if it kills me!"
"Why not?" Said Clay. "Back in Canterlot, I've always had to do a little patience just like Chase has done. These kinda things take time, Big Mac."
"That's still not the same thing, Clay!" Big Mac snapped in annoyance before he settled down. "Let's just get somepony in here so he can make it snappy."
Chase just stared at him with a flat look before he rolled his eyes with an annoyed sigh.
"Alright. Spike, get Discord here." Chase said to Spike as the baby dragon nodded in reply.
"Discord? A little help?" Spike called. "Discord!"
But nothing happened as Spike sighs in defeat. Then Big Mac had an idea, whispered to Spike.
"Yeah? Oh! Good idea!" Spike said, agreeing and cleared his throat. "Captain Wuzz! Are you prepared to enter the world of Orges & Oubliettes?"
Then suddenly Discord appears in his Guy's Night costume.
"Huzzah, fellow adventurers! Shall we storm the ramparts of Squizard's castle to reclaim Calico's Ring of Imperceptibility?" Discord said with a smirk.
Spike and Big Mac glance uneasily. Chase and Clay just looked a little impatient.
"You did summon me for a rousing Guys' Night of Orges & Oubliettes, did you not?" Discord asked.
"Uh, sort of." Spike uneasily. "But do you think you could magically hurry up this pie real quick first?"
"Big has something he needs to take care of right now, Discord." Chase said with a flat look. "He wants his present ready."
"Hmmm. I see, Chase. You seem to be mixing up." Discords said while speaking to Big Mac as he turned around, wearing a royal crown and cape. "The Lord of Chaos" turns back to his Guys' Night costume. "With a second-rate clown magician for hire."
Discord prepares to snap his fingers to leave.
"Eee... wait!" Big Mac said worriedly, stopping him.
"This needs to go in the mail today, or it'll never get to Sugar Belle in time for Hearts and Hooves Day!" Spike explained.
Big Mac giggled in embarrassment as Chase groaned in frustration.
"Come on, guys! Can we just make it snappy?! I gotta get ready for my dinner date with Twilight soon." Chase said with an agitated look.
Big Mac and Spike just looked at him nervously.
"Please. Can't you see that that holiday is a commercialized ruse pushed on you by the greeting card industry?" Said Discord.
Big Mac then cleared his throat irritably and had puppy eyes.
"Fine." Discord said with a groan. "You owe me for this."
With a snap of his fingers, he is now dressed as a clown and made a pie appear.
Spike and Big Mac hi fived.
"Keep your eye on the pie. It's magic time!" Said Discord before he used his magic on the pie.
*Main theme*
Soon the pie was on the table.
"This smells... uh... palatable." said Discord.
"Well, pies really are Sugar Belle's thing." Said Spike. " But I think that makes this all the more special. It shows you're interested in what she cares about."
"Eeyup!" Said Big Mac.
"And he's planning a big romantic Hearts and Hooves dinner. It was my idea to bake the invitation inside." Spike said proudly.
"Only because you had to ask us. Right?" Chase asked sternly, making Spike flinch before he glared at the alicorn stallion indignantly.
Discord snapped his fingers to see it for himself and read the note.
""Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Sugar Belle. Meet me in my barn at sunset for a surprise."" Discord read the note out loud.
"Pretty clever, huh?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Wait a minute. Won't she choked on that?!" Clay said with a worried look. "I mean she could end up in the hospital for cryin' out loud!"
"Oh, relax, Clay She'll be okay." Spike assured.
Discord snapped his fingers, and the note is back in the pie as Big Mac wraps it up. Then there was a sticky note with 2 sugar cubes and a bell.
"Awww. "Sugar Belle". See?" Said Spike.
"Well, you two certainly have bought into this romance nonsense hook, line, and sinker." Discord crossing his arms.
"For a formerly friendless immortal despot, you're pretty cynical." Spike said bluntly.
"Ouch." Chase and Clay said together.
Discord took that as a compliment.
"I'm a realist. And love, like all things warm and fuzzy, isn't real." Discord said with a smug smirk.
"Aw, come on. You act tough, but deep down, you're a softie." Said Spike. "I mean, you don't have tea with Fluttershy every weekend because you like tea."
"But I do like tea!" Discord said. "Every tea! All the teas!" Then Discord appeared on a television set where it showed him in a chef uniform as if he was demonstrating about tea while he was in the kitchen. "Chamomile, Earl Grey, green, white, yellow, mate, lemon, ginger, chai, spearmint, peppermint, hibiscus..." He inhales. "...cinnamon, pumpkin spice." Then he added bluntly.
"I think we get the idea, Discord." Chase said with a flat look. "You know, you don't mind it when Sokka gets to join you guys since he is Fluttershy's husband."
"What?" Discord asked in disbelief. "I don't mind Sokka one bit, Chase. I mean he is your friend too after all."
Chase just rolled his eyes.
The television disappears as Big Mac just groans in annoyance and leaves to get the pie delivered.
"Tell you what." Said Spike. "While Big Mac mails his incredibly romantic gesture, I'll show you the splendors of Hearts and Hooves Days in Ponyville. I bet I can prove you believe in love."
"Fine." Said Discord. "Call it a gentleman's wager. Loser mows my lawns for eternity."
Discord held out his left lion paw as Spike looked concerned, and shakes it.
"Is it, like a riding mower or...?" Spike questioned as Discord brought a pair of tweezers.
"Tweezers!" Discord said
Spike gulps in fright, hoping he didn't make a mistake.
"Well, if you guys don't need me right now, I gotta go meet up with Twilight to plan our next Hearts and Hooves Day dinner." Chase said as he made his way out of the house.
"Yeah, I gotta do the same with Applejack." Clay said with an excited smile as he left the scene too, leaving only Spike with Discord.
"Wait, guys! Come back!" Spike shouted desperately. "Can't you just help me out for once?!"
"Sorry, Spike." Chase said with a smirk. "But you gotta make sure you do what Discord says."
Then Chase leaves as Spike turns to see Discord smiling at him teasingly while the baby dragon gulps worriedly.
(Scene changes)
A little while later, Big Mac arrives at the post office and drops his package off after Derpy places one of the previous boxes for delivery.
Big Mac places the package on the counter as Derpy nods to him in reply that she will have it delivered in no time. Big Mac then has hearts in his eyes with a giddy smile before he bounces away excitedly.
Derpy takes the package and places it in one of the mail boxes as the mail ponies in the back grab it. The first mail pony places the package on the conveyor belt as it makes its way to the three other mail ponies, who were busy sorting the mail as well.
One of them noticed the package and passes it to her partner, who caught it with her hooves carrying other packages. Then she tosses them to her other partner as she simply bops her head on the first package in one of the mail barrels, lightly pushes the other in the second barrel, and finally bucks the package for Sugar Belle into the mail wagon as it sets off for the deliveries.
(Scene changes)
A little while later, Chase has just arrived back at the Castle of Friendship as he closes the doors behind him. That's when Twilight appeared behind her husband with a smile.
"Hi, honey." Twilight said to Chase warmly as her husband turned to her with the same expression.
"Hi, honey." Chase replied back as they shared a loving kiss on the lips. "Happy Hearts and Hooves Day."
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day to you too." Twilight said as she nuzzled Chase lovingly and they broke the hug. "Are you excited for our dinner reservation at the diner later tonight?"
"You bet I am." Chase replied back with a smile and then remembered something. "Did you get the packages I sent you today?"
Twilight smiled brightly as she used her magic to bring the box of chocolates and flowers.
"I couldn't have forgotten about them." Twilight replied back with a smile and sets them down on the table. "It seems like only a few years when you made that scavenger hunt for me on Hearts and Hooves Day."
"It was only a few years ago, sweetheart." Chase replied back with a chuckle as he nuzzled his Twilight lovingly, making his wife giggle and nuzzled her husband back. They then stopped as Chase looked around for a moment. "Where's Nyx anyway?"
"Oh, she's just out enjoying herself for a while." Twilight answered with a smile before she added with a teasing tone. "I'm sure she won't be able to find her future somepony for this holiday soon enough."
That of course caused Chase to chuckle in amusement.
"Well, she'll just have to wait for now. No telling when she might have a crush on anypony sooner or later." Chase said with a smirk as the royal couple shared a chuckle.
"How's Big Mac doing anyway?" Twilight asked. "I thought you were helping him out with baking his pie for Sugar Belle."
Chase looked at her for a moment before he rolled his eyes in slight amusement.
"Let's just say he's in quite a rush to make sure that this will be the best Hearts and Hooves Day for his marefriend." Chase said with a smirk. "You know love can make ponies do crazy things sometimes. And assuming if Sugar Belle gets her package soon enough."
Hearing this made Twilight smirk in reply.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile Apple Bloom and the crusaders are having a meeting at the Sweet Apple Acres barn house.
"Hear ye, hear ye! This special Hearts and Hooves Day meetin' of the Cutie Mark Crusaders is now in session!" Apple Bloom announced. "First order of business - helpin' my big brother decorate the barn for his big date with Sugar Belle tonight, and... " It was then that Apple Bloom noticed that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were distracted with the decorations. "Hello?"
"It seems like everypony's got somepony special but us." Sweetie Belle said, feeling disappointed. "Especially since Chase is married to Twilight."
"When's it gonna be our turn?" Scootaloo added in disappointment as well.
Then there was a knock on the door, Apple Bloom went to the door and she found a packarge.
"Huh?" Apple Bloom said in surprise.
She then brought it inside as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle noticed the comotion.
"Who's it from?" Scootaloo asked.
Apple Bloom place it down.
"Can't tell. It's all smudged, but it looks like it's addressed to... "Belle"? Hmmm..." Apple Bloom said as she hummed in thought.
Sweetie Belle then gasped with one thought.
""Sweetie Belle"!" Sweetie Belle said as she then tears and opens the package. She found a pie in it. "Somepony certainly went through a lot of trouble for me! On Hearts and Hooves Day!"
"You don't think..." Scootaloo gasped.
"Could it be...?" Sweetie Belle said.
"Hang on a minute." Apple Bloom getting between them. "Mysterious package, smudged address, no idea who it's from... Hm. I know what this is. You've got a secret admirer!"
The three then cheered and laughed as they prance around, but what they don't know is that this was the package that Big Mac had just sent to Sugar Belle as it somehow got missed placed.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile in town, pony couples are enjoying themselves.
"Another Hearts and Hooves Day." Spike sighed in happiness. "Love is in the air, Discord. Look at all these happy couples."
But Discord just seemed rather bored and annoyed.
"How can they be happy if they aren't playing Orges & Oubliettes?" Said Discord in annoyance.
"As a great dragon poet once wrote to his beloved, "I love you with the utmost to remember. I love you, dear. My sweet, sweet Ember-" Are you even listening?!" Spike asked in annoyance as he sees Discord working on a model ship in a bottle.
"Of course. "Love is... something-something, and Discord is great." I don't know." Discord said dismissively as he continued to work on a bottle ship. "Can we play O&O now?" Then he remembered something. "Wait a minute." He chuckled. "Are you still having feelings for Dragon Lord Ember?"
That caused Spike to gulp nervously.
"Uh, well, not yet. I mean we're still just friends." Spike replied back nervously and embarrassingly as Discord chuckled humorously.
"If you say so, Spike." Discord said with a smirk. "Now are you still up for O and O?"
"Sure, after you admit you believe in love and... Sugar Belle!" Spike then leaps into the bush.
He then pulls Discord in as well just as Sugar Belle trotted passed them without knowing they were even there.
The two poke their heads out and see her entering Sugarcube Corner.
"Big Mac's girlfriend." Spike answered. "What's she doing in town so early?"
They went for a closer look, and see Sugar Belle talking to Mrs. Cake.
"Well, Sugar Belle, I'm sure Big Mac won't be expecting it." Said Mrs. Cake.
Hearing this caused Spike to gasp in surprise.
"She's planning her own romantic surprise for Big Mac? What if she goes to Sweet Apple Acres before Big Mac's ready with his surprise? We've gotta warn him!" Spike said urgently as he runs off to find Big Mac.
But then Discord, with a bored expression, snaps his fingers and they disappear.
It wasn't long until Nyx walked inside Sugarcube Corner as she noticed Sugar Belle.
"Hi, Sugar Belle." Nyx greeted the unicorn mare, who turned to her.
"Oh. Hello, Nyx." Sugar Belle greeted the alicorn filly with a smile.
"What are you doing here in town so early?" Nyx asked curiously.
"Oh, I have already moved into Ponyville so that I can take a break from my cousin, who has never been on his own since he is all whacky for that matter." Sugar Belle explained with a chuckle. "Now I have to let him run my shop on weekends. I know that Big Mac won't be delivering to my village anymore because I'll already be here apprenticing with Mrs. Cake, who does that two days a week. No, three."
Nyx smiled hearing that as she giggled.
"You think that he'll try to handle things on his own there?" Nyx asked with a smirk as Sugar Belle smirked back in reply.
"I hope not." Sugar Belle said with a smile as Nyx approached the counter where Mrs. Cake was finishing putting some cream on top of a cake as she turned to the alicorn filly.
"Hello, Nyx." Mrs. Cake greeted Nyx with a warm smile. "What can I get you, deary?"
Nyx took a look at some of the deserts before she spotted a nice donut ring with a strawberry frosting on it.
"I'll take two donut rings with the strawberry coating on them, please?" Nyx requested with a smile as Mrs. Cake nodded back before she takes the two donut rings out as the alicorn filly paid Mrs. Cake four bits.
Nyx then left the store to enjoy her meal.
(Scene changes)
Over with Big Mac, he's working on a dessert.
Then Discord and Spike appeared but both are still moving as the baby dragon crashed into the oven.
"Whoa!" Big Mac exclaimed in surprise.
"Mig Bac..." Spike completely dazed. "Mig Bac...!" He then shakes his head to get his senses back. "I mean, Big Mac! We just saw Sugar Belle! She's at Sugarcube Corner! But I think she's on her way over here now! You gotta keep her away from here until the barn's finished!"
Big Mac gasped in horror.
"Eeyup!" Big Mac said with his eyes narrowed in determination.
He then ran off hoping to keep Sugar Belle from the barn till it's ready.
"I wonder what she has planned for him." Spike thought.
"We don't have to wonder." Discord said as he chuckled.
He then snaps his fingers and they are back at the bush as Spike falls in the big shrub.
"Will you warn me next time you do that?" Spike asked annoyingly as he poked his out of the bush.
Discord smiled when Sugar Belle and Mrs. Cake came out just as Big Mac appeared.
"Ohhhh. She hasn't seen him yet." Spike said. "Take note, Discord. This is what love is all about."
Discord then appeared in the bushes, and writing in a notebook.
""Spike - Love is about spying in the bushes."" Discord said mockingly.
"Make fun of me all you want. But look at Big Mac's face and tell me you don't believe in love." Spike remarked annoyingly.
Discord glance over to him, and sees Big Mac running with heart shaped pupils in his eyes. And then, Sugar Belle and Mrs. Cake got closer to their hiding spot.
"I hope he'll be okay without me." Said Sugar Belle.
Then Big Mac came to a stop, and then dives into the bushes.
"Oh. Hey. We're just... not spying-" Said Spike.
"Hush!" Big Mac said, shushing him.
Then they hid in the bushes as Sugar Belle and Mrs. Cake came closer.
"I mean, he has been on his own before." Said Sugar Belle. "So he'll be fine, right?" She sighed. "How should I tell Big Mac tonight? "You won't need to come visit me in my village anymore"? "We need to talk.""
"Just be honest with him." Said Mrs. Cake.
"You're right. Okay! "We're finished.""
Big Mac gasped in horror, and felt that his heart was in pieces before he fainted.
"You're right. She did surprise him." Discord said boredly as he went back to work on his ship in a model.
"Ugh." Spike grunted in annoyance as he facepalmed himself.
(Scene changes)
Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Big Mac was now drowning himself in apple cider.
"Okay. Things seem bad." Said Spike encouragingly. "Maybe they're really not. Maybe "we're finished" was about the day. Ponies sat that, right? Like-like, "Hey, remember yesterday? That's finished, 'cause it's today!"
Big Mac didn't seem convinced.
"Maybe not that. Oh, I know! Maybe Sugar Belle has a wacky cousin who's never been on his own, and she has to leave him in charge of her shop while she apprentices with Mrs. Cake, who does that, like two days a week. N-No, no, three. That's why she won't need you to come to her village anymore, because... she'll already be here!"
Big Mac did smile thinking it's true.
"Nah. I don't even buy that one." Spike admitted.
Big Mac then breaks down again and stress drinks again.
"She takes pie-baking seriously! Why'd I even try?! I bet she thought I... I was making fun of her!" Big Mac snapped angrily and sadly.
Spike then thought having Chase be here to cheer Big Mac up would be of great help.
Man, where's Chase when you need him to snap Big Mac out of the picture? Spike said in his thoughts with concern as Discord pops in.
"Oh, I hate seeing you this, Big Mac. And over a girl, no less. I'm calling an emergency Guys' Night right now to cheer you up." Discord said as he gave Big Mac a handkerchief, who then uses it to blow his nose and he gave it back to Discord.
"Besides, we can't have you ruining any more of my thousand-year-old monogrammed handkerchiefs." Said Discord. "These are silk, you know."
Then Discord transports him and the two to a casino. And 4 milkshakes appeared, and Discord gave the three fancy hats.
"Class is now in session." Said Discord. Then Discord appeared behind the bar. "Lesson one - nothing can break your heart if you only love yourself. You've got to show everypony that you're too cool to be bothered with so-called love. Observe." Then he disappears, and reappears with a spotlight revealing him. "This is how cool guys lean against things." He continued. "When you see a guy leaning against a thing looking this cool, you think, "Wow! That guy doesn't have a care in Equestria. Not a guy who leans on things that cool.""
"I don't think leaning's gonna help." Spike said and then tried it on himself. "Am I doing it right?" He then slips. "Whoa!"
Discord then used his fingers to make a smile on Big Mac's face. But it then turns into a frown.
"We're not like you, Discord." Spike said while getting back up. "We can't put a front and pretend not to love. It's impossible."
"Lesson two - plenty of ponies in the pasture." Said Discord. "Right, Big Mac? I know just the gal to make you forget all about Sugar Belle."
"You... said... her... naaaaaaame!" Big Mac cried as he bursted into tears, making Discord and Spike flinch before the draconequus became bored.
"Oy vey..." Discord said, annoyingly as he snapped his fingers and the three disappeared.
(Scene changes)
In town, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were walking as they were trying to find Sweetie Belle's 'secret admirer'.
"Okay, we've finished decoratin' the barn for Big Mac, which means we got the rest of the day to ourselves." Apple Bloom said to her friends with a smile. "There's a whole town of possible admires out there and only three of us, but together we're gonna get to the bottom of this." Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo shared the same determined smile with Apple Bloom. "Ready, break!"
The three zipped away to split up in order to find Sweetie Belle's 'secret admire'. The first pony that Apple Bloom picked was Pipsqueak.
"Excuse me, Pipsqueak!" Apple Bloom said, getting the colt's attention. "Mind answerin' a few questions?" Pipsqueak looked uncomfortable as Apple Bloom went in front of him. "No? Late for somethin'? Are you Sweetie Belle's secret admirer?!"
Pipsqueak looked flinched at the answer and said nothing.
The next one Scootaloo tried was an earth pony that had a brown furcoat, orange mane and tail, and orange eyes.
"Excuse me, I'm doing a research survey about sending pie in the mail anonymously." Scootaloo said, gaining the colt's attention. "Would you say you're pro that or anti that?"
The colt just walked away with a flat look as Sweetie Belle tried Snips and Snails.
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Snips and Snails." Sweetie Belle said to the two dimwitted colts as they turned to her curiously. "Did you boys happen to send any packages to me recently? It's okay to say no. I won't be offended." Then she whispered to herself, knowing they weren't her type. "Please say no, please say no, please say no."
(Scene changes)
The three then reappeared in their game realm and were in their costumes as Discord made a cardboard pony skeleton appear.
"Sir McBigguns, meet Skellinore." Discord said. "She's a level 18 Bone Warrior in Squizard's mage army, but only to pay off skeleton students loan debts. Get to know each other, why don't you?"
He then snapped his fingers, and the two were gone.
"Wow. You're really going all out of cheer up Big Mac." Said Spike. "I'm impressed."
"yes,yes, I'm amazing." Said Discord with a smug smile. "Anyway, since we're in the neighborhood, care for a quick game of Orges & Oubliettes?" He then became annoyed. "Like I've been waiting to play all week?!"
"I take it back." Spike said with an annoyed eye roll.
"I'm helping our friend first and foremost. See for yourself." Discord remarked as he handed Spike a cardboard spyglass, and he looked through it.
He can see Big Mac showing Skellinore something. He extended it, and in Big Mac's hoof, there was a picture of Sugar Belle.
"I think he's showing her a picture of Sugar Belle." Spike said.
"What?" Discord asked, surprised.
"And now he's crying." Spike said flatly.
"No-no-no-no-no-no-no-no-no. No, he's not." Discord said, not convinced as he waved his eagle claw a bit. "Let me see that."
He tries to take the spyglass from Spike, who was surprised by it.
"Don't touch it!" Spike said, not done with it. "I'm looking!"
"Give me that!" Discord demanded angrily.
"Cut it out! Discord, quit it!" Spike snapped as Discord looked more annoyed.
Then they appeared near Big Mac as he was telling Skellinore about Sugar Belle and then he breaks down like mad. Discord snapped his fingers as the two appeared behind them.
"...Do this thing where her nose would wrinkle when she laughed, right there." Big Mac said with his voice cracked as tears formed in his eyes while Skellinore looked uncomfortable, especially when Big Mac lightly touched her cardboard snout. "In that hole where your nose used to be. I never told her how much I loved wrinkle nose cutie face." Then he began to lose it as he burst into tears. "AND NOW I NEVER WILL!"
Big Mac then starts to sob as Discord and Spike approach them while the draconequus looks more annoyed than usual as he sighed before he snapped his fingers, making the three disappear while Skellinore was left alone.
(Scene changes)
Soon the three reappeared back in the barn as Big Mac continued to sob nonstop.
"Okay. I think we've had enough of the aloof master of chaos remedies for a broken heart." Said Spike as he glared at Discord, who crosses his arms and looks away annoyingly. The baby dragon turns back to Big Mac. "You know what I do when I have a problem too big to solve! I hide from it! When she can't find out, she'll realize how much she misses you. Plus, if she can't find you, she can't break up with you."
"Eeyup." Big Mac said, agreeing with that.
Then the big stallion jumps into some hay as Spike did too, and Discord turns into some hay when the Crusaders come in.
"I don't get it. We asked every stallion in Ponyville." Scootaloo said as she sighed.
Apple Bloom groaned as she jumped on a stack of hay and turns her attention back to her friends.
"There's gotta be somepony we're missin'. Somepony obvious. Somepony right in front of our noses." Apple Bloom said, trying to find out.
What she and her friends didn't know was that Big Mac was hiding behind them while listening to everything they were saying.
"Oh, well." Said Sweetie Belle. "At least the barn's looking great for Big Mac's date."
Big Mac who was listening, did notice that. It was then Discord appeared next to him as he was now the size of a blue jay.
"Too bad there won't be a date." Discord said with a mischievous smile, causing Big Mac to look down doubtfully.
"Sugar Belle is so lucky to have a non-secret admirer like Big Mac." Said Sweetie Belle. "That goes for Twilight and Applejack having Chase and Clay as their special someponies."
"Well, Sugar Belle certainly doesn't seem to have appreciated it." Said Discord.
"I bet she's gonna take one look at this barn and say, "What' did I ever do to deserve this?"" Said Apple Bloom.
"Yes, what did she do to deserve this?" Discord whispered in Big Mac's ear.
"She broke my heart." Big Mac finally spoke angrily with tears in his eyes.
"Well, not yet, technically. In fact, she can't break your heart if you break hers first."
"EEYUP!" Big Mac said angrily.
(Scene changes)
At Sugarcube Corner, Sugar Belle was with Mrs. Cake, who had just finished giving her a tour of Ponyville, was giving her two bottles of milk and two bags of flour.
"Thanks for the tour of Ponyville, Mrs. Cake." Sugar Belle said graciously to the blue Earth Pony.
"Oh, my pleasure." Mrs. Cake replied back with a smile.
"I'm off to surprise Big Mac with the news." Sugar Belle informed Mrs. Cake excitedly. "Imagine the look on his face when I tell him "we need to talk"."
She finished while pretending to be firm.
"Oh, dear me, no." Mrs. Cake said with a chuckle. "I've told ya, don't say it that way or he'll think you're breaking up with him."
" 'Break up with him'? Never." Sugar Belle said surprisingly before she smiled. "Why, without my favorite delivery pony, I couldn't imagine being happy ever again. He knows that."
"Good. Save your mix-up for cake batter." Mrs. Cake said approvingly as Sugar Belle walked to the exit before she stopped to look at her.
"He's a good listener, that pony." Sugar Belle said. "I promise you, no mix-ups."
That was when Big Mac appeared, due to Discord teleporting him inside Sugarcube Corner, as Sugar Belle turns to him in surprise.
"Ah! Big Mac!" Sugar Belle said happily, not seeing Big Mac angry.
"Sugar Belle, we need to talk." Big Mac said firmly, causing Sugar Belle to look surprised and confused by it as she sweats a bit. "I know why you're here."
"You do?" Sugar Belle asked now smiling, but deep down she was concerned about Big Mac acting this way.
"But I have something to tell you first." Big Mac said sternly with a stomp on his hoof.
"Oh, can I go first? I'm gonna be-" Sugar Belle was cut off when Big Mac leaned into her face by two inches.
"Stop." Big Mac said, surprising Sugar Belle before she smiled again.
"Oh, why don't we tell each other on three?" Sugar Belle suggested as Big Mac had tears in his eyes. "One-"
"It's over!" Big Mac said firmly, surprising and confusing Sugar Belle further while she still smiled.
"What's over?" Sugar Belle asked as she nervously smiled.
"You and me. It's over." Big Mac said crossly as Sugar Belle looked more confused and hurt right about now.
"Ah! What?" Sugar Belle asked heartbrokenly as tears formed in her eyes.
"We're breaking up." Big Mac explained while leaning on the doors.
"I… don't understand." Sugar Belle stuttered tearfully. "Why are you breaking up with me? And why are you leaning like that?"
This made Big Mac look to see him leaning on the door with his left front leg resting on it as his hoof held him in place while his hind legs were crossed.
"Uh, I don't know." Big Mac replied back confusingly before he became angry as Sugar Belle approached him worriedly.
"Big Mac, please talk to me!" Sugar Belle pleaded tearfully, but Big Mac refused to look as he had his eyes closed.
"I…you…" Big Mac tried to say something only to let out an angry scream as he stormed outside and faced Sugar Belle for the last time. "THIS IS WHY I DON'T LIKE TALKING! WORDS CAN HURT! WORDS HURT! GOODBYE, SUGAR BELLE!"
With that said, Big Mac ran off for home as he shut the door loudly, leaving Sugar Belle all alone and she began to cry tearfully.
(Scene changes)
A little while later, Big Mac sadly strolled through town with a glum look. He noticed that Lyra ran passed him as she stopped in front of Bon Bon and they each gave each other a present of the same before they hugged each other warmly.
Big Mac continued to stroll through town while he noticed Maud and Mudbriar had a stick tied to a heart balloon as well as a pink bow tie.
He continued to walk through town glumly as he noticed all of the ponies had gathered at the local Ponyville Diner as Cranky and Matilda shared a dish with spaghetti. Seeing all of them having their special someponies made him feel more sad and dejected as he walked away.
No sooner or later, Twilight and Chase were each out on a nice walk as they each watched the other ponies spending quality time with their special someponies.
"It sure is wonderful for all of the ponies, honey." Chase said to Twilight as she nodded in agreement with her husband.
"Yeah, and we've picked a perfect day to go to the diner for a nice dinner too and-" Twilight was about to finish when she and Chase heard somepony crying.
Curious, they went to find the source and found Sugar Belle packing up her things for her long journey back to her old home at Starlight's former village. That's when Clay and Applejack showed up.
"Hey, Twilight and Chase!" Applejack greeted her friends with a smile. "Whatcha-?"
It was then Applejack and Clay noticed the alicorn couple seeing Sugar Belle finishing up her package.
"Is that Sugar Belle? What's she doin' here? And why is she crying?" Applejack asked curiously yet concernedly as she noticed Sugar belle crying about something.
"Sounds like something happened to her. Come on." Chase said as he, Twilight, Applejack, and Clay walked up to Sugar Belle as she hitched herself.
"Howdy, Sugar Belle." Applejack greeted the purple unicorn mare, gaining her attention as she turned to the two couples.
"Oh. hi, guys." Sugar Belle greeted back miserably.
"What's wrong?" Clay asked worriedly as Chase, Twilight, and Applejack shared the same concerned expression.
"Big Mac and I are done." Sugar Belle replied back. "I tried to tell him about my whacky cousin back at my old village, but for some reason he just broke my heart by shouting at me. I don't know why, but… Oh. I'm gonna go back home now. Tell him that I still love him and if we're far apart."
As she finished that sentence, she walked away leaving Chase, Twilight, Clay, and Applejack shocked by what they heard.
"Her and Big Mac breaking up?!" Twilight asked in shock. "But that wasn't like them! Why would Big Mac do something like this?"
"Maybe he doesn't really know what really happened, honey. There has to be some kind of explanation." Chase said, just as shocked and confused as his wife and two friends were.
"Actually, Sugar Belle did say something about her cousin at her home, Chase." Applejack said as Chase, Twilight, and Clay looked at her. "She told me about him that he's never done anything on his own. He's running her place back at Starlight's old village. Sugar Belle told me all about him. Maybe, just maybe, that could be what Big Mac didn't hear from her quite through."
Chase pondered for a moment before he turned to Twilight.
"Honey, do you think you can wait a little longer while I find Big Mac? I want to tell him about it." Chase said as Twilight smiled at her husband lovingly and hugged him.
"I'll be strong. I trust you." Twilight said with a cute smile as Chase smiled at his wife in reply.
"I'll help you out, partner. That is if you can wait a little longer, Applejack." Clay said to Applejack as his wife smiled at him in reply.
"Don't worry, hon. I'll be sure to wait for you in just a few moments." Applejack assured her husband.
Chase and Clay smiled in reply before they went off to find Big Mac.
(Scene changes)
Back at Sweet Apple Acers, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were inside the barn as they looked through the pictures of the ponies, trying to figure out who Sweetie Belle's secret admirer is. So far they were out of luck.
That's when they noticed Big Mac coming in somberly.
"Big Mac!" Apple Bloom said cheerfully, not noticing her older brother's somber mood. "Oh thank goodness! You gotta help us with this."
It was then Spike came out of a haystack and tumbled onto his back as he noticed Big Mac.
"Dude, how long have you been not hiding?" Spike asked Big Mac as Discord appeared.
"Oh, I should probably have said something." Discord said with a smirk.
"Ya'll should go." Big Mac said firmly.
"Did ya-? Did she-? Are ya-?" Spike asked worriedly as Big Mac nodded sadly in confirmation.
"Big Mac, what's goin' on?" Apple Bloom asked her brother with a gentle smile. "Where's Sugar Belle?"
Big Mac just shut his eyes sadly as he turned away.
"Just go!" Big Mac demanded while turning away sadly.
"But we worked so hard on this chart." Sweetie Belle said as she gestured to the chart of pictures, approaching Big Mac. "I think we've almost cracked it! If you could just-"
"Not right now!" Big Mac snapped in reply, making Sweetie Belle shocked by this.
"But I can't stand having a secret admirer who's too scared to tell me who he is!" Sweetie Belle said firmly as Big Mac turned to her angrily.
"Maybe he doesn't like talkin'!" Big Mac said angrily.
"But that doesn't make any sense!" Sweetie Belle argued crossly.
"Maybe he used to talk too much, and it only ever got him into trouble!" Big Mac said furiously, turning to Sweetie Belle while pointing at her as the others behind her were shocked by what they heard.
Sweetie Belle looked devastated as tears formed in her eyes while Big Mac realized what he had done and became guilty as Spike sighed.
"What if you're right, Discord? What if love isn't real at all?" Spike said as he turned to Discord, who looked at the sad faces inside the barn before he thought of something as an idea came up in his mind with a smile while a light bulb appeared above him and he disappeared.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle. I'm just mad, and I'm takin' it out on you." Big Mac said regrettably as Sweetie Belle whipped her tears away.
"That's okay. I bet it felt good to get it out though." Sweetie Belle said reassuringly to Big Mac with a smile as he returned the favor.
Then Big Mac thought of something in his mind.
"Actually, it did. Tellin' you how I felt just then... I gotta go!" Big Mac said before he ran out to find Sugar Belle.
"Big Mac! Where are ya goin'?" Spike called out to Big Mac.
"I gotta talk to Sugar Belle!" Big Mac called back as he ran off to find his marefriend.
"Discord, you gotta use your magic and...!" Spike said, only to see that Discord was gone. "Guess you have better things to do. Big Mac's gonna need a miracle."
"Yeah, a real miracle once Sugar Belle tells him otherwise." A voice came from behind Spike as the baby dragon turned to see Chase and Clay standing at the doorway of the barn with a smirk on their faces.
"Chase! Clay!" Spike said, relieved. "Thank goodness you guys are here! You guys see, Big Mac-!"
"We already know, Spike." Chase said as he and Clay chuckled, leaving Spike, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo confused.
"There's nothing to worry about what Big Mac might hear from Sugar Belle." Clay added with a smile.
"Uh, what's going on?" Scootaloo asked curiously.
"Seriously, what are you guys talking about?" Spike asked, not understanding.
Chase walked over to Spike and whispered something in his ear. Spike widened his eyes as he smiled.
"Oh, that explains a lot." Spike said with relief. "So do you think Big Mac won't forget about what he learned when Sugar Belle tells him about her cousin?"
"I think he might not forget about this in his life, Spike." Chase said with a smile.
"Okay, seriously. What's happenin'?" Apple Bloom asked confusingly as Chase, Spike, and Clay turned to her and her friends with a smile.
"Let's just say this whole thing with Big Mac and Sugar Belle was all a big misunderstanding." Spike said with a smirk as the Cutie Mark Crusaders were still confused.
(Scene changes)
By the time it was now sunset, Sugar Belle was now pulling a wagon and making the long trip home. She sighed sadly, looking at Ponyville for one last time before walking away. But then, the right wheel of the wagon breaks off and it tips down into the mud.
As if this wasn't her lucky day, Sugar Belle was more miserable than ever.
"Oh. All the rotten luck..." Sugar Belle said to herself sadly.
Sugar Belle holds the wagon up, trying to fix it. But she then slips on some mud, and falls over. That's when Big Mac appeared and helped her up.
"Caught ya just in time!" He said. "We both know I don't like to say much, but I'm gonna say somethin' now." He sighed. "Even though I'm hurtin'. I wouldn't trade this fellin' for anythin'. Because it means givin' up the good times we had, too. I only broke up with you because you were gonna break up with me. I respect your decision, and you know you'll always be in my heart."
This of course left Sugar Belle more confused.
"I didn't want to break up with you." Sugar Belle said, placing a hoof on Big Mac's left front hoof.
"But... you said you didn't need me to visit anymore." Big Mac said as he gently pushed Sugar Belle's hoof away from him. "You said I'm gonna be on my own. I-I heard you said "We're finished" when I was hidin" in the bushes."
Sugar Belle raised an eyebrow while frowning curiously.
"That sounds worse than it is." Big Mac admitted.
"Oh, Big Mac! I was talking about my cousin!" Sugar Belle said with a smile, now understanding. "I told Nyx that I have this wacky cousin who's never been on his own, but I have to let him run my shop on weekends. Which is why you won't be delivering to my village anymore because I'll already be here apprenticing with Mrs. Cake, who does that three days a week. I already told this to Twilight, Chase, Applejack, and Clay too."
Big Mac was shocked as he realized that this whole thing was a big misunderstanding and Spike misheard Sugar belle all along.
"Wait 'til I tell Spike!" Big Mac said with a stunned look.
"I'd never break up with you!" Said Sugar Belle. "And I wouldn't worry about telling Spike that. I think Chase and Clay may have already told him by now."
The two lovebirds nuzzled each other lovingly before Big Mac fixes her wagon.
"I suppose there's a lesson here somewhere about communication, talking instead of assuming, or eavesdropping is wrong. Wouldn't you say?" Sugar Belle as her coltfriend with a teasing smile.
"Eeeeyup!" Said Big Mac.
Sugar Belle giggled and did the wrinkle nose thing that Big Mac likes.
"Hee-hee. Wrinkle-nose cutie-face." Big Mac said giddy and then kissed her. "You must've been awful confused at my breakin' up with you after you got my pie."
"What pie?" Sugar Belle asked.
"You didn't get the pie I sent?" Big Mac asked surprisingly.
"Mm-mm." Sugar Belle replied back with a shake of her head.
"Or the invitation?" Big Mac asked again.
"Uh-uh." Sugar Belle answered again with another shake of her head.
"Well, in that case..." Big Mac as he lifts Sugar Belle on the wagon. "... allow me to escort you to a Hearts and Hooves Day surprise!"
Big Mac begins to head to the barn, and gives Sugar Belle a ride as she giggles.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle was watching the sun being lowered. And sighs sadly of not finding her secret admirer.
"Mind if we join ya?" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo appeared with the pie.
Apple Bloom gave Sweetie Belle a slice and as she took a bite out of it. She then felt something in her mouth as she pulled a piece of paper out of her and read it.
""Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Sugar Belle. Meet me..." Sweetie Belle read the note.
"SUGAR BELLE?!" The three shouted in surprise and shock.
"You have got to be pulling our hooves!" Scootaloo said, going through the whole day for nothing.
"It was all a mix-up?!" Said Sweetie Belle before she realized something. "Oooooh! So that must've been what Chase was telling us. Big Mac must've sent this pie in the first place by accident."
Then the three started laughing.
"Oh, it's funny. I've been sitting here feeling sorry for myself for not having a special pony on Hearts and Hooves Day. But remembering all the fun we had, I think I have two special ponies - my two best friends." Said Sweetie Belle with a smile.
And the three pulled each other in for a hug.
(Scene changes)
It was now night as Chase and Twilight each had a table while they had two plates of daffodil and daisy sandwiches with hay fries.
As Chase took a sip of his lemonade, he noticed that Twilight was looking at her husband with a lovesick smile with hearts floating above her head. This of course made him chuckle as he put his drink down.
"You love staring at me like that when I eat, don't you, honey?" Chase asked Twilight with a smirk as his wife giggled.
"Well, ever since our first Hearts and Hooves Day, you really opened up my heart from the first moment you set up that scavenger hunt for me, sweetheart." Twilight said with a smile. "You made me happy that day more than ever before we became a couple. This just brings back happy memories."
Chase chuckled as he nuzzled Twilight by the cheek, making his wife smile.
"I knew you would like the scavenger hunt I made for you, Twilight Sparkle." Chase said with a smile as he turned to see Applejack and Clay sharing a plate of spaghetti. "I can say that Applejack feels the same way when I gave her that picture of Clay too."
Twilight smiled as she tucked her head under Chase's chin with a light nuzzle as her husband held his wife tenderly.
"I'm really glad to have you in my life, Chase Young. You mean more to me than anything in the world." Twilight said with a sweet smile. "I love you."
"I love you too." Chase replied back sweetly as the alicorn couple shared a loving kiss on the lips and nuzzled each other lovingly before they resumed back to their meals.
A few blocks away from the diner, Spike and Discord were out on a night stroll. They were talking about Big Mac and Sugar Belle.
"And so ends another Hearts and Hooves Day." Said Spike. "Despite a bumpy start... and middle... and ending... lot of bumps today... love was in the air."
"So was confusion, apparently, and a fair number of assumptions." Said Discord.
"But you have to admit, after seeing everything Big Mac went through, love is one hundred percent real." Spike said.
He then found Discord humming, and working on his ship in a bottle.
"Seriously?! Discord, come on! I can't believe you!" Spike said in disbelief and shock as he approached Discord.
"Who do you think broke Sugar Belle's wagon wheel?" Discord asked with a smug smirk as he raised his eyebrows.
He then placed his ship in a bottle on the table now finished. Except the ship in a bottle is actually a wagon in a bottle and the right wheel brakes off.
"Ta-da! Happy and Hooves Day!" Discord said.
"you old softie." Spike laughed. "I knew you had a heart."
"Speaking of how great I am, are you busy for the rest of the night?" Discord asked and then snapped his fingers and now in their Guys' Night outfits. "Calico's Ring of Imperceptibility isn't going to reclaim itself, you know."
"Orges and Oubliettes? I thought you'd never ask!" Spike said as he smiled. "Oh, and... just wondering. No biggie, but... is Skellinore gonna be there?"
He smiled innocently and blushed as Discord stared at him blankly.
"Spike, she's an imaginary one-dimensional paper cutout skeleton." Discord answered with a roll of his eyes.
"Well, nopony's perfect." Spike said, sheepishly.
Discord just smiled as he snapped his fingers and the two were gone.
Author's note: Hey guys,
Sorry for the long wait. I was busy catching up with my brother in Colorado and had to continue finding a summer job. Also on the last chapter I read a comment about John Smith 135 saying some pity things about it. It almost seemed like he didn't like it and felt as if he blew a tantrum at me, but I did my best on it. It's just a chapter and it's not the end of the world. I just want you to understand that it's just a chapter in this story. Just know that I am doing my best to continue on with season 8 and will be sure to add more exciting stuff on it. But I don't want to hear anymore pity words about it ever again because things aren't always gonna come your way of what you think. Anyway, thanks for you patience and I will publish the next chapters soon enough.
Peace out!
