So it's Year of the Horse (I'm kicking myself for not doing more Medusa stuff last year) and I figured what better way to celebrate Chinese New Year than with a pony-centered story? I put it to a vote with my patron and Rainbow Dash is the winner of this tale.

I forgot how I stumbled upon a thing in Asia called Shen Zhu where they fatten a pig for festival purposes. So what if Equestria has something similar (minus the slaughter)?

This will be a three part series over the next two weeks. Initially was gonna be a one-off thing but thanks to  Deadlight93coming up with tons of great ideas, it'll be a bigger thing. I hope you all enjoy!

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A gathering of the Mane Six in the Ponyville library wasn’t unusual. Par for the course on any given day. Though there was a different buzz in the air as Twilight Sparkle couldn’t keep still. “This is kind of a big deal.” She apologized to the others as Spike tried his best to keep her calm.

“Not for nothing, sweetie, but almost everything in yer life is a big deal.” Applejack teased. The others nodded, adding their own playful jibs that calmed the uptight pony ever so slightly.

Rainbow Dash zipped around the room. “So? Where is it?”

“Where’s what?”

“The letter you got from one of the princesses telling you that they need us for something big and important. Duh!” Pinkie Pie spelled it out. They’d been friends long enough to know that this was the biggest reason why they’d be summoned together out the blue.

Twilight Sparkle had said letter in her magical clutches. Rainbow Dash stopped as she settled down. “Come now, darling. Don’t keep us ladies waiting.” Rarity chided their hostess. “Rather rude if I do say so myself.”

“Alright then. I’ll cut to the chase.” Twilight Sparkle held the letter up to read. “My star pupil. I am asking for you to choose one of your friends to assist in a time-honored tradition in the Canterlot Court: Sheng Ma!” The ponies all looked around confused. Though Applejack’s attitude was one of pensiveness.

“Whose Ma?”

“No, Pinkie, Sheng Ma. From my research, it translates to Holy Horse.” Twilight Sparkle explained. “It doesn’t happen all the time. Once every decade or so from what I gathered.” She went on to describe the purpose. Something to do with good fortunes that would spread throughout Equestria due to one selected pony being the magnet of said luck.

By all accounts, it sounded important. A great task that few truly understood apart from the princesses. “They want one of us to do it?” Fluttershy meekly asked. “I don’t know about that.” True to her namesake, she hid from the notion of being chosen. Literally, scooting behind Rarity to stay out of sight.

“What all do we have to do anyway?”

“Do we get cool perks with it?”

So many questions from Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash that Twilight Sparkle simply didn’t have the answers to. At least, not at this moment. “Listen, the letter says that all will be revealed when the selected pony meets with Princesses Celestia and Luna. All I’ve been asked to do is choose.” She knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The stress from the ticket fiasco reared its head in her mind.

“Sweet! I’ll be the one then to go!” Rainbow Dash said with a big smile. Already envisioning herself as the most awesome, luckiest pegasus in the whole kingdom.

Pinkie Pie disagreed. “I wanna do it! It’ll be super fun!” She bounced around as Rarity stopped her with that purple magic.

“It ought to be someone elegant like yours truly.”

Much to everypony’s surprise, Fluttershy spoke up again. “Applejack? Is everything okay?” The orange pony perked up when her name was called.

“Fine. Just thinking who outta do it and how to choose.” She looked at Twilight Sparkle. “It can’t be you?”

“Nope. That’s what the letter says.”

“Then I reckon we outta vote on it.” Applejack suggested. Strange seeing as how everypony there would simply choose themself. “Fluttershy, you wanna sit this out?” The meek pony nodded. Abstaining was fine by her.

No other pony had any immediate ideas on how to choose the Sheng Ma, so the vote idea was what they went for at the moment. Twilight Sparkle handed out paper and quills to the four then. All she could do was hope that they’d come to some decision without more arguing.

It naturally didn’t take long for them to write a name and put it in a hat that Fluttershy walked around with. “Alright let’s see here…” Twilight Sparkle internally sighed as she and Fluttershy checked the votes. “One for Rarity… One for Pinkie… One for Rainbow Dash…” She unfolded the last slip as her eyes bulged.

She handed it to Fluttershy and Spike as they both were shocked. The latter of which read it aloud. “Congratulations Rainbow Dash. That’s two votes for her.” Needless to say, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were equally perplexed. It didn’t take much to figure out who the second vote came from.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Rainbow Dash had scooped Applejack up into a hug.

The apple farmer didn’t think much of it. Nor was she listening to objections from Pinkie Pie and Rarity as they continued to fuss. Sorry sugarcube. Applejack thought while battling with her conscience. But a bit of humble pie will do ya good.

Arrangements were made post haste as Twilight Sparkle wrote back to the court. It took another day for a chariot to come for Rainbow Dash despite the fact she could’ve easily flown there in less than a day with her mach speed. “Man, they’re really rolling out the red carpet for me!” She cheered. Enthusiastic as she zipped around the library several times before kicking back in her ride.

Her friends bid her farewell for now. Even Rarity and Pinkie Pie as they’d gotten over their shock. Happy for their friend though they harbored some disappointment. Only natural seeing as how their shot to be the Holy Horse was dashed by a single vote.

“I must ask now, darling.” Rarity turned to Applejack once Rainbow Dash was out of sight. “Why her and not yourself? Or any of us for that matter?” Pinkie Pie agreed. Asking rapid fire questions in her own manic manner.

Even Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy weighed in on it. “It was a shock to say the least. You really wanted Rainbow Dash to receive such a high honor?” The purple unicorn wondered.

Applejack didn’t immediately answer. Tracing circles in the dirt with her hoof. “Eh… it’s a long story. The short version I can tell ya’ll now is I know what happens during the Sheng Ma.” That got a lot more questions than answers. Most of which could be summarized why she kept it to herself. “Listen, it’s a lot more complicated than ya’ll make it out to be.”

“Okay. So what happens during the ceremony?” All the Ponyville library had on the ancient tradition was what she’d shared with her friends the other day. That the chosen pony would be the receptacle of all luck for that cycle until the next Sheng Ma festival.

They didn’t get an answer directly. “I’ll tell ya’ll tomorrow when the time is right. Okay? Just trust me on this.” That was a hard request to oblige but Fluttershy spoke up in her defense.

“If it was worth keeping from us, then it must be really important. Applejack isn’t the kind of pony to deceive others.”

“Honesty is her element after all.” Twilight Sparkle added. That was enough to calm the others down as they would have to wait until Applejack could be forthcoming with them. It’d only be one day after all.

As that conversation took place, Rainbow Dash could hardly hold still. Everyone in Equestria would soon hear about her awesome role as the lucky pegasus. Somepony who would go on to shape the fortune for an entire kingdom. Definitely a great deal of responsibility that she didn’t mind. She was a great friend but the blue speedster yearned for the spotlight.

Which was what she got in a way when the chariot carriage stopped before Canterlot castle. The elite guard were there to greet her along with both Princesses. “My, it’s been a while Rainbow Dash.” Celestia said with a warm smile as radiant as the sun.

“Yes. Tis been a long spell since our last encounter.” Luna spoke in that stiff way that mimicked the elusiveness of night. The two sisters complimented each other well like that.

“Good to see you two too.” Rainbow Dash zipped off from her cushy ride. “I’m ready to be the biggest and bestest good luck charm this side of Ponyville!” She declared, acting informal as always with the royalty.

To some in the court this was a jarring sight. Though the pair never minded. They both found the casual nature of Twilight Sparkle’s friends to be quite refreshing. Sharing a giggle as they invited her to walk between them.

“This will be quite the celebration. It’s been some time since we were last able to host such an event.” Celestia explained. “And considering Luna wasn’t here the last time either, we especially have to make up for it.”

The night princess nodded. “Indeed so. I was once a staunch opponent to such a practice. I will say my dear sister has warmed me up to it in some manner of speaking.”

“Oh, no need to be so modest.” Celestia cozied up to Luna. The latter blushing as her sister got close. “I know you’ve been peeking at my dreams to get the best idea possible. Like with that one violet pony from ages ago. Or the auburn one from before that.” Luna said nothing though the grimace on her face said plenty.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t speak in that manner. Mostly because she was accidentally squished between the two bigger princesses. “That’s great… could you scoot back some?” She whined as Celestia obliged. “Phew. Can’t have the Number 1 Holy Horse pass out before she gets to work.”

“Agreed!” The sisters said in unison as they led Rainbow Dash to a comfortable guest room. A suite with all the fixings and furniture needed for the chosen pony. “Get settled in. We’ll begin the proceedings soon enough.” Luna told her as the two took their temporary leave.

All these fancy amenities were a bit much for a pony like Rainbow Dash. But she wasn’t going to look any gift horse in the mouth. “Man, these are some fancy luxury hookups!” She zipped around the room eagerly before plopping onto the plush bed. Softer than any cloud that she snoozed on before.

Rainbow Dash must’ve conked out from excitement as a knock to her door made her jolt. “Please come with us.” A royal guard asked as he escorted the palace guest to the dining room.

“Whoa!” Rainbow Dash gasped. “What a spread!” She wasn’t exaggerating. The mighty table couldn’t be seen beneath the array of platters. So many well-made meals of different varieties waited for her. Steam wafted off each serving, their tantalizing aromas plucked Rainbow Dash off her hooves. She comically fluttered through the air towards a seat.

She knew it was best to wait to be served. There could well be other ponies showing up for this banquet. Rainbow Dash could only hold back so long before her face hit an apple tart. Gooey and delicious, she couldn’t get enough of it as her tongue licked an empty plate within seconds.

“Oh my, I didn’t know Rainbow Dash was such a piggy.”

“Come now dear sister. No need to be so rude to our precious guest.”

Hearing Luna and Celestia’s voices sneak up on her made Rainbow Dash blush. Dregs of tart scraps on her cheeks. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to pig out before you got here.” Luna’s magic scooped up a napkin to wipe the girl’s face.

“It’s understandable. We have our vices after all.” Everypony in Equestria knew about Celestia’s crippling cake addiction. “Anyway, it’s the first of many feasts for our Sheng Ma.” She cheered while putting a corn casserole before Rainbow Dash, subtly nudging her to eat.

There wasn’t much need to goad the guest as she ate. This time with some restraint as she had an important question. “So, what is this holy horse thing anyway? Twilight didn’t have many details.” She looked back and forth between her hostesses. Waiting in anticipation for what she had to do as the chosen pony.

Luna took a seat beside Rainbow Dash. Serving herself a small portion of salad as she gave the blue pegasus a sundae to savor. “As leaders of Equestria and nigh-godlike beings, we have immense power to shape the foundation of the kingdom. However, we both agreed eons ago to limit how much we bestow upon our subjects.”

“Uh huh.” Rainbow Dash didn’t hide her confusion. To be fair, she was half-listening. Too busy stuffing her face to focus all that well.

Celestia took a simpler approach. “We want to give all ponies good luck and fortune but giving them too much can cause disaster. We learned that the hard way.” The sisters looked a bit bashful reflecting on their past mistake.

“And so, when the time comes, we choose a pony to concentrate our fortune magic into their being. Their body acts as a sponge of sorts to collect and hone those blessings.”

“And that’s where I come in?” Rainbow Dash asked Luna as she better followed along now. The two nodded as all this sounded right up the ego-driven pegasus’ alley. “Sweet! So what do I have to do for that?”

“Technically nothing.” Celestia chimed in as she noticed Rainbow Dash’s placemat was empty once more. She offered up a giant stein of apple cider as it was gleefully guzzled. “We will help prepare you for such a ceremony in two week’s time. Although I am curious how a pony who represents an Element of Harmony will react when we give them our blessings at that time.”

Rainbow Dash beamed with pride. She would do all within her power to be the holiest of horses ever. That and there were definitely perks of being the luckiest. A receptacle of fortune from the heavens. Truly nothing could go wrong.

How wrong she’d turn out to be. As both Celestia and Luna exchanged knowing glances. Fully aware of what Rainbow Dash would go through in short time. Vowing to make her a Sheng Ma for the ages!

At the same time Rainbow Dash was getting settled in with her banquet, Applejack led her friends through the apple orchard. “What I’m about to show ya can’t leave the farm. We’ve kept this under wraps for a while now.” She said as they came across a lone barn buried deep on their property.

Twilight Sparkle and Rarity were confused why they were out here. They figured it had to do with Applejack’s hidden knowledge of Sheng Ma though neither asked pointless questions. Knowing full well that any answer would be best seen inside the abandoned barn.

“Ooo spooky! Are there creepy ghosts in here? Something scary!?” Pinkie Pie bounced around as such terrifying images made Fluttershy hide behind an oak tree.

“No, nothing like that… kinda. It’s scary for others maybe. Definitely us.” Applejack said as she undid the padlock as chains fell on the ground before the barn.

The two unicorns used their magic to open the massive doors as they all gasped at what lay there. A giant red blob of fur and flab jiggled about. Quivering in such an odd way whenever it seemed to move. Tremendous in size and scope, barely small enough to fit inside the large building. The four ponies looked among each other, hoping somepony else would have a clue what this was.

“Um… what is that?”

“Big Mac.” Applejack answered Fluttershy bluntly with a sigh. “Yer looking at the last Sheng Ma.”

She wasn’t joking in the slightest as the group circled the giant red blimp. Pressing into his flesh with their hooves made him neigh. Strange how his voice sounded both deep and high-pitched. Was it to do with all the fat put upon him? “Impossible. I’ve seen Big Mac around! We all have!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed as she lifted various rolls and folds. By all accounts, this definitely was a pony.

“That really wasn’t him. That was something the princess conjured up so no one outside the family knows.” Celestia was powerful enough to do something like that. “Didn’t want anypony to know the truth of Sheng Ma here in Ponyville.”

“But why would she do such a thing?” Rarity tried to move fat folds around. Gasping as she found Big Mac’s buried face. Those eyes reflected a stallion who was utterly exhausted with his muzzle around an odd feedbag

“Something about the bigger the pony, the more luck there is.”

“Lucky!” Pinkie Pie took it upon herself to bounce over the big mound. Hooves squishing in as she trampolined further into the air. Karma bit her in the flank as her head collided with the rafters. Knocked into a daze as she sunk into Big Mac as though his girth was quicksand.

A realization hit Fluttershy as she gasped aloud. “Rainbow Dash! We have to warn her!” Applejack stood before the barn door, looking absolutely defeated as she shook her head. “We have to do something!”

“But what can we do? The princesses wouldn’t let us interfere.” Applejack pointed out as the others knew she was right.

“All we can do is hope that Luna’ll keep some checks on Celestia.” Rarity said as she looked back at Big Mac. Her magic faded as rolls smothered his face once more.

“I mean, this is shocking but maybe it can be fixed once the ceremony is done.” Twilight Sparkle tried to keep her own hope. Applejack said nothing, tracing circles in the dirt with her hoof. “There’s more?” The farmer nodded.

She took a deep breath before revealing another unpleasant truth. “That ain’t how big he really is. That’s how big he is after Celestia shrunk em down. He was a mountain when they dropped him off after the ceremony!” The others, sans Twilight Sparkle, recalled a mighty earthquake some time ago. Was that what that had been?

Which begged more questions… like what that meant for Rainbow Dash. Rarity repeated her earlier sentiment. “Princess Luna is even keel. Surely she wouldn’t let her sister do all this, right?” No pony was sure how to answer. None could be absolutely certain aside from waiting to see the final results of this year’s Sheng Ma.