Can't Shake You

The bar was crowded, which was unusual for Ponyville. The ponies who lived here were respectable folk; getting drunk wasn't a large part of their lives. But then again, it was a Friday night, and autumn was just setting in. All the toughened farm-ponies were winding down their summer harvests, looking for a night off.

Macintosh Apple was one of those farm-ponies. He looked up at the neon sign above the door and sighed. This wasn't the first night he'd shown up here alone. He'd been coming every Friday and Saturday night for more than a month. Before that, he'd drunk every last drop of Sweet Apple Acres rare apple whiskey.

Mac would sit in the corner booth, head down, a tray of shots in front of him. Everypony knew why he did this. In a small town such as Ponyville, word gets around. It was common knowledge that Macintosh and Fluttershy had broken up about two months ago, though no pony knew why or what had happened. Fluttershy had begun keeping more and more to herself, rarely leaving her cottage. Mac had started drinking more and sleeping less. His body showed the proof. Dark bags lay under his eyes, and his once strong, solid body was becoming weak and soft.

On these trips to the bar, Mac would remember his times with Fluttershy.

Fluttershy opened her cottage door for Mac, stepping aside to let him past.

"Ah know I just saw ya a few hours ago, but Ah had to see ya before ya'll leave for Canterlot," Mac said as she closed the door.

Fluttershy smiled warmly, her timid nature falling away. "You're sweet, Mac." Fluttershy and her friends were due in Canterlot tomorrow morning for Twilight Sparkle's brother's wedding, and Mac was unable to go.

"Yer songbirds will sound great," Mac said, referencing Fluttershy's wedding duties.

"As long as no one is off key," Fluttershy said, chuckling. She gazed out the window towards all her animals. "You'll keep an eye on them, right?"

"Ah'll keep both mah eyes on them," Mac promised, nuzzling Fluttershy affectionately. The yellow mare sighed happily and leaned into his touch.

"I love you, Mac," Fluttershy murmured, almost inaudibly.

"I love you, too, Fluttershy," Mac whispered in her ear.

Mac shook himself, snapping out of his daydream. With a shock, he realized tears had welled in his eyes, and he angrily wiped them away.

"Mac," A voice to his left said. The stallion looked up to see his sister Applejack standing over him, looking frustrated. "Ya can't keep doin' this to yerself," She scolded. Mac didn't say anything, just downed another shot. This earned an exasperated sigh from Applejack.

"Bartender!" She called. "No more shots fer this stallion."

"Leave me alone, Applejack," Mac snapped.

"Mac, Ah am sick an' tired of babysittin' you every night," Applejack said angrily.

"So don't! Ah can survive without ya," Mac growled. Applejack scoffed.

"Ah've had to drag yer sorry flank home for the past two months!" The blonde mare shouted.

At the front of the bar, the saloon-style doors slammed open, and a confident looking Pegasus mare strode through, followed by a more timid Pegasus mare.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

Macintosh ducked his head quickly.

"Stop it, Mac," Applejack growled. "Yer actin' like a filly."

"Applejack! Big Mac!" Rainbow Dash shouted to them, waving enthusiastically, oblivious to Fluttershy's squeak of horror.

"Erm... Howdy, Rainbow," Mac said quietly.

"I didn't know you drank," Rainbow said with a smirk. "Wanna have a little contest?"

Applejack promptly kicked Rainbow in the flank. "Enough. Mac, c'mon." Mac didn't move. His gaze was on Fluttershy.

"Mac, we need to talk," Fluttershy said soflty as they sat watching the sun set behind the Everfree Forest.

"What about?" Mac asked, slumping lower on the little bench and letting his eyes fall closed.

"Us," Fluttershy said. Mac's eye's snapped open once more. "I have to focus on my animals right now, with flea and tick season starting up. And I'm going to be in Canterlot with Twilight a good bit. I'm just not going to be around enough to be in a relationship."

"But... Ah can help you with your animals, and Ah can come to Canterlot with you!" Mac suggested.

Fluttershy shook her head. "We both know you can't come to Canterlot. You'd have to leave the farm. And Applejack will be with us. Granny Smith and Apple Bloom can't manage the farm without at least one of you."

Mac was quiet. He couldn't argue with that. The farm was his family's only source of income. He couldn't leave it behind. "So you're just going to give up on us?"

"I'm not giving up. I don't think it will work," The Pegasus mare said, looking out at the forest.

"You didn't even try," Mac pleaded, his heart beating way faster than it should.

"There are some things you just can't attempt, Mac. This is one of them."

Mac stared at her. After nearly seven months, this was how their relationship ended?

"So this is it? It's over? Just like that?" Mac asked quietly.

Fluttershy hung her head and nodded. Heartbroken, Mac stood up.

"Goodnight, Fluttershy," He said softly, then trotted towards home. Fluttershy began to cry, silent tears streaming down her yellow cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Mac," She whispered, knowing he could no longer hear her.

"Mac! Ah said c'mon!" Applejack shouted, bringing Mac out of his flashback. The orange mare shot a dirty look towards Fluttershy. There had been an angry tension between the two of them ever since Fluttershy and Mac split up, and Fluttershy knew it was her fault.

"Applejack..." The butter-colored Pegasus murmured. "Can- Can we have a moment?"

Applejack looked taken aback, and Mac was downright shocked. Quickly regaining composure, Applejack narrowed her eyes, but dragged Rainbow Dash away. Mac watched them leave, feeling shaky and nervous.

"C-Can I sit down?" Fluttershy asked almost inaudibly. Mac nodded, unable to speak. The two of them sat in silence for a few moments, Fluttershy hiding behind her soft pink mane.

Mac finally broke the silence. "How've ya been?"

Fluttershy jumped, then ducked her head sheepishly. "I've been alright. Yourself?" Mac looked meaningfully at the menagerie of empty shot glasses in front of him. Fluttershy squeaked in understanding. "I'm sorry," She said quickly. "I don't know what I was thinking two months ago. I was scared and nervous because I was going to Canterlot for the wedding, and a lot was riding on my shoulders with my birds, and... and..." Fluttershy realized she'd been rambling and quickly looked away.

"It's okay," Mac said quietly. "Ah don't blame you."

"You-You're not mad at me?" Fluttershy stammered.

"Ah have no reason to be," Mac said earnestly.

"But... But what about Junebug?" Fluttershy asked, causing Mac to wince. Junebug and Mac had been a brief fling after he and Fluttershy broke up.

"Junebug was nothing compared to you," Mac said. "Ah still love you, Fluttershy. Ah never stopped. Yer the only mare ta ever give me butterflies."

Fluttershy blushed wildly. "I... I still love you, too, Mac," She whispered.

"Does this mean Ah still have a chance with you?" Mac asked cautiously, afraid of over-stepping his bounds.

Fluttershy slowly raised her eyes to meet Mac's.

"Yes, Mac. You've always had a chance with me. I'm not going to mess up again," Fluttershy said, a steely glint of determination flashing in her eyes.

Mac touched her hoof gently. "Forever?"

Fluttershy smiled. "Forever."