Butterfly in the Orchard

Chapter 3 caring for Big Mac

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Five days have passed since the incident, Fluttershy still felt badly for the pain she had put Big Macintosh through. She talked with her bunny friends Angel, looking for a way to ease the guilt.

“oh angel,” she said with a sense of worry in her tone of voice, “Big Mac comes out of the hospital today, he was in such pain when I was him just a few days ago, who knows how he feels right now?” she turned to the window, “I worry,… if this was really all my fault”

The rabbit then tosses a pillow at her for attention and began to talk in his little bunny way. Fluttershy understood his gestures, but her face turned red.

“What….” She exclaimed, “I can't do that, what if he is mad at me.” Angel began to gesture again. Fluttershy’s choice started to waver, she saw in his point of view, although he just wanted her out of the house. “Okay angel, I … I'll try,” as she exited the house she worried how this would turn out.

Applejack entered the kitchen, hoping to get a good breakfast, what she did not expect to see her injured bother there. He attempted to get a box of cereal out of the cupboard. He climbed up a chair, groaning and moaning from the pain that he was left in.

Finally Applejack had seen enough, “Big Macintosh!!” she screamed in the top of her lungs, “What in the hay are yuh doing out of bed?” Big Mac fell, bringing the box of cereal spilling over the counter. “didn't the doc tell you not to be out of bed.

“Now sis,” said Big Mac, groaning as he tries to get up, “I'm fine. I don't need to rest.”

Applejack sighed. She knew Big Mac doesn't like to be seen as weak, not since the incident. “Well remember how long the doc said you need to heal.”

Big Mac rolled his eyes, “uh… five weeks”

“FIVE WEEKS” remarked Applejack “that's just one week more ‘till winter wrap up, and look at this list of what the doc prescribed for you to heal with.” She took out the list began to read from it, “take pain tea every five hours, place prescribed lotion on morning and night after bathing, massage muscles every morning. The patient must not strain himself” The list went on and so did she as she read every little detail. “now how in the hay are we going to do all these things in time for Winter Wrap up when you are going against what the doctor says?” she scolded “are we gonna have to get a nanny?”

A knock came at the door, applejack walked over thinking of Big Mac's safety. She opened the door and was surprised to see who it was.

“Fluttershy?” said Applejack, “what are yuh doin here?”

“Oh … um” Fluttershy looked at her feet, as to not feel threatened, “I came to see how Big Mac was doing. I heard he came out of the hospital today… and i…”

Applejack felt as if she needed to be truthful with her, “Big Mac is fine” she interrupted “he's just bein' a little stubborn with what the doctor told him.”

Fluttershy saw this as a moment to ask what concerned her, “is there… um… something I could do”

Applejack looked at her questionably. She didn't understand why she would ask that. He was hurt on his own watch. Maybe she was just being kind. “Fluttershy, ya'll don't need to do help,” she said, “Big Mac is a big pony, he just needs to learn to care for himself. ‘Sides, it was his own fault he was hurt.”

“But it wasn’t,” cried Fluttershy, “He was trying to protect me from those two mean stallions. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have gotten hurt.” Applejack was astonished by her cries and claims. She had never heard this side of the story, at least not from Big Mac. Looking down at the crying mare she could tell she felt guilt.

“yuh know what Fluttershy, why don't yuh help with a few things” applejack said, trying to calm her down, “he needs his medicine picked up from the pharmacy, while ah get him ready” Fluttershy smiled, prancing away from the farmhouse. Applejack sighed, she almost made her friend cry, but she was more worried over the guilt she sensed from her tone. She couldn't stay thinking; she had to prepare her brother for the new nanny.

She entered the kitchen to see Big Mac trying to lift the milk carton, the sight enraged her. Big Mac looked at her and placed the carton back in the fridge.

“Big Mac, we need to talk.” Applejack said to the in pain stallion, “we managed to find a pony to take care of yuh.”

Big Mac’s sat in the chair left open for him. “I don't need a maid; I can take care of myself.” He said as he slowly and painfully lifted his limbs in place.

Applejack could see through his poorly placed mask, “ah can see otherwise,” she said hoof in face, “ah just talked with a pony who feels bad over what happened and wants tuh help you get better.” She said getting back on track.

Big Mac was curious, “pony, what pony” he asked.

“Fluttershy” applejack said looking at him, expecting to see a reaction. Big Mac delivered. His eyes widened and he began to sweat. Whit what she saw she knew there was something he wasn't telling her. “Mind telling me what happened between yuh two.” Big Mac had never told her what happened; he thought it was best she thought it was a random fight.

“I, uh,” he hesitated. “I saw the two stallions giving mares a hard time…” he tried to explain, hoping it did sound like a lie to her “I heard Fluttershy had a bad deal with them ponies and didn't want them to hurt her. so I guarded her in the dance and well… they got me” he closed his eyes not knowing what to expect. His sister is known for taking things out of proportion, but there is a chance things will come out better.

“Well,” she stated, breaking the silence. “Now I understand how this heck of allot more.” Big Mac was surprised, she wasn’t angry or even remotely upset. She continued, “yuh were just being a gentlecolt and protecting her, well it's obvious why she feels like she owes yuh.” She chuckled for a second, then let out a sigh. “but don't think ah forgot what happened with you other mare-friend.” She said with a frown on her face, she would always bring up that incident whenever it came to dealing with a mare, Big Mac sighed having to hear it again. “Listen here, ya'll are gonna have my good friend visiting. She's shy so anything yuh try will spook her, and ah won't tolerate yuh making her uncomfortable, so no funny business, got it.” The scold was more than he expected, but still foreseeable. She got up, still with that disapproving frown and walked off to the front door.

He sat there thinking of what she said, hoping that the next few weeks wouldn't be as bad as he thinks.

The first few days were awkward, Big Mac had AJ's lecture fresh in his head, he did not want to get on her bad side again, so he kept his mouth shut.

Fluttershy came in with the medicine early in the morning. She was scared that she would do something wrong, but she needed to help Big Mac, fell like she accomplished something good. She was directed to his room.

The therapy started with a light wash, the sponge lightly pressed on his aching muscles, cleaning any dirt that may have gotten caught in his coat. Big Mac was embarrassed by this part the most, he feels awkward being washed by anypony other than his mother or granny smith. The knife wounds had to be undressed and have an antibiotic applied lightly. The wounds were dressed again, next came the pain medicine in two forms, a tea and a rub. The tea was not sweetened; Big Mac had to drink it all. He opened his mouth to drink; the flavor was comparable to a sour cactus soaked in vinegar, which might be the recipe.

The day ended with a massage of the medicine. Big Mac bean to feel better, but the pain was still unbearable. There was still the idea that the mare giving him the massage was his sister's friend, the very one she told him not to mess with. He did his best to not seem overly interested in her. He has been having some thoughts of her, so he doesn't even look at her to make things less awkward.

Fluttershy could see his face, as if he refused to even acknowledge her. She felt confused, so she asked him, “Are you okay? I'm not hurting you too much, am I?”

Big Mac looked at her, face red, and responded. “Why are you doing this?” he asked, hoping to drive her away. He did not want her near, since her presence both poked at his interest and made him feel weak. “Am I just a hurt bunny to you?” he enforced his statement.

“everypony needs to be picked up,” she open heartedly stated, “I just, well feel I need to help you for what you did for me…..” she stopped moving her hooves, a tear came to her eye, “nopony ever stood up for me like that, and I just … wanted  to thank you”

Big Mac's heart sank. He had never thought it would mean so much for her. He looked at her, “it's okay, you can keep going.” He turned over hoping she wouldn't cry more and get him in trouble. It seemed to him she didn’t have any feelings for him, she just wanted to fell like she doesn't owe him anymore.

The rest of the session went on great. they had little awkwardness as she left. Big Mac felt bad for the sad for the mare, she really wanted to make up for the incident. Big Mac saw her walking slowly to the door, head hanging low, and hooves scraping the wood floor.

“miss shy,” he called over to her. “Would you… like some tarts, maybe.” Fluttershy turned and smiled, accepting his offer.

The next few days came by the same. Fluttershy would arrive in the morning for the treatment. Afterwards they had a snack together. Snack time was short since they didn't want applejack to notice, she would go mad. Still the sessions were keeping them fulfilled, in their own ways.

Days then turned to weeks and trouble came as the medicine depleted Fluttershy went to the pharmacy to refill on the ointment. The pharmacist wasn't a problem, the ponies in line were. Roseluck was the biggest problem. Though her talent was botany she had a knack for having loose lips.

“I swear she has been going to the apple farm for a few weeks,” Roseluck started,“ I wonder what they’re doing in there.”

“she must have something for that stallion” replied Lily the conversation was between two, but as bystanders catch wind of the gossip. A mare heard and told her friends “I was in line and heard the medicine was for Big Macintosh.” And another mare told her friends, “that lotion must be for something else” and in turn another, “can you believe those two together?” it all went along until the fourth week of Big Mac's treatment when Fluttershy sensed some strong vibes from a crowd of ponies. She managed to over hear some conversations. “is she that open?” “Big Mac is lucky or just stupid.” “she doesn't look like a mare he would like” The words pierced through her, opening her mind to their words.

The sessions came and she felt awkward. Her movements were slower. Her eyes stared blankly gazed at his back as she thought of the mares speaking of them. Big Mac noticed and asked about it, but she responded with, “it’s nothing.”

The rumors spread like a swarm of Parasprites but did not last long. After three weeks the ponies did not care for this tired gossip, they needed something new. But for Fluttershy the damage was done, the rumor cut so deep. They had brought forth some old memories she didn't want see again. It came back to her in a dream.

______

Fluttershy was crying in the dark, with a scrap of paper at her hooves. She was just a filly at the time, and having a bad time. Surrounding her were the school-fillies, pointing and laughing. “no colt wants a filly who can not fly” they said as they snickered at the yellow mare.

Fluttershy looked at the note, now soaked in her tears. “do you like me?” said the top line in pink letters. As the note had the boxes underneath, Y or N, the blue pen only stated, “like I would want a flightless dodo like you”

The words were harsh both from the fillies and the colt she liked. Her heart was broken, she felt as if she would never love, seeing as nopony wanted her. the taunts and laughter continued, she sank deeper into her darkness. The light was sweeping away from her. Her eyes dripped like an overflowed bucket. Her whimpers echoed in the darkness.

“You don't have to be afraid anymore, miss,” Said a familiar voice. The voice was deep

Suddenly there came a light, pierced through the blanket of black. Ahead of her was the path to a tree. I called to her, saying “come over.” She stood up and followed the light, growing as she walked. The darkness continued to recede as she climbed the hill to the single tree. Beside the tree she could make shape of the pony calling to her.  His golden orange mane, and red coat glistening in with the sun behind him. He looked down into her eyes and said, “it will be alright, I will protect you”

______

Fluttershy woke up, holding Angel and kissing him. The rabbit was not amused. He pushed himself away from her in disgust.

“sorry angel,” she said to the angry rabbit. “I just had that dream again.” Angel squeaked and gestured, in his little bunny way, replying to Fluttershy. “yes that one. But it was different,” she explained, “it ended differently” she got off her bed and looked out towards the farm.

Angel squeaked in confusion. It took a while for his bunny mind to register the feeling she was expressing. He then spoke again, getting Fluttershy's attention. “Oh my, I couldn't,” she replied, seeing that she gestured to confront him. He then gestured to her, holding his paw over his head. Fluttershy looked out the window again. “Maybe you right,” she said sighing against the glass. “I just hope he doesn't take it the wrong way”

Big Mac was in a good mood, today as the last day of the prescribed treatment. He laid in bed expecting Fluttershy to show up, this time he had a full pie for her to take home, as thanks for helping him get better.

Fluttershy arrived, letting herself in and heading to Big Mac's room. Applejack was still asleep, or it seemed since the house was dead quiet. She knocked on the door, “you can come in now” said the voice behind the door. Big Mac turned over happy to see her, seeing that they became good friends these past few weeks. He noticed the look on her face, a look of confusion and sadness. He believed she had something troubling her, he just couldn't put his hoof on it. “should we get started?” he said in a calm voice as to not spook her even more.

Fluttershy grabbed the sponge and started to wash the wounds. Her hooves shaking she pressed the sponge against the nearly invisible scars. She couldn't keep her mind off the Big Mac, thinking of what would occur if she asked him.

The ponies in town had interesting thoughts on the rumors, she couldn't decide who to believe. Some of them saying they would be great for each other, they were cute, a match made by Celestia. Others see their pairing as disgusting, incompatible, and idiotic. Both sides gave a great push into Fluttershy’s decision. She cant decide now.

“what should I do” she thought to herself “is it right to just ask him? Will he say yes”

Big mac noticed her dazing into a trance, looking down on the bed, as she washed the same spot for a minute. He could see her face showing a sense of confusion and sadness. He couldn’t let her stay like that, it is never good to leave a pony with bad thoughts. “is something wrong, miss Shy” he said to her.

She looked up to him, trying to answer his question. Nothing came to mind, all she could think was whether or not to ask him to be with her. “you have to show him how you feel” one side said while an equally loud voice said “you don’t belong together”.

Big mac turned over in hopes of getting her to speak of her problems. “miss shy, is something wrong,” he stated, “is something bothering you.”

She looked down as the arguments continued to lash in her head, “you should” and “you shouldn't”, “its cute,” and “its stupid”. Her mind was a train wreck that could not be picked up. Looking into those eyes made her believe she could do it, face the demons that she had been facing. One final thought came before she acted. “do you want to be alone forever?”

The room was silent. She had closed her eyed to not see the outcome of the event. All she could feel was the warm soft pressure on her lips, the breath from his nose blowing on her face. For those brief seconds her mind was blank. Her anxieties were held back by a dam. Unfortunately the dam broke.

Fluttershy jumped back and covered her face. Her eyes watering and voice whimpering she silently panicked. “what did I do, what did I  do?” she frantically thought to herself. She backed away from the bed. “oh my goodness, oh my goodness.” Her thoughts repeated themselves. Her heart raced,

She ran out crying, leaving a confused Big Mac sitting on his bed. Running out half blinded by tears she knocked over a table, lamp, and chair. The crashes summoned the now irritated Applejack. She pounded through Big Mac's door to see him.

“what the hay happened?” she questioned him without a second's thought.

Big mac stood there still trying to comprehend what had just occurred. 'was it even real, did she really just…’ it took time to wrap his head around what happened but then it just brought him to wonder why?

Applejack became even more irritated with his trance. Though she had never seen him like this she believes whatever it was it was his own fault. “Hey, Big Mac!” she shouted to get his attention. “what happened in here” she asked him with the glare of a thousand judgments flashing from her eyes.

Big Mac was shocked out of the trance to realize her sister wanted an explanation. He couldn't tell her what had happened, Applejack can’t seem to let go the Lyra incident. “I… I…” he stuttered, trying to come up with something. “I… accidentally… touched her…” he tried to come up with an incident that would make him seem at fault, Fluttershy was too innocent to have to face the never ending rage of Applejack. “Touched her flank,” he finished the statement “She panicked”

Applejack was not amused, yet took his word for it. It was a plausible cause for Fluttershy to run out in a hurry, yet anything might be, but she still had doubts in his words. “alright,” she said with a distrusting look in his face, “but ya'll better start working today.” She changed her tone “we need to start working hard, Winter Wrap-up is in three days.”

“right” he replied trying to keep a straight face, he didn't want to show anything that goes against the lie he wove.

______

In Fluttershy’s cottage silence was the first thing you notice. The windows were shut and the door locked. It seems she is not home, but from upstairs a light whimpering. The whimpering was silent, muzzled by the blankets and pillows.

Several hours have passed and Fluttershy was deep in a pool of regret over the incident with Big Mac. Just the thought of it happening was enough to get her eyes watering. She whimpers on thinking negative thoughts, thoughts of not being together and hate and being labeled as open legged. Open legged, if that were to go around even more the stallions would keep propositioning her. The mares would not want to be anywhere near her. She would be an outcast if it weren't for her friends being there for her.

“Fluttershy dear,” sounded a familiar voice. “I hope it's alright, but I let myself in.” the classy tone of the voice was quickly recognized. “Applejack sent me.”

Fluttershy could feel the hoofsteps climbing up the stairs. She peeked between the covers and could see the white unicorn.

“L-leave me alone” whimpered Fluttershy. “I… I… don't want to t…talk” she covered her face, hiding her shame.

“why Fluttershy dear,” said the worried unicorn, “I'm not going to hurt you.” She assured her. the frightened yellow Pegasus peaked over the mound of pillows, her hair drooping over her face soaked in tears. “Applejack sent me to see what I could do to make you feel better. Apparently her brother did something horrid.” The statement stopped her heart. She couldn’t comprehend what she just said.

“She said that?” she asked in disbelief.

“She was a little fuzzy on the details,” said Rarity, “all I know is that she is upset with Big Mac. It must have been so uncouth, it surprised me. Did he touch you?”

“Actually….” Stammered Fluttershy, voice breaking, opening herself, and scared. “it… was me.”

Rarity was shocked by her statement. “what?”

“It wasn’t Big Mac, I did it, I kissed him” she looked at the floor to hide her eyes from the look of disapproval. She believed she needed to clear up the incident, but will they believe her.

“oh,” said Rarity, surprised, “oh dear,” she tried to comprehend what Fluttershy just told her. “so you… kissed… him.” Fluttershy nodded. It took a moment to bring her mind around it. How could it have been her who would kiss him, unless… it clicked. Rarity wrapped a grin over her face. “you like him, don't you Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy gave a whimper, her eyes glued to the floor. Then she gave a light nod. She began to tear up.

She grabbed hold of Fluttershy, brushing her hoof on her messy mane. “It's fine my dear, you did nothing wrong.”

“I... I… probably looked o…open legged,” she cried into her shoulder.

“Please dear, don't be so hard on yourself. Big Mac is a gentlecolt, he would never think such things about you”

“Really?” she asked Rarity, getting out of her shoulder. Rarity gave a nod. She sat up again and began to wipe her tears. Her mind was recovering from that fear, but one thing came to her mind. “what would Applejack think of this.” She screamed covering herself with the blanket again.

Rarity gave it some thought. “I believe you need to tell her yourself.”

“What!?” the phrase shocked her. “I can't do that”

“Dear, listen,” she tried reasoning with her. “Applejack is probably going to punish Big Mac for what she believes he did. It could be bad for him, you wouldn't want that for him would you?”

Fluttershy got back up, cleaning the tears from her eyes. “N..no.” she responded. Fluttershy started to think of what could happen to Big Mac as punishment for a misunderstanding. ‘He may be put to do more chores than he can withstand. He has just gotten out of bed rest, it may hurt him more.’

She worried more. Rarity could notice it. She opened a window to let some light in. the sun came in directly onto the bed, it was setting. She thought of the situation. “Fluttershy dear, why don't you get some rest, maybe think of what to tell applejack. You can go tomorrow.”

Fluttershy looked at her, “okay Rarity.” she replied. She gave a sigh of relief, she still had time to set things right. But she just hopes it works out for the better.