Butterfly in the Orchard

The new day started, just one more day until Winter Wrap Up, and a lot of work had to be done. Things needed to be tallied, organized, and cleaned before the day arrives.

“Big Mac, wake up,” said his still irate sister. “Winter wrap up is tomorrow and we still got work to catch up on.”

Big Mac was upset as well, he laid in bed wondering what it was that made Fluttershy act the way she did.

“C’mon now,” she said as she pulled the blanket off. Big Mac was now forced to get up.

He was sure that Applejack was going to punish him somehow, probably by making him take a shorter break than usual and give him twice the amount of work. It is usually what she does when she is upset with him, but this time he didn’t mind, as long as Fluttershy didn’t have to face the wrath of his sister.

Applejack walked down the hall barely glancing at her brother. Big Mac could feel it. He now felts more sure of the upcoming punishment. Once they reached outside she stopped. “Twilight said that we need more bushels of twigs for the animal nesting team. I need yuh to collect a couple cartfuls.” She said abruptly.

“Eyyup” Big Mac replied, accepting that this was going to be the start of his punishment. He went to the cart to start off. “Maybe this will give me some time to think.” He thought to himself. And he did have much to think about.

Twilight arrived, her list ready for checking and tallying. She noticed Big Mac heading towards the orchard. The distraught look on his face caught her attention. As he disappeared into the forest of bare trees she couldn’t help but wonder if that rumor she heard was true.

“Howdy,” called the orange mare to Twilight.

“Oh, good morning Applejack,” she replied while still glancing over to the orchard.

“What’s the matter Twilight?” asked the concerned mare, “did yuh see something?”

Twilight thought about it for a second, thinking it wasn’t her place to ask. “I, uh, just saw Big Mac heading into the orchard.” She said knowing it wouldn’t lead anywhere good. “He looked upset.” She thought of the rumors that she had heard, them being together.

“He’s fine,” Applejack blurted out, trying to change the topic, “he just has a lot’a work to do.”

“Good, I thought something happened with Fluttershy” she abruptly replied. Not knowing what she just said she saw Applejack pause and turn with an angry face. The pure frustration that fumed off of her could have been enough to turn the snow into mist. Twilight now sensed the trouble heading towards her, she had to act fast.  “Oh, I didn’t mean to say that.” unfortunately it wasn’t the best thing to say.

“Big Mac done said he didn’t mean to do it” she replied still gripping her teeth, “Ah still don’t believe him.” Her face suddenly drooped down, gazing at the ground as if it had the answers, “at least ah wish ah did believe him.”

Twilight felt for her friend, she couldn’t stand to see any of her friends moping. She felt as if she needed to do something to calm her. “Applejack, I… I don’t know what happened, but I’m sure you will forget about it with work.” She wanted her to get her mind off whatever was troubling her, which is what the book had told her. Unfortunately a book can’t teach you how to do it properly. Applejack was still pouting as they headed over to the barn.

The time Twilight was there she couldn’t help but wonder what had transpired. What could have Big Mac done to anger her friend? Of course having him come into the barn brought an uneasy feeling for all of them. Twilight could not stop thinking what had happened. “it must have been something bad” she kept thinking to herself. She was still too afraid to ask.

The pressure was too much; Twilight made finally took the dive and finally asked. “Applejack, what happened with your brother?”

“Nothing happened,” she snapped at her, lip quivering from the lie she just said. “It was just uhhhh…..” she stopped to think. Lying to her friend was upsetting her more than the Big Mac problem. Twilight had always helped her with her problems in the past, maybe she could use her help this time. “somethin’ happened with Fluttershy,” she explained, “Ah was just getting up when ah heard her run out of Big Mac’s room. Ah could tell something happened, so ‘ah confronted him, he just told me he touched her and she overreacted. Ah know it was an understatement, he ain’t telling me the full truth…”

Twilight was unsure how to react. She had read of situations worse than these being resolved in the “Romance” section of the library but this specific situation was new to her. What could she tell her? “I, I think you should ask Fluttershy what happened.” Was the first thing that came out of her mouth, “only she could tell you what really happened?” she went on to explain, “it is safer to know the truth when something happens, and it is best to get it from the primary source.”

She gave an awkward smile, she felt as if she pulled the help out at the last minute. Would it work? She did not know. Applejack looked at her blindly for a few second and then went back to work. Twilight continued tallying the bales.

Time had passed and Twilight finished her final tallies, she now needed to enter them into the books. Applejack walked into the barn, probably trying to get her mind in check. Twilight trotted off, her head still facing the barn. The thought of applejack hurting over something she did not know was troubling her. She became distracted from the direction she was walking and suddenly …Thump… she collided with a soft maned pony, which let out a quiet yelp.

“Um… sorry” the mare was quick to apologize. Her soft voice was easily recognizable, it was Fluttershy.

“Ah, Fluttershy, sorry for running into you.” Twilight replied. “I was just a little bit distracted.”

“Umm, me too” she softly replied. She looked around, as if she was looking for someone. Twilight remembered the conversation she had with Applejack, she knew why she came.

“is something wrong?” she asked as to not make assumptions that would scare her.

“I, uh… well,” she felt a bit embarrassed. Twilight probably heard what happened. “have you, um, seen Applejack?”

“Applejack?” she was right, but didn’t try to show it out loud. “she just went into the barn.” She pointed the way with the horn. Fluttershy hesitated at first, a look of worry on her face caught Twilight’s eye.

She watched her off, heading to the barn. One thing came to her head, “should she stay to help mend this friendship, if it goes south.” Or, “is it none of her business.” She pondered it for a moment, until finally she thought, “maybe I should check and see if they’re fine.”

At the barn Applejack was organizing the bales. She sensed somepony had entered the barn, it annoyed her that they did not respond. “Well, are yuh gonn’ stand there or help me with this?” she said in an annoyed tone. All she got in response was a startled yelp. She turned to see who it was. She was embarrassed to see a scared Fluttershy cowering in the corner. “ahg! Sorry Fluttershy, ah thought you were somepony else.” she tried to apologize, managing to calm her down a bit.

“Uh… no problem.. Applejack.” Fluttershy replied, trying to stand her ground.

“Why did yuh come here anyway?” asked Applejack, hoping she didn’t  already know the answer.

“Actually, I, umm… wanted to talk to you.” She timidly said

Applejack had an idea what she wanted to talk about, but she needed to be sure. “Sure, what about?”

Fluttershy kicked the dirt under her front left hoof and tried to force out the reply. “B-b… Big Mac”

Just hearing the name made Applejack jump, she had thousands of thoughts whip through her head. The words shot out of her mouth. “Big Mac ‘sa good stallion, but he makes some mistakes and gets himself into trouble. But ah want to know, what it is exactly that he did to yuh.”

Fluttershy felt frightened, the sudden accusation on Big Mac made her quiver. “Well… I” She could barely respond. Not like Applejack let her any way.

“Did he do somethin’ to you?”

“He... umm.”

“Did he touch yuh?”

“No… he…”

“Did he try to force himself on……”

Suddenly Fluttershy had enough. She took in a breath and let it out in an unexpected shout. “He didn’t do anything!” it was enough to silence Applejack. Fluttershy took a step back trying not to be intimidating. “I… I…” she looked at applejack, trying to work up the courage for the next statement. “I kissed him.”

Applejack was confused. She did not expect to hear that. “Wait, yuh kissed him?”

Fluttershy responded with a light squeak.

“Kissed him, on the cheek?”

Fluttershy shook her head, saying no to the last question.

“On the lips then,” she tried to wrap her head around it. Then she began to blush. Her face was red like the barn itself. “yuh.. like mah brother?” she asked, her eyes locked on the timid mare.

Fluttershy nodded.

“And not just like him,” she added, “but Like him like him?”

Fluttershy cringed. The truth being told to her the sister of the stallion she had her eye on. She looked at applejack changing her expression every few seconds, anger to sadness to query. The rush of emotion was too much, she did not know which face she would stop with and begin her shouting frenzy.

Finally she chose one. She chuckled at herself. “Ah can’t believe I thought mah brother would do somethin’ that terrible”

Fluttershy was confused, chuckling was the last thing she expected to see applejack do in this situation. “Aren’t you… upset?” she asked trying to clear he confusion.

“Well, a bit,” she replied, “mostly at mah self”

“I, I mean at me… having for kissing him.”

“Well, ah didn’t expect that. But, how could I be mad at yuh two. You’re mah friend, ah can sure trust yuh with him.” She thought about it for a bit and something came to her mind. “when was it exactly that yuh told him”

Fluttershy blushed. “well… I…uh, haven’t”

Applejack’s face seemed to flatten into an annoyed expression, “Yuh haven’t.” she could see why Big Mac was acting weird, “Yuh do know how to be kissed without knowing why” she wanted to explain to her. “When yuh kissed him yuh left him in a daze, he didn’t know what tuh say when I barged in the room” she continued to explain the most logical scenario. She thought about it some more, glancing at the timid mare. His obviously needs to be said. “Fluttershy, yuh need to tell him the truth.”

“What?!”

“mah brother is airheaded, he doesn’t understand things unless they hit him on the head” she explained.

“I can’t,” protested Fluttershy, “what if he doesn’t feel the same way” the stress brought her to tears. She obviously can’t handle the thought of being rejected. Applejack could see this.

“Listen Fluttershy,” she said, attempting to calm her tears, “I’m sure mah big bro cares for yuh too, he’s just, yuh know, a bit quiet about it.” She told her a she what she was sure about.  “Tell yuh what; think about it for a while, maybe after Winter Wrap-up you will feel sure enough to tell him.”

Fluttershy slowly lifted her head, cleaning he tears, and let out a smile towards Applejack. She then turned and headed out. She stopped at half way to the door, turned her head and said, “thank you for understanding”

“You’re welcome, Sugarcube” responded Applejack.

She went out the door bumping into Twilight. Twilight heard most of what happened. She gave a big smile, “I have just the thing that could help you.” She said, “follow me.”

-A few moments earlier-

Big Mac was deep in the orchard, deep in thought. “what have I gotten myself into?” he muttered to himself as he picked up and sorted the twigs. He couldn’t help but think of what he did to get that kiss. “There was only one pony that kissed me like that, and she now hates me.” The thought fumbled in his head. Then the thought of what he started some complications between Fluttlershy and his sister Applejack. The guilt was starting to get to him. He paused from his work and broke down, pleading for the one pony that he had a strong connection to.

“Pa…. could you help me” he said staring into the orchard.

_____________________

“Pa…” said a young red colt walking towards a dark green stallion. “pa…”

“Had a bad day huh?” replied the stallion. After bucking a tree the stallion turned to his son, “what happened?” with an open heart he asked the colt.

The red colt smiled in his interest. “pa, the boys in school said I was never gonn’ get married because I was just a farmerboy.”

The stallion got closer to the colt assuring his caring for him. “oh son, that is a big problem.” He looked up at the sun, checking the time. “you know son, follow me, there’s something I want to show you” the colt was confused, but he wanted to see what his father had in store.

The two walked deep into the orchard, the colt had never been this deep. They came to a sudden stop. The stallion lowered his head to the colt’s level, and then began to speak. “when I was your age I had some boys in town said the same thing about me,” Said the stallion, “I too went to my ma and she told me, ‘you are beautiful no matter what. And when you find a special somepony you have make it special for her.” he then looked forward, “then I met your mother, and one day after  in spring I brought her here.” He walked over the hill and waited for his son to see the hill overlooking the lake, a hidden lake lost in the orchard. The sun made the lake sparkle like a mist of unicorn magic.

The sight stunted the colt; his words were lost in the beauty of the lake. His troubles seemed to have vanished. He took notice of a curved tree just atop the hill overlooking the scene.

“Son, maybe someday you can bring your special pony here,” continued the stallion, “then you can be sure that you can prove those boys wrong.”

As the colt stood there awestruck, he hear the voice of his special pony. “Macintosh… Applesmith, Time for dinner.” The sound of her voice gave him a smile, one that can be explained through the understandings of love.

_____________________

Big Mac’s memories of his wise father helped him get through the tough times he faced before, now he is not sure how it can help.

He headed back to the barn with his wagon of twigs. He thought to himself, ‘maybe if I stop seeing her it will pass, I wouldn’t want to keep getting her into trouble.’ His thoughts brought him around to one thought. ‘Why did she kiss me?’ On his walk back he couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe she liked him. The thought shocked him; it was too good to be true. ‘It was just an accident she meant nothing out of it, did she?’

As he tried to wrap his head around this he glanced on ahead and noticed a certain yellow mare come out of the barn. ‘This can’t be good’ he thought to himself. He waited at the orchard entrance until he knew she had left. ‘What was that about?’ he thought as he came closer to the barn. Then he came to the view of his sister, who was now in a better mood, but not by much. ‘What did she tell her.’

Big Mac pulled the cart next to the bales. Nonchalantly he grabbed bundles, piling them next to the box and rope used for bales. ‘Maybe if I keep working she will forget what happened’ he thought to himself. How wrong he was.

Unfortunately his sister turned to him. The grin on her face gave Big Mac an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

Applejack was still uneasy over why Big Mac had lied to her, and also why he hadn’t told herr about their feelings. But she was willing to pressure it out of him.

“So, what do yuh feel ‘bout the mares in town?” she starts off, not an exciting topic seeing as he is the most sought after stallion in town. He didn’t care much though. “I’m sure yuh still got some special one in your eye.”

“Eenope” he responded, his eyes focused on the task he started.

Applejack flinched from his response, she plunked around her mind for another subtle way to get what she wanted. “so, yuh would think nothin’ when a pony, makes certain gestures at yuh?” Big Mac stopped in his tracks. “yuh know, from a certain yellow mare?” she added

Big Mac became more nervous with the line of questioning his sister was getting to. “eenope” was all he could respond.

“Really? So a kiss don’t mean nothin?” she said in an irritated tone. The word caused Big Mac to fumble his work. The twigs spilled out of his mouth.

The silence was eerie. Big Mac stared at the ground, avoiding eye contact with his sister. He could sense the burning gaze of Applejack’s scorn. Moments passed and still no movement.

Finally he responded. “you know?” he asked. Applejack nodded. “how long?” he rebutted.

“Not long, Fluttershy just told me” she confessed. Big Mac panned his eyes away from his irritated sister.

“Are you mad at me for kissing her?” he asked with a trembling voice.

“Well ah am a bit peeved, but not cause of the kiss,” she clarified, “ahm mostly upset cause yuh lied to me over something so innocent.”

Big Mac was confused, “I thought you would be upset over me getting friendly with your friend?” he remembered what she had told him when he was at the bar just two months before. “you got upset when I asked her to the dance”

Applejack recalls the words she said, she is not proud of that moment. “listen big bro, ah know ah could be a bit hard to talk to, but this is different, ah know she has feelings for yuh, ah know yuh care for her as well.” Big Mac looked away, focusing on the ground rather than the face of his now confused sister, “right?”

The silence spoke very clear. Big Mac refused to see what expression his sister had on her face. To him it could be any of the five degrees of rage she had. It would not be pretty. He silence was getting worse. From what he knows silence is never a good sign.

“Wait, do yuh have feelings fur her?” she asked in a confused manner.

“Well…” Big Mac replied, “I just don’t know how to react to that”

Applejack bounces between embarrassment of telling him something he didn’t know and anger for his reaction. “ah shouldn’t be the one to talk with yuh ‘bout this.” She said with her hoof in her face. “look, yuh have till after Winter Wrap up to figure this out, ah need yuh head strong for work.” She began to walk away still holding her head. She paused at the door. “also, let her down easy, ah don’t wanna have tuh lose a relationship over you. Not again atleast.” She continued towards the house leaving Big Macintosh to do his work.

__________________

The girls had finally reached the library. Twilight rushed to find the help she wanted for Fluttershy all afternoon.

“Umm, Twilight?” asked Fluttershy as Twilight rummaged through her books, “uh… what is it that you are looking for exactly?”

“I had a book delivered to me from Canterlot, written by the master romance writer Love Brace.” Twilight answered.

“I don’t see how a work of fiction could help me.” she replied, just as Twilight found the book.

“It’s not fiction,” corrected Twilight, “it’s ‘Of Stallions and Mares: a Guide to First Time Romance’ a book with all you need to know about stallions and romance.”

“Is… it really useful?”

“It helped me get out of a date with Caramel. I’m sure it will help you get to know his feelings.”

“Um, Twilight…” Fluttershy tried to get words in as Twilight rushed through the pages of the book.

“Here we are” she said lifting the book in Fluttershy’s face. “Chapter 3 is what you need.”

Fluttershy peaked in to read the book, “does he feel the same way?” she read the words carefully. Analyzing the age she noticed the image embedded in the age, a large stallion with his mane flowing in the breeze. The image vaguely resembled Big Macintosh; her heart sank at the image.

Twilight pulled the book away, “now according to what I’ve heard you two spent quite some time alone”

Fluttershy blushed at the statement.

“You helped him heal his wounds, is that correct?”

Fluttershy gave a silent “yes”

“And did he do anything to thank you in return?”

“Well…” she thought about it, she remembered the snacks they had for those six weeks. “we had a snack afterwards.”

“Mm hmm” Twilight mumbled as she took out a chalkboard and ran the numbers. The more she pounded on the board Fluttershy became even more nervous. She peeked to try and decipher the scribbles on the board, but the Algebra and calculus was too much for her to understand. “Aha,” she blurted as she finished.

“What is that?” asked Fluttershy.

“It’s the probability equation for finding if Big Mac likes you.” She then lifted the book opened a few pages into the chapter. “the equation is all in here,”

Fluttershy read the equation, she was surprised by what it said.

“You have a 74.39% chance of Big Mac liking you Fluttershy.” She read aloud, “not a bad number if you ask me.” She boasted in her number crunching. “now, I have some more books you should read before the you ask Big Mac….” She continued to rummage her shelves for more books.

Fluttershy began to get nervous, she had not expected this much studying went into just one question. “Um.. Twilight…” she tried to get her attention, but twilight went on piling books for her. “Twilight?” as she asked again she could feel a warm touch in her heart. ‘What was this?’ she asked herself. ‘I feel like I can do anything’ she looked at the books, knowing that she didn’t need them. “Twilight!” she let out in a burst.

“Oh my,” Twilight heard her at last, but was surprised. “Did I do something wrong?” she saw the yellow mare panting, holding a look of assertiveness.

“Twilight…” she receded back to her timid self, “thank you for trying to help me,” she said, hoping not to offend her friend. “but I don’t think I need this,” she let on a smile, “I feel I can do this just by asking him. If that’s okay with you” she blushed and turned her eyes to the ground.

Twilight opened her mind and saw what she was doing. “Sorry Fluttershy, I didn’t mean to force the books on you, I just wanted to help.” her apology was sincere; she had not expected to be so intrusive.

Fluttershy felt guilty of being assertive, the sweat on her brow showed it. “I, um, better get going now,” she said as she headed for the door, “we have a lot of work to do… eh he” she excused herself and darted out. On her way passed several homes and businesses she could feel them judging, as if they doubted her decision.

She had reached her home. She collapsed on her doorstep, gasping for breath. She began to wonder “what have I gotten myself into?”

-The next day-

Winter Wrap up had passed without a hitch this year, well except for the usual missing seeds, thanks to Caramel’s “foolproof” organization system. Now the routine after duty cleanup is taking place. The townsponies are taking their tools and storing them for next year. Big Macintosh catches up with his friends, hoping to get some advice.

“That’s quite a predicament” said Doctor Whooves after hearing the story of the past few days.

“Yeah, I would be confused too if she did that to me.” Added Caramel

“The worst part is that I don’t know if I should go and get together with her.” claimed Big Mac.

“Well I should tell you starting out is never easy,” said Whooves, bringing another experience, “I mean it was awkward when I had to ask my boss for time to go meet with Ditzy, she even made the mistake of bringin mail rather than snacks, but I knew it would be worth it.”

Caramel looked at him not understanding a single word he said. “Yeeaah… from my experience with the various mares I had it can get awkward asking them out, but your time with them is fun.” He paraphrased the previous statement.

“I’m not worried about asking,” Big Mac clarified, “I’m worried that I will mess this up like I did with Lyra.”

The three went silent. They looked at each other awkwardly. The thought of what happened made them see what he was afraid of.

“Listen, no two relationships are the same.” Caramel said. “I should know, I’ve been in several. An each one had its set of troubles.”

“Why yes,” Whooves interjected, “and those troubles can be overcome in many ways. But they are worth fighting for.”

Big Mac took their words in and began to think. ‘maybe I could do this, maybe their right.’ But as long as the thought about Fluttershy the troubling thoughts rushed back. He had to find a quiet place to think. “Excuse me,” he said to his friends, “thank you for your help, but I need some time to think.”

“Going to your usual spot?”Asked Caramel

“eeyup.” He replied, “if Miss Shy comes looking for me, could you send her, please”

“Can do” answered Whooves.

Big Mac smiled and headed into the orchard.

Across the farm the Fluttershy was cleaning with Applebloom, working up the courage to see Big Mac. She saw Big Mac out the barn door. She stopped in her tracks and just stared out. Applebloom noticed, she asked her “is something wrong?” Fluttershy didn’t respond. Fluttershy dropped her things and headed out.

Applejack walks in, along with her friends. “Howdy Applebloom,” she said looking around, “say, where’s Fluttershy? We were gonna ask her if she wanted come along to Sugarcube Corner with us”

“she just left,” she replied, “headed towards the orchard.”

“wait,” she pondered, she then remembered seeing Big Mac going in there a  while ago, “oh my gosh, she going to ask him now?”

The rest of the girls were surprised. Pinkie pie was most excited with what she heard. Twilight was worried with what the outcome would be. Rainbow dash was curious, “what are we waiting for? Don’t you all want to see what happens?” she exclaimed urging the others to come along. It didn’t take long for the others to come to agreement. ‘

“Common girls,” ordered applejack “follow me, ah think ah know where they’re going.”

The group headed deep into the orchard, following after Big Mac and Fluttershy.

The sun was ready to set, Big Macintosh had reached the lake. He had done some thinking along the way, but this is where he plans to make his decision. He laid down on the shady hill and peered off into the lake watching the shimmer of the water. He could only think of one thing, his father.

“What am I gonna do, pa” he mumbled to himself. He looked at his memories to find a moment in which he gave could find comfort from this. All came back to one thing, one voice that could tell him how he should react.

“Umm, Big Mac?” quietly said the sweet voice he was dreading to hear. “I… uh, sorry to trouble you, but…” she tried to get the words out, but she was too nervous. “i… well… I need to…”

Big Mac knows how she feels, he too has trouble expressing himself under pressure. He feels he need to talk, explain his side, but he doesn’t know when.

“You see… when I… k-k-k… pushed myself… on you, I may have left you… confused…”

____________

-Meanwhile in the bushes-

“Oh my” said Twilight pressing her hoof onto her forehead.

“This is like watching a train crash at snail speed” Said Rainbow Dash.

“shush,” said Pinkie Pie while munching on her popcorn “I can’t hear”

“that stallion better hurry up and help her, this is getting tiresome.” Complained Applejack.

“Patience, girls” said rarity, these things take time.

____________

“well…” continued Fluttershy “I wanted to tell you…..” she began to tear up, her voice started to crack. She hadn’t felt this much pressure since flight camp.

“actually Miss Shy” interrupted the Red stallion. “I already know.”

The statement froze Fluttershy. “you do?”

“Eyyup”

She blushed with a look of worry on her face. “so do you…..”

Big Mac had a crucial moment of choice now. He looked into his heart, and only one word came up. “Eyyup”

There was shock for everypony involved. The girls in bushes were speechless. Then a nasaly voice was heard. “Unbelievable” it said, then the sound of galloping getting softer.

Big Mac wiped the tears from Fluttershy’s cheeks. His heart opened up with he could only think of one thing that would make this moment better. “Want to get some apple pie?”

Fluttershy giggled at the silly question. She looked into his eyes and could only say a joyful “yes”