Butterfly in the Orchard

It is officially the second day of spring and Fluttershy is feeling great. She skips merrily through town humming a familiar tune. Unfortunately she does not notice the ponies staring at her from the shops.

The rumors have started again, and this time they’ve been confirmed by an anonymous mare. Murmuring passed through the streets of Ponyville like a swarm of Parasprites. Everypony knows what has occurred the previous night in the lake by the orchard, and the ponies were back to their gossip.

Some ponies had ideas of what happened, “A night of passion that sparked interest between them”. “could it have been a pregnancy scare?” the thing is that many ponies couldn’t understand why he would choose her.

The jealousy was enough to bring some of them to their knees. Big Mac was a big catch for many mares, even if they only did watch. They couldn’t believe that he would choose her. “What’s she got that I don’t,” then they remembered, she did save equestrian and Ponyville a few times, and there was the time she was a model. Rather than looking at her good qualities, they picked at her quirks.

Yet there is one mare that has a unique view of the situation. One teal unicorn.

“How you doing Fluttershy?” said the unicorn, stopping the Yellow Pegasus in her tracks. The tone in which the mare spoke was one in a curious manner.

“Oh hello Lyra,” responded Fluttershy, “is there something you need? “

“Just tell me this…” Lyra said, “Are you really together with Macintosh?”

Fluttershy blushed, “oh my… it already got out?”

The look of curiosity on Lyra’s face was displaced by a look of fierce disapproval. “yes, and if you want my advice, end it now.”

Fluttershy became confused with the statement. “What?”

“Macintosh is a very bad stallion.” She continued, “He just wants to use you and then throw you on the curve.”

The assertiveness from her voice brought fear to Fluttershy’s heart. “wha… what do you mean?”

“He will tell you that he loves you now, but once you get vulnerable he will take what he wants out of you.” She shouted at the frightened mare, “he doesn’t care about you; he just wants to use you.”

Fluttershy’s eyes watered as the words sank in. she ran off in direction she was headed earlier.

“What did you say that for” said a cream coated mare with purple and  pink hair.

“She needed to know what she was getting herself into, Bon-Bon.” Replied Lyra

Down at the park Rarity and Applejack were watching their sisters and their friend play. The three little fillies had made a play date and wanted their sisters involved.

“Such a lovely day” Rarity said aloud,

“Sure is” replied Applejack kicking the ball back to the fillies, “ah just hope Fluttershy gets here, so these games can really start” she eagerly anticipates playing hoofball, they just need even teams.

“I’m sure these games can’t get too rough, I’m expecting a spa day after this.”

“yuh need to get in the dirt more,” giggled Applejack, “its good for yuh”

“The only time I get in the dirt will be in the mud bath.” Protested Rarity. “I just want a nice clean game”

Just before they could get into another clean versus dirty argument the sobbing of a familiar mare got closer. They turned to see their friend crying and galloping to them in seek of comfort. The yellow pegasus fell to the ground at their hooves.

“Fluttershy dear, what’s wrong?” asked Rarity.

“I.. I..” Fluttershy couldn’t speak through the tears.

“What is it sugarcube?” asked Applejack, with growing concern.

“I… met with L-Lyra, a-and…” She cried out. Applejack’s face exploded into shock.

“What happened with Lyra?” asked Rarity.

“She... told me to break up with Big Mac,” Answered Fluttershy, still fighting the tears. “why would she say that?”

“Why In Equestria would she say that?” Rarity wondered aloud. Rarity looked over to Applejack, who was cringing her lips and looking off to the left. “You seem awfully suspicious, Applejack. Is there something you’re not telling us?”

She let off a nervous grin. “Well this is uh…” she backed away slowly, increasing the space between them. “My, I gotta go” she attempted to run backwards and tripped over the ball.

Rarity, using her magic, stopped her from moving any further. “What is the matter with you?” she shouted, “keeping something that a friend needs to know is uncouth, even for you.” The fillies stopped to see what was happening. They looked over to the older mares, noticing Fluttershy sniffling and Applejack pinned to the ground.

“What’s going on” asked Sweetie Bell looking over to Rarity for answers.

Applejack looked over to the fillies, her mind looking for a way to explain this. “I’ll tell yuh,” she fnally cracked, “but not in front of the young’uns.”

Rarity’s curiosity was piqued, she was expecting some minor Ex-marefriend problem but if a filly wasn’t allowed to hear it… “Run along and play without us, girls. The grownups have to talk.”

The three were disappointed by the fact that they couldn’t hear it, but at least they could still play. They rushed over to the Hoofball field and took the ball with them. Applejack followed them off with her eyes. She stood up and faced her two friends. “Now then, there was something that happened between mah brother and Lyra…” she started.

Fluttershy paid especially close attention.

“It was around five years ago, Lyra and Big Macintosh were quite a lovely couple. She was just outta college in Canterlot, but she was visiting family when they first met. Then they just hit it off after two weeks. They were always together that summer. It seemed nothin’ could separate them…” she hesitated for the last part. The tension was getting to Rarity, who was leaning in to get the full story clear. “ah saw Lyra crying and galloping out of the barn at full speed. The next thing ah know they are accusing mah brother of tryin to… to… take advantage of her.” the girls Gasped in surprise.

“Unbelievable” said Rarity, in a whispering voice.

“She.. She said that?” sniffled Fluttershy, now understanding what had happened.

“Did he really do such a horrid thing?” Rarity asked. It was the biggest thought I both their minds.

“Ah.. Ah don’t know,” Confessed Applejack. “Between mah brother not talking and Lyra not having memory we never got the full story. But Lyra had a black eye and Big Mac reeked of hooch, who were they gonna believe.”

Fluttershy was devastated, she could not believe such a horrible accusation. This was one side that she had never heard about Big Mac, her new coltfriend.

“So I assume its official now?” Asked Caramel, setting up the apple stand.

“Eyyup” Big Macintosh replied, “I even got a good feeling about her, I didn’t expect that.”

“She has to be one of the cutest mares I’ve ever seen you with.”

“Remember, I haven’t been with many mares,” hoarsely replied Big Mac, “just two. Three if you count that prank on me and Cheerilee.”

The phrase brought silence to the two stallions. Caramel remembers the incident, “Do you still see her around town?”

“Miss Cherilee is my sister’s teacher. Of course I see her often.”

“No” he corrected, “I mean Lyra.”

“Oh, her” Big Mac responded half hearted, “I see her around, but never talk to her. she still holds a grudge. I got a break when she moved to Canterlot weeks after the incident, but I hear she came back not too long ago.” he paused his work for a moment, “she stopped bothering me about it, but I fear it may start again”

Caramel could sense the hole he opened with the question. He thought to himself that he must change the subject.  “The mares ought to be disappointed that you’re off the market now?” he said with a false smile. Caramel’s statement made Big Mac let off a nervous giggle.

“I guess they will be,” he said, “but knowing them they probably let off a mighty rumor about us already.”

“Yeah, I heard plenty from after the Ball, but what can be said……” he was stopped by the image of a cream mare with purple and pink colored mane. “How are you doing Miss Bon Bon? Would you care for some apples?”

“Hello Caramel,” she said in a friendly tone, “no thanks, I just came to talk with Big Macintosh.”

Big Mac turned to her, confused over what she could possibly want with him. “Yes Miss Bon Bon?” from her friendliness she showed him in the past it wasn’t something too serious.

“It’s Lyra,” she said leaving a shiver in Big Mac’s spine, “she heard from Lily about you and Fluttershy, and she went ballistic.”

Big Mac took a moment to take it in, “she… she still holds that grudge, doesn’t she?”

“I’m afraid so.” She takes a step closer to him, “she already threatened Fluttershy this morning.”

“She did what?!” he gasped. He looked at them with confusion, seeking for a way to react to this.

“She still has it in her head that you’re a horrible stallion for mares to be with.” she looked down at his hooves, tearing up from the frustration. She wasn’t mad at Lyra as much as she was with herself. “I should have told her sooner, then maybe she wouldn’t have been so destructive.”

“It’s not your fault,” said Big Mac trying to comfort the mare, “it’s mine also for not telling her my story.”

“I’m confused here” interrupted Caramel.

“It’s nothing,” said Big Mac trying to keep him out of it. He couldn’t tell him what happened especially now that he has noticed a certain pink mare hiding around a corner. “You know I see you there” he said aloud, trying to get her attention. The mare winced and dove back behind the wall. “Lily, come out here”

The mare came out, her head low, ashamed of being caught eavesdropping. “how are  you doing Big Mac?” she said in her nasally voice.

“How much did you hear?”

“Not much, but I hear you are keeping a secret” Lily said jokingly with a smile lapped over her face.

Big Mac wasn't amused. “You are aware of what happens when a rumor is spread about, don't you”

“I just thought everypony would want to hear about your relationship” she claimed trying to prove her innocence with a smile.

“but some ponies don’t want to hear about other ponies’ lives,” Intruded Caramel “they feel better not knowing what color pajamas a pony wears, or whether or not they are a sloppy kisser!” he became louder as he said the last part, as if he were talking from personal experience.

“Look, I said I was sorry for that, you just stood me up for the theater and I had to go alone…. For the third time”

“I was busy and….”

“Enough!” interrupted Bon Bon and Big Macintosh. The ex couple looked away in embarrassment, clearly they had some issues to work out.

“Lily, you caused enough trouble today” explained Big Mac “now I need to fix this before it gets worse.”

“Fluttershy?” asked the orange farm mare. “Are yuh alright?” she noticed the banana colored Pegasus was staring into the ground, blank faced.

“Uwah,” she came out in a shock. “Sorry, Applejack” she was deep in thought about what Applejack told them about Big Mac. The idea of her Coltfriend being a rapist, after having saved her from some, made her sick to her stomach. The tears that have run down her cheeks earlier had soaked into her coat, leaving a visible trail from her eyes. Applejack could see those trails.

“Listen, sugarcube,” she replied, “ah know it is difficult to understand, but Big Mac made a decision that made his relationships, well, complicated,” she tried to think of a way to get her to not worry, “but he is with you now and only wants what’s best for yuh”

Fluttershy looked at her, her eyes filled with confusion. She loved Big Mac, but the rumor was getting to her head. she needed to clear up the mess in her head and  find an answer now. “I…” she tried to speak, “I want to talk with Big Mac.”

“Talk to b…” Applejack whispered. “Are yuh sure you need to?”

“Big Mac, is the only one who can tell me what happened.” She sniffled, “I want to hear his side, and know what happened” she shook from her own statement. Her curiosity and worry for the stallion of his life is what drives her to know. ‘Hopefully,’ she thought to herself, 'it is all a misunderstanding.’

“Alright now sugarcube, if yuh need to know, I'll take yuh to him” applejack had a feeling that he might finally open up and explain what had occurred five years ago. He might, shes not too sure about this.

The two mares headed off to town square, in hopes of finding Big Mac to get the record straight. If she knew her brother, he should still be at his post in the market. When coming across the apple stand they noticed the stallion standing there, alone.

“Caramel?” applejack called out, getting his attention, “where the hay is mah brother?”

“He didn't tell me where he was headed, he just went off with Bon Bon looking for Lyra” he answered, “mumbling something about settling something”

Applejack went into shock, “he went to do what now?” she exclaimed.

Fluttershy covered her mouth; she began to think the worst possible outcomes of this situation.

“C’mon Fluttershy, we gotta catch up to them.” applejack demanded. They headed off into the direction of residential Ponyville, in hopes of stopping a bad situation.

________

“Applejack, the problem I have is with your brother, not you” said a Teal Stallion. He was accompanied by a young teal mare and a cream mare of the same age

“But ah don't understand what the problem is,” replied a young Applejack.

The teal stallion pointed over to a young mare wearing a swollen eye, “this is the problem, your brother did this to my cousin Lyra. Not only that, but he got her drunk and tried to force himself on her.”

Applejack was astonished by the accusations. She could not comprehend these words which assaulted the honor of her family. “Big Macintosh! Granny Smith!!” she called into the house.

Soon out came the lime green old mare followed by the red young stallion.

One look at the red stallion and the teal stallion let loose in a loud fit of rage. “You understand what you put my daughter through? You even care what it felt like for her? You scumbag!!”

The red stallion did not respond, he stood there with a look of shame.

“Now, now, what happened to the little mare?” asked the Green old mare.

“Your grandson gave my cousin alcohol and tried to force himself on her” the stallion repeated.

The green mare came into shock, the anger rose inside of her. “Now hold on a minute,” she protested, “my grandson could not have done something so vile. We don't even keep alcohol on this here farm, seeing as we have some minors here. And secondly, I have taught my colts how to treat a mare properly.”

“Well maybe some stallions tend to stray from the path their parents teach, if they have any..” that statement appalled the apple family.

“How… how dare you speak about my son and grandson that way, coming here with your disgusting accusations and you less than respectful treatment for those who past.” The Green mare was enraged with the statement; she had lost her son several years ago and did not want anypony to mock him.

“Y'all better leave.” Demanded Applejack, she didn't want anypony to do anything they regret.

The before teal stallion made his retreat, he hesitated, turned and said, “keep him away from my cousin, or I will have to call the guard on your grabby grandson. Just be warned, her parents live in Canterlot, they will get the guards down on you”

The Green mare took the red stallion by the ear and dragged him off into the house. Applejack followed. “We are gon’ have a long talk about this,” said the Green Mare.

________

A knock came to the door; the teal unicorn mare was slouching on her couch rifling through some old memories. She sprung up and headed to the front door of the apartment, hearing a familiar but faint voice, “you didn’t have to knock, I live here.”

“Bon Bon, why are you outside,” Lyra asked as she used her magic to open the door. As the light pierced through the crack she noticed a tall muscular shadow next to her friend. The figure received an outline of red fur. “You!” she shouted, “what are you doing here!” Lyra jumped back and prepared for a fight.

“Lyra please, he's not here to hurt you” Bon Bon pleaded,

“Yeah right, he promised to not hurt me then and look where that led to.” Lyra shouted at the two.

“Listen, I'm here to talk about what happened those years ago, Miss Lyra.” Big Mac interjected.

Lyra raised an eyebrow at his proclamation, “talk, you didn’t talk then, so why would you talk now?”

“Because of what you told Miss Shy this morning”

“Miss Shy… Fluttershy? That harlot?”

“She's a very respectable mare, and” Big Mac hesitated a bit, “my Marefriend”

“is that so,” she questioned his statement, “you don't seem too sure about it.”

Big Mac was caught in a predicament, he stuttered as he realized his spur of the moment yes may not have been as certain as he thought. He knew he had feelings for her, but he didn't know if the feelings were serious or just another passing phase. “look, this isn't about me, it”

“it is about you,” interrupted Lyra, “what's the matter, you didn't want your little squeeze to know about your affairs from the past? Your little secret with me was the talk of the town then, so how did he not hear.” Her face slapped on a smirk, “or maybe she wants you to make the moves on her, I heard she didn't even put up a fight at the Ball six weeks ago.”

“Enough!!” Big Mac was just about to break, “Miss Shy is not like that, you don't know anything about her”

“So you already slept with her, didn't you?”

Big Mac turned a bright red. He did not know how to follow that statement,

“Were not here to talk about Fluttershy,” Bon Bon intervened, “were here to clarify the past we kept burying” she was not good with words

“What about it, did I miss something about the rape?”

“There wasn't one,”

“WHAT?!” screamed Lyra “how dare you come here and tell me I wasn't raped by this bull of a pony”

“But its true you weren't” insisted Big Mac, “I didn't give you the alcohol”

“Then where did the alcohol come from?”

“You got it from my father's cabinet.” Bon Bon answered. “You took a very potent bottle called Manehattan Rum,”

“But why did I take that?”

“You wanted it to be special, so you looked for a drink for the two of you”

“it was our six month anniversary, I still remember” explained Big Mac, we were planning on having a nice lunch….” Big Mac went on as he retold what he remembers.

________

The day was young and Big Mac was working in the orchard. he noticed his sister come up to him with a grin on her face. He recognized that grin; she had been doing it ever since she started dating Lyra. She came up to him to tell him his marefriend had been waiting for him in the barn.

He took a break while applejack did his work. He made his way to find what Lyra drinking heavily out of her glass.

“good day Lyra,” he greeted her.

“how you doing Mac” she responded, but something was off, her voice was louder than usual. “sit down have a drink.”

Big Mac was wary, but he still sat next to the bale of hay being used as a table. Lyra used her magic to pour him a glass of this questionably clear beverage. Big Mac took a whiff of the glass and noticed it had a scent similar to that of cleaning product. “Lyra,” he asked “what is this?”

“Don' worry,” she replied not being able to pronounce the “T” correctly. “jus' drink”

Big Mac took a the glass and played with it, noticing that Lyra had chugged her whole glass down in second. She slumped forward, landing on Big Mac's hooves. “Are you alright?”

“I'm fine” she said as she climbed up Big Mac's front legs, collapsing again onto his chest. She took a big whiff of his chest, and let out an aroused sigh. “I never noticed how strong your body feels,” Big Mac was confused, “and that stallion scent of yours, mmmm, makes me want to hold you tight”

“Lyra, I think I know what's going on” said Big Mac as he tried to get out of her grip, “your drunk, and…” he was silenced by a kiss,

“C’mon Mackie no one has to know” pleaded Lyra, her drunken state had led her to a swing of arousal. Big Mac didn't want to get with her in this state.

“It wouldn't be fair, you won't remember a thing” he tried reasoning with her, but all in futility. She tried to get her way towards Big Mac's piece, but he pushed her away. In her state she had become incredibly insistent and kept climbing on him. She would not stop. Until the moment his hoof slipped and slammed into her eye.

The barn went silent as the mare curled up into a ball, holding her ever swelling eye. She began to weep for a few seconds. Big Mac felt guilty, he walked up to her to see if everything was okay. He wanted to apologize and he noticed her horn glow. “you… you ASSHOLE!!” she shouted in the top of her lungs, swinging the bottle at the stallion. The blow broke the bottle soaking him in the beverage. Lyra galloped out of the barn and headed into town. Big Mac stood in the barn, trying to hold on to his dignity.

Applejack came walking in to the barn confused and worried, “big bro, what happened, ah just saw Lyra galloping outta here like a bat outta Tartarus.” She stepped closer and noticed the smell and the bottle “is that alcohol?” she looked at her brother who was standing still. “big mac? What happened?”

“just a big mistake,” he finally responded, “I’m gonna clean this up, tell granny we may have trouble coming our way.”

__________

“The next thing I know is your cousin accusing me of molesting you” ended Big Mac.

“Lies!!” protested Lyra, “nothing but lies,” she refused to look at them.

“But my the bottle was my father's drink you took. The Apples don't keep alcohol around their barn at any time. Even their cider I mildly alcoholic”

Lyra began to shake, her legs couldn't support her anymore and sat back. “then, if that was how it happened,” her eyes watered and her voice crackled, “then why now, why wait five years to tell me this?” she began to doubt what she believed ended their relationship.

“I didn't want rumors to start about you” Big Mac confessed. Lyra looked up at him in surprise. “if word got out that you were a horny drunk, who know how the stallion would react. So I took the fall to protect you from them”

“You still didn't do anything to try to defend yourself. You kept living with that rumor on your head.” Lyra continued to cry.

“I have been called many things here, but I couldn't bear giving the title of floozy to a dear friend.”

Lyra now saw what had really happened that day five years ago. He had ended their relationship but tried to protect her. Lyra jumped to his hooves crying out for forgiveness. Her friend Bon Bon came to her to ask for forgiveness in return.

Out the door Fluttershy and Applejack were listening. The two heard much of the story.

“so that's why he didn't want tuh talk ‘bout it..” Applejack came to realization. She looked over to Fluttershy who was tearing up from the emotion striking her heart. “yuh see, mah brother isn’t a bad stallion,” she assured her, “Ah’m sure you two will be happy together.

Fluttershy smiled and looked at the red stallion, looking back at her now, who she is proud to call her coltfriend, her love, her Very Special Somepony.