For The One You Love

by bahatumay

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Romance, Fluttershy, Sex, Big Macintosh
Length: 11521

Macintosh has loved Fluttershy for a very long time. He'd happily propose… if she weren't already betrothed.

Big Macintosh has loved Fluttershy for a long time. In fact, he was ready to propose the next chance he got.

There was only one small problem. Turns out Fluttershy is betrothed already, to another pegasus. And why are they calling her Warbringer?

Either way, Mac isn't about to let anything stand in his way of being with the one he loves.

Published 2014-07-21 22:00:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-08-06 16:23:06 UTC

Chapter 1

“Contented” seemed too plain a term, but that’s the only one that came to Big Mac's mind. He didn't even mind the long pink mess that was Fluttershy's mane in his face. Sure, he didn't particularly care for the flavor of mane—it was a bit too rough for his taste—but for Fluttershy he could and would easily make an exception.

He pulled her close, ensuring that her wings weren't twisting or bending wrong and gave her a gentle kiss on the back of her head. The harvest meant that he could only spend the night once a week, much to the disappointment of both parties, so Mac wanted to make sure he didn't miss a single second of their cuddling. Eventually, though, he succumbed to Fluttershy's charm, and he fell asleep to the smooth rhythm of her calm breathing.

Fluttershy woke up alone. Although Rarity might have insisted she throw a fit at being loved and then left, this didn't disturb her at all. Mac had chores to do at home, and he had to get up a lot earlier than she did if he wanted to get done in time, even with all the animals she had to care for. It wasn't uncommon for her to wake up and see that he had left.

At least her bed was still warm and smelled like him. She would have stayed there longer, just enjoying the feel of his after-presence, but the sounds of her animal friends as they woke up reminded her that she had other responsibilities to tend to. Stretching widely, she flared her wings, gave a little yawn, and hopped out of bed. Trotting out of her bedroom, she entered her kitchen to see that Macintosh had cleaned up the aftermath of their dinner last night.

A smile flickered across her face. He was too kind to her.

That made her situation that much more difficult to bear.

She turned to her calendar hanging on the wall (decorated with a beautiful sunset motif) and crossed off another day, leaving four more days until a date circled in red.

"Hey, Mac!"

Big Mac paused mid-buck and turned to see his sister Applejack walk up. He nodded in greeting before returning to his task.

“You're in a good mood today,” she commented.

Big Mac moved to the next tree. “Eeyup.”

Applejack's eyes clearly indicated that she was thinking of something else besides small talk. “When’d you get home last night?”

Big Mac shrugged. He in all honesty had no idea. He had gotten into the habit of closing his eyes and not looking at the clock when returning, so that he could honestly answer that he didn’t know.

Applejack narrowed her eyes. She knew his game all too well. Although it technically was not a lie, she still considered this cheating. “Well, you just better start figurin’ it out. Ah don’t want t’ hear you were doin’ anything inappropriate with Fluttershy late at night when you were ‘apposed t’ be home.”

"Ah'm doin’ nothin’ inappropriate with Fluttershy," Big Mac maintained.

Applejack rolled her eyes. "By whose definition?"

A tiny smile played at his lips. "Hers."

Applejack found that she had no rejoinder for this and settled for changing the subject. "So what're you doin' for her birthday?"

Mac frowned. "When's that?"

"In four days," Applejack said. She grinned at the shocked look that crossed her brother's face. "What? She didn’t tell you?"

Mac shook his head.

Applejack chuckled. "Eh, that makes sense. She never says anythin’ about herself. Just..." She walked closer and rested a hoof on his shoulder. "Make it special, 'kay? She's real taken with you."

"Ah hadn't noticed," Big Mac joked, earning himself a quick kick in the ribs.

“You’re thinkin’ of her right now, aren’tcha." It didn't even have to be a question. "Bet she’s thinkin’ of you right now, too.”

As it turns out, Applejack was wrong. At that moment, keeping her balance was the only thing on Fluttershy’s mind. Well, and listening to Rarity chat about the events in Canterlot. That was the only kind thing to do.

“You would not believe how fancy some of these parties are!" Rarity gushed as she stretched yet another fabric swath against Fluttershy's body. "The glamour! The fashion! The way there are no less than five utensils at every serving place!"

Fluttershy, who was perfectly content to simply eat with her hooves, nodded. "Sounds complicated."

"Yes, perhaps; but a true lady knows the intricacies of using them all, and in which order. That goes doubly for the food served as well. You would not beleve just how important manners are. One faux pas can ruin your social standing forever! Why, at one affair, a stallion even pointed the Brie!"

Fluttershy flinched.

Rarity quickly withdrew. "Something wrong? Did I stick you with a needle?"

"N- no," Fluttershy said. "Just... It's nothing."

Rarity of all ponies knew that 'nothing' most certainly did not mean 'nothing', especially from this pony; but she also knew that pressuring Fluttershy would just stress her unnecessarily, so she chose to change the subject as she resumed her fitting.

"Your birthday is coming up, is it not? Are you doing anything exciting?"

This time, Fluttershy locked up in fear. Her ears pinned back, her eyes widened even as her pupils shrunk, and her wings clenched tight against her sides.

"Are... Are you quite all right?" Rarity asked.

Fluttershy nodded slowly.

She was not, that much was certain; and Rarity felt personally responsible. She stepped closer and pressed their shoulders together, knowing the effect that physical contact had on calming ponies. "You know, talking about this food has made me hungry. Why don't we take a little break? Would you like to come with me out to lunch? My treat!"

Fluttershy nodded and visibly relaxed. "I'd like that."

Big Mac stared at the papers in shock. Mentally, he reviewed the calculations again. Sure enough, the number was still the same. If he combined that number along with the number of bits in the bag underneath his bed, he might just have enough for it. He just might.

"Hiya, Big Mac!"

The stallion jumped as his littler sister walked in. Instinctively, he covered his workspace. Secrets tended to not stay secret long with Apple Bloom around.

"Doin' anything excitin'?" Apple Bloom asked, rearing up and setting her forehooves on the desk.

"Nope."

"Then what are you doin'?" Apple Bloom asked, cocking her head.

"Plannin' out Fluttershy's present."

"Ooh," Apple Bloom said. "You're sweet on her, huh?"

Mac nodded. That was putting it lightly. "Eeyup."

Apple Bloom paused. "Should Ah get her somethin', too?" she asked.

"You don't have to; but Ah bet she wouldn't say no.” Fluttershy was so sweet.

Apple Bloom tapped her chin and thought. She brightened. "Ooh! Maybe Ah could watch her animals while you two go on a date!"

Big Mac shuddered. Not at the idea of a date, of course. They had done that—and much, much more—plenty of times. It was the other part that worried him. The watching her animals part. Frankly, he was fairly certain that Fluttershy wanted her house to still be standing and not on fire when she returned, and so he decided to try and dissuade his sister as kindly as possible. "Ah don't really think that's necessary," he said.

"Hmm... Ah'll think of something." With that, Apple Bloom turned to leave.

Big Mac covered his ears, awaiting the impending…

"Cutie mark crusaders gift planners! Yay!" she shouted joyfully, rattling the plates hung on the walls.

Big Mac couldn't help but smile as she sprinted out in search of her friends. He pulled the papers closer and calculated again. A wide smile spread across his face. He would do it. In a couple of days, the Apple family would be getting a new member.

Birthdays are supposed to be joyous affairs. This was one of the few things that both Pinkie Pie and almost everypony else in Ponyville could agree on.

Yet on the morning of her birthday, Fluttershy was cowering under the bed, shivering in fright.

"He'll know, Angel," she whispered. "He'll find me. He always has."

Angel held her hoof. He knew there were times to push Fluttershy and times he shouldn't, and this was one of those times he shouldn't.

She had been there for approximately an hour when there came a knock at the door. She jumped and began quivering in fear even worse than before. Angel tapped her on the cheek comfortingly, and bounded over to the door. He quickly returned, giving Fluttershy a reassuring nod. She hesitantly pulled herself out from under the bed and walked shakily to the door.

She needn't have worried. When she opened the door, she saw a package on the doorstep, and a gray pegasus, crouched on the ground, trying to sneak away, apparently oblivious to the fact that she still wore her hat and had her wings outstretched. When she realized she had been spotted, she turned, straightened up, and waved as if nothing were amiss.

Fluttershy laughed as she waved back, then leaned down to examine the package. She pulled it inside and shut the door. It was from Pinkie Pie, and read 'one of two'. She opened it and was startled when a streamer flew out. She saw various desserts surrounded by a small ocean of confetti. Apparently, Pinkie had elected to send a party in a box instead of an actual party, which was quite all right with Fluttershy.

There came a knock on the door again, and Fluttershy assumed it was package two of two. She pulled the door open again... and her wings clenched against her side as she took in the pegasus who stood at the door. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widened with fear, and she took a horrified step back.

The stallion there, on the other hoof, merely smiled. "Hello, Bri,” he said. “It's been a while."

Chapter 2

“Skyblaze! Y- you found me,” Fluttershy said, shocked.

“I always do,” Skyblaze smirked. “You know I like to keep a close tab on my things.”

Fluttershy whimpered the tiniest of whimpers.

He stepped inside without waiting to be invited in. “But what about you?” he asked. “How have you been?”

Fluttershy let out what amounted to a tiny 'eep!' and dropped to the floor, burying her face in her forelegs.

“That good?” he asked, completely unmoved by her actions. “That's good to hear. How about your other endeavors?”

Fluttershy whispered something that was so muffled by her hooves that it was rendered incomprehensible.

“And how's the wing-strengthening going?”

Fluttershy flinched and shifted uncomfortably.

“Come on. Let’s see ‘em.”

Fluttershy blushed furiously and buried her head deeper into her hooves, shaking her head no.

“Warbringer...”

He had used her given name; she knew she had to comply. Slowly, with her face still buried and her cheeks burning brightly, she extended both of her wings, presenting herself before him. He stretched out a hoof and stroked one gently upwards, eliciting a slight squeak from Fluttershy.

“Oh, yes,” he purred. “You were definitely the right choice.”

Mac walked up to Fluttershy's house, nervously scratching at his saddlebags. It had taken a few days to work up the courage for this, and even now he wasn't sure he could follow through. But he had come this far, and was not about to turn back now. Besides, it was her birthday. This would be the greatest of presents. He reached up a hoof.

Maybe he could turn back now.

He shook his head, gritted his teeth, and knocked on the door.

But to his shock, it was not Fluttershy or Angel that answered the door.

The male pegasus that opened the door raised an eyebrow. “Can I help you?”

Mac found himself at a loss for words. Finally, he said the first thing that came to mind. “Is Fluttershy there?”

The eyebrow raised higher. “You know my fiancée?”

Mac felt his stomach drop. “Fiancée?” he whispered. He looked past him, and caught sight of Fluttershy. His eyes widened as he realized that she had gotten a manecut. No longer long and flowing, her mane was short and jagged, and her tail had been similarly docked, as if she were going to work or fight and needed it out of the way.

Fluttershy nodded ever so slightly, confirming her relationship.

Mac wanted to confront her right then and there. He wanted to ask her if, during all that time they had spent together, she was thinking of this pegasus instead. He wanted to ask her if, when she nuzzled him and looked up and met his eyes, was she looking for blue instead of green? When she called out his name in the night with that sweet, quiet, tender voice of hers, was she secretly wishing she was calling out somepony else’s? Did she want wings wrapped around her, wings that he simply didn’t have? He wanted to ask her. Bring up words and memories she would be unable to hide from. Dredge up all those times together, make her face them and answer for them.

But love makes many ponies do strange things, and Big Mac was no exception.

“Handycolt from th’ farm Sweet Apple Acres,” he said quietly, by way of introduction. “Fixed up her chicken coop last week and wanted t’ make sure everything was still workin’ right.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” the stallion said disparagingly.

It was obvious that he considered Big Mac to be beneath him, something that the earth pony did not care for at all. Fluttershy, with her great experience, could see the tiny change in his left eye that indicated his anger. But to a casual observer, he showed no other physical response except to chew on the stalk of wheat and reply, “Eeyup. Anythin’ Ah say, Ah guarantee.”

“Well, go check on that guarantee. Fluttershy and I have some big plans for tonight, so don't stay too long.”

Mac nodded, then headed out to the yard, ignoring the scattering chickens and other animals as he headed towards the chicken coop, then continued walking, jumping the second fence and continuing into the forest. There was silence for a time, and then a loud crash reverberated throughout the forest, almost as if a heartbroken pony had knocked over a huge tree in rage, frustration, and pain.

Mac kicked furiously, sending shudders through the tree and dropping leaves and apples with reckless abandon. Applejack had taken one look at him and then had given him a wide berth.

Speaking of reckless abandon, three small fillies came tearing through the orchard, laughing and giggling as the orange pegasus pulled her friends in a wagon. All three slowed to a stop at the sight of Mac. It would have been wise to leave him alone, but the cutie mark crusaders aren't exactly known for their wisdom.

“Are you ok?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“‘Course Ah’m ok,” Big Mac said, not stopping the rhythm of his bucking. “Why wouldn’t Ah be?”

Sweetie Belle turned to her friends. “He’s not ok, is he?” she asked quietly, already knowing the answer.

“Nope,” Apple Bloom said simply. “He only talks this much when he’s mad.”

“Ah ain’t mad,” Big Mac maintained, still not stopping. “A little frustrated, a bit betrayed, perhaps heartbroken, and completely and totally crushed, but Ah ain’t mad.”

“Told you,” Apple Bloom whispered.

Big Mac turned and glared. “Don’t y’all have someplace else t’ be?”

“Not really,” Scootaloo confessed. "Our last plan kind of crashed and burned." She slouched dejectedly over the handlebar of her scooter. "Thankfully, more of the first part than the last, though."

“And ya’d run th’ risk of gettin’ cutie marks in watchin’ stallions sweat?”

Sweetie Belle cocked her head in confusion. “But Rarity said...”

But Big Mac would never know what Rarity said, because Scootaloo, once she shook off the shock of earning such a mark and how horrifyingly gross her life would then be, took off with her tiny wings buzzing furiously, sending her two passengers rolling in the back of her wagon.

Mac continued working long into the night.

The spa twins smiled welcomingly as the two pegasi walked in. “Welcome!” they chirped.

“This is what passes for a spa here?” Skyblaze said derisively.

Aloe and Lotus hesitated ever so slightly, but their smiles didn’t waver. At least, until they saw Fluttershy’s new mane style. They gasped in unison and darted over to her side and shook their hooves in distress.

“Oh no, miss Fluttershy,” Lotus mourned, running a hoof through her short locks. “Your mane, it is… gone!”

“It was beautiful,” Aloe agreed.

“It was long and in the way,” Skyblaze snorted. “True warriors keep it short.”

As one, both spa ponies turned and cocked their heads.

“As if ponies like you could understand.” Skyblaze rolled his eyes. “How about you take your groundpounding selves and ridiculous accents out and let us have some peace, eh?”

Neither Aloe nor Lotus made any sudden reactions to this, but a cold chill passed through the room. It was as if the temperature had suddenly dropped fifteen degrees.

“Very well,” Aloe said in a very clipped voice. “I believe that can be arranged.”

Fluttershy hid her face behind her hooves as the two spa ponies, who had previously been good friends of hers, strutted out of the room without even looking back.

“Ugh,” Skyblaze grumbled. “Mud ponies are good for growing food and that’s it.”

“I’m friends with a few m- earth ponies, and…”

“No, you’re not. Not anymore.”

Fluttershy slowly shut her mouth, deciding that it was not worth it to explain that Aloe was actually a very talented preener.

The two pegasi walked through the town. Though an afternoon at the spa usually helped Fluttershy relax, this time she left even more stressed. Add to that the fact that Skyblaze had cancelled all her future appointments, and that equalled one distressed Fluttershy.

As if drawn to this sense of stress, Pinkie Pie appeared. “Hiya, Fluttershy!” she said brightly. “Are you here for package two of two? I bet you could use a little somethin' something; you're looking a little down in the wings, there.” She demonstrated by grabbing Fluttershy's wings and holding them up.

Skyblaze slapped her hooves away. “Don't touch her wings,” he snarled. “Those are mine.”

Pinkie Pie paused. “Well, somepony is a little bit of a grumpypants today.”

Skyblaze shut her down and pushed her offered package away. “Ponies of our breeding don't associate with mud ponies.”

Pinkie's smile faded, and her mane seemed to deflate slightly. It had been a long time since she had heard that epithet, and even longer since she had heard somepony say it like they meant it. “Fluttershy?” she asked, quietly asking for clarification.

Fluttershy bowed her head and looked away. Pinkie Pie could only watch in confusion as the two pegasi walked away.

Fluttershy only lasted about thirty seconds before she spoke up. “That wasn't very nice.”

“Maybe not, but it was necessary.”

“No, it wasn't. You're kindof ruining my friendships, so do you think you could, maybe…?”

“You don't need friends,” Skyblaze cut her off. “Not like those, anyway. We'll take you back to Cloudsdale so you can be with real warrior ponies. I won't have you sullying our foals with earth pony traditions.”

Fluttershy bit her lower lip, squeezed her eyes closed, and followed him. As she walked, a single tear slid down her face.

Chapter 4

Rainbow walked into the library and called, “Hey, Twilight! You in here?”

Twilight poked her head up from her lawbook and stood. “Yes, I’m here. Aren’t you going to Fluttershy's event?”

Rainbow nodded. “Yeah, she could use the support, and I owe her that much. I’m just picking up a book quick before I go.” She waggled her eyebrows. “You know which one I want.”

Twilight frowned even as she retrieved the book. “I’d think you’d want to pay attention at such a special event.”

Rainbow Dash snorted. “Special, shmeshial. It’s full of formalities, long speeches and longer introductions, they go on about pegasi strength and power and how we’re the greatest of the three races—all with politically correct terms, of course—and then they give her away and then I'll be back soon because I don't think anypony is going to dispute.”

Twilight nearly dropped her book. “Say what?”

“Dispute? You know, challenge what's his bucket for Fluttershy? Winner flies away with a bride, loser spends the night alone.”

Twilight did drop the book this time. "Rainbow Dash!" she yelled. "You knew there was a chance to fight for her and you didn't let us know?"

“I didn't think it mattered. Did you want to fight for her? 'Cause if you did, that's cool, you know?” Rainbow said, her eyes flicking from side to side. “I mean, it's totally not weird that my friends want to bang each other and I didn't know. Nope. Not weird at all.”

“Not me!” Twilight protested, cheeks flushing at the implications. “Big Mac's been in love with her since… forever!”

Rainbow’s jaw dropped. "Huh. Really? I had no idea." She paused, thinking back on the week. "Actually, you know what? That explains a lot..."

“Come on! We have to get to Sweet Apple Acres!"

Big Mac kicked the tree again, trying very hard to focus on the task at hand. He tried not to think about any pegasi, and certainly not yellow ones with a short pink mane and tail that were going up to Cloudsdale to be married. And he certainly wasn't thinking of what would happen afterwards. Oh, no. Definitely not thinking of her gentle smile, of her large aquamarine eyes, of her beautiful wings she so shyly spread for him, of the tiny nod of permission she would give and the joyous squeaks that would come as his hooves explored her body, or of that one time he walked in on her dancing and she squeaked with embarrassment and covered herself with her tail, or the fact that she was about to get mounted by a stallion that didn't really care about her…

His not-thoughts were interrupted by his sister’s voice.

“Big Mac! Big Mac!” Apple Bloom called frantically.

For the briefest of moments, he was tempted to hide, ignore her and whatever she had planned for the day; but that plan quickly evaporated. She was his sister. Even if his world had come crashing down, that didn’t mean he could just brush her off like that. He called out. “Here!”

Apple Bloom sprinted over, coming into view, gasping for breath. Whatever she had to say, it was obviously important, and Big Mac shoved his own problems aside for his sister.

“What happened?” Big Mac demanded.

“Twi-” Apple Bloom gasped for air. “Twilight says she-” She coughed. “She found somethin’ important!”

Big Mac raised an eyebrow.

“It’s about Fluttershy!” Apple Bloom managed to gasp. “You c’n fight fer her! Twilight’s at the barn! Go!”

Big Mac’s eyes widened, and he turned and thundered towards the barn, a tiny spark of hope lighting in his chest.

Apple Bloom collapsed on the ground, trying to catch her breath. When she had, she turned and examined her flank, which sadly was still bare. “Cutie Mark Crusader Important Message Deliverer is a no-go,” she said. But for some reason, she didn’t mind. Especially after she had seen Big Mac’s grateful expression.

“You can dispute the wedding?” Mac asked, eyes wide.

Twilight nodded, still somewhat out of breath from her full-out sprint to the Acres. There was a reason it was not encouraged in the Runner's Guide to All Things Running. “Yes. You can challenge Skyblaze to a fight and if you win, Fluttershy is legally yours under the system and Skyblaze can't do anything about it.”

“Then what're we waitin' for?” Mac asked, that spark of hope now a fire in his chest.

"I'll go get my balloon,” Twilight said, “and you can…”

“No time!” Rainbow shook her head. “Just cast the cloudwalking spell! I can carry him there!”

“But...”

“Do it!”

Twilight frowned, but lit her horn and cast the spell. As soon as Mac had stopped glowing, Rainbow picked him up and began flying towards Cloudsdale. Twilight sighed as she watched the two depart.

Spike snorted. "She won't make it, will she?"

"Nope. I give her three minutes tops before her stamina is depleted," Twilight said wryly.

Spike sighed and braced himself. With a bright flash of light, Twilight teleported the two back to the library.

"I'll get the fire started."

"I'll refill the sandbags.”

A minute and a half later, the balloon was ready; and not even a minute after that, a very winded pegasus dropped a large earth pony on the ground, much to his displeasure.

“Twilight!” Rainbow said brightly with an innocent smile on her face even as sweat trailed down her cheeks. “Fancy meeting you here! Hey, can we borrow your balloon?”

Chapter 5

Cloudsdale is a large city. It's full of pegasi flying everywhere, walking everywhere, and just hanging out and showing off.

Unfortunately, their path took them right through town square, where ponies were playing sports and having cloud fights. Rainbow flew over, scouting out the path, but she was too winded to carry Macintosh further. Mac couldn't get through without plowing ponies over, and he had no intention of getting arrested for that.

Rainbow landed and shrugged helplessly. “I've got nothing,” she said.

But Mac did not come this far to just turn around. He reared up and slammed his hooves on the ground. “Everypony move!” he roared.

The crowd as one slid to one side or the other, forming a perfect part in the middle.

Rainbow made a 'hmh' sound. “That works.”

It wasn't long before they arrived at the Clouduseum. Mac cracked his neck before marching up to the entranceway and-

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and darted in front of him, blocking his path. “You can’t just go in there! You need an escort! You need somepony to announce you! You need to wait until the right time!”

“How do you know that?” Big Mac asked suspiciously.

Rainbow’s eyes darted from side to side. “‘Cause these things are open to the public, and there may or may not be foals sitting on the lower clouds where admission is free, and they may or may not throw hailstones at you if they don’t like you, and I may or may not have been one of them as a filly."

Big Mac snorted and rolled his eyes, but he shut his mouth and followed Rainbow around what seemed like an access tunnel through the clouds. They soon arrived at their destination, standing among the steps near the lower bowl of clouds. Mac followed Rainbow to an open spot, ignoring the stares and pokes from curious pegasus foals. Apparently, a large earth pony was much more interesting than the speech of Skyblaze Carnage Wingsteel of the House Thunderhead, a title bestowed by Commander Hurricane herself on his great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather.

Mac knew. He kept repeating his name. And while Mac was a patient pony, his patience was not everlasting. He searched for Fluttershy, and soon saw her there up on the stands behind him. Her head was down, and even from way across the arena Mac could see that she was not happy. He felt a surge of anger for what was happening to her, and he turned to Rainbow. “Is it time yet?” he demanded.

“We gotta wait until Fluttershy's dad says, ‘if anypony has an objection, let them speak now or forever hold their peace’,” Rainbow whispered in explanation.

“Ah intended on speakin’ now,” Big Mac grumbled, but he grudgingly complied.

He regretted this somewhat as the pegasus droned on. Even the foals were getting sick of the speech. Mac’s ears pricked up as one of the fillies next to him said, loud enough that her neighbors could hear, “Thunderhead? More like Dunderhead,” and there was much snickering.

The speech continued longer, and Mac could feel himself literally dying of boredom. He looked over to see that Rainbow had begun entertaining herself by playing hooves and wings on the cloud with the foal next to her. Mac lowered his hoof, but he couldn’t draw on the cloud—apparently, the cloudwalking spell could only do so much—and he sighed.

“He already said it, didn't he?” Mac said. “We missed it.”

Rainbow turned and gave a sympathetic grimace. “Not even close. Why do you think I usually bring a book?”

Mac looked over, and the filly on his left nodded to confirm it. He exhaled.

Rainbow was right; there was another speech after his that they had to sit through. Fluttershy's mother got up and began to speak. Mac wondered if they knew the same pony as he heard her describe her daughter. She made her sound strong and fierce, nothing like the sweet Fluttershy he loved.

And then, Fluttershy’s father stood up. After another long speech which detailed many accomplishments that Mac would have bet bushels to bits were a bit exaggerated, Mac heard the magical words.

“And if anypony has any objections…”

“Me!” Mac shouted, shooting to his hooves. He then grimaced and shook them out one by one; he had pins and needles from sitting for so long.

Fluttershy's eyes widened. She knew that voice. She looked up and saw Macintosh, there, standing and protesting, and she couldn't keep a wide smile off her face.

Her mother leaned in. "Do you know that stallion?" she asked.

"Oh, yes," Fluttershy breathed, a spark of hope springing to life in her chest. Mac had come for her. "Yes, I do."

Rainbow completed her row of three and crossed them out with a chuckle, and then suddenly remembered the rules. She stood up, reared up on her hind legs, then spread her wings and forelegs in a symbolic gesture and shouted, “Fillies and gentlecolts, I present ‘Mac’ Macintosh, called Big, of the House Apple of Ponyville, a title bestowed upon his grandmother by Princess Celestia herself!”

The crowd murmured slightly. Rainbow sat and grinned at Mac. 'Your turn,' her expression read.

Mac looked back. ‘My turn for what?’ he wordlessly asked.

“You dare,” Skyblaze breathed as he rose, his wings flaring with anger. “You bring your filthy mud pony self into this hallowed ceremony, besmirching our tradition? I will make you rue the day you ever set eyes on my Warbringer! You will water your plants with your own blood, mud pony!”

Mac looked desperately for some hint as for what to do, but Rainbow merely made the 'go on!' gesture. Big Mac cleared his throat, stepped forward, and looked around awkwardly. One of the foals reached into his cloud and pointedly began forming a hailstone.

Rainbow facehoofed and then stage whispered, “Challenge him back, you idiot! Tell him you’ll fight him for Fluttershy!”

Still looking around, Big Mac finally spoke. “Ah’m a simple earth pony. Ah still don’t know how this whole thing works, and Ah wouldn’t know House Thunderhead if’n it fell on me out of a tree. But this Ah do know: Ah love Fluttershy, and Ah...”

“Full name!” Rainbow Dash hissed.

Big Mac glared at her, but dutifully repeated, “Warbringer 'Fluttershy' Bloodbath Hurricane of the Great House Cloudhammer, and Ah am willin’ t’ fight for—and win—th' honor of bein' her husband.” He turned to Skyblaze, and a tiny smile played at one side of his lips. "And ya know that Ah always guarantee anythin' Ah say."

The crowd began to murmur, and Mac could see pegasi grinning and nudging each other. Mac got the distinct impression that Skyblaze wasn't well-liked. Of course, Mac wasn't necessarily well-liked, either.

“This is most irregular!” one of the pegasi up front proclaimed. He was similarly colored; he must have been father or uncle to Skyblaze.

“He's an earth pony! Only pegasi can challenge the union!” a mare protested.

Rainbow shot to her hooves. “Well, then don't say 'anypony' if you don't mean 'anypony'!” she protested. “What kind of horseapples are you chewing?”

“Pegasi nobles only wed pegasi nobles!” came the reply in unison.

“Oh, give me a break!” Rainbow groaned. “You nobles and all your dumbflank rules. Look, you think you're so much better than us? If you're so secure in your 'superiority', just take the stupid challenge!”

The group huddled for discussion as the crowd began to murmur their approval, and then Skyblaze’s father returned to the stand. “There is no challenge,” the verdict came. “He is not nobility, he is not a pegasus, he is not worthy to even set a hoof in this place!”

The foals booed especially loudly. They wanted to see a fight.

Rainbow snarled, and then turned to leave. "You know what? Fine. Come on, Mac," she said, placing her hooves on his barrel and pushing him away. Well, she attempted to, anyway. She might as well have tried to move the whole stadium for all she succeeded, and she quickly gave up on that idea. That didn't stop her from continuing to run her mouth, though. "If Captain Fraidy-feather here is too scared to take on a groundpounder, then there's nothing more we can do."

This prompted some giggles from the foals on the lower clouds.

Still walking away, Rainbow tossed out another challenge. "Bet you didn't think you'd ever see a flying chicken, did you, Fluttershy? And now you're marrying one! Bawk baaawk!”

Fluttershy giggled behind her hoof before turning to apologize, but at Skyblaze’s enraged expression, she changed her course of action to a simple cower instead. He looked as though he were about to yell or even strike at her, but Fluttershy was spared his wrath by a small hailstone that hit him right on the helmet. He spun angrily, but the three foals in the direction it came from were sitting innocently on their cloud, all looking anywhere but at him. Another hailstone bounced off his chestplate. A third flew right by his face, missing by an inch.

But Rainbow wasn't done. Even as armored guards arrived and started herding her out of the ring, she threw out one more parting shot. "Come on, Mac. If it makes you feel any better, you're a bigger stallion than he'll ever be. And I'm not talking about the height of your shoulder, either."

It took Big Mac a few seconds to realize that that had been a sexual innuendo, and it took even longer for him to reconcile the fact that it was and that it had come from Rainbow Dash, who seemed to be more than a little bit ignorant of sensual matters.

However, judging by the mocking laughter ringing throughout the arena (and the furious blush on Fluttershy's face), the spectators had picked it up instantly—and had found it greatly amusing.

"Enough!"

All eyes turned to Skyblaze, who was flushing red and seething with rage. "Fine, mud pony!” he spat. “I accept your challenge! It will be entertainment to reduce you to a sniveling wreck!"

Rainbow grinned and gave Mac a slap on his shoulder (which, to be honest, was indeed larger than most). "You're on, big guy," she said before turning and flying over to the lower clouds, shoving herself between two young spectators.

"What do Ah do now?" he asked.

"Survive," Rainbow said around a mouthful of popcorn she had swiped from a neighboring foal.

"It's to the death?" Big Mac's jaw dropped.

"Nah. It's ‘til one pony can't or won't get up." Her expression shifted. "Watch out!"

Big Mac spun around just in time to see a very angry pegasus fill his vision. He didn't have time to brace himself before taking the impact. He slammed against the wall and got the wind knocked out of him. He forced himself up, only to take another blow across his face. It quickly became painfully obvious that the armor Skyblaze wore was not just ceremonial.

He paused just long enough to make a rude gesture with his wings before zooming up out of sight. Macintosh got the distinct feeling he was about to be dive bombed, and scrambled to keep moving in an attempt to be harder to hit.

Apparently, though, he was too large a target to miss. Skyblaze rocketed into his side, sending him flying. He landed and skidded against the ground and managed to remain standing, but only barely. Skyblaze zoomed up again, and Mac knew he needed a new strategy soon or he’d be a bruised, purple apple. Earth pony fighting styles weren't going to help him here.

“On your six!” Rainbow's unmistakable voice came.

Mac swung… and hit nothing but air. Skyblaze's hooves, however, found their target, and Mac found himself unable to breathe for a brief moment.

“Eleven o’clock!” Rainbow called again.

Big Mac spun around, only to feel a pegasus slam into his right flank.

“Stop helpin' me!” he yelled.

“Sor-ry,” Rainbow muttered, shoving another hoofful of popcorn in her mouth.

Skyblaze tired of this game. He performed one more loop, wings spread widely as if to soak up the praise only he could hear, and then dropped nearly to the ground and turned to charge at Macintosh, hoof outstretched, intending to cave Mac's head in with his greaves. Macintosh grinned. This he could work with.

At the last possible second, he sidestepped, reared up, and brought his enormous hooves down on Skyblaze's back. He slammed into the earth pony and stopped instantly, as if he'd run into a brick wall instead of a pony, and he dropped like a sack of flour. He quickly stumbled to his hooves, but by then it was too late. As soon as his head raised Macintosh reared back and delivered a powerful haymaker to the side of his head with his right hoof, snapping his neck to one side. Before his eyes could stop rolling in his head, Big Mac drove his left hoof into the side of his chin, impacting it with such force that his helmet straps snapped, sending his helmet bouncing along the cloud floor. Before Skyblaze could even register that something had gone wrong, Mac slammed his forehead into Skyblaze's head in a punishing headbutt.

Mac couldn't suppress a little chuckle as Skyblaze dropped to his knees. That had felt good.

Skyblaze recovered quickly and spread his wings to get back into his element. Needless to say, Mac was not about to let that happen. He had flapped once before Mac spread his long forelegs and clotheslined him. Time seemed to slow down as his momentum and effort fought with Mac's strength. Had Macintosh tried to stop him completely, Skyblaze might have escaped; but that wasn't Mac's plan. Instead, he redirected him down, slamming him into the cloud floor with an audible crunch of metal.

A collective gasp came from the crowd, quickly followed by numerous "pomf" sounds.

Macintosh leaned down and grabbed his tail in his mouth. He physically lifted Skyblaze up and slammed him against the ground three times, paused to think, slammed him twice more for good measure, and then turned and threw him just as if he were chucking a haybale. Unlike a haybale, though, the pegasus didn't go flying through the air until gently landing and rolling, but instead slammed into the cloud wall on the other end of the arena with an awful crunch. Skyblaze didn’t even have time to slide down the wall completely before a large red hoof lifted him back up and planted him firmly against the wall.

A smile might have played on the earth pony's lips. “How's that entertainin' goin'?” he asked.

Skyblaze didn't have time to even think of a sarcastic response before powerful forehooves began slamming him repeatedly against the wall. Mac wasn't even holding him up; the forces of his punches held him in place against the cloud wall. Mac's hooves fell fast and strong, denting and scratching and otherwise destroying his armor. Like lightning, his strikes were quick and varied in their location, and Skyblaze found himself unable to block even one no matter how hard he tried. His barrel, his face, his shoulders, his stomach; anything and everything that wasn't being covered by his forelegs was a target on this stallion. The cheering of the crowd slowly fell silent in awe as bare-hooved Macintosh rapidly and methodically and unceasingly pummeled the armored Skyblaze.

After what seemed like an eternity, Mac stepped back and let him fall, and Skyblaze collapsed to the cloud floor. His ruined armor slid off his body a few seconds later, revealing bleeding gashes and scratches that had gone through the armor and wide, splotchy bruises visible even through his coat. He coughed and spat out blood. Mac was mildly impressed when the stallion began to push himself up.

"Warbringer is mine," Skyblaze panted, "and you will not take my property!"

The tiny shred of respect that Big Mac felt for this pony vanished. He turned and began to climb the wall. Lifting himself, he stood on the top of the barrier and looked down as Skyblaze looked up with confusion on his face.

"Nope." And with that simple declaration, Big Mac jumped off the wall and twisted his body, all of his muscular weight landing in a punishing body slam.

Although pegasi can walk on clouds, and they are more or less solid for a pegasus, with enough force, a pegasus can be pulled through a cloud. Or, in this case, pushed.

Skyblaze lay there, half-buried in the cloud, dazed, as cheers and catcalls resounded through the stadium.

Big Mac grinned as he got up. "Ah win," he grinned.

"Never," Skyblaze groaned, shifting to try and free himself. Big Mac nodded somberly... and then turned around and sat on his face.

The crowd erupted into laughter and jeering calls. Rainbow and the foals started up a chant of “Fart on him! Fart on him!”, and even Fluttershy tittered behind a hoof at that.

Skyblaze struggled desperately, but Mac was a big pony, and even his stubbornness had a limit.

Skyblaze tapped out.

Amidst the crowd cheering, Macintosh stood and bowed to his opponent. This was standard procedure for an earth pony fight, as earth ponies respected the fight and fought to improve rather than to kill (this probably had something to do with their history and how less ponies meaning more work for the survivors, and thus it was in everypony's best interest that every participant survive). For the pegasi, though, it merely looked as though Mac were mocking him, and the crowd howled with laughter yet again. Confused, he turned to Rainbow for an explanation.

Rainbow laughed… and then her eyes widened.

Now blind with rage at having been defeated and insulted, Skyblaze drew a hidden blade from his battered armor and charged right at Mac's hindquarters.

In hindsight, this might not have been the smartest idea.

“Behind you!” Rainbow shrieked, pointing a hoof urgently.

Instinctively, Mac bucked. If the crowd thought his forehooves were strong, they had seen nothing yet. The force from the impact sent out a little shockwave that ruffled the clouds, and Skyblaze literally went flying in a straight line—no parabolic arc or anything—flank over teakettle through the air and then through the cloud wall and right out of the stadium in a tangled mess of feathers.

A slow smile spread across Rainbow's face as she realized that Mac using his relatively weaker forehooves for the fight had been intentional. He'd wanted revenge. He'd wanted to make Skyblaze suffer like Fluttershy had suffered. And while that may have been somewhat cruel from some points of view, she found it hard to blame him. She met Mac's gaze and gave him an approving gesture.

If Mac thought the cheers had been loud before, they were now deafening. He smiled sheepishly and bowed to the various cardinal directions (even while in the air, earth ponies had an excellent sense of direction and could always find east). Then he looked up at the pegasi up on the cloud thrones. Their expressions ranged from amused to angry to confused to infuriated. He swallowed nervously, and found himself wishing that Skyblaze could come back for another round.

But hey, meeting the parents and getting them to like you was the most difficult part of any relationship, right?

Chapter 6

The crowd noticed this standoff, and quieted. Rainbow shifted forward to the edge of her cloud, nibbling at her hooves nervously. The fate of her friend's happiness was now out of her hooves; all she could do was watch.

Fluttershy was also watching intensely, hoping against hope that her parents would approve. She'd chewed down most of her hooves during the fight itself; now she was absentmindedly plucking out feathers.

The pegasi that looked like Fluttershy's parents flew down to the field and looked at Mac and slowly approached. There must have been some ceremonial acceptance procedure or something. Mac looked over to Rainbow Dash, but her eyes only flicked across Fluttershy's parents, nervously awaiting their decision. In contrast, Skyblaze's parents only glared with pure hatred from their cloud thrones, and Mac was distinctly grateful that they were staying up there.

The pegasus that looked like Fluttershy's father leaned over to his wife and spoke in a low murmur. “I'm not sure we can accept this as valid. He's an earth pony.”

Fluttershy's mother leaned in, and Mac could just barely make out her hushed words. “He's a good pony. This stallion just defeated one of the best warriors in Cloudsdale using no armor and bare-hooves, and he barely broke a sweat. And look at her, she's biting at the bit to go touch him. If you don't let Bri marry him, I just might do it myself!” She looked over at Mac and ran her tongue over her teeth. A cold shiver ran up Mac's back.

Regardless of race or age, every stallion knows when it is in his best interest to stand down and listen to what his mare is saying, and just try and save as much face as he can in the process. Fluttershy's father nodded and turned back to Macintosh, and when he spoke again, he addressed the crowd. “Truly you are a great and talented warrior, Macintosh of House Apple. It is an honor to join our houses together with the marriage of our daughter Warbringer.” He flicked a wing, indicating that Fluttershy should step forward.

Rainbow Dash let out a celebratory whistle and the crowd roared their approval as Macintosh slowly took Fluttershy by the hoof and kissed her.

And this time, nopony had any objections.

It was a slightly awkward ride back in the balloon. Rainbow had decided to fly home on her own, and so Macintosh and Fluttershy remained in the balloon as they drifted back towards Ponyville. There was a silence that seemed oddly heavy.

Mac finally broke it. "Would you have gone through with it?" he asked.

"Hm?"

"Marryin' him. Would you have done it?"

Fluttershy played with her hooves. "I think so," she whispered.

"Why?" Mac had to ask. "And why didn't you tell me you were engaged?"

"Betrothed," Fluttershy corrected quietly. "It wasn't my idea. It was for the honor of my House."

Mac rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wondered if ponies became nobility just to make up new convoluted concepts and ideas and then mock commoners for doing things logically.

Fluttershy sighed and looked down. "I don't know," she said. "I think I was just... scared."

"Of me?" Mac tasted something sour in his mouth. Had Fluttershy ever been afraid of him?

"Of you leaving me," Fluttershy corrected quietly. "What we had together was amazing, and I never wanted it to end. I knew you would if you knew; you're so honest and honorable. I guess I was just selfish. I'm sorry."

Mac cracked a smile. "It's fine. You make it sound like we did more than just cuddlin'," he said, "but that's as far as we went."

"For now."

Fluttershy quickly clapped her hooves over her mouth, shocked that something like that had come out. For his part, Mac could only stare. Sure, maybe he'd thought about doing... things... to Fluttershy; but this was the first time it really dawned on him that she might want him like that, too.

"B- but I do love that you came back for me," Fluttershy finally said, her face burning red. "And... and fought for me..." She reached over and gently brushed a hoof over some of the bruising, and then she swallowed. "And I'll really make it up to you tonight." She rested her head on his chest, making sure not to push too hard against any injury.

Mac absentmindedly stroked her mane. He was already making plans.

It is strange to note that sometimes cultures are drastically different, yet they are very much the same in some respects. For example, the sanctity of that first night after the wedding is considered to be of supreme importance in both pegasus and earth pony culture. In a strange series of events, Apple Bloom just so happened to have a CMC sleepover at their clubhouse tonight, Applejack was invited to a DPSBMAFCB (this was all Pinkie Pie's doing, of course) sleepover/party at Sugarcube Corner that promised to last all night and probably all week, and Granny Smith found she suddenly had some urgent business to see to in the next town over and simply would have to be gone for the next couple of days.

This is how Macintosh and Fluttershy found themselves all alone in the farmhouse, with nothing to do.

Well, of course, besides each other, that is; and Macintosh was determined to not mess it up. They'd done plenty of cuddling and sleeping together in the same bed, but this would be their first night together.

Macintosh started it off right by making a lovely dinner, but it was eaten quickly and quietly, and Macintosh caught Fluttershy making longing looks up the stairs every so often.

Finally, right as Mac was about to slice the pie, her self control ran out. She set her fork down and gave a tiny cough before hiding her face behind her mane.

“Can we… you know… before dessert?” she asked as she blushed about the color of an apple.

A true gentlecolt never leaves his mare waiting. Mac put the cover back on the pie and followed Fluttershy upstairs. He then had to take the lead when she walked into the first bedroom without realizing that it was Apple Bloom's.

They looked at each other and giggled and blushed. The first time is always the most awkward, isn't it?

They entered Mac's room, the right room this time. Mac shut the door, and Fluttershy checked the shades and made sure they were closed from any and all prying eyes.

The nervousness that Mac had been suppressing came bubbling up as Fluttershy bolted the door shut. He froze. He had no idea what to do. He had planned up to this point and then figured he'd instinctively know what to do; and he didn't. He coughed lightly. “Ah've never…” he started.

Fluttershy blushed and squeaked. “It's fine,” she said. “Just do what comes naturally. And maybe…” Leaning in, Mac could just barely hear her quiet request for being taken from behind, ending with “-and can you please lick the base of my wings, too?”

Mac laughed lightly. “Anythin' for you, Fluttershy. Any more special requests?” he asked, giving her a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.

Should she say it? She wanted to say it, and her body fully agreed that she should, but that would make her sound so dirty... She swallowed and nodded. She would. “J- just one,” she said. She turned around, looked back, and looked him right in the eyes. Blue met green with a special, unspoken connection. “Please, don’t be gentle.”

Big Mac paused, then blushed furiously. “F- Fluttershy? Are you sure?”

Fluttershy smiled as she turned away from him. Her tail flicked briefly to the right. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t mean it.”

It was around noon the next day when Big Mac entered the kitchen. He barely glanced at the cluttered plates and melted candles all over the table, remnants of last night’s dinner. He had more important things to worry about. Currently, Fluttershy was hungry, and he intended to fix this.

He had made the sandwich, cut the crusts off (but left them on the plate, as Fluttershy would often feed them to visiting birds), and had arranged it nicely on a plate when he was suddenly interrupted by a large yawn and a flash of blue.

"Lunch in bed for Fluttershy?"

Mac spun around in surprise, nearly dropping lunch. He hadn't seen Rainbow Dash there, but there she was, lounging on a couch, peering up at him quizzically.

"I've heard of breakfast in bed," she continued, arching her back and stretching her whole body out, "but lunch in bed is new."

Macintosh really wasn't sure what to say to that, and so remained silent.

Rainbow Dash pushed herself up off of the couch and stretched her forelegs. "Fluttershy promised to come down earlier for this thing Rarity's doing, and she always keeps her promises. So why is she still here?" Rainbow asked.

Mac wasn’t sure what to say to that, either, and so he merely coughed lightly.

Suddenly, Rainbow’s eyes shot open wide with understanding, and a sly grin spread across her face. "Ohh... She can't walk after last night, can she?"

Mac froze ever so slightly. He tried to respond, but that tiniest hesitation gave Rainbow all the answer she needed.

"Awwww, yeah!" she cheered, throwing her hooves up in celebration at her friend’s accomplishment. Oblivious to Mac's embarrassment, Rainbow reared up on her back hooves and began to dance. "Go, go Flutters! Go, go, go Flutters!" Still on her rear hooves and still chanting, she danced around the table and right out the door.

Once the world had started making sense again, Mac shook his head and sighed. "Ya got strange friends, Fluttershy."

But to be honest, that was perfectly all right with him.

Author's Note

It's still a little rushed, maybe, but it's a bit better. Might come fix more later. Thanks to SFaccountant for suggestions.

Epilogue

Earth ponies love weddings. Perhaps it is a cultural thing, where weddings meant that two ponies had become one and soon there would be little foals running around. There might have also been an aspect of growth and new beginnings. Both of these concepts were culturally important to the historically farming class of earth ponies. Whatever the reason, if a pony had many earth pony friends, they could expect no end of gifts and congratulations.

So it was no surprise that when Macintosh and Fluttershy went to the market, all the earth ponies were stumbling over themselves to offer congratulations—and discounts and gifts. Currently, they were in front of a flower stand, and the three flower ponies were jockeying for position and offering their wares when a new voice made the newlyweds freeze.

“Good morning, Warbringer. Macintosh.”

“Skyblaze,” Mac rumbled, not deigning to look at him.

Skyblaze began to walk around the two, circling like they were prey. “I don't think I ever extended my congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thanks,” Mac said tightly.

Skyblaze's eyes narrowed as he continued circling. “Oh, yes, I was also meaning to ask you… how did you like your sloppy seconds?”

Mac frowned.

A cold smile crossed Skyblaze's face. “Yep. That's right. That first night was mine. I was the one who had Warbringer first. Not you.”

Macintosh looked over at his wife. Fluttershy blushed brighter red than the roses on the table. She squeaked something that was probably meant to be an apology, and she shamefully sank down and hid herself behind her wings.

Mac's eye twitched ever so slightly, and the flower ponies instinctively took the tiniest step back. It is a well-known earth pony proverb to beware the wrath of a patient pony, and none were more patient than Big Macintosh.

And then Mac closed his eyes, breathed deeply, and smiled. “Well, now that you mention it, yeah. Ah did notice that the first two inches felt a bit looser; but since the next ten felt brand new, Ah didn't think nothin' of it.”

The flower ponies burst out laughing. Mac had managed to insult Skyblaze and compliment himself in one single sentence.

Skyblaze angrily opened his mouth to retort. “It's more than two inches, you groundpounding twit! And there's no way you're-”

Mac took a step back. “Well, Ah don't wanna see yours, and Ah ain't showin' you mine. What's wrong with you?”

Roseluck was now laughing so hard she had to support herself on Lily, who was laughing so hard she had to lean on the table. Daisy, with nopony to lean on, had fallen to the ground and was rolling around in peals of laughter.

Skyblaze flushed red and opened his mouth again, only to find that he had nothing else to say.

Mac patted him on the head like a dog. “Eeyup,” he said. “Better luck next time.” He turned back to Fluttershy, who cowered slightly. Seeing his wife so fearful made Mac's heart ache, and he gently tucked a hoof under her chin and lifted her face up, giving her a gentle smile and kiss on the forehead, wordlessly letting her know that what happened in the past was in the past, and he loved her no matter what Skyblaze had done to her. Fluttershy giggled in relief and got up. Skyblaze could only watch in fury as she kissed Mac on the cheek and then trotted off with him.

“This isn't over, Macintosh of House Apple,” Skyblaze seethed as he dug a hoof into the ground. “This is not over.”

Author's Note

He's right, you know. Click here!

Chapter 3

Fluttershy steeled herself. She had to come clean. She had to tell Mac everything. This is why she had sneaked away under cover of going to the market. She had to let him know the truth.

Unfortunately, he was not so easily found, even for an enormous stallion. She soon found him outside Sugarcube Corner, heading towards Pinkie Pie, who was currently playing with the twins.

She got close enough to hear their conversation, and then froze as she heard unexpected words.

“You seen Rainbow Dash?” he asked.

R- Rainbow Dash? Why was Macintosh looking for Rainbow Dash?

Pinkie Pie nodded as she tried to hold Pumpkin away from her even as the filly chewed happily on her mane. “I've seen her quite often, actually.”

A pause.

“Where?” Mac asked.

Pinkie tossed Pumpkin into the air. “Oh, I've seen her here, at Sweet Apple Acres, I've seen her in Canterlot and in Cloudsdale and I've even seen her in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters and I’ve seen her…”

Mac shoved a hoof in her mouth. “Ah meant, where's Rainbow Dash right now?”

“Hmm… Second cloud from the right over the third apple tree in the fifteenth row of the south orchard,” Pinkie said proudly.

Mac stared.

“What? I'm good with directions!” Pinkie shrugged.

Mac considered this, and then shrugged. Pinkie had rarely been wrong before, and it was definitely worth a try, and so he mumbled his thanks and headed out to find Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy watched him leave under cover of a plant. This could only mean one thing: He had lost his marefriend, so he had gone after her best friend. That's how all the romance novels Rarity had worked, weren’t they? He probably just had a thing for pegasi. He might not have even loved her at all. She really could be a hoofful at times, after all.

“All our nights together... I knew it was too good to be true.”

Ears down and head lowered, she slowly returned back home, back to her fiancée.

“Don't wander like that, Bri,” he chided as he ate another bite of his sandwich. “You know you're not smart enough to handle the market alone.”

“Sorry,” Fluttershy whispered.

“And make me another one of these.”

Completely ignorant of the plight of the yellow pegasus, Mac walked back to the Acres. He counted his trees and was only mildly surprised when Pinkie's prediction was right. He went over to where Rainbow slept, right over an apple tree. Turning around, he kicked it lightly, only hard enough to get a single apple for some ammunition. With perfect aim, he tossed the apple up, gently bopping the sleeping pegasus right on the nose. She shook her head and opened one eye. Then she raised an eyebrow.

“Mac? What are you doing here?”

Mac ignored that, as this was his property, and he had every right to be here and do whatever he wanted on it. "Ah need to know. Is it just me, or has Fluttershy been actin' strange recently?"

“Well, yeah, I guess,” Rainbow said, stretching her back until it popped. She cracked her neck and then dropped to the ground. “But really, wouldn’t you be?”

Big Mac thought for a second. “Nope.”

“Yeah. I really don’t understand the whole ‘wedding craze’ thing, either,” Rainbow continued. “Some mares get all worked up about it and the only thing I’m thinking is, if I ever get married, there better be an awesome cake. And good presents.”

Macintosh wasn’t sure if he wanted to ask the next question, but sometimes the only way to know is to ask. Besides, he needed closure. “When did she meet him?”

Rainbow shrugged, her mind still on cake and presents. Hopefully Wonderbolt Memorabilia. Signed, preferably. Or what if they were put together? Or... What if the Wonderbolts themselves came? That'd be pretty sweet. And then, if Spitfire gave her something signed? That would be even cooler. And as for the food... what if they were all combined? What if Spitfire was inside the cake, and she had autographed stuff with her? That would be world-bendingly awesome.

Oh, right. Mac had asked her a question. “Prolly since before she can remember. She’s been bathrobed or something like that since she was a filly.”

Big Mac squinted. “She’s been what?”

Rainbow blinked. The sensation of knowing something that somepony else didn’t wasn’t one she often experienced. It was a good feeling, actually. She really should try this more often. She didn't say anything right away; she just kindof closed her eyes and savored the moment. Eventually, though, she had mercy on him and explained herself. “Means she’s got to marry somepony her parents picked out.”

Macintosh stood in shock, which quickly turned into indignation. “And what right do her parents have on her choice on who t' marry?” he demanded.

If Rainbow Dash noticed his strange talkativeness today, she didn’t react. “I know, right? But hey, when you’re nobility, they have ‘traditions’. Gag,” Rainbow said, sticking her tongue out in exaggerated disgust. “Can't imagine what it's like knowing you've got to marry somepony you barely know. I'm so glad I don't have noble blood. Low town represent!”

Big Mac's jaw dropped. "N- nobility?" he stammered.

Rainbow didn’t notice his reaction to this news, and continued chatting nonchalantly. “Yeah, but she won’t tell anypony, so you better not either. She gets so embarrassed. She never wanted it, she'd rather stay down here on the ground; but you can’t help what you’re born into, right?”

“Nope,” Big Mac managed to say. He could only stare in shock. One thought stuck firmly in his mind. I’ve been cuddling with pegasus nobility!

"Luck of the roll, I guess,” Rainbow agreed.

Nobility! Him and nobility! He was just a simple farmpony! Nobility!

“And she rolled high. Apparently, she’s third in line for the leadership of House Cloudhammer, so she's got to marry someone from another house to 'concentrate their power'.” Rainbow stuck out her tongue. “Ugh.”

“Who’re they?” Big Mac was almost afraid to ask.

“Only the third most powerful house in pegasus culture and history,” Rainbow Dash said dismissively. “They say it was founded by a direct descendant of Commander Hurricane, and carried a lot of clout-” (here she swung a hoof for emphasis), “-but it’s more power in name these days.”

Big Mac didn’t hear that last bit, as his mind was newly occupied by a more urgent thought. I’ve been cuddling with high pegasus nobility!

“It makes sense, though. They say Commander Hurricane had a voice that could inspire fear, and have you seen Fluttershy angry?”

Big Mac paused. He had seen Fluttershy in many states—happy, sad, content, frustrated, pleased, hungry, full, sleepy—but never truly angry. He shook his head.

“It’s scary,” Rainbow said. "I've seen it once, and I hope I'll never see that again." She shuddered. "You know, of all my friends, I think Fluttershy can be the scariest."

“Ah think you’re full of it,” Big Mac said.

Rainbow Dash responded to this with a question. “Do you know Fluttershy’s cutie mark story?”

Mac nodded. “Eeyup. Apple Bloom told me.”

“And you know that part where she gets caught by butterflies before hitting the ground?”

Mac nodded.

“That's not exactly what happened. I dunno if that's what she wanted to happen or if she was just making the story nice for the trio, but she didn’t get caught by butterflies. Even as small as she was, pegasi just aren't that light. She hit the ground, bang!” She smacked her hooves together demonstratively.

“And survived?”

"Yep."

Mac shook his head, not believing what he was hearing. He knew how high Cloudsdale was. A pony who couldn't fly couldn't survive that. No way.

"I was there not ten minutes after the race. I wanted to show her my cutie mark, but she had disappeared so I went looking for her. Wasn't too hard; just followed the trajectory of the clouds with holes in them. I found her in the middle of a field, talking to all these animals that she somehow knew the names of, and there was this giant filly-sized indent in the ground."

"Nope."

"It's true. I swear on my cutie mark. She's descended from a long line of pegasi warriors. She's a lot tougher than she looks."

It was at this point that Big Mac realized that she was not lying. Unfortunately, the coup de grâce was still yet to come.

“Then again, her given name is Warbringer Bloodbath, so I guess that makes some kind of sense that she'd marry some warrior dude. I mean, I've watched her face down a dragon. She's pretty tough when she wants to be.”

Mac stood dumbstruck, his jaw moving mutely as he desperately tried to think of words to say. He couldn't find any. "Ah guess that's that, then," he finally said softly. He turned and walked away.

Rainbow watched him go. She had the distinct impression that she was missing something very important , but she couldn't think of what. Eventually, she shrugged, and hopped back up to resume her nap.

Mac continued walking, frustration growing in his chest. Who cared where she came from? Fluttershy was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he had half a mind to march up to Cloudsdale himself and tell her parents so.

He skidded to a stop. Maybe he could do just that. Didn't Applejack just get back from a trip up to Cloudsdale? He could go talk to Twilight Sparkle. Applejack said she was the smartest unicorn to ever come out of Canterlot. He could ask her about getting up there; and if betrothing had an escape clause.

Twilight shook her head. “I'm sorry, Mac; pegasi don't write down their laws very well. When they do, they write them on ice and keep them frozen, and only pull them out when they need to check. I don't think I have any copies of any laws, let alone nobility marriage laws; but I'd be willing to check.”

“Thanks,” Mac murmured. He felt as though his fields had just been snowed on, and then rained on.

Twilight brushed up against him comfortingly. She tried to, anyway. This friendship thing was still fairly new to her, and it felt somewhat awkward to her. “It's ok, Mac. I'll do my best to find something.”

From his seat in the kitchen, Spike sighed and shoved the rest of the gem into his mouth. He knew when he was about to be summoned.

Twilight gave Mac a hug, because friends did things like that. Mac returned it.

Fluttershy, who had been walking by the window carrying supplies often used in sandwich-making, bit her lower lip and walked on. Mac had moved on… she could, too.