Big Mac and the shy filly

Chapter 1: Gathering the courage

Rustling in his bed, his hind legs still throbbing from a long days work bucking apples. Just one thought kept him from falling asleep. The beautiful mare his sister is friends with, Fluttershy. The name was even sweet and kind. Just the thought of her sent Big Mac's head into a whirlwind of emotions. "Get a hold a yer self." he thought to himself "Plus there'd be no way she'd fall fer a farm pony like me." After many attempts of trying to fall asleep he realized the struggle was useless. So thinking a walk in the night air could clear his mind he trotted down the stairs from his room in the barn to the bottom level and left.

He decided to take a walk to clear his mind but instead it became more cluttered with thoughts of the light yellow mare. Kicking a stone in frustration he mumbled aloud. "Why can't I get her out of mah mind?!"

As soon as he kicked the stone he heard a stir in the bushes. Wondering who it could be or WHAT it could be he asked hesitantly.

"Is anybody ther? It ain't smart hidin in bushes eavesdroppin on someponys conversation."

"I-I-I'm sorry... I'm so sorry!" A hushed voice came from behind the bushes "I shouldn't have been here..."

"F-F-Fluttershy?" Big Mac stuttered in a mix of emotions from relief to regret "I didn' mean to hit y'all I didn' know you was behind ther. I'm sorry sugarcube. But what y'all doin' ther in the first place?"

"Oh I was.... I was just... Uhhh" Fluttershy said shyly as she emerged from the bushes "I was just....staying with a f-f-family of racoons that I was t-t-taking care of..."

"Y'all don need ta be sorry. Ah'm the one ta be sorry. I shouldn' be goin roun' kickin things. Did I hurt y'all?"

"N-n-no I'm fine Big Mac." Fluttershy replied with great haste. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop but who can't you get out of your mind? If I can ask....you don't have to answer if you don't want to. It's okay." She said with such timidness.

Big Mac's face began to turn a bright red despite his fur already being a moderate crimson, you could tell the stallion was blushing immensely. "I...I was eh... I was talking about..." He was searching frantically for something to tell the young mare "It was nuthin..." Have said that he regretted being so shy and not telling the truth. He just stared at her with emotions running deep through his mind. Catching his composure and gathering up his strength, he took the first step to telling the dear sweet Fluttershy how he felt. "Fluttershy? I actually got somethin ta say ta y'all."

"Yes Big Macintosh?" Fluttershy said in her sweet darling voice.

"Well ah, I think it could wait til tomorrow. It's pretty late out." He said knowing deep down he should have just told her how he felt. " Ah'm sorry I woke you and yer little critter friends."

"Oh it's no problem at all. How about we meet at the cafe tomorrow?" Fluttershy said with a calm almost serine composure. "If that's okay?"

Surprised at the shy mares confidence all he could say was "Eeyup" Bidding good night to one another they went their own ways. Big Mac thinking to himself that the shyest pony of all of Equestria asked him to lunch instead of him asking her. Will she think he isn't manly enough to ask her to lunch or anything? Instead of the walk clearing his mind it became more jumbled and all thoughts were on Fluttershy.

Tomorrow finally came. Chores had to be done and apples needed to be bucked. Being a farm pony you wake up before the sun is just rising. Bucking his last tree he hauled the barrels of apples towards the barn.

"H-hi Big Macintosh." A familiarly sweet sounding voice rang through his ear.

"Fluttershy?" He looked above him and there she was, floating angelically in mid-air. "What y'all doin up this early? I thought we was meetin' up is afternoon?" He said a bit confused.

"Oh we are I just usually come bye and get a few apples for the little animals I take care of. Angel especially, he only likes apples that are perfect. So what better place then Sweet Apple Acres?"

"Well I just finished up my chores, want me to help ya gather some apples?" Big Mac said with utmost confidence. When it came to apples he was the one to call. Of course Applejack was just as equally educated in apples, he knew the part of the apple orchard that had the most plump, crispy, juiciest apples on Sweet Apple Acres. "I know where the best apples are in this here orchard. Care to follow me?"

"Oh of course." She said as she followed the muscular stallion through the labyrinth of large, fruit barring trees. "It's so kind of you to do this for me, I appreciate it a lot."

"Ah yer welcome sugarcube. I'm just glad to help out a pony in need." Big Mac said as they approached their destination. "Here we are."

"Oh my!" Fluttershy said as she stood in awe. "It's so large, how will you be able to buck any apples down?"

"I always come to this tree when I need a good workout or Ah'm angry or upset. This tree is the largest on the farm. Not many ponies know about it. AppleJack knows about it but that's just 'bout it. I trust you to bring you to this tree. It's where I got when I need sometime to think or just be left alone."

"Well I am greatly honored that you brought me here Big Mac." Fluttershy said with her happy tone.

"Might wanna stand back now. It's a big tree so the apples might fall on y'all."

"Oh okay, thanks." Fluttershy said as she stood back a little but away from the huge trunk of the tree.

Big Mac gathered his strength and prepared a might kick. WHAM! THUD THUD. Then a shriek! Big Mac looked over as Fluttershy was under a hail of apples. "Fluttershy Ah'm comin!" He leaped over to the tiny Pegasus and shielded her from the barrage of apples. "Y'all alright?"

"Y-y-yes..." Fluttershy managed to utter through tears. "Thank you Big Macintosh I'm so sorry I was in the way..."

"No it ain't nothin', Ah'm jus' glad to see y'all are okay. The barrage of apples falling to the ground with a large thud. Standing over the tiny mare he noticed that instead of tears of joy she was crying tears of joy? "Y'all okay Fluttershy?"

"Yes. I never noticed how beautiful your eyes were Big Macintosh. But aren't you getting hurt? Those apples are quite large." Fluttershy said in deep concern.

"Once you've lived and worked on a farm for so long ya get used to apples fallin' on ya. I just y'all are okay." Big Macintosh said as the last of the apples have seized. "Okay lil Fluttershy y'all are all safe now."

Fluttershy looked up towards her savior. Her eyes still damp with tears looked so amazing. Nopony had eyes as clear and beautiful as hers. The teal color was so overwhelming. "What can I do to repay you? And don't say nothing because I won't take no for an answer. I'm sorry was that mean?"

"How 'bout I take you out to dinner some night?" Finally he got enough strength to ask her to dinner.

"Oh no no no. I must ta-" Fluttershy was cut off by him rubbing his muzzle against her neck. Leaving her in shock.

"Nah I gotta tell you somethin' tonight Fluttershy. Ah'll pick y'all up tonight, okay?" Big Mac said with great confidence. He felt as if he were a million bits. Looking at her in the little rays of light shinning through the gaps between trees, her fur was just a tad damp from her tears and the little drops caught the light and made her look radiant. After that he helped her with the apples and walked her to her little cottage and said their good byes. In a few hours the two ponies would be sitting down together eating a nice dinner. And wondering where to begin.