Melody for my Dear

Chapters

Pie for Tomorrow
Nervous Exchange
Shield and Stick
In a Hurry
The Wasp's Disruption
Basket Full of Sunshine
Small Assistance
Chewed and Spit Out
Naming the Situation
Rotten Attitude
Awaiting an Answer
Request from a Guest
Be That Way!
As the Rain Falls
Whackin' Troubles

Pie for Tomorrow

Melody for My Dear

Ch. 2

Birds flew over the hospital as a new day began for the small town of Pony Ville. Very few clouds were hovering in the air and the skies were fresh and clean from another spring rainfall. Two months have passed since Big Macintosh came to the hospital after the tree branch pierced his hind leg. During his time being injured, he was stuck in a wheel chair until his leg made a full recovery. The poor stallion has not been able to stand for the past two months and was eager to get out of the chair he sat in. Applejack wanted to bring Big Macintosh to town and the farm to ease his boredom, but he scooted away from her every time she brought it up to him. The only thing the stallion wanted to do during the time being at the hospital was to read the Pony Ville newspaper in the cafeteria.

Once ah get out of this wheel chair, ah will be ma good old self Big Macintosh thought with a bit of a smile.

At the front desk of the Pony Ville Hospital, Applejack and Applebloom were waiting for the doctor to see if Big Macintosh’s leg would be healed to the point where he could walk.

“I wonder why you couldn’t use crutches big brother,” said Appebloom looking up to her older siblings.

“Well the doctor said that he needs to make sure the wound heals all the way before he could walk again. Don’t want to open it up and stay in that chair any longer, right Big Mac?”

“Eeyup,” replied Big Macintosh a bit slumped in his wheelchair. He was becoming impatient with the doctor because of how long he was taking. Even Applebloom was becoming impatient as well and started to make faces in the reflection of the tile floor. The reflection was very blurry, but doing anything but waiting was keeping her entertained.

After what seemed like a long apple buck season, a nurse came from the left hallway and approached the three ponies. As she approached, the three siblings had a look of anticipation, ready for the news to be given. The nurse pony stopped in front of the desk and said, “The doctor said it is okay for you to no longer use your wheelchair.”

“Yea hear that big brother,” said Applebloom with joy.

“Eeyup!”

“That is mighty fine news. Thanks for caring for my brother sugar cube,” said Applejack.

Before the happy siblings could turn around and leave, the nurse quickly walked over to Big Macintosh and handed him a small container filled with pills. The look on the stallion’s face was a bit of a sickened look and glanced at the nurse. “I know you don’t like these, but when you take them, your leg will make a quicker recovery.” Despite the nurse’s fact, the red stallion hated taking the pills. When he would take them, his leg would fall asleep and have an uncomfortable feeling in his leg. It felt like ants were crawling inside of his leg as if a colony lived inside of his bone marrow. Then the white colored nurse opened the jar of pills and took out a yellow pill. The now cowardly stallion puckered his lips as he did not want to take the pill. “Now come on,” the nurse beckoned, but Big Macintosh turned his head and tightly closed his eyes.

The white pony sighed, looked at Applejack, and said, “If he does this behavior, you can always do this…” She then lightly poked Big Macintosh in the ribs and caused him to yell “AH!” and crammed the pill in his mouth. A very bitter look fell on the red stallion’s face as he painfully swallowed the pill. “There, was that so hard,” smiled the nurse.

“E…eyup,” he coughed and stuck out his tongue, trying to rid of the pill’s disgusting flavor. Great, now I can’t even walk home and stuck in this confound chair. Least this is the last day in this worthless contraption with wheels… thought the stallion.

“Well, your brother has been checked out and all of the paperwork has been signed.”

“Alright, thanks again for being mighty kind to my brother and healin’ up his leg,” smiled Applejack and the three siblings started to walk out of the hospital and out the doors.

Before the door closed, the nurse called out to them, “Hope to see you again soon!”

Applejack turned around, smiled, and tipped her cowpony hat to the nurse as the glass doors closed themselves, and the three ponies then started to head back to the farm.

“What an awful thing to say,” shouted Applebloom, looking up at her siblings as Applejack was pushing Big Macintosh’s wheelchair.

“Eeyup.”

“What are you yammerin’ about Applebloom,” said Applejack in confusion.

“Did ya hear what the nurse said?”

“Yeah, just wishin’ us well and sayin’ her farewells.”

“No, how she said…” Applebloom now changed her tone and said in a deep silly tone, “…Oh, hope to see you again.”

“Yeah… what about it sis?”

The filly’s voice returned to normal and responded, “Shouldn’t they have been more caring and say something like…” Once again, Applebloom’s said in a sarcastic deep voice, “…Live long and prosper,” holding up one hoof next to her face as she pretended to be a nurse.

“Eeyup,” spoke Big Macintosh agreeing with his little sister.

Applejack smiled and said, “It’s just their way of sayin’ be healthy is all.” The three ponies were walking through the town of Pony Ville. The straw top villa homes surrounded the siblings as they continued through town. All kinds of ponies walked past them, doing whatever they need to get accomplished before the day’s end. Some pegasi flew overhead while earth ponies were on the ground, tending to their homes or shops. “Quite the hustle and bustle today,” said Applejack.

“Eeyup.”

After walking for some time, the three of them approached the hill in town and started to walk up the hill. There were homes still around them, but significantly fewer because of the incline of the hill. After walking up the hill for a short while, a short figure was starting to approach the three ponies at an extreme rate of speed. As it got closer, the figure started to show that it was a short pegasus filly wearing a helmet, on a scooter.

“Hey, it’s Scootaloo,” said Applebloom in excitement. She waved at her friend with her hoof, but the orange filly didn’t acknowledge because of the rate of her speed. Scootaloo’s dark pink hair fluttered in the wind and her wings flapped at a fast rate, propelling herself to go even faster. After zipping past the three ponies, Scootaloo was approaching something that appeared to be a wooden ramp from the perspective of Applebloom.

The pegaus filly looked up at a cloud that was directly above the ramp. After looking up for a short time, she then looked down at the ramp, squinting her eyes and grinning, ready to take off from the ramp. The ramp was curved at a ninety degree angle, so she would shoot up towards the cloud. Body crouched down and hooves on the handlebars, Scootaloo took off from the ramp and shot towards the cloud. Applebloom awed at how high her friend went up, but Big Macintosh and Applejack were more concerned if the pegasus filly was going to make it.

Flapping ever so hard, Scootaloo reached for the cloud and tried to make a grab for it. Despite how fast she was going, it was not long before Isaac Hoofton’s law of gravity took effect. Settling in the air for a moment, Scootaloo flailed one of her arms, reaching for the cloud with one arm as she held onto the scooter handlebar with another. Despite her valiant effort, her reach was not enough to catch the cloud. Scootaloo flapped her tiny wings violently, hovering in the air for a brief moment trying to grab onto the cloud, but even that was fruitless. Watching helplessly, Applejack, Applebloom, and Big Macintosh gasped as soon as Scootaloo began to descend slowly.

“Ah can’t watch!” Applebloom buried her face into her sister’s mane, because she did not want to see her friend’s fate. Blinded by her sister’s hair, all the filly could think about is the outcome her friend was about to face. But instead of hearing a blood curdling scream from her friend, Applebloom heard a sigh of relief from her brother and sister.

“What is it Applejack,” said Applebloom as she removed her face from her sister’s hair. Applejack pointed in the direction of the cloud that Scootaloo was trying to grab onto. Looking very closely, the filly could see her friend in the sky, holding onto her scooter, and dangling from something that looked like a blue arm.

Scootaloo was then pulled up into the cloud and after a brief moment, she was up in the air, flying on the back of Rainbow Dash, a light blue pegasus with a beautiful rainbow mane for hair. The filly pegasus was holding onto her scooter with one arm, and another arm a bit around Rainbow Dash’s neck. Seeing her friends looking up at her and Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash flies down towards them and lands next to them, letting down Scootaloo from her back.

“Hey guys, how’s it-” Rainbow Dash spoke but was interrupted by Applebloom.

“Ya nearly gave me a heart attack Scootaloo,” she yelled as she hugged Scootaloo tightly.

Scootaloo looked at her worried friend and said, “It’s okay Applebloom, I’m fine.”

Applebloom mustered up a smile and looked at her friend, tears welting up in her eyes. A light blue arm fell on Applebloom’s shoulder and Rainbow Dash said with a smile, “I wouldn’t let anything happen to my biggest fan.”

“Oh, hehe,” giggled Scootaloo, folding her ears in embarrassment. From Rainbow Dash’s complement, Scootaloo could not doubt that she was her biggest fan; after all, she is the president of the Rainbow Dash Fan Club.

The cowpony looked at looked at Rainbow Dash and said, “Bit of a warnin’ woulda been nice Rainbow.”

“Eeyup,” replied her brother.

“There’s no need to fear when Rainbow Dash is here,” said the rainbow maned pegasus, raising a hoof to her chest.

“Just don’t let yer stubborn pride overcome yer senses, ya hear,” Applejack chuckled with a smile.

“Are you forgetting who won the Iron Pony Competition,” Rainbow Dash grinned.

“Well maybe if ya didn’t use yer wings, it woulda been a fair match.”

“Oh yeah?”

While the two mares were getting into each other’s faces, Applebloom looked at Scootaloo and said, “Hey, wasn’t Applejack holdin’ onto mah brother’s wheelchair?”

“Eeyup,” cried Big Macintosh as his wheelchair accelerated down the hill. The slope had a bit of a steep decline, so the speed of the poor stallion’s wheelchair rapidly increased velocity. To make matters worse was that he was headed in the direction of a watermelon stand. The ponies running the stand scrambled to get out of the way, waiting for the inevitable. Rainbow Dash was about to take off to save Big Macintosh when she realized that Scootaloo was on her scooter, revving her way to the helpless stallion. When the filly caught up to him, she grabbed onto one of the handles and steered the wheelchair out of the way of the stand. She then pulled back and flapped her wings to create drag and slow down the two of them to ensure a safe stop. Soon the slope of the hill became flat ground and the two of them came to a complete stop.

Suddenly, there was an uproar of cheering ponies because of Scootaloo’s daring rescue. She blushed and her ears folded from embarrassment. Applejack, Applebloom, and Rainbow Dash ran down the hill, happy to see Big Macintosh out of harm’s way.

Rainbow Dash then put her head from beneath Scootaloo and lifted her up with the filly on her head. The rainbow maned pegasus then shouted, “Let’s hear it for Scootaloo!”

The ponies around Scootaloo once again cheered in applause as she sat up on Rainbow Dash’s head, proud of her accomplishment as well as flustered from all the attention given to her.

***

“Ah never thought you would be so brave Scootaloo,” said Applebloom with a smile on her face. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were following the three siblings back to Sweet Apple Acres and were almost to the farm.

Resting on Rainbow Dash’s head, Scootaloo replied with a bit of disappointment, “I wish I got my cutie mark by doing something crazy today and saving your brother sure was crazy.” She looked at her flank but saw no cutie mark. Every other pony seemed to have one but her and her two other friends, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.

“Wonder what that cutie mark would be, savin’ my brother an’ all,” said Applejack in curiosity.

“Maybe the look on your brother’s face,” laughed Rainbow Dash. Big Macintosh was in his wheelchair with a frozen frightened face with one of his eyes twitching. Just the thought of him crashing into the melon stand still frightened him.

Everypony laughed at Rainbow Dash’s remark, except for Big Macintosh who exaggerated a chuckle. “Oh hush big brother,” said Applejack as she pushed his wheelchair. “At least yer safe from harm.”

“Eeyup,” the red stallion replied with a sigh because she was right.

Applejack chuckled and looked at Rainbow Dash and said, “Thanks for helping me out for the past few weeks at the farm Rainbow.”

“No problem! Can’t leave my best friend hangin’.” Rainbow Dash put an arm around Applejack with a smile as they walked to the farm. Because of Big Macintosh’s injury, work around the farm would be very slow. So Applejack asked Rainbow Dash and her other friends to help out on the farm during her brother’s absence from work.

Before the ponies could realize it, they were already at the entrance to the farm. A white fence surrounded the entire farm and the ponies walked through an opening of the gate. A vine of flowers were hanging onto the overhand as they entered. Chickens were pecking at the ground, hoping to find something edible. There was a corn field to the left of the dark pink barn house, and to the right was a large field of apples as far as the eye could see; some of the trees even wrapped around the neighboring hill that was nearby.

After entering the farm, Rainbow Dash flew up into the air and round the barn with Scootaloo still on her head. Rainbow Dash then sat onto a cloud, next to the wind dial that was at the point of the house. She saw from above Applejack pushing her brother to the front window of the barn and heard Applejack sigh in relief, “Glad to have you home.”

“Eeyup,” said Big Macintosh with a smile and he turned his chair around to see what was behind him. Only thing that Big Macintosh could see was how scattered things were around the farm. Nopony was keeping the chickens near their coops, some barrels were lying in the corn field, some were filled with ears of corn, and there were messy chunks of straw everywhere. He wanted to see if the apple tree part of the farm was a mess, but he decided to stay put.

“Sorry ‘bout the big mess Big Mac,” Applejack chuckled nervously.

“Don’t you worry big brother, we will spruce up the place in a jiffy,” Applebloom spoke in a cheerful mood.

“Eeyup,” smiled the red stallion.

After Applebloom’s determination to clean up the barn, Applejack called out to the others and shouted, “Then let’s get to it yall! Applebloom, you and Scootaloo go round up them chickens. After that, go clean up the corn field and set the wheel barrels next to the farm shed. Rainbow Dash, come help me in the apple field!”

“On it,” said the now- working ponies. Rainbow Dash flew off of the cloud she was sitting on and let Scootaloo on the ground so that the filly pegasus could help Applebloom.

Applebloom and Scootaloo ran off to the chicken coops as Applejack and Rainbow Dash went into the apple fields. Unfortunately for Big Macintosh, he was restrained from leaving his chair because of the medication that he had taken earlier in the day. Gosh darn nurse cramming that capsule they call a pill thought the stallion as he sat in the wheel chair. He would rather put in a hard day of work than to lie around and do nothing. At least this is the last day to be constricted to this confound pair of wheels he thought again as he let out a heavy sigh. But for some reason, Big Macintosh felt drowsy, as if the cool shade from the overhang of the kitchen window was giving him an intoxicating sense of tiredness.

Soon, vision in the stallion’s eyes began to get blurry and his head began to droop down slowly. The last thing that Big Macintosh saw was Applebloom walking on a barrel backwards and Scootaloo was rolling on the inside of it as the two of them were laughing.

It seemed only a matter of seconds when he closed his eyes and felt a violent rattle from his wheelchair and heard Rainbow Dash say, “Wake up ya lazy colt!”

Time somehow flew by as Big Macintosh slept. It was late afternoon as the sky was very orange from the sun heading in the west. Shaking his head, Big Macintosh saw that the chickens were not walking around the farm and the corn fields had no more barrels sprawled out by the stocks and instead, were inside of the barn shed where it was supposed to be.

“That was some mighty fine hard workin’ yall,” called Applejack to the others. Applebloom and Scootaloo ran over to where Big Macintosh was still sitting.

“Hey big sis,” said Applebloom looking up at her sister. “Ya think Big Mac can get off his wheelchair”

“I don’t see why not lil’ sis. The medicine the doctor gave us should’ve worn out by now.”

Before Applejack can try to help her brother out of the chair, Big Macintosh threw his arms forward to gain momentum, took a stand upwards for a brief moment, and then fell forward to stand on all four hooves. He scraped the ground with his front hoof and shook his back hind leg that was injured by the tree branch. No pain, no aching, but a sudden rush of joy.

“Feel any better brother,” said Applebloom in concern.

“Eeyup,” said Big Macintosh with a very happy and energetic tone. With all the energy he had, Big Macintosh rose on his hind legs, letting out a loud “YEEEHHHAAAWWW” call as he ran out of the barn and straight into the apple fields, leaving his sisters and friends behind. Nothing felt better than to feel the air rush in between his ears and the stallion’s heart raced and pumped all of the pent up blood that had been resting in his body for so long. After running for some time, Big Macintosh slowed down and walked out of the fields. From afar, he saw a familiar pegasus talking to Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and the two fillies. It was Fluttershy and she was looking bright as ever as she smiled and talked to the four of them. Beside her was a basket with something inside of it. Applejack then finished talking and pointed in the direction of where Big Macintosh ran off to and Fluttershy turned her head to see the red stallion. He waved at her with a smile, as she replied with a gentle wave, but shyly lowered her head and her ears folded.

Before Big Macintosh could try to walk over to the group of them, Rainbow Dash was making her farewells to the fillies and Applejack, then flying off with Fluttershy trailing from behind. He wanted to call out, but somehow something held him back. Shrugging off from missing the farewell, Big Macintosh then walked back to the farm and approached the now three of them.

As he approached, Applebloom walked over to him and said, “Big Mac, can you do me a favor for tomorrow?”

“Eeyup,” he nodded with a smile.

“Do you mind walking me and Scootaloo over to Fluttershy’s cottage tomorrow? We just have to pick up Sweetie Bell along the way is all.”

“Eeyup.”

“Yeay,” said Applebloom and Scootaloo in unison, both happy to have an escort to Fluttershy’s house.

“Alright yall, get inside,” said Applejack instructing the fillies to get inside of the house. Jumping for joy, Applebloom and Scootaloo ran inside causing a bit of a ruckus as the two older ponies walked inside. They heard the hoofsteps of the young ponies running up and down the hallway from the second story. Applejack and Big Macintosh both laughed while they entered the home of the Apple Family.

A yawn came from Applejack and looked at her brother and said, “Fewy, I sure am plumtuckered out Big Mac. Mind lockin’ up the house before comin’ upstairs for bed?”

“Eeyup.”

“Alright.” Applejack let out a long yawn and slowly walked up the wooden staircase. “Night Big Mac,” she called before Big Mac heard a door close from upstairs. Now the stallion was now alone, but the sound of the two fillies thumping the floor with their hooves and giggling seemed to keep him company.

I always love the sound of my lil sis having fun with her friends thought Big Macintosh as we walked over to the door to close it and lock up the house. Before closing the door however, the basket that Fluttershy left was resting where she left it. Curiosity overcame the red stallion and he walked over to the basket to see what was inside of it. To his surprise, nothing was inside of the basket. However, the basket was covered in some green vines and leaves and some yellow flowers were attached to the basket. He looked from side to side to see if anypony was looking as he picked up the basket handle with his mouth.

Walking inside of the home once again and locking the door, Big Macintosh wondered why Fluttershy left her basket at the farm. Did Applejack take whatever was inside of it? Perhaps Fluttershy just forgot the basket in the first place. It pondered the stallion on why Fluttershy left it. But then he started to think about her. Images of him stopping the tree from falling on Fluttershy flashed in his mind and thought about how she kept him company before help arrived. A smile fell upon Big Macintosh’s face and felt his heart warm up. Wish she would've visited me at the hospital he frowned.

After spending all of the energy running around the farm, Big Macintosh found himself tired once again and decided to call it a light. Before returning upstairs, he turned off all the lights and placed the basket in the kitchen. He opened his door to his room to see that not much of his belongings have been touched other than his bed, which was made. The only thing left for the red stallion to do was set the alarm and hit the hay. All I got to do in the mornin’ is make the girls lunch for tomorrow an’ walk them to Fluttershy’s home, thought Big Macintosh as he drifted to sleep. Maybe make… a pie… for Fluttershy.

Nervous Exchange

Melody for My Dear

Ch. 3

Morning seemed to be brighter than usual as the sun glared over the hills as it came up to start a new day. It seemed that Princess Celestia wanted to say hello to Sweet Apple Acres, but the welcome was too bright for Applebloom’s face and woke her like an obnoxious wakeup call. The little filly and her friend Scootaloo were both lying next to each other, back to back as the sun light bled onto Applebloom’s face. The discomfort caused her to clench her eyes shut and turn over, waking up the yellow filly. Now that Applebloom was awake, she let out a big yawn, inhaling the morning air of the farm; yet, something smelt sweet in the air.

“Hey Scootaloo, wake up,” spoke Applebloom in a whisper.

“No… no more autographs please,” said Scootaloo as she was still in her dreams. “I know I’m awesome but Rainbow Dash is more awesomer.” A goofy smile was on Scootaloo’s face as the words slipped out of her mouth.

Applebloom picked up her pillow and plopped it on her friend’s face and said with a giggle, “Ya mind signing my pillow.”

“That’l be two bits,” said Scootaloo in a muffled sound, still in her dream.

“Wake up ya goof ball!” Startled, Scootaloo shot her head up and the pillow flew off her head and onto the floor. “Good you’re awake.”

Scootaloo was not happy with the rude awakening and turned her head to face her friend had an annoyed look on her face. “Would’ve been nice if you hadn’t done that; I was having a great dream.”

“Sorry Scootaloo,” Applebloom chuckled.

In retaliation, Scootaloo rubbed her hoof in Applebloom’s hair. “It’s alright as long as there is some retaliation.”

“Hey not the bow! Ya know how hard it is to get this thing in my mane?”

“Not really,” Scootaloo shrugged. She then smelled something in the air; something sweet and delectable. “Hey Applebloom, what is that smell?”

“I was trying to wake you up because I think I know what that smell is,” said Applebloom in delight.

After adjusting her dark pink bow, Applebloom jumped out of bed and Scootaloo followed behind as they walked out of the bedroom.

“So what is this delicious smell,” questioned Scootaloo in curiosity. “Is it an apple pie?”

“Oh, it ain’t any ordinary pie,” replied Applebloom. The two of them reached the stairway and headed on down the stairs as Applebloom continued, “My brother makes this pie every so often, with the best assortment of apples and finest cinnamon in all of Equestria!”

“Mmm, sounds yummy!”

They reach the bottom of the stairs and walked towards the kitchen. “Oh you bet! He calls it the…” She was about to finish when the two fillies heard a voice in the kitchen. As they approached, Applebloom and Scootaloo saw Big Macintosh in the kitchen holding a mixing spoon and what looked like a pony ragdoll in one hoof. It was a gray colored doll with dark blue trousers with polka dots, buttons for eyes, and had black wool for a mane and tail.

He then put the spoon in a large bowl and started to mix an assortment of ingredients and started to talk to the doll, “I know it’s been a mighty long time since we have cooked together Smartypants. But don’t you fret; you get to help me make the second pie that I’m makin’ for Fluttershy.” After the stallion finished mixing, he then settled the spoon down and had the doll wrap its arms and legs around the spoon. “Now just hold on to that spoon there while I go get the cinnam…”

“What are you doing big brother,” questioned Applebloom, interrupting his time alone with the rag doll. Unaware of their presence, Big Macintosh’s eyes widened and looked in the entrance of the hallway. His sister had a confused look on her face, while Scootaloo was smirking, finding it ever so difficult not to laugh. On the stallion’s face, shock was the only expression that could be found. Even though he was caught in the act, he snatched the doll quickly and hid it in the sink filled with soapy water and hoped the two fillies did not see anything. “You hiding something Big Mac?”

“N…nope,” replied the brother nervously. He rose his hoof to the spoon he was mixing earlier and resumed stirring.

“Umm… is Applejack awake?”

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh pointed to the window and outside was Applejack pulling a wagon full of apples and a broken down stand. It was the time of the week that she goes to town and sells some produce at the market. Silence in the kitchen was interrupted when a “ding” from a timer that sat on the stove went off. When Big Macintosh walked over the oven and opened it, it released a beautiful aroma of apple and cinnamon.

“Mmm” was heard from the two fillies as they licked their lips.

Scootaloo saw that Big Macintosh was getting the pie out of the oven and wanted to get a better look at the doll. She walked over to the kitchen sink, dipped her hoof into the soap water, and tried to fish out the doll. A feeling of fabric brushed Scootaloo’s hoof and she picked the doll out of the water. It was all soggy from the water and some soap suds were in its mane. “Is this Twilight’s,” said Scootaloo in question.

Big Macintosh did not even realize she took Smartypants out of the sink while he was taking out the pie. He frowned at the fact that the doll was all wet, but was more concerned in getting the doll back. When he walked over to her and reached for it, Scootaloo reached back and said, “So it is Twilight’s huh? You have a crush on her?”

“No,” he blurted before he snatched the doll out of her arms. Red blush was visible on his cheeks, embarrassed from the filly’s question.

“Oh, come on Scoot, you know my brother is shy about that stuff,” Applebloom said still standing in the doorway.

“Sorry, I was just teasing him,” replied Scootaloo with a bit of a smirk.

Sure you were, Big Macintosh thought glaring at her as he turned away, resuming what he was doing. Bet yer gonna tell Twilight that I play with her doll.

His little sister approached to his left and said, “Don’t worry, she won’t tell, Pinkie Promise.” Everypony knows that when a Pinkie Promise is made, it is something that cannot be broken. Big Macintosh nodded and resumed making his second pie.

“Well, me and Scootaloo will go an’ get ready.”

Applebloom and Scootaloo were about to go back upstairs to get ready, when Big Macintosh pointed at the table. In the center, there were six pancakes stacked on top of each other with two tiny cups filled with syrup. The two of them ran over to the table and began eating the pancakes. It didn't take long for the fillies to finish their breakfast. With sugar in their bodies, Applebloom and Scootaloo were full of energy and after putting their dishes in the sink, they went upstairs to get ready for a day at Fluttershy’s cottage.

***

“Come on slowpoke,” called Applebloom as she and Scootaloo were standing outside of the door to the house.

While Applebloom was scraping her hoof on the ground impatiently, Scootaloo adjusted to her cape, identical to the one Applebloom was wearing. The cape was crimson and had a blue circle patch near the back sides of the cape. On the blue patch was an image of a yellow pony lifting a front leg. The underside of the cape was a smooth, golden silk. Unfortunately, Sweetie Belle made the cape from Rarity’s golden silk that took her hours to make, and almost made Rarity to lose her nerves.

After what seemed like hours, Big Macintosh finally emerged from the home with Fluttershy’s basket in his mouth. Inside the basket were two pies and five apples that surrounded the pastry.

“Wow, those look delicious,” said Scootaloo in delight.

“Eeyup,” he replied with a muffled sound.

Alright Scoot, today is the day we will finally get our own cutie marks,” said Applebloom confidentially.

“You bet,” replied Scootaloo.

Applebloom looked at back at her brother and said, “Don’t worry big brother, we will make sure you get to Fluttershy’s safely. And this time, we will make sure no trees fall on ya this time.”

“You ready…” said Scootaloo said in anticipation.

“CUTIEMARK CRUSADERS PERSONAL ESCORTERS ARE GO,” the two fillies yelled in unison as they gave a high hoof.

Big Macintosh smiled at their silly attempt of trying to get their cutie marks; and this time, “escorting” him to Fluttershy’s cottage. I thought you asked me to walk you to Fluttershy’s, ya little numskull, thought Big Macintosh as he chuckled.

At long last, the three of them headed into town to get Sweetie Belle before heading to the cottage. Moments seem to pass by quickly as they walked through town to obtain the final filly. They finally arrive to a large house with the most exquisite decorations: a light blue color on the outside walls with a bit of diamond patterns that surrounded the oval windows, yellow striped curtains on the inside of the windows, checkered light pink and light purple on the roofing part of the home. At the top are a balcony with several purple iron bars, two smaller windows and a large one between the two and two purple pony figures that are on the outside of the balcony. Above that, is a set of blue-violet iron bars and resting on top of them is a crown shaped surface, with a striped orange and light orange cone.

Big Macintosh approached the door to the home and knocked at the doorway.

“I’m coming,” sang a harmonious voice from inside the home. A humming sound came from inside the house and grew louder as it came closer to the entrance of the door. Perfume seemed to fill the air when the door opened and the gorgeous looking unicorn, Rarity, answered. “Ah Big Mac darling, it is ever so nice to see you again.”

“Eeyup,” he nodded.

Raritiy’s purple hair seemed to flow so gracefully when she turned her head and called to her sister, “Sweetie Bell, your friends are here to you up.”

Wind rushed out of the doorway as a short filly unicorn zipped her way to the doorway to greet her friends, “Scootaloo, Applebloom! Glad to see we have an escort to Fluttershy’s!”

“Yup, and we need to make sure my big brother doesn’t have any trees fall on him today,” said Applebloom with a smile.

“And no trees are in sight,” Scootaloo replied, hovering an arm over her eyes and looking around.

“Oh girls,” Rarity intercepted the girl’s conversation. “This daring stallion did a brave thing to save Fluttershy and unfortunately he got hurt in the process. Please try and be more polite.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied.

“Oops,” spoke Sweetie Belle when she realized her cape was not on like her two friends. “I’ll be right back girls.” Dashing inside and returning in a matter of seconds, Sweetie Belle now had the cape just like Scootaloo and Applebloom. Her swirly pink and light purple hair was entwined with the knot of the cape when the filly rushed to get her cape on.

“Oh Sweetie Belle,” sighed Rarity as she untangled her sister’s hair from the knot. “I just curled your hair this morning. I don’t want all my efforts go to waste.”

“You worry too much Rarity,” shooed the unicorn filly.

“I just want you to look your best when you finally get your cutie mark.”

“Really?”

“But of course; what are sisters for,” Rarity complimented and her arm fell behind her sister’s neck.

“Aww, thanks sis,” smiled Sweetie Bell, pressing the side of her head against Rarity’s chest.

After the feelings were exchanged, Applebloom began to get anxious and spoke, “Come on yall! Time’s a wastin’ and we haven’t gotten to Fluttershy’s.”

“Alright, let’s get going,” replied Sweetie Bell. “Bye Rarity.”

“Have fun,” waved Rarity as the four of them turned around and walked away. Closing the front door and trotting up the stairs, the purple maned unicorn was thinking about her little sister. “Oh Sweetie Bell, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have you as a sister,” she said out loud as Rarity approached her bedroom door. “After all you are the most…” Rarity was cut off when she realized her room was a mess. “…Ungrateful little mess maker!”

Afar from the boutique, Scootaloo heard a scream from a distance and asked, “Did anypony hear something?”

“Umm… I heard nothing, but I think we should walk faster,” scurried Sweetie Bell as she walked ahead.

***

Stretching its wings, a hummingbird slowly opened its eyes when a gentle knock came from the outside of the hummingbird’s home.

“Time to get up little one,” came a gentle voice into the bird house. A sudden rush of joy came to the humming bird and flew out of its home to greet Fluttershy hovering in front of the red roofed bird house. Nestling itself against her cheek with a smile, the bird then pointed its wing into the opening of its house. With concern, Fluttershy closed one eye to look into the birdhouse and saw two tiny eggs resting in a patch of twigs.

“Oh, that is wonderful Mrs. Hummingbird,” smiled the pegasus with delight. Nodding after Fluttershy’s congratulate, it flew off to a patch of flowers that were right at the edge of the pathway that led to the cottage. Fluttershy then landed onto the bridge that leads to her home and looks to the sky to see a hawk flying high above.

“Do you see them,” she called up to the winged creature. Streaks of brown and white darted down to the pink maned pegasus and a gust of wind blew into her face as it landed. The hawk then pointed a wing to its left. A good distance away was the red stallion and three small fillies. “Thank you Mr. Hawk.” Before walking to the four of them, she then said to the hawk, “I have a fishing line in the backyard,” she gestured her arm behind. “There should be a yummy fish on the hook, but make sure you don’t eat the hook.”

Somehow the hawk felt the need to salute the pegasus before taking off. As it did, the two of them went their separate ways when Fluttershy went to go and greet her visitors.

“Hey Fluttershy,” the three fillies said to the pegasus as soon as they approached her.

“Oh, hello girls,” replied Fluttershy with a smile. Red was the next color for the pegasus to see when Big Macintosh approached. “And hello Big Macintosh.” She smiled but her yellow ears shied back.

The basket shook a bit as Big Macintosh nodded with a smile to greet Fluttershy. Looking at the basket, Fluttershy asked,

“Oh, is that my basket?”

“Eeyup,” replied the red stallion with the basket still resting in his mouth.

“Come on girls, to the back yard,” cried Applebloom and the two other fillies shouted “Yeah!”

Dust was kicked up as the three sprinted towards the cottage and around to the back. Now that the fillies were gone, the two older ponies were finding it hard to find something to say. Only the sound of the girls faint giggling pierced the awkward silence.

“Umm…” Fluttershy was glancing around, trying to find thoughts in her head until she saw a pie resting in the basket. “Oh, is that a pie,” finally squeezing out words from her tight throat.

“Eeyup…,” Big Macintosh choked as a lump formed in his throat and he had to swallow it before he can continue his thought. “And I made it for you,” he blushed and his ears folded. Why do I feel so nervous all of a sudden? It’s just a pie I made for her. Flashes of her comforting him were stained in his brain, as if he missed the feeling.

“Oh, really,” she questioned with delight. The pie was still warm even after the long trek from the barn and the sweet smell tickled her yellow nose. Before coming to the cottage, Big Macintosh had to deliver one pie to Applejack, on behalf of a special order. Some special celebrity wanted to try one of his pies.

“Why don’t you come to the backyard and stay for a while, I mean, if you want to,” Fluttershy turned and looked back at the flustered stallion.

“E…eyup,” Big Macintosh replied as he shook his head, trying to remain his cool.

Both of them walked over the bridge and around the green hedge covered house. Not only was Fluttershy’s home was full of nature, but there were also birdhouses in some of the trees that surrounded the pegasus’ home and small woodland animals wondered around in the grass. Rounding the corner, Fluttershy and Big Macintosh arrived to the backyard, where the Cutie Mark Crusaders were sitting around the hawk that aided Fluttershy in scouting for her visitors. The hawk somehow did not take her caretaker’s advice and had a hook caught in its beak. Lucky for it, was a mouse standing inside the hawk’s mouth, carefully removing the hook.

A brief moment later and the mouse finally removed the hook from the winged animal and the three fillies cried out “Yippy” for the rodent’s success.

Before the white mouse could jump out of the mouth, the hawk snapped its beak shut and made the girls shriek. “Let em’ go you rapscallion,” yelled Applebloom as she shook the hawk violently.

At this point, Fluttershy and Big Macintosh were already nearby to see what had happened. “Mr. Hawk,” Fluttershy said with a concerned look at the bird. Even though the hawk knew it was guilty, it shrugged nervously as if to say “I didn’t do anything.” Pokes and squeaks came from inside the hawk’s beak and clearly told everypony that there was something in its mouth. “Now Mr. Hawk, you know as well as I do that Mrs. Mouse has a family and I told you not to eat her.” Sweat was now starting form on the hawk’s face, and Fluttershy was getting slightly irritated. She walked in front of the hawk and widened her eyes, and glared into the now defenseless bird. Her stare frightened the hawk and spat out the mouse onto the floor. “There we go, thank you Mr. Hawk,” smiled the pegasus.

But the mouse was not happy about almost being the bird’s next meal. It jumped up and waved its paw angrily and threw a pebble at the hawk’s head before scampering off.

“How rude of you,” scolded Sweetie Bell at the hawk. Ashamed, the bird lowered its head and slowly walked away.

Before it could fly away, Fluttershy spoke, “Oh don’t be sad Mr. Hawk.” Turning its head to his caretaker, she continued, “I hope you learn from this okay?” The pegasus then scratched the hawk under its chin and brightened the bird’s attitude. It then flew off into the forest, behind the backyard.

“You handled that well Fluttershy,” complemented Scootaloo.

“Oh, it was nothing,” the yellow pegasus smiled.

“So what are we going to do to get our cutie mark girls,” Sweetie Bell said as she to her two little friends.

“Fluttershy said we can do whatever it may be, so long as it doesn’t have anything to do with the Everfree Forrest,” said Applebloom.

“As long as it is safe and nowhere near the forest, you girls can do anything today. Pinkie Promise,” smiled Fluttershy.

The three fillies thought for a moment and Scootaloo shouted, “How about camping?”

“Camping? You mean camping outside,” whimpered the yellow pegasus.

“Yeah, camping,” agreed Applebloom.

“And camping in the… dark,” shuddered Fluttershy.

“I’ve never camping before,” said Sweetie Bell with glee.

“Oh, well… I’m not so sure about that…” Fluttershy was not too happy with the suggestion from the girls.

“But you Pinkie Promised…” frowned Applebloom with glassy eyes.

“Yes I did… okay girls, camping it is.” Forcing a smile on her face, Fluttershy accepted her fate with camping with the fillies.

“Yeay,” cried the three of them as they ran off around the yard, exploring what they haven’t yet.

A laugh came from behind Fluttershy and she looked to see Big Macintosh still standing behind her but the basket was no longer in his mouth. Instead, it was on the bench near the back door to the cottage. He was smiling at all of the commotion that had just happened but Fluttershy looked and said to him, “Oh, I’m sorry… did I keep you waiting?”

“Nope,” Big Macintosh replied, bringing a hoof to his jaw. His jaw ached a bit from carrying the basket for too long.

“Well, would you like to share the pie you made for me Big Mac?”

“Oh, umm… sure,” he awkwardly replied.

“Okay, I’ll go get some plates and forks.” Fluttershy walked into the cottage while Big Macintosh sat at the bench, with the pie steaming in the woven basket. Over his shoulder were the fillies running about, chasing each other with a simple game of tag. It took little time for Fluttershy to emerge from the cottage and had two plates, a knife, two forks, and napkins. She then placed a plate and fork in front of Big Macintosh and then sat on the other side of the wooden bench.

“So… umm…,” began Fluttershy but was interrupted by a tug on her pink tail. Two white ears and a mean glare looked up at Fluttershy when the pegasus looked down at what was trying to get her attention. “Now Angel, I have a guest and it would…” Grumbling came from the rabbit’s belly and his angry look turned into an uncomfortable expression. “Angel, you didn’t finish your carrot and you threw it away. I told you you would be hungry lat… OW!” A violent tug on Fluttershy’s tail made it clear that Angel was not going to take no for an answer. “Okay Angel, I’ll go get you another.” Before walking away, she looked at Big Macintosh and sadly said, “Oh, I’m so sorry Big Macintosh, but I will be right back.”

“Mhmm,” Big Macintosh nodded before she got up and walked inside. Fluttershy disappeared into the home and Big Macintosh glared at the rabbit that was sitting on the ground, smiling with his eyes closed, and arms crossed as if he accomplished something. Lil runt being all rude to Fluttershy like that, he thought grinning at Angel. Then an idea sprung to the stallion and a small grin came across Big Macintosh’s face. He reached over into the basket and removed one apple from it; then he placed the apple on the table and rolled it towards Angel. The apple fell off the table and made a loud thump on the wooden seat and caused Angel to look up at what made the sound. Before he could see what made the sound, the big red round thing bonked on his head, dazing him. It rolled away while the rabbit sat in the grass, dizzy from the fall of the apple and it took a while for Angel to regain his vision. When he came to, the rabbit looked up and saw Big Macintosh with a grinning smile, laughing. Of course, Angel knew that Big Macintosh had the apple fall and wanted some retribution, but Fluttershy appeared once again and this time, with a carrot ready Angel.

“Okay, here you go,” she approached the rabbit and handed the carrot to him. Angel snatched the carrot out of the pegasus’ grasp and rubbed his head from the pain the apple caused. “I’m so sorry again Big Mac,” Fluttershy apologized again and sat at the bench. Looking shyly at the ground and then up to him she questioned, “Did I keep you waiting?”

“Nnope,” smiled the red stallion and he then started to divide the pie into eight slices. Using the fork and knife, he reached over to her plate. Before the pie arrived to the plate, something sharp jabbed at Big Macintosh’s knee, and his reflexes had his knee slam under the table. The pie fell next to the plate making a light splat.

Fluttershy shrieked and drew her hooves up to her chin and asked, “What was that!?” Glancing under the table, she saw Big Macintosh rubbing his knee and heard him grunting in pain. “Why did you hit your knee?”

“Something poked my…” Big Macintosh saw Angel walking away twirling the carrot and gave the stallion a snickering glance to him. Why that little white rat!

“I didn’t see anything…” Fluttershy looked behind her to see what Big Macintosh was looking at. She turned back and on her plate was another slice of pie. The other slice was still slowly oozing some of the apples out of the sides. “Oh, you got me another slice?”

“Eeyup.”

“Oh, but I don’t want it to go to waste. I’ll still eat it.”

She was going to pick it up, but the red stallion reached over and touched her arm and said, “Nope, I will.”

“Oh, okay.” The pegasus lifted her fork and scooped a piece of pie. Just as the pie touched her tongue, a low and cheerful “mmm” sang from inside. Big Macintosh was leaning over to scoop up the slice onto his plate when he saw a bright yellow smile on Fluttershy’s face. “Wow, this is the best of any apple pie I’ve ever eaten! Well… not to offend Applejack. I mean she makes good pies but…,” she poked at the crust and hoped that she had not offended her friend’s brother.

“Eeyup,” smiled the red pony. Now he began to eat away at the pie he scraped off of the table. To his surprise, it tasted better than he even anticipated.

Now that all the events have already occurred, the two ponies were having a hard time thinking of what to say. The two of them started to look in all directions and occasionally look at the other when the other was not looking.

Should I ask her why she didn’t visit me at the hospital? No… she might think I am mad at her, thought Big Macintosh. He looked back at Fluttershy and caught her staring at him, and she looked down in embarrassment with her pink hair shielding most of her face.

Maybe I should just tell him that I was afraid of him being… mad, gulped the shy pegasus. Her one eye that was not blocked by her hair slowly looked up to see the red stallion look into her and caused him to quickly retreat to another direction. I mean… he wouldn’t be here if he was mad…

The pie should be evidence that I have no anger towards you, looked back the stallion.

Now they were locked into a stare and could not look away. “So… umm, Big Mac…?”

“Eeyup?”

“Big Mac,” interrupted a voice from behind the back gate entrence. “We got trouble!” Applejack worked up a sweat as she panted at the gate.

“What is it sis,” questioned Applebloom.

“Gophers. They came back this year, and this time with a vengeance.” Dark looks came from Big Macintosh as his sister gave him the news the gophers came back. “Fluttershy, you mind giving me and Big Macintosh a hand?”

“Of course,” replied Fluttershy. She looked back at the fillies and called, “Come on girls.”

“Wait, where are we going,” questioned Scootaloo.

“Back to the farm. We gotta go whack some gophers and sent them on home.”

“What,” Fluttershy spoke with a shocked look on her face. She turned to look at Applejack. “You wouldn’t consider hurting such harmless creatures, would you?

“Oh, heh… of course not,” Applejack said nervously. “Well now, let’s get a move on sugarcubes!”

Shield and Stick

Melody for my DearCh5

Straw lay scattered in a small chicken coop during the first dull colors of the morning radiance. Many chickens snoozed in their own nest, some snuggling close against their yellowed young. One of the multi-color feathered birds shuddered a bit and hobbled out of its nest. Its red waddle shook as the rooster strutted to the entrance of the hut. Bringing a fist to his beak and with a clear of his throat, it shattered the silence with the usual caw of a rooster.

Yawns came from inside the triangular prism of sheets, following some grunts as some ponies stretched from an uncomfortable sleep.

“Mm… hey Scoot,” mumbled Sweetie Belle in a deeper voice than usual.

“Hm,” replied the filly pegasus with a cough.

“I think your dad is calling.” Applebloom heard the remark and began to giggle that followed with a yawn.

“Hardy har… very funny.”

“Oh, good morning girls,” spoke a voice from the opposite side of the tent. Two eyes shimmered from the sunlight that bled through some of the tiny holes from one of the blankets.

“Morning Fluttershy,” spoke the three fillies in unison.

“So girls, I am going to go fix you three some breakfast and then go feed the animals.” Yellow wings stretched out before Fluttershy stood up. She then walked outside and inhaled the fresh morning air.

Applebloom sat up and adjusted her bow that was cocked to the left on her mane. Two of her friends were beginning to sit upright when she spoke, “So girls, ya'll still want to make Big Mac an’…”

“Good morning Mr. Rooster. That was a nice cock-a-doodle-doo you did this morning,” spoke Fluttershy from a distance.

Ah need to be more quiet so Fluttershy doesn’t hear me… “…an’ Fluttershy special someponies,” whispered Applebloom.

“YEAH,” squealed Sweetie Belle excitedly.

“SSSHHHH, keep it down,” hissed Scootaloo. “We don’t want Fluttershy to get suspicious about us.”

“Oh, right… heh, sorry…”

“Then it’s settled,” smiled Applebloom. “When we get to the clubhouse, I’ll give ya’ll a journal so each one of ya can write down anythin’ you see between the two of them.”

“Sounds like a plan,” smiled Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

“CUTIE MARK CRU…” All three of them stopped their chant and realized they were too loud.

“Umm, maybe we should do this one quietly,” suggested Sweetie Belle and her friends agreed.

“cutie mark crusader love investigators are go, yeah…” chanted the three fillies with a giggle.

With capes on their backs, the Cutie Mark Crusaders exit the tent and saw some of the animals awaking from their homes. Birds flew from their nests to retrieve their food for their young while other creatures emerged from the earth.

Soon, an aroma began to wisp its way through the cool dawn air and tickled the fillies’ noses.

“Mmm,” squealed Sweetie Belle with delight. “That smells heavenly!”

“Yeah, must be our breakfast,” replied Scootaloo with a buzz of her wings.

Entranced by the scent, the little girls floated through the air and began to hover to the backdoor and into the cottage. Applebloom was last to enter, when a loud snore ripped through the air. Two white ears poked up from the wooden bench, but from Applebloom’s perspective were unable to see what else was up there.

Hmm, wonder who is up there, pondered the filly. Now the scent was too strong for Applebloom to resist and quickly walked into the cottage. At a table not too far from the doorway were her friends waiting for the meal being prepared for them.

“Oh, hello Applebloom,” greeted Fluttershy with joy. “I made you and your friends some apple cinnamon porridge.”

“I knew I knew that smell,” smiled Applebloom as she and her pink bow hopped onto a chair. “Did Applejack give you her recipe?”

“Not really. I actually remember the recipe she and I made when you were sick one day.”

“Oh, yeah… when I had that pesky sore throat. It was very delicious.”

“I hope you girls enjoy it.”

And they did. It did not take very long for the three fillies to finish their breakfast because they were too eager to find their special talent.

With bellies full, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were quickly outside in hopes they can obtain their cutie mark. Lucky for them, Fluttershy attempted to help the girls to try and find their talents by having them tend to her chickens. Applebloom quickly found out that throwing chicken feed at Scootaloo’s feet would cause her friend to be swarmed by chickens. Even though it increased Applebloom’s amusement and decreased Scootaloo’s patience with her friend, it didn't improve the rate of getting their cutie marks.

Noon quickly rolled around as the three fillies ventured about the cottage, trying to find what there special talent is. Sweetie Belle knitted a shirt, but it was too small to fit either of her two friends. Applebloom wanted to cook some food for the animals, but Fluttershy and the animals ended up helping her clean up a mess in the kitchen. Applebloom wanted Sweetie Belle to sing to the birds, but the white unicorn suggested that Scootaloo should soothe the birds with her voice. There was no soothing voice.

Frustrated, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo sat at the kitchen table where they ate there last meal. Scratching her chin, Applebloom complained, “Hmm, what have we not tried yet?”

“Hmm…,” pondered Sweetie Belle as she looked at her small shirt she poorly stitched together.

“Maybe we can build a bird house,” smiled Scootaloo.

Before either of her friends could respond, Fluttershy frantically flew in and asked the three of them, “Umm, girls, I’m so sorry for interrupting but have any of you seen Angel? I looked in every rabbit hole, bird house, even the cookie jar he loves to sneak into. I am so worried…”

“Sorry, we haven’t seen him…,” frowned the filly unicorn.

“Oh dear…” Fluttershy whimpered in a panic.

Applebloom then remembered she saw a pair of ears on the bench before she walked into the cottage. “I think he is on the…”

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

A sound came from the wooden seal of the cottage. “One second girls,” the yellow pegasus spoke to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. When the mare went to answer the door, she attempted to not look like she wasn’t panicking by brushing hair with one of her arm and flatten some of the strands of hair that stuck out in a messy curl.

While the three fillies were discussing what color their birdhouse should be, they heard Fluttershy speak in a very quiet tone, “Oh… hello.” Fluttershy’s guest didn’t interest the Cutie Mark Crusaders until she said, “Why don’t you come inside Big Macintosh.” At that moment, six ears turned towards the direction of the sound and the fillies could only stare at the two older ponies as they walked into the kitchen.

“Hey, Big Mac,” smiled Applebloom. “What brings you here?”

“He is here to pick you girls up,” Fluttershy answered.

“Aww,” whined Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom.

“Well, at least we can start working on the birdhouse at our clubhouse, RIGHT girls,” winked Applebloom to her friends.

“Oh, yeah, THAT birdhouse, for TWO birds, hehe,” giggled Sweetie Belle.

“Maybe we can paint it red and yellow,” replied Scootaloo with a smile.

Obviously, that was not what the girls had in mind and would rather attempt to get Fluttershy and Big Macintosh together.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were about to grab their belongings, when Fluttershy asked, “Umm, before you girls go, can you please help me find Angel. I am really beginning to get worried…”

“Of course we can,” smiled Scootaloo.

“We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” chanted Sweetie Belle.

“And anythin’ we do will bring us one step closer to gettin’ our cutie marks,” shouted Applebloom. “Alright girls, you know what ta do.”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS RABBIT RESCUERS ARE ON THE CASE! YEAH,” ran the three fillies to the backyard.

“Always so ambitious, aren’t they Big Mac,” Fluttershy spoke as she looked at the stallion.

“Eeyup,” he replied.

“Umm… I don't mean to be a bother, but do you mind helping me find Angel, please?”

An’ search for that little white rat, Big Macintosh thought in anger. Stubborn ball of fur makin’ Fluttershy feel all sad by pushin’ her aroun’ like some sack of chicken feed. Lucky for him she cares about em…

“Oh, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

Even though Big Macintosh despised Angel and the way he treated his owner, Fluttershy’s tone did not sound like she would take no very lightly. With some thinking, Big Macintosh smiled at the yellow pegasus and said, “I’ll help.”

“Oh thank you Big Mac,” Fluttershy responded with a smile.

Both ponies then walked into to the backyard, where the Cutie Mark Crusaders were looking for Angel. One of the girls looked in the now wrinkled tent to see if the rabbit was resting in it and another using binoculars trying to see if maybe he went to the gopher hill.

“Any luck girls,” Fluttershy asked the three fillies on the search for her rabbit.

“Not yet,” replied Applebloom as she lifted up a lily pad that rested on top of the calm pond.

“Oh dear oh dear oh dear!” Big Macintosh would have followed Fluttershy, but she took off in a panic and wanted an aerial view instead of looking on the ground. “Angel! Angel!” Soft cries came from the frightened pegasus’ voice while she frantically looked around for her rabbit friend.

Hmm, now where could I start looking thought Big Macintosh. As he scratched his chin with his hoof he looked to his left to see the wooden bench he and Fluttershy sat on the other day when the two of them were eating some of the apple pie he brought. The only thing that was different about the pie was that there was no pie and the pie tin was flipped upside-down. Something else bothered him; the pie tin was moving up and down very slowly. What in tarnation?

Curious, Big Macintosh picked up the tin and found something that was white, had two ears, and a round belly. It was Angel lying on his back with his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth. Crumbs of breading sprinkled the creature’s mouth, indicating that it ate the rest of the pie. Well, might as well alert the others, grinned Big Macintosh a mischievous smile.

Letting whistled a loud “FWEET” by Angel’s ears, the rabbit was in for a rude awakening. Because Big Macintosh startled him, Angel awoke with a jerk and accidentally pulled himself off the ledge of the table and ended up landing on the seat of the bench, but on his face. Stars rolled around the white rabbit when he tried to look in front of him. Once Angel’s vision came to, he saw the all too familiar red pony that has been causing him trouble.

Big Macintosh attempted to show as if he had done nothing wrong, but the stallion’s lips were trying ever so hard not to crack a smile. Two green eyes rolled around in the red pony’s head until they met an angry gaze that could boil water. At that moment, Big Macintosh could not contain himself and a huge smile fell across his face as he let out a low chuckle.

“Hey brother,” called a young voice from afar. Applebloom and her friends were at a good distance away when her brother heard them. “We heard a whistle from over yonder. Was that you?”

“Eeyup,” he simply replied.

“So did ya find Angel?”

“Eeyup.”

“OH THANK GOODNESS”, a voice came from behind The Cutie Mark Crusaders. A blur of yellow dashed past the three fillies and Fluttershy came to a complete stop next to Big Macintosh. Two arms snatched angel off of the bench and Fluttershy cradled the rabbit in her arms. “I’m so glad you are okay!” After rubbing her cheek Angel’s face, the pegasus looked at the bunny and asked, “Why are you so chubby Angel?” Crumbs were sprinkled around the rabbit’s mouth which clued Fluttershy in on what Angel did. “You ate all of that pie, didn’t you,” the pegasus scolded. Angel made an uncomfortable expression as his body sagged and dangled while Fluttershy held onto him. Sighing, the yellow pony set Angel down on the table and smiled, “Well, at least you are okay.”

“Good thing we had Big Macintosh to help us out,” Scootaloo spoke with a smile.

“Eeyup,” Fluttershy replied with an even bigger smile.

“You must be awfully thankful now that he found Angel, HUH Fluttershy,” Sweetie Belle nudged Fluttershy’s yellow arm.

“Of course I am. Why would you think I am not?” Meanwhile in Fluttershy’s mind, she was thinking, OH MY GOSH, I FORGOT TO THANK BIG MACINOSH! Trying to make her appearance look calm, she turned to the stallion and said, “Thank you for helping me find Angel.” OH NO, I HOPE I WASN’T TOO LATE!

“Any time,” Big Macintosh answered with a nod and smile.

That was close… thought the yellow mare in worry. “Well, I am going to go get Angel some carbonized soda. You girls should go grab your belongings.

“Yes Fluttershy,” all three fillies responded and giggled as walked inside the cottage.

Before turning and walking into the floral house, the yellow pegasus smiled and said again, “Thank you Big Mac, you relieved a lot of stress.” The stallion was about to reply when she reached out to give him a hug. Big Macintosh reflexed and did the same. Both Fluttershy’s and Big Macintosh’s arm went around each other’s neck and pulled each other close for a friendly embrace. As they did, the pegasus felt a warm cheek brush against her face. At that moment, time somehow felt slow. The brush on her cheek felt warm; nice; comforting. Warm blush covered Fluttershy’s cheeks while the two continued to hold each other. She tried to let go, but she was afraid of showing her face. However, the grip of Big Macintosh was loosening and Fluttershy was doomed to show herself.

When the two ponies pulled away, the yellow mare was quick and turned her body with haste and faced the door. “I’ll be inside getting Angel some soda. Please watch him until I get back, okay?”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh nodded.

I hope he didn’t see my face, Fluttershy thought as she went inside.

Wonder why she was all like that, Big Macintosh pondered to himself. Then again, she is shy. Air filled his lungs as he let in a big sigh and looked at the calm blue sky. It felt nice knowing he is befriending Fluttershy. After all, she did help save Equestria several times. But his calm thoughts were quickly interrupted when a metal tin pelted him in the face.

Ah! What the…?

Rubbing his injured eye, Big Macintosh used his other eye to see where the tin came from. At first he was greeted with a smile, but realized that smile came from that thing that treats Fluttershy poorly, Angel.

Oh, ya’ll think yer tough small fry, glared the red stallion. Setting his hoof on the table in front of Angel, Big Macintosh gave Angel a shove and caused him to roll to the edge of the table. The rabbit tried his very best to stop himself from falling, but his heavy weight slowly pulled him off the edge. Once again, Angel was lying on his face, but on the earth this time. Lil runt, Big Macintosh smiled with silent laughter. He took his eyes off of the rabbit and looked at the door to the cottage. Hmm, them little ones are takin’ their time.

But his thoughts were interrupted yet again when something blunt struck the stallion in the skull. “AH,” Big Macintosh grunted in pain. Both of his eyes searched for the location of where the rock came from and soon found his answer… One decent sized stick was held by Angel and next to him was a pile of rocks. WHY YOU…! Without hesitation, the rabbit cracked another rock in the stallion’s direction. It buzzed past Big Macintosh as the stallion avoided the blunt sphere. Looking for something to defend himself with, the red pony grabbed the pie tin to block with. This did not stop Angel from shooting rocks at Big Macintosh. With the pie tin at hoof, Big Macintosh used his advantage to block the attack that was raining upon him.

It wasn’t long before Angel ran out of ammunition to fire at his foe. Angel was then quickly swallowed by a large shadow as Big Macintosh slammed down the pie dish over the rabbit and trapping him underneath. Ha! Gotcha!

But Big Macintosh’s victory was short lived when a stick pierced through the brittle tin and poked the stallion’s hoof and retracted his arm from the sharp pain. Using the hole that was created by the stick, Angel lifted up the pie tin and then held it in front of him and was now wielding it as a shield with the stick his another hand. Cute, thought the red pony with a grin. An’ what’r ya gonna do with that?

Without warning, the rabbit threw the tin at Big Macintosh and in bounced off his cheek. Before the stallion could take away Angel’s newly found shield, the rabbit used his stick to go through the hole of the pie tin and pull his protection back to himself.

Alright, no playin’ around, ya hear, thought Big Macintosh now fed up with the antics. Grabbing a fork that lay on the bench, the red stallion was now wielding a weapon. Sparks flew as the two glared into each other’s eyes.

Both were about to strike when a voice came from the doorway, “Umm, what are you two doing?” It was Scootaloo standing in front of Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Fluttershy. Neither of the two rivals moved and stood still with a dumb expression.

“Are ya’ll fighting,” questioned Applebloom.

“N… nope,” Big Macintosh stuttered. “We’re uh…” He looked down at Angel to find an answer but even the rabbit gave him a blank stare. “Well, we are…” A lump was caught in the stallion’s throat and finished saying while grinning through his teeth, “P…playing… right Angel.” The rabbit’s ears shot up when he caught onto what Big Macintosh was doing and nodded in reply.

“Oh, that’s great,” Fluttershy smiled in delight. “Angel never gets to play with other ponies. Now Angel has a new friend.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh lied with a distasteful smile. In unison, both Angel and Big Macintosh slowly reached out an arm and then slowly shook hoof and paw, still having an awkward smile on their faces.

Even though Fluttershy seemed happy for the “friendship” the rabbit and pony created, the Cutie Mark Crusaders thought otherwise.

“Well, thank you for everything today Big Macintosh.”

“Eeyup.”

Everypony then began giving their farewells to Fluttershy and began to leave. As Big Macintosh and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were crossing the bridge, the yellow mare called out to her friend, “I’ll see you on Tuesday.”

“Eeyup!” Big Macintosh turned and waved at the yellow pegasus as she stood at the entrance of her cottage. Atop of Fluttershy’s head sat Angel. Without hesitation, the rabbit stuck out his tongue at the red pony. Ya jus’ keep askin’ for it doncha, thought Big Macintosh. The pony replied back by blowing his tongue at Angel.

“Umm, Big Macintosh… why are you sticking your tongue at me?”

Shock fell on the stallion’s face when he realized what he was doing. Big Macintosh was quickly able to reply, “Oh… umm… fly landed on ma mouth.”

“Oh, okay.” Fluttershy smiled as she watched the four walk over the bridge while Angel giggled in her hair. The pegasus looked up to see her white friend laughing, but didn’t know what he was laughing about. “What is so funny Angel? Did you see something funny?” Angel replied with a nod of his head and continued to laugh. “Oh, well what was it? I mean, if you want to tell me…” Unfortunately, Angel grinned and shook his head in reply to Fluttershy’s request. “Oh… okay.”

Big Macintosh saw the two turn into the cottage and lost sight of them. Stubborn little white rat, the red pony thought to himself with an irritated look on his face.

One of the Cutie Mark Crusaders was about to ask why Big Macintosh looked so bothered, but her bow was tugged on by Scootaloo. “What the hay Scoot,” Applebloom remarked in an angry tone.

“SHHH, keep it down,” whispered Scootaloo. The filly pegasus then quickly walked ahead of Big Macintosh and gestured her friends to follow. When both Applebloom and Sweetie Belle caught up, Scootaloo exclaimed loudly, “SO GIRLS, WHAT SHOULD WE USE FOR OUR TREE HOUSE?” All three of them looked behind to see if Big Macintosh was listening but was actually looking elsewhere.

With the opportunity at hand, Sweetie Belle asked in a low tone, “Alright girls, what’s the plan?”

In a Hurry

Melody for my Dear

Ch6

Mechanical gears twitched and ticked inside an alarm clock as the long arm slowly approached the twelfth number. Light from the sun was already on the walls of Applebloom’s bedroom. A blanket rose up and down as a little filly inhaled and exhaled air into her small lungs.

Soon the silence was shattered by the alarm clock, rapidly swinging its brass pendulum and banging on the bells. One yellow arm quickly slammed down on the noisy contraption to make it still again. Then the small pony quickly sat up with her eyes still closed, but then yelled at the top of her lungs, “TODAY IS THE DAY I WILL FINALLY GET MY CUTIE MARK!”

Several moments pass until the filly’s bedroom door slowly opened. “Ya know…,” spoke a female voice in a very tired tone. “…shouldn’t you be a little more quiet in the…”

“MORNIN’ SIS,” exclaimed Applebloom as she zipped right in front of Applejack.

“Oh,” Applejack replied with a yawn to follow. “Mornin’ Applebloom.” The older pony wrapped an arm around her little sister.

It took a while for Applejack to collect her thoughts. “So…”

“SO, GOT ANY CHORES FER ME TA DO? BUCK SOME TREES, MASH SOME GRAPES, HERD THE CHICKENS!? ” Ah can’t have anythin’ interferin’ with today’s plan, the filly thought to herself.

“Umm…” The requests from Applebloom caused Applejack to lose her train of thought again.

Meanwhile, the pink bowed pony kept listing off chores she could possibly do. “I could load the cart, sweep the floors, make some pie, sweep the floors, do the laundry, sweep the floors in the barn, clean the...”

Applejack lightly touched the filly’s lips to stop her from speaking and said, “Just… clean yer room.”

“That’s it?”

“Yup. Ah forgot how work around the farm with Big Macintosh made chores a lot easier, so me an’ him got so much done in the past few days that I myself might take the day off.”

“Well that’s good ta’ hear.”

“Well if yer so eager to skedaddle on out of here might as well get started on cleanin’ up this pigsty.”

“AN’ MAYBE I COULD GET MA CUTIE MARK! I could be… A PROFESSIONAL ROOM CLEANER! Ya know, ah can be like one of them fancy hotel ponies that come in to your room an’ clean all your stuff an’…umm … stuff!”

Both sisters smiled as Applejack rubbed her little sister’s head. “Alright little filly, I’ll leave ya to yerself to clean yer room.”

“YOU GOT IT,” Applebloom shouted with enthusiasm.

As the older sibling walked out of the bed room, she turned and said, “Now make sure you clean-”

Applebloom shut the door in her sister’s midway sentence. “Ah know ah know. Pick up everythin’ on the floor.” Ha, cleanin’ my room? This will be a piece of cake, the little filly thought aloud to herself. She turned away from her door and faced the rest of the room. Toys were scattered around the room, some clothes were tossed on the floor, and even some dishes sat on top of a dresser. Aww, this is gonna take forever… Wait don’t be all negative Applebloom. You know what Daring Do would say: ‘when in doubt, there is always a way out!

It took no time at all before Applebloom had an idea. She grabbed a pillow from her bed, placed it on the floor, and began pushing it. As she shoved the stuffed sheet across the room, the filly began to plow her belongings that rested on the floor. Within a few moments, Applebloom had a pile of collected toys, clothing, and a various collection other items. Alright, now it's time for the easy part.

The filly’s back foot scraped at the wooden paneling, readying herself; and with all her strength, Applebloom charged forward and shoved everything under her bed. However, the bed slightly tilted to the side because of all of the other things that were crammed underneath her bed.

“ALL RIGHT, TIME TO GO,” exclaimed Applebloom. “I’ll quickly get a bite to eat an’ run to the clubhouse,” she said to herself as the pony ran downstairs. Quickly, she found an apple, one carton of milk, and her favorite cereal cinnamon hay crunch. Instead of using a bowl, the filly dumped a good amount of the cereal flakes from the box and into her mouth, and then she guzzled down some milk. A bit of effort was needed to swallow all of the food in Applebloom’s mouth, but managed in one large gulp. “Ugh… that was rough…”

One apple remained on the table for only a few moments before Applebloom inhaled the red fruit into her mouth. Before she knew it, she was almost out the door ready to take on the day and see if Fluttershy and Big Macintosh will become special someponies.

Just when Applebloom thought she was free, the filly felt a tap on her shoulder. “Applebloom?”

“Oh, yes big sis?”

Applejack towered over her sister as she asked, “Why you in such a hurry?”

“Jus’ some good ol’ fashioned crusadin’ is all!”

“You so sure? You got ready awfully quick?”

“Umm… maybe I have a good feelin’ about gettin’ my cutie mark today!” Applebloom’s wide smile tried to mask what she was really up to, but Applejack knew when her little sister was lying.

“Ah know you’re super excited for somethin’ today, whatever that may be,” the older sibling reassured. “What ah don’t want is you flakin’ out on your chores.”

“Course ah didn’t! Why would ya think I would?”

“Ah jus’ want to know if you shoved everythin’ under your bed.”

“Umm… OH, GOO’MORNIN’ GRANNY SMITH,” Applebloom waved into the house.

“Hugh?” Applejack looked to see if her old relative was hobbling down the stairs, but instead found no pony. “Hey App…” Caught in the middle of her sentence, the earth pony realized Applebloom dashed away while she wasn’t looking. Hmm, wonder what she’s up to, pondered Applejack as she walked up the stairs and towards her sister’s bedroom.

***

Four little hooves slowly dragged up a wooden ramp that lead up to a pink clubhouse. Scootaloo would have flown up to the door, but her small wings were not strong enough to pick her body off the ground for longer than a few seconds.

As soon as she cracked the door of the makeshift tree house, a voice spoke, “Come on in Scoot! I saw ya from a good ways away.”

Instead of greeting her pink bowed friend, Scootaloo walked over to the table where Applebloom was sitting, sat down, and plopped her face onto the table.

“Uh, yall right Scoot,” questioned Applebloom.

“Yeah… I was just so excited for today I hardly got any sleep. I tried… to hurry as fast as possible… but all I need now is…

Hey, where is Sweetie Belle?”

“I dunno. Maybe she is doing chores or something.”

Not a moment too soon when a white unicorn burst through the door. “So sorry I’m late!”

“Not a problem; But if I may ask, what held you up,” Applebloom asked her friend.

“Well…”

***

I was finished cleaning up my room and helping my sister move some heavy boxes. Too bad she didn’t bother to help.

“Okay sister…” panted Sweetie Belle as the small filly pushed the final box atop of a large pillar of brown packages. “I got all of the boxes stacked.”

“Thank you Sweetie Belle,” called her sister from upstairs. "It’s so nice to have a sister do all that heavy lugging for me.”

“Yeah, so nice…” the white unicorn spoke quietly to herself.

“Now would you be a dear and clean up after yourself. I know you had to make some… adjustments when lifting those boxes.”

Right next to the last pillar that Sweetie Belle constructed was a large hill of pillows and blankets and she was on top of the pile of soft fabric. A heavy sigh gusted out of the small pony’s mouth as she thought, I’m never gonna make it out of here. But with no way of getting out of it, Sweetie Belle got off her makeshift hill, pushed the final pillar of boxes, and began disassembling her large lump of cloth.

To Sweetie Belle’s surprise, she finished in no time at all. “All RIGHT,” screeched the unicorn filly as her voice cracked as she said “right.” She ran to the top of the stairway and shouted, “ALRIGHT RARITY, I AM LEAVING!”

“Alright, have fun dear.”

Little did the filly know that her next action would undo all of her hard work she had just finished. When Sweetie Belle turned to walk down the stairs, her forearms crossed each other and caused the white unicorn to stumble downs the stairs. She attempted to stabilize herself, but ended up picking up enough speed and made her roll down the stairs. As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, Sweetie Belle bowled across the floor and headed straight for one of the large tower of boxes. Before she knew it, her back struck the box with a thump.

Even though she was dizzy, Sweetie Belle’s spinning reality saw the large tower of boxes she bumped into teeter forward and backward. Unfortunately, the tower teetered too far forward and bumped into another stack of boxes and soon that pillar fell onto another. The filly was hoping that her vision was still dizzy, but she was seeing the reality of the domino effect. Luckily for the sake of lesser messes, the stacks of boxes stopped falling because the momentum of the toppling stacks slowed down. At least half of the boxes remained standing.

Nevertheless, the mess was catastrophic. Random colored strips of fabric littered the room in a somewhat organized half circle. Some boxes that fell did not open but were upside-down.

Sweetie Belle flinched when she heard her sister speak from upstairs, “Sweetie Belle, is everything alright?”

“Yeah,” the young sister responded while trying to muster up a lie. “I’m just umm… drumming on the boxes. That’s it! Never know if I might get a cutie mark in being a drummer.”

“Ooo, that would sound like a great special talent! You could do a drum roll every time I release a new design.”

“Well I’m off!”

And before I knew it, I was out the door.

***

“Did your sister find out about the mess,” Applebloom questioned her friend.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe she is still upstairs making dresses.”

Sweetie Belle spoke too soon when a voice screamed in the distance, “SWEEITE BELLE!”

All three of the fillies flinched as the glass window of their club house cracked from the distant shriek.

“I guess she found out,” said Scootaloo as she scratched the back of her head.

“Good thing I didn’t tell her where I was going.”

“Well ah think we wasted enough time,” exclaimed Applebloom. “Time for business!”

All three of them sat at the table Scootaloo was resting at. Each one of them then pulled a note book from underneath their benches, ready to jot down some notes.

The Wasp's Disruption

Melody for my Dear

Ch7

The wheels of a small red wagon rattled on the dirt road as two fillies began leaving Sweet Apple Acres. A rope was wrapped around Applebloom and she was using it to pull the wagon.

As they walked, Sweetie Belle began summarizing their plan. “So all we need to do is take quick notes whenever something interesting happens, make sure that when we get close, no pony gets caught, and if we are caught, we can just say we are going to a picnic with this wagon we brought along.”

“Righto,” exclaimed Applebloom in excitement. Looking behind her, the pink bowed filly said, “Yall havin’ a good rest Scoot?”

From underneath a dark blue sheet that covered the top of the small trailer, an arm reached out and a “Mmhmm” came out.

“But once we do have our picnic, all of us can sit down and exchange our notes.”

“And if we do get Big Macintosh and Fluttershy together would be so CUTE,” squeaked Sweetie Belle as she said “cute.”

“Ah know! Jus’ think about it… if we get em’ to fall in love, Fluttershy would be over more often. If that happens, we could have Fluttershy use some of ‘er animal control powers to make her pets do chores aroun’ the farm!”

“You make it sound like Fluttershy is some magical wizard.” Both fillies laughed at the thought of Applebloom’s possible scenario. “So you made sure that Big Macintosh left already?”

“U’ course ah did. All we need to do now is take a slow walk to Fluttershy’s cottage and make sure that we don’t catch up to ma brother.”

Just when the fillies thought they were in for an easy walk, a voice screamed on the farm, “APPLEBLOOM, WHERE ARE YOU! YALL BETTER BE HIDIN’ GOOD ‘CAUSE WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU AIN’T GONNA BE CLEANIN’ YOUR ROOM, BUT THE WHOLE DANG HOUSE YA HEAR?”

“Was that Applejack,” a voice spoke from beneath the picnic sheet.

“What’s that, you want to hurry to Fluttershy’s,” Applebloom spoke in a panic. “You got it!”

It didn’t take long for the wagon to pick up speed as the yellow pony sped up and quickly ran ahead.

“WWWAAAHHHHH, BBBEEEEEE CAAARRREFFUUUUULLL, IIIIMMMMM SSSSTTTTIIIILLLLL IIIIN THEEE WWWAAAGGGIIINNN,” cried Scootaloo from inside the haled vessel.

“Wait for me,” Sweetie Belle’s voice cracked as she called from behind.

***

Peace seemed to engulf the very livelihood that surrounded the two story cottage. Very slowly, Big Macintosh crossed the stone bridge that stretched across an extremely thin river. He looked to his left to see a lovely rose bush with beautiful flowers that swayed in the gentle breeze. While the stallion looked at the flora, he saw a pair of bees collecting pollen from one of the flowers; however, what caught his attention was a wasp that was hovering over the flower that the bees were occupying. When it tried to land, one of the bees aggressively flew at the wasp and shoed it off; so the bigger insect then flew elsewhere and out of view.

Big Macintosh was allowing distractions to interrupt what he came for and continued to the front door of the cottage.

Sweetie Belle and Applebloom poked their head around the corner of the underside of the bridge from behind.

“You sure we can leave Scootaloo in the wagon,” Sweetie Belle asked her friend quietly.

“If she is goin’ to help, Scoot’s gotta get her sleep.”

From the perspective of the little girls, they saw the large stallion walk towards the door of Fluttershy’s cottage. Neither of them could see Big Macintosh’s expression too well because their view was at an awkward angle, but that did not stop the two fillies from getting a little excited.

*KNOCK* KNOCK*

The moment of truth was about to happen. Applebloom rounded her head around the corner as much as she could while Sweetie Belle did the same, but stood on top of her friend. It didn’t take much effort for the pink bowed pony to shove off her friend. The push caused Sweetie Belle to fall in the short but thick grass and made a large rustle and thump.

Alerted, Big Macintosh turned to see what made the noise but found nothing.

Lucky for Sweetie Belle, Applebloom pulled her back behind their cover. “Can ya’ll be more careful,” the yellow filly hissed quietly.

“I would if I could get a better look at things.”

“But we need to stay hidden. This might be a good chance for us to get our cutie marks in-“

“Oh, good morning Big Macintosh,” a familiar voice spoke from around the corner of the bridge.

Quickly stretching their necks around the corner, a compliment of red and yellow stood at the entrance of the cottage.

From the perspective of Big Macintosh, both he and Fluttershy reached out an arm and gave a quick hug. “Mornin’,” the red stallion replied to the pegasus’ greeting.

“So, umm… I was wondering if you can help me with some grocery shopping?” Reaching inside a small satchel that rested on Fluttershy’s hip, the mare pulled out a list of produce that she needed for the day and handed it to Big Macintosh. While the earth pony read the list, the pegasus continuing where she left off. “I am low on a lot of vegetables and fruit and was hoping you can help with picking the freshest produce.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied as his eyes continued to scan the list. The only thing ah don’t like on this list are pears… he thought with a frown.

But when Big Macintosh finished looking at the list, he saw his friend looking in another direction with a worried look on her face. Speaking quietly, Fluttershy spoke, “I… I hope you don’t mind doing something boring with me. I mean, I did have something planned for us today, but some things came up yesterday and I could not get any shopping done. And because of yesterday, I don’t think we will have time to do anything fun and I don’t want you to get mad at me and not want to be my friend all because-”

Something sealed Fluttershy’s lips as the mare’s face flushed with pink. Big Macintosh gently pressed his hoof on her lips to silence the rambling and nervous mare.

With a smile, the red pony said, “I’ll help ya.”

“Y… you do?”

“Eeyup!”

“A…and you won’t be bored?”

“Nope!”

“You promise?”

A short chuckle came from Big Macintosh because of Fluttershy’s amusing questionnaire. “Yes, ah want to spend all day with ya.”His bright smile reassured that he meant what he said.

“Okay, I believe you. Thank you Big Mac,” Fluttershy smiled while a long strand of pink hair shielded one of her eyes. “Well, let me go grab a basket and we can be on our way, okay?”

“Eeyup.”

As soon as the yellow pony walked out of Big Macintosh’s field of view, shock ran across her face. Why was I so nervous? I mean, I know I am shy around anypony that are not my friend, but why Big Macintosh? What makes me so scared?!

Meanwhile outside, the stallion patiently waited outside, looking at the roses again. He saw the two bees he saw earlier still pollinating on the large red flower. Hmm… how come they haven’t moved?

From behind, two little fillies scribbled notes in their notepads. So much has happened in a matter of a few seconds, but every bit of information was important if the Cutie Mark Crusaders wanted to help Fluttershy and Big Macintosh become special someponies.

“Alright, whatcha got written down Sweetie Belle,” Applebloom asked as soon as she finished with her note-taking.

“Well… I have come to a conclusion that Fluttershy is very shy.”

An irritated expression glared at the white unicorn.

“What? You told us to take notes on things that are important and that IS vital information that will help us in the long run.”

“True. So, what did you write about my brother?”

“He likes to look at flowers,” Sweetie Belle smiled as she pointed the pencil at her friend.

Without warning, Applebloom snatched the notepad that the filly unicorn had. Quickly looking over her friend’s notes, the pink bowed pony said, “Ah do agree we do need to get closer, but it’s a bit risky.”

“And if we are caught, our chance of getting our cutie marks in private investigating is a cold case…”

“But good observation Sweetie Belle.”

“Thanks,” squeaked the white unicorn.

While the girls were not looking, they heard Fluttershy speak, “Thank you for waiting.” Immediately grabbing their attention, the two of them looked around the corner once again to see the two older ponies standing in the entrance of the cottage. “Are you ready to go Big Macintosh?”

“Eeyup,” smiled the stallion.

In his peripheral, he still saw the two bees collecting pollen from the same rose.

“Okay, let’s go.” Setting the basket she just got down on the ground, Fluttershy was about to close the door when her head lifted up as she remembered something. “Oh, I almost forgot!” The mare turned to her friend and asked, “Umm… is it okay if I bring someone?”

As soon as she said that, the wasp from a while back buzzed past his face and approached the roses once again.

“Eeyup.”

“That’s good.”

Wait, did she say someone and not somepony?

Glancing quickly at the flowers, he saw the wasp slowly back up as if ready to strike.

“I figured you wouldn’t mind me bringing your friend along anyways.”

Soon, two ears poked out from behind Fluttershy’s head.

Oh no…

And just like that, the wasp dashed at the rose and both bees scattered just before the large insect pounced on the red flower and claimed it for itself.

Climbing on top of her head, an all too familiar rabbit came into view.

“And I thought Angel wanted to see his friend today too. Am I right?”

“E…eyup…”

Even though Fluttershy had a happy smile on her face, the rabbit that rested on her head had an evil grin on his face. Big Macintosh tried to create a plastic smile, but his expression kept melting into an awkward one.

Basket Full of Sunshine

Melody for my Dear

Ch. 8

"Is… something wrong Big Macintosh," Fluttershy spoke in a worried tone.

"Oh, umm… nope," the stallion hesitated as he answered. "Ah umm, didn't expect you to bring ma… f… fre…"

"Friend?"

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh replied with a nod. Atop of the pegasus' head, Angel shuttered and stuck his tongue out in disgust. Don' worry, ah know how ya feel bein' called ma 'friend' the red pony thought to himself.

"Well, shall we be going?"

"Eeyup."

"Wait, one more thing," Fluttershy spoke as she remembered something. I almost forgot the basket, the pegasus thought in a bit of a panic.

As she picked up the basket, Big Macintosh smiled asked, "Mind if ah carry that for ya?"

"No, iffs okay," the pegasus responded with a muffled voice.

"Ya sure? Ah wouldn't mind."

The smile he was giving her was almost hard to resist his offer. "If you want to then of course you can." Without warning, Big Macintosh leaned in and took the basket from Fluttershy. As he did, his cheek brushed against her face just before taking the basket in his mouth.

Pulling his head back, he noticed that Fluttershy had her face turned away and ears folded back. "Yall right?"

"Y… yeah, I'm fine." Instead of a nervous frown, the pegasus had a shy, flustered smile.

During the time Fluttershy had her expression hidden, Big Macintosh and Angel had their bodies still as the two of them were locked in an angry petrified gaze. Making the first move, the rabbit brought both of his hands under his eyes and then darted his arms at the stallion's direction as to say, "I got my eyes on you." Oh, bring it on small one.

"I can see you are having a friendly staring contest," Fluttershy spoke as she caught the two of them glaring at each other.

Quickly responding and keeping the two of them out of trouble, Big Macintosh said, "Eeyuff!"

The pegasus walked a little ahead and said with a little smile, "Let's go Big Macintosh."

"Eeyuff." After adjusting the basket he was holding in his mouth, Big Macintosh, Fluttershy, and Angel were off.

There were some grim clouds that dotted the sky, but the sun continued its magnificent shine. "I wonder if it might rain today," Fluttershy spoke as they approached the bridge that passed over the river. "What do you think Big Macintosh?"

Gazing at the sky for a moment, he answered, "Nope."

"I don't think so either. The clouds are not clustered together so that is a good sign."

"Eeyuff."

Under the bridge, two fillies heard hoofsteps crossing the bridge. One of them whispered, "Let's wait till they are a good distance away. Then we come out of hiding."

"Good idea Sweetie Belle. An' once they are gone, we can talk about our notes with Scootaloo."

Even though they were expecting the hoofsteps to fade away in the distance, the refugees under the bridge heard nothing at all. Instead, they saw a blurry yellow face that rested on the watery surface and startled the two fillies. They thought they were found out, but Fluttershy reassured that they were still in hiding when she said, "Oh, Big Mac, please come see this!" Another face appeared atop of the river stream and looked into it. "Do you see it," the pegasus spoke again. "It's a magical carp! They are a rare species of fish from a foreign land and was fortunate enough to be able to buy one at a Manehattan pet shop."

Out of perspective from the fillies, Big Macintosh was standing a bit behind Fluttershy as she was leaning in towards the fish that dwelled in the water. It was hard to see, but the carp did have a beautiful assortment of colors on the scales of the fish. All the while this was going on, Angel was sitting on the mares back, desperately trying to get her attention as he rapidly thumped his foot at the base of her neck. "Not now Angel. I just want to make sure that our new fishy friend is enjoying itself."

Instead of throwing more of a fit, the rabbit plopped his rump down in a huff, crossing his arms.

What's got your ears in a knot, Big Macintosh thought with a glare on his face. Suddenly, the wasp from earlier began buzzing near him, as if he wasn't bothered enough by Angel; now he has to deal with this yellow nuisance. But it didn't take long for the wasp to find a place to rest. To the stallion's fortune, it landed right on the white rabbit's tail. Angel did not seem to notice as he was still angry at Fluttershy for not answering him the way he wanted. A grin went across Big Macintosh's face as the sun went behind a cloud. Cocking his head to the right with the basket in the stallion's mouth, he spoke in his mind, two for one.

Swiftly, Big Macintosh swatted Angel and the wasp off Fluttershy's back. Both rabbit and insect crashed into the river and onto the carp. "EKK," the pegasus shrieked.

Even the two fillies were startled by the sudden splash.

With a quick turn, the pegasus looked at Big Macintosh and spoke, "What was that?!"

Setting down the basket, he explained, "Oh… it was a wasp. Darn thing darted at me so ah swung the basket here and accidentally hit ma… friend." The word "friend" slowly scrapped the stallion's throat as he said the word. Ah hate mentioning that… THING as ma friend.

Looking down in worry, Fluttershy tried to see through the disturbed water. Light began to brighten up as the sun came from behind the cloud as Angel resurfaced on top of the magical carp's back. When it revealed itself, the beautiful complement of purple and gold cloaked the magnificent fish.

As the rabbit had a bit of an irritated look on his face, he looked to his left to see two small ponies under the bridge and his ears darted up.

"WE'VE BEEN FOUND OUT," Applebloom whispered in a panic as she shook her friend.

Before Angel could react, the carp bent its back downwards and then bucked its tail upwards, shooting the white animal up onto the ledge of the bridge. "Are you okay Angel?!" Fluttershy hugged the drenched rabbit and set him on her back as she reached into her satchel to grab a small rag. Very roughly, the pegasus rubbed the small towel on the wet rabbit to dry him. When she finished, Fluttershy looked into the river and said smiling, "Thank you magical carp."

In her peripheral, the pegasus suddenly saw Angel standing on the edge of the bridge. "What is it?"

With no hesitation, he hopped down to where the Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were hiding and looked up to Fluttershy and pointed to where they were.

"Is something down there?"

Angel responded with a rapid nod. But as soon as he looked to find the two fillies, he noticed that they were gone. No mane, nor tail were found of the spies that lurked beneath the stone bridge. Pondering where they would have gone, two heads stretched under the bridge to see the rabbit in thought. "I don't see anything," the pegasus said softly. "Do you?"

"Nope," Big Macintosh spoke in reassurance.

Looking to the sky, Fluttershy spoke in a bit of a hurry, "Goodness, we better hurry. It's almost lunch time and we still need to get our shopping done.

"Eeyup."

"Come on Angel, we are ready to leave." Taking no time at all, the rabbit ran around from underneath the bridge to meet up with the two ponies. He jumped onto the pegasus' back and again went atop of Fluttershy's head. "You really like it up their don't you?"

Angel could not disagree. He did like it up at a higher elevation. There was more to look at, feel the nice breeze, and most of all, irritate Big Macintosh with his menacing glare.

"Shall we," Fluttershy turned to Big Macintosh with a smile.

"Eeyup."

After all the interuptions, the three of them began to head for the Ponyville market. While they were walking, Fluttershy asked, "Did you see how beautiful the magical carp was?"

"Eeyuff," the stallion replied with the basket in his mouth again.

Soon the hoofsteps faded and silence came over the cottage. All that could be heard was the water rushing against the rocks that were above the surface of the water.

"Are they gone," Applebloom whispered.

"I think so."

"Good, 'cause ah am gettin' tired."

Directly under the bridge, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle used the gap underneath the stony extension to hold themselves up and avoid getting caught.

"Uh-oh, ah am givin' way…" Applebloom whined as she began to slip.

"Same… he- WAAAGGGHHH!" Sweetie Belle shrieked as she fell into the river. Following her was Applebloom and her gravitational pull towards the water. In a panic, the white unicorn asked with her voice cracking, "The notes! Where are the notes?!"

As Sweetie Belle lifted her friend up by the cheeks as Applebloom answered, "Ah left them on the ground where we last were."

"Thank goodness," the panicked filly spoke with her voice cracking again. She let of Applebloom and the yellow filly's face was found underwater again.

Lifting her head out of the water and shaking the liquid off of her, the earth pony walked over to Sweetie Belle as she looked over the notes they took. "Ah think we should head off now. They must be a good ways away by now."

"Then let's go!"

With a swing of their arms, their hooves collided and the girls cried out, "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS LOVE INVESTIGATORS IS STILL UNDERWHAY!" And with a giggle from their childish antics, they were off as well.

Small Assistance

Melody for my DearCh. 9

One loud yawn was let out by the orange filly that sat in the red wagon. “So that’s what happened?”

“Yup,” Sweetie Belle replied with a smile.

Meanwhile, Applebloom was walking slightly ahead, pulling the wagon with the rope she was using earlier. The small earth pony turned her head to see her two friends sitting in the four wheeled cart. “Ah think by now the two of them should be at the market.”

“Actually, you forgot to mention Angel,” the white pony responded as she looked at her notes.

“But why do your notes say, ‘Big Macintosh and Angel seem to dislike each other,’” Scootaloo pointed at the paper Sweetie Belle was holding.

“As it says, they seem to not like each other.”

“I’ll make sure not to miss out on important details like that.”

“Well hold your breath girls, ‘cause we’re arriving to town,” cried the pink bowed pony with joy.

“YEAY,” Sweetie Belle shrieked as her voice cracked.

“Ow…,” the filly pegasus complained rubbing her now ringing ear.

“Hehe, sorry Scoot.”

“Well, just make sure you keep your voice down when we are around Big Mac and Fluttershy. This is a mission after all.”

“That’s right,” Applebloom exclaimed. “We must keep a low profile if we expect to investigate unseen.”

“And how will we do that,” Scootaloo questioned.

“I’ll fill you in on the details later.” As the wagon puller turned her head, a small grin grew on the filly’s face.

“Umm… what details,” the pegasus asked in question.

“Beats me. She didn’t tell me about any details on how we need to keep a low profile.”

“Don’ chu worry about it,” Applebloom reassured. “You’ll figure it out.”

Finding the market place was not a hard task for the three fillies because of a large collection of stalls covered a good section of the town. Assorted colored cloths stretched over the top of most of the vendors that stood at their stations. Upon arriving, three pairs of eyes looked around for Fluttershy and Big Macintosh. Even though there were not a lot of ponies in the market, there were a lot of stalls to look at and some stalls were behind others.

Walking behind a building, Applebloom stopped and her friends hopped out of the wagon. “Alright girls,” the yellow pony exclaimed. “Let’s split up an’ look fer our targets!”

“Targets,” Scootaloo questioned.

“Well, if we are gonna get our cutie marks in spyin’, we might as well talk like one.”

“Makes sense,” Sweetie Belle agreed. “Then let’s go and… umm… BRING THEM BACK DEAD OR ALIVE!”

“Sweetie Belle, that’s more of a police officer,” Scootaloo chuckled a little as she corrected her friend.

“Oops, let me rework that phrase.” Briefly thinking for a moment, the white unicorn squeaked, “THEN LET’S MAKE A

LOVELY DISCOVORY!”

“Sounds more of an archeologist.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Then let’s do it,” cried Applebloom.

With raze of their arms, the three of them chanted, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER PONY LOCATORS ARE GO!”

And with a quick dash, the fillies scattered.

***

Thirty minutes have passed since the Cutie Mark Crusaders have split up. Applebloom slowly walked to where she last saw her friends a half an hour ago. The rope that attached itself to the wagon was still wrapped around Applebloom’s torso.

As the yellow pony rounded around the corner, she saw her friends sitting in the shade of the building. Sweetie Belle scratched her chin with a puzzled look while Scootaloo happily munched on a bag full of popcorn.

Approaching her two friends, Applebloom asked, “So, I am assuming none of you two found our targets.”

“Nope, no goldfish in the barrel yet,” Sweetie Belle said still scratching her chin.

“Wha kinda phhrase ifs dat,” Scootaloo spat with her mouth full of popcorn.

“Hey, say it don’t spray it.” Several flakes of dehydrated corn stuck to the white pony’s body as Sweetie Belle whipped them off.

Letting out a heavy sigh, the filly pulling the wagon plopped her rear onto the ground in a bit of a huff. Depressed, the pink bow on Applebloom’s head sagged in disappointment as well as her expression.

“Feer up girls,” smiled Scootaloo with her mouth full of popcorn. “The day isn’t ofer yet.” Looking up sat two dark clouds hung over the pegasus’ friends, blocking the sun from bathing their necks. If only I could think of a way to find them easier.

Something then flew into Scootaloo’s view and made a black flicker. Her two eyes looked around to see what caused the sun light to blink in such a manor. Before she knew it, the black flicker reappeared and darted at the young fowl. It didn’t surprise Scootaloo that she flinched as the sudden attacker darted toward her, but wondered where it went. A tickling sensation came from under her arm. A wasp. Startled, the filly reached her free arm into the air to swat the pest, but it was too quick for her and jumped into the bag of popcorn. “AHH,” Scootaloo shrieked and dropped the bag of popcorn.

“What in the hay is goin’ on Scoot,” Applebloom questioned.

Backing away from the mess of dry corn, the pegasus exclaimed, “There is a wasp in my bag!”

“So what,” Sweetie Belle responded.

“SO WHAT?! THAT THING COULD HAVE STUNG ME!”

“Ah, there you are you little rascal you,” the earth pony looked into the bag. But instead of an angry glare of a mean wasp, was a frown and sad expression. It’s wing was bent and was trying to drag a small piece of popcorn out of the bag. The bag then tilted upwards and the insect began sliding towards the opening. Plopping onto the ground, the yellow wasp looked up at three bodies that swallowed up the sunlight. Feeling threatened, it wielded its barb, pointing it at the girls that surrounded it.

Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle jumped away from the aggressive pest, but Applebloom remained stationary. “Are you hurt lil guy?” It nodded but still pointing the sharp weapon at her. “Well, whacha need?” The wasp felt no need to be on the defensive. It walked over to a small piece of popcorn and grabbed it with two front arms. “Oh! I get it, you are hungry.” Never in the three filly’s lives have they seen an insect smile so brightly.

“So if we give you just one, you won’t sting us…” Scootaloo spoke unsurely.

Two antennas bounced up and down in response. However, as the wasp tried to pick up a buttered treat when its wings could not lift the yellow body.

“Oh no,” wined Sweetie Belle. Never in the three filly’s lives have they seen and insect frown so depressingly.

“Don’t worry,” smiled Applebloom. Reaching her arm down, the yellow filly beckoned the wasp up onto her. “We the Cutie Mark Crusaders will take you!”

“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “Where ever you live, we will take you there!”

“We will… ow,” Scootaloo grunted as one of her friends bumped into the pegasus’ ribcage. “I mean of course we will.”

“And if we help you,” the unicorn filly spoke with excitement, “We can get our cutie marks in being animal helpers!”

“YEAH,” the Cutie Mark Crusaders roared.

Silence came over the girls as another dark cloud slowly rolled over the sky. During the enthusiasm of the trio, the wasp made its way up onto Applebloom’s pink bow. “So do we abandon the water hole,” Sweetie Belle looked to her friends.

“Water hole, really,” Scooaloo chuckled, amused by Sweetie Belle attempting to improvise detective language.

“Ah suppose so,” Applebloom said with a frown as her bow flopped down in sorrow. “Maybe we can be investigators some other time. Ah just wonder where Fluttershy and Big Macintosh are…”

Suddenly, something made the wasp hop up and buzz its wings. “Don’t try to fly, you might hurt yourself,” the unicorn filly told the insect, but it shook its head, refusing to listen. “Take it easy.”

In the blink of an eye, the bug lunged at Scootaloo and rested on her nose. “WAH,” she shrieked.

“Whoa, what was that all about,” Applebloom grinned.

Get it off, get it off, GET it off, GET IT off, GET IT OFF, the orange pony repeated in her head.

Flailing its arms, the wasp was trying to tell them something. “What is it,” asked the unicorn.

Several arms writhed as the bug was trying to think of what to do. An orange patterned insect flew into the view of the four of them. The wasp violently jabbed its front arms at the light weighed being while it made its way through the sky.

“A… butterfly,” Applebloom questioned. “What about it?”

“Looks more like a monarch,” Sweetie Belle interjected.

“All I see is a wasp, you know, like ON MY FACE,” the orange pony complained.

Thoughts went through the small thing’s brain and got another idea. It then skittered up Scootaloo’s face and cowered behind her ear. Somepony please get it off, the scared filly whimpered in her mind.

“An’ now you’re scared…” Applebloom questioned with a confused look.

“No, I see what it is trying to say,” Sweetie Belle nudged her friend. A smile grew on the wasp’s face while its carrier was still more concerned on getting the insect off her head. “The wasp thinks that the monarch is very shy!”

Slapping its head in disappointment, the insect crawled into Scootaloo’s mane and used four arms to grab an armful or hair. When it tugged on her hair, the filly suddenly adjusted as if someone was saddled on top of her. “W… what’s going on,” Scootaloo panicked. A whiplash motion from the wasp made the orange pegasus briskly walk forward. The yellow and black insect beckoned the others to follow.

“Should we follow,” Sweetie Belle asked even though both herself and Applebloom were following.

“Why not? It might have been trying to tell us about the butterfly being scared.”

“You mean monarch…”

“Same thing. It flies like a butterfly.”

The wagon bounced while it was being dragged by Applebloom because nothing but a blanket sat on its back.

It was not long before Scootaloo began to go into a jog and her friends had to speed up. Round a corner the pegasus went, out of view of Sweetie Belle and Applebloom.

“Gosh darnnit she is fast,” Applebloom complained.

“GIRLS,” cried a voice from around the building. The voice caused the stragglers to make haste to see what the commotion was about.

As soon as Scootaloo came into view, a stunned but bright smile was on her face. “Sweetie Belle,” the pegasus asked her friend. “We found the goldfish.”

“THEY’RE IN THE BARREL?!” The unicorn’s squeal of delight made her friends hiss “shh.”

“So where are they,” Applebloom asked.

“Right there,” Scootaloo replied in a quiet tone.

And there stood the complement of red and yellow.

Chewed and Spit Out

Melody for my Dear

Ch. 10

Within the three fillies’ sight, Big Macintosh and Fluttershy stood at a stall talking to an orange pony selling apples. “Hey look, it’s ma sis,” Applebloom spoke quietly.

“It is,” replied Sweetie Belle. “I wish we knew what they were saying.”

“Don’t worry, I got this. Scoot, could I ask you something?”

Disregarding what her friend said, Scootaloo asked, “Can I have somepony get this WASP OUT OF MY HAIR?!”

“Sure… Come here lil guy.” Bowing her head, the earth filly placed the end of her bow on Scootaloo’s head and the insect skittered onto Applebloom’s bow.

“So,” the orange pony said as she rustled her hair with an arm as if to make sure nothing else was in there. “What do you need?”

“Can you sit in the wagon,” Applebloom answered with a slight chuckle in her response.

“Umm, okay.”

Somehow, I have a bad feeling about this… Sweetie Belle thought to herself.

While the white unicorn kept her thoughts to herself, Scootaloo crawled into the four-wheeled carriage and sat down. “Now what?”

“Lie down and place the blanket over your head.”

Again, Scootaloo did as her friend told her. Underneath the blanket was dark and the very dark blue color of the cloth was not helping. On the outside of the blanket were yellow bright stars patched onto the dark blue fabric.

“Now hold on tight Scoot,” cried Applebloom.

“Wait, what are- WAHHH!!!”

A blunt buck of two hind legs hit the wagon and rocketed off toward Applejack’s stand.

“Umm, Applebloom,” Sweetie Belle said in a concerned voice.

“What is i- WAHHH!!” A harsh tug pulled the yellow filly in the direction that the wagon was traveling.

“You forgot the rope that was tied around your waist and attached to the wagon,” the white unicorn spoke in vain as her friend was out of earshot.

When the velocity of the wagon slowed to a complete stop, Applebloom slowly staggered up and brushed off the dirt that attached to her.

“PSST,” hissed a harsh sound. “Get under the blanket.” A hole lumped upwards from the cloth, reviling the filly that hid underneath. Applebloom did not hesitate on getting in with her friend. It did take a bit of time for the two to get comfortable in the small space that was allowed.

“What the heck Applebloom,” Scootallo loudly whispered. “Why didn’t you warn me?!”

“Ah just figured if ah told you that you would have to get close to Big Macintosh and Fluttershy, you mighta hesitated.”

“Well that was a dumb assumption. Anyways, since we are close, let’s see what the three of them are up to.”

Lifting up one arm, Scootaloo made a small hole in the blanket and was able to see a small portion of Big Macintosh’s body and half of Fluttershy’s head.

“So what brings you two here to the market,” Applejack asked as she arranged some produce.

“Actually, I brought Angel with us, so that makes three. Anyways, we are here to get some groceries.” As the rabbit rested on top of Fluttershy’s head, it glared at the earth pony, angry he was not accounted for.

What’s his problem, Applejack thought as a burning expression came from Angel. She shook her head and tried to recollect what she was trying to say before being distracted. “S… so how come ya brought ma brother along?”

“I wanted some help in getting the best produce. You don’t mind helping right Big Macintosh?”

“Eeyup,” he replied with a nod.

“Okay, just making sure.”

Ah thought we made sure of that before we headed on down here, the stallion chuckled a bit in his head.

“Well lucky for you, ma brother knows howta get the best produce in town.”

“Eeeyup,” Big Macintosh replied holding his head higher than usual.

“You seem very confident Big Mac,” Fluttershy spoke as she looked up to the stallion. “You must know your produce.”

“Eeyup.”

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! A consecutive tapping suddenly interrupted Fluttershy’s conversation and the mare looked up to see what was trying to gather her attention. One familiar and angry face looked down into Fluttershy’s upper peripheral. “What is it Angel?” Pointing to the left, the rabbit directed the pegasus’ eyesight to the clock tower that rested in the distance, away from the marketplace. “Oh goodness, you are right.” Now looking to her friend at the stall, Fluttershy spoke in a slightly lower tone, “I’m really sorry, but we need to hurry along before all of the good produce in the market has been sold.”

“Well, ya better scoot yer caboose then.”

“Okay, goodbye Applejack.” With simple farewells, Big Macintosh and Fluttershy turned away from the apple merchant and began to head into the market.

Beneath the blanket, Applebloom spoke quietly, “Did ya get any interesting notes Scoot?”

“I would have had my notebook ready if you DIDN’T PUSH ME WITHOUT WARNING,” hissed the angry pegasus.

“Ah thought it was here in the wagon…”

“It- hehe… must have fallen- hehe- out when you- hehe… Okay, cut it out!”

“What?” Applebloom seemed confused on what her friend was saying.

“You know what you are do-“

“Nice to see the two of them gettin’ along,” spoke a voice from outside and caused the two fillies to go mute. Lifting an arm to see outside, Scootaloo made a hole to see what was going on outside. Only Applejack was seen and it appeared that she was by herself, but they heard her voice. Applebloom assumed a customer came along, but nopony was around her stall, nor did any of the apples move from their original place. Perhaps a pony came along to browse for a bit and then left. But it soon occurred who Applejack was talking to when she said, “Sure do hope they get some good food fer eatin’.” She was talking aloud to herself.

“Does your sister do that often,” Scootaloo questioned.

“Sometimes, but ah do it sometimes as well.”

“I wouldn’t disagree.”

Still looking outside at Applejack, she then said, “Ah just hope Fluttershy doesn’t get any ideas about ma brother…”

“WHAT DID SHE S-”

“SHH, be quiet Applebloom!”

“Mmmmmpphhh!”

The phrase bewildered Applebloom. Why would her own flesh and blood be against one of Equestria’s kindest and shyest pony? Maybe she is against Big Macintosh having a marefriend? If she had her notepad, the filly would be scratching down notes so hard that the pencil would scratch right through the paper.

“Now what’s this,” Applejack spoke and looked in the direction of the girls. Gasping, both fillies looked at each other in shock and fear.

“We have been found out,” Scootaloo whispered quickly.

“What do we do, Scootaloo?”

“I think… we surrender and reveal ourselves,” the pegasus said in a very low and defeated whisper.

But just as soon as they were just about to give up and reveal themselves, Applejack spoke again, “Whaddia like to buy?”

Peaking back outside, there were two earth ponies that stood at the apple stand. One of the ponies had a pear for a cutie mark, with a yellowish skin tone, light green hair, and a large ten gallon hat rested on his head. The other had almost the same features, except his cutie mark had a slice taken out of the pear, and instead of a hat, was a bit of a curly hair due.

“Well howdy-do to you miss,” smiled the one with the curly hair due. A hoof quickly shot out at Applejack and almost caught her off guard. She does like a good conversation, but would rather have other ponies buy from her stall then a bit of chitchat.

“Umm, howdy?”

“Oh, pardon my rudeness miss… ah don’t think we have been acquainted.”

“Ugh, okay?” Aside from the girls that hid in the wagon, Applejack was bewildered on what was going on. Try as she might, she had no idea who the two ponies where.

“Ma name is Par, an’ this is my bro, Peal! We are the new stall in town. Didn’tcha hear?”

Then it clicked. “Oh, that’s right! Mayor Mare said a few new merchants will be comin’ in this week an’ ah am assumin’ you two are one of them.”

“Correct-o-mundo!”

“Ah am Applejack.” The mare held out her hoof and was greeted by Par happily shaking her hoof.

“You goch-yoself a mean shake miss fer a lovely mare.”

“Oh, don’t flatter me, huh…” Applejack blatantly looked in the opposite direction, trying not to blush, but unfortunately fell victim to a few red streaks. Moving her arm to Peal, the mare spoke, “Nice of you to come by an’ greet yourself.”

But silence was the only thing that Applejack received from the quiet stallion. Peal’s eyes were half shielded by his hat, causing his eyes to have this mean glare come from him. The pony didn’t even acknowledge Applejack by looking at her in the eyes. All he was fixated on doing was looking at the apples.

After a long silent note, the ten gallon hat tilted up, and the colt spoke, “This all ya got?”

“Ugh, yeah… sure do.” Applejack’s arm retreated back to the ground to help maintain her balance.

“Heh…,” Peal spoke again, and this time, his hat flopped down in front of his eyes, only leaving a small smile visible. Sound was void as the stallion spoke. No reply could be made from his responses because of how vague he was being. Then he spoke, “Ya call that produce?” Without any warning, Peal snatched a bright red apple. The color was so clean and smooth, a reflection could be made. A wide mouth then took a large chunk out of the lovely fruit and quickly spat the piece right back out. He then lightly tossed the apple back onto the stand, and as it rolled, knocking over several apples that the fruit came in contact with.

Something inside of Applejack broke that made her confused look writhe into a mean one. Even Applebloom was furious on what the stallion had to say. Before any reaction could be made by the mare at the stand, Peal turned away with a smirk still on his face.

“Hey, ya got somethin’ to say to me?" But he kept on walking, never to turn back. Nothing has angered Applejack this bad since the last time the gophers invaded the farm, a year before this one. The further Peal got away from the stall, the angrier the pony became. If she clenched her teeth any harder, the mare would bite right through her jaw.

Wanting to charge at the cocky stallion, Applejack’s hooves stomped with every step as she rounded her stall; however, the brother was not asking for a fight. “Now now, ah know he can be a bit of a pain but-”

“A pain?! That was one of ma best apples and your BROTHER just took a bite and… AND…” No amount of anger could fathom what the mare was feeling.

“Look, al tell ya what: here.” Par, being the one to end all troubles, pulled out a good amount of bits and handed it over to Applejack. “Why don’t we jus’ forget about this ol’ troublesome quarrel and just go about our day? Sound like a dealio?”

Instead of thinking too hard, Applejack easily accepted the offer and took the money. “Thanks partner,” the mare spoke without smiling.

“An to yerself madam. Now you have yourself a good dailyo!”

Still, the mare could not find herself smiling back at Par. Just seeing him made her think of his rotten brother. “Just keep your brother out of trouble.”

“Heh, that’s gonna be a tough one but I’ll do what I can.” There were no goodbyes in this departing because both knew that they wanted to get back to the rest of their day.

“Umm… Applebloom,” Scootaloo asked her friend. “Are you- hehe… okay?”

She was not. Her face was almost as red as her own hair. “Did ya see how that mean ol’… jerk face was to ma sister?!”

“Not too- hehe… loud.”

“An why are you laughin’ at a time like this?”

“Because- hehe… you keep tickling me- hehe.”

“But that ain’t me.”

“Then who is?”

“The wasp, crawlin’ on your back.”

A quick glance from Scootaloo faintly saw the wasp with little light she had slowly walking up her neck. In terror, she gasped and stood up to try and get it off of her. That was her down fall, literally. The weight of the filly caused the wagon to tip to her side and Scootaloo, Applebloom, and the wasp fell over, along with the four wheeled carriage making a large crashing sound. Lucky for the fillies, the blanket still enshrouded them, making a bit of a soft landing.

“What in tarnation,” spoke a familiar voice.

“WE ARE SPOTTED,” Applebloom whispered loudly.

Both girls heard hoof steps quickly approach as Scootaloo and Applebloom waited beneath their dark blue veil.

Naming the Situation

Melody for my Dear

Ch. 11

Even though the circumstance was not as severe as it could have been, the thought of being caught still frightened the fillies that hid under the cloth. Not to mention, being caught in the act of spying on somepony might also ruin their chances of obtaining their cutie marks in such an attribute. With nowhere to go, Scootaloo and Applebloom decided to wait for whoever’s attention they grabbed.

The hooves that the two heard quickly approached from what seemed to be behind them, since they didn’t know which direction they were facing ever since the wagon fell over. The hooves clattered against the earth, making sounds as if the pony was running quickly, but not gaining much distance.

When the hoofsteps drew close to the girls, they skid to a complete stop, causing some dirt and dust to kick up and under the blanket being used as a makeshift shelter by the girls.

“Ah suppose that’s yer wagon?” Applejack’s voice was heard from outside of the blue cloth.

“Yeah… hugh… it is…” The next voice was Sweetie Belle’s and she was slightly out of breath. Scootaloo wanted to say something and respond to her friend, but had to resist the urge because of the circumstance that she and her friend were in. “The umm… hugh… wagon rolled down hill and… hugh… got away from me…”

From Applejack’s point of view, there were no hills to be seen in her perspective. However, the mare assumed the fillies’ wagon rolled down the same hill on which Big Macintosh had a little joy ride in his wheelchair.

“Well, do ya mind if I give ya a hoof?” Being a good Samaritan, Applejack began to approach the red wagon with its crumpled and lumpy blanket that rested beside it.

“Oh no no no,” Sweetie Belle resisted. “Beneath this blanket is a… umm… surprise. Yeah!” The filly’s voice squeaked out of nervous exclamation.

“Who’s it for?”

“But that would ruin the surprise if I told you.”

“Good point. How about ah lift your ‘surprise’ into your little four-wheeled wheel barrow and not look?”

“N…no thanks, I can get this… ugh… myself…” It took a bit of effort to roll the dark blue blanket into a crumpled up ball, and it took more of an effort to push the blanket and the wagon upright, but the filly managed.

“That’s some mighty strength ya got there. Maybe you might get your cutie mark in heavy lifting.”

“Hmm… that may be a good-” Sweetie Belle was cut off as the cloth slowly leaned in her direction and quickly reacted, reaching her arms around to grab the blanket and her face to push it back. Once the bundle was secured, Sweetie Belle spoke in frustration, “Dumb fabric…”

“Heh, some quick reflexes ya got there as well.”

“Heh, I guess I do. Well, I think I need to take this surprise to Big M- opp!”

“Big who?” A large eyebrow lifted from Applejack’s face trying to catch what the filly said.

“NOTHINGOTTAGOBYE!”

Dust kicked up as Sweete Belle dashed away, taking the wagon with her.

Meanwhile, Applejack was slightly blinded from the kicked up dirt and tried to see where the little one went off to. It did not take long for the mare to shake her head, smile and walk back to her stall. “Hehe, kids these days.”

***

Back where the girls started, Sweetie Belle removed the blanket that covered her two friends. Scootaloo and Applebloom were both upside-down with the most irritated look.

“Having a good time,” the unicorn giggled.

“Haha…,” Scootaloo remarked sarcastically. A quick buzz sound suddenly grabbed the orange pony’s attention and caused her to look at her nose. Resting on Scootaloo’s snout was the wasp, giving a friendly wave. “AGH!”

Once again, the wagon made a large thump as it fell over.

The wasp was somewhere in the air, buzzing around for a bit before landing on the wagon. Brushing herself off, Applebloom looked at the wasp and said, “You cause a lot of trouble for a little guy.” One of the insect’s arms rubbed the back of its head, with a sorry look on its face.

From behind, Scootaloo responds to her friend’s comment, “No kidding…”

“Well we have to give it some credit,” Sweetie Belle spoke in defense of the wasp.

“Whatdiya mean,” Applebloom asked.

“It did find Fluttershy and Big Macintosh for us. Maybe you still want to help us out, right?”

Quickly nodding its head gave the impression that the wasp was ready for anything.

“Now how can we find our fish in the barrel,” Sweetie Belle thought.

“Wha-,” Applebloom replied in a confused tone.

“It’s code remember,” Scootaloo responded to her friend. “Anyways, it’s quite easy. All we need is for this guy to do is fly up in the air and track them down.”

“Good idea Scoot! What made ya come up with that one?”

“It’s because the wasp has wings…”

“Oh, forgot about that,” the yellow filly said with a dumb look on her face.

“Can you do that for us… umm…” Sweetie Belle was caught in the middle of her sentence, trying to say something.

“What is it,” the two other girls questioned.

“I think we need a name for our little helper.”

All four of them agreed with a single nod of the head.

Scootaloo was the first to suggest. “How about Startle?”

“Why that name,” one of the girls spoke with a distasteful look.

“It always seems to scare me.”

“No, too mean,” Sweetie Belle spoke, denying the name. “How about Honey?”

“Too generic…,” Applebloom replied with a shake of her head. “What about… Penelope?”

“Aww I love it! The name sounds so cute.”

“And it sounds tough like Rainbow Dash!”

“Then it settles it,” Applebloom exclaimed. “From now on, we will forever call you by the name Penelope!”

Buzzing around with delight, the newly named insect seemed to enjoy its new name. After the wasp finished its joyful flight, Penelope landed on Scootaloo’s snout.

“WAH!”

“Hehe, well I we are ever looking for Penelopy, we will look for Scootaloo’s nose,” Sweetie Belle laughed.

“Yeah, yeah…,” replied the now irritated pegasus.

“So Penelope, can you go an’ seek out Fluttershy and Big Macintosh,” Applebloom asked. Before the three girls knew it, the wasp jumped into the air and gave a quick salute, acknowledging the order. “When you find them, head on back here. We three will stay

put." Nodding, Penelope dashed off into the air and out of sight.

With the wasp out and about, the Cutie Mark Crusaders quickly began discussing what to do next. “Since you two went out in the wagon, I am assuming you want me to go next,” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Ah think that would be fair,” Applebloom responded.

“I still don't think that it was ‘fair’ of you to not warn me and push me into the open.” The memory of being shoved without knowing what it would happen still lingered in Scootaloo’s mind.

“Make sure you don’t do that to me,” the unicorn said as she looked at Applebloom directly.

“Don’t give me that look.”

“Why not? You are the one who kicked me int- HEY, look who is back!”

A pair of wings buzzed with delight as Penelope sat on Scootaloo’s nose again.

“That was surprisingly fast,” Sweetie Belle complemented.

“Hehe, yeah… surprising,” the pegasus spoke through her teeth.

“Didya find em,” Applebloom asked the insect. Nodding with a yes, Penelope lifted off of her host’s nose and pointed to its left. “So they are that way, right?” Another yes came from the small friend. “Then take us there!” Making haste, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle hopped into the wagon while Applebloom tied the rope tight around her body again. “Ready girls?”

“READY!”

***

Inside a back alleyway, three fillies looked from behind a small trashcan to see their “fish in a barrel.” To their surprise, Big Macintosh and Fluttershy were closer to them than they thought.

“Good work Penelope,” Sweetie Belle complemented her small friend as the wasp rubbed the back of its head in embarrassment.

“Shh, they are talking,” Scootaloo remarked with a glare to the unicorn.

“…bananas, lemons, celery, and carrots,” spoke the yellow pegasus from a distance.

“Eeyuff!” Standing beside Fluttershy was Big Macintosh, with a basket full of produce in his mouth. Various colored fruits and vegetables were being carried by the stallion while he looked at the list alongside his friend.

“All we need now is… pears.”

“YUCK,” a voice came from behind the aluminum trashcan.

Ah here ya, random exclaiming trashcan, thought the red pony in his head.

“So, are we ready to go,” Fluttershy asked.

“Eeyup.”

Heading away from the Cutie Mark Crusaders and back into the market, Applebloom found four hooves covering her mouth.

“You almost blew our cover,” Sweetie Belle hissed.

“Mmmph!”

“Hey, we cannot lose sight of them,” Scootaloo barked. “Let’s get a move on!”

“Umm, we don’t need to worry about that,” the white unicorn said.

“Why,” the two other Cutie Mark Crusaders spoke.

“The pear stall is over there.”

An arm from Sweetie Belle darted in the direction of the pear stall. And as soon as Applebloom saw who was at the stall, her eyes burned with fire. Standing behind the green pear stall stood Par, and the colt who offended Applejack, Peal.

Rotten Attitude

Melody for My Dear

Ch. 12

In all the years the Cutie Mark Crusaders knew each other, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo never thought they would see Applebloom in a fit of rage.

Jabbing a hoof in Peal’s direction, the yellow pony exclaimed, “That colt right over there is the most disrespectful, arrogant, and… most… ugliest color of green ah have ever seen!”

“Applebloom?” Sweetie Belle said with a nervous smile. “We know you’re mad, but maybe you should keep your voice down…”

“How can I when some low-life jerk face comes on over to ma sister’s stall and… AND…!” Both of Applebloom’s friends understood they would be to if something like that happened to them or their family. “Ah just need to exhaust all of this anger right now!”

From afar, a merchant called, “Come one come all and get your very own Scream in a Bucket! Got a family member you want to shout about but don’t want to yell at them? Stubbed your hoof and don’t want to say profound words? Have some pesky merchant walk over to you and give you unnecessary criticism? Then this is the item for you! All you got to do is fill it with water and then let the bucket have it!”

Before the seller knew it, a small filly with a pink bow dashed to his stand and said, “I’ll take one please.”

“That will be three bits.”

When Applebloom placed the money on the table, she slammed the coins down without knowing how angry she was. “Got a sister to yell at?” the merchant asked.

“Well ah do have one, but there is somepony I do have to shout about…”

“How about I have the bucket filled with water already?”

“That would be nice.”

“Well here you go!”

As soon as Applebloom got ahold of her bucket, she thanked the seller and dashed back behind the trash can.

“Hey, how many times do we need to address that we need to stay hidden?” Scootaloo asked.

“One second,” Applebloom smiled as she turned to answer the pegasus. A splash of water was made when Applebloom submerged her head into the bucket. The sound of hollowed screams came from the bucket as bubbles emerged to the surface.

“I think it would be best if we let her cool off,” Sweetie Belle suggested to Scootaloo. “What do you think Abblebloom?”

Raising her head from the water and gasping for a breath of air, the filly replied, “Yeah, I need to vent a little bit.” She then shoved her head back into the liquid to continue screaming.

“Now how do we go about this?” Sweetie Belle asked Scootaloo.

“Hmm…” Looking around for an answer, Penelope was struggling to pick up some rope that rested in the wagon. “I got an idea.”

***

“So let’s review the plan before we plunge into the fish barrel.” Sweetie Belle was poking her head outside of the blanket that rested on top of her.

“Okay. So I push you out into the market area to get closer to Big Macintosh and Fluttershy. If you are about to get caught, I can yank you back with the rope. I made sure to use the extra-long rope we brought along.” On the handle of the wagon was a knot of rope while Scootaloo held the long coiled line as she explained to her friend.

“And while I am out there, take very valuable notes.”

“Correct!”

“Then let’s go!”

“But before we do our chant, let’s be a bit quiet on this one.”

“Heh, I agree…”

“cutie mark crusader undercover investigators are still on the case!”

With confidence in their hearts, Scootaloo placed the rope she was holding on the ground and pushed the red cart to the edge of the ally way and turned her back. “Alright, I’m going to kick it now.”

“Let’s jump into that fish barrel!”

Still going on about that, the orange pegasus thought while rolling her eyes.

With all of her might, the filly bucked her hind legs and pushed the wagon into the market. To Scootaloo’s surprise, the wagon actually made it really close to Peal and Par’s stall and nopony seemed to notice. “Not a bad push, if I do say so myself. Right Penelope? Penelope?” The pegasus looked around and behind her but could not find the yellow wasp. “Where did you- WAGH!” Crossing her eyes, Scootaloo saw her friend resting on her nose, giving a friendly wave. “Oh, heh… there you are…”

Several meters ahead of Scootaloo, was Sweetie Belle peeking out of a small hole and listening in on the conversation in front of her.

“Well howdy do you two! Whatever can ah do for you?” Par happily smiled as he spoke while his brother had a stale glare glued to his face.

“Hello,” Fluttershy responded to the merchant. “We would love to buy some pears from your stall please.”

A sour look came from Big Macintosh as Fluttershy said “pears.” Eck, such a discusting fruit!

The distasteful look on the stallion’s face grabbed Peal’s attention. “What’s with the nasty look partner?”

Big Macintosh gave a small glare to the green pony before looking back at the fruit that sat at the stall.

“Now now, brother we don’t want to anger these fine customers and ah think we don’t want a repeat of what happened at that apple stand.”

“What apple stand,” Big Macintosh spoke with a bit of an angry look on his face.

“Oh! Umm… it was nothin’. Say, how about them pears, hugh?” Par was trying ever so hard to change the subject and sell some produce.

“I will take five please,” Fluttershy spoke with a smile, immune to the heated tension that was in the air.

“Sounds like we have ourselves a dealio! That’ll be six bits please.”

While Fluttershy and Par were making a friendly transaction, Peal gestured Big Macintosh to come close. “Ah got somethin’ to tell yea partner.” The request only made the red pony make one pace forward before remaining stagnant with his still angry look. “Ah can’t whisper somethin’ to ya if yer all the way over there.”

Slowly moving closer to the stand, Big Macintosh stretched his neck a bit toward the earth pony. In a deep tone, Peal smirked and said, “Ah can tell yer related to that apple merchant jus’ by lookin’ at your cutie mark. Ah would ask yer relative out on a date, but she seems like she is the apple at the bottom of the barrel.”

“Ya want to run that ba me again, bud…” Big Macintosh was now clenching his jaw while his angry gaze remained. What in the hay is this suborn mule’s issue?

“Ah don’t like repeatin’ myself, but ah can say this: yer relative may look nice an’ all, but… na I’m not gonna tell ya.”

The small conflict between Big Macintosh and Peal grabbed Fluttershy and Par’s attention. “Umm… bro, please tell me you ain’t causin’ no trouble?” No response.

“Big Mac, are you okay,” Fluttershy asked her friend with concern.

“Nnope…”

Pretending like nothing happened, Peal decided to polish one of the pears that rested on the stand with a clean rag.

“A… are you angry Big Mac?”

“Eeyup…”

“How come?”

Big Macintosh gestered to Peal and said, “This friendly pony here…”

“But if you say he is ‘friendly’, then why are you angry with him?”

Ah was bein’ sarcastic. The red pony was not amused on how his friend was oblivious to the conflict he was having.

“Umm… I don’t mean to intrude on other pony’s business, but were you causing Big Mac any trouble?”

“None at all,” Peal responded with a smile.

“LIAR!” Big Macintosh’s shout caused Fluttershy to shudder and crouch downward.

“Please don’t yell…”

Sorry, Fluttershy… Ah didn’t mean to scare ya…

“What’s yer problem partner?” Peal asked as he continued to polish more produce.

“Yer talkin’ smack about ma sister!”

“The only ‘smack’ that needs to be done aroun’ here is upside your head.”

“Well… you are-”

“What, rotten pear? Sounds to me like you are more of a sour apple.”

Big Macintosh tried to come up with a witty comment to combat with Peal, but could not think of anything to say.

“Umm… that was kind of mean to say,” Fluttershy spoke in a light tone.

“OOOHOOO, nice comeback,” Peal gawked. “I better tell your friends to watch out because you are one smart mouth.”

“Actually, I do tell my friends a lot of animal facts, so… hmm…” The pegasus dwelled on the thought for a bit and then said, “You are right! I am a smart mouth! Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“I… guess? N… never mind that. Well, if you like animals so much, why don’t you live with them?”

“Brother,” Par interjected. “Let’s not be mean to the nice mare here an-”

“Oh no, he is not being mean, I do live with a bunch of adorable animals like bunnies, and birds, and even a bear! And I live with…”

Fluttershy continued to list off the animals she lived with, too oblivious to the circumstance she was in. To Peal’s surprise, Fluttershy was beginning to irritate him. “Well maybe… you can crawl in a rabbit hole and stay there!”

“I actually have. See this bunny on my head? One night he had a bad dream, so I had to dig my way into his home and-”

“Ah don’t care about your rabbit! Jus’ stop bein’ oblivious to ma insults and be angry!”

Looking at the glare from Peal, Fluttershy asked, “Umm, why are you angry?”

“I’m angry because yer not angry!”

“Well, being angry is actually bad for your health. Did you know that anger can increase blood pressure?”

“GRRRUUGHGH!”

“Oh no, was that my smart mouth again?!”

Peal has been defeated. He could not find anything to say. The stallion had no insult, no reply, and no witty comment; just a clenched jaw and bared teeth.

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Big Macinosh gawked at Peal. He then leaned in toward the merchant and said in a low voice, “Don’ worry, ah am sure ma friend here with her smart mouth can fix it.”

“HOW’S ABOUT YOU GO-” Peal was about to finish his sentence but his brother jumped in front of Big Macintosh.

“HEY, let’s all be kind to one another an’ have a good dailyo. What do you think partner?”

“Yes, I agree; kindness is good!” Fluttershy agreed as she spoke beside Big Macintosh. “Don’t you think so Big Mac?”

“Eeyup.”

“Well alrighty,” Par smiled. “Yall have a nice dailyo!”

“Okay, goodbye,” the pegasus said with a soft farewell. Big Macintosh didn’t say anything, but gestured a nod at Par without looking at Peal. Before looking away, Fluttershy glanced at the angry earth pony that gave her a nasty stare. “Eep!” she squeaked as she carelessly bumped into the wagon Sweetie Belle was hiding in. “Oh my, where did this come from?”

“Hmm, looks like the wagon from earlier…” Par said in a low voice.

“What?”

“Ah, don’t worry about it mam. Ah will take care of it.” Jogging around his stand, Par stepped in front of the wagon. Turning around, the colt bucked his hind legs and sent the red carriage speeding away; a scream was heard as the wagon barreled down the road.

“What was that?!”

“Who knows… Anyways, yall make your way on outa here and have a good dailyo!”

“Okay, goodbye.” When Fluttershy and Big Macintosh were out of earshot of the two brothers, the mare asked, “Why was Peal so angry with me? Was it something I said?”

“Nnope.”

“What do you think Angel?” The rabbit would have replied if it weren’t for the fact that he was sleeping on top of Fluttershy’s head. "I guess he fell asleep a while ago..."

Back at the pear stand, Peal was now glaring at a stack of pears, lost in thought.

“Yall right brother?”

“Bro?” Peal asked, ignoring his brother’s question.

“What’s up?”

“Umm… when was the last time ah went to the doctor’s?”

“Heh, ah bet you are wonderin’ if your blood pressure is too high.”

“NO! …Okay, maybe…”

***

“So whatcha write down Sweetie Belle?” Applebloom said excitedly.

“Did Big Mac tell off that horrible jerk face?” Scootaloo grinned.

“Will you hold on?!” Slowly but surely, Sweetie Belle climbed down from the wagon and was happy to be on the earth again. “I think we need a different approach to how we get close to Big Mac and Fluttershy. When that colt kicked the wagon gave me a bad headache.”

“I wouldn’t disagree…” Scootaloo replied.

“Alright alright, ah will admit the approaching tactic needs some work,” Applebloom remarked. “But for now, let’s take a look at them notes.”

Looking into the wagon, the unicorn pulled out the note book. “Alright, here is what I got written down…” With anticipation, Sweetie Belle’s friends bunched together in excitement on what exciting things happened at the stand. “Well… it turns out…”

“Yes?” the two fillies said in unison.

“…that anger can increase blood pressure.”

“IS THAT ALL YOU WROTE? FACTS?!” Applebloom barked.

“I thought it was important. If we are going to get our cutie marks in being detectives, we might as well learn everything we can.”

“Let me see your notes,” Scootaloo asked as she stretched out her arm. Once the pegasus got ahold of what her friend wrote down, she said, “Hugh, interesting…”

“What is it?” the earth filly asked.

“It seems that Fluttershy can’t be offended…”

“How is that important?”

“Judging on what Sweetie Belle wrote, every time Peal tried to offend Fluttershy on being an animal lover, Fluttershy just took it as a compliment.”

“And?”

“If we can convince Fluttershy that she wants Big Mac to be her special some pony-”

“She can take it as a compliment and may fall in love with Big Mac!” Sweetie Belle squeaked when she figured out what Scootaloo was trying to say.

“Seems a bit farfetched, but AH WILL GO WITH IT!” Applebloom then looked at her friends; all of them had an excited look on their faces. “So now that we have a general idea on how to convince Fluttershy, let’s get a move on!”

“YEAH!” The trio shouted. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER LOVE DETECTIVES ARE HOT ON THE CASE!”

After the chant, Sweetie Belle asked, “So, where is Penelopy? I don’t see her on Scootaloo’s nose.”

“Hardyhar, very funny…” the orange pony responded. “Anyways, she was keeping an eye on where Fluttershy and- WAGH!” A quick “zup” sound came from the sky as the wasp quickly landed on Scootaloo’s snout.

“Oh there ya are!” Applebloom exclaimed. “Have ya found our fish barrel?” Penelopy nodded. “Well alright, show us where they went!”

Awaiting an Answer

Melody for My Dear

Ch 13

Though the thick black clouds spotted the sky, light from the sun still managed to shine through. Because of the many clouds, the light from the burning sphere seemed brighter than usual as it glared into Applebloom's eyes as she and her friends followed Penelope.

“Ah think we are headin' back to where ma sister was,” Applebloom called to her friends. “You sure you saw them come this way Penelope?” The wasp turned its head and nodded with a squinting smile because the sun was glaring in its eyes as well.

“Wait, I see them just up ahead,” Sweetie Belle spoke as she leered her eyes to see Big Macintosh and Fluttershy walking right below the sun. “We need to pull the line so the fish in the barrel don't bite the bait.”

“What?”

“We need to stop running.”

Taking the unicorn's advice, the Cutie Mark Crusaders slowed down to a steady paced walk.

“I think we need to cut the spy talk for now and work on it some other time,” Scootaloo spoke as the caught her breath.

“Yeah, even I don't know what I just said...”

“Look girls,” Applebloom exclaimed as she pointed her arm in front of her. From afar was Fluttershy and Big Macintosh standing at Applejack's stand. “Let's stay back here an' just watch where they go.”

***

“Ah see that yall got yer groceries done,” Applejack smiled as her friends approached.

“Yup,” Fluttershy responded with a smile.

Hey, that's ma line, the stallion thought with a bit of a grunt.

“So whatcha get? Corn? Hay? Beans?”

“Oh..., well I did get some beans, but we also got some eggplants, bird seeds, acorns, baby squash, and... umm... hmm... What else did I get?” Popping out from the basket was Angel holding a pear in his paws. “Oh, thank you Angel.” Taking the fruit from the rabbit, she held it in front of Applejack. “We also got some yummy pears.”

“Ah, pears... hehe. Lovely.” Even though Fluttershy bought Applejack's enthusiasm toward the fruit, the earth pony slightly flinched as the pear came in her direction. “Well, where yall headed off to now?”

“Angel here wanted to go sit down for some lunch, and I am a bit hungry myself. But I spent all of my bits for the day and cannot afford a sandwich at the food court, so we were going to head home to cook up some of our groceries.”

“Ya know you are more than welcome to take some apples here fer free.”

“Oh no... that would be rude to mooch off my friends by taking things for free.”

“Pff, don't stress yourself, sugar cube. These things pop up faster than Granny Smith gettin' out of bed.”

“Well, since you insist, I guess I would not mind a few. What do you think Big-” Without hesitating, the red stallion already had a brown sack halfway filled with apples. “Oh, thank you, but don't you think that is a bit too much?”

“Nope.”

“Ah agree. That is a good amount. Wouldn't ya say so brother?”

“Eeyup.” And with that, Big Macintosh tied a knot on the sack of apples tight and placed it on his back, balancing it very easily.

“We better get going, Angel looks like he needs his belly full.” The rabbit had a bit of an uncomfortable look on his face due to hunger.

“Then get on home safely, ya hear?”

“I am sure Big Macintosh will get me home safely.”

“Eeyup,” the colt smiled.

“Just make sure you watch out fer fallin' trees,” Applejack joked a bit. “The winds are pickin' up again.”

“Oh my, are they!? Fluttershy said in a concerned tone. “We need to hurry home!”

“Don't be all worried like that, it's just a breeze.”

“I guess, but it's not something do joke about. After all, a tree did come down on Big Mac.”

“Eeyup.”

“Yeah, yer right.” Applejack appologzed to her brother before saying farewell to Big Macintosh and Fluttershy. “Yall have a safe walk home. And Big Mac, jus' so ya don't worry yer sister and ah, make sure you hustle on home before sundown. Got it?”

“Eeyup.”

“Alright, have a good time!”

“We will,” Fluttershy smiled as she and Big Macintosh began to walk away. “Goodbye.”

***

“Looks like they are headed off,” Scootaloo spoke.

“Then what are we waitin' for? Let's go!” Applebloom was about to dart off after Fluttershy and Big Macintosh when her two friends shook there head. “What's wrong?”

“Well... I kinda promised Rarity that I would be home early today to help her with some 'inspiration' she had earlier today. And I am not looking forward to going home after the mess I made before I left.”

“That's fine! Me and Scoot can continue spyin.'”

“I kinda want to go home too...” the pegasus said in a bit of a tired tone.

“But how come?” The yellow pony's eyes glassed up a bit trying to convince her friend to stay.

“I hardly got any sleep last night and I want to get home for an early rest.”

“Oh, okay...”

“Aww cheer up!” Sweetie Belle was not about to let the day end on a sad note. “We got a lot of crusading done today with spying and had some suspenseful moments.”

“It was kinda fun,” Applebloom replied.

“Kinda? It was great!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “I think we will have our cutie marks in spying in no time.”

“Yeah, and all we gotta do is keep at it!”

“We need to keep in touch on this if we want to keep the fish in the barrel alive,” the white unicorn said while her friends rolled their eyes at Sweetie Belle's spy terminology.

“Okay girls, I'll see ya around.” Applebloom turned around after finishing her sentence, heading toward the farm, taking the wagon along with her.

“Goodbye Applebloom,” Sweetie Belle spoke as she too began walking away. “You too Scootaloo”

“Later!” Soon, Scootaloo found herself alone with Penelope. “Hey Penelope, where do you live?” The wasp pointed its arm toward where the sun was setting. “I live that way. Maybe I can give you a lift.” Penelope shook her head, but Scootaloo insisted. “Oh don't be like that! I can get you there in a giffy, just like Rainbow Dash.” Taking her word, the insect nodded its head and sat on the filly's nose. “Great!” And with all of her might, Scootaloo ran off toward the setting sun.

***

Trees began to surround Scootaloo she and her flying friend continued in the direction of the hot sphere.

“And before I knew it, WOOSH! Out of nowhere came Rainbow Dash and saved me!” Scootaloo was telling Penelope an old story as they went along the dirt path. “Sounds like a cool story, hugh?” A nod came from the wasp as it responded to the pegasus' question. “So are you sure you live this way?” Penelope nodded again. “You sure? It seems we are headed back to Fluttershy's place.” Once more, Penelopy nodded. “Oh I forgot; you know Fluttershy! Without you, I don't think we would have found them.” Embarrassed, the wasp blushed and rubbed it's arm a bit. “So you live at Fluttershy's cottage, right?” Another nod came from Penelope. “That's good to know. Maybe I can tell you why me and my friends are... spying on...”

Scootaloo's voice trailed off as she saw two ponies walking in front of her. “Who could that be?” Dashing up into the air, Penelope got a bird's eye view on who was ahead and flew back down to her friend. “Who was it?”

The wasp then pointed at a monarch that was flying by in the distance. “Hey, isn't that she shy monarch we saw earlier?” Penelope nodded. “Wait, shy...” Scootaloo then gasped and wispered, “That's Fluttershy up ahead with Big Macintosh!” Coming to a complete stop, Scootaloo looked at Penelope and said, “We need to keep our distance until they get to the cottage.”

***

“Thank you again for grocery shopping with me today,” Fluttershy said as she and Big Macintosh crossed the cobblestone bridge. “I think you got me the best produce from the market.”

“Eeyup!” Big Macintosh followed closely, trying to balance the sack of apples that rested on his back.

Opening the door to the cottage, Fluttershy called out, “I'm home!” Several animals came out to greet the pegasus as soon as they heard the mare call out. Fluttershy set the basket of food down on the ground and some of the rodent creatures who came to Fluttershy's call began carrying the produce onto the kitchen counter. “They are so helpful, aren't they?”

“Eeyup.”

Even Angel was helping out. However, he was helping himself as he carried the carrots to his bed. “Now now Angel, we need to prepare for mealtime. So mommy has to make you a nice salad.” In response, the rabbit just stuck out his tongue. Big Macintosh blinked for a moment when Fluttershy darted toward Angel. “Are you giving me attitude mister?!”

Woah, where did that come from!? The stallion was in shock because he has never seen Fluttershy act this way.

Meanwhile, fear fell on the rabbit's face and he forfeited the carrots over to the scolder. “Thank you Angel. You know that I want you to be a healthy bunny, so I want to make sure you have a healthy diet.” The pegasus' voice was now calm and sweet as she spoke to Angel. “Now, why don't you go rest while I make you a yummy salad. Mmm.”

A salad does sound nice actually, Big Macintosh thought to himself.

Fluttershy now hummed to herself as she went to close the front door and then proceeded to the kitchen.

Thinking to himself, Big Macintosh thought, Ah guess this is ma leave.

As soon as the stallion reached for the knob, Fluttershy spoke in a panic, “Wait!” Big Macintosh flinched as the mare spoke in an outburst and drew his attention to her. “Oh... I'm sorry for shouting but... c... can you stay for a late lunch?”

Big Macintosh scratched his chin in thought. Ah don't see why not. Never got to try out anythin' Fluttershy has made, and ah am a bit hungry. “Eeyup,” he finally answered.

“But you don't have to! I mean... I just want to treat the one who saved me...”

Now ah can't resist yer offer, the stallion chuckled inside.

“So, do you want to stay? AND BE HONEST!” Fluttershy's last sentence was blurted out quickly as the mare had a bit of a nervous and terrified look.

“Course ah do.”

Taking a few steps forward, Fluttershy asked, “P... promise?”

“Eeyup.”

“Yeay!” Fluttershy cheered lightly but excitedly. “Why don't you take a seat while I make you something to eat, okay?”

“Eeyup.” Finally, the stallion stepped away from the door and walked toward the couch.

Beside the door was a round window; and on the other side of the window was Scootaloo. “Wow, did you see that,” the filly said to her wasp friend. “Fluttershy got all flustered when she wants Big Macintosh to stay. I need to write this down.” Meanwhile, Penelope flew off around the corner of the cottage and out of view. “Where are you going?” Scootaloo wanted to write down her newly found information, but decided to follow her friend. But when she rounded the corner of the house, she couldn't see Penelope. Left and right the pegasus looked, but no eye nor antenna could be seen. Suddenly, Scootaloo heard a harsh buzz come from above and caused her to look up; and when she did, she saw Penelope on a small hive nest with holes that littered the nest. On the nest were several white dots and some were moving. “Haha, there you are!” As soon as Scootaloo spoke, it startled the wasp and caused Penelope to point its barb at the filly. “Wait wait wait Penelope! It's me.”

Realizing who it was, the wasp wiped a few sweat specks off its forehead. Sighing in relief, Scootaloo said, “So this is where you went.” Penelope nodded. “Well, I guess you are done for the day, so I will leave you to what you are doing. But before I go, can I ask you one more thing?” Instead of nodding, Penelope turned its head. “Are you a girl?” This time the wasp nodded. “Alright, that's good to note down. Anyways, goodbye.”

Parting from the wasp, Scootaloo made her way back to the window she was spying into. When she looked inside, there was a table all set up with some food that sat on the table and Big Macintosh was facing away from Scootaloo's perspective.

Inside of the cottage, Big Macintosh looked at the variety of salad toppings that lay before him. Ah didn't know she goes this far just to make a salad. There were various fruits sat inside their own bowl and a large bowl that was filled with greens.

“Sorry Big Macintosh... I was just cutting up the last fruit.” Fluttershy briskly walked into the living room as Angel followed her. She placed it along with the other assorted bowls of fruit. While she was placing the bowls on the table, Angel hopped onto the seat that was right next to Big Macintosh. “Looks like your friend wants to sit next to you.”

Even though the stallion made a sour smile when Fluttershy said “friend,” Angel happily smiled and nodded toward the pegasus. What'er you up to small fry, the stallion thought as he looked down at the rabbit.

“There we go.” Fluttershy finally finished arranging the bowls on the table and sat on the opposite side of Big Macintosh. “Take what you like.”

As the pegasus began placing greens on her plate, the stallion looked at his options. Ah haven't had any salad in a while, but ah don't know what would go good with what... Big Macintosh lifted his hoof to reach over to a bowl of diced green fruit. It looked like apple slices to him, so he decided to use that for his salad.

“Oh, I see you are going to use the diced pears I prepared,” Fluttershy spoke as she noticed her guest was reaching for a bowl of fruit. The word “pear” caused Big Macintosh to flinch his arm back to him. “Is... something wrong? Was there a piece of hair in it!? I hope I didn't get any of my mane in it! Oh, it would be rude of me if that were to be the case...

As fearful thoughts ran through Fluttershy's head, Big Macintosh shyly replied, “N...nope.”

“Oh, good!” Relieved, Fluttershy then asked, “Well, why did you pull your arm back like that?”

“Umm...” The stallion looked down at Angel who already had some leafy greens in his bowl and was now taking the bowl of sliced pears.

“Do you not like pears?”

“Y... yeah...”

“Well, you don't have to have pears. In fact, I may have a suggestion that might help you choose. Would you like to hear it?”

“Eeyup.”

“Okay. Let's see... You might like using these apple slices and pecans in your salad.” As she suggested her ideas, Fluttershy gently pushed the ingredients toward Big Macintosh. “Would that be okay?”

“Eeyup!” Wow, that is a good idea. Never thought of using nuts in my salad.

“I hope you like my suggestion.”

Ah already do. Big Macintosh was now happily readying his salad as Fluttershy began eating hers. It didn't take long for Big Macintosh to finish making his salad. But something was missing. Something to go on top of the delicious meal that he made. Then something caught his eye: a small bowl of cranberry sauce. That would go very well with my salad. Reaching over to grab the bowl, he didn't realize Fluttershy was reaching over to the cranberry sauce as well and brushed up against her hoof.

“Oh, sorry,” Fluttershy spoke in a panic as she wasn't watching where she was reaching. She pulled her arm back to herself as she said, “You can have it.” Big Macintosh smiled and pushed the bowl in her direction. “I- I don't need it.” But the stallion was persistent and pushed it closer to her. “Are you sure?”

“Eeyup. Ah can use somethin' else.”

“Alright. Thank you...” Instead of smiling, Fluttershy turned away as some of her hair guarded her left eye. What's wrong with me?! Why do I feel like I am losing my composure? I thought I could have a nice dinner with Big Mac, but I don't know why I feel scared...”

Without Fluttershy knowing, Big Macintosh found himself staring at her, lost in a gaze. Why does she look so frightened? Did ah do something wrong? He looked at Angel who looked right back up at him. The rabbit didn't seem to have any emotion toward what had just happened, but continued to look back at Big Macintosh for some odd reason. Looking back at Fluttershy, Big Macintosh somehow found his eyes unable to look away. Ah wish ah could help her out. Maybe ah should say something, but what?

Time seemed to have frozen and all sound was void as the two ponies sat without moving or talking. Then the sound was broken when Big Macintosh asked, “Are you alright?”

“Y... yeah...”

“Ya don't seem like it.”

“Well, its just...” I just have to tell him...

“Jus' what?”

And through the window, Scootaloo who was pressing her face against the window, awaiting Fluttershy's answer.

Request from a Guest

Melody for my Dear

Ch 14

Staring down at her food, Fluttershy was as quiet as ever. She thought about how her day went; Big Macintosh arrived to her home, they went to the market as he and she talked for a good amount of time, said hello and goodbye to Applejack, and now here she is, eating with Big Macintosh all alone.

I think I know why I am scared, but... I feel afraid of telling him...

“Are ya gonna tell me?” A voice broke Fluttershy's concentration as Big Macintosh looked at her with a concerned look on his face.

Somehow, his expression got her to speak. “I... it's fine...”

“Ya sure?”

“Yeah... it's nothing to worry about.”

But what happened next caused Fluttershy to freeze. The stallion got up from his seat and walked around the table toward the yellow pegasus. HE IS WALKING TOWARD ME! IS HE ANGRY?! DID I LEAVE A HAIR IN HIS FOOD THIS TIME!? WHAT DO I DO?!

Big Macintosh began to get closer toward her. He saw a terrified look on her face and wondered, Why does she look so scared? Somethin' I do wrong? Regardless of what he saw, he still approached Fluttershy. Then without realizing it, he was very close to Fluttershy; his face was about one foot away from hers.

Fluttershy didn't know what to do. She couldn't move, shiver, or speak. Being still was the only action the mare could only accomplish.

Then the stallion spoke. “Whatever yer thinkin' about...” Big Macintosh paused for a moment. Something caught his voice for a few seconds, but he managed to continue. “Whatever is goin' through your mind, ah will be here to help.”

Without hesitating, Fluttershy replied, “You will?” The mare felt her eyes glass up as if her eyelids were being melted from a frozen position.

A warm, but small smile rose from Big Macintosh's face and said, “Eeyup.”

Like a magnet, Fluttershy moved from her stationary stillness and found herself wrapping her arms around Big Macintosh's neck. She don't know what compelled herself to move toward Big Macintosh in such a way, but was relieved to know that Big Macintosh was there to help. The mare thought in her mind that what she was doing was okay. After all, she has hugged her friends when she was relieved of stress, so Fluttershy felt no need to worry.

The mare couldn't see Big Macintosh's face, but she then heard him say, “You don't have to tell me what yer thinkin' now. Ah am jus' lettin' you know that yer friend is here to help.”

Friend, Fluttershy thought. Her face burned with a pink so brightly, it would make a lovely rose look nothing more than a simple plant. At least he can't see my face, Fluttershy said in her mind as she was lost in the warmth of her friend.

It felt nice in Big Macintosh's heart to help out a friend. Usually he helps out Applejack or Applebloom when the two of them get into a bit of a scuffle, but this felt different and the stallion enjoyed it.

But just as he thought nothing could ruin this moment, it did. In his peripheral, he saw Angel roll his eyes in boredom. It grabbed Big Macintosh's attention and he glared at the little rabbit. What's yer deal? Angel grinned and grabbed the stallion's salad, pulling it toward him. What the rabbit did next stunned the stallion. The rabbit then took the cranberry sauce and applied it to the salad. What in the world!? Are you... helping me with ma salad?

Both ponies broke their embrace and were now looking at the rabbit. “Angel, is that Big Macintosh's salad?” With a nod, Angel replied and smiled. “Aww, how sweet! That's nice of you to help your friend, right Big Macintosh?”

“Y... yeah.”

“So, umm...” Fluttershy softly as she looked at Big Macintosh. “Thank you.” The pegasus' pink hair shielded an eye as she turned her head. Despite feeling embarrassed, Fluttershy found herself smiling.

Big Macintosh reached an arm around her and gave a quick hug before walking back to his seat. As he sat down, Angel pushed the stallion's now finished salad bowl in front of Big Macintosh. On the other side of the table, Fluttershy resumed eating with a happy look on her face. Big Macintosh looked down at his food, surprised on how tasty looked. The cranberry was spread around the top of the leafy greens in a swirled manner and underneath the leaves where chunks of the various fruits Fluttershy had prepared.

Nothing looked out of the ordinary. It looked appetizing and was very well made. Big Macintosh looked down at the rabbit and saw him eating his own salad. I guess its alright to eat it...

Picking up the utensils, the stallion began to mix his prepared salad. He then scooped a good portion of leaves and fruit onto his fork. Big Macintosh hesitated as he slowly drew the food to his mouth. Doesn't look bad...

Because the stallion was moving so slowly, Fluttershy asked, “Umm, is something wrong with the salad?”

Ah just need to eat it now if I don't want her to worry anymore. Without hesitating, Big Macintosh shoved the fork in his mouth. And to his surprise, it tasted strange. This... this is... AMAZING! “Mmm's” were heard from Big Macintosh as he began to shovel the salad in his mouth. The combination of the cranberry sauce, leaves, and sliced fruit made for a tasty contrast.

“I am glad you are enjoying your salad,” Fluttershy smiled as she watched her friend eat.

“Mmmhmm!” Big Macintosh couldn't disagree with the mare. It was the most delicious food he has eaten in a long time. When he was at the hospital, all they had was the same thing: beans, rice, celery, carrots, and grapes. Nothing alternated, so the consistent menu items drove him crazy.

“Oh!” Fluttershy spoke aloud.

Her outburst grabbed Big Macintosh's attention as a leaf dangled out of his mouth. “Hmm?” he hummed.

“Well umm... I thought... never mind.” Big Macintosh cocked his head and raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Can I see your bowl?”

“Eeyup.” Is something wrong with it, or does she want a taste of my salad? He didn't make much thought of it, so he did as he was told. As Fluttershy took a glance into the bowl, Big Macintosh looked down at Angel. The rabbit looked like he was trying to hold back a laugh. Have some funny thought?

“You said you were enjoying your salad, right?” Fluttershy asked her friend.

“Eeyup.”

Poking something in the bowl with a fork, Fluttershy pulled out a piece of diced fruit. “I thought you hated pears.”

Dread and shock fell upon Big Macintosh's face. He looked down at Angel, holding his paws over his mouth, trying ever so hard not to burst out in laughter. YOU LITTLE RAT! NO WONDER YOU “HELPED” MAKING MY SALAD!

“Is something wrong?” Once more, Fluttershy felt a wave of fear rush over her. There it is again, I feel scared again... Why?

“I just umm... wanted to try something new.” Big Macintosh knew he lied and Fluttershy was not buying it.

“I thought Angel made your salad.” The pegasus' worried expression turned into a bit of an angry look. “Angel...” Whatever joy the rabbit had a few moments ago was gone. He looked a bit scared, but more guilty. “Did you put pears in Big Mac's salad on purpose?” Even though he was cornered, Angel shrugged with a stupid grin on his face. “Did you?” It didn't take long before the rabbit's smile went away.

Looking for a solution, he looked up at Big Macintosh. What do you want me to do? You put yourself in this situation. Then fear fell upon Angel's face. The rabbit knew what he was in for and didn't want to be stared down by his owner. Folding his paws, Angel pleaded for help as if he was atoning for some horrible sin. His eyes were glassed up with innocence and guilt. Fine, I will help you...

“Well! Are you going to answer me?” Angel flinched when Fluttershy spoke. Keeping his eyes shut, he turned his head toward his owner.

“Ah can answer for him.” Big Macintosh finally said something.

“Oh?” Fluttershy looked confused. “What do you mean 'answer for him'”?

“Umm, well...”

Angel sat in relief that the weight was off his shoulders as he looked up at the stallion. You better be thankful for this, Big Macintosh thought to himself.

“See the thing is...” The stallion had to think of what to say, but it did not take long for him to come up with an answer. “Ah, umm... told Angel to surprise me with a salad. Ya know how when you go to them fancy restaurants, and they say somethin' like... umm, 'How would you like your... food?' You can then say, 'surprise me' and they go and... well, surprise you.”

“When did you tell Angel this?”

“When you umm... got the last bowl of fruit.”

“Well...” Fluttershy paused for a moment and then smiled brightly. “Well that was very nice of you Angel.”

“It was very nice of him.” Big Macintosh then suddenly scooped Angel up into his arms and held him close. “Ah am just grateful to have a nice friend.” As he held the rabbit, he began to give his friend a bone crushing hug. Jus' because ah saved your white behind does not mean you are gettin' off easy. Fluttershy giggled with a smile as she saw her two friends being “friendly.” Unfortunetally for Angel, he was squerming for freedom as he was being crushed. Feeling like the rabbit had had enough, Big Macintosh let the rabbit go and Angel fell flat on his back, but relieved that he was relieved.

“So glad you two are getting along,” Fluttershy spoke as Big Macintosh finished “hugging” his friend.

“Eeyu-” Big Macintosh was about to reply when he turned his head toward the window. “SHOOT!”

“What? What is it?”

“Ah... have to go.”

“How come?”

He pointed to the sun.

“Oh, is it getting to late?”

“Eeyup.”

“And you want to make sure you get home early so you don't worry your sisters, right?”

“Eeyup.”

“Okay...” Disappointed, Fluttershy turned her head and her hair shielded an eye from Big Macintosh.

Come on, Fluttershy! Don't go and try to make me feel bad. No! Ah have to go. I can't feel bad for you right now, even if it hurts.

As if she was reading his mind, Fluttershy turned and said, “You can go. Don't worry about me, okay?” When she was finished with her sentence, the mare slowly turned her head toward Big Macintosh as he saw a part of her sad eye.

Okay, now ah feel bad. Stop doin' this to me! Looking outside, Big Macintosh noticed the sun was beginning to go down. Breaking his thought, he said, “Ah am sorry, but I gotta go.”

“Okay...”

Big Macintosh got up from his seat and avoided stepping on Angel, who was still lying on the floor. Ah think ah over did it to the little guy. But he ignored the rabbit and headed toward the door. Big Macintosh turned his head to say goodbye, when he noticed Fluttershy was standing right behind him. “Is somethin' wrong?”

“I... just wanted to say goodbye...” Once more, Fluttershy felt a wave of adrenalin shiver over her entire body and a fearful expression fell on her face.

Again, there you go lookin' all scared. Why? Big Macintosh tried to think of a reason why she looked so frightened, but found nothing. Ah don't know why she is so scared, but... Ah now what ah can do to thank her.

Fluttershy was lost in thought, when she felt Big Macintosh's shadow tower over her. She then had a more terrified look on her face when the stallion approached her.

“Umm... Fluttershy?”

“Hmm?”

“C... can ah ask you somethin'?”

***

“Alright Big Macintosh, have a safe run home!”

“Eeyup.” As they both waved goodbye, Big Macintosh took off in a sprint and disappeared as he rounded the trail bend.

Fluttershy stood at the entrance of her home alone, smiling. Standing next to her was Angel, rubbing his back because his “friend” decided to give him a hug.

“Let's go back inside Angel.” And with that, Fluttershy closed the door.

As the wooden door was shut, Fluttershy slumped down on to her rump looking down. Angel looked up to see what was wrong. However, when he saw Fluttershy's face, it didn't look like anything was wrong. The yellow mare's face was flushed with pink and her eyes looked droopy. “That was a very nice thing Big Macintosh did for me, huh Angel.” The rabbit shrugged because he could care less about Big Macintosh and what he did for Fluttershy.

Angel looked at the table that was full of empty bowls and some crumbs that were on the ground. But then something caught his attention. In his right peripheral, he saw Scootaloo, who was looking through the window. Dashing to the door, Angel kicked it open and turned to where he saw the filly. Scootaloo looked terrified as the rabbit leered at her.

“Angel!” A voice came from behind. “You know you can't go outside at night and I know you don't want Owlishous to get you. She might mistake you for a mouse.” Fluttershy reached an arm out and scooped Angel back into the cottage as the rabbit squirmed to be free.

Another slam came from the door as it closed. Hiding back in the shadows, Scootaloo wiped the sweat off her forehead. “That was close,” the filly wispered to herself. She then took a deep breath and sighed in relief. “Alright, what do I have here?” Looking at her notes, Scootaloo smiled at her accomplishment. During the entire time Big Macintosh and Fluttershy were having their dinner, Scootaloo wrote down everything she saw and heard. Some of the notes were: Fluttershy gives a lot of hospitality, Big Macintosh likes to hug Fluttershy, and Fluttershy sometimes gets really really scared around Big Macintosh. Am I missing anything else?

Looking up to the sky, Scootaloo saw that a dark blue vale was being cast over the sky and white lights began to spot the sky. It's getting late. I think I have enough notes anyways, so I guess it is safe-

Scootaloo's thoughts were interupted when she heard Fluttershy from the inside. “I... know I shouldn't do this but... I need to talk to him.” The filly once again peered through the window to see who Fluttershy was talking to. The yellow mare was sitting at the table, writing on a sheet of paper. “I hope he doesn't mind...” Fluttershy then folded the paper and put it into an envelope. As soon as the pegasus sealed the envelope, it began levitating and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

What was that? Scootaloo thought while she continued to look through the glass. Within a matter of seconds, another puff of smoke spontaneously poofed in the air as a letter drifted back down onto the table.

Fluttershy picked up the letter and opened it immediately. As she unfolded the letter, it said, “Just a moment...”

As Fluttershy was waiting for something, Angel sat on the rug that rested in the middle of the living room. He had one of the salad bowls that was halfway filled with carrot slices and the rabbit was chewing on them, one by one.

Suddenly, a huge red box with a purple ribbon magically appeared above Angel and fell on top of him. Fluttershy shrieked as the box made a loud thump on the ground. She looked confused, but Fluttershy knew who it was. The box then coughed out a piece of paper and it drifted toward Fluttershy. When it landed in front of the pegasus, it had words on it. At the top, it said, “Read the following out loud.”

Deciding to do what the paper told her to do, Fluttershy spoke as she read, “And now, put your hooves together for the Master of Chaos and Comedy, please welcome, Discord.”

As soon as Fluttershy finished her sentence, the lid on the box popped off and lights glared out of the present. Jazz music was playing and an audience was cheering somehow, but instruments, nor an audience were to be found. The sudden excitement caused some of the birds to fly out of their homes and some rodents ran into a rat hole and closed the door behind them.

Then a voice came out of the box. “Ahaha, thank you, thank you. It's such an honor to be here in PonyVille.” A figure rose from inside the box as the person from inside continued speaking. “And I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my friend, Fluttershy.” Suddenly, a random spotlight fell onto Fluttershy and she crouched down in fear. With a change of tone, the voice said, “Oh don't look so frightened Fluttershy, this is just an act.”

“An act for what?”

“My comedy skit of course.” With a snap of the figure's fingers, everything suddenly stopped. The lights were gone, the sound seized to exist, and the one who caused all of the excitement was now visible.

“That was quite an entry Discord.” Fluttershy got back upright and looked at her friend.

“I know, and I think I nailed it this time!” The large snake shaped creature climbed out of the box and onto the ground. Discord towered over Fluttershy as he stood in front of her. “I just got back from my stand up comedy show.”

“Oh, that sounds nice. Where was it?”

“At a fight club.”

“Goodness, that sounds umm... nice?”

“Naa, I was just kidding about the fight club. However, if I were to do a show at a fight club, I guaranty it would be a knock out!” The sound of a snare drum getting hit twice, followed by a symbol ting came from inside the box. Fluttershy giggled Discord's joke.

“That was good. So umm... I hate to be rude but I want to-”

“Here my jokes? Great! I have this one joke about the princess.”

“Which one?”

“Who cares! All I know is that if one goes missing, she will be in another castle.” The same sound came from the box as Discord finished his punchline.

“Heh, that was funny, but umm...”

“Oh! There is the one joke where it goes-”

“I just wanted to talk.” Fluttershy calmly cut her friend off as he was trying to finish her sentence. “I'm really sorry Discord, but I want you to hear me for a moment.”

“Talk you say! You did say you had a bit of a problem with one of your friends, did you not?”

“Well, yes but I-”

Discord then snapped his fingers and the living room now had a large sofa that looked like Rarity's when she has a dramatic episode. “Take a seat Fluttershy.” The pegasus crawled onto the couch and decided to lay on her back for no apperent reason. Reaching in the air, Discord made a notepad magically appear and he looked down at it. “So you have a problem with one of your friends is that right?”

“Umm... not really a problem, but-”

“'But?' Well if you say 'but' in a sentence, you completely disregard what you just said.”

“Okay... I have a teeny tiny problem with a friend of mine.”

“Oh! It must be Twilight Sparkle. Probably being a smart mouth to you.” As he spoke, he turned his notepad around and on it was a crude drawing of Twilight Sparkle. It began moving around and the words “blah” spewed out of the drawings mouth every time it opened its mouth.

“No, not Twilight.”

Discord then turned his notepad around and began scribbling again. “Then it must be Rarity. Taking advantage of you and not being generous by giving anything back in return.” Turning it around again, the notepad showed Rarity selling Fluttershy's cottage.

“No, not Rarity.”

“Then perhaps its-”

“It is none of the five you know.”

“None of them?!” Puzzled, Discord twirled his lion paw at his beard. “Hmm... Well, aside from the other five friends... Wait a minute!”

“What is it?”

“You must have a problem with me!”

In an instant, Fluttershy found herself sitting where Discord was. She then saw Discord laying on the couch, with a gray earth pony beside him, playing the cello. “Oh Fluttershy, where did I go wrong?! I just wanted a friend. And just when I thought I had something special!”

“No, you are not the problem.”

“Oh...” The long creature twirled his finger in his beard again. “Hmm... Then if I am not the issue, then who is?” Snapping his finger, Fluttershy was once again on her back as Discord was back in his seat. He looked at the cellist and asked, “Do you have any idea?”

The gray pony said, “I'm just a musician, not a miracle worker.”

“Indeed... Well Fluttershy, if you don't have a problem with me or your other five friends, then who is this other friend?”

Fluttershy shyly replied, “He is... umm...”

“So it's a colt friend! This is a surprise.”

“Why is it a surprise?”

“You never talk about any stallion when you send me letters. You usually talk about what you and your five friends are up to.”

“Yes that it true, but-”

“How come you haven't told me? One of your friends?” Again, Fluttershy suddenly found herself back in Discord's chair as he was lying on his back on the couch. Discord began sobbing again, “I thought friends were supposed to...” He was cut off as he looked at the gray pony who stood by her cello. “Play something sad,” Discord said calmly.

“Of course.” The mare began to grind her bow on the strings of the instrument and created a sad tune.

Discord then continued his sobbing. “I thought friends were supposed to be honest with each other! Why have you been keeping secrets from me?” As he cried, Discord held two pitchers in each hand, catching his stream of tears as they fell. He then chugged both of the pitchers and resumed crying.

“I haven't been keeping secrets Discord. This just happened today.”

“Today?” Discord's crying stopped immediately and he, once again, swapped Fluttershy and himself back onto their original places. “Hmm, well I just feel silly for over reacting now,” he said, even though he knew he was pretending to be over zealous.

“Excuse me, but do you want me to stop playing?” the cellist asked.

“No no, you can do your thing.”

“Very well.”

While the musician continued with her emotional tune, Discord looked at Fluttershy and asked, “So Fluttershy, what is your problem?” The lord of chaos then reached in the air and a smoking pipe appeared in his paw and he began blowing bubbles out of it.

“Umm...” Fluttershy was at a loss of words because she was trying to piece together what she felt earlier when Big Macintosh. It took a while before Fluttershy managed to speak. “Well, it all started when I was alone with Big Macintosh.”

“Big Macintosh? You mean Applejack's brother?”

“Yes.”

“And what started when you were alone with Big Macintosh?”

“I felt all nervous... like...”

Discord blew a large bubble out of the pipe and the word “nervous” was within the moist sphere. “Nervous, huh?” The bubble then drifted over to Fluttershy and hovered over head. “What else did you feel?”

“I umm... I think I was also feeling scared, alone, shy of course...” As Fluttershy told how she was feeling, three bubbles flew over her head as the words “scared,” “alone,” and “shy” were in their own individual bubble.

“Interesting. Now tell me, why did you feel like that?”

“Because I thought I was being a bad host...”

“Did you have him over for dinner?”

“Yes. That's why there is a bit of a mess on the table over there.”

Discord looked at the table that held empty bowls and several leaves rested on the wooden top.. “But did Big Macintosh think you were a bad host?”

“No.”

“And did you tell him you were worried that you were a bad host?”

“No.”

“Did anything else happen?”

“After I thought a hair was in his salad, he came over and gave me a hug.”

“How nice!” Discord smiled with delight. “Did that make you feel happy?”

“Oh not just happy, but I felt warm, embarrassed, comfortable, joyful, relaxed, joyful, lighthearted, pleased, sunny, like I was in heaven, blissful, overjoyed...” Without realizing it, many bubbles surrounded the mare and all of the words she said were inside their own individual sphere. “Do you know why I feel this way?”

“Umm... y... yeah, I do.” I actually do not understand... Friendship is really not my forte. I would ask Twilight Sparkle, but this sounds more like love. “I've got it!” Discord exclaimed suddenly.

“What is it?” Fluttershy was somehow not surprised at her friend's outburst, but it caused the musician to stop playing her music.

“Just a thought came to mind.”

“Must have been a very good thought then.”

“It is. Listen Fluttershy, I am willing to help my friend, but friendship isn't... oh, how do you put it... It's like classical music verses techno. Everypony is into techno because it is the thing now a days, where as classical sounds all the same and lame.”

As soon as Discord spoke his witty comment, a sharp screech ruptured the room. Both he and Fluttershy looked to where the loud sound came from. It came from the gray pony who gave a nasty glare at Discord. “However, some of us enjoy classical music and make a living off of it,” the mare scoffed.

“My point exactly.” Discord then suddenly appeared behind the gray pony and picked up the cello.

“Hey!” the mare shouted.

As the musician tried to reach for her instrument, Discord had a hand on her face, keeping her at a safe distance. “You see, Fluttershy, I have to admit I prefer making things a little bit chaotic and you know this. The thing is, though, is that I don't really know how to help you in the subject of friendship.”

“I understand. You are my friend and I will accept that.”

“Why thank you Fluttershy.”

“But umm, it would be nice if you gave the instrument back to her please.”

“Fine,” Discord said in a bit of an irritated tone. He pulled his hand back and caused the gray pegasus to fall flat on her face. He then leaned the cello on the mare as she lied on the ground. “There you go.”

However, Fluttershy was not pleased with Discord's kind deed and gave him a disapproving look. “Discord,” the yellow pony asked in a displeased tone.

Because he didn't want to make his friend angry, Discord helped the musician onto her feet. “My apologies Mrs.-”

“Octavia,” the gray pony said in a foul tone.

Even though Discord helped Octavia up onto her hooves, Fluttershy raised her eyebrows, telling Discord he needed to do more than just say “my apologies.”

“Is there anything I can do to help you?” Discord asked.

“Anything?” Octavia replied.

“Anything.”

“Hmm... Well you can 'help' by relieving my frustration.”

“And how do I do that?”

“LIKE THIS!” Octavia moved like lightning and she swung her cello into the air. With all her might, she smashed the instrument on Discord's head with a crushing blow.

“OWWW! What was that for?!”

“There, I think you have helped me enough.” Octavia looked at Fluttershy with a bright smile and Fluttershy smiled back.

I guess I deserve this, Discord thought as he placed a large icepack on his head.

“May I make my leave?” Octavia asked in politeness.

“Of course,” Fluttershy replied. “Discord, can you return her back to where she was before?”

“Yes yes...”

“And I don't want any funny business, Discord. Exactly where she was.” Fluttershy creased her brow to show that she was being serious. She didn't want her friend to play a practical joke on Octavia by placing her somewhere she didn't want to be.

“But of course, Fluttershy.” The now curdious lord of chaos looked at Octavia and asked, “Are you ready to go?”

Grabbing hold of her cello and bow, she replied, “Yes.”

“Goodbye Ms. Music Mare.”

Chuckling, the musician replied, “It's Octavia.”

Discord then snapped his fingers and Octavia vanished in a flash of pink light.

“Umm... Discord?”

“Yes?”

“You said that you cannot help me in friendship, right?”

“Well I wish I could, but I have very little experience.” Suddenly, Discord conjured a diving board that was close to the ceiling of the cottage. He then climbed up to the top and stood at the very edge of it while he sat on a bicycle with a helmet on his head. Continuing where he left off, Discord resumed, “It's like if marathon cyclist wanted to be a high diver.” Leaning forward on the bike, Discord rode off the board. On the ground was a small glass of water. As he plunged toward the cup, Discord shrank to a very small size and fell into the glass. “You get what I am saying?” he said as he rose to the surface.

“I guess,” Fluttershy replied.

In a flash, the high dive was gone and Discord was back on his seat. “Even though this is a 'friendship problem' as you said in the letter you sent me, this sounds more like love.”

“What do you mean? Well, I guess I do love all of my friends.”

“As do I. However, love is on a whole new level of friendship.”

“Why is that?”

“Why don't we ask the alicorn who is the master of love, Cadence?”

“I suppose, but...” Fluttershy took a glance outside and saw that it was dark outside. “I don't think she is up by now.”

“Well I don't think she would mind having a small chit chat with you. After all, you are the element if kindness.”

“Yes, I am. But what if she is sleeping?”

“It's only 8:30 pm.”

“What if she is doing something very important?”

“I guarantee she is not doing anything important right now.”

“How do you know?”

“Watch.” Without warning, a flash of pink blinded the room for a brief moment.

A voice came after the light was gone. “Where am I?”

Standing in the middle of the room was the pink alicorn, Princess Cadence. She didn't look like she was in any professional or royal attire because she had an inner tube around her waist with a duck head sticking out of the side of the inflated circle.

“I told you she wasn't busy,” Discord said with a pleased smile.

Looking at the lord of chaos, Cadence asked in an unpleasant tone, “What is the meaning of this?”

“Hello Cadence. I called you here because I have a problem.”

“And what is-” The alicorn was cut off when she noticed Fluttershy lying on her back. “Fluttershy! How nice it is to see you!”

Psh, talk about the royal welcome... Discord argued in his head. Why is it whenever I summon somepony, they always give me a nasty remark?

While Discord sat slumped in his chair, Fluttershy replied, “Hello Cadence. Umm...”

“What's wrong?”

“Well, you see... I think I have a problem with one of my friends...”

“You see Cadence,” Discord interrupted. “Let me explain...”

It took him no time at all to explain what Fluttershy told him and how he thinks her issue is about love.

“Aww, he hugged you,” Cadence smiled. Fluttershy tried to hide her smiling blushing face with her arms, but made it more obvious that the pegasus was embarrassed. “So what happened before he left?”

“He asked me if he could take some of his salad home.” Fluttershy looked away, smiling as she answered Cadence.

“And I can tell that made you feel happy.”

“A little.”

Cadence giggled as Fluttershy kept trying to hide her embarrassed face. “I think I can conclude that you do like Big Macintosh.”

“Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?”

“I don't think that is what Cadence meant,” Discord spoke. “What she means you like Big Macintosh in a romantic way.”

“Wai- WHAT?! How do you know?!” Fluttershy's response was a shock to both Cadence and Discord. They were expecting their friend to be more excepting to the fact, but instead, decided to make a loud outburst.

“Calm down Fluttershy, we are not trying to offend you,” Cadence reassured. “What I mean is that you seem to get flustered when he gets near you.”

“I suppose.”

“I'll tell you what Fluttershy, give it some time and think if you do have romantic interest with Big Macintosh. I can help you out if you need any.”

“Umm... alright...”

“Thank you Cadence,” Discord smiled as he patted the alicorn on the head.

“Your welcome. I never thought I would be saying those words to you ever.”

“Whatever...”

Changing the subject, Fluttershy asked the princess, “So why do you have an innertube ducky?”

“Oh, Shining Armor and I are going for a late night swim. I desided to let the guards have the night off, so we are all at the royal pool.”

“Sounds nice.”

“Discord, can you use some of your magic to see what the colts are up to?”

“Sure.” Discord held out his hand and a pink portal swirled in front of Cadence.

As she looked into the portal, she saw Shining Armor standing on the high dive. It had an unrealistic height, about one-hundred feet or so. “Alright guys, do you see Cadence?” Shining Armor called from above.

A guard called from below, “No sign of her!”

“Alright, I'm going to do it!” Several voices came from below the stallion.

“WOOHOO, GO FOR IT!”

“This is going to hurt man!”

“You know your wife is going to kill you.”

Without hesitating, Shining Armor took a leap off the edge of the diving board. The stallion spread his arms and legs out wide as he plunged toward the water.

“Oh my goodness!” Cadence shrieked.

“What is it?” Fluttershy asked while she was still laying on her back. From her angle, she couldn't see what was happening.

“That is going to be some dive if he makes it,” Discord replied with a calm smile on his face.

“Discord, make him land on something soft!”

“Why should I do that?”

“Because he could hurt himself if he misses!”

“I doubt he will miss.” But the alicorn glared at Discord as he was giving smart remarks. “Fine, I will make sure he lands on something soft. Snapping his fingers, Discord made a cotton ball appear on top of the water's surface.

“YOU CALL THAT SOFT!?”

“Well you did say 'make him land on something soft.' So I made sure he will.”

As time ran out, Shining Armor landed on both the water and cotton ball. A loud slap echoed in the swimming pool area as his belly collided with the liquid. It made no splash when Shining Armor hit the water and he sank below the surface. A crowd of “OH!” came from the guards as they saw Shining Armor hit the water. Even Discord made a low “Ooo” after what he saw.

“Is he okay?!”

A few moments passed until the white stallion emerged from the water and said, “NAILED IT!” His face and underside was pink from the impact.

“Phew...” Cadence sat down in relief as she saw her husband safe. “You are lucky he made it to the water.

“But it was worth the risk, just like love, correct?” Discord's comment caused Cadence to be silent. “When you fell in love with Shining Armor, you made a risk right?”

“Yeah, I did.”

The lord of chaos turned to Fluttershy and said, “Make sure you are positive when you decide you do or don't love Big Macintosh okay? From what I know, love is a high risk, high reward. However, you need to be sure you know you are ready.”

“Okay...” Fluttershy didn't like the idea of liking Big Macintosh now that Discord has said what he said.

I don't mean to be mean Fluttershy, Discord thought to himself. I don't want to see my friend hurt, so be careful.

Trying to lighten up the mood, Cadence placed a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder as she said with a smile, “But if you truly like Big Macintosh and you two get a long very well, maybe try for something more, like a date with dinner or a walk through the park.”

“That actually sounds easy,” Fluttershy replied with a small smile.

“I guess this is my leave everypony,” Cadence said as she looked at Fluttershy and Discord. “But can I ask just one favor? And I mean to ask Discord.”

“Me?” The now short lord of chaos shank to a very small size and spoke in a feminine western accent, “Why what can little ole me do for you?”

Both mares giggled for a brief moment before Cadence continued, “I want you to put me on top of the high dive.”

“Sure, if that is what you want.” Discord, now back to his normal size, changed the view of the portal to the front end of the diving board. “Just walk right through and there you have it.”

“What do you plan on doing,” Fluttershy asked.

“Jump off the high dive.”

Fluttershy panicked a bit after Cadence's reply. “Don't hurt yourself, okay?”

“I will make the risk.” The princess then winked at Discord as she walked through the pink portal. Before walking through, she said, “Goodbye you too!” Both Fluttershy and Discord then looked through the portal to see what was going to happen.

From Shining Armor's perspective he saw his wife standing on the edge of the high dive, looking down at him. He didn't know whether or not to be scared for himself or Cadence. She bounced up and down on the diving board before making a giant leap off the edge. Using her wings, the princess prepelled herself toward the pool and toward her husband.

Without himself knowing it, Shining Armor shouted, “HOLY SWEET CELE-”.

Just before Cadence was about to collide with the water and Shining Armor, Discord closed the portal and caused it to vanish. “I think she will be fine,” he said.

“B... but are you sure?” Fluttershy asked in a worried tone. “What if she-”

“Cadence made a risk and I think she is going to be fine. I think she wanted to show us and Shining Armor that she can make a risk, especially toward someone she loves.”

“She does love Shining Armor a lot.”

“Indeed.” There was a moment of silence before Discord said, “I think I shall be going as well Fluttershy. I need to go prepare for my next act tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Fluttershy sat upright and flew over to her friend and hugged his neck. “Thanks for helping Discord.”

“Well, what are friends for.” He then hugged his friend back before climbing back into the box he came out of. “I will see you later Fluttershy.”

“Goodbye.”

Ducking into the box, the present lifted up, spun around in the air, and disappeared in a puff of pink sparks and light. From where the box was sitting, Angel had an irritated look on his face as he was underneath the box. Ignoring the rabbit's misfortune, Fluttershy asked, “Angel, do you think I like Big Macintosh in a romantic way?”

However, Angel also ignored Fluttershy's circumstance and crawled onto his bed to go to sleep. “Oh... well, you don't have to help Angel...” The mare sat up from the couch she was laying on and looked down at the floor. She was thinking about what Discord said about love having a high risk high reward and what Cadence said about going on dates if she and Big Macintosh get along. Speaking aloud to herself, Fluttershy said, “It's more than just that. I think I know why I feel scared... Oh Big Mac... I'm... s... sorry...” A few tears streamed down the sad mare's face as she got up and began cleaning the table full of empty bowls and flakes of leaves.

***

As she lied on her bed, Scootaloo glanced at all of her notes, smiling at her accomplishment. So many things had happened at Fluttershy's cottage in just one evening and so much more was about to happen. “I can't wait to tell the girls at school tomorrow!”

Be That Way!

Melody for my Dear

Ch 15

It was afternoon at the schoolhouse and the children were about to be let go from their eight hour session. As the fillies sat at their desks, they were having a bit of chitchat before the teacher in front of the class spoke, “Alright little fillies, we had a great time learning about plants today didn't we. Can any pony tell me what photosynthesis is?”

“I know Mrs. Cheerilee,” answered a colt from the front.

“What is it Featherweight?”

“It's what plants do to make energy and stuff, and they use...”

While the student up front was rambling about the day's lesson, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were closer to the back of the room with their desks close to one another. Whispering, Applebloom asked, “You made us wait all day Scoot... What is the suprize?

“Yeah and you seem extra excited and happy today,” Sweetie Belle responded. “Not that it's a bad thing, but we aren't doing any crusading for the next few days so there isn't much excitement as far as I know.”

“Don't worry. I will tell you after we get out of here.”

Almost immediately after Scootaloo finished her sentence, Cheerliee spoke in a bit of a sharp tone, “Girls! I asked you a question. What do leaves on a plant to?” The three fillies were so well into what they were doing, that they forgot that class was still in session.

“They... absorb light? Applebloom said with a nervous look on her face.

“Good! And what else? Sweetie Belle?”

Condemned, the unicorn had no choice but to come up with an answer. “Does it help with photosynthesis?”

“Correct!” And with that, the bell rang. “Alright everypony, head on home. And don't forget to bring a flower to class!” After speaking, the teacher walked over to a door on the opposite side of the room and left.

As the Cutie Mark Crusaders walked toward the exit, they heard a bratty tone from Diamond Tiara speeking to her friend, “I can't believe Ms. Cheerilee made us do yard work with plants. We already have OUR cutie marks, so why do we have to learn this load of manure...”

Feeling the need to stand up to their teacher, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle blockaded the door. “Don't be all mean to our teacher,” Applebloom spoke in defense. “Ya never know when plant life may be useful to ya.”

“But it might be useful to you Applebloom.” Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara's friend decided to step in. After all, you do live on a run down farm. Maybe you can attempt to make a living rolling seeds in the dirt.”

The insult from the bratty pony stung Applebloom. She couldn't think of what to say. All she could do was try to fight back tears that began to ball at the edges of her eyes.

“I thought so,” Diamond Tiara gawked as she and her friend began to walk out the door.

Now things got personal. While Applebloom stood in the schoolhouse with a sad look on her face, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, once more, blocked Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “Say you're sorry!” shouted the pegasus.

“Or what, you'll fly home to mommy? Oh, wait you can't.” Silver Spoon spoke with authority and meant every word. “Now move!”

“Never!” Even Sweetie Belle, who was full of adrenalin, stood her ground and glared at her foes with fire.

“I said MOVE!” Growing impatient, Silver Spoon took a drastic measure and shoved Sweetie Belle hard and caused her to stumble over her feet.

“Sweetie Belle!” cried Applebloom and Scootaloo.

In the blink of an eye, something yellow darted toward the perpetrators. At that point, Silver Spoon screamed, “AH! BEE!”

“WHERE?!” Before she knew it, Diamond Tiara was looking at a very angry wasp, wielding its pointy barb. “AGH, RUN AWAY!” As fast as they could, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon dashed away in fear.

In response to seeing Scootaloo helping Sweetie Belle, the wasp flew over to the two of them. “Penelope?” said the unicorn with a smile.

“What is she doin' here?” Applebloom was standing in front of her friends, now that the two bullies ran off.

“Before I came to school, I got Penelope and had her keep an eye on my notes.” Logic aside, the wasp reached behind its back and pulled out the pegasus' notebook. “I told Penelope to wait until we got out of school to show you, but I guess she followed me.”

Penelope had no other way of communicating other than nodding to what Scootaloo had just said. “Well thank you for scaring them off,” Sweetie Belle said with a small grin. “Never thought something so small can be so frightening.”

Scootaloo couldn't agree with her friend any more. “Heh, we all know that Penelope has- WAH!” In and instant, Penelope jumped onto Scootaloo's nose and smiled. From where she last left off, the pegasus said in an irritated voice, “...the element of surprise...”

Both Applebloom and Sweetie Belle giggled a bit at Penelope's shananigins. “Are ya hurt Sweetie Belle? asked Applebloom.

“I'm fine. What about you?”

While this was going on, Penelope saw the two bullies trying to catch their breath at a distance. With an evil grin, the wasp left Scootaloo's nose and flew up into the sky.

“Where are you going,” the pegasus wondered aloud.

Meanwhile, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were continuing their conversation. “Ah will be honest,” said Applebloom. “That was a very mean thing she said to me and what she did to you...”

“Yeah... Too bad their weren't any witnesses...”

“Hey, cheer up.” Holding the notebook, Scootaloo smiled and said, “I bet this will cheer you both up and help us forget about those two brats.”

“Wait, did somethin' happen between Big Mac and Flutters-”

Applebloom was cut off as Scootaloo dashed away. “I'll show you at the club house.”

“Hey, wait up!” Trying to keep up, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle broke off in a sprint after their friend. When they finally did catch up to Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle asked, “Hey, where is Penelope?”

All three of the fillies slowed down to a complete stop to look for their friend. “When we were back at the school, she flew off,” Scootaloo answered the question. Suddenly, a loud scream ran through the air. “What in the world was tha- AGH!” Zipping onto her nose once more, Penelope sat on Scootaloo's nose.

“There you are,” Applebloom smiled with delight. “Where were you?” The wasp pointed back toward the school. “Did you hear that scream?” Penelope nodded. “Do you know where the scream came from?” This time, Penelope shook her head. However, the wasp was trying not to grin because she truly knew where the screams came from; Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

***

Walking slowly toward Sweet Apple Acres, the Cutie Mark Crusaders talked about Scootaloo's notes and what happened at Fluttershy's cottage.

“So Fluttershy does like ma brother,” Applebloom spoke in delight.

“Maybe...,” Scootaloo replied. “Remember that Fluttershy is still trying to find out if she really likes Big Mac.”

“True, but if she does like him, we need to think of a plan to give that gentle nudge.” Sweetie Belle grinned toward the ground as she thought of what to say next. “It now seems very likely that Fluttershy does like your brother. I think we can start planning on giving them a small nudge toward each other.”

“Yeah!” After Scootaloo's outburst, her eyes went into a bit of a glare as the sun shined in her face. “But we got to be extra careful about this. We don't want anypony to be suspicious of us.”

“Maybe we can ask Big Mac some questions, like 'do you like being with Fluttershy?' He is at the farm today.” Applebloom's suggestion made her friends nod in agreement.

While the three fillies discussed their plan on questioning Big Macintosh, they quickly found themselves at the entrance of the house. Before they walked in, Applebloom looked to Scootaloo and said, “Hey, Penelope?” Perking her head up from behind the pegasus' ear, the wasp looked toward Applebloom. “Can you make sure you don't fly around? Ah don't want ya ta scare any of ma relatives.” Nodding in agreement, Penelope hid herself in Scootaloo's hair.

“Don't make my head itch Penelope,” the pegasus rebelled as she resisted the urge to scratch her head.

“Where is your brother?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Out in the barn ah suppose.” Applebloom looked around the living room until she found a list. “We only came inside so ah can get ma chore list. Can you girls help me with them?”

“Sure!” the others spoke in delight.

“We need to talk about our next spy mission as well,” Sweetie Belle suggested.

“You're right.” Scootaloo just realized that they need to plan way more ahead if they want their mission to be a success. “Let's see what happens today and plan from there.”

“But let's ignore all this spy business for now! For now, why don't we see if we can get our cutie marks in doing chores!”

Despite Sweetie Belle's enthusiasm, Applebloom looked slightly irritated and said, “Ah have been doin' this stuff for years. Ah don't think there is anythin' special to chores.”

“Think about it in a different way. What if we try to get it all done very quickly. This might get our cutie marks in being quick at things.”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo was on the band wagon. “Rainbow Dash does things really really fast so maybe we can do the same thing.”

“Never thought of it that way...” Applebloom thought and decided to take Sweetie Belle's suggestion. “Alright girls, let's do this then!”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER CHORE SPEED RUNNERS ARE ABOUT TO MAKE THEIR READY SET GO!”

***

Flying in the air was Fluttershy with a basket in her mouth. The basket had a small black bunny who was sound asleep. Just a little longer, Fluttershy thought as she flew toward Sweet Apple Acres. Landing at the gate, the pegasus opened the gate and briskly walked toward Applejack who was pulling a cart full of apples.

“Oh, hey Fluttershy.” Applejack was a bit concerned because she was not informed that Fluttershy would be visiting without scedualing. “What brings you here?”

“I'm so sorry for coming at such a short notice, but could I get some apple juice from you?”

“What for?” Bowing her head, Fluttershy reveled the black bunny that sat in the basket. It looked very injured and had a bandage wrapped around one ear and a large bandaid on its back. “Goodness Fluttershy! What happened to the poor thing?!”

“I don't know! All I was doing was helping my pet bear negotiate with some bees when I saw this poor little bunny lying on the ground. When I picked her up, the little bunny could hardly move. Some of the bees gave her some honey to give her something to eat and I gave her some bandages. But when I tried to feed her, she can't even nibble on anything!”

“Ah see why you are here. You want her to have some liquids, right?”

“Yes. Please Applejack, you must-”

Fluttershy was cut off by her friend. “Relax. I'm on it.”

Removing herself from the wagon, Applejack ran into the house. Moments later, the earth pony came out with a baby bottle filled with apple juice. “Here ya go sugar cube.”

“Oh thank you Applejack.” Giving the bottle to the weak bunny, it snatched the bottle and began drinking from it. Both Fluttershy and Applejack made an “aww” as the little one guzzled the apple juice down.

From afar, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were hustling with chores when they noticed Fluttershy. Dropping what they were doing, the fillies ran over to the pegasus to say hello. “Hey Fluttershy,” the three of the spoke in unison.

“Hello girls. How was your day?”

“Good,” Applebloom spoke for the two of her friends. “We talked about plant stuff in school.”

“We need to get a flower for tomorrow,” Sweetie Belle filled in for Applebloom.

“Well, I have a flower garden at my cottage. Maybe you girls can come over today and pick a few.”

Applejack jumped into the conversation and looked down at Applebloom. “Ah don't know about you goin' to Fluttershy's...”

“Why not?!” the filly complained.

“You left a messy room yesterday.”

“But we just finished ma chores.”

“That fast?”

“Go check.”

“Ah will...” Walking toward the barn Applejack went into the barn.

It was quiet for a while before Scootaloo said, “So how was your day with Big Macintosh?”

“Yeeeaaahhh... how was it, hehe,” Sweetie Belle giggled.

“It was very nice. We went grocery shopping and had dinner at my cottage.” Fluttershy looked up at the sky as she spoke.

“We already know that.”

“You do?”

“Uhh, umm.” Sweetie Belle didn't even realize what she said before even thinking about it.

Trying to cover up the tracks, Applebloom said, “Yeah, umm... ma brother told me what yall did.”

“Speaking of your brother, how is he?”

Six pair of eyes widened with glee as Fluttershy asked her question. “You want to know how ma brother is?”

“Why not? I mean... if that's okay for me to ask...”

“Oh he is doing fine!” Scootaloo spoke proudly. Looking up at Fluttershy with a convincing sort of way, she continued, “In fact, he was just thinking about you.”

“Where is he? I would like to talk to him.” The pegsus' smiled brightly as she kept thinking about her friend.

Instead of the fillies answering Fluttershy, a voice from behind them did. “Here.” It was Applejack who spoke, and Big Macintosh stood right beside her.

“Hello Big Mac,” the pegasus smiled happily. Big Macintosh smiled back and replied with a nod.

Looking down at her sister, Applejack said, “Yer in the clear. You can go to Fluttershy's.”

“YEAY,” Applebloom cried with joy.

“Did something happen yesterday,” Fluttershy asked.

The older sister dug her hoof into Applebloom's hair. “This one tried to flake on her chores yesterday. But it seems she is good for today, so ah can let it slide.”

“You just make sure you do what you are told Applebloom,” the pegasus smiled. “I may have the stare, but who knows what your sister looks like when she is mad.”

“Trust me,” Applebloom replied. “It's nothin' special.”

“Is that SO?” Applejack replied. “How about you take that big ol' cart of apples into the barn?”

“Why do ah need to do that!? That's your chore.”

“Oh 'it's nothin' special.' Jus' a simple little chore is all. Unless you don't want to go to Fluttershy's.”

“Okay...” Dragging her hooves on the ground, Applebloom made her way to the cart and began at her task, but at a very slow pace.

Deciding to bring up conversation, Applejack asked, “So how was your lunch dinner thing you had with ma brother yesterday?”

“I wanted to use some of yesterday's produce and had a buffet for salads.”

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh replied with a smile.

“What did you have?” the sister asked as she jabbed a hoof at his ribs.

“Umm...” Ah don' know if you will like the idea that ah had pears...The stallion looked at Fluttershy, trying to tell her not to reply to Applejack's question, but she already had a breath of air.

“He had a nice bowl of salad with pecans, cranberrry sauce, and pears.”

“OH...” Applejack leered at her brother. “Pears, hugh?”

“Yeah... heh”

“Actually, Angel made the salad and made it a surprise, so Big Macintosh had no idea there where pears.”

“Eeyup.” Good safe Fluttershy...

“Is that all?” For some reason, Applejack looked a bit suspicious about the whole salad being a surprise and it grabbed the attention of Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

Responding to Applejack's question, Fluttershy said, “Actually, Big Macintosh asked me the sweetest thing last night.”

“And that is...?”

“He asked if he could take some of his salad home.”

“Really...?” Applejack responded as she looked at her brother. “This true?”

“Eeyup...” Way to throw a slow ball down the middle Fluttershy...

“Is something wrong with that Applejack?” Fluttershy asked as she looked a bit worried.

“No. Nothin'...” The cowpony turned away. “Anyways Fluttershy, you go on with the girls and have fun. Ah want to have a chat with ma brother...”

“Is it about pears?”

“No, it's about... umm...” Applejack's mouth puckered. “This years harvest.”

“Alright. I just wanted to talk with Big Mac for a little, but I know how serious harvest is to you.”

It was quiet for a moment, then Applejack said, “Come on Big Mac.” The mare walked a few steps toward the barn and spoke again. “Come on brother.”

Then he said it.

“Nope.”

Her neck twisted back in an instant as soon as she heard Big Macintosh's response. “You wanna run that ba me again brother...?”

“Ah SAID 'nope.'”

“Really?”

“Eeyu-PP!”

“Fine... DO AS YOU PLEASE!” Huffing away, Applejack walked away.

It was quiet. Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and even Fluttershy couldn't even make for what just happened. Even Penelope poked her head out of Scootaloo's hear, wondering what the commotion was all about. Only Applebloom was unaware of what just happened because she just came up after Applejack left. “Did umm... something happen?” the filly spoke as she walked up to the four of them.

“Eeyup...”

“Where you an' sis fightin'...?”

“Eeyup...”

“Oh...” I hate it when they fight...

As the Rain Falls

A Melody for my Dear

Ch. 1

This would have been a normal day in Ponyville, if it was not for the cloudy weather drifting over the small village. The weather patrol was out and about gathering clouds to create a small downpour to make up for canceling last week's rainfall. The wind was at a slight breeze, but was steadily starting to pick up, causing everypony to hurry to their homes. At the marketplace, a yellow pegasus was making her final purchase from the errands she was running for the day.

"Okay, let me see…" she said to herself. "I got birdseed, nuts, assorted fruit basket, leafy greens… oh I believe I am forgetting something…" A rabbit emerged from her satchel and was holding a sheet of paper in its hand. It angrily opened the sheet of paper and held it in front of the shy pegasus' face. The young rabbit pointed at the last listed item: carrots. "Oh, I'm so sorry Angel… I was just about to forget," she smiled while her rabbit scowled at her.

She trotted over to the stand that was selling carrots and said, "May I please have a bundle of carrots."

"Sorry mam but this stall is closed," the pony at the stall said bluntly.

"Oh, but I need some carrots for my rabbit."

"Like I said, we are closed…" Angel then jumped off of the pegasus' back and thumped onto the stall table, pointing at the words "carrots" angrily on the list. The stall pony looked at the rabbit with a bit of a glare, then sighed and said, "Okay, fine." She then pulled out one carrot and said, "Two bits."

"Umm, can I have a bit more, please?" said the shy pegasus, but the stern look from the pony behind the stall meant no. So the pegasus put the bits on the table and the rabbit snatched the carrot off of the stand and jumped back into the satchel.

As the pegasus starts to walk away from the stall, a voice comes from behind and says, "Darn stall clerk, being all mean to yea, ay Fluttershy?" It was Applejack, an orange colored earth pony, with a blond mane in a ponytail (ponytail, oh the irony).

"Oh, hello Applejack," said Fluttershy in response to her friend. "How was your day at the market?"

The orange colored pony sighed and said, "Not good today Fluttershy. I had a great line of apples ready to sell today and the gosh darn weather patrol had to make today a downpour." Applejack looked back at her apple stall, where Big Macintosh was starting to take down the stall and put the pieces in the back of a hay wagon. "I need to skedaddle on home before the roads get all wet and it will be hard to pull the apple wagon through the mud."

"Eeyupp!" said Big Macintosh from a distance as he was listening to the two mares talking.

Applejack walked over to her stand and got the harness for the wagon to pull the apples back to her farm. Fluttershy saw that Big Macintosh was having a bit of a hard time taking apart the stand and remembered how Applejack said that the rain could make the roads muddy, making it hard to pull the hay wagon back to the farm. So she spoke in a soft voice, "Umm, would it be okay if I help you take down the stand Big Macintosh?"

Fluttershy's ears folded back a bit, but the friendly stallion replied, "Eeyupp."

The two of them smiled at each other, when Applejack shouted at them, "You two have fun then, an' I'll see you back at home Big Mac, yea hear?"

"Okay, goodbye Applejack!" waved Fluttershy as Big Macintosh waved his hoof.

After they said their farewells, Big Macintosh went straight back to work and continued to take down the stall. Fluttershy was going to start helping, when she felt a tap on her head. She looked behind her and saw her rabbit holding the leaves of a once was carrot. "Oh, you want another carrot Angel?" The rabbit nodded its head, but Fluttershy said in an awkward tone and said, "I'm sorry, but umm… I don't think I can get you another ca…" The rabbit was not happy with the response that was given to him and threw the leaves of the carrot in her face. "Umm, please don't be like this please?"

As this was going on, Big Macintosh noticed Fluttershy having a bit of an issue with her angry friend. He then walked over to the wagon and pulled out a large sack and walked over to the pink haired pegasus. Big Macintosh then set it on the ground and after loosening the tie around the sack, it revealed a large assorted amount of produce. There were celery, lettuce heads, potatoes, and carrots. Angel and Fluttershy saw the generosity from the red colored stallion, and the rabbit jumped into the sack. It was about to take a bite, when Fluttershy said in a nice tone, "Now now Angel, let's show some manners." The rabbit crossed its arms as the pegasus said, "Do you mind if we borrow some carrots from you?"

"Nnnope!" smiled the red stallion.

"Oh, thank you Big Mac." They both smiled and they continued to take down the stand. As they were, Angel was still inside of the sack, feasting on the carrots, for he was quite hungry. With the two ponies working together, taking down the stall was no problem and the task was finished in no time. When the two finished, they realized that it was getting dark out, and with the clouds blocking the sun, light was becoming more absent by the minute. "Well, I must be on my way home," said the shy pegasus.

"Eeyupp," responded Big Macintosh.

"Again, thank you for the-" A crack from a lightning bolt broke through the air, and Fluttershy shrieked and hid under the wagon.

Rain soon started to fall from the sky as the red stallion put on the harness for the wagon. He was about to start walking to the farm when he forgot that Fluttershy was taking refuge under the wagon. The look on the pegasus' face worried him and he wanted to make sure she got home. He looked down at her and said, "Mind if I escort ya home?"

The pegasus looked up and said, "Oh no. If you do, you might catch a cold, or get the wheels caught in the mud. Besides, my house is away from the farm, so you will be making twi-" Another flash of lightning followed by the thunder caused her to whimper and cover her eyes with her hooves. Angel looked at her and shook his head in disappointment from Fluttershy's cowardliness.

Big Macintosh reached his hoof under the wagon and said, "Don't you worry, I don't mind the extra work." The shy pegasus took Big Macintosh's hoof and helped her from underneath the wagon. Rain was starting to get onto her and Angel, so the rabbit quickly pulled out an umbrella and covered him and Fluttershy.

"Are you sure? I mean, it is dark and cold out… and scary."

"Eeyupp!"

Fluttershy was now sure that he will not change his mind, so she allows him to follow her home. "Okay just stay close please…" she said with a shy tone.

Big Macintosh nodded and the two of them started on their way to Fluttershy's home.

***

Darkness was quickly engulfing the light. Luckily, there were lampposts at the roads, or there would be no vision of the road. The two ponies walked on the road to Fluttershy's home, trying to make haste because of the rain. The shy mare was walking close to Big Macintosh, scared she might lose sight of him in the dark rainy night.

"Umm, Big Mac?" said Fluttershy in a quiet tone.

"Eeyup?"

"T-thank you for the offer to w-walk me home," she spoke as she shivered from the cold air. Big Macintosh nodded with a smile as a response to the mare.

Fluttershy smiled for a while, feeling a bit of comfort for having Big Macintosh being so brave for her, though it was just a way of helping out a fellow mare after all. She then started to look around at the forest, surrounding the road as they walked on. The trees had a dark-green color on them from the light that the lanterns were making.

A pair of bright eyes leers out from a hole in a tree, causing Fluttershy to shriek and hide behind Big Macintosh. Then a light "hoo" sound came from the tree. The now slightly relaxed pegasus comes out from behind the stallion and walks towards the tree ad says, "It is cold and rainy out tonight Mrs. Owl. Stay inside tonight and I will bring some yummy food for you in the morning." The owl from the tree replied with another "hoo" and the yellow pegasus smiled with joy. She then looked back at Big Macintosh, who had stopped because of Fluttershy's action towards the owl. "Oh, I'm so sorry Big Mac…" she said with her ears folded back. "Did I keep you waiting?"

"Nnope," replied the stallion.

"Oh, okay…"

They then continued on their way to Fluttershy's house, as Big Macintosh was thinking to himself. I don't understand why she can get so paranoid over making somepony angry, he thought. The stallion looked at the scared pegasus and said, "Fluttershy, no need to be afraid. I'll make sure you get home safely."

"Oh, thank you," she lightly smiled, but she was still frightened of the darkness that surrounded them.

Moments pass, when a large and thick tree becomes visible from a good distance away. "Oh, look Angel! We are almost home." The rabbit was still sitting on her back holding up the umbrella, unhappy with the task he was given. Big Macintosh was relieved to know that they are almost to her house. He did not realize that her home was further than he expected.

A flash of lightning dashed through the air, making the pegasus more frightened and started to walk a bit quicker. Another flash of lightning bolted through the air, making Fluttershy freeze in her tracks in fear. Big Macintosh was right behind her, when yet another bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, and pierced right through the large tree. From both Fluttershy and Big Macinosh's surprise, the tree began to fall in the pegasus' direction. She started to run, but was quickly tripped by a tree root and fell to the ground, making Angel to fall off her back.

Time had seem to have frozen for Big Macintosh, for he had to make a quick decision. If I kick the trunk of the tree, I could snap it, but risk having the upper part of the tree fall on top of Fluttershy. Using the wagon to stop the fall of the tree won't do any help, because the tree would most likely crush the wagon, along with Fluttershy.

The tree began accelerating, falling faster towards the pegasus, frozen in fear, unable to move. She held onto Angel closely, while he tried to squirm his way out of her arms. Fluttershy then closed her eyes, ready for the tree to crush her with its weight.

***

A soft pattering from the rain tapped on the window from the home of Applejack. A filly was sitting in front of the fireplace, looking into the flames that flickered in the fire. She was a yellow colored earth pony with a large pink bow in her mane. Her dark pink hair glowed from the light of the fire. The eyes of the young pony were half closed as she stared at the flames.

A voice came from behind, "Applebloom, it's time for bed." The filly wanted to respond, but was still silent as she continued to stare back at the fireplace. "Now come on. You need your sleep."

Applebloom looked behind her and spoke, "Big sis, you worried about Big Mac?"

She saw her older sister standing on the stairway. Applejack was not wearing her hat because she just finished washing her hair and still had her hair in a ponytail. She then smiled and said, "Now don't you worry none, lil' sis. He'll be fine, I know it." Applejack then walked down the stairs and sat next to Applebloom, putting an arm around her little sister.

Despite the comfort from her old sister, Applebloom looked up with a nervous look on her face and said, "But still, you and Big Mac worry me. I know I should believe in my older brother, but sometimes you or Big Mac don't come home till mornin', or even longer. Remember the time when you had that sleep over at Twilight's place?"

"Yeah, what about it sis?"

"Well, you never told me or Granny that you will be home till mornin'. You have no idea what thoughts were going through my head when you didn't come home that day. Even Sweetie Bell was worried about her big sis and she was all alone in that big shop of hers."

"I told you I was sorry for that Applebloom and I won't do it again."

"Then please go see if he is on his way." The little filly gave Applejack a puppy dog stare, with a sad look on her face.

Applejack then let out a long sigh and said, "Alright lil' sis." A bright smile came from Applebloom and she hugged her sister. Applejack then got up and ran up the stairs. A few moments later, she came down the stairs wearing her hat. Before opening the door, the older sister turned and said, "I'll have Big Mac wake ya when he gets back so you don't have to worry,yea hear?" Before Applebloom could reply, the older pony was already out the door and headed towards town.

A smile was on the filly's face as she saw her sister run out into the rain to go check on her big brother. An old voice came from upstairs and said, "Scoot your caboose little filly, it's time to get some shut eye!"

"Okay Granny Smith." Before walking up the stairs, Applebloom looked out the dark window and thought to herself, maybe I worry too much. Maybe, but…

***

The splinters of the tree cracked louder as the tree continued breaking in two. Fluttershy held her eyes tighter, ready for her final moments, and heard a loud thump. At first she thought the tree fell on top of her, but then felt some leaves from the tree brush on her face. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that the tree had stopped falling and that Big Macintosh had his back legs holding the tree from falling. He was holding the tree trunk from the middle and the tree was about to split apart from the now splintered tree trunk.

"Go, now," he said as he grunted, struggling to hold the tree up with his hind legs. Fluttershy scrambled to get up and moved from underneath the tree. While she was safe, the red earth pony was struggling to hold the trunk up. If only the tree had splintered off, thought Big Macintosh. He could not push the tree trunk away because it was still attached to the trunk.

The scared pegasus looked at him in worry and said, "What about you? Will you need help?"

"N… nope," he grunted once again, as he started to lose strength and his back legs started to bend in slowly. Fluttershy was about to run but then thought to herself about how he saved her and now it was her turn to return the favor. She quickly ran over to the wagon and quickly put on the harness from the wagon and pulled it to where she fell down. Big Macintosh then slowly lowered the tree and settled it on top of the wagon. He then stumbled and fell forward after laying the tree on the wagon. With his legs sprawled out, Fluttershy took off the harness and helped Big Macintosh up to his feet. They both started to laugh in relief from the danger that has just passed them. Angel was sitting a good distance away from the two of them, breathing rapidly from the danger that just occurred just moments ago. Fluttershy and Big Macintosh started to walk from under the tree, when the wagon started to give way to the weight of the tree. The red stallion saw this and shoved Fluttershy from underneath the tree just before it fell, crushing the wagon full of apples, and spilling apples all over the road. A large broken tree branch has pierced Big Macintosh's right hind leg when the large plant fell; however, the rest of his body was not under the tree.

The red stallion yelled in pain as the yellow pegasus shrieked, both looking at where the branch penetrated Big Macintosh's leg. "Are you okay Big Mac?!"

"Nope," he replied with a grunt in pain. Big Macintosh was gritting his teeth and his eyes were clenched shut from the pain in his leg. He looked at where the tree branch pierced, seeing blood slowly seep out from the wound.

"Oh, what do I do," thought Fluttershy in a panic. She looked around her quickly to try and find somepony to help her, but in the weather that they were in, help cannot be quickly obtained. The pegasus wanted to go and find help, but she can't just leave the one that saved her life not once, but twice in the same day.

She then realized that Angel was with her and figured he could help. She ran over to Angel and said, "Angel, I need you to hurry! Can you please run on home and get the saw? It is the only way to get Big Macintosh free." Her voice was in a panic and wanted to get Big Macintosh to the hospital.

Despite the danger that Big Macintosh was in, Angel was still resistant. He was not happy that Fluttershy put him in danger. Fluttershy was desperate for help. She then said, "If you help, I will make sure you get all the carrots you want for next week." Angel's ears twitched from Fluttershy's request and pondered about it. The pegasus began to panic and wanted to save her friend. She raised her voice in a scared tone, "Please, hurry! I don't know how much time we have." The white rabbit looked into her eyes that were starting to form tears.

Angel then nodded his head and ran up the road towards Fluttershy's house. The pegasus then turned around and quickly trotted over to Big Macintosh and said quietly, "A… are you okay?"

"N… nope," he grunted with a worried tone in his voice. "Are you umm… going to saw off my leg?"

"Oh no," she said with a shocked look on her face. "The branch looks like it could be sawed off, so I figured doing that will free you."

"Well, then I am better for now," he chuckled followed by a grunt of pain. A look of worry fell upon the red stallion's face. He was shivering from the cold rain and Fluttershy realized how cold it was. She walked over to him and sat next to him. The stallion looked at Fluttershy and was going to say something but hesitated and looked down. Not only Fluttershy was worried, but she was confused and cold as well. Rain was falling down on both of them and the wind was starting to pick up, causing the air to become colder. The yellow pegasus scooted closer to Big Macintosh until her back leg accidentally touched his wounded leg and he grunted in pain, clenching his eyes shut.

Fluttershy jumped up and quickly said, "Oh, I'm sorry!" However, the stallion smiled and he motioned his head for her to sit next to him again. She slowly walked over to him and sat down next to him, but avoided touching his leg, so left a gap between them.

She looked at Big Macintosh while he looked forward as he said, "Would you mind lying next to me?" He looked back at her and continued, "It is quite cold and I'm sure you are cold too."

Both of the two ponies had a flustered look on their face while Big Macintosh still had a worried look on his face. "Oh, but are you sure? I… I don't want to hurt your leg."

"Eeyup," he smiled.

"Oh, okay." She slowly lay next to Big Macintosh and scooted up against him. As her side touched his, Fluttershy felt his shivering body; however, his shivering slowly came to a calm shaking. The pegasus looked at the red stallion who was still looking forward, thoughts on his mind. "What is on your mind," said Fluttershy looking at Big Macintosh's hazel eyes.

He didn't look at her but replied, "Just… what would happen to the farm if somehow I…"

"Please… don't say it… You won't, I promise."

Big Macintosh then looked at Fluttershy with a bright smile, "Yeah, I am worrying too much."

"But I worry too much as well," she said as they smiled at each other. The red stallion winced in pain again from the wound that was in his leg. Fluttershy then gently laid her head gently on Big Macintosh's shoulder. This time he was looking at Fluttershy and she was staring straight out into the darkness.

Such a nice mare he thought to himself. Wonder how she became to be who she is today. After he looked at the yellow pegasus, he too stared out into the darkness, waiting for the white rabbit to make his return with the saw. Time seemed to have frozen in the dark and rainy evening the two ponies were in. After what seemed to be an eternity, Fluttershy lifted her head up and looked at the stallion. He had a tired look on his face, which made the pegasus wonder.

"Are you getting sleepy?"

"Nope," he replied in a quieter tone than usual.

"You look like you are, but why would you look tired in this cold weather?"

Big Macintosh's head began to bob a bit. "I think… it's 'cause of the wound… I'm feeling a bit dizzy."

The pegasus started to panic again and stood up. "Oh no, this can't be good." She began to walk back and forth, pondering what to do. "I don't know if Angel made it home… maybe I should go see if he made it back home… or go get somepony to help."

Just before Fluttershy what about to make a decision, Big Macintosh said, "No need to worry. I am sure that your rabbit is on its way right now."

"Oh but are you sure?"

"Eeyup."

"Okay then, I'll stay."

She then lay next to Big Macintosh again and scoots close to him. I also need the company, he thought to himself. They both looked at each other and looked forward, without another word or emotion. Time once again has seemed to have frozen. The only thing that showed any motion was the rain falling down onto the two ponies. How long has it been, thought the red stallion. He closed his eyes, listening for a sound of any kind; a splash, a hoof, anything.

"…mac…"

The stallion's ears perked up as he heard the voice. He looked at Fluttershy and asked her, "You here that?"

"What?" She too looked up and around them.

"Macintosh… where are you…"

"Sis? Yea hear me!?"

Soon the sound of splashing came to ear and grew louder and louder. The voice was close and a loud shout came from behind the tree, "Mac, you hear me?!"

"Yeah," said Big Macintosh calmly as he looked behind himself.

"Applejack," shouted Fluttershy as she ran behind the tree. She saw the blond haired pony with her cowboy hat drenched from the rain and hugged her. "I'm so glad you are here."

"What in tarnation is goin' on Fluttershy," replied Applejack in confusion.

"It's Big Mac! He is stuck," she replied with a panicky tone in her voice.

"Where?"

"Under the tree sis," replied the stallion.

"What?!" Applejack ran around the tree followed by Fluttershy, to see her brother trapped by the branch that pierced his leg. "How did this happen? What's goin' on? Where are the apples? When…"

"Ya know there are many questions to ask, sis, but I'm in a bit of need," said Big Macintosh in a bit of a quiet tone.

"You don't seem to be worried none Big Mac."

"I've been bleedin' for a while and I'm feelin' a little dizzy."

Fluttershy whimpered a bit as he spoke about his loss of blood. Applejack then said, "Have you sent anypony to get help?"

"Yes, Angel went to go get a saw from by home to cut-" Fluttershy was cut off by Applejack.

"You ain't cuttin' off my brother's leg!"

"No sis," Big Macintosh chuckled. "The branch is long enough to be cut without sawing off my leg."

Applejack looked at the branch that penetrated his leg. It did look like it was easy enough to saw off, but time was running out, so she thought of another way to free him from the tree. "Hey, Fluttershy?"

"Yes?"

"Can you nuzzle my brother?"

"What," replied the pegasus with a light blush on her face. She looked at Big Macintosh, who too had a confused look on his face.

"Yeah, can you do that?"

"Umm… okay…"

"Thanks sugar cube. This won't take long."

Fluttershy faced Big Macintosh and sat in front of him. The two ponies looked at each other, as Fluttershy brought her face close to Big Macintosh. Her face red, she touched the stallion's nose with hers and closed her eyes tight from embarrassment. After a short while, she slowly opened her eyes and was met with Big Macintosh's hazel eyes.

The look on his face was no embarrassment, but was slightly smiling. "Why are you embarrassed?"

Her ears folded down and said, "I just… haven't done this with another stallion before…"

"Me either… Well I would not have done this with another stallion but…" Fluttershy giggled at what Big Macintosh said after he realized he misunderstood her statement. They smiled as Big Macintosh continued, "Anyways, I have not done this with any mare before." A shy tone could be heard from his voice. "And… you are AAAHHHHGGGG!!!" Fluttershy shrieked and jumped back from Big Macintosh's spontaneous scream in agony. The two ponies looked back to see that Applejack had broken the tree branch by bucking it with her back legs, freeing her brother. Sadly, there was more serious damage was done to the stallion's leg. When she kicked the branch, a slightly more freash cut was made, making a bigger gash in the wound. More blood started to slowly ooze out of his leg and made Fluttershy shriek even more. "A bit of a warnin' would have been nice sis!"

"I could have, but then you would have been more hesitant," replied Applejack. She walked over to her bother and tried helping him up. "Can you stand?"

He tried standing a bit on his own, but the weight he put on his leg was too great and therefore and he fell to the ground in agony. Both mares were in worry and felt sorry for the pain that Big Macintosh was enduring.

"Fluttershy," said Applejack with a worried look on her face. "Help Big Mac onto my back and we will run him to the hospital."

"Oh, okay." The two mares then helped him up a second time and got him onto Applejack's back. He grunted in pain as he went onto her.

"Hold on big brother, this will all be over soon."

"Ee… eeyup," said Big Macintosh with a grunt in pain.

"I'm coming too Applejack. I just want to make sure you get there too," said Fluttershy with determination.

"Alright, let's get a move on," said Applejack as she took off, Fluttershy following from behind. The pegasus was trailing a bit behind because of the rain falling in her face, but was determined to keep up. It wasn't before long when the three ponies made it out of the forest path and had the town in sight.

"I can see the hospital from here," said Fluttershy in relief.

"Yea hear that Big Mac? We're almost there!"

"Eeyup," said the stallion calmly but still in pain.

***

Rain continued to fall outside of the hospital walls. The air was calm inside of the hospital, with the lights brightly lit inside. The two mares sat outside of a hospital room waiting for news to come about Big Macintosh. Fluttershy was telling Applejack what had just occurred moments before her arrival.

"And so, he pushed me out of the way just before the tree crushed the apple wagon."

"I sure am surprised that Big Mac reacted so quickly to save you."

"I know, but I am so sorry about the apple wagon…"

"Oh hush sugar cube. If you hadn't acted, who knows what could'a happen."

"I try not to think about it…" Fluttershy looked down in worry that something wasn't right. What did she forget?

The door to the hospital room slowly opened as the doctor and two mare nurses walked out of the room. The doctor had a bit of brown curly hair with a scalpel for a cutie mark and the nurses had blood red hair, white colored bodies, and a red cross for a cutie mark.

A nervous look fell on Fluttershy, but Applejack was confident the news was going to be a good one. "So what's the news doc?"

He spread stretched his wings and the light brown pegasus said, "Your brother is now in good condition."

"Thank heavens," said Applejack as Fluttershy sighed in relief.

"Oh umm, can we see him," said the yellow pegasus from behind Applejack.

"But of course." The two nurses and doctor moved out of the way and the two mares looked into the room to see the red stallion asleep in the hospital bed. His wounded leg was not visible and was under the green blanket that Big Macintosh slept under.

Applejack and Fluttershy smiled and were about to walk in, but was blocked by the two nurses who walked into the doorway. "I am sorry, but the patient needs his rest," spoke one of the nurses calmly.

"Oh okay," replied Fluttershy shyly and walked backwards.

Applejack looked at the doctor and spoke, "What's the word on my brother's leg?"

He folded his wings back and said, "Well, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the branch did not break or shatter any bone in his leg. The bad news is the flesh for the leg to grow back may take a few months. The hole in his leg was quite a large on, but not too big. We will need to perform a bit of surgery to heal the leg back to full health."

Applejack chuckled as the doctor finished, "He is going to hate being stuck in a hospital bed all the time."

"Not to worry. After we make sure the leg will make a full recovery, we will allow him to use a wheel chair."

"Even that will drive him to the apple core, doc."

"Yes, but anyways, we will allow you to visit him at any time during the day-"

"DOCTOR!" A blue colored pony with a pink mane ran in their direction.

"What is it nurse," replied the doctor in concern.

"There is something outside of the hospital!"

The two nurses beside the doctor giggled a bit as the doctor replied, "I know you are afraid of storms, but there is nothing to be afraid of. It is probably a patient outside."

Despite the confusion Applejack and Fluttershy were in, the nurse ran to the window down the hall and pointed to something standing in the rain. "It is a monster, killer thing! See for yourself!"Everypony walked away from the hospital room and walked over to the window to see what the nurse was panicking about. Outside, a small dark figure was standing in front of the hospital, wielding a saw in its hand. "There it is! I told you."

They all looked at the figure when a flash of lightening bolted somewhere in the sky. Fluttershy shrieked and was about to hide, when the flash of lightening revealed that the figure was a rabbit. "Oh no, Angel!"

Fluttershy ran down the hall as the frightened nurse yelled, "No, don't go outside!" However, the pegasus did not respond and ran out of sight.

Moments later, the ponies looked outside of the window to see Fluttershy approach the rabbit. Fluttershy spoke to the rabbit in a shy tone, "Oh good, you got the saw." Angel's face would have been an angry face, but he was too cold to be mad. "Oh, I am so sorry Angel. Let's get you inside." She picked up the soggy rabbit, placed him on her back, and walked into the hospital doors.

***

Shivering in a towel, Angel was chattering his teeth, eating carrots quickly down as if he was a wood chipper. The yellow pegasus sat in the waiting room with Angel in her arms, holding carrots on one hoof and feeding them to him. "You did something very brave today Angel," smiled Fluttershy. The rabbit was still shivering but lifted his head and smiled in pride of what he did.

As she continued to feed the rabbit, the two white nurses in the hallway were teasing the frightened nurse about what she was scared about. "It was just a little rabbit," giggled one of the nurses.

"Well you don't see a rabbit wielding a saw every night shift, now do we," retaliated the pink maned pony.

While the three nurses argued, the doctor was talking to Applejack. "…And that is what's going to happen during the time your brother stays here at the hospital."

"Thanks doc."

The two of them looked at Fluttershy and the doctor said to Applejack, "Your brother did a brave thing to save your friend."

"Not just my brother, but Fluttershy saved him too. I owe it to her that she thought quickly to get him from under the tree."

A pause in the conversation occurred as they continued to look at Fluttershy feeding the rabbit. The doctor looked at the cowpony and said, "Your friend seems worried about Big Macintosh."

"Oh she is just like that for everypony," smiled Applejack.

However, the doctor did not think that was the case. "I have studied all anatomy of ponies and I can tell certain things are different when things are not so obvious."

Applejack was a bit confused. "Come again doc?"

"It may be just me, but I think your friend might have a crush on your brother. She may have a caring personality, but love can be formed in the blink of an eye." The mare looked back at Fluttershy in silence, thinking about what the doctor had said. "Well, you and your friend should take a hospital bed and wait till morning for the rain to settle." The pegasus doctor then walked away from the cowpony and the nurses stopped their arguing and followed the doctor.

Applejack then walked over to Fluttershy, who had now fallen asleep in the chair with Angel. The rabbit was half chewing on a carrot when he fell asleep. She stood in front of the pegasus still pondering about what the doctor just told her.

"I don't know if the doctor was right or not…" said Applejack very quietly to herself. "…But if he was right about you liking my big brother, I'm not sure if I would be happy about that…" The earth pony then walked out of the waiting room and walked down the hallway to find an empty room for her to sleep in.

Whackin' Troubles

Melody for my Dear

Ch4

“So how many gophers do we have this year Applejack,” questioned Applebloom.

“More than your little head can even count,” Applejack huffed as six ponies ran to the farm. Fluttershy was flying above the five grounded ponies, hoping she can keep up with the fast group.

“Oh, there’s the farm,” said Fluttershy pointing ahead of them, but she was not heard over the thundering hooves. As they approached, they slowed down and walked into the entrance. The yellow pegasus landed next to the group of them and looked around to see where the gophers were. However, the only thing she saw was the barn, the apple orchard, and the three fillies breathing heavily for some oxygen.

“I don’t see any gophers Applejack,” Fluttershy looked at Applejack.

“They were here just moments ago I reckon…” Puzzled, Applejack rubbed her chin with a hoof. I know those gosh darn vermin were here.

“Maybe it is a small family and… EKK!” A mound of dirt emerged from where Fluttershy was standing and carried her away

behind the barn, leaving behind a lumpy trail as it traveled across the farm.

“Common yall’, follow that gopher!”

Applejack and Big Macintosh took off after the trail and Fluttershy. As they rounded the corner, Big Macintosh asked Applejack, “Hay sis, who’s watchin’ the apple stand?”

“Granny Smith. You don’t mind that, do ya?”

“Nnope.”

After their exchange of information, Fluttershy passed the two ponies in the opposite direction continuing to skid on top of the mound that continued to advance. It eventually came to a stop underneath an apple tree and out popped a head from the mound of dirt. The pegasus bounced up as the head surfaced from the ground and landed next to the creature. “Oh, hello there little one,” Fluttershy smiled. Happy to see a friendly face, the small gopher smiled and waved its arm at her. Fear was then suddenly stricken on the gophers face as Applejack and Big Macintosh approached the two of them and dove back into the hole.

“Oh, it seemed scared…” worried Fluttershy.

“Well, we kinda had to shoo em’ off last year,” said Applejack with a nervus look on her face.

“How?”

Before Applejack could respond, a groan came from behind the three ponies. Slowly staggering on the ground, Applebloom dragged herself towards a water hose that was lying in the thin grass. Scootaloo followed, crawling on the ground, along with Sweetie Belle slouched on her back. Water shot out of the hose as soon as Applebloom turned the nozzle on all the way and she started to sip at the stream of water. As she was drinking the refreshment, an orange arm snatched the hose out of the filly’s grasp. Her pegasus friend shoved the end of the hose in her mouth, relieving herself of thirst. It was not before long before Scootaloo began to inflate with water and her body began to expand. Pressure was built up to the point where the filly shot backwards, spewing water as she went. Sweetie Bell was left airborne when Scootaloo rocketed off before plopping to the ground.

“Wow, look at her go,” Applebloom watched as her friend began to bounce off of the trees. Sweetie Belle was too busy to notice as she was pouring the water on her head and licking some of it in as it ran down her face.

Both Applejack and Fluttershy were amused at how exhausted the fillies were from the run to the farm and their desperation to drink water.

“Umm, Applejack, where is Big Mac,” Fluttershy said as she looked over her shoulder.

“Oh, I just saw him wonder off in that ol’ shed over yonder,” pointed the cowpony to a plain wooden shed. From it, Big Macintosh emerged from it with a mallet clenched in his teeth. Before he walked to the two mares, he evaded Scootaloo as she flew towards him and crashed into the shed. Both mares ran over to see if the filly was okay; she was, but Scootaloo’s eyes spun as her head was stood up on the wooden floor and legs leaned against the wall.

“Oh, Scootaloo, are you okay,” asked Fluttershy walking into the shed.

The filly’s body slowly slid off the wall and onto her back. Lending a helping hoof, Fluttershy helped Scootaloo to all fours.

“Thanks Fluttershy, but I’m fine,” complimented the orange filly before tripping over a nail, slamming her face against the wall of a shed, and shaking a bucket from a shelf above her to fall over Scootaloo’s head.

Applejack was caught laughing lightly by Fluttershy while the pegasus assembled Scootaloo to sit upright.

“You need to be more careful Scootaloo. I am responsible for keeping you safe,” said Fluttershy as she revealed the little one’s head.

“Ugh… sorry… my head hurts…,” whined Scootaloo.

Both Fluttershy and Applejack helped the filly out of the shed, when suddenly a huge, brief rupture came from the ground which made everypony bounce a few inches off the ground. This caused Fluttershy to shriek and dash to a tree, clenching onto the trunk. Apples began to fall off some of the surrounding trees during the rupture.

“W…What was that,” worried Fluttershy. The three of them looked around to see where the sudden force came from. Once again, a huge shake rocked the entire farm from an unknown source, and Fluttershy’s protective tree vibrated and shook her off.

“Over there,” called Sweetie Belle from a distance. Attention grabbed the three ponies to look where the voice came from. Not a second later, came another violent rumble.

“Oh, that must be Big Mac an’ the other two,” said Applejack with a sigh in relief.

“He is making all this shaking,” questioned Scootaloo.

Curiosity overcame Fluttershy and she flew up into the sky to see what Big Macintosh was doing to create these insane ruptures. When she caught sight of the red colt, she saw an adorable head of brown appear from the earth and looked at Applebloom.

“Right there brother,” shouted Applebloom and shot an arm at the gopher. A blurry swish of solid wood swung and crashed down on the poor earth creature. Big Macintosh had the wooden mallet clenched in his teeth. Defenseless to help, the airborne pegasus gasped and whimpered in fear that earth creature was injured, or worse. To Fluttershy’s relief, the gopher poked its head aside the mallet with a shocked look on its face and lucky to still be conscious.

“There it is again,” cried Sweetie Belle.

Rising once again, the mallet had its eyes locked onto the gopher. It squeaked and dashed back underground. Big Macintosh was about to swing when Fluttershy cried out, “Wait!”

Six eyes looked at the yellow pegasus as she flew over to the mallet wielder and the two gopher scouters. “Are you trying to hurt these poor creatures,” Fluttershy glared as her eyes encountered Big Macintosh’s.

“Nope,” he hesitated as he casually tossed the wooden hammer aside.

“But we always got rid of em’ this way,” defended Applebloom.

“How come Applejack never told me about this?” Fluttershy looked back to see Applejack approach from behind along with Scootaloo trotting alongside her. Applejack knew she had to confront her friend about the gophers. The cowpony could see the sorrow in the pegasus’ eyes and held her breath as she approached.

“I’m sorry for not tellin’ ya about this problem in the past Fluttershy…” Applejack frowned, letting out the held in air. “It’s just them little critters dig around the trees and chew up the roots. We need to make sure our trees get their nutrients so we can grow our apples. Ya hear what I’m sayin’?”

“Umm… well I understand you run a farm but…” Fluttershy was about to make her statement, when a slam came from a distance away from everypony. Big Macintosh was surrounded by mounds of earth as brown gophers poked in and out of the ground. They teased him as he swung the wooden hammer in attempt to hit one of them but failed every time. Many gophers then popped up around Big Macintosh and blew their tongues at him. Enraged, he rapidly swung at the holes, but in vain, missing every gopher as they popped in and out of the ground. Exausted, Big Macintosh’s jaw dropped the hammer and the stallion sprawled out on his belly. His head rested in the grass as a small gopher appeared before his face. It quickly snatched a small rock and threw the rough sphere at the stallion’s forehead. A hoof quickly fell over the gopher, but the earth creature was too quick for Big Macintosh and fled back into the ground.

Irritation was found on his face as Fluttershy approached the stallion. “Umm, want me to help you up Big Mac,” she smiled shyly.

“Eeyup.” She wrapped her hoof around his and attempted to assist Big Macintosh. The stallion rocked his body so he can get upright and have Fluttershy pull him up. His massive strength, however, overcame the pegasus, and when he pulled on her arm, it caused her to tumble onto him. Both ponies’ eyes widened and cheeks flushed with red as they realized what had happened.

“Oh, umm… sorry Fluttershy.”

“Oh, it’s okay.” The pegasus quickly got off of him and tried to show less blush by looking away. Big Macintosh helped himself off of the ground and rubbed his arm in embarrassment at what had happened.

Applejack and the three fillies chuckled as they approached the clumsy ponies. “He just can’t seem to know his own

strength, huh Big Mac,” questioned Applejack.

“N…nope,” he replied, still flustered.

“So, how do we get these gophers off the farm,” asked Scootaloo.

“Oh yes, that’s right!” Fluttershy remembered what she was trying to do before past events occurred. “Everypony, please take a seat behind.” As everypony planted their rumps onto the grass, the pegasus looked into a hole in front of her and spoke very softly, “Hello? Anypony home?”

Moments pass when a friendly brown head came from the hole. It looked behind the yellow pony to see the big red mallet swinging bully peering down onto it. Before it went back into the ground to flee, Fluttershy smiled, “Oh, please don’t be afraid. My friend over there is very sorry for doing such a mean thing to you and your family. Watch me little one.” She then turned to Big Macintosh and beckoned him to come over. Slowly but surely, he walked over to Fluttershy and sat next to her. The stallion felt guilt weigh him down as he sat in front of the gopher, knowing it was mad and scared of him. “Now Big Mac, why don’t you apologize to the gopher?”

Looking down and ears folded, the stallion said low in shame, “Ah… ah am sorry little one. Ah didn’t mean no harm, it’s just, yall make a bit of a mess when ya go all diggin’ about the farm.” Trying to gain the trust of the gopher, he stomped the ground with one hoof, and an apple fell from a tree above him. Quickly catching it, he then lowers the apple to the earth creature and says calmly, “Here ya go little one.”

A black nose sniffed the apple that was gifted to it. Then it grabbed the round fruit and retreated into the ground as it has done before. “That was very nice Big Mac,” smiled Fluttershy with a bit of a glow in her eyes. Accepting the complement from the pegasus, he rubbed his head in embarrassment with a smile.

Without warning, a sudden twenty little bodies popped out of the ground and surrounded both Fluttershy and Big Macintosh. The gopher that received an apple pointed its arm at both ponies, chattering away at the others that came to the surface. Soon, a very old looking gopher with a gray beard slowly crawled out of a hole and walked up to the two ponies. “Oh my, is that your family Mr. Old Gopher,” questioned Fluttershy. Answering the question, the bearded creature slowly bobbed its head. “Well, I’m sorry to say but my friends who live here, umm…” Fluttershy recollected her thoughts without offending the head gopher. She looked over her shoulder to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders whispering to one another as Applejack stared at the crowd of gophers. “…well, they think you can live in a better place than here. Behind my home, there is a nice hill for you and your family to live. I also have other rodents who live there so you can all mingle.”

By golly, she has sucha way with words, smiled Big Macintosh as the pegasus continued to speak to the elder.

“So waddia say!? I mean, it would be nice to have more company at my home…” shied Fluttershy as she sounded too eager to help the family of gophers.

Raising its gray brows, the gopher slowly turned around to its family and stood silently for a few moments. Everypony now had to wait eagerly for the answer from the elder; even the gophers were waiting in anticipation. The elder then held its chin up high, and bobbed his head up and down. A sudden “yeay” came from the group of gophers as the elder agreed to Fluttershy’s proposal. Even Applejack and the Cutie Mark Crusaders cheered.

“That was some mighty fine work Fluttershy.” Applejack walked over to the pegasus with a smile.

“Oh, well, I couldn’t have done it without Big Mac,” answered Fluttershy, looking up at the stallion.

“Really?” he questioned.

“Yup,” giggled the pink haired pony.

“So Fluttershy, how will we get all these gophers to your cottage,” Scootaloo spoke as she came through the crowd of gophers.

Something brown and soft brushed against Fluttershy’s arm as she was about to answer. “Well, how about you, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom should go and get some baskets so we can carry all of these cute little things.”

“Alright, girls you know what to do,” called Scootaloo to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah,” spoke the other two fillies.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER BASKET RETRIEVERS! YEAH,” called the three crusaders as they ran to the barn to go grab some baskets.

Fluttershy picked up the small earth creature that nuzzled against her arm and snuggled it close to her face. Holding it in Big Macintosh’s direction, she joyfully asks, “Don’t you just want to snuggle this little guy?”

Cute glassy eyes looked into the stallion’s eyes as he responded, “Eeyup.”

“Yall have fun now,” Applejack turned to leave. “I gotta go an’ help out Granny Smith at the apple stand.”

“Oh, well, hope you have a great rest of the day,” the yellow pegasus responded.

“Eeyup,” waved Big Macintosh.

“An’ Big Mac,” the cowpony looked forward. “Yall don’t be stayin’ too long at Fluttershy’s. I’ll be needin’ your help, ya hear?”

She started to walk forward as he spoke a low “Eeyup”.

The colt stared at the back of his sister as her walk turned into a jog out of the farm. Fluttershy looked at Big Macintosh’s half blank stare and asked, “Umm… is something wrong?”

“Nnope,” he said, but his stiff stare said otherwise. Why yall need me to help out on a Monday Applejack? It ain’t even busy during the afternoon.

“Are you sure? You look a bit concerned.”

From a straght stare to a smile, Big Macintosh looked down to her and smiled, “Eeyup.”

“WE GOT THE BASKETS,” called the three fillies as they trampled through the trees.

“Alright girls and Big Mac,” instructed the yellow pegasus. “We need to try to fit as much gophers into a basket, but not too many okay?”

Big Macintosh nodded his head while the three young ponies shouted, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER ANIMAL RETRIEVERS

ARE GO!”

***

Light orange began to bleed into the afternoon sky at Fluttershy’s cottage. Hooves clattered as five ponies walked over the bridge to the pegasus’ home.

“Find a cutie mark girls?” asked Applebloom with a basket of gophers balanced on her back.

Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at the yellow filly’s bare flank and replied, “No.”

“Darn!” Slightly angered, Applebloom lightly kicked a stone that rested in the grass and it rolled down the slope and into the small river.

“Don’t you worry Applebloom,” Fluttershy told the frustrated filly. “When you least expect it, you will get your cutie mark.”

The pegasus then placed the basket of gophers onto the grass and told the three fillies and Big Macintosh, “Alright everypony, you can put the baskets down now.”

As the ponies set down the baskets, the furry earth creatures hopped out of their carriages. Some sniffed the new air as others looked around their newly found home. “Excuse me,” Fluttershy spoke to the group of gophers. “Please follow me and I will show you were your new home will be.” She slowly walked backwards as the crowd of brown followed. After walking around the backside of the cottage, was a hill filled with lush grass and some clusters of flowers that spotted the area.

“Wow,” spoke Sweetie Belle in awe. “It’s so pretty!”

“I hope you and your family likes it,” Fluttershy looked at the elder gopher. It rapidly nodded its head with a smile as the group chattered amongst themselves. “Just be careful not to dig too close to the surface of the ground,” warned the pegasus. “You might hurt the flowers.”

Heeding her warning, the elder then began digging a hole in front of him and submerged into the earth. Others soon began to follow into the hole until one little gopher was left. It went over to Big Macintosh with a smile on its face and hugged his hoof.

“Aww,” spoke everypony instead of Scootaloo, sticking her tongue out in disgust. Big Macintosh then gestured the gopher to go back to its family. Looking up and waving at the five ponies, it then scampered into the newly developed hole.

“Alright girls,” called Applebloom suddenly with glee. “Let’s go set up for camping!”

“Yeah,” shouted the other two fillies.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS CAMPING IN FLUTTERSHY’S BACKYARD, YEAH!” Three colorful bodies dashed into Fluttershy’s backyard and into her cottage, excited for the evening festivities.

Both Fluttershy and Big Macintosh laughed lightly as they walked into the backyard. “I promised them they could do anything tonight and they wanted to go camping outside in the… dark,” whimpered the pegasus. “I mean, do you think I will be safe?”

An arm fell across her neck and a friendly “Eeyup” came into her ears.

“Oh, thank you Big Mac,” smiled Fluttershy with some of her mane covering her right eye.

The stallion nodded with a smile and looked to the sky. Hmm, might as well head on out before Applejack throws a fit.

“Are you planning on leaving now,” looked the pegasus as Big Macintosh looked at the sky.

“Eeyup,” he said in a monotone voice.

“Well… before you go, I was wondering…” Yellow ears retreated in embarrassment as the shy pegasus attempted to ask Big Macintosh something.

“Hey Fluttershy,” spoke Applebloom as she was opening the back door. “I was wondering where we…” Neither Big Macintosh nor Fluttershy heard the pink bowed pony as they were entwined with each other’s gaze.

Sucking in a lung full of oxygen, the yellow pegasus exhaled quickly, “I was wondering if you want to spend time together!”

Her eyelids slammed shut and ears still hid in a pink haired shelter. Ever so softly, Fluttershy spoke once again, “I mean… if you want to…”

As the pegasus slowly opened her eyes, a red faced smile met her. Big Macintosh’s happy grin opened and answered, “Eeyup.”

Aww, how cute, thought Applebloom after Big Macintosh accepted Fluttershy’s invitation to spend time with each other.

“So, how about tomorrow we can-” went the pegasus a little excited but she was interrupted by the red stallion.

“Nope… too much work…”

“Oh… okay…,” Fluttershy spoke softly and looked away, thinking she was too eager to set up plans.

“Thursday,” said Big Macintosh with a friendly smile.

“That will work!” A bright look on the pegasus’ face was found once again.

Hoping she would not interrupt, the pink bow bounced as Applebloom walked over to her brother. “Ya might wanna get a move on. Applejack might not wanna worry about ya.”

“Eeyup,” lifted a red head, glancing at the sun and turning away from its glare. Both siblings exchanged a comforting hug before Big Macintosh began to depart from the cottage.

Just before leaving the backyard, a stick plopped next to Big Macintosh. He lifted a hoof as if to try to avoid it, and looked behind him.

With a hoof to her mouth, Applebloom called out, “Watch out for falling trees!” Instead of a typical response, the red stallion began laughing as he rounded the corner. “Alright Fluttershy, let’s get this tent all set up!”

“Y…yes, we should,” responded Fluttershy, shaking her head from being distracted by her thoughts.

“Hey girls, ya comin’ out or what,” cried the bowed filly into the door of the cottage.

Fluttershy walked over to the door to open it, when it flung open as sheets, blankets, and pillows, engulfing the unprepared pegasus.

“READY FOR CAMPING,” called out Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle as the two of them rested atop of the pile.

“Umm, can somepony please help me,” went a voice from beneath the sea of stitched cloth.

***

Flaming diamonds shimmered in the dark atmosphere after Princess Luna raised her veil over the sky once again. Attempting to hide from the presence of the white sphere, a rectangular prism of blankets hung from a low hanging branch.

Dim lighting lit the hollow tent of cloth as an erre voice came from Scootaloo with a flashlight drawn to her face, “…and nopony ever saw them again…” Small animals huddled around Fluttershy as she and the small creatures shivered in fear from the finished horror story.

Two bodies were shaking underneath the blankets for a while and then suddenly stopped. “Great story Scoot,” smiled Applebloom with glee.

“Yeah,” squeaked Sweetie Belle as her voice cracked from her adrenalin. “I think that monster would make Rarity scream from all the mess he made, huh Fluttershy?”

A gentle nudge from the white filly pushed against the yellow pegasus. “Well… I guess but was everypony alright in the end after all?”

“Yes…” sighed Scootaloo slightly irritated from how Fluttershy cannot take a make believe story. “Two weeks later they all made it to safety and everypony saw them after all…”

“Oh good,” smiled Fluttershy. Soft sighs came from the small creatures that huddled around the yellow pony. “I think it is time to go to bed.” Stretching her wings and letting out a big yawn, Fluttershy rests her head down on a pillow behind her and lifts a woven sheet over her. All the animals had to slightly adjust themselves when she lay down to sleep.

Moments pass and the filly pegasus poked the now sleeping pegasus to assure she was asleep. “Hey, psst…” whispered Scootaloo to the animals that huddled around the warm body. Various sizes of eyes glanced up to the pony wielding the flashlight. “Remember when I told Fluttershy everypony got home safely?” Shadows of the creatures bobbed, answering Scootaloo. “Well… to tell you the truth… THEY REALLY DIDN’T!” Tiny orange wings clawed out and a mean stare fell upon the critters. Shuddering in fear, all the animals bunched close together attempting to comfort each other in hopes the horrifying monster doesn’t get them.

“Common Scoot, you’re runnin’ this story into the ground faster than Granny Smith in a mine cart,” remarked Applebloom.

“I wonder if there is a cutie mark of ruining stories,” snickered Sweetie Belle and Applebloom giggled along.

“I don’t see you two good at telling stories,” the pegasus filly growled.

“Hehe, yeah,” smiled Sweetie Belle, rubbing her head. “I don’t think I could be that scary.”

“No kidding,” Scootaloo shoved the white filly as she spoke.

After a brief moment of silence, Applebloom whispers, “Hey girls, I need to tell you somethin’ I saw earlier today…”

“Oh,” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo spoke in unison.

“I’ll tell ya under the covers.” Applebloom pulled the blanket over the three of them with the flashlight brightly lighting up the area the fillies hid in. “So… did yall see how Fluttershy was lookin’ at my brother?”

“Well, she was looking pretty shy today, but that is typical,” answered Sweetie Belle with a smile.

“I know that silly, but remember how Mrs. Chearly looked at Big Mac when we gave them the love potions?”

“Don’t remind me of that mushy stuff…” gagged Scootaloo.

“Think of that, but all shy looking too. Don’t you get it? She gave him the eye!”

“OH,” spoke the other two fillies in understanding.

“Umm… what’s the eye,” questioned Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah, never heard of it,” remarked the pegasus.”

“YALL HAVE NEVEr_” spoke Applebloom aloud. Both of her friends quickly crammed a hoof over the loud mouth.

Mumbling came from behind the hidden fillies and Applebloom and Sweetie Belle uncovered themselves to see where it

came from. “Oh, thank you Big Mac…” Fluttershy spoke softly.

“Aww,” whispered the two friends.

“Oh I get it now,” exclaimed the white filly quietly. “You mean the way Fluttershy looked at your brother may suggest she is looking for a special somepony.”

“That’s right! We three need to make sure they are in love and then we make a gentle nudge to get them together.”

“Yeah and this time, we will make sure they fall in love first.”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS LOVE INVESTIGATORS ARE UNDERWAY,” chanted Sweetie Belle and Applebloom quietly.

“Remember the time when we gave Big Mac and Mrs. Chearly that love poison?” Applebloom waved her hoof at her friend with a smile.

“Yeah don’t remind me, hehe. You remember that, right Scoot?” Silence filled the tent as there was no response from the orange filly. “Scoot, are you asleep?”

“RAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH,” shouted a horrifying voice from beneath the blankets. “I AM THE SLOP MONSTER!”

“AAAAGGGGHHH, SLOP MONSTER,” shrieked the two startled fillies.

“AGH, WHERE,” screamed Fluttershy. Among the chaos, frightened animals ran out of the tent, fleeing back to their homes.

“Hehe, gotcha,” laughed Scootaloo.

“That wasn’t very nice Scootaloo…,” frowned Fluttershy.

“Sorry.”

Instead of a frowning face or an angry glare, the yellow pegasus smiled, “Oh you better because I might tell you about… the STARE monster!”

“That’s okay! Goodnight Fluttershy,” spoke the Cutie Mark Crusaders in a panic. All three of the fillies cuddled against each other in hopes not to hear Fluttershy’s story. Within a few moments, silence once again found its way back into the tent.