It'd been years since that day.

And while Fluttershy hadn't forgotten it, she certainly had other things to take care of than searching for a stallion she only met for a few minutes.

"Alright, little ones. Eat up," she said softly, smiling to the squirrels below her, who happily ate at the nuts she left for them.

"Oh, and I can't forget about you two either."

"And you."

"And you as well."

"Oh, and the birds need to be fed to!"

"And then the mice have to be taken care of."

"I most certainly can't forget about the bunnies either..."

Fluttershy certainly had her hooves full, to say the least. She had dozens of animals living in and around her house.

She didn't mind though; taking care of them was her special talent, and she wouldn't have it any other way. No matter how hard it was, it was always worth it to see how happy all of the little critters were in the end.

And... well, it helped fill the void too.

Now, don't get her wrong; Fluttershy was in no way desperate for romance in her life. However, lately, she'd been feeling as though there was something... or rather, someone, missing.

That wasn't suggesting that she wanted just anypony to come along and sweep her off her hooves though.

Certainly not.

It had to be someone special. Somepony that could fill every hole in her heart.

...You're thinking about him again.

Fluttershy blushed in embarrassment as the dreaded inner voice came back to haunt her.

"I-I can't help it," she muttered, knowing full-well that she probably looked silly talking to herself.

It's just... he's the first pony I met when I first came to the ground. How could I just forget about him?

His crimson coat and orange mane...

That wonderful nature smell...

Those big green eyes...

His cute little accent...!

The yellow pegasus' face suddenly went red. Had she seriously just thought that?

S-slip of the tongue! ...E-er, mind, I suppose. I-I didn't mean it.

She smiled sheepishly and rubbed her snout, as if she were trying to wipe the denial off her face.

A voice managed to bring her out of her thoughts.

"Howdy!"

Fluttershy turned towards the voice and smiled as she saw its owner: Applejack.

"Applejack! Nice to see you!" she greeted happily, though with a bit of a nervous undertone.

Her accent sounds just like...

"Ah came to bring you your apples. Remember?" she asked, turning slightly so the yellow pegasus could view the bag of apples that was resting on the country pony's back.

"O-oh! Yes, thank you!"

Fluttershy slowly trotted over to the orange mare, then took the bag and tossed it around her own back, making sure that said-bag was secure before averting her full attention back onto her friend.

"Aw, it ain't no trouble. You're like family. Our apples are your apples," Applejack told her with a big grin.

Fluttershy nodded and smiled sheepishly, feeling overly honored for being considered 'family'.

Too overly honored actually. She had to do something in return.

"U-um... Applejack?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you... maybe... like to come in for some tea? As a thank-you?"

The orange mare scrunched up her snout for a second, as if contemplating the offer, then smiled nervously and placed her hat over her chest. "Mighty sorry, but ah can't. Big Macintosh needs help bucking all them apple trees today; he can't do it alone fer sure. 'Sides that, I'm late as it is," she explained.

"I-I see..." Fluttershy said softly, a bit disappointed that she couldn't repay her friend right away.

...Wait!

"...M-Macintosh?" she suddenly asked, her eyes widening as her wings became ruffled.

"Hmm?" Applejack questioned, tilting her head. "...Oh yeah, you know... mah big brother? Big Macintosh?"

"Big Macintosh..." Fluttershy repeated.

Applejack just blinked in response at the shy pegasus. She couldn't quite place it, but there was a sudden shift in Fluttershy's demeanor. Did she say something weird?

After a moment of silence, the yellow pegasus quickly turned and rushed to the door of her house, opening it and gently placing the bag of apples inside before closing it back up.

She then spun around and rushed past the orange mare, giving her a quick "T-thank you!" before heading into the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.

Applejack could only stare as her shy friend galloped off. That wasn't like Fluttershy at all.

"...Well... that happened..."

Author's Note

Sorry for the extreme shortness of this chapter; I was about to go to bed, but I really wanted to do this one chapter first.