“Lunch time, everyone!” sang the gentle voice of the yellow Pegasus pony.
Fluttershy gave a muted giggle as she watched a menagerie of woodland creatures flood the living room to claim their share of feed and seed. Counting the critters she accounted all the birdies and all but one rodent that were happily gorging themselves. Her smile grew wider, knowing full well which picky little rabbit was waiting for his special lunch.
Looking around from mid-air Angel was nowhere to be seen. Following her first instinct Fluttershy floated over to the kitchen and instantly saw the snow white rabbit atop the counter, with a chef’s hat covering his tall ears. Angel delicately placed a bright red cherry atop a gourmet salad.
“Oh, Angel, you made your own lunch,” Cooed Fluttershy. “That’s so good of you.”
The rabbit flinched and turned to his pony pet parent, only that moment realizing she was in the room. With a glowing smile Angel handed Fluttershy half of an apple left over from his meal preparation.
“Oh. Thank you,” she said as she took the half into her hooves. As grateful as Fluttershy was for the gift she was perplexed at the bunny’s behavior. Normally he was so finicky about what he ate and when he did accept his meal he wolfed it down greedily. Why the sudden initiative? Why the generosity?
After giving his work an approving nod Angel tossed off his hat and picked up a nearby spoon. Examining himself in the convex surface he straightened his ear and made sure his whiskers were just right. Then, puffing a breath into his paw, he checked his breath. With a satisfied smile his tossed his impromptu mirror into the sink, picked up his salad and hopped off the countertop and scurried out from the kitchen.
Setting down her snack Fluttershy followed both the rabbit and her curiosity, feeling he would lead her right to the cause of his peculiar behavior. Making haste to catch up she still took delicate care in opening and closing the front door as Angel hopped out the pet door and over the tiny bridge leading from the cottage. Cross the road and over a small hill he came to a stop behind a tall oak tree. Sneaking behind the tall timber and peeking around the trunk Fluttershy found her answer. Atop a red and white checkered picnic blanket a second bunny happily greeted Angel. With snow white fur and ears that cascaded behind her head into a feminine little flip at their tips this second bunny, named Cupid if Fluttershy recalled correctly, greeted Angel with and affectionate hug.
The yellow Pegasus put her hoof to her mouth to silence the “aww” that threatened to make itself heard as she watched the two rabbits lovingly rub their little pink noses together. Not wanting to spoil their picnic she quietly fluttered away. Landing softly upon the dirt path at the bottom of the hill Fluttershy let a small sigh escape her throat as she looked back to the hill, happy to see her little Angel found a special some-bunny. Looking up to the sky she for some reason felt compelled to just start walking.
With no destination in mind the sunshine colored Pegasus simply followed where her hooves took her. It was a beautiful day in the height of spring. The scenery was made all the more picturesque by a pair of birds, one blue and one rosy pink, flying past her in an almost dance like flight. As the feathered couple soared away the little pony paused in her tracks to let out a small sigh of both happiness and a little touch of envy.
“Love is in the air,” said the winged pony to no one in particular. Almost as if to emphasize her point a timely breeze rustled past her, carrying with it a small flurry of silken white petals. Looking to her right, where the petals flew in from, Fluttershy realized she had wandered to the edge of one of Sweet Apple Acres massive orchards. The branches of tall trees danced in the wind with soft white blossoms scattering their snow white petals all about.
The Pegasus’ heart was a flutter; it was as if nature had planned on parading each aspect of spring right before her eyes. While more than likely just a coincidence an argument could be made as a pair of butterflies fluttered right by her face. Mesmerized by all the majesty Fluttershy hadn’t noticed she began pursuing the graceful insects right into the orchard.
In dainty flutters the butterflies danced along as the rosy maned pony hopped after them with almost Pinkie Pie levels of joy. Too and fro and twirling around Fluttershy was in a world of her own, bounding with unstoppable force. That is until that world collided with a large, unmovable object.
Stumbling backwards and shaking her head back into reality she regained her usual timid composure with enough force to give herself whiplash.
“Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to bump into you! I should have been paying more attention! You’re not mad at me are you?” she whimpered as she bowed her head and front hooves submissively.
“Eenope,” said a deep, calm and masculine voice.
Fluttershy’s eyelids popped open as she tilted her head up to look upon Big Macintosh towering over her. What he was doing all the way out here she didn’t know. Then again it was his family’s property, she was the one trespassing. She gave a frightened squeak as that realization came to light.
“Big Macintosh? I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to trespass! I was just... just...“ She whimpered the end of her apology, unable to face the colossal pony before her, not even realizing he was just standing calm and gently smiling down at her.
Her hyperactive humility was cut off as the large red stallion gave a small chuckle. Managing to tilt her eyes up to him she gazed questioning his action. Big Mac merely smiled pointed at her left ear. Doing her best to look towards his target she noticed one of the butterflies from before had perched itself on the tip of her ear. With a small smile and a blush, not to mention much more settled down then from earlier, Fluttershy flicked her ear to gently shoo away her unexpected passenger. The delicate insect fluttered from the mare and danced about before finding a new perch upon Big Macintosh’s nose.
While a part of her wanted to giggle as the butterfly spread its wings and made Big Mac look like he was ready for a Masquerade Ball Fluttershy’s timid nature silenced her. Hesitantly reaching a hoof up to try and relocate the insect she was surprised to see the stallion gently lift his own hoof to his nose and let his winged mask scutter onto his arm. She noticed him gently smile at the insect, awed by how a pony so large could be so gentle and kind. Lifting herself back to all fours she didn’t even notice herself smiling.
Both ponies sat down, each of them remaining silent and unaware that each of them thought of both the butterfly and the pony before them. These thoughts would remain unspoken as they noticed their little friends mate flutter by. Fluttershy watched with a smile as Big Mac gently lifted his arm into the air and let the butterfly fly off to meet its’ partner in their mid-air dance.
The two ponies just sat and watched the two butterflies fly off into the sky past leaves of green and petals of white. Both just sat amidst the beauty of nature, neither saying a word, neither needing to say anything. Soon Fluttershy’s gaze looked to the stallion next to her, just taking in his silhouette against the sea of trees. He soon after did the same, locking his gentle green eyes with her soft blue ones. Still silent they just smiled at each other, a tender warmth growing within their cheeks.
“Um,” The yellow Pegasus gently broke the silence. “Thank you, Big Macintosh. This was… nice.” While not sure what she was thanking him for exactly it just seemed like the right thing to say.
“Eeyup,” said the crimson stallion in his usual soft manner.
“I should, maybe get going, but I hope I’ll… see you again… sometime?” Fluttershy blushed deeply as she began hesitantly turning back towards the way she came.
Although Fluttershy couldn’t tell Big Macintosh’s smile grew a little at her innocent proposal. “Eeyup,” he said with an unnoticeable undertone of happiness.
“Ok, well… Bye.” With that Fluttershy floated off into the air leading herself out of the orchard. Rubbing her forehooves together without thought she couldn’t help but give a joyful giggle as she fluttered on home, still enraptured by the wonder of Spring.
