It was even darker, than when they entered the restaurant. Some clouds had appeared in the sky. Clouds covered the moon and some of the stars, creating a frightening atmosphere. Fluttershy was grateful for the fact that the Big Mac was with her. She would never have been out so late alone, but now she didn't feel scared, not the least bit. Big Macintosh was there to keep her safe. Fluttershy sighed and leaned against his side.
Big Macintosh was also very happy. He felt the warmth of Fluttershy's body against his. It almost made him shiver out of excitement.
The two ponies walked towards the outskirts of the town. There were only couple of houses at the end of the town and they could clearly see the edge of Everfree forest. Fluttershy tensed up a bit. She had once been in the Everfree forest at night, running after the cutie mark crusaders. Even though it ended happily, she still had nightmares about it.
Big Mac noticed Fluttershy shaking a little. "What's wrong Fluttershy?" he asked.
Fluttershy looked at the forest while saying: "It's just that the Everfree forest makes me a bit nervous."
"There's nothing to be afraid of, the creatures that live there rarely come to Ponyville."
That was true, but Fluttershy didn't live in Ponyville. She lived right next to the Everfree forest. Sometimes she had heard cockatrice crow in the nearby forest, and one time two timberwolves chased her animals in her own yard!
"I... I know but sometimes I hear them at night, a... and its really scary," Fluttershy said and looked at Big Mac with a timid smile. "Oh, it's okay to bee scared sometimes. Horse apples, Ah been scared too. Real terrified actually!" Mac said.
Fluttershy was interested: "When were you scared?"
Big Macintosh thought for a while before saying:
"Well for example: When Ah and Applejack were just little foals, We were playing near the river when she slipped and almost drowned. Ah was so scared that Ah could barely move! Thank Celestia she was alright," Big Macintosh said smiling sadly.
Fluttershy looked at Mac. His eyes looked a bit wet, but she didn't mention it.
"You seem to have deep relationship with your sister Mac," she said. "Yeah, We have always been close, especially after ma passed away. We have to take care of Applebloom now. She never admits it, but Ah see how she misses mom too..." Mac said and sighed.
Fluttershy felt bad for making him sad: "I'm so sorry Big Macintosh, I didn't mean to make you sad."
Mac looked at her and said: "It's not yar fault, you didn't even ask about mah parents..."
Clouds on the sky started to break down, revealing Luna's moon. Mac noticed that they were on a hill walking on a dirt road leading towards small river. He could see Sweet apple acres from there. He turned his head towards Fluttershy. Mac thought that she was even more beautiful in the moonlight.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts and asked Fluttershy: "How about ya Fluttershy? Do ya have any siblings?"
"I was the only child in my family, I never spent much time with other ponies. My mother was really protective." she said with a sad voice.
"How about yar father? How is he?" Asked Macintosh while gazing up in the sky.
Fluttershy stopped and sat down on the road.
"I... I never knew my father, he... he left when I was just a filly. I asked mommy why he left, but.... she never told me," Fluttershy said while tears streamed down her face.
Big Macintosh placed her in a tight sympathetic hug. Fluttershy wept against his chest as Mac brushed her mane. It was like brushing through Rarity's finest silk. He felt his fur getting soaked of Fluttershy's tears. They sat there, on the dirt road middle of night, curled up with each other. After a while they broke the hug.
Mac looked at the yellow mare and said: "Ah know how ya feel, to be raised without a father, He died when Ah was five years old."
"It.. it just feels so bad..." Fluttershy sobbed.
"Everything will be okay Fluttershy..." Said Mac with his calm deep voice. Fluttershy didn't cry anymore, but there still were tears on her cheeks. "Thank you for being here Big Macintosh," she said pressing herself against Big Mac's chest again.
They sat there for a while before Big Macintosh started to feel a bit chilly and said: "Maybe we should get moving, it's getting pretty cold out here."
Fluttershy nodded as her approval and they began to make their way towards her cottage.
After a while of walking, Fluttershy said: "I haven't told anyone about that, not even my friends."
"Why?" Asked Big Mac
"I don't know. I guess it's just so embarrassing," She said hiding behind her mane.
"There's nothing embarrassing about that! Ah think it may even help ya if ya talk to em'," Big Mac said looking at her.
"Maybe you are right, it felt good to tell you about it," Fluttershy said leaning to Big Mac.
They saw Fluttershy's cottage. She felt a bit sad, because they had to say goodbyes soon. Mac felt pretty much the same. They both started to walk slower, hanging in that moment as long as they could.
They reached her door and she said: "Oh Big Mac, I've had a wonderful time with you."
"Ah had good time with ya too Fluttershy, and don't ya worry about yar secret. Ah wont tell nopony about it," Mac said.
"Very kind of you," Fluttershy replied.
There were a brief silence between them. They just stared at each other for a while before Fluttershy spoke: "Well... Good night... I guess..."
She saw a little disappointment in his eyes when he said, "Good night to you too, Fluttershy."
Big Mac turned and started to walk towards the bridge. Fluttershy was sure that if she would let him get away now, she would have to forget about spending more time with him like today. She hesitated, but shouted: "Big Mac, wait!"
As Mac turned around he felt Fluttershy's hooves around his neck and he felt how her lips pressed against his. her lips were soft and warm. They both blushed but soon Big Mac put his hoofs around Fluttershy's hips, making her wince. Even though the kiss only lasted for couple of seconds, it felt like years to them. When they broke the kiss, Fluttershy didn't remove her hooves from Big Mac's neck, nor did Mac remove his from her hips.
They stared at each others eyes when Fluttershy said with a shiverring voice: "If its okay to you... M..maybe we sh... should go for a dinner sometimes? If you don't mind of course..."
"Eeyep," Replied Mac
"How about next friday?" She asked.
"Eeyep," Big Mac said and gave a small nuzzle to her neck
Fluttershy giggled and hugged Big Mac while saying: "I'm looking towards it."
As they had finished and she didn't see Big Mac anymore, Fluttershy went inside and saw curious bunny waiting for her. She grabbed the bunny in her hooves, hugging it tightly. "You can't believe what just happened Angel bunny! I kissed Big Mac, and we are having a date next friday! Can you believe it! I'm the happiest pony alive!" shouted Fluttershy with tears of joy falling from her cheeks.
For the first time in long time, Fluttershy went to bed without worrying about anything.