Chapter one: A Love Unknown
By: Fluttershy2424
For Fluttershy, that day started off like any normal day. Her alarm clock went off, prompting her to get up, for in thirty minutes the sun would be rising. So she got out from underneath her blanket, climbed off the side of her bed, and slipped on her slippers, which were pink with bunny ears on them.
After that, she felt the need to stretch, so she did. First she stretched her forelegs then her hind-legs, which were rather sore from the day before, because Applejack came by her cottage and said she needed help apple bucking. She had tried to back out of it and see if she could get Twilight, Pinkie Pie, or Rainbow Dash to help her, but they were all busy with other stuff, so in a last attempt she said...
"What about Big McIntosh; why doesn't he help you like he always does?" asked Fluttershy.
"He can't help me because he threw out his back tryin tah carry too much stuff in that ol' rickety wagon of ours, and also he's been a tad bit out of it lately." replied Applejack, sounding and looking upset in her voice and expression.
''Oh dear, is he going to be alright?'' asked a worried Fluttershy.
"Ah reckon so, he just needs to take it easy for a while," replied Applejack.
"Oh that's good, and what do you mean by out of it?'' asked Fluttershy with a confused look.
''Ah mean recently he's been just standin around lookin at the sky like he's lookin for something,'' said Applejack.
''What is he looking for?'' asked Fluttershy.
''Ah have no idea, and every time i ask him he says 'Nothing, mind your business.'"
''Well... umm... maybe it's nothing then," said Fluttershy in a meek voice, hoping not to offend Applejack.
''That's what I'm hoping fer, cause I'm starting to worry bout him,'' replied Applejack.
''Well maybe he just wants some alone time to reflect on things,'' said Fluttershy.
''I'm hoping yer right, but anyways will you help me buck apples?" asked Applejack eagerly.
''Ummm... are you sure there's nopony else who can help you?'' asked Fluttershy, hoping Applejack wound find somepony else to help her, because physical labor wasn't exactly her forte.
''No, not today, anyways and I need to buck as many apples as I can today which wouldn't be a lot if I didn't have to do it alone, so that's why I need your help,'' said Applejack.
''OK Applejack, I'll help you buck apples,'' said Fluttershy even though she didn't want to, but what kind of friend would she be if she didn't help Applejack when she needed her?
''But first I need to wash up, eat, and then feed Angel Bunny and the woodland critters. Umm... if that's ok with you,'' said Fluttershy in her meek voice.
''That's fine, just come to Sweet Apple Acres when yawls done,'' said Applejack before she left.
And with that Applejack left, and Fluttershy headed upstairs to wash up, but before she got to the stairs she was tripped by Angel, who lay on his back laughing at her. She looked at him and said, "Now that wasn't very nice, Angel, apologize."
Angel still lay on his back laughing at her. ''Fine, I guess you don't want me to make you this extra special salad for you then,'' said Fluttershy in a stern voice while showing Angel Bunny a picture of the salad in the cookbook.
He immediately stopped laughing and jumped up to wrap his arms around her neck to show his apology.
She said thank you and continued upstairs to wash up. In the bathroom she brushed my teeth, washed her muzzle, and brushed her mane, which looked really good knowing she ended up upside down in her bed when she woke up that morning, but went to sleep right side up, so she didn't spend much time brushing her mane.
Once she was done in the bathroom she started to head back downstairs but before she made it all the way she remembered that she had forgotten to actually use the bathroom, so she shot back upstairs to handle her business. After a few minutes, she was done and continued downstairs.
Once downstairs, it was time to make her breakfast. Upon thinking that word her stomach rumbled, because she hadn't ate since lunch yesterday.
''Oh my, I must really be hungry,'' said Fluttershy.
So she opened the refrigerator to see what she could make for breakfast, and then she saw her triple layer chocolate cake. But as soon as she did, Pinkie Pie magically popped up out of nowhere shouting, ''CAKE CAKE CAKE, WHERE'S THE CAKE?!'' while bouncing around and popping in and out of cabinets and drawers.
When she finally saw the cake she stopped with her jaw dropped, mouth drooling, and huge eyes. She'd never seen Pinkie Pie stand still in one place for that long, so she got kind of worried. Just as soon as she was about to ask if she was alright, Pinkie Pie screamed, ''IS THAT A MANEHATTAN TRIPLE LAYER CHOCOLATE CHIP EXTRAORDINAIRE CAKE?!?!?''
''Yes it is, but how do you know that when you just got here?'' asked Fluttershy, looking curiously at Pinkie Pie.
''IT'S ONLY LIKE THE BEST CAKE IN ALL OF EQUESTRIA AND IT'S MY FAVORITE!!!''said Pinkie Pie, licking her chops.
''Oh gosh... I had no idea it was that good when i bought it,'' Fluttershy said, trying to share Pinkie's enthusiasm.
''Can I have some PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE?'' asked Pinkie Pie repeatedly while on her knees begging for a piece of Fluttershy's delicious cake.
''Oh... well... I haven't even had a piece yet, Pinkie Pie,'' Fluttershy said even though she didn't like saying no to her friends.
''OHH PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU,'' begged Pinkie Pie still on her knees. Knowing Pinkie Pie, she wouldn't leave until she had a piece, and Fluttershy had things to do.
''Oh … well....ok.'' said Fluttershy with a little disappointed look on her face, but it soon vanished knowing she had made Pinkie happy. So she cut her a piece of cake and put it on a plate, and as soon as she hoofed it to her she vanished.
''Hey what about my plate?'' Fluttershy said, sounding a little irratated because she had gotten that plate for her birthday a couple months back.
After saying that, Pinkie Pie popped back in to return the plate and vanished again.
''OK... glad that's over with, but I still haven't eaten anything yet and I don't have a lot of time left to eat,'' Fluttershy said to herself. She decided to skip breakfast and feed the woodland critters and then make her way over to Applejack's.
After feeding the woodland critters, she left her cottage and headed to Sweet Apple Acres; upon arriving, she was met by Applejack.
''Hi Applejack,'' said Fluttershy.
''Howdy, Fluttershy, glad ya'll made it, I was starting to think ya'll wasn't coming,'' Applejack replied sounding a little worried at first, but it was replaced with relief at seeing Fluttershy before her.
''Well... umm... I kinda ran into some problems after you left, but I'm here now,'' said Fluttershy.
''Well I'm glad, now were going tah be bucking the south orchard today, which is the biggest part of our apple orchard, so I need tah know if your one hundred percent ready,'' Applejack told Fluttershy while holding both of her hooves up representing the one hundred percent.
''Ummm... yes, I'm ready,'' said Fluttershy really meaning it, because if she wanted to she could have just hid in her cottage all day.
''Well alright then, let's start heading over there,'' Applejack said enthusiastically.
''So Applejack, how's Big McIntosh doing today?'' Fluttershy asked on their walk to the south orchard, not knowing what to expect.
''Ah don't know, ah haven't seen him today, though I think he went tah town tah pick up some stuff for Granny Smith,'' Applejack replied, not knowing where he really went.
''Well that's good, it's always good to stay active when you're injured; it helps the healing process," said Fluttershy confidently, because of her knowledge on taking care of animals.
''Yeah, ah don't know nuthin bout that, but it is good for him to get out of the house for a little while, but anyways we're here so how about we start bucking some apple trees.'' said Applejack.
''OK, I'm ready,'' replied Fluttershy.
''OK, well let's get started then, YEE HAW!!!'' Applejack said while standing on her hind legs.
As hours went by, they finally got half of the orchard done.
''Hey Fluttershy, how ya'll doing over there?'' Applejack asked Fluttershy because she noticed her friend's pace had slowed down.
''Oh... I'm fine,'' said Fluttershy which was a lie, because she was becoming exhausted from not eating that morning or last night.
''Well bucking all these apple trees sure is tiring; why don't we take a break and drink some of this cider ah brought with me?'' Applejack told Fluttershy because she knew Fluttershy needed a break.
''OK, that sounds like a wonderful idea!'' Fluttershy replied with utter joy to Applejack's idea.
So they sat down and drank some cider for a couple minutes, then out of nowhere Applejack heard Big Mac calling her.
''APPLEJACK WHERE ARE YOU?'' Big Mac yelled, calling out for his sister
''I'M IN THE SOUTH ORCHARD,'' replied Applejack yelling to her brother.
''OK I'M COMING,'' Big Mac yelled back to his sister, eager to see her today.
So Big Mac was making his way over there, feeling pretty good because he made his hard working sister lunch, so he was walking with his eyes closed and his head held high.
Upon arriving, Big Mac said, ''Applejack I made you lun...''
He stopped mid-sentence and dropped the plate because once he opened his eyes he saw Fluttershy.
CRACK!!!
The plate hit the ground. ''Big Mac are ya'll alright, cause ya'll's looking like ya'll's seen a ghost!'' Applejack asked her big brother because she is more worried about him than before.
But he said nothing; he just stood there.
''Oh my goodness, is he alright?'' Fluttershy asked Applejack, also worried because she also has never seen him act like this, though she hasn't really had any kind of contact with him.
''Ah don't think so. HELLO, EARTH TO BIG MAC!!!'' Applejack shouted while waving her hoof in front of Big Mac's face.
''Huh wha, what happened?'' Big Mac said once out of his frozen state.
''Ah have no clue. You walked up, said 'I made you lun...' and dropped the plate, and then just stood there as stiff as a board,'' Applejack said while looking curiously at her brother and wondering what happened to him.
''Oh dang, sorry bout your lunch,'' Big Mac said, apologizing for dropping her lunch on the ground.
''It's ok, but I was kinda hungry,'' Applejack replied while rubbing her stomach slowly.
''Don't worry, I'll make you another one,'' Big Mac told his sister, reassuring her that he would make her another lunch.
''That sounds good,'' said Applejack, but looking over she noticed Fluttershy looking a little famished.
''Hey Fluttershy, you hungry?'' asked Applejack.
''Oh yes, very much so, I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday!'' replied Fluttershy as she jumped up and down like Pinkie Pie does, but stopped because she saw Applejack looking at her, which caused her to hide behind her mane and blush a little bit to.
''Hey Big Mac, can you make that two plates?'' Applejack asked her brother, not noticing her brother shaking.
He still stood there, nervously shaking.
''Yes, I mean no, I got stuff to do at the "place" with the "things," Big Mac said urgently, trying to get away from the yellow cream colored Pegasus.
And with that, he broke into a full gallop and headed away from them, and no one knows where he went after that.
''What the hay was that about; I've never seen Big Mac act like that. What do you think of it Fluttershy?'' Applejack asked Fluttershy, not knowing what to make of what just happened.
''Oh, well I've never seen anypony act like that, so I have no idea,'' said Fluttershy, having no idea what just happened a couple of minutes ago
''Oh well, ah'll ask him bout it later, but let's get the rest of this orchard done, cause it's getting late,'' said Applejack noticing that it was almost 3:30 in the afternoon.
''Oh... yeah... umm... can we eat something first? I'm still really hungry... if that's ok with you,'' said Fluttershy, hoping Applejack would say yes, because she felt like passing out from hunger.
''Oh of course Sugarcube, let's head to the house to grab something to eat.''
When they got to the house they ate and finished the rest of the orchard. After they finished the rest of the orchard, it was almost 6:00, and the sun was setting, so Fluttershy realized she should start heading home.
''Umm... Applejack I think I should start heading home before it gets dark.'' Fluttershy told Applejack.
''Alright Fluttershy, you want me tah walk you home?'' asked Applejack.
''Umm... no, I'll be ok Applejack, but thanks for offering; I appreciate it,'' said Fluttershy, smiling warmly at Applejack.
''Alright, sugarcube you be safe out there, and ah'll see you tomorrow then,'' Applejack said while hugging Fluttershy goodbye, then letting her head on her way home.
Later that day, Big Mac finally came back home. Big Mac came in the house and headed upstairs to his room.
He made it to his room, closed his door, and went and laid on his bed to go to sleep.
But in the room next to his is Applejack, and she heard his door shut, which let her know he was back. She planned on getting answers for what happened today, because she had never seen her brother act like this. First it was the staring up at the sky for hours, and now this random breakdown. She really started to worry for him.