Perspective: Big Macintosh
"What was that all about?" asked Rainbow Dash as Fluttershy's friends huddled around her fiancé.
"I'm afraid I can answer that," answered Rarity, seeing that big Mac still had his jaw dropped and was staring off into the distance where Fluttershy ran. He wouldn't say a word, just gaped. Everypony in the crowd that had gathered around the fighting couple had been gaping until Rainbow Dash and Applejack chased them off.
"Get outta here, nuthin' to see!" commanded AJ. When no pony moved and just stared at the stunned stallion, Rainbow Dash sucked in her breath and screamed "MOVE ALONG!" Shocked and surprised by the voice of the daredevil, every spectator mumbled something to themselves and went on their way, but Big Mac could hear them whispering. The gossip was going to spread, and he wasn't looking forward at all the faux sympathy he was going to receive. He wouldn't be surprised if he was sent a personal letter from Princess Celestia expressing her sympathy for what his fiancé had gone through.
The four friends looked at Rarity. They looked expectantly at the purple maned unicorn for an answer, but Big Macintosh didn't care to hear the answer. He kept staring off into the distance, Seeing everypony looking at her, Rarity quickly dabbed her face with a fluffy pink handkerchief, and then cleared her throat professionally. "Well, I noticed that her barrel was swollen during our dress fitting," Rarity's voice trailed off a little, realizing the discomfort she was probably casuing Big Mac and her friends, "and I told her she had to be pregnant. But she didn't tell me anything, I swear to Celestia."
Pinkie, who had rejoined the group after Rainbow Dash chased off the crowd, nudged Twilight. Pinkie looked solemn and depressed, her mane flattened and her eyes dull and sad. She looked at Twilight, asking with her eyes for Twilight to say something. Twilight understood the look right away. No one was smiling. Pinkie Pie lived on the similes and happiness of her friends. Frowns were her kryptonite.
"Mac, what if we go out and find Fluttershy? Then either you or we could talk to her and get the truth out," asked Twilight in a comforting tone. It was the same tone she would have used to make a hurt filly feel better by offering them ice cream. But the other mares who'd helped represent the Elements of Harmony were his only hope to right the wrong he had caused. He needed to show Fluttershy he cared, and that he supported her. And if the foal turned out to be his, Mac wanted to be by her side every step of the way. Then again, he would stay with her even if it wasn't his'. He had already missed three or so months of caring for her in her time of need. He wasn't about to waste the other eight by being an insensitive husband. They still had a wedding to plan, after all.
Remembering Twilight's initial question, Mac shook his head no. "I wanna go," he said in a southern drawl as the limp piece of wheat hangin from his mouth swang looksely with each word.
"Okay! Applejack and Rarity, you search Fluttershy's cottage. Pinkie Pie, you check Froggy Bottom Bog. Rainbow Dash, go to the skies and search every cloud in Ponyville. Big Macintosh and I will check Fluttershy's favorite spots. Everyone ready?" Everypony nodded their heads in agreement, except one.
"Uh, actually Twi, do ya'll mind if I go with ya and Big Mac?" the orange earth pony turned back to Rarity, "No offense, but I just feel this is a time where my brother needs some family."
"Of course dearie, do what you have to do," said Rarity, waving a hoof to the apple farmer.
"Thank ya kindly, Rarity," Applejack looked back at Twilight and Big Macintosh, "We should probably get a move on, before she is able to get too far." Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity nodded their heads in agreement and trotted in the directions of their assigned spots. Rainbow Dash immediately zipped off into the cloudy sky above head, and Big Mac could see the outline of her legs kicking away clouds to narrow down where she had to check for Fluttershy.
Twilight and Applejack watched as their friends disappeared into the distance, but Big Mac had already started to walk slowly towards Fluttershy's favorite spot. Noticing that her brother had already started his trek, AJ trotted up to the solemn stallion. "Where we headin', Mac?" asked AJ. Mac didn't reply. He just kept walking. He knew Twilight and Applejack were probably exchanging confused looks behind him, but the sound of their hoofsteps close behind gave him a small sense of relief.
His thoughts were racing, but he put on a brave, calm face for the mares. 'Where was Fluttershy? Why hadn't she told him? Would she forgive him? Would they end up getting married? Who's foal was it? Big Mac shook his head, not wanting to think about such negative things. He couldn't be mad at her; it wasn't her fault. His poor Sugarcube, taken advantage of like that. When he found the stallion that did this, Soarin' he think AJ said, he was going to kick his plot.
As the trio continued walking, AJ and Twilight stayed three or four paces behind the crimson pony. Occasionally he could hear them questioning if Mac knew where he was going, but he didn't pay much attention. Fluttershy's giggle would ring through his ears and her soft eyes when she looked at some animal she loved, or him. She might never look at him with those soft, loving eyes again. But just as the image of her smiling, laughing face would appear in his mind, an inky film would appear over it, twisting and distorting the pleasant image into one of her sobbing and looking at Big Macintosh with eyes of betrayal and pain.
A single tear welled in Mac's right eye, and he didn't attempt to keep it from running down his cheek.
The stallion and two mares continued down one of Ponyville's many dirt roads. The trio hd been walking for thirty minutes, and throughout the time Twilight had pointed out of Fluttershy's favorite spots. "Maybe we should stop and check here, Mac. Fluttershy told me she liked this spot as a filly." Suggested Twilight periodically. Big Macintosh would keep on marching. Applejack kept walking quietly, trusting her brother. Twilight, however, was desperate for insight on the situation. "I wonder what happened. Applejack, do you know anything?" asked Twilight. She had noticed Applejack shifting uncomfortably as soon she reached the crowd during the fight. Twilight saw that she was out of breath, like she had just galloped into Ponyville all the way from Sweet Apple Acres.
"Um,…I-I…"
"Applejack," egged Twilight.
"Fine. Fluttershy told meh everythin' the day after it happened," responded AJ. Hearing this news, Big Macintosh pricked his ears back to eavesdrop a little. It might clue him in on how to handle the situation. He still hadn't thought out what he was going to say to apologize for his ignorant behavior.
Applejack jumped into the story, telling of how Fluttershy went to the Wonderbolts show, how Fluttershy had been pulled up to be part of the act, how she fell, how she wwas saved and how she was invited out to drink with the Wonderbolts. Applejack told of how Ditzy made her accept the offer and how Ditzy and Soarin got into a drinking contest, and Fluttershy had bonded with Misty and Spitfire. And then, she told of the rape and how a mysterious stallion had found and saved her. Big Macintosh had already known that Fluttershy went to the Wonderbolts show, and as of this morning he knew of the… attack. But he hadn't heard the entire story.
As Big Mac continued his walk towards nowhere, Applejack whispered something to Twilight and trotted up beside her brother. "Big Mac? Im so sorry. This is all my fault," said Applejack.
"Nope," was all he said, indicating that it wasn't his sister's fault.
"No, it is. I'm the one who told ya about Fluttershy's predicament, thinkin' ya knew the whole story. If I had explained first instead of blurting everythin' out in a drunkin' mess, this whole thing wouldn't be happen' right now. I'm so sorry. Will you ever forgive me?" Applejack showed true sincerity in her quivering voice. This apology sounded a lot different than her usual accent. It hinted that she was about to cry.
"Eeyup." Applejack laughed and let out a loud sniff, shoving her brother playfully for such an understatement of a response. Big Mac, for the first time since the ponies left SugarCube Corner, broke his gaze from the path to look at his sister. She was looking sadly at her brother, giving a look that said 'I ruined your life.' But not in a nasty way, but in a guilty, extremely sad way. Not knowing what to say, and frankly not wanting to talk at the moment, Big Mac and Applejack kept their eyes on the dirt road, and for the next few minutes continued walking at a slow, yet steady pace. Big Macintosh wondered where Twilight was, and feeling a little less upset by walking with his sister, he looked back to search for the purple unicorn. Not to his surprise, she had pulled out a book entitled Finding Ponies for Dummies. Big Mac was about to chuckle, until he reread the title and remembered why he was on this mission. He wondered where Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were at the moment. He knew they wouldn't have found Fluttershy, because he knew exactly, without a doubt, where she was.
Mac and Applejack continued walking, until a muscular front leg stopped AJ. Big Mac put out a hoof in front of his sister to halt her, and Twilight, engulfed in her book, rammed into Applejack's rear, dropping her book. Big Mac, all the time, kept his eyes ahead of him, entranced on a certain thing in the distance. AJ's eyes darted around to see what he saw. Her eyes landed on the tip of a blushing, rosy colored tail peeking out from behind a large tree, resting on a hill.
Applejack and Twilight stopped walking, and let Big Mac go ahead. He walked slowly towards the tail, than faster, until he was trotting, and then galloping. He galloped towards the hill with the tree on top that overlooked Canterlot and what would later be a beautiful sunset. It was where Fluttershy and Big Macintosh had first bonded, where he had proposed to her, and where he would soon make up with her.
Big Mac whipped around the tree, and his eyes rested on a sun furred Pegasus mare with a slightly bulging stomach. She was staring out into the distance over the hill, like she was waiting all day for the sunset. Her glowing pink mane fell over the left side of her face, exposing her right eye. Without her hair to block her sight, the mare immediately noticed the bulky red stallion that currently loomed over her. The mare shuddered and hid her face in her front legs, like she was expecting Mac to hit her. But instead, he collapsed beside her and nuzzled into her. She remained stiff and untrusting. Big Mac nuzzled her neck and kissed her cheek.
Fluttershy looked him in the eye and he stared back. He felt as if she wasn't at him to read his expression, but to look into his soul. He knew why. Fluttershy had spent a week helping Pinkie Pie be "Madam Pinkie." He remembered her saying that Pinkie said "an expression doesn't tell the truth, but the expression behind the face." She was trying to see if he was really sorry, or if he was just pretending so he could get her back.
The sound of Raibow Dash landing in the distance almost distracted Big Mac. "Shhh Rainbow!" said Applejack and Twilight when Rainbow had loudly announced that neither her nor Pinkie or Rarity had found Fluttershy.
The entire time he looked at her, all Big Mac was thinking in his mind was 'I'm so sorry. I know now. I'm so sorry. I love you so much.' Over and over again. And when a single tear shed from both of their eyes simultaneously, they embraced each other in a long, romantic kiss, as Fluttershy whispered "I know," reading her stallion's mind.