Ain't love a funny thing? It happens in the most unlikely places and yet it is almost predictable. It starts small and begins grow overtime and that is what we are baring witness to here. However one can see it and one cannot. As predictable as love can be, it is also easy to predict heartbreak.
"So what is Big Mac's BIG plan with these flowerbeds?" Flim asked elbowing his friend.
"Well last night when I got home I opened up one of my family history books. Like you said Apples take at least 4 years to produce a viable crop, so I wondered how my family did it when they first got to Ponyville. Turns out they sold vegetable for the first few years." Flim nodded and looked back all the supplies.
"Ok it's starting to make some sense."
"After we get these vegetable going we can start think about getting you some saplings to plant." Flim stared at Big Mac as he continued on about all the plans he had made to get his and brother's farm going. He admired how hard of a worker he was and never seemed to tire. Even when working on his own farm he had the energy and drive to help him out. Along with his personality, Flim found himself admiring Big Mac's physical attributes. He was one of the largest stallions he had ever seen; yet despite his imposing size, his face was gentle and his eyes kind. It appeared he never touched his main and that simplicity made him all the more intriguing. The feeling of immense happiness grew inside the more he studied his friend and in the back if his mind Flim knew he was falling for the Big Mac.
"Flim?" Big Mac calling his name shook him out of his studying .
"Sorry, I was uh thinking about the lay out of the farm with all the ideas you you've come up with." Flim scratched his head and looked out towards the farm. They were now on the road that divided the two. The trees on the brother's side were old and in some serious need of pruning. Flim started thinking about how that was going to be a next winter project, and while Flim was thinking about farm improvements, Big Mac observed the light colored stallion. He was tall but not very big but his main was quite impressive. He had no idea how he got the colors to perfectly blend and why it worked so well. Big Mac could see a tired sadness in Flim's eyes, maybe that is why he wanted to help him. But also in his eyes was a hope. As Big Mac understood it, it was a hope to become a better pony. This is true, but there was something else in there that Big Mac did not see or chose not see. In the back of Big Mac's mind was the thought that he may of like Flim, but it remained unnoticed.
Eventually the two made it back the brother's farm and there waiting for them was the rail road ties. Standing in front the ties was Flam. He was staring at the massive pieces of wood and scratching his head trying to figure out who sent them and why. Upon seeing Flam, Big Mac stopped then looked over to Flim, who looked over to his brother and then back to Big Mac, smiled and nodded. Flim grabbed Big Mac's hoof and dragged him over to his brother.
"Hello brother! I see you got our delivery." Flim called out.
"Yes indeed brother, but what-" Flam turned around and saw Big Mac standing there awkwardly with a wagon full of supplies. "Ahem, what is all this for." Flim walked over and put his arm around Flam.
"You see Flam, Big Mac and I have been planning this for a while. I realized that with all the house work we've been doing we'll never be able to plant in time. I relayed this apophony to my friend here and he came up with a brilliant plan to get us started. Isn't that right Big Mac?"
"Uh, yup." Big Mac slowly nodded. Flam looked between the two a few times and let out a chuckle.
"Well this is splendid. Thank you very much friend." Flim ran and jumped on top of one of the piles of ties.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let us get this beds built!"
"Yup!" Big Mac smiled and unhitched him self from the wagon. He walked up to Flam and handed him a list. Flam took it and saw it was a list of tools.
"Flim says you've been working on the house so I am assuming you know where all the tools we need are?" Flam smiled.
"You can count on me to find all you need." Flam saluted and went of to find the tools. Big Mac then turned to Flim standing on the ties. He was beaming with excitement. It made Big Mac chuckle.
"Let's get building."
Throughout the afternoon and late into the evening the 3 built all 5 beds and got the hoses hooked up. Flim and Flam put the stakes where Big Mac directed them to. When it was all done everything was ready to plant.
"Wait to plant till tomorrow morning. That is the best time. Then you can turn on the water and you should be good to go." Big Mac explained walking towards the wagon.
"We cannot thank you enough Big Mac." Flam said staring at the new beds.
"We truly cannot. Why don't you stay for dinner?" Flim offered hopeful.
"No, thank you, I should be getting back to my family. I'm sure they're wondering where I've been all day," he chuckled. Flim nodded is a disappointed understanding.
"But hey, I'll see you tomorrow at our sittin spot." Big Mac said getting hitched up. Flim's smiled returned.
"Yes, yes for sure."
"Have a good night y'all" Big Mac waived and walked back home. The two brother waived back. Flim continued to waive and Flam stared at him. He saw his happiness and the little hope in his eyes.
"That's one special pony huh brother?" Flam noted hoping to catch something from his brother.
"He really is." Flim said in a swoon. Flam chuckled.
"What?"
"My dear Flim, it is not hard to see. You like him." Flam chuckled and walked towards the house. Flim glared at his brother until he was inside. He then looked back towards the Apple farm and could still see Big Mac making his way through the orchards. Flim let out a sigh.
"I really do."
Big Mac made it back to the house just as everyone was sitting down for supper.
"There you are! Where were you all day?" Applejack asked.
"Out," he simply answered as he sat at the table.
"What were you doing?" Applebloom asked.
"Work."
"Wha-" Applejack was interrupted by Granny Smith.
"Oh hush up you. You know better than to ask your brother about his free time. Now lets eat." Applejack eyed Big Mac suspiciously but let it go for the night.
The next day passed without incident and after another oddly quiet family dinner, Big Mac made for his sittin spot. There was a small excitement in him that he still was unaware of but he knew he wanted to see Flim, who was already there waiting for him. As Big Mac approached Flim smiled and waved excitedly. Big Mac laughed and waived back. The two sat and looked out over the two farms.
"How'd the planting go?" Big Mac asked.
"Good, I think. Hopefully by Fall we'll have vegetables to sell." Flim point to a spot on his farm. "Flam and I talked about clearing a spot there for a field." He let a happy sigh. "It's all finally coming together."
"Good to hear." Big Mac smiled.
"None of it would've been possible without your help Big Mac." Flim looked towards Big Mac. "I don't how to thank you." Flim started moving towards Big Mac who hadn't noticed.
"Oh it's no problem at all Flim. It was the right thing to do. I didn't want-" Big Mac was cut off by Flim kissing his cheek. He stiffened up, unable to move or think. Flim leaned away and stared at Big Mac in anticipation of his reaction. When Big Mac could move again he touched his cheek and emotions ran rampant in his head. What just happened, did he like it, did he dislike it, why would Flim do that? He looked over to him. Flim could see the shock on his face and decided to explain.
"I don't know. I felt like it was a way to show you how much you mean to me and this seemed like a good time." He took a breath, "I like you Big Mac, like really like you. Your kind, helpful strong, and simple. What I see is what I get, nothing less, and I like what you have shown me. I'd like to see more." Flim smiled, hopeful and terrified of what was to come next. Big Mac stared at Flim. Big Mac was trying to find the right words, but it wasn't coming. "Life is a funny thing, one day we give up on a dream, then the next...I find a new one. It came out of the clear blue sky."
Big Mac sat there still trying to figure out what to say next. He began to panic. Flim had just sprung this on him and he never thought of Flim in that way but now he was wondering if he secretly had been. His heart pounded and sweat started forming on his head.
"Uh I uh, me eh you." His nerves got best and he shot to his feet. "I gotta go." And with that Big Mac took off down the hill, leaving Flim all alone at the top.