It had been a while since the delicous daisy sandwiches brought Fluttershy and Big Macintosh closer together. Winter had set in, covering the town with snow and ice. It was this unforgiving winter that brought the two together once more. Prepare yourselves. THIS MAY GET UGLY.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fluttershy was in her cottage directing the birds that could fly southward and tending to those who could not. "Come now," she said to a reluctant gray jay, "South is that way. My cousin Brambleshy will take good care of you. Despite his name, he really is nice. Go on, your friends are waiting." The bird obliged. She turned to a cardinal and gave him a slice of an apple. "How's your wing?" she said, motioning to his bandages. "*tweet tweet*" the bird repiled. "Okay, it's not looking like you can go south this winter. I'll leave you to your goodbyes." She turned to a feeding dish and left the remainder of the apple there. Angel rushed up and was barely stopped by Fluttershy's hoof. "No, Angel, it's not for you. I'll get you your own apple. She went in the kitchen and checked. "No apples. Better try the cellar." She checked. "Oh no! We're out of apples!" Angel heard and pounded his foot on the floor. "Okay!" she squeaked, afraid. "I'll go get some. But let me get the cookies for Applejack and her family." Fluttershy went back to the kitchen and retrieved a basket filled to the brim with hot cookies, went out the door, and was on her way.
"Oh, I hope Angel isn't too angry. I don't want anypony angry at me. Oh, what to do, what to do?" It was at this rambling, almost to Sweet Apple Acres, that her unsteady hooves found a patch of ice. "Aiee!" she screamed, just before her head hit the cruel ground and was knocked unconscious. Her cookies, still warm, flew up and scattered over her body, their warmth seeping into her and keeping hypothermia at bay.
"Eee!" Macintosh heard the small voice on the wind. He got up from his chair in the den. "'Ey, sis?"
"Ya?" said Applejack, across the room in another chair, reading.
"Did ya hear that?"
"'Ear what?"
"Nevermind, Ah'm'a check somethin' outside, 'kay?"
"M'kay."
He left. "Hello!" he called to the snow-topped trees. Nothing responded. He searched the orchard, convinced he heard a yelp. After taking his sweet time, Big Mac went to the front gates. "Anypony need help?" he called. He peered into the distance. A crumpled heap lied not far off. "'Ello?" Big Macintosh crept closer. Pink mane sprouted from a mass of cookies. "Fluttershy?" he said, his thoughts leaping to the worst. He started to trot. As he came closer, Mac saw yellow feathers as well. "Fluttersy!" He was galloping. Stopping just short of the first cookies, he grabbed her hoof and flung her onto his back. He raced home.
"What in tarnation?" Applejack yelled as her brother flung the door open. Then she saw Flutttershy motionless on his back. "Bring 'er to the couch. Ah'll wake Granny and 'Bloom." She departed.
He set her down. "Oh, Fluttershy. Please be okay." He sat down and watched her.
Applejack came back. "They're up. Ah'm gonna go out and see if her animals need to be fed. You watch over her." She left through the door and was on her way to Ponyville.
A few minutes later, there was a banging on the door. Hating to take his eyes off her even for a moment, Big Macintosh answered it. He didn't see anything at first, but then looked down to see Angel thumping his foot on the porch. The bunny ran in and started to pull on Fluttershy's hair. "Wha? No! Stop!" Big Mac shoved him away. "What do ya want?" Angel pointed to his open mouth. Macintosh picked him up with his teeth and set him on the path outside. When Angel tried to rush in again, he bucked him lightly enough so that no bones would break, but hard enough so he went about 20 feet before sliding down the road. Mac closed the door and resumed watching Fluttershy.
Hours later Applejack came back. "Well, Ah fed the animals that were there, but Ah could't find her rabbit." No response. "'Ow long 'ave ya been sittin' there?" Once again, no response. "Ya gotta pee sometime. An' ya know it." Nothing. "It's not helpin' Fluttershy none if ya get a bladder infection. In fact, it would make 'er worry more."
Silence. Then, "Fine." He trudged to the bathroom.
"Heh. Ah knew Ah could make 'im do it."
-------------------------------------–------–—--------------–---------—------•------------------______-----------------
Hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks. Soon it was Hearth's Warming Eve. It was tradition for the Apple Family to help with the firewood. But Big Macintosh wouldn't move.
Applejack said, "Come on, Mac, we've gotta go. She'll be fine." He didn't reply.
Applebloom came up to him. "It's okay," she whispered. "Ya take care o' her. We'll be fine."
"Thanks Sugarcube," he whispered back, "Y'all go ahead an' take Granny," he said louder. "Ah need to talk to Applejack alone please."
"No prob. C'mon, Granny. They left.
"Now y'all didn't have ta go an' do–"
"Yes Ah did. Ya just don' understand do ya?"
"Yes Ah do. Ah understand perfectly well. You'd rather sit there an' watch a pony that's probably not even gonna make it anyway, than go an' have fun with yer kin!" She gasped. "Ah'm sorry, Ah didn' mean–"
"No, yer right. Ah would."
Applejack was shocked. "B-but, Big Mac..."
"Like Ah said, ya don't understand." He hung his head.
"But we need you!"
"SHE NEEDS ME MORE!"
"Ah, Ah..." Applejack rushed out, sobbing.
A silent tear slid down his cheek. Big Macintosh shoved his head into Fluttershy's soft mane and cried himself to sleep.
A kind, yellow, still alseep hoof wrapped around his neck and yoke.