//------------------------------//
// applejack screws up 
// Story: Fluttermac Forever 
// by peep 
//------------------------------//

     "Fluttershy, are ya sure yer not a goat?" Applejack asked as she dragged Fluttershy up the mountain.

"Y-you don't unders-stand," she mumbled, "I'm terrified of dragons!"

"Spike?"

"He's a-a baby."

"Riiiiight..." Applejack rubbed her neck, "So... What happened between you an' Bi—"

"I already told you, nothing," Fluttershy said sternly, forgetting her fears. Not for long though. "Now can you please take me back down?"

"No. Yer gonna help us with the dragon."

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"Hey, Big Mac," Applejack called.

"Nothing."

"What do ya mean?"

"That's the answer to yer question. Nothing happpened between me an' Fluttershy."

"But—"

"But nothin'! You asked me that question yesterday, an' the day bef're that, ever since Hearth's Warming Day! Nothin' happened!"

Applejack looked sternly at her brother. "Ya keep sayin' that, but Ah know it ain't true. Ah'm the Element of Honesty, fer Celestia's sake! Yer lyin'!" She stormed away.

He knew he was. Since that day, everytime he thought of Fluttershy; seeing her care for animals, smiling at him, hugging her; he got a deep ache of longing in his chest.

Fluttershy felt this way as well. "Applejack, stop asking." It killed her to lie to her friend.

"Ah'm sorry, Ah have a better reason ta be here." She looked down. "Ah'm worried about you an' Big Mac."

"Applejack!"

"Ah know, Ah know! But, Ah just... Ah just want ya to be happy t'gether. Ya both say 'nothing' an' Ah know ya mean 'something' but Ah don't know what that 'something' is!"

Fluttershy looked dazed. " He... said 'nothing'?" A few tears escaped from her eyes.

"N-No, not like that..." She reached out a hoof. "Fluttershy..."

She was sobbing now. "Go. Just–just go."

Applejack left. "Oh, Celestia. What have Ah done?"

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"You told her what?" Big Macintosh yelled when Applejack explained her visit. "Why would you say that?!"

"Ah'm sorry!" she whimpered.

"Sorry doesn't—Augh!" He kicked a tree.

Applejack had never seen her brother like this before. "Big Mac?"

"Leave me be." he said in a quiet voice. She left. "Fluttershy... Don't believe her... Ah, but ya will; she's yer friend and Honesty... Ah'll just... Have to explain..." He grinned both madly and sheepishly. "Ah'll have to tell you."