//------------------------------// // Awkward Silence is the Best Medicine // Story: Apples or Lightning // by MimitehDragon //------------------------------// The four ponies finished eating, bulging bellies and laughter. "I'm stuffed!" Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I couldn't eat another bite." Soarin's murmur came. "Are you sure 'bout that?" Rainbow took a hoof full of leftover pie and aimed to stuff it into his mouth from across the table, but the pale Pegasus dodged. He took another pile of pie and shoved it in Dash's face. Rainbow Dash moved aside and slapped his hoof, causing pie to spatter on to Fluttershy and Mac. Mac chuckled and picked up an apple, throwing it at Rainbow. Soarin threw a pile of pie at Fluttershy, who squealed and ducked out of the way. Rainbow dash wiped apple essence from her mane, and put on a game face. She chucked at Mac two apples, while Fluttershy threw Dash a pile of pie and soarin an apple at the cyan Pegasus. When the food fight had finished, apple and pie eminence was scattered about in the soft green grass. Big Macintosh's eyes glowed. Rainbow Dash still chuckled while wiping apple from her shoulder. Fluttershy blushed slightly, giggling quietly and glancing from pony to pony. Soarin gazed at Fluttershy's pink mane that covered half her face elegantly, her forelegs on the bench in front of her with her shoulders pushed forward. He admired her butter yellow pelt, which shimmered vibrantly from the afternoon rays. Her shy little smile as she giggled at the day's events, her cutie mark practically glowed. He couldn't help but grin warmly to himself, averting his emerald gaze just before she looked at him. She's not even my marefriend. Why am I so drawn to her, when I just met her today? "Well, it's getting a bit late." Rainbow Dash yawned, the setting sun barely above the Everfree forest. "Let's get going, Soarin." Big Macintosh noticed him frown slightly with a glance at Fluttershy, then Soarin nodded hesitantly and hovered above the picnic table, waiting for Dash to gather her bearings. "Ok, we're off!" Rainbow Dash said abruptly. "Bye Big Mac, see ya Fluttershy!" "Goodbye, Rainbow. It was nice to meet you, Soarin." Shy replied. "Bye, Fluttershy!" He called as they took off to fly away. Big Macintosh called after them; "See y'all later." There was a silent pause after they left. "Oh, well, I should get home now. Angel is gonna need food soon, and Celestia knows he won't wait." Fluttershy murmured, breaking the awkward silence. "Now, you can't go walkin' home all by your self!" Big Mac intercepted. "It's all too late to be out alone, and Ah'm sure y'all know that." "I'm fine, I can go myself." Fluttershy replied quietly. "Now, Ah could walk y'all home if'n y'all let me." "Oh, no no no, I wouldn't want to be a bother.." "It's alright, Fluttershy, I don't mind none." The crimson stallion insisted with a small smile. "Well... Oh, alright." He stepped back to give Fluttershy room to pass. She plotted past with a sheepish smile. The pair trotted slowly at an equal pace, Fluttershy studying the ground in front of her while Big Mac watched the sky. "So, uh, Fluttershy..?" He murmured, not exactly used to starting a conversation. "Yes?" She looked up at him with those round, blue eyes... "Umm..." Why did I get her attention just to stutter and stumble? He thought indignantly, forcing himself to make eye contact. He realized after a few seconds he was gazing absently into her beautiful blue gaze. "Ah was just wondering, uh, what's been goin' on lately with yer.. eh.. critters?" "Oh, that's very kind of you to ask!" She replied with a smile, as if forgetting she wasn't called Fluttershy for nothing. "Angel bunny's still as spoiled as ever, and the owls have laid eggs. I can't wait until they hatch; cute little owl babies with those big eyes and downy feathers..." Her voice trailed off according to Mac's mind. Fluttershy was so passionate about her animals, the glow in her eyes when she talked about them, the determination to protect them.. He admired her for that. Her eyes stared unwaveringly into his, as if it didn't matter anymore that he was a tall stallion who she barely knew. "...and the blue jay chicks are really coming along. One of them tried to fly yesterday, but it wasn't me who saved him. Angel bunny caught him just in time. I guess he isn't just a spoiled little bunny after all, huh? He can be sweet, sometimes." She finished with a smile, then added; "So, how have you been lately, Mac?" Big Mac saved himself just in time, as he'd been gazing wordlessly into her eyes, "Ah've been fine, thanks." He replied. If he weren't already red, his blushing would be clearly visible. "Nothin' much has been happenin' on the farm." As if his voice had snapped her into the reality, Fluttershy abruptly averted her gaze toward the ground and murmured; "That's nice.." The red stallion almost clipped his hoof on the ground in disappointment. He loved just listening to her talk; her voice was so soft and soothing. "Who was this eh.. Soarin pony y'all and Rainbow were hangin' out with?" He asked semi-casually, keeping his voice from wavering with suspicion. "One of Rainbow Dash's old friends." The butter-yellow Pegasus uttered softly. "I invited her for pie and said he could come, too." "Hmmm." Big Macintosh murmured back. They carried on in their canter for a few minutes, silence gripping the air tensely. When he finally looked at Fluttershy, a bead of sweat was forming at her hairline, and she panted quietly. Mac inhaled sharply, remembering that him and his family were quite athletic. He slowed to a stop and put a hoof on her wing, feeling her stiffen. Oops.. "Would y'all like to slow down? Seems yer a bit worn out, and uh.." "I don't mind at all. I need some exercise anyways." She muttered; "Besides, I wouldn't want to be a burden, after all.." Mac could tell she was uncomfortable with him touching her wing. Must be a Pegasus thing.. He thought, lowering his hoof. Apple jack was talkin' bout what Rainbow told her bout wings.. They're sensitive, right? But how... He stiffened at another thought; he realized just why they were. That is awkward... "Now, Ah think you've had enough, judgin' by how tired you seem." He felt as if he'd talked more to Fluttershy in one day then he had to any pony else in a week. Her wings were strained, as if she was struggling to keep them from flaring out. Her eyes glittered with a bitter-sweet look. "I'm sure I'll be fine.." Fluttershy insisted. He had the sudden ebbing thought; what if he just up and kissed her, right then? He felt the urge pushing him, trying to send him closer to Shy, rooting for an embrace with the mare. He lingered at the image in his mind blissfully, then pushed the thought away. Big Macintosh twitched his shortened tail as a twinge knotted his lower stomach. Not now... He forced a shrug and clopped on, intentionally slower than before. At last, a small shed teeming with animals came into view. "That your house?" Mac asked, receiving a nod from the yellow Pegasus. Big Mac cantered up to the door, opening it and holding it for Fluttershy. "I'll see y'all another time." He said with a small smile. Despite how nervous she looked and how obviously uncomfortable she was with Mac, she said; "Won't you come in? I'm sure you're tired from the walk here, and I wouldn't want you to freeze out there without some sort of rest at least.." Fluttershy said softly as she passed and stood in the doorway. "I could make some tea." "Ah'm alright, Fluttershy." He replied, though he could go for some tea, Mac knew that his urges would make him do, or at least try to do something he'd regret. "Ah'll be plenty fine on my way home." Both relief and disappointment flickered through Shy's blue gaze for a moment, but she nodded and murmured a goodbye. "Ah'll see y'all later, Fluttershy." He said with slight remorse that he didn't accept her offer. Big Macintosh started home at a steady canter, then sped to a pounding gallop as Luna's moon rose from the horizon to greet the stars. Fluttershy stared blissfully after him, watching his muscles ripple beneath a crimson pelt. She finally closed her door, feeding all her animals, before going up to her bedroom with a weary sigh. She closed the bedroom door behind her, relaxing to let her wings flare out stiffly. When Big Macintosh put a hoof on her wing, the sensation of his gentle touch lingered long afterward. Fluttershy sighed heavily, stroking the wing he'd touched with a hoof, the same sensation twinging, but not exactly like before. She flopped into her bed, stiffness slowly ebbing away, until sleep dragged her deep into its comforting depths.