//------------------------------// // Chapter 43: The Apple And The Tree // Story: Le Retour // by k12314 //------------------------------// CHAPTER 43 Another day, and nothing to do. I was doing a decent job at keeping Dumb-Bell out of my thoughts, and I was actually relaxing for once in my life, just sitting on the edge of a cloud, swinging my legs, staring at the world below me. "So. Bored... I need something to do." I looked up at the sky. It wasn't too cloudy, save the occasional cloud, and it was a nice, warm day. "Huh. It's actually pretty nice out. I've really gotta learn to just slow down and look at things, and just chill. Everyone always did tell me I was always in a rush, and working too hard..." "Something on your mind?" I sprung back into a more normal sitting position, and looked at the pegasus in front of me. It was Fluttershy. "Oh, hey Shy. Nah, I'm just trying to relax. I'm getting a little anxious though. I need something to do." Fluttershy smiled, and I knew she had something for me. "Well, I could use a little help with..." Her face turned really red. "Something..." Oh, how blatantly obvious. She's into somepony. I cocked my eyebrow. "What, or should I ask who, may it be?" I grinned, and she blushed even worse, hiding behind her mane. "Oh... My... Is it really that obvious?" I nodded. "Oh, totally. I can read you like an open book." Fluttershy stayed silent for a second, until she giggled. "I should expect that from you. You're an attorney, after all." I shrugged. "Eh, it was obvious anyways. So, what is it you need? I'm pretty sure I could help." She looked around, as if she expected somepony to be listening in, and leaned in next to my ear to whisper to me. "It's Big Macintosh..." "No. Friggin'. Way." I blinked, and stared at her for a second. "Did you just say that it was Big Mac?" She nodded. "Yes. I just don't know how to ask him out on a date. We've been spending time together as friends lately, but I just don't know how to get any closer to him." I had to resist the urge to facepalm right there. "Alright, I shouldn't tell you this, but did you know Big Mac has a thing for you? He has for a while now." Fluttershy looked shocked. "He does?" "How oblivious can one pony be?" I nodded. "Yeah, he does. You should just outright ask him!" Fluttershy blushed, and lowered her head a bit. "Well... I don't really know what to do for a date. I'm not exactly 'in the loop' with the dating world..." And thus, I couldn't resist the urge anymore. My palm met with my forehead, and I let out a groan. "Alright... I'll come with you, and I'll help you out. But after you ask Mac out, you're on your own." She smiled, and grabbed me under my arms, and started carrying me to Sweet Apple Acres, babbling about how I'm the best friend ever. "Everypony I know is completely insane." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After we landed, I walked up to the door of the farmhouse, but I noticed that Shy had stopped following me, and had instead decided to hide in a nearby bush. I rolled my eyes, and pulled her out by the scruff of her neck. "Come on now, don't be getting cold hooves now." Fluttershy's eyes were closed tight, and she was obviously freaking out. "B-But what if he says no?! What if I ruin the friendship we have?!" I shook my head. "Jeez, Shy, you really need to stop being so worried and take a risk every now and again. Now come on, just ask him out! It's not that hard! Just knock on the door, and just say 'wanna go on a date with me?'" I put her down, and she took a deep breath, and walked up to the door... And darted back off to the bush. "... Really? I know that she's shy, but come on! Luna give me strength..." I dragged her back to the door, and knocked on it, and pushed her right in front of it. "There ya go! Now then, I'm outta here!" I ran off, and hid in the same bush Shy was using. Big Mac answered the door, and Shy just looked up at him, as he just looked down at her. "Well howdy Fluttershy, what brings you here t'day?" She shrunk down a bit, and only managed a slight "eep." The urge to run out there and just tell Mac myself was starting to get to me. Big Mac cocked his eyebrow. "Uh... Well, alright then. If'n ya' don't need t' say nothin'-" "Wouldyougoonadatewithme?!" "Woah. Pinkie Pie would be proud." Big Mac just stared at Shy, and I could see his cheeks turning a bit more red than usual, whereas Shy's face was completely red all over. Mac's jaw hung slack, and the sprig of wheat that he was usually chewing lay at his hooves, forgotten. He rubbed the back of his head, and stuttered as he tried to gather an answer. "Uh... Ah' mean... Er..." Shy stood up, and hung her head. "It's OK, if you don't want to, I understand..." Mac violently shook his head. "No! Fluttershy, Ah'..." He took a deep breath. "... Eeyup." Shy fell onto her haunches, and looked up at him. "You mean..." He smiled, and helped her stand up. "Ah'd love t' take ya' out on a date one day, unless ya' wanna go now." "Holy crap that was smooth." They held hooves, and started down the path together, and I decided to follow and watch how their first date went. No, I am not creepy, I just was curious...! OK, I'm creepy. So sue me. They walked into town, but they didn't just stop at a restaurant or anything, they just walked and talked, and I was too busy trying to stay hidden that I wasn't paying attention to what they were saying. They eventually stopped in the park, so I sat on a bench near them, and picked up a newspaper, using the age-old disguise that everyone knows. Mac and Shy just made small-talk for a little while, and nothing really eventful happened. They just talked, and occasionally stopped to look at the sky or out over the lake. It was really lovey-dovey, and it worked for them perfectly. But then, things got interesting. The date was just about over, and they both stood up to leave. "I'd love to do this again, Big Mac... I mean, if that's OK with you..." Fluttershy smiled, and lowered her head a bit, and Big Mac just chuckled. "Ah'd love to too." Then, Shy brought her head back up, and stared into his eyes, and started to lean in, slowly. "Fluttershy...?" Their lips grew closer, and closer, and closer, until... Shy moved her head to the right, and rested it on Mac's shoulder, pulling him into a hug. "I'll see you later, Big Mac." "OH COME ON!"