Once Smitten, Twice Shy
"I'm the one who wants to be with you.
Deep inside I hope you feel it too.
Waited on the lines of green and blue,
Just to be the next to be with you."
-To Be With You by Mr. Big
While mostly everypony was having a fantastic time tonight, not all the guests to the party had a special somepony (or in one case, dragon).
Now eight o'clock, the party was in full swing. Ponies were dancing wildly with one another on the center floor and the punch bowls were emptying faster than Pinkie Pie could replace them. If somepony was paying attention he would've noticed the Cutie Mark Crusaders running around on a sugar-induced high caused by an overdose of cupcakes.
Still, even with all the excitement, a lonely Fluttershy nervously sat in a chair near the punch bowl, with a small cup of sarsaparilla in her hooves.
Fluttershy was never a fan of large parties. Whether it was because of the absurd amount of deafening noise or the fact she didn't like crowds, Fluttershy was just uncomfortable in a huge party. If she was a more vengeful pony, she would've thought of a way to get back at Pinkie Pie for inviting her to a "small party with just our friends" ("Well, everypony in town is my friend!" Pinkie defended).
But it wasn't just the fact that she was surrounded by a bunch of ponies that made her feel uncomfortable; it was the fact that she was surrounded by a bunch of ponies with dates that made her feel like she shouldn't have even been invited. She had no special somepony that everypony else had. She felt that she was just too timid to start anything with anypony… even if she really wanted to.
As much as she wanted to just leave and spend the rest of the night in a restful sleep, she felt obligated to stay for the full duration. This was mainly because she always feared that Pinkie Pie would possibly explode in rage if anypony upset her ever since Applejack had broken a Pinkie Promise.
Fluttershy sighed, taking another sip of her drink. If the night hadn't been worse enough for her, three stallions had attempted to flirt with the shy pegasus. Much like the encounter with Big Macintosh several days previously, she resorted to squealing, followed running away.
Nearby, Pokey fought his way through the crowd, levitating both a plate of pink cupcakes and pitcher of pink lemonade. He found his way over to the table Fluttershy was sitting near and placed the food and drink on the table.
"Some party, huh?" He said. "Pinkie Pie really outdid herself this time."
Fluttershy nodded silently in agreement. She had met the unicorn when Pinkie Pie delivered the invitation to her. When Pinkie had told her that he was her date, Fluttershy had responded with a very unsure "that's… nice…"
"Say," Pokey said. "Why aren't you out dancing with everypony else?"
Fluttershy looked down at her hooves. "I-I'm not good at dancing." She mouthed.
She wasn't a hundred percent sure that Pokey heard her. He must have, however, when he laughed. "Don't worry, nopony here is." He took a look at Fluttershy's face. "You… don't look that excited. Aren't you having fun?"
The pegasus sighed. "Actually… No. I think I would've been better off staying at home."
Pokey levitated the empty pitcher. "Well if you feel that way, no pony's stopping you."
Fluttershy was still unsure. "But won't Pinkie Pie get mad?"
"Nah," Pokey replied. "She'll understand why you left. Anyways, I gotta get this back to the kitchen. I'll see you around!" And with those last words, he left, taking the empty pitcher with him.
Fluttershy let a smile creep onto her face. Now no longer feeling bound to the party, she was free to go. She disposed of her empty cup and scanned for the door out. The exit was blocked by the sea of ponies.
She braced herself and headed into the crowd.
"Excuse me. Pardon me. Oh, so sorry!" She muttered, trying to squeeze in between partygoers. She could finally see the door, now closed. Nearly all the ponies who were attending had come by now, so the bouncer was no longer needed. She trotted up to the door and extended a hoof to open it.
SLAM!
Fluttershy instantaneously found herself smashed against the wall and the now-open door.
"I thought ya said ya lived on Maple Street!" She heard a familiar, farmpony's voice say in an annoyed tone.
"I said 'Apple Street!'" A male voice replied. "Besides, the party's still going on, so we haven't missed out on anything." Fluttershy could've sworn she heard a giggle, followed by a sound that closely resembled a kiss, then a deep, annoyed groan.
After a few seconds, the door let itself close, letting Fluttershy fall to the ground. She could've sworn she'd never felt her left wing bend that way before. She muttered an "ow" upon hitting the floor, getting another pony's attention.
"Hmm?" Big Macintosh asked, turning around. He saw the injured pegasus, quietly muttering to herself how the night could get any worse. "Fluttershy? That you?"
Fluttershy looked up the stallion and turned red in the face in embarrassment. "H-h-hello Big M-Macintosh." She stuttered, scrambling to get up. She had a feeling that the large stallion hadn't completely forgiven her for slamming a door in his face days before.
"What happened to ya?" He asked curiously, pointing at a small bruise on her knee. Other than the mark on her knee, a few scratches were also apparent on her body.
Fluttershy looked away shamefully. "I just… wanted to leave…"
"Huh," the stallion said. "So did I."
Fluttershy's ears perked up and she looked back at the stallion. "Pinkie told you it was going to be a small party too?"
"Eeyup." He replied. "I ain't so fond of crowds. Would've rather been at home sleepin' instead." He yawned sleepily right after.
"It's as if he was me." Fluttershy thought. "Except he's a stallion… a really, really handsome stallion- Did I just think that?"
It was no surprise that Big Macintosh was one of the most eligible stallions in Ponyville. With all of the physical labor he does at the farm, he was larger and muscular. The farmpony rarely went into town for the sole reason to avoid the many mares pining after him.
Still, the thought had never occurred to Fluttershy, considering she had seen him about next-to-never.
"Uhm," Big Macintosh said, snapping Fluttershy away from her thoughts. "Yer wing's bent."
The pegasus looked at her left wing. She yelped at the sight of the misshaped part. Feathers were out of place and the whole wing was bent out of shape. She did feel her wing bend awkwardly.
She tried to tuck in her wing, but only succeeded in setting off a splitting pain in her wing. She yelped in pain. Fluttershy knew she had definitely broken it.
Big Macintosh grew a concerned frown. "Ya'll need to get that fixed. But Nurse Redheart's outta town today an' all the doctors are takin' the day off."
"Oh…" Fluttershy said quietly. She shook her bent wing slightly, still feeling a deep pain from it. "I-It's no big deal. I-I can wait." She lied, biting her lip, trying not to scream (softly) in pain again.
"Uh huh," Big Macintosh said, seeing right through Fluttershy's bluff. "That wing ain't gonna get that much better on its own. We've got a first aid kit at the farm; I could patch ya up there."
The pegasus froze. Being taken to a stallion's home was not something that happened regularly for her, or at all for that matter. "O-Oh," she stammered, breaking into a nervous sweat. "But d-doesn't Sugarcube Corner have one?"
The farmpony responded by pointing towards a wall. Fluttershy looked, seeing several trouble-making colts playing Hot Potato with the first aid kit. Pinkie and Pokey were attempting to get it back in vain, making it look more like a game of Monkey in the Middle.
Fluttershy winced at her wing again. She looked back at the stallion. Agreeing to go with Big Macintosh back to his home was not the greatest abstinence action, but she just felt that he was… very trustworthy, for lack of a better term.
"Okay." She finally said.
Big Macintosh nodded. "Let's go." He carefully opened the door, pushing outside instead.
The two made their departure from the party. Thankfully, there was no longer an enormous crowd hanging outside of the bakery as there was an hour ago.
They walked in silence, Fluttershy's broken wing still out with the other one tucked in. She tried her best not to let it move, and was doing quite a good job at it. She would shift her eyes to the large stallion next to her thinking, "Why can't I stop staring?"
As for Big Macintosh, he would occasionally give the pegasus a glance as well; mainly to check on her wing, but also just to look at her too. "She's pretty," the farm pony thought. "At least fixin' up her wing'll be better than spendin' the night at a party filled with crazed lovey-doveys."
As their silent journey continued, Fluttershy found herself taking more and more looks at the stallion. There was just… something about him that made it hard for her to looking. She knew if she kept glancing, it wouldn't be long at all until Big Macintosh would catch her.
"Just one more look." She thought. "Then I'll stop."
She looked back up at the stallion, only be met by a pair of green eyes staring right back at her. She yelped and looked away, trying to hide her reddening face behind her mane. Big Macintosh also looked away, his face flushing and usual stoic expression one of embarrassment.
They continued their slow walk, avoiding any conversation. The air was filled with awkward silence between the two, not daring to face each other. Both Fluttershy and Big Macintosh could've sworn they heard a nearby pony mutter "what a couple of babies" at their direction.
Fluttershy was ever aware of her steps, trying to keep a distance between her and the stallion. The last thing she'd want to do is accidentally trip over a stray rock or something and fall on top of him. The atmosphere between the two was already tense and awkward; there was no need to complicate further.
Although she wasn't comfortable being with a stallion, she was glad that out of all of them it was Big Macintosh. He wasn't a talkative pony, so she wouldn't have to face him and speak.
The pegasus took her gaze from the ground to in front of her. She could see the farm not much farther, easily seen thanks to the lights were on.
Seeing the illuminated house made Fluttershy realize something, it was really dark at the moment. She'd been so preoccupied staring at Big Macintosh and the ground she had forgotten it was so late. The pegasus wasn't very fond of the dark at all either. She was just grateful that Luna's stars and moon shed at least a little light for her to see.
Her ears perked up at the sound of a rustling from a nearby tree. She stopped and snapped her head towards it, involuntarily getting her escort's attention.
"Somethin' wrong?" The stallion asked.
The pegasus let her guard down when a squirrel crawled down the tree. She embarrassedly faced the large stallion, yet looked down at her hooves. "Oh, umm… It was nothing. I just get nervous when it's dark."
"Hmm," The stallion turned towards the building. "We ain't far now. Just bear with it for a lil' bit and we'll be inside."
"Okay," Fluttershy responded quietly, not making any eye contact.
The two continued their walk, quiet as usual. No further drama escalated and they were able to get to the farm. Fluttershy could hear childish laughter in the distance, most likely the Cutie Mark Crusaders who had planned a sleepover at their clubhouse for the night.
They were walking by the side of the barn towards the front door when Fluttershy had gone back to looking up at Big Macintosh in secret. She still kept wary, should he decide to look at her again. She just felt something about the stallion that she'd never felt in any other pony before.
Unconsciously, she walked closer to Big Macintosh, only about an inch away from him. Unluckily for Fluttershy, the stallion noticed and caught at her looking at him again. Fluttershy yelped softly, turning red in her guilty face, expecting her escort to give her a disappointed look.
Instead, he just smiled a little at her and looked back at the road without saying anything. He had definitely caught her staring at him and deep within his personal space, but he didn't seem to mind. If his slight change of expression meant anything, he probably wanted it too.
Not wanting to push her luck, the pegasus turned her red face back towards the road again, yet still staying close the stallion. She was thankful she decided to walk on his left side. Having the crippled wing in between the two would've just made the event harder.
Unknown to either pony, a certain trio of fillies was watching them. Well, not exactly watching; more like happened-to-be-in-the-area-eavesdropping. They were hiding in the very tree Fluttershy was startled by earlier, attempting to go get their "Scavanger Hunt" Cutie Marks. It wasn't going very well.
"Didja find the golden apple yet, Scootaloo?" Applebloom asked, hanging onto a thick branch.
Scootaloo, slightly higher in the tree, shook her head. "Nope. I found a camera though." She pointed at the camera that now adorned her neck. "Hey, maybe after this we can try being the Cutie Mark Crusader Photographers."
"Good idea, but let's focus on scavenger huntin'." Applebloom said. "What 'bout you, Sweetie Belle?" She called out.
Sweetie Belle, on another thick branch, wasn't paying attention. She was still thinking about what had just happened between Fluttershy and Big Macintosh a few minutes before. They had heard hoofsteps and tried to keep themselves quiet, but a rogue squirrel who was hopping around had crashed into Scootaloo's face, causing a confused fray in the tree between a clawed Scootaloo and irritated Applebloom against a seemingly-ninja squirrel with Sweetie Belle desperately "shhhing" at them. After the squirrel had climbed away, the rustling stopped long enough for Sweetie Belle to peek out of the tree and at the two older ponies.
But one thing that stood out to her was Fluttershy's wing. It was all bent and crooked. Pegasi didn't hurt easily, so it came to her as odd on why she would have such an injury. And why was Big Macintosh there? He was supposed to be at the party.
"Hey! Sweetie Belle to Equestria!" Applebloom said loudly, waving a hoof in front of the unicorn's face. She snapped out of her trance. "What's goin' on with you?"
"I was still thinking about Big Macintosh and Fluttershy." Sweetie Belle replied. "Don'tcha think it's weird that Fluttershy had a broken wing?"
Scootaloo hopped onto the branch the other two were on. "I guess, but it's just an injury." She said. "She'll get better."
Sweetie Belle still wasn't convinced. "Don't you guys remember that Miss Cheerilee said that pegasi are more resistant to being hurt?"
"She's Fluttershy." Applebloom argued. "'Sides, my brother's with her, so no timberwolves or manticores or anythin's gonna hurt her."
"And you don't find it weird that your brother was with her?" Sweetie Belle interrogated. "They've never talked before or anything."
Scootaloo snorted. "Maybe they were having a secret affair!" Sweetie Belle turned bright red, but Applebloom raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What in tarnation's that?" Applebloom asked.
"You should know, Sweetie Belle. I saw that word in your sister's book." Scootaloo said.
"Okay! So what about Fluttershy and Big Mac?" Sweetie Belle said loudly, wanting to change to subject. "Don't you guys think we should give Big Macintosh a helping hoof in making Fluttershy feel better, I think we should!" Without giving the other two any time for a choice, she jumped down from the tree and onto the ground. "Let's go!"
Scootaloo and Applebloom shared a confused look at each other. Scootaloo shrugged before hopping down after the unicorn. Before the last filly made her descent she muttered, "I still don't know what an affair is."
------------------------------
"Well, make yerself at home." Big Macintosh said as the two ponies entered the home. He let Fluttershy step in first and take a look around.
The home wasn't anything overly fancy or bland; it was a cozy, yet spacious house with a few decorations here and there. Since they thought no pony would come to their farm during this holiday, the outside of the building lacked any decorations, as did the inside.
The only thing that signified any holiday was going on was a heart-shaped photo with a pink frame sitting on the fireplace, a very recent addition to the house. Applejack and her coltfriend, Caramel, who wearing Applejack's hat, were captured in the photo. Big Macintosh was still a little skeptical about his sister's new relationship ("Break her heart, I break your spine." He threatened uncharacteristically at one point.).
Fluttershy stopped scanning the room and looked timidly at Big Macintosh. "It's a wonderful home." She said finally.
"My room's upstairs," the stallion said. "Ya'll go on up while I get the first aid kit and sling. It's the red door."
Fluttershy didn't object. The sooner she got some aid for her wing the better. The pegasus headed upstairs while Big Macintosh started rummaging in the kitchen for the sling.
"I know it's 'round here somewhere." He muttered to himself as he checked several cabinets. "And… there it is!"
He leaned into one cabinet and pulled out the sling with his mouth. He silently prayed that a leg sling would work fine for a wing. He turned around only to be met by the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Hiya Big Mac!"
"Whatcha got there?"
"What's an 'affair?'"
Big Macintosh spat the sling out and said, "This ain't the best time to talk. Miss Fluttershy's got a broken wing and I'd hate to keep her waiting." When he said that last part, he could've sworn Sweetie Belle flinched.
He picked up the sling again and walked past the fillies. He was, however, stopped again by their conversation.
"Can we help?" Applebloom asked. "We could get our House Doctor Cutie Marks!"
Big Macintosh mentally sighed. There was little use in arguing, so he might as well let them help in some way. He looked back at the Crusaders and pointed a hoof at the first aid kit hung on the wall above the fireplace.
The trio got the picture and headed towards it, leaving Big Macintosh to finally go upstairs and get Fluttershy's wing into the bandage. At the moment, he was thankful that they put the first aid kit so far up high. It would take a while for the trio to get the kit.
"Hopefully they don't burn the house down while I'm gone." He thought. Being the Cutie Mark Crusaders, that idea was entirely plausible.
He made his way upstairs, out of the fillies' sight. He stopped dead, realizing that he would be with Fluttershy, in his room… alone. Obviously, some conversation would come up but he didn't know what to say. He wasn't the most social pony; heck, he's probably one of the very few ponies in the town that would regularly decline an invitation to a typical Pinkie Pie party. So just how was he supposed to communicate with the mare that his sister unknowingly smashed with a bakery door?
He shook his head. "Not the time." He told himself. "She needs medical attention. Small talk can wait." He continued his little journey until he reached the closed door to his room. He knocked twice with a hoof then entered.
Big Macintosh's own room wasn't anything fancy. There was a simple drawer next to his large bed, both decorated with small apples. There was a hook on the wall, where he'd put his harness. Other than the single window on the wall, there was nothing else notable about the room.
Fluttershy was lying patiently on the bed, wing still bent out awkwardly. She looked up when the stallion entered the room. "Your room is nice." She said quietly.
For a moment, Big Macintosh stopped to decipher whether she was being sarcastic or not. He shrugged the thought off when he remembered that Fluttershy was probably too kind to insult anypony, even indirectly. He spat the sling onto the bed and smiled at her.
"Thanks," he said. "Well, the sooner we get this sling on ya the better."
Fluttershy nodded in response. But before Big Macintosh could grab the sling again, he heard her voice again.
"Um… before you start, can you tell me why there's Smartypants doll in your bed." Realizing she was being a bit rude, Fluttershy quickly said, "I-If you don't mind of course."
The pegasus noticed that Big Macintosh turned redder than usual.
------------------------------
About ten minutes later, the Cutie Mark Crusaders finally managed to retrieve the first aid kit and were heading upstairs to give it to Big Macintosh. In whatever efforts they used to get it, they were battered, bruised, and covered in tree sap.
"At least we got it," Sweetie Belle chimed, trying to find a positive in the whole mess. "I didn't think that catapult idea would work."
"Shh!" Applebloom whispered. "I hear… laughin'."
Now in front of Big Macintosh's now closed door, the trio heard the sound of soft laughter from the room. They exchanged a couple of confused looks before deciding to stack on top of each other and putting their ears to the door.
"…so is that why you didn't show up to that party?"
"Eeyup. Somepony had to keep an eye Winona."
"What are they talking about?" Scootaloo, who was in the middle, whispered.
"Sounds like one of Pinkie's parties." Sweetie Belle replied from above. "Shh! They're still talking."
"Besides, she's real… affectionate."
"And athletic."
"An' cute."
"And brave."
"An' smart."
There was a long, awkward silence, which was finally broken by a familiar (and most likely embarrassed) squee.
"I don't get it." Scootaloo said. "What the heck are they doing?"
Sweetie Belle shrugged. She looked down. "What do you think, Applebloom?"
Applebloom, however, was actually looking through the lock hole. "I can see 'em." She whispered. "An'… Fluttershy's 'bout to eat my brother's face!"
Scootaloo made a funny sound before stumbling and nearly falling over. "What?"
Applebloom shook so that the others got off. "I said Fluttershy's gonna eat my brother's face!" She whispered. "We gotta stop her!"
Before they even thought about what they were doing, the trio of fillies kicked the door open, although Sweetie Belle was a tad bit too late and fell over when there was no door there to absorb her kick. A furiously blushing Big Macintosh and Fluttershy (now wearing the sling on her wing) were on the bed, who appeared to have just pulled away with a sudden jerk.
"Get away from my brother, you cannibal!" Applebloom snarled. She then pounced at Fluttershy, who covered her face from the impending attack. Thankfully, she was stopped in midair by Big Macintosh's extended hoof.
"What in Sam's hill are ya doin'?" He asked, half angry and half curious.
"She was trying to eat you!" Applebloom said, flailing in her brother's grip. She pointed an accusing hoof at the pegasus on the bed. Her face turned slightly redder.
Big Macintosh's eye widened slightly. "That can be explained."
The other two crusaders looked up. "Okay, explain then!" They said ecstatically, seemingly unconcerned about the fellow filly's head filling with blood from being hung upside-down from her brother's grip.
The red pony bit his lip. "Erm… Well… I can't really… Umm…" In his nervousness, he dropped Applebloom to scratch the back of his head. "Well, ya see… When a mare and stal-"
Fluttershy finally decided to step in. "Girls," she said softly, getting the fillies' attentions. "It's late and Big Macintosh is not in the mood to talk. Don't you all think it's time to go to bed?"
The fillies exchanged glances. From their own experience they knew that whatever Fluttershy said goes, lest they succumb to her stare. After a short while they left the room, with Scootaloo muttering, "Maybe Rarity's book will tell us what this whole face-eating thing's about."
Big Macintosh sighed in relief. "They're more trouble than they're worth." He said. He turned to Fluttershy. "Erm… I'm sorry that I… err… tried to kiss ya." He looked down, not willing to look up at the mare. "It… it wasn't right of me to take advantage of ya."
Fluttershy looked back at the stallion. "It's not your fault," she said. Big Macintosh looked back up. "b-besides… I kinda…" She mumbled out her next few words incoherently, turning red in the face again.
"Couldn't catch that." Big Macintosh said, leaning in to have a better listen should she repeat herself. "Come again?"
"I said I kinda li…" More mumbling.
"One more time?" The stallion requested. "A lil' louder?"
"I liked it!" Fluttershy finally choked out quickly, turning crimson. "J-Just a little!"
As Fluttershy hung her head as if she had just been punished, Big Macintosh turned redder as well. "Oh…" He smiled nervously at her. "Well… I-I kinda liked it myself."
Fluttershy looked up, still pink in the face. "Y-y-you did?"
"Yeah," he replied. "Erm… This is a mite awkward of me askin', but… ya wanna… try again?"
The pegasus's eyes widened. "O-Oh…" She paused, as if seriously considering his offer. "Um… I… yes."
The two looked up at each other once more. Their gazes were locked and faces were reddening. Once again, the ponies found themselves leaning closer and closer with closed eyes…
But the kiss never came. Fluttershy suddenly jerked away at the very last moment. Big Macintosh opened his eyes, confused.
"I-I can't do it!" Fluttershy stuttered."I-I just can't!"
Big Macintosh raised an eyebrow, not exactly sure why she would cut the kiss short. "Why not?"
"We barely even know each other," she said. "We met only one hour ago and I don't know anything about you!"
"Well, who says we can't start now?" Big Macintosh asked.
"Okay. What's your favorite color?"
"Red. Ain't it obvious?"
"What's your favorite food?"
"Apples. Ain't it obvious?" He sighed. "Look, we ain't gettin' nowhere like this. Maybe we should try some other way to get to know each other?"
Fluttershy put a hoof to her chin. "Well… the Hearts and Hooves party is still going on."
"There we go," Big Macintosh said, smiling at the mare. "Once you're completely patched up, we'll go back to the party."
He got off the bed and picked up the first aid kit the Crusaders left behind. "'Sides, it'll be much more fun now that we both have date to actually go with."
Fluttershy smiled and nodded. She couldn't believe it. Just yesterday, she was avoiding every colt in the world and absolutely dreading the party. Now she couldn't wait to go back to the party with her date. If her wing hadn't been broken, she would've done a few laps around the room.
In a moment of excitement, she leapt up to give Big Macintosh a hug and a small kiss on his cheek. From the looks of it, Fluttershy was about as shocked at her sudden boldness as Big Macintosh was.
"Oh, um…" She said awkwardly, blushing again. "S-sorry… I just… didn't know what came over me."
The stallion smiled at her. "Don't worry 'bout it." He whispered. He kissed her on the top of her head. "'Sides, I could get used to that."
Fluttershy giggled and cuddled up to the stallion. Big Macintosh did not object, instead he lightly nuzzled the top of her head. Neither of them knew if a relationship between them would last or if they were even ready, but they were willing to give it a shot.
Unknown to either of the non-official lovebirds, Scootaloo was taking pictures of them from the still-open door with her new camera, ready to show her friends what the whole face-eating thing is supposed to be about.