//------------------------------// // 3). Bush Beating // Story: Us Against the World // by Chelis //------------------------------// "Am I the only one seeing this?" Rainbow Dash asked as she was sitting on a bundle of hay. "I think it's cute," Rarity responded, choosing to stand rather than get anything of her 'working' clothes dirty. "Has it ever sunk in that Fluttershy might be in a relationship before the rest of us? I feel kinda sad now." Pinkie Pie replied. Applejack's little clique of friends were a friendly, albeit cliche bunch. The hyperactive partier, the posh and delicate one who was all over the fashion scene, the jock. There was Big Macintosh's little sister, the country girl, and then there was Fluttershy, the timid one, chatting up a storm with Aj's older brother off in the distance and away from the curious ears. They all felt that Fluttershy would be the last girl to get a boyfriend. Of course, they weren't rushing at all to be into boys and dating, but somehow they expected Rarity first and then Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash dead last, because Soarin and Spitfire was basically a sure thing at that point. Harvest arrived for Sweet Apple Acres, and everyone took the Friday off to help, with the entire weekend as well dedicated to help their farmer friend. For Big Mac and Fluttershy, the small time off of school was something they needed for months. August was rough for Big Mac and Fluttershy: The first day of school followed by the rest of the month being the same kind of hell. Dr. Zecora's class was the only little hour of solace for them during the day, and time to learn without having the struggles that their peers were giving them. Everyday was a new challenge for them, usually someone new punk tried something with them. They would just ignore it and let the person tire out, which took a few days. September's problems refused to let up, but at least they still had that class, and they finally had a whole weekend to connect without learning about what they were called and what gossip about them was spreading. As Friday wore on, the chaotic harvesting system became more established. Big Mac would pick the apples from the trees by shaking it until all the Apples were on the floor, and Fluttershy would join him in picking up the apples on the ground. Big Mac would finish off the process by carrying the majority of the buckets to the truck, Fluttershy would manage to take one or two, but she kept Mac's spirits up. The process continued for Saturday and Early Sunday. Most of the time they spent together was full of laughter, smiles and fun. There was a rare time during the weekend where Big Mac would frown, all of it was when they had to call it a day and Fluttershy had to return to her parents in the forest. Although the rest of her friends didn't mind if they were in a relationship, they were curious about the prospect of them being an item because middle schoolers usually are curious and nosy about such matters. Of all the girls, Applejack was the most curious about the idea that the two might be something more than they were showing, mostly because it was her brother and one of her best friends after all. "Are you telling us that Big Mac didn't telling you that he might be dating Fluttershy?" Rarity asked. "Big Mac doesn't say much about Canterlot, He's been having problems with the other kids. That's what Granny Smith tells me." "Sounds like a certain gal we know," Rainbow Dash smirked. "You know you could just ask him!" Pinkie said. "I'll ask em tonight, but I really don't mind if they are. Wished he would tell me if he was," Applejack announced. *** Big Mac enjoyed his shower, especially after a hard day's work. Although he knew that it would all end tonight, and the return to school and the drama surrounding it tomorrow, he knew that, at least with the free time he would have due to all the crops being harvested, and the small cut of the bumper crop money he would get, he could spend time more time with Fluttershy rather than tend to the farm and make sure the crops were not under attack by a hundred different molds and pests . Between the first day of school and harvest, he began to slowly have feelings for her. Although he had no idea whether or not she liked him back, he did not want to ask at the risk of losing his only friend at school. Big Mac walked out of the bathroom and made a b-line towards the kitchen for some last minute apple pie. Somehow having it cold was better than fresh out of the oven, mostly because of the lack of a risk of a burned tongue with a cold slice of it. As he made his way downstairs, turned the corner, and into the kitchen, he discovered he was not alone in there. "Hello, brother." Applejack was waiting for him in the kitchen table in her blue onsie, he knew because she had a second plate of pie across from her. Big Mac took his seat and began to chew faster than usual, mostly to get out of there. "So, I heard you and Fluttershy are friends." "Yep." "Are y'all an item?" "Nope." " Sure don't look like it." Big Mac kept his mouth shut, gave a confused shrug, and continued to bury his face in whatever was left of his slice of pie. "Ah' don't mind if y'all are. Just would a' liked it if y'all told me." Without saying a word, he got up and washed his plate, trying to not answer that. "Do ya like her?" He didn't answer, he wanted to say yes, but knew what he had to lose if his feelings for her came out. He wouldn't say no because he has never lied before, and didn't plan to start. "Good Night, Aj," Mac said as he made his way to his room.