Fluttershy woke up, feeling better than ever. She had dreamt of Big Mac again, but this time she didn’t have to feel sad that it had been just a dream. They were together now. After all those weeks of sulking, crying and wondering, they were together.
She wanted to ask Big Mac out on another date today, although she wasn’t really sure what they’d do. Big Mac was usually busy during the day, which meant that they only really had the evenings. They had gone to watch the sunset a few times before, so she didn’t want to do that again.
Maybe we can go rowing on the lake? It is the weather for it, and it's exactly the kind of time alone that I've been dreaming of spending with him.
After quickly checking up on Angel, and giving him his breakfast, she was already left with nothing else to do. The idea of visiting the lake still on her mind, Fluttershy started wondering if maybe Big Mac had an idea.
I haven’t planned anything else to do... Maybe i should go visit Sweet Apple Acres and see if Big Mac would like to join me at the lake this evening, if he doesn't already have plans...
As she came closer to Sweet Apple Acres, she noticed Big Mac was nowhere to be seen. Not really a surprise; he’d be bucking apples at this time of day, but Fluttershy had hoped to get in a quick word with him about the evening. Not wanting to give up so easily, she made for Applejack’s house. This could be a good time to get her opinion on the newfound relationship. She wouldn’t want to have to sneak around behind Applejack’s back.
“’Mornin’, sugarcube,” Applejack said as Fluttershy entered the earth pony's home. Normally Fluttershy would’ve knocked, but the door was open, and Applejack had seen her coming.
“Good morning, Applejack.” Came Fluttershy’s voice, ever so softly.
“So what’ve ya been up to lately? I haven’t seen very much of you.”
“Oh, nothing much. But there is something I’d like to talk with you about.” Fluttershy said, her voice growing progressively softer as she reached the end of her sentence.
“Wait, don’t tell me. It’s Big Mac.” Fluttershy looked up at the mention of his name, a very confused expression on her face.
“Oh.. he’s told you.. has he?” she asked, her voice even less audible than it had been before.
“Sure has. Big Mac would never keep something like that from his sis’,” Applejack said, suddenly growing very serious. “Ah know you must really care for him, he told me you made the first move. From somepony like you, that takes some serious courage.”
“Y’know what, this ain’t none of my business,” Applejack said, suddenly aware of how uncomfortable Fluttershy seemed to be.
“I’m happy for ya, ‘Shy. It’s not everyday ya meet your special somepony, even if it is mah brother.”
She couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for the yellow pegasus in front of her. Fluttershy clearly didn’t like talking about it; her eyes were averted, she was blushing, and shuffling nervously.
Deciding that she had teased Fluttershy enough, even if she hadn’t meant to, Applejack changed the topic.
“I know you’re not here for me, so how’s about you and I get started on preparing lunch? Big Mac won’t be done for another couple of hours,” Applejack said, trying her very best to sound friendly.
“Oh, that sounds nice, Applejack. What can i do to help?” Fluttershy said, all too eager to lead the conversation away from Big Mac. Applejack seemed relieved, for some reason.
“I suppose ya could help prepare some sandwiches for Big Mac; he always eats way more than I can prepare by mahself,” Applejack chuckled.
The rest of the morning, and a small part of the afternoon, was spent making sandwiches, both for Big Mac and themselves. They had produced several dozen already when Applejack noticed that it was time to ring the bell to announce lunch.
A few minutes had gone by in silence when Big Mac finally walked into the kitchen, a look of surprise on his face as he noticed Fluttershy.
“Oh, hi Big Mac,” she said, finally able to maintain eye contact with the stallion of her dreams. “We made you lunch...”
“Ee..yup,” said Big Mac as he noticed the giant platter of sandwiches on the table in front of him, all the while hungrily licking his lips.
They ate in silence, partially because Big Mac never really was one for conversation, and partially because Fluttershy just wasn’t comfortable talking about the two of them with Applejack still in the room. It was too early for that.
Applejack got the hint though, as Fluttershy wouldn’t make eye contact with her, or even look in her general direction.
“I.... I have some stuff to do... someplace else,” Applejack said, pretty sure that both ponies could see right through her flimsy excuse.
Neither of them commented though, both seemingly satisfied with staring at the ground and continuing the awkward silence they had going. Applejack left the room, and Big Mac continued laying waste to the platter of sandwiches.
After some time Fluttershy broke the silence;
“Uhm... Big Mac?” she asked, trying to be confident.
“Eeyup?” he said after having swallowed the sandwich he had been devouring, the next one already in his hoof.
“Would you... would you like to come to the lake with me... when you’re done working?”
Big Mac took some time to think, but eventually he gave her exactly the answer she had been hoping for.
“Eeyup.”
“Oh, that’s great! How about we meet at the lake at... seven? Is that alright?” she asked, more excited than ever.
Big Mac was slightly startled by this sudden outburst of joy, but he quickly recovered and responded as usual.
“Eeyup.”
“Alright, great! See you then, gotta go, bye!” Fluttershy squeeled as she ran for the door.
He had agreed to visit the lake with her. Alone, just the two of them. Just the thought of it made her stomach churn, but she didn’t mind. All she needed to know was that she’d be spending the evening alone with Big Mac, on the lake.
She spent the rest of the day thinking about what could happen, if she should wear anything, and several other similar questions.
After some thinking, she decided not to dress up too fancy though; Big Mac probably wouldn’t and she wouldn’t want to embarrass him.
The rest of the day passed quickly. Fluttershy had barely had enough time to ask Rarity for advice on what to wear. She had been particularly careful not to mention that it was for a date though; she didn’t want Applejack to know that somepony else had found out exactly what was going on between her and Big Mac before she had.
Fluttershy ended up going for the natural look, as Rarity had said it just looked best on her. No dress, no necklace, nothing. Just Fluttershy.
She had been waiting for barely five minutes when Big Mac showed up, also not dressed, thankfully. He was however carrying a small package in his mouth, wrapped in crimson red paper.
Realisation dawned upon Fluttershy as Big Mac came closer and she got to take a better look at what he was holding. He had brought her a gift.
Anxious to find out what he had gotten her, but not willing to rush things, she waiting for him to get closer before inquiring about the package.
“Is... Is that for me..?"
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac, a smile growing on his face as he said so.
“Oh, you really didn’t have to, Big Mac! I really wasn’t expecting any...” The words just stopped coming as she saw what he had brought her.
It was a necklace. Nothing really special, just a metal necklace. But there was a picture hanging on the chain, in a heart-shaped frame. It was a picture of Angel. How he had gotten the picture was beyond her, but she felt the familiar sting of tears in her eyes as she looked at the gift, at a loss for words.
“Big Mac.... it’s beautiful...” she said, still a little dumbstruck on how he had managed to get his hooves on the picture.
He just watched as she tried to get the necklace around her neck. She fumbled with the chain, so he stepped in to help her. Fluttershy merely beamed as she looked at the necklace hanging from her neck. It was the perfect gift.
When Fluttershy had finally finished admiring her gift, Big Mac admiring her in the meantime, they made for the boat.
As they sat in the boat, in the middle of the lake, Fluttershy’s attention shifting between Big Mac himself and the incredible gift he had given her, she noticed a small beetle in the bottom of the boat.
Being Fluttershy, she couldn’t just leave the little critter all alone, so she bent over to pick him up. As she did so, she felt a strange tugging sensation on her neck, although it soon disappeared.
That was odd. I wonder what that could’ve been...
Her heart stopped as she realised what had happened. As she had bent over to pick up the beetle, her necklace had snagged on something on the side of the boat, causing the chain to snap, and the necklace to fall overboard.
She could feel the first tear flowing as she turned her attention towards Big Mac, who had noticed everything. He was already looking over the edge of the boat, for any sign of the necklace.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Big Mac! I didn’t mean to! Please don’t be mad at...” She never got to finish that sentence, as she was cut off by a giant *SPLASH!*.
He had jumped into the lake. She didn’t even know Big Mac could swim.
Wait, what if he couldn’t? He wouldn’t be so foolish, would he?
It had been his very first gift to her, but it still wasn’t worth risking his life over.... was it?
She spent the next two minutes worrying about Big Mac, and to a lesser degree, her necklace.
Her worries faded partially as Big Mac surfaced, taking a deep breath as he did so.
No sign of the necklace, much to her dismay.
Way to go, Fluttershy. You lost your perfect present not even an hour after you got it.
Big Mac had dived again, or so she hoped. As she was mentally kicking herself, he had disappeared.
A minute went by, no sign of the red stallion.
Two minutes, still nothing. She was really starting to worry now.
Just as she was about to call for help, she heard a gasp. She spun around a little faster than she should have, almost falling overboard herself.
Big Mac had surfaced once again, a metal object in his hoof and a giant smile on his face.
He had found the necklace. Fluttershy let out a squeel of joy as she realised that she just might not have ruined the evening.
She accepted the necklace from him after she helped him climb back on board. The chain had broken, and the picture was ruined, but the heart-shaped frame was fine. She felt a tinge of sadness as she looked at the ruined necklace, but something about Big Mac’s expression told her everything was going to be just fine.
The rest of the evening proceeded without any other problems; they held hooves, they hugged, she even felt him nuzzle her cheek. It was the perfect night out, for a couple such as this, the silence was all they needed.
She was happy, and she was pretty sure he was too. They watched the stars for several hours, not speaking a single word. It wasn’t necessary, and neither of them wanted to ruin the moment.
As the time neared eleven ‘o clock, they returned to the shore. They hugged once more, and she kissed him on his cheek. Aside from the necklace incident, it had been a perfect night, and one she’d never forget.
They said goodbye and turned to go home. Rarity would have insisted that he walk her home, but Fluttershy didn’t mind. The night had been a success; it didn’t matter if he walked her home or not.
As she arrived at her house, she noticed Angel was sound asleep. It had been a long night. Although the chain on her necklace may have broken, she didn’t want to have it repaired. The broken chain served as a reminder of what Big Mac had done to keep her happy, and she cherished the necklace all the more because of it.
As she laid down on her bed, the necklace safely placed on her nightstand so that it was in her view, she recounted the events of the night.
A smile spread on her face as she remembered how the red stallion had jumped into the lake just to save a piece of jewelry that he had given her only minutes before it happened.
With that final thought, Fluttershy drifted off to sleep, content with how the day had gone, and happier that she had ever been. Tonight, she had finally gone on an ‘official’ date with the stallion she loved so much. It had been a great day, and nothing could ever change that.