> Us Against the World
>  by Chelis
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1). First Day of School
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was a certain charm for the first day of school: the seniors start their first day of waiting for their graduation date with impatience, the juniors stayed with their own kind, and believed that they were the true rulers of the school, the sophomores were immature brats as always, and the new kids, the freshmen, were wide eyed and awake, unsure about the experiences they will have at Canterlot High.

For a freshman farm boy, the prospect of being in Canterlot High for the next four years of his life was already hanging over his head like a anvil with a shoe string supporting it. Wasn't his fault really: it was bad timing and family. 

He took a walk through the hallways and out to the front of the school, hearing mentions of him and the subsequent giggles. He thought to that morning's events and realized: it was inevitable anyway.


***


The morning at Sweet Apple Acres was ordinary for a school day: Applejack and Big Macintosh were up and ready for their first day of school. Even though Applebloom was as well, everyone in the household knew well that wouldn't last; and she would hold them up for minutes for the rest of the year. 

They were driven to school by their grandmother and sole caretaker on a rusty, beat-up, pickup truck that screamed 'equestriacana'. Like the years before, the route to the middle school was routine. What happened at the middle school was not. Applebloom got out of the passenger seat and Applejack out of the  back of the truck, where Mac was as well. This time however: Big Mac did not get out of the back of the truck, and had to watch as Applejack and Applebloom went inside. Macintosh had already knew the year was going to be long without his sisters, at least he had his former teacher Ms Cheerilee. Cheerilee recently transferred from middle school to high school and that year would be her first year as a teacher at that school. 

Big Macintosh was unimpressed with his high school. Between being there before as a middle school student and his Granny Smith working as the lunch lady, he has seen the campus and was somehow familiar with its layout. As his grandmother pulled up and parked in the teacher's parking lot, around 7 to 10 students hanging out nearby looked in her direction and ultimately to him hopping out of the back of the truck.

The students stifled a few laughs and walked away, and Mac thought nothing of it. He realized how badly he miscalculated how fast news spread in Canterlot High when he was met with rude remarks and laughs in his very first class. Second class was no different, third class was the same. Wise cracks, jokes, insults, all directed towards him and the fact his grandmother was the person who provided their lunches.


Lunchtime arrived and Big Macintosh decided not to fight it, he was tired at that point and wanted to just weather day 1 of 720 days of his time at that school. The noise level in the lunch room fell to complete standstill and all eyes were on him. Even the 30 or so students in line stared at him and let him through. He took a annoyed sigh and got his lunch: Lasagna with coleslaw and an apple. 

Big Mac arrived to his smiling grandmother with cash in his hand, but Granny Smith refused.

"You know your money is no good here sugar cube! Enjoy your lunch on me."

The entire lunchroom exploded into laughter as the entire conversation has heard. Mac couldn't find a friendly seat anywhere and was pelted by a few apple cores. The second as he lost sight of Granny Smith, he ditched his lunch and wondered the hallways. 


***


Big Mac looked at his watch: 5 minutes left until lunch. No chance to get out of campus and head somewhere. The closer he got to the statue in front the school, the louder he heard.. sobbing? 

As he peeked around the statue he noticed a girl crying, and instantly recognized her. Her pink hair was easily recognizable, as well as the butterflies that she wore like it was her identity. They were acquaintances at best: one of Applejack's many friends. He had always thought she was cute, but was too shy to make a move.

Seeing how he had no one else at the school but her, might as well make the best of what he had.

Luckily for him he didn't have to make the first move. Fluttershy noticed him by the shadow he casted on her.

"Oh, Big Mac!" Fluttershy said, startled that anyone would be there. She started to explain as she wiped her tears "Sorry Its just that-"

"Bad Day?" Big Mac asked

She nodded. "Some girl recognized me in class that I worked in the animal shelter. People started calling me 'crazy cat lady' when I told them I was doing it for free."

Explaining her day it made things worse, as Fluttershy began to sob again. Big Mac wanted her to stop, but had no idea. So, he fell back to what he would do if AJ or Applebloom would cry. Big Mac sat down next to her and held her. The sobbing stopped out of shock, and did not continue. Mac looked down and found Fluttershy firmly pressed against his chest with a smile.

"You smell like apples."

Macintosh smiled as he continued to hold her.

"Just us?" Mac asked, as he saw that no one else that he could of considered as a friend at the school the entire day.

Fluttershy nodded. "None of my friends arrive until next year, but at least Dr. Zecora is here from our middle school."



The bell rang, and ruined what was a perfect moment compared to everything they went through that day. As the let go of the embraced and began to get up, Fluttershy gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, I needed that."

Big Mac instantly blushed to the point of being noticeable, and it made Fluttershy giggle. As they walked back to the school building, the reached into their school bags to pull up their next class and made a discovery: Same class, which was biology with Dr Zecora.

"So," Fluttershy stared. "Lab partners?"

"Eeyup."
> 2). Walk to Remeber
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it was up to the two new friends, Big Mac and Fluttershy would of abandoned all hope for being left in peace and would of just ditch school all year and hang out by the lake; but they knew they didn't have it in them to break the rules, so they were given no choice but to walk down the hallways of Canterlot High yet again. Once again, they were bombarded with the usual whispered conversations, jokes that had the conversations looking in their direction with smiles and more laughs.

Before their lunch time encounter, they both felt overwhelmed, alone, and dreading their existence at the halls of the campus. The constant teasing still bothered them greatly, but now they had a new friend and confidant in each other... it even felt like it was them against the world, and it was a fight they could of won if they stuck together. 

As they entered their half filled biology class, they were met with a familiar face: one from the two's middle school days.

"Dr Zecora!" Fluttershy said with great relief as she ran to embrace her former mentor.

"Fluttershy, my pupil so fair and bright, for what do I owe this delight?"

"I'm in this class this year." Fluttershy announced to one of her few friends in middle school. Doctor Zecora was not the one who gave Fluttershy the love for animals, but she was the one who started Fluttersy on the path of some of the more advance lessons, ones that would of made college students groan in agony. 

"That is excellent news, maybe my lessons will be put into good use," Zecora said with a smile. The doctor had a heavy African accent, seeing how she came from the continent to study all things plants and animals. She succeeded, but decided to use her expertise to help children to become more environmentally self aware. Her mission was slow at first, but she felt like it was going somewhere.

"Oh! Doctor Zecora! This is my new friend Big Macintosh. He is from a farming family so he can learn so much from you!" Fluttershy announced. She grabbed his had and basically dragged him to her. 

Zecora could only smiled to see Fluttershy still holding Big Mac's hand while the young and tall man was visibly blushing.

Ah a young couple in bloom, to help with their situation of gloom.

"A farmer, is that so? I am sure that in this class your skills will grow."

It seemed like everything was turning up roses for the two. That was until... 

"Lunch boy and Cat Lady! They sound like some really shitty super hero duo!" someone screamed out. The rest of the class lost their minds and began to laugh uncontrollably at the two, who were still in front of the class. Fluttershy looked down to her shoes, and felt the sting of their words and laughter. Big Mac did his best to console her, but she still looked gloomy. The  class stopped when Zecora slammed her massive teacher's edition book on her desk. They stopped at first due to the book, but they kept quiet because of her furious gaze. 

"Big Macintosh, take Fluttershy outside for a while, before I turn really, really vile."

Fluttershy still looked gloomy as the door was closed behind her, even while she heard the rhymed yelling from inside the classroom. They had no conversation, they didn't need to at that point. The first day was nearly unbearable and they just wanted for the day to be over. 

They received their wish of mercy an hour later, when the first day of school officially ended. Both met at the statue with wry smiles, and began their walk home. Canterlot High stood near the center of town, so the distance from their homes was not too bad.

The town was much more forgiving to them, and for the first time in their new friendship they enjoyed each others company, as opposed to being the only one the other can talk to. As they continued to walk home, they learned a few things about each other that they would of never had if they actually were left alone that day. They both loved to sing, and sang a few songs together. They also shared a few stories about Applejack. They both loved her to death, but they agreed her stubbornness got them in trouble with her at times. 

Of course the love of animals and nature came into the conversation: Fluttershy ate, breathed, and slept animals and plants while Big Macintosh did the same. Although only one needed it to make a living. Fluttershy saw the slaughtering of the animals in his farm was a necessary evil, and had already forgiven  the apple family long ago.

They stopped in front of Sweet Apple Acres and prepared to part ways, although Fluttershy wanted to stay for a moment and savor the smell of fresh apple that was emanating from the farm.

When Big Mac asked her where she lived, she only pointed in the direction down the road... which was a mile walk through the open grass and ended at the edge at the forest, at least the paved road ended there. There was a dirt trail that lead then to fifteen miles deeper into the forest and along the path had a lake that was popular during the summertime. When that was revealed, Big Macintosh offered to walk Fluttershy home. She politely refused. 

"I really would of loved it if you did, but my parents wouldn't like it if they found out I was talking to a boy, I'm sorry."

They agreed to meet before school at the statue, and with a quick hug Fluttershy spoke from the heart. "Thank you for everything today," Fluttershy said as she hugged him tightly. Something told Mac that she never wanted to let go. It was either intuition or maybe something he hoped was the reason she still had her arms wrapped tightly around him. Fluttershy walked on, straight towards the forest that contained her home. 

Big Macintosh watched her walk off in the distance, and her eventual disappearance into the trees. 


***


"Don't worry about those whipper snappers, Macintosh: they'll stop in a few days," Granny Smith advised over family dinner. Applejack's and Applebloom's first days were exponentially better than his. Which was good since that meant he only had to fight his battles and no one else's. 

"Feel mighty sorry for you, big brother. Why don't you talk to Fluttershy? She has no one else in that school, and I reckon y'all would get along just great!" 

Macintosh nearly chocked on his beef, and caused a confused scene in front of his family. 

"I'll think about it," was the only reply he could of said. 

After a long, hot bath and a fresh pair of pajamas, Big Macintosh finally rested his head. Although the day did not start the way he wanted to, he at least made a new 'friend'.

Big Macintosh pondered whether or not they could of been friends at that point. In his line of thinking: How much of a 'friend' can someone still be when he imagined her with him, sleeping on top of him, with her head resting on his chest.


> 3). Bush Beating
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"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.  


> 4). Rumors 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday came along like a brooding storm, but both Fluttershy and Big Mac felt refreshed and ready to deal with whatever Canterlot High wanted to throw at them. Again, one or two students were still causing a problem for them, and they would not drop it without pushing for a  fist fight. But, for the most part: everything was settling down, to the relief of the two. They went through the day almost unscathed, but were still excited for their plans after school: It was the first day for Mac not having to do farming duties, so he was going to help Fluttershy at the animal shelter.  Big Mac had some experience taking care of farm animals, so he thought taking of small rodents and mammals and maybe the occasional reptile would be a breeze compared to something large like a cow or horse. 

He was in the last class for the day, taking notes and trying to pay attention, but like most days the image of Fluttershy was racing in his head. As much as he tried to keep the thoughts pure and safe, he was over time losing the battle with his hormones. Holding hands in his mind turned into seeing more of her skin by the way of bikini, which turned into the bikini coming off and Welp, because of rules and that whatnot this part has been filtered out. but hey while you are reading this I have a skype group for fans of my work as well as proofreaders and editors, if you want to join, skype me at louisros1990. And read Horse News! . He was head over heels about the girl, but then again there was the whole 'she might not feel the same way' thing that was in the way. He finally snapped back to reality, and found the two girls at the table next to him talking about Fluttershy.

"So did you hear about the new rumor about her....?"

Some rumors about her that he has heard were were down right silly, like the cooking club heard she puts ketchup in her fridge (which is a great way to anger them to the point of going postal for some reason). There were some that were just evil like she blew guys for 10 dollars in the Sugar Cube Corner parking lot. Some involved him like that she was pregnant and "X" (more often than not he was the 'x') was the father. 

This rumor however...seemed plausible?

"What?"

"Golden eye spotted her in the forest while hunting last weekend. According to him: she lives in a abandoned commune." 

"Whats a commune?"

"It's like a permanent summer camp"

"How is that that a bad thing?"

"Why do I hang out with you again?" 

Big Macintosh wanted to laugh off this rumor as being a lie, he really did. But, somehow, someway, it sounded plausible. He never really met her parents, even though the Apple family knows everyone in town, because they provided most of the fresh food. From what Big Mac remembered: Fluttershy only bought enough food for herself, and usually bartered instead of using cash. Usually, she would trade things they wanted from the forest but didn't have time: wild berries, yams, herbs,  and even fish from the lake. Either her parents were master outdoorsmen or she was. There was also the fact that yes, there was an abandoned commune from when they were kids somewhere in the woods. It was a pretty big story when it was abandoned over their secret cultivation of marijuana, but the media hype around it died as quickly as it came, so the story was basically forgotten by now. Growing up, he remembered that Granny and his parents when they were still alive told him not to go near or to play in the commune before or after its abandonment, thinking that bad and shady folk were still around those parts. Instead of keeping it away, it drew him like a moth to a flame and he ended up running into a girl in the commune after nearly getting killed by one of the dilapidated buildings .

Then it dawned on him: was Fluttershy the girl from the forest those many years back?
> 5). When rural spelunking goes awfully wrong  
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meeting the girl from the forest was not just some event. It was a moment in his young life that defined him as a person.

You know, before the incident, he took some risks. 

Okay, he wasn't doing wheelies on his BMX bike. But if you counted exploring the forest with a younger, pudgier Winona, then Big Macintosh was quite the daredevil.

In a hike through the woods, Big Mac was smart enough to pack the essentials: First Aid kit, canteen, hook and fishing line, flare gun, matches, dog treats, switchblade, beef jerky, a baking sheet size Rice Krispie square. He also packed "The Pocket Guide to Animals, Birds, Plants, Insects, Cryptids, and Mountain Folk". With a backpack, shorts, green overshirt, and a sweater tied around his waist, he was set to go. He was stopped by his parents about, not going to the abandoned commune. They believed that some of the old hippies might still be around, and did not want their son to become a hippie or something of the like.

Back then, the town was much smaller and much simpler, before the surge of people moving in before the supermarket moved in, and nearly threw the family out of business. The grass between Sweet Apple Acres to the forest was still tall back then, and was still impossible to walk through because of the many gopher and snake holes that could twist ankles. Winona was younger and pudgier from the baby fat, but was active and hyperactive. 

They entered the forest with the same dirt road that had been around before his parents were alive, and would still exist after his death, and began the walk through the forest. The sky was a bright blue, and the sun was bathing them in a warm light, even though the woods was thick enough that it nearly blocked out the sun. 

Farther up the trail, only an hour walk from civilization, and even farther than most people would reasonably hike along the trail, lay a large clearing. The clearing was occupied by ten wooden, dilapidated houses in a row that resembled the main street of a town, plenty of wooden pens that looked like they housed animals once upon a time. At the end of the two rows of houses stood a barn, also looking like it was about to fall to the elements at any second.

As if some force was pushing him to it, Big Mac began a slow and steady march from the tree line to the abandoned commune. Winona tried her best to stop him from entering the broken rail gates, from holding on to his socks to stepping in front of him, barking as loud as she can. She began to whine as soon as he went past the gate and into the commune but chose to follow her master.

He took a look through the windows and found most to be gutted, rotten and home to the occasional raccoon or opossum scavenging for termites.

The barn seemed most likely to him where anything interesting would be hiding. The rolling doors were apart, showing the interior of the barn. It was in the same condition as the rest of the houses, with the exception of scattered farm tools lying about and on racks. They were too rusted for any practical use anyway.

The ladder to the roof seemed to be in good condition, so he began to climb. There were times that he wanted to jump off the ladder, because of the sound of the cracking that occurs after years of abuse from the elements, but he soldiered on. He reached the loft and looked out, overlooking the entire commune. 

He couldn't believe it.

Hidden in the tall grass, but visible with a height advantage were small pockets of gardens, fenced together with chicken wire. It was a large and diverse mix of different types of vegetables. He also made a few bigger discoveries. In the clearing, there were a few trees around, placed randomly. It was unusual for a clearing to have that many trees just by themselves. It was because they were fruit trees, also with chicken wire around the foot of the tree. The chicken wire also happens to be along a section of the perimeter gates: Grapes. There was even corn, they were scattered, but only in a large fenced-in area. With the fact that the lake was a stone’s throw away, it finally clicked. 

Someone is still living here.

He tried to scramble to the ladder, but the years of neglect and abuse from the hot summers and the harsh winters finally caught up to the wooden planks that were supporting Big Mac, and they snapped.

He went down with them. The last thing he had heard before he hit the ground was barking from Winona and the sound of wood landing on the concrete ground below.
> 6). When rural spelunking goes awfully wrong II
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Big Mac, are you okay?"

Fluttershy's voice snapped him out of the flashback, and back into reality. 



He found himself in the 'play area' of the animal shelter, a room that was painted to look like a field, with a grass-green base and a sky-blue coat. This was an attractive area for both employees and potential adopter alike, and that is where Big Mac found himself with Fluttershy. They were playing with the new litter of German Shepherd puppies that came in with their mother, who was found by the owner of the gas station tending to her pups behind his dumpster. They looked healthy, had their shots, and had so much demand for them that the shelter was in the process of organizing a lottery to choose the homes for the litter when they became old enough.

They were done for the day, after a few hours of cage cleaning, feeding, and giving the many different species and breeds of animals the attention they craved. Once the hard work was done, the last thing to do for the shift was to play with the new litter of dogs, which needed to run around and be energetic to maintain their health. The shelter's many cats were in the same room, hiding amongst themselves in the various cat scratchers that lined the walls. The cats were looking down at the two, and the dogs, as though they were judging them. Fluttershy was sitting cross-legged, had three of the puppies all around her, vying for attention and the chance to lick her face, which was futile. But, she did pick each one up individually and gave them scratches on their bellies, their legs moving forward with a spring-like action. She would then set them down and take the next one for their turn while the other continued to try for the attention they wanted. 

Meanwhile, Big Macintosh was locked in a tug of war with the rest of the litter with a white rope. For the puppies, it was a losing battle. Big Mac did not do much, just hold the line while the rest of the litter pulled on it at the other end until the puppies, one even tried to be sneaky and lick Mac's hand to get him to let go, but to no avail, Big Mac was fixated on Fluttershy and her smile.

Throughout the entire time, the mother was getting her desperately needed sleep in the corner of the room, but even that didn't matter, what mattered was that smile. In Big Macintosh eyes Fluttershy's smile was a dead ringer to...

*** 

Big Macintosh tried to get up, but his chest was pressed back into the floor by a yellow, petite, soft hand.

"Keep laying down, you need to rest for a while," The feminine voice commanded him. 

As he looked up, he saw the hole in the balcony that he caused. It was large enough that it would make the balcony unusable now, especially for its purpose of storing hay. 

"I can fix that," he said in remorse, knowing that he shouldn't of went in the barn in the first place. 

"You don't need to, this barn has not been used in years," The voice replied.

The hand reappeared again, this time with Big Mac's canteen in hand. 

He sat up, using his elbows as a rest. The hand brought the container close to his mouth, and he took it with one of his hands, using the other elbow as a prop. A thirsty Big Macintosh took a few giant gulps of water from the canteen and set it next to him. In the process of setting it down, he looked to his right and he saw the source of the voice and the hand. She looked around his age, with pink flowing hair, and was wearing a tank top and a plant green long skirt that was fit for the time of year. Next to her was a sleeping Winona.

"Your dog is beautiful," she commented, stroking the puppy behind her ears.

"Yea, she is getting older now, so I thought it was time to take her out for an adventure, not exactly the best way to get her paws wet."

"How about you, where are you from? And why are you out this far from town?" the girl asked. 

"I wanted to look around, how about you?" Big Macintosh asked.

"I... I don't want to say," the girl replied, looking a bit nervous.

"Are you from town?" He asked.

She shook her head in anxiety.

He got up and tried to walk over to her, but she only scooted away in the dirty concrete, kicking up a bit of dust. Winona following her and laid down next to where the girl rested. Big Mac got the message and whistled for Winona to  come to his side, which she did faithfully. 

"You don't want me to come near you?" he asked.

She shook her head, trying to stay in the shadow of the barn.

Big Macintosh grabbed his bag, opened it up, and pulled out the baking sheet sized Krispie square wrapped in plastic and placed it on an old workbench. 

"I was going to give you this as thank you. I need to get back home. Nice meeting you."

Mac walked out of the barn with Winona, through the tall grass, and back into the trail. Big Mac never talked about what happened that day, he told his family "it was nice" when they asked about it.

By the time Big Mac had nearly all but forgotten the incident, Fluttershy arrived in ponyville elementary, claiming that her parents moved into the woods from parts unknown to be more "independent". 

It seemed convincing enough, and it was back in a time when people usually didn't question it, so it was assumed that her parents were shut-ins.  

Big Macintosh decided enough was enough: He had to solve that eight-year mystery of who the girl in the barn was, and whether the one girl he knew growing up was it. 
> 7). When rural spelunking goes awfully right 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was like deja vu, only it actually happened.

Many years later since his first hike that’d nearly ended in disaster, Big Mac was smart enough to pack the essentials: A first Aid kit, a canteen, hooks and fishing line, a flare gun, a box of matches, dog treats, a handgun, a pair of binoculars, beef jerky,and a baking sheet-size Rice Krispie square. He also packed the current edition of  "The Pocket Guide to Animals, Birds, Plants, Insects, Cryptids, and Mountain Folk - Winter Edition" along with the rest of his gear inith an all camo white backpack, thermal pants, jacket, and a fanny pack filled with ammo tied around his waist. He was set to go as soon as the sun was high enough in the sky to get an acceptable amount of light. The wolves tend to hunt the hour before dawn.

He was stopped by Applejack about not going near the to the abandoned commune. She believed, from an old chain email that was being sent around, that there might be Nazis using the commune, and did not want her brother to become a nazi or something of the like, mostly because Zecora was a generous customer and it would be a tad bit awkward. 

The trail from the farm to the woods was one of cold and blight. The trees were stripped of their usual green, replaced with the lifeless looking bark. The once fertile fields of grass was buried beneath ankle-deep snow.  Big Mac paid no mind since it was the norm of winter.  Instead of taking the right of a fork that would of lead him to the now frozen lake and the abandoned commune, he took the left. It led him away from the beaten path and up a hill, and on top of the hill was one particular tree, with a large metallic plate sticking out of it.

Pa's old deer seat.

It was rusty. It looked like the elements had kicked its ass, but it supported Big Mac. Winona was below, gnawing at the leather wraps that kept her legs and paws from getting frostbite. 

Sticking a piece of jerky in his mouth, he used his binoculars to scope around at the commune. Most of it looked worn and battered, a few parts had caved in of itself and were not piles of termite-infested wood. The barn was still standing, but it looked like it was on the brink of collapse.

From the same vantage point, Big Mac saw another shed. It was newer, still inhabited even. The first thing he noticed about it was that the smoke from the chimney was weak and dreadful, as if the inhabitant was burning branches and not full logs.  

He tried to look inside the house, but the lights inside would run for only a few seconds then turn off. On the side of the house was an old, rusted generator connected to solar panels on top of the cottage. There was cloud cover and a storm yesterday, so the electricity must have been shit since then.

The door swung open, and he knew it.

Hello, Fluttershy.

Fluttershy was covered in several layers of clothing, must be from the summer and not really suited for fall. She was shaking as she walked out, clutching an ax in her hands. The cold was too much for her to cut the wood needed for a bigger fire but was content with the pieces of the wood that had splintered with the bark.  She placed the gatherings in a bucket next to her while she went to the shed right next to her cottage. Inside was the bare shelves of her pantry. It was common to move the ice chest outdoors to save money, because what was the point of winter if you can't use it to your full abilities. From his vantage point, she had 5 jars of various fruits and vegetables, and maybe a slab of beef.

She was barely able to carry the items inside, which was also another cause for concern. Big Mac saw her take bushel after bushel of apples without a problem.

Losi'n streinght.

By that point, Big Mac had seen enough. He climbed down the metal bars that were drilled into the tree and landed softly on the ground. 

As he walked home, he went to his phone and checked one thing: his bank account. 

After seeing the amount of money he had left, he picked up his pace towards home. He had a plan, and money to spend. 


***


It was a cold and miserable morning for Fluttershy, the last sad day, or so she hoped. She was asleep in the living room because anywhere outside of the warmth of the fire was unbearable. She was also hungry, only able to feast on rice cakes and jam. The stove was electric, and there was no way to cook the slab of beef outside. No way to go to the diner either because her warm clothes were ripped apart by a raccoon that decided to make a nest of her winter wear. Of course, the raccoon was nesting currently, her babies warm. So, at least some good came out of it.  

Suddenly, she had a craving for peach. Rice cakes and peach jam it was. She had her clothes on already, so all she had to do was to step outside. 

When she opened the door, she was met with two things that nearly brought her to the edge of tears.

The first was a pile of firewood, chopped and neatly stacked. It was probably enough for the next week, given if there was cloud cover.

The second was a basket filled with canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, smoked sausages, and meats, all on top of a rack to cook in the fireplace. Between the basket and the rack was three warm sweaters and pants, all of them new. A small note topped it all off.

"Saw you having a rough time and thought I’d lend you a hand.
See you in school tomorrow.
-Flutterfriend."
> 8) Ripple
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So they came back with the parts we needed for the generator, and some food too! And they even got me new clothes!" Fluttershy said as the reached the front steps of Canterlot High, her new orange turtleneck sweater tightly hugging her. Growing up with Applejack had taught Big Macintosh how to spot a liar from a mile away, but he didn't even need that to detect the many holes in her story of a weekend of bad luck.

He thought it was cute enough, so he let it slide.

"But I wonder who Flutterfriend is? I hope I can meet that person someday."

"Eeeyup," he said, trying not to spill the beans right there and then. 

They entered the foyer of the campus and found themselves on the outside of a large crowd that formed. They did not care about what could be happening, so the moved through the crowd, trying to get to their class. As the got deeper into the crowd, they found themselves in the middle of the chaos. In the midst of the circle was the two most popular students in the school. 

"I did date you for the popularity, Steel Weld. But apparently you needed me for that! "Lunar Promenade confessed. The fighting between the default dance prince and the princess became more frequent, at first they were small squabbles between each other that looked like cute snarks at each other. They became full blown spectacles of the once perfect relationship unraveling at the worst possible location: in public. The crowd suddenly came alive with whispers to each other, most in shock, some were giggling amongst their friends. 

"You know what? Fine. It's over!" Steel said as he stormed off. Those in the crowd who did not get out of Steel Weld's way were unceremoniously shoved out of the way. It didn't matter the age or even the gender. 

Lunar Promenade promptly left when her circle of girlfriends came from the crowd to bodyguard her out, also shoving their way through. 

As for Fluttershy and Big Mac, it wasn't really interesting, but the breakup was more of an 'Oh hey, this is happening and blocking our path to class.'

They moved on after the crowd dissipated, and Fluttershy began her praising of Flutterfriend yet again.

The bullying all but subsided, they had won. The 'adventures of lunch boy and cat girl' were just a fleeting memory through the halls, even attempts to bring it up was quoted with 'Does it hurt being a hipster fuck?'

The school was indifferent to them, just two faces in the crowd. Even though their purpose of the camaraderie was now nonexistent. There was a bond between them that had strengthened over the months. They still partnered up for each activity, and they waited for each other between classes. Instead of looking for comfort in each other, they were enjoying a joke and a laugh.

It was the same lunchtime as before, they got their lunches and found an empty table in the far corner away from everyone else. The events of that morning were far from each other's mind, and solely on the fall formal coming up.

"Who are you going with?" Big Macintosh asked. He was fidgeting in his seat and was playing with his food. She could tell he was nervous, and it was cute.

"Oh, I don't know I'm waiting for someone to ask. Other than that, I'm probably going to stay home if no one asks me," she said as she played with her hair, rather awkwardly and at times accidentally pulling on it. 

Big Mac's eyes lit up, he smiled and even though he was nervous, he decided to go for it.

"You think you even pretty enough to get a date! HA!"

Fluttershy and Big Mac turned their heads to the commotion in the middle of the cafeteria.

Steel Weld was forcing his laughter, as to mock his former girlfriend. 

"As if you can get any girl, Steel Asshole! In fact, I can get any guy here and make him prom king." Lunar Promenade shot back.

"MY Fall Formal kingship? Now you are your same old delusional self!"

"Fine!" Lunar said. She looked around as if she knew her target. As soon as she looked in their direction, she started walking. 

The feeling of dread surrounded the table; they knew what was about to happen.

"You! Big Tac!"

"It's Big Mac, Ma'am."

"Yea, yea, whatever. You are my date. I will make you king," she said as she gave him a notepad and pen

"Your number, now."

Big Mac looked to Fluttershy in nervousness. She had the same look

"Actually, we were going-"

Fluttershy stopped as soon as Lunar Promenade shot her a deathly stare. 

"I'll text you later, stud," Lunar said she walked off. 

"Him!? Him!? Are you retarded, woman? Is he going to take to take you to the lunch room for the dinner?! You know what, fine! I'll get some loserette and I’ll make HER queen!"

He also walked over to their corner table. Fluttershy began to tremble.

"Ey, Shyflutter, give me your number. You get to be with a real man for the formal."

Big Mac at that point had enough of it. He stood up and was face to face with Steel Weld. The anger of his eyes was telling.

"Oh, what are you gonna do, lunch boy? Splash me with your milk? Sit down before I’ll send to your grandmother with some bruises to put ice on,"

Big Mac had his fist clenched and ready to start swinging, but at the corner of his eyes he could see Fluttershy trying to tell him to stop. He unclenched his fist and lowered his head. That got a laugh from Steel.

"That's what I thought, now sit your happy ass down!" He said after shoving the defeated Big Mac back into his chair.

Fluttershy wrote down her number quickly. "Ill call you later toots. Hey who knows, maybe you can show me how true it is about animal lovers being complete freaks."

Between Steel Weld leaving and the end of lunch, it was a silent one for the two, trying to decode and figure out what just happened and why did everything go downhill so fast.
> 9). Privacy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

If there was a guilty pleasure for Fluttershy, it would be dresses.

Beautiful, beautiful dresses.

Luckily, there was the dress shop in town that tickled her fancy. The place looked like a specialty store but had the prices of a wholesale factory, which was right up Fluttershy's alley. She shifted from dress to dress in the empty store, each one as unique as the one before. Fluttershy loved a few but picked the first three that fitted her. When she found them, Fluttershy made her way to the dressing room, looking around for anyone who would of recognize her. The only person in the store was the sales associate, but she was too busy texting and taking selfies to notice her. 

She entered the small enclosure and sat at the ledge that was sticking out of the wall across the giant mirror. She pulled her phone out of her purse and went to her text messages.

I'm here.

She wanted to try the dress, but that would have to wait for her visitor to leave first. It only took a few minutes, but the door opened, and a familiar friend slithered his large body into the stall.

"Hey!" She whispered and she went on her tip toes to give him a kiss on the cheek. He smiled and took his place on the ledge next to her. Fluttershy made room for herself by grabbing the dresses and hung them on the hangar that was sticking out of the door. 

They sat there for a few minutes, fighting and fighting with their brains for something to say. 

"How has Steel Weld been treating you?" Big Macintosh asked.

"Not well. They keep me from seeing you and they keep me in their clique. They keep trying to persuade me to do gross things to them. They stop when Steel Weld hits them and says that "I'm his". It's awful."

"I wish I can go stop him. But Lunar Promenades' friends..... they are something else."

"How so?" Fluttershy asked. 

"They act like her bodyguards and not her friends. They keep an eye on me all the time."

"That's.... creepy."

"The only place they are not watching me is in the boys room, but I doubt that's even true,"

They became silent again, brooding in the situation.  

"I-iI missed talking to you," Big mac said with a blush.

"I- do too..." Fluttershy replied with a blush with her own.

The two friends turned to stare into each others eyes and smiled. The butterflies in their stomach were assaulting them at full force. tThe hands closest to their friend carefully crept forward until they met in the middle. 

"I don't think they would be mad if we share just one song..."Big Macintosh said.

"I agree, at least once."

Fluttershy suddenly dragged her bottom to Big mac and stopped when her head was resting on his shoulder. In front of them were three dresses, each as beautiful as the one next to them.

"So..." Fluttershy started.

"hHmm?"

"Which one should I wear for the dance?"

"Well, I...."

Fluttershy giggled. "No pressure."

Big Mac concentrated in a determined state for what seemed to be an eternity. After careful consideration, he pointed to one. It was a baby blue strapless cocktail dress bedazzled with white and pink rhinestones on the chest area dancing around like a vine.

"I like it, I'll wear that one," Fluttershy said.

They stared at the dress for a few more minutes, milking each second with each other.

"I guess its time," Big mac said, looking at his watch with a sigh

"Yea."

They helped each other up off the hard carpet floor and were feeling frigidity about trying to get out. They knew the consequences if word went around that they ended up in a stall together. 

"See you in class," Big mac said as they shared one last hug. He quietly slipped out of the stall and made his way out.

Fluttershy already missed him as soon as he slipped out of the door. It would be another week before the dance ended. She was hopeful that the madness of the "feud" would end. At the same time, she felt like it would be something like that would drag on until the seniors found someone new or graduated. A vibration in her purse knocked Fluttershy out of her train of thought

It was a text from big mac

It's safe to go, the clerk might have been texting and taking selfies since I had arrived

She left the stall with the baby blue dress in one hand and the other two dresses in the other. After she put the other two back in the rack where she found them, there was nothing left to do but to walk up to the counter with a debit card in hand.
> 10). Dance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being a simple boy and having his date literally ripped from his fingers, Big Macintosh chose not to get a fancy limo or even learned how to drive the pickup for the dance.

Instead, he took the bus.

It was a quick thirty-minute ride to the bus stop in front of the school where, from the outside, the party was just beginning. People were getting dropped off by their parents, and as in the case of two of the groups showing up, they had a limo. The problem was that the parking lot literally was not big enough for the both of them.

"Weld, I swear to everything I will kick you in the dick!" Lunar Promenade threatened from the top of the limo’s moonroof.  Steel Welds was also on the top of his moonroof, motioning his hand as if he was jerking off and "sploshing" in her direction. 

As Big Mac watched Steel Weld's limo pile out with first the guys and then their dates, Big mac spotted a familiar freshman in their midsts.

Fluttershy!

Her hair was all up in a bun, her brochet, earrings, and even sandal straps had pink and blue butterflies. it all matched the dress he picked out for her. His heart began to beat faster, and the butterflies began to awaken. His mind felt like it was in another place, and he began to involuntarily walk to her. There was no fear, no thought, no control. He was going up there and tell her how beautiful-

"You, boy!"

Big Mac's trance was interrupted by one of Promenade's handlers friends. She grabbed him by the arm and began to drag him to the party.

"Wait! I was about to-"

"You can talk to your pheasant friends later, Romeo! Your lady awaits!"

It was dark inside the school's gymnasium, with the only light coming from the stage lights and the random assortment of party strobes striking the audience. The DJ, a music-playing prodigy from the middle school was bored and on her phone texting. Her 'show' would come later when she was sure that the peak of the attendance would arrive. It was early in the dance so the vast majority of everyone in attendance were in their little cliques. The groups even carved up parts of the dance floor as theirs. 

Steel Weld and his posse were checking out the other girls. Commenting amongst themselves over how tight one dress was or how fuckable some of the girls in attendance were... To the disgust of their dates. Fluttershy sat in silence, looking over at Lunar Promenade's table, where Big Macintosh was sitting. Steel Weld looked at his date.

"What are you-" 

He saw Lunar being pelted by the brilliant dazzle that was the disco light. She was talking up her date, and she seemed like she was having the time of her life without him, the boy she had dated since they were freshmen. Steel's confident smile turned to a painful grimace. 

"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked. Steel did not say a word. He grabbed the wrist of Fluttershy and dragged her out of the gym and into the hall.

"Wait! Steel?! I don't want to-"

Steel Weld opened the nearest janitor closet. He ordered the couple already making out in there to leave, which they knew better than to object. He shoved her inside and locked the door behind him. 


***





Over at Lunar's table, a member of her posse brought in her own entertainment: a flask of vodka. The girls spiked their own drinks with the clear liquid and felt the effects after one or two cups. The girls became louder, looser, and abrasive. They would give each others dares, like to make out with another girl or even dirty-dance with one of the 'lesser' students. Each of the dares ended with them drinking a little more and becoming even louder. 

Lunar Promenade did not partake in that, instead she chose to interact with her date.

"What do you know that pink-haired chick anyway?" She asked.

"Friends with my sister."

"Oh? My brother used to do that. That's how I ended up with that prick." She said, pointing at Steel.

"So, why do they call you Big Mac?"

"Well, mah name-"

"I thought it was because you had a large penis." She said with a giggle, taking another sip of her Russian-blend punch.

He became silent, unsure of what to say. He took a quick peek to Fluttershy and was in time to see her get dragged away by her date. 

"Well, I guess they are about to have fun," Lunar lamented, chugging down the rest of her punch.

"A-ah has to use the boys room," Big macintosh said, rapidly hurrying away, the pain in his heart increasing.


***


Fluttershy had never would have thought of being in a situation where she would end up in a janitor's closet with a boy.

She also thought if it did happen it would not turn out like this, or how she ended up getting that much of Steel Welds problems pressed on to her.

She was standing next to the door, unsure of what to do or say. In the middle of the cramped room  was Steel Weld, sitting in a student desk with his head down.  

"And yeah, it just hurts to see all this happen. Even though she is a complete bitch at times.... I still love her."

"Why don't you talk it out?" Fluttershy suggested.

"We try." He sighed. "But it ends up blaming each other for petty shit. I just want us back together."

Fluttershy  began to think and had a small flashback of what her parents said once.

"Steel? I heard that a relationship is seventy percent fighting and thirty percent love. It's the thirty percent you think about... or something like that."

Steel weld looked up at the freshman. "You know what? You're alright, kid. Hey, I'm sorry about dragging you and your friend into our problems. I feel bad for it,"

"I-It’s okay. But I would like to at least have one dance with him," Fluttershy giggled.

"Yeah. Go find him." 

Fluttershy reached for the door that was next to her.

"Hey!" He called out to her as she was about to close the door behind her. "There's love there. I can see it."

"Oh-um" Fluttershy said with a blush as she closed the door, leaving Steel weld to contemplate what just happened.


***


With the faucet going as cold as it can provide, Big Macintosh splashed a few handfuls of cold water over his face, trying to shake off the feeling off the pain. Seeing Fluttershy dragged off to do whatever it is they are doing made Mac's stomach sour. 

"There you are!" Lunar Promenade said, walking seductively towards the taller freshman.

"T-this is the boy’s-"

She began to violently kiss and suck on his neck. 

"Steel is fucking that friend of yours. I don't think it's fair he gets to move on like that when I'm here still not over him. Good thing I have you!" She said as she pressed her body against his to the empty toilet stall. In the last second, she turned around, resting on the toilet seat cover.

"Now, Big Mac, be a good boy and...."

She had lifted her dress to reveal herself, showing to Big Macintosh the fact that in fact-

"Oh yea, when I know I'm getting laid. I tend to skip out on wearing underwear," she said with a wink.

...

The bathroom door  exploded outward, and a frantic Big Macintosh was running out of the bathroom and down the halls of Canterlot high.

"Big Macdonald! Come back here and fuck me!" Lunar Promenade commanded, running out of the bathroom with her dress back down.


***


"Hey," Big Mac said, finding Fluttershy on a concrete patio in front of the gym.

They started to sort out their stories to figure out what happened. Fluttershy could not help but to poke fun at Big Mac.

"I thought you knew what lady parts look like growing up in a farm?" Fluttershy asked.

"I have, it was... unexpected!"

They both began to giggle. As soon as they stopped, an invitation from the principal to join the first slow dance of the night to everyone in attendance rang out from the gym.





As the music started, they stared into each others eyes, waiting for the other to make the first move.

"Want to dance?" Big Macintosh asked, extending his hand out.

Fluttershy smiled and accepted. As the stars in the sky began to twinkle, they danced.  Big Macintosh's hands were around her waist. Fluttershy was resting her head on his shoulders. A single tear fell from each others face. 


**


Overlooking the slow dance from the rooftop was Steel Weld. A nostalgic smile filled his face, his eyes were glazed over with the memories of a time not so long ago. He was not the only one.

"Remember when what just happened we had to endure in our freshman year?" Lunar Promenade asked as she joined her ex-boyfriend on the roof.

"Yeah..." 

They looked at each other and smiled. There was twinkle in their eyes as bright as ever.

"I-I'm sorry," they both said at once.


**


As the song began its last, powerful chorus, the tears were streaming from their faces. Big Mac and Fluttershy faced each other, their hands still in their dancing form, and reached in for a kiss. Their hearts were racing, their spirits were in jubilation.

Their lips were to meet, until...

"You haven't changed a bit Steel!" The female voice hollered. 

Big Macintosh and Fluttershy looked to the source, to see Lunar Promenade's back leaned up against an air conditioning unit. Steel weld was pressed against her body, his face down to her neck.

"I miss this so much," he mumbled.

"You know, I'm not wearing any panties. Take me. Right here, right now, my love!"

Back down at the patio, the freshman pair looked at each other, their faces red in embarrassment. Even if love bloomed twice in one dance, the older one out-embarrassed the other. They looked at each other, and not to Lunar, and Steel who was by all indication were about to make love on top of the roof of Canterlot High

"W-want to go raid the snack table?" Big macintosh asked.

"Sure," Fluttershy replied, holding his hand in the process.

They walked inside to the gymnasium and went straight for the table full of chips, sweets, and the ever popular chocolate fondue fountain.
> 11). Flutterfriend II
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Usually on a night when a new wave of snow would arrive, Big Macintosh would join his family and lay next to the fire with a burn that was gauged by the amount of smoke spewing from the chimney. Not only would he have enjoyed the knowledge that he was warm and crispy on a frigid night that made him feel even toastier, Granny Smith would probably be in front of the fire, stirring the tin pot of hot chocolate on the hot plate. Right next to her, the marshmallows would be warming up to the fire, sometimes fusing to each other and melting to the plastic of the bag  due to the heat.

That night, Big mac was not with them, in the warmth of the fire or even in his comfortable pajamas. His only warmth was his body heat, a heavy layer of clothes with a jacket, and a kerosene lantern lighting up the barn next to him. He would have used the fluorescent lights that were hanging overhead and that lined the outside of the barn for parties and events, but he couldn't let his family see what he was up to, especially when they thought he was out there ‘finishing up’ a few chores. He stood in the snow harden ground, chopping away at the logs that were next to him. His family's fireplace had enough logs to survive the night and then some. 

It was for a fireplace farther away, deep in the forest.

Every chop warmed him up, encouraging to continue to fight off the cold. Next to him was a basket filled with more goodies and something extra that time: milk and chocolate for hot cocoa. 

In all honestly, he did not know if she was struggling that night or if she was even home. He just had a hunch and ran with it all day, like a nagging hand on the shoulder . The chore took him only a few minutes, or as soon as he had chopped five logs or ten firewood pieces. He wrapped them together with nylon rope. He tied a longer piece of rope between the two firewood ties and had it over his body like a sling. With the basket with one hand and a flashlight in the other, he went on his way. Tied around his thigh was a small hatchet that he usually carried around when he would pick apples for branch clearing, in case he would run into any of the timberwolves that usually arrived during the snow or the night, preying on animals caught out in the elements.

The good news was the snow was only ankle deep, so the trek was not that dangerous with a high enough boot, which he had plenty to choose from. The bad news was he would have to brave the mile to two miles trek and back within the span of an hour. Frostbite would start setting in, even with the multiple layers of socks and a pair battery-powered heating socks he had on. He braved the covered road, and made the left turn on the fork of the road he had done many times before and went through the meadow and past the abandoned commune to save time. Doing so avoided the risk of being seen by the night predators who sometimes would take shelter in the abandoned houses. In front of him was the dark house that was Fluttershy's cottage. It looked like it was abandoned, but the chimney was pumping out a faint, white smoke. Towering behind the cottage was an advancing wall of dreadful looking clouds that were as wide as the eye can see. t was bearing down on their part of the country, so everyone else was home by the fire. 

The storm was bad; one of the worst of the year, if not the past few years. He expected whiteout conditions the second it arrived, so there was no time to wander around. With the moon covered by the patches of clouds in front of the squall, Big Mac ran up to the door and quietly dropped off his goods. He retreated into the cover of night as the moonlight found its way through a a clearing in the patchy skies. Before he left for good, he made a snowball and flung it at the house. The snowball hit the front door with a loud thud. He waited in the bushes for his gratification, and sure enough it came within seconds.

The dark figure of Fluttershy popped her head out of the door and saw the gifts. The shadows didn't show happiness, just a rush to get the basket and the firewood inside.

Big Mac took off towards home once Fluttershy's cottage door was closed, and ran through the meadow in a desperate bid to make it home before the whiteout that would make it damn near impossible to navigate. Before he disappeared to the other side of the forest he looked back, the house was fully lit with the fire coming from the fireplace. The silhouette of Fluttershy was on all fours in front of the fire, stirring what looked like a pot in front of the fire. The milk bottle and pack of cocoa were right next to her. The chimney began spewing a healthy amount of black soot through the night.


***


"Good morning Big Mac!" Fluttershy said with a hug to his waist on the Monday after the snowstorm. The snow was shin deep all over town, with the school's walkways cleared of snow. There was something familiar with Fluttershy, other than her impeccable beauty: the sweater.

He found at the store while looking for new socks. It was a pale yellow cardigan with a minimal butterfly embroidered in the left waist. Big mac knew the second he saw it that Fluttershy would love it. Sure enough, she did. It hugged her figure and made her even more… Sexy.

"He came by again before the snowstorm! He is really kind. Do you think it's beautiful?" She said with a grin from ear to ear.

Big MacIntosh’s heartbeat skipped and he smiled. "You look beautiful."
> 12) Hearths Warming Eve #1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a farmer, snow was a bad thing. It  meant that nothing was growing, nothing was living, and that nothing was thriving. There was no field to till, no seeds to plant, no apples to buck, no farm animals... Scratch that. There was no fresh hay or clovers to feed the farm animals with. But with the bad part of the winter solstice there was also the good that came out of it...

More time to spend with friends and family.

It was why that farmers always had children in the spring or summer, there was nothing else to do but to stoop around and have future inheritors of their life's work. As for Big Macintosh, there was always something to do at the farm so the concept of getting a gal and getting married was never on his mind at his young age, even if there was the occasional crush. The other farmers around his age were already courting, already dating, and already going steady with their girlfriends or boyfriends. 

There was always something to do, which was why he was standing in the snow that was once the fertile grassland between the now bare forest and his farm with two thermal cups in hand. Winona was with him and was enjoying the snow that was slowly flaking in. Winona always loved snow, even if she was still a pup. Big Macintosh would watch her play, kicking up a ton of the white powder in the air while looking to the forest every other second for what he was waiting for. He was getting restless himself, waiting for the person who was coming out of the forest to spend Hearth’s Warming Eve with him and his family.  

It only took a half an hour before the figure in a pale yellow long skirt and pink heavy jacket appeared from the woods and continued her walk down the snow covered road, or what was believed was the road that went into the forest. Winona stopped her playing and looked at the figure intently, trying to determine who it was. As if by magic she knew who she was, Winona sprinted to the figure, barking, whining, and kicking up snow behind her as she went. After the long sprint, Winona stopped in front of the figure, her tail wagging intensely as she rolled to her belly, expecting the rubs she desperately desired. The figure picked up the young puppy and carried her to Mac, scratching her belly as they went along. It caused Winona’s hind leg to kick and nearly made the figure drop therestless pup.

"Hey," Fluttershy said as she let the dog down. 

Big Macintosh handed her the thermal, exchanged a hug, and went along their way back to the farm. The heavier snow was not expected to pick up until Hearth’s warming day, so there was time to have Fluttershy over, enjoy her company, and walk her home. With luck, it would be a fun, uneventful evening. 

"Who’s at the farm?" Fluttershy asked, peering into the mug to see what kind of contents was waiting for her.  

"You're the last one we are waiting for," Big Macintosh said with a grin, eyeing the farm that was calling them with its feeling of warmth and food.

"That's a nice way to put it," Fluttershy smiled as she took a sip of the soup that was inside the thermal. She smiled as she tasted the soup that became her childhood favorite: chicken noodle.

"Eeyup, we have enough food to feed the town for the month and then some!" Big Mac proudly proclaimed. 

Fluttershy giggled at his boldness. "Well, I'm glad my parents allowed me to go. I was worried they were going to say no when I first asked them."

"They wouldn't have?" he asked in curiosity

"Well, they think Hearth’s Warming is a religious holiday, so they don't celebrate it at all and treat it as a normal day. I tried to convince them it wasn't but ... Well they already believe it since they were kids and they keep to it. But at least they let me go because I get to spend time with my friends and they can have some alone time." 

"That's good," he replied.

Y-yea, at least I can spend time with you, friend," she said as she wrapped her arm around his waist. He had his hand over her shoulder as they continued the march to home.

There was a certain charm to Sweet Apple Acres during the winter, the roofs and trees were covered with snow, the smoke stack was spewing a healthy amount of smoke in the air with no signs of letting up. From the farm, you could have seen the town, with the same situation: the town was dead, no one outside, no one in the shops or at the stores. The lights were on in every house, each one with their chimneys spewing the same smoke that Sweet Apple Acres was. It gave the small-town feel that Big Macintosh loved with all his life, a feeling that didn’t lose its luster. 

"Were here!" Big Macintosh announced as they entered the house. It was strewn with the red and green of Hearth’s Warming Eve. Tinsel and stockings were hung, the tree was as tall as the living room and had rich dark green splotches with white and red decoration to it. The smells of the food cooking in the kitchen were a concoction of heaven, with the thick smell of sweet ham roasting in the oven the more dominating aroma. 

Fluttershy's friends surrounded her the second she walked in the door. Greetings and hugs were part of it.s for Applejack, she performed the same to hug her older brother.

"Thanks again for walking her!" She graciously thanked. 

Big Macintosh just shrugged and placed his and Fluttershy's  heavy jacket on the coat hanger, as if it was expected of him to do so. 

"I'm hungry!" He said. "When's dinner?"
> 13) Hearths Warming Eve #2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As expected, Granny Smith pulled out all the stops to create another amazing year of Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner. Of course, that was only the Eve dinner, and the Hearth’s Warming Day dinner would be a feast fit for the gods. 

There was the turkey, the cranberry sauce, the mashed potatoes, steamed corn, coleslaw, green beans, stuffing, rice, baked mushrooms, and almost every apple-related side dish and dessert known to man. 

"My favorite time of the year!" Big  Macintosh said as he began to butcher the turkey for everyone. Everyone was in their best and Big Mac couldn't take his eyes off Fluttershy. he gave everyone there a slice of the perfectly cooked turkey. the exceptions were Rainbow Dash, who opted for the drumstick, and Fluttershy, who did not eat meat if she could help it. 

"Well, how will that work?" Applejack asked.

"Excuse me?" Big Mac asked.

"Well, I know Fluttershy doesn't like meat, but how will that work when you both go out?" His little sister asked again. 

Fluttershy and Big Mac became silent. Applejack and her friends smiled as if they smelled blood in the water.

"Yeah, how will that workout? Have you all talked about it?" Rarity asked. 

Big Mac began to blush. "But we aren’t -"

"How about when you have kids?" Applejack asked.

"But-"

Fluttershy had enough and spoke up. " Guys, we are only friends. Nothing more." 

Big MacIntosh felt those words sting from his heart down. He thought there was at least a little bit of a connection. Maybe he could tell her exactly how he felt, but there was no reason to cause a scene. 

"Eeyup," he said as he continued to cut the turkey. 

As the dinner went on, the conversations chained along many different and unique topics like apples, apple history, apple food-making, apples, apples, and appuls. In the middle of the dinner and appletastic conversation, Big MacIntosh excused himself to the restroom. When he was done and left the room, he found himself being blocked by Rarity in the hallway.

"So, Big MacIntosh? Seemed a little defensive back there, weren't we?" Rarity said with a grin.

"We are friends, nothing more," he said as he tried to walk around her. She stuck her small hands and arms out to block the door. 

"Are we not friends, you and me? Friends can tell secrets... I can tell you who I like at Canterlot High..."

"Not interested, sorry."

"Please, Big Mac. If you do like her I can help you! I just want to see both of you happy!" 

Big Mac stopped and contemplated Rarity’s offer. Sure, having Rarity on his side would help... But he liked Fluttershy enough that he wouldn't risk losing her or making things awkward. But, there was Rarity in the way.

"So, will you... Hey! What are you-"

Big MacIntosh had no choice but to lift Rarity by her armpits and move her away. She was unsure of what to do so she let him. After he set her down, he walked down the hall and back to his dinner, where the conversation had took a predictable turn to apples. 

***

"Thank you for being a gentlemen and letting Fluttershy stay in your room, Mac," Granny Smith said as she tossed a few blankets and a pillow to her grandson. Yeah, he lost the privacy of his room, but having the fireplace still burning for the night was a good trade off.  After dinner and apple-related family activities, the storm was beginning to pick up, which made Big MacIntosh commandeer the pickup truck and drop off Applejack’s friends with the exception of Fluttershy, who was staying with the Apple Family because of the fact her way home had no road. One by one they let off, with Big Mac looking at every corner hoping the police would not pull him over and question why a freshman would already be driving. Rarity was the last stop

"My offer still stands," she said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

***

Big MacIntosh got comfy with the blankets while Granny Smith began her walk up the stairs.

"Oh, um, the condoms are in the medicine cabinet," Granny said.

Big Mac began to blush again. "But we are not dating,"

"Sure you're not. I believe you rascal," she said with a wink as she walked up the stairs for the night. 

Big Mac got comfortable again and was prepared to sleep when he heard a creak upstairs. he lifted his upper body to be sitting on the couch to see who it was. 

Applejack.

"Hey brother," she said with a warm smile.

"Howdy."

She sat on what space was left on the couch: the small space between his foot and the edge of the sofa.

"So, I know you think we might have been joking about you and Fluttershy, but ah think ya both would make a great couple. And I wouldn't mind if-if you two did end up doing so."

Big Mac became annoyed. His patience was stretched that day, even if his heart broke a bit inside.

"You heard her yourself. Just friends," he muttered

Applejack chuckled. "Have you seen how she looks at ya? She looks at you as if you were a basket full of puppies. Tell ya what, want me to talk to her for ya?"

He shrugged and fell back into the couch. "If you want."

"Night, Mac," she said as she got up and retreated to her bed upstairs. 

Big Mac laid on the couch for a while after that, pondering if he should tell Fluttershy. It would’ve been awkward if she said no, but would it be worth it? He didn't have much time to think because he heard a door upstairs creek again. He assumed it was going to be Apple Bloom bringing in her two cents so he flipped to the couch, trying to look like he was asleep. 

It was not Apple Boom.

He felt a soft body wrap itself over his back. The body's voice was heavenly and familiar.

"Hey, I know you like pie before you sleep, so want to have some with me?" Fluttershy asked. 

Big Mac turned around to see Fluttershy in her pajamas and admired how snug it fit her body.

"Sure."

***

"It's just so frustrating," Fluttershy said as she frothed another layer of whipped cream onto her pumpkin pie. Big Mac liked his bare, so no whipped cream was on his. 

"Eeyup."

"A boy and a girl can't be friends without people thinking they are an item?"

Big Mac nodded.

"But, maybe we should get together..." Fluttershy muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"I-If it wi-will make make them st-stop talking, maybe!" 

"That would be awkward." Mac deadpanned.

"Yeah... but I do like you, though," Fluttershy whispered.

"What?"

"Eep! Nothing!"

Once they were done, they placed their dishes in the sink and hung out in the doorway between the kitchen and living room, enjoying the duality of the warm living room and the cool kitchen.

"Want to watch TV?" Mac asked.

"Sure, Big... Uh oh," Fluttershy replied.

"What's wrong?" Big MacIntosh asked.

"Look up,"

Big MacIntosh looked up and became pale.

Tacked on the doorway was the dreaded mistletoe. 

It also had a note.

To Fluttershy and Big Macintosh,
Have fun!
-Applejack XOXO
> 14) Hearths Warming Eve #3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------





"We really have to stop falling into her traps" Fluttershy lamented, looking at the mistletoe above her and Big MacIntosh's head. It felt as if it was teasing them, a well-intentioned 'Just fuck already!' from Applejack and co. 

"Eeyup," he groaned. The thought of them kissing each other finally began set in for the both of them. They looked at each other and began to blush madly. In their minds, they wanted to do it for the longest of time, but their outwardly shyness always made it a bridge too far. 

"I guess we don't have a choice," Fluttershy said, fidgeting with her pajama top.

"Eeyup," Big Mac added with a shove of his hands into his pockets. 

They stood for a while, unsure of who was going to make the first move. Fluttershy wanted to but was always told to wait for the boy to make the move, so she waited for Big Macintosh to kiss her. Big MacIntosh wanted to make the move but was just too scared. He took a step closer to her and waited for her to step away or anything that would clue him in to abandon, what he thought, was a moment that would never come again. He got even closer to her, only a few inches apart, and he looked down to see Fluttershy looking back up at him. 

"So it's okay to kiss you?" Big Mac asked.

"Well, the mistletoe says so, so yes!" Fluttershy squealed and nodded happily. 

"Okay," he said nervously. 

He leaned down slowly to her, until they were only inches apart, and stopped. She had her eyes closed and her lips puckered, waiting for him to kiss her. To Mac, she looked heavenly with her pajamas on, her hair down and around her shoulders. He reached in and did not stop until his lips were firmly pressed against hers. Their hearts raced, and their minds were all over the place.  

They slowly broke the kiss and opened their eyes after what seemed like eternity. It was a surreal experience for both of them. They looked at each other intently, unsure of what to do next. as if a light switch flicked on in their minds, they got in close and began to kiss one more, their lips pressed against each other underneath the mistletoe. 

With their lips planted against each other, they slowly made their way to the couch. Big MacIntosh laid there first, with Fluttershy clambering down on top top of him. They continued their kiss after she found a comfortable spot on top of him. The act was occasionally interrupted by fits of relief and giggling.  The kissing subsided and they began to cuddle, staring into the fire. They were amused by the entire thing. They thought back to their first day of school, the trial and tribulations they endured together up to that point, and all of it climaxing to one night and one kiss. 

It changed them as well. Big MacIntosh, with the full knowledge that she might have felt the same with him, decided to strike.

"W-want to be my girlfriend?" He asked nervously. 

There was silence in contrast to the crackling of the wood. He began to worry. Either he was wrong, or she was asleep.

"Yes," she said a few moments later, nodding intently. 

Big MacIntosh held her a little tighter and kissed her on the cheek, receiving a sigh of relief from his new partner.

"So now what?" Fluttershy asked.

"Umm... What can we do as a couple in the middle of the night, with no one watching, unable hear whatever we do?" Big MacIntosh asked.

Fluttershy shifted on the couch to face her new boyfriend. It sounded like he wanted something, but she did she also know what she wanted?

"Sleep?" She shrugged.

Big MacIntosh gave her one last kiss before moving around to get comfortable on the couch, Fluttershy doing the same. "Good night."


***


With Hearth’s Warming Day in full swing, Applejack's friends were over for presents and leftovers, most of it being Granny Smith’s food... Or so the old woman hoped for. Still, nothing felt more warming than spending a cold morning in front of a warm fire with friends. Everyone unwrapped presents, and hugs and hi-five's were exchanged. As for Big Mac, he brought the whole house down with his gift to Fluttershy: a beautiful heart pendant that everyone melted over, especially Rarity. Everyone watched as Fluttershy gasped in surprise on how beautiful it was, but were disappointed when all they received was Fluttershy hugging big macintosh. Beneath the chatter between their friends, Fluttershy muttered an 'I’ll give you a kiss later'. 

He eventually got that kiss while everyone was watching television on a cart that Applejack rolled out. The current showing was some kind of Hearth’s Warming Eve pageant that was being broadcasted. The new couple was in the kitchen, sharing some pie. They were also talking about what to do with their new found love.In the end, they agreed to keep it a secret for as long as they could. 

"Hey, can you two stop kissing!? The play is about to start!" Applejack hollered from the other room. 

Fluttershy and Big MacIntosh walked over to the front of the doorway, and Fluttershy had a frown on her face.

"We are not dating! How many times do we have to tell you all that we are just friends!?"

"Eeyup! You guys need to learn that! " Big Mac rebutted her. 

Instead of the usual looks they were given, they were met with stifled chuckles. Then the entire room laughed in their direction, and the two had no idea why.

"What is so funny?" Fluttershy demanded.

"Look up!" Applejack pointed in laughter. The entire room bursted out even harder, the curtain finally being dropped and Applejack cementing herself as an epic ruser. 

Their eyes widened and their hearts raced. They had forgotten what lead them to kiss in the first place. Sure enough, when they looked up, there was the same mistletoe with the same 'Have fun!' message they saw the night before. They had walked into Applejack's trap...

Again.

"Damn!" Fluttershy and Big Macintosh bellowed.
> 15) "House"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the winter break in full swing and nothing else to do, Granny Smith decided it would be best for the apple family to brave the roads and stop by the city to stock up on things that the city's feed shop could not provide. 

As his grandmother and sisters prepared for the drive, Big Macintosh elected to stay behind and care for the farm. Even with the plants no longer producing for the winter, there were animals to feed, rooms to clean, and chores to be done. Apple Bloom was not allowed to stay alone still. He was expected to help with the trip,  mostly just looking for the car’s plugin cup warmer for the hot chocolate.  Big Macintosh also added what he wanted to the list of things to pick up in the city, including a box of chocolates that he knew Fluttershy would like.

Speaking of Fluttershy...

He excused himself to the restroom, where he had time for himself to make a quick text to Fluttershy that it was safe for her to come over, which was the other reason he decided to stay, since spending the day and night with Fluttershy would be spending time together. Fluttershy joked about it as "playing house."

She arrived an hour after they left, and kissed her boyfriend the second he opened the door for her. They stayed that way, until the sudden realization that they were in the harsh cold of winter with a warm house they could do anything in just a few feet away.. They walked inside and to the coat closet, where Big Macintosh helped Fluttershy out of her heavy coat and hung on a rack, the snow on it already starting to melt in the warm interior. In the living room, the fire was bright, with a few logs set aside for the day ahead. 

"What do you want to do now?" he asked, reading her bedroom eyes. 

"II don't know..." she said. The answer came instantly with a growling noise coming from her stomach. 

"I guess ya want to get some lunch?" he asked. She nodded and wrapped herself under his arm as they walked over to the kitchen. 

Their lunch was microwaved leftovers of rice, coleslaw, and mustard slathered pork chops. As they ate, big macintosh had to ask again about her animal-loving ways and her eating meat.

"Animals eat other animals all the time. It's part of life. I can't just not have protein because I love animals. I can't tell foxes, tigers, or wolves not to eat other animals." 

From the kitchen, they moved to the living room, where they watched television for a few minutes and then began to kiss as soon as the first commercial aired. Their kissing went from pecks to something more intense. It was the first time they’d ever tongue kissed, so they just used their tips. The two's tongues were dancing with each other, or the tips at least. They backed out after a few minutes and agreed it was too gross. With the fire burning and the television acting as white noise, the two napped with each other as the snow continue to blanket the world around them.

They were awoken with an alarm on Mac's watch hours later. When he realized what it was for, Big Macintosh had a grin that went from ear to ear.

"Hey Fluttershy, you wanna see something cool?" 

They got off of the couch and back to the to coat room. Once they had their heavy winter coats on, they exited the house and shuffled towards the outside, which was dampened with a layer of fresh snow. 

"What are you going to show me in the barn? If you wanted to show me something you could have showed me at the house," she said with a wink.

"You'll love it," Big Macintosh assured her. 

He opened up the barn doors, which got the attention of the farm animals. Fluttershy was excited to see the animals but was hurried along to the horses. There were two of them, a mare and a stallion. Fluttershy stared back as Big Macintosh hopped over the small wooden fence and into the horse pen, which was freshly cleaned earlier that day. He grabbed the stethoscope that was hanging off a nail on a post and went up to the mare, which was laying down with a bloated belly. He pressed the metal end against the belly and listened as the stallion looked on. 

"Hey Fluttershy, come and hear."

Fluttershy went over and put on an eartip She heard a strong heartbeat, and then a smaller, weaker, heartbeat. The smaller beat was erratic and not harmonizing with the louder heartbeats. Fluttershy's heart melted. 

"She’s expecting?" she squealed.

"Eeyup. She will have a foal in the spring!" he smiled.

Fluttershy placed her head on the belly and moved with each bated breath the mare took. She felt the foal kick, and it made her squeal happily. 

"Will it be a filly or colt?" she asked. 

"We don't know. I don't want to know until it breaches. Makes it more fun that way," he chuckled. 


***


For the rest of the day they stayed on the couch and cuddled, watching the television and being in each other’s company. They only got up to use the restroom, eat dinner, which consisted of pizza and soda delivered to them, and to use the shower. Separately, of course. As they’d done the entire day, they fell asleep locked in a cycle of giggling, cuddling and kissing in front of the fire. 

"We have to have more days like that," Fluttershy said as they shared one last kiss next to the abandoned farm by her house, which was a step up since she would only let him go as far as the fork in the road. 

"Eeyup, need to do that more often,” he said as they parted with a hug. 

Big Macintosh walked the road home with a smile. From the trail to the farm he thought about what happened the night before, about the odd feeling to have a special someone, and what to tell Granny when she would bring up the missing leftovers.

Eh, the thought as he shrugs his shoulders in the cold, bright, morning, that's future Big Mac's problem.
> Valentines
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a tough time for Big Macintosh. Fluttershy leaving for a week was bad enough, and he would have to find someone else to talk to, which would fall solely upon his family. There was also the part where she would return valentine's day, probably expecting a kiss and a present... or nothing at all. That was Big Macintosh's first Valentine's Day with someone to call his Valentine, so he was treading in uncharted water. He had a week, so he had time to find something, anything. Originally, he was planning to find hints or clues to find out what she desired, usually an impulsive second look at a store when they met up at Sugar Cube Corner at least once a week or even when they talked. He couldn't do it since she was going to be gone, and asking her outright was taboo in his mind, so he would have to take a risk.

That risk would be her friends, who still did not know about their relationship. The first one was an easy one to come up to.

"Ahm gonna miss Fluttershy, but I know it's for a good cause! That oil spill ain't gonna clean itself after all," Applejack answered as she was tossing bales of hay to Big Macintosh from the back of a pickup truck. Big Mac placed them in a cart to throw them to the animals, and the rest were to be placed in the barn for storage. 

"Eeyup. hey Applejack, what do you think I should get Fluttershy for Valentine’s?" He asked, making it sound more of a casual question than anything.

"Why, you two dating yet?" Applejack asked. She stopped to study her brother's body language with a smug grin.

"N-nope, just that that we are friends and it is a day about friendship as well...."

"Uh-huh, I say have Granny Smith whip you up an apple bouquet. Just remember to use protection when you two have a go at it. Ah am a farmer, not a babysitter." Applejack joked.


***


The apple bouquet was good ‘n all in Big Macintosh's mind, but this was his first Valentine, and for the perfect girl, the gift had to be perfect. Well, there was Fluttershy's first friend and closest confidant. He knew where to find her in her free time: in the schools gym, pushing and training the younger classmen, not to flash them her abs screaming that if she can get them, they have no excuse. She was hard to them but fair. She never played favorites, and graded all of them with the same standard. She was a better coach to those students than some of the paid coaches themselves.

"So you want to give Fluttershy a gift huh?" Rainbow asked between grunts. He was standing over her as she did her bench presses during class, spotting her in case she couldn't rack the weighted bar back over her head. "You two finally going out?" 

"Ee-nope, just something nice for a friend," Big Mac said, trying his hardest not to sound defensive. 

"Alright, personally I would get new running shorts and wireless headphones, but Fluttershy isn't into working out. Just... don't do anything lewd. I know for a fact Fluttershy wants a family.... just not during high school," Rainbow said. "Now, put on three hundred pounds, I'm feeling like breaking the school record today,"


***


Mac knew that although they were close, they didn't have the same interests. Luckily, he knew who had somewhat the same interests as her. She was a lady and had an eye for fashion. 

"Do you think this is fine?" Rarity asked as she walked out of the dressing room in a revealing blue, veil-like transparent dress. Her more intimate parts were covered by thicker cloth.

"So?" Rarity asked. 

Big Macintosh blushed and looked away. "Isn't that too much for a girl your age?"

"Oh yes, but it's for a client, not for me! Valentine's Day is one of my most busiest times!" She said as she walked back into the changing room.

As soon as he concentrated on what he was there for he went for it. 

"What should I get Fluttershy?" He asked Rarity. He didn't even have to ask for what, Rarity knew. She always knew. 

"Well, if you have the coin I can make you a dress for her! I've used her for experiments, so I have her measurements by memory! But, Big Mac if you two-” She cleared throat, “-get it on, just don't use protection. It's not as fun."

Big Mac froze. The last part of her suggestion made him do a double-take.

"Rarity, y’er just a freshman! Are you...?" he asked.

"Oh! Goodness no! I just read a lot of Cosmopolitan magazine! They’re always giving tips about that sort of thing!"

Big Macintosh took a defeated sigh and got up. His mind was so wrapped around what to give Fluttershy that he forgot to give Rarity a proper goodbye, or even let her know that he left. Rarity did not hear the bell go off, meaning someone had entered or left the store, so she kept on talking, the empty room unbeknownst to her.

"So, anyway darling, did you hear about Pinkie's new plan for a...." 

From then on, nothing. Pinkie was too busy with her part-time job at Sugar Cube Corner to talk to, and all the good gifts were taken off the store shelves already. Big Macintosh was stuck, and he only had himself to blame for it. 


***


It was high noon at the town's bus station during Valentine's Day. Big Macintosh called in sick that day to be the only one to welcome Fluttershy home. He had his best clothes on, a rose, and a box of chocolate. He looked like a fool, or at least that’s what was he thought about himself. But to his relief, there was no one else around, which was the norm for the sleepy little bus stop. He was sitting on the only bench at the station, nearly falling asleep. What jolted him back to life was the sound of a familiar diesel engine that was getting louder. He stood to attention as the bus slowed down next to him and came to a complete stop. 

The sliding door opened and out came Fluttershy, who collapsed in Big Macintosh's arms. She and her bags’ momentum were enough to knock Big Macintosh over with her. Fluttershy's clothes, face, and hair were dirty and disheveled. She had bags under her eyes. 

"Big Macintosh?" She asked.

"Yes?" 

"All I want for Valentine's Day this year is a hot bath and something clean to wear." She mumbled.

"I think I can do that." Big Macintosh said with a wide grin, enjoying the fact his girlfriend was resting on his chest. It would’ve be better if it was somewhere not in public. 
> Apples Day 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the Apple Family, there was no more important day than Apple Day. 

It was a holiday in March that celebrated the apple and the color green. It also celebrated the leaves and, most importantly, the apple flowers that started to bloom, giving new life to the dead-looking orchard trees. To celebrate the apple, one cannot do it alone. You had to do it with your kin. Sure, getting drunk and wearing green was a fun way to celebrate, but it was also a family holiday. So, the Apple Family Reunion usually coincided with the bloom. As the preparations in the kitchen and the farm grounds were getting underway, the teens of the Apple Family were getting their own party plans into work.

First, it involved raiding the kitchen. They did it in small groups: members of the younger Apples sneaking in while the women were hard at work for the feast. They took batches of snacks while no one was looking and returned to store their loot in the treehouse like ants.

After the drawing of straws, Applejack and Big Macintosh, the most trustful of the Apple young, were to do the hardest and most coveted part of the annual raid: the Apple Family moonshine. Made from apple mash and bottled within a mason jar and a stick of cinnamon for flavor, the homemade whiskey was kept in a huge room in the cellar for this event, allowing the moonshine to get older, solidifying the taste. 

They entered the cellar when no one was looking and used two keychain flashlights to look around the cellar. They took an immediate left and snuck into the moonshine room. Unfortunately, Granny Smith was waiting for them. 

"Here for the moonshine, I reckon?" Granny asked.

"yY-yes granny," Applejack answered as she lowered her head in shame.

Granny's stern look gave way to a grin.

"Ah remember when my cousins and I did that when we were younglings, drinking the moonshine and reminiscing ‘bout the old days... Even back when we were your age we talked about when we were younger," She answered as she plucked three mason jars filled with the liquid gold off the shelves.

"Here! Now don't spoil your appetite, ya hear!?" 


***


When they arrived back at the clubhouse, the twenty teens in the small room cheered for their heroes, including Applejack’s friends. Of course, Big Mac and Fluttershy stuck close, but far enough from each other, less they spill that they were an item. They set the moonshine on top of a small soap box, surrounded by the other snacks, and began to have a small feast of their own, missing the moonshine purposefully for later. Stories were told, vulgar renditions of Apple Family songs were sung, and a general merriment occurred. Waiting for the big feast that was to come hours later further induced their hunger, and when it did, they were ready to pig out over the overabundance of homemade food. The feast happened at two long tables that were made from scratch a week before, and it was a time of good food and family bonding. 

It was hours afterward, when the night had arrived and the fest area was lit by hanging lanterns and the flood lights hanging off the backyard porch; when the feast became a drinking hall. The mason jars were carried out in milk crates and distributed to the adult apple family members, while the teens retreated to the treehouse, where their own party began.

Applejack, being the bravest of everyone there, went first and took a sip, and passed it on to Pinkie. She took one and passed it to Braeburn, and so on and so forth. Their first drink was a painful burn down their throat, but as they continued each round of sips, it got easier and easier to take more than just a sip.  

Everyone in the room started to feel the effects of the alcohol. Fluttershy's inhibition was gone, which gave her the courage to huddle under Big Mac's arms, a warm blanket draped over them. Rainbow Dash was in a heated sports argument with another member of Applejack’s family. Rarity was being chatted up with a few of Applejack’s cousins from Dodge Junction; they fancied the posh woman with the girl next door aura around her. Applejack and Braeburn were catching up on old times, and Pinkie was chatting it up with another member of the Apple Family. While all that bonding and meeting was going on, the two lovebirds were silent, contempt with their closeness. The entire room went on not knowing that underneath the heavy blanket, their hands were intertwined, a hidden, but strong statement to their love for each other. 

A fun Apple Family tradition would also be the clean-up. the Apple Family would stumble around in their drunken stupors cleaning up, putting the leftovers away and throwing the trash in paper bags. It was a demolition derby of people bumping, tripping, and falling. Each time the group would laugh, with the poor soul laughing as well, only to get up and continue their work. 

The teens in the treehouse did the same, with a lot less stumbling, in fact, they were ready for bed sooner than the adults, which gave them time to watch the derby of human bodies unfold. 


***


Because of the alcohol, no one left. Instead, they crashed for the night, with Applejack, her friends, Apple Bloom, and her friends crashing in her room, while the rest of the family bunked upstairs, leaving Big Macintosh to stay in the living room once again. He volunteered since he had the chance to use the fire. 

Big Mac was laying down, watching the ceiling swirl around in his head when he heard the footsteps he was keeping awake for. She stumbled down the stairs slowly, her young, petite body still acting from the alcohol.

"Hey Mic, so... Cake?" Fluttershy slurred.

He carried her when she was at the foot of the stairs to the kitchen, sat her down in a chair and stumbled about getting two slices of the Meringue cake that Pinkie made. they both giggled when they looked at each other.

"We’re gonna wake up with quite a hangover." Fluttershy joked.

"Eeyup."

They stopped and stared deep into each other's eyes. They looked around to see if anyone was watching. When the cost was clear, they leaned towards each other, and shared a whiskey-scented kiss, their only light being from the old lantern on the wooden table.  
> Foaling
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy was never one to run, though a few circumstances changed that mindset. One text from her boyfriend changed that. She bolted out the door, through the meadow, and the woods. It was early April, and the tall grass reached Fluttershy knees, which kept her to the dirt road once she ran into it, since she could run into a snake or an underground yellow jacket's nest.  

By the time she reached the end of the forest, she was already out of breath, but the urge to beat the clock kept her going, making her legs  move in a machine like manner because her brain was screaming at her to stop. 

She knew what was waiting for her at the apple family barn. But, due to the complexity of it, she didn't know if she had hours or minutes to see it take place. 

As the barn came closer, her pace increased. Her heavy panting stood out from the sounds of the birds and the rustling of the leaves in the afternoon breeze. Past the wooden gate that marked the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres. Instead of the house, she went straight to the barn next door, and stopped. She leaned over, with her hands on her thighs, panting heavily.

"I... am... here... miracle... birth..."

She had a look of despair on her face when she looked up inside the barn. The Apple family was at the corner of the barn. In front of them, a mare was standing still, eating a fresh bale of hay that was placed for her after the ordeal. Her mane was wet with sweat, her breathing still as heavy as the second she went into labor. Under her was her foal, drinking from her mother's udders. 

"B-but it only took me 15 minutes!" Fluttershy gasped as she walked her way inside the barn to join the apple clan.

"She was outta there as soon as he sent the word." Granny Smith reported.

"Yea, a bit anti-climatic to say the least," Applejack replied.

"I'm scarred for life!" Applebloom happily announced. 

They watched on as the mare and foal were in the beginning of their new relationship. A mother caring for the child, the child just ride off her mother's work. It was also a conversation starter for them.

"I can’t wait to be a mother," Apple Bloom sighed.

"You can wait, at least wait four years," Applejack winked at her. "How about you two, when am I gonna be an aunt?" 

Fluttershy and Big Macintosh shot blank glares at her. A more of a "really?" than a displeasure. 

"Sorry yall, just yanking yer chains," Applejack laughed. 

Big Macintosh left the group to continue with his chores around the barn, leaving Fluttershy to continue to watch in awe at the young foal's first few hours of life. 

"I know about you two," Applejack whispered to Fluttershy.

Her skin began to crawl and broke into a cold sweat.

"I-I have n-no idea what you're talking about?" 

"Aw c'mon sugarcube. You two are close, and a cute couple. If you want, I can hook you up with him. " Applejack offered. 

"I'll have to think about it," she said as she walked out of the barn.  In front of the barn was a pickup truck, its bed stacked with bales of hay. She climbed to the top, as Big Macintosh stood on the tailgate, placing one bale at a time on the small conveyor belt that moved the bales into the barn. 

"She is talking about it again," Fluttershy sighed."She thinks we should date," 

"Yep, I think we both know that won't work out," Big Mac answered.

"I mean we are so different," she replied.

"Eeyup,"

"I like animals, you like eating them." 

"I like apples, you eat oranges," Big Mac glared, which made Fluttershy giggle

"I like soup, you like salad," she announced.

"You put ketchup in the fridge." 

Both of them began to laugh. "Can't believe that was a rumor." 

It was then that Applejack walked out of the barn and headed to the house, a smug smile aimed at the both of them, her eyes screaming "I got my eyes on both of you," in a friendly matter. 

"She is onto us, we should break up," Big Mac joked.

"Over your dead body," Fluttershy smiled as she hopped down from the stack of hay. She patted the hay off her dress and walked up to Big Mac, who decided to take a breather on the shadow side of the pile and out of the view of the house. Hidden from Big Macintosh's family, but in full view of the feeding mare and nursing foal, the two young couple shared one last kiss goodbye. It was quick, but tender. 

"See you in class," Fluttershy whispered as she walked back home, sharing a wave to her boyfriend.  

> Down by the Riverside
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

May was in full bloom when they decided to meet up in private. At that time, the school year was winding down as they marked the days left of it. It was a holiday that day, and while the rest of the of the town including their friends and family decided to have their get together on the shore of the lake, they were planning to meet downstream. 

For Fluttershy: it was "plans with family". For big Macintosh, it was "plans with friends".

They walked down the forest trails from their homes, looking out for potential spies who they call ‘friends or family’. They would freeze once in awhile when they heard rumbling in the bushes, prepared for the lines of questioning the might receive, only to see a fox or rabbit pop out and run from them. They took a sigh of relief and kept moving. 

Big Macintosh was the first to arrive and waited around the crossroads for her. He was patient about it since he was closer to the crossroad than her. She arrived ten minutes after the agreed meeting time. she had a blanket while Big Macintosh had a basket in his hand. She didn't even say hello, opting instead to greet Big Mac with a tender kiss. 

The continued on their walk to the lake: catching up, talking, laughing, holding hands as they went. They were still paranoid of being watched, but they resorted to casual look around rather than looking like they had something to hide. 

They found a great place down the river, a small flood plain only a hundred feet wide, and covered by the trees.

"This the place?" Fluttershy asked. 

"Yup!" Big Macintosh answered as he sat the basket down, and prepared the food for their lunch. It was last night's chicken leftovers, but with freshly made fixings as well like corn and mash potatoes. For that special date, Big Macintosh brought a glass bottle of apple cider for them to share.

The thing about home cooked meals was it was always tiring, which hit the two very hard. They smiled at each other, gave off a few yawns. Fluttershy laid on her side, inviting Big Macintosh to join her. The young man wrapped his hands around her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. With the sounds of the stream flowing and the sound of carnival happening at the lake upstream, they fell asleep in the beauty that was a mid morning.

By the time they woke up, the sun was assaulting them with its heat, with the trees overhead not being much help. They were both sweaty, hot, and bothered. They knew how to fix that. Even though underneath their clothes were their bathing suits, it was still embarrassing to take any kind of clothing off in front of each other. So, they did it behind bushes, and when they came out , they awkwardly stared at each other: Fluttershy admiring his body and premature abs, while Big Mac looking at the tightness of Fluttershy's one piece suit. 

They held each other's hand as they slowly stepped into the waist deep stream. 

"C-c-old!" Fluttershy yelped.

"C-e-e-up!" Big macintosh agreed.

Even if the water was cold as ice, it beat the hell of the heat. 

"I have an idea," Mac said.

He grabbed Fluttershy's hand and lead her to a rockier section of the river. He wrapped his hand around her and started to float. They went only  foot downriver until big MacIntosh was stopped by two rocks that were spaced apart, using them as an anchor. the river went fast enough to keep them afloat. they were still talking as she was laying on top of him, and she was basically using Big Mac as her floatation device. As they watched the trees and the singing birds above them, a feeling of bliss overtook them. 

"Big mac?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yea?" 

"Have you ever thought when we can announce 'us' to everyone?" She asked.

"Not really," he answered.

"Well, we eventually have to tell them. We can't keep a secret like this," 

"Yea,"

"So when can we?"

"How about after this summer, when your friends and Applejack join us at Canterlot High."

"Deal!"

Their date ended as the sun began to go down. They wrapped up their date and headed back to Big Macintosh's to drop off the basket and blanket. They went from there to their friends at the fair. They claimed to have 'found each other' on the way to the fair, which for the most part, save one Applejack, everyone else bought it. They had their fill of carnival food and found their seats for the fireworks show to cap off the fair, which was fired off a barge in the middle of the lake. They were sitting together, but separated by Big Mac's family and Applejack's friends. they gave each other a smile every so often, imagining it was just them watching the show together. 

When it was over, and it was time to go home, Big Macintosh volunteered to walk Fluttershy home. He sounded reluctant to do it, but it was for show, although Applejack looked like she didn't bought Big Mac's forced emotion. AJ eventually sighed and went with Granny Smith and Apple Bloom.

They had been dating for months, but even so didn't keep Fluttershy from stopping Big Macintosh in the wild grass in front of the house. They shared one more kiss and held hands.

"So many memories here," Big Macintosh reminisced.

"Same, maybe next time you should watch what you're doing before playing in abandoned barns," Fluttershy answered with a wink.

Big Macintosh was shocked. He always had a feeling, he always wanted to ask her, and yet he didn't need to because she just gave herself away.

"That was you?!" He asked.

"Of course! All I saw was a boy and a cute dog in the field, I couldn't help but try to say hi...to the dog."

They both laughed because that was something Fluttershy would totally do. 

They shared a hug, and he watched as she walked through the wild grass, and disappeared into the small cabin at the edge of the tree line.  Big Mac gave her cottage one more look, gave a short whistle to Winona, and started their way home. 
> The Fire Pt 1 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A farmer always had a sixth sense for everything, drought, harvest, a good time to plant, a good time to prepare for the worst. It was always passed down generations, and it usually told of impending doom.  

For the Apple family and Fluttershy, they felt it. Having lived by the forest’s mercy her whole life, Fluttershy felt it even worse. Big Macintosh and Fluttershy would feel it when they spend their time together,  which interfered with their together time. That time, which they would usually spend holding each other and kissing,  were now paralyzed them both in an uneasy feeling that something major was going to hit them, either a late summer rainstorm that will cause downed trees and bring hail the size of apples. Maybe it was the dry lighting that would cause the major forest fire. 

Either way, Fluttershy and the Apple Family were on edge, even to the point of double and triple checking their emergency go bags every day to make sure they were able to evacuate at a moment's notice. 

A day went by since the initial feeling of dread, then a few more, then a week to a month of the uneasy feeling between them. They eventually shrugged it off, since it probably was a false alarm, which happens usually since the afternoon thunderstorms usually caused them.

Then, it came. 

It started in the news as a car starting a small brush fire fifty miles away, which was barely a blip in their local newspaper. After the third day, it exploded. The smoke was seen for miles around, the response to the fire was massive. Helicopters and airplanes flew over the town occasionally, an aircraft that the forestry service borrowed from the rest of the country. Thousands of firefighters across the nation joined in, in what was dubbed as the "Marble Fire". 

No one in town cared about the fire, since it was moving away from the town, and would burn up an unoccupied forest. It wasn’t untilthe wind shifted tothe opposite direction with hurricane force winds that people started to care. It was fifteen miles from the town a few days later, the land having been lost because no one expected the shift and having to move men, trucks, gear, and planning to a different path of the fire in an instant was something no one prepared for. 

The second the fire changed directions, the apple family went to work, loading up their animals in trailers and carrying them to relatives and away from danger. The process took many trips, most of them taking them all night. In the end their livelihood had been saved. 
When it was ten miles from town, the Apples were  preparing to move into the evacuation center with the rest of the town. They assumed they would most likely lose everything, but at least everyone in town was accounted for.

Except one.

"Rarity, we ah the last ones, is anyone missing?" Applejack asked on her cell phone. The ash falling around them like a snow day from hell. 

"Well, everyone but Fluttershy,"

"So just Fluttershy?" 

Big Macintosh’s heart sank, looking at the looming plumes of smoke blanketing the sun to a bright orange. There was no question what his plan was, only how to not get caught doing it.

Without anyone looking, he leashed Winona to the flatbed, making sure she didn't go after him. Dropped his backpack in echange for for the Apple family highlighter yellow medical bag. The family was about to head off into town when Big Mac prepared to make a run for it. He was right behind the truck, hiding from the rest of hisfamily as they were getting the last things they needed.. 

"Ya going to get her, big bro?" Applejack asked.

He looked up to see his sister on the bed of the pickup, looking down at him.

"Y-yes"

"You like her, don't cha."

"Yup."

"And I can take a wild guess yall been seeing each other."

Big macintosh nodded, looking at the hellish horizon.

"Well then, I'll be honest. I'm glad to hear it. Y’all seemed pretty happy together lately. Well, I’ll drop off granny and Apple Bloom and come back with the ATV-"

He didn't let her finish and bolted over the wooden fence and to the fire line. 

"Go get er', and ya both better come back alive, ya hear!" Applejack hollered. 

He ran through the tall grass to the fire line, while the fire trucks were slowly headed to the town to prepare for the fire fight to save the town. 

> The Fire Pt 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was then when Fluttershy realized she screwed up. She had spent hours deep in the forest, trying to aid the animals in their escape, kicking the ground near the nests until the animals came out. She would then point to where safety was, with the animals obliging her direction. By the time the fire was a mile or less away, she had retreated to her cottage. She took little to no time packing whatever valuables that she could not afford to lose. 

Once she grabbed her valuables, she sprinted to the door, her pet bunny right behind her. It was then she stopped outside and was white in fear.

"The picture!" she hollered as she dropped her duffle bag and went back inside

"Stay right here, Angel!" 

She went inside and into her bedroom. On top of her closet was a box of useless things she collected over the years. In the middle of the box was a frame of a younger her and her parents. She didn't stop to admire it, survival was the first thing. She heard a large crack, then the sound of a tree falling on her, she had run out of time. She tried to get out, but it was too late.

A large branch crashed into the cottage , knocking her down and pinning her to the ground by the ankles . She cried out in pain as she felt the stinging of her ankles probably breaking. As she tried to escape from the branch, her pet rabbit bit her finger and started to pull, trying to pull her out of the predicament she was in. 


***


When Big Macintosh entered the meadow, he saw the tree come down. Whatever energy he had left was spent dashing across the field, running in the direction of the towering flames that was rapidly advancing on him.

When he was halfway across the field, she heard her cries for help and saw her trying to get out. 

"Fluttershy!" Big Mac cried out.

"Mac!?"

When he arrived, he was trying to catch his breath but knew he couldn't stop.

"I'm stuck! I think it's broken!"

"Hold on!" He hollered between heavy breaths, swatting next to his girlfriend, readying himself. He grabbed the heavy branch and lifted, with the little rabbit trying his hardest to lift as well. he tried with every ounce of strength he had in his young body. He gave off a loud, audible, grunt, which kept going as he tried to lift. With one last push, he lifted with everything he had left, creating enough wiggle room to get her ankles out of the way. He dropped the branch and continued his heavy breaths, complicated by the hot, thick, smoky air around him. Fluttershy tried to get up, but winced in pain and sat back down.

"I'm sorry, Mom and Dad!" She cried.

Big mac grabbed her bag, the rabbit, her parent's photo frame, and had her piggybacking off of him. 

"Oh no!" she hollered. "Crown!" 

They looked up  to see the fire was upon them, The pines and oak trees above them were ablaze, burning only the top of the trees, the charred branches falling all around them. Big Mac took off running, dodging flaming branches that were falling out of the sky and landing with a thud that kicked up embers.

"The grass is burning too!" Fluttershy bellowed, the grass behind them catching fire from the falling branches as well. 

Big Mac was originally headed to the town, hoping to find sanctuary with the firefighters who massed there for the defense of the town, but realized he didn't have the strength or energy to beat the rapidly advancing flames, especially while carrying Fluttershy and her belongings at the same time. He shifted course without warning and headed parallel to the advancing fire.

"Where are you going?!" 

"A'h won't make it to town! We have to go to the lake!" 

He continued his run, looking back every few seconds to see where he was. He took a quick second to stop and when looking through the trees he saw that the old commune was already ablaze, their memories were gone in an instant by the fire. 

He scrambled down the lake bank, and to an old, shabby, dock with a wooden rowboat still moored.

By the time he ran down the lakeside and to the dock, the trees that were immediately next to the lake started to catch fire themselves, their canopies being the first to ignite. 

He stopped to the edge of the dock and let Fluttershy down. He held on to the boat to let her quickly but gingerly get on the rowboat with Angel in her arms. He dropped her personal belongings inside and grabbed an oar of the boat. using it to guide it to the edge of the dock, and hopefully to the center of the lake. 

He knew he was in trouble when he heard the loud crack above him, which stood out against the crackling sound of the burning dried leaves and trees. 

"Big Mac!" 

He turned around to see that a tree that was already weak and old was starting to tip over, headed right for him and the boat. He gave the boat one last shove and used the last several seconds he had to jump into the water, holding on to the oar. The tree crashed into the dock while he was in midair. A branch smacked him as he went into the water, jarring the oar out of his hands, all within view of a distraught Fluttershy.

"Mac! Mac?!" Fluttershy hollered, looking for Big Macintosh in the waves that were created by the tree. She was close enough where the waves violently carried her out to the middle of the lake, safe from the heat and flames. 

She reached for her bag and fished for a flashlight which she used to shine in the area she last saw him. 

The seconds felt like hours for her, and a horrible feeling of dread and sadness began to overtake her, with the belief of his death slowly overtaking her. 

She then heard splashing in the water and a gasp, and she aimed her flashlight right at the source. She nearly jumped in joy from seeing that Big Mac had survived the falling tree, reunited with the oar and was slowly paddling her way. 
> The Fire Pt 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

They spent the entire night huddled together on the boat, watching as the flames consume the forest around them. The forest they called theirs for since they were born, the forest that stood strong against the forces of man and its attempts to claim it, gone in a single night. Miles away, the forces of man fought off the flames that took down the forest, every minute or so they heard the helicopters buzz overhead.  Not even an hour passed, and the heat of the flames dried off Big Macintosh. They would occasionally splash the lukewarm lake water on their face, to keep themselves from overheating. even if it was just them and the rabbit, there was still the giant elephant.

"You never had your parents all this time?" he asked. 

"No. They... were never on the right side of the law. They taught me how to live off the land and left me to the commune, who taught me as well. When it was raided by the police, they hid me to keep me there, and hopefully, my parents can take me.

"Wow."

"So since I was a little girl, I've been on my own. I made a living taking care of the sick animals, the shelter pays me under the table, and I  would secretly sell herbs that are from deep in the forest to Granny Smith since she couldn't go that deep in the forest and you and Applejack are too busy with chores. It didn't make me rich, but I never was in need. "

"I didn't even know," Big Mac confessed

"I didn't want anyone to. but now..."

It was enough to set Fluttershy to tears, losing almost everything she had. all her hard work and perseverance, all gone by the fire. Big macintosh held on to her more tightly, which was enough to calm her down, knowing that he was there for her. 

"Ya more than welcome to stay with us," Big Macintosh offered.

Fluttershy turned around and gave him a kiss. "Thank you," 

It was daybreak, and the land around them was pitch black from the fire. Not a single tree in the area was spared, there were spots in the forest that was still smoldering white smoke. The first to hear the whirll was Angel, who was awoken by it. Big Mac and Fluttershy heard it and turned too, and were relieved to see Applejack on a one seat watercraft.

"Y'all gave us a fright! But I had ah feel'n y'all were here!" Applejack said joyously. She had a rope in her hand, which was tied to the back of her wave runner. She tossed the rope to Mac, who tied his end to the front of the boat. He gave the knot he made a tug or two to make sure it was sound and whistled to Applejack, who slowly towed them to the shore, where their old rustbucket was waiting, the trailer halfway into the water. As soon as applejack was all the way up the submerged trailer, she got off and pulled the boat to shore. Big Mac got off when the boat and helped Applejack secure the waverunner when the water was chest deep, trying to get the thing secured before the lake mud sucked the trailer down. Applejack rushed to the truck and fired it up, the trucking using every ounce of horsepower to move the trailer out of the lake. While that was happening, Big Mac carried Fluttershy and her belongings to shore, their frightful night finally over.

It turned out that the winds shifted, sparing the town in the last minute, which spelled doom for the fire, being pushed to places already burned and devoid of fuel. The apple family lost a portion of their trees and the fire ruined most of their crop, they made it through the winter with an emergency fund they had put money away towards every year in a case of failed crop. Out of everyone in town, Fluttershy was the only one who lost her home, but she had a home with the Apples and Big Macintosh and would spend a year with them. A week after the fire ended, life began to return to normal. The apple girls took Fluttershy and got her new clothes. Big Macintosh had a large smile to see Fluttershy's new look: a white tank top, and a soft green skirt and boots with a pink frill. The butterfly hairpin became the topping to the cake.  

By the time spring had arrived, Fluttershy had enough to leave the apple farm and rebuild. That day, the apples and Fluttershy's friends were hard at work... with the help of some of the older farmhands. 

The work began a month earlier when the debris was removed, the concrete slab that was once the foundation of her home was scrubbed. Then came the house, which was almost exactly the same as the one that was there, but upgraded and newer materials. 

By the time sundown arrived, everyone had gone home, their part of the project completed. The trees surrounding the cabin were knocked down as well and would be good fertilizer for the new life that was to spring forth due to the devastation.

Big mac, applejack, and Fluttershy were the last ones there. the young lovers were in the kitchen while Applejack gave the place one last look.

"Ah like it."

"Eeyp." big mac added.

Fluttershy sighed. "I can't thank you enough for your help. it means so much,"

"Ah, no problem! we are glad to help. Now, I'm gonna go home and get some dinner, yall want to come with?" Applejack asked as the three walked outside in the crisp spring night.

"Big Mac promised to take me to town for some dinner. How about next time?" 

"Sure!" She said as applejack got in the old truck and drove down the dirt road into the charred woods. 

"Uh, Fluttershy, I never said I was taking you to town," Big mac said.

"I know," she said as she slammed the door. 





She slowly walked up to him, reached up to Big Macintosh and shared a deep kiss, it was unexpected, so when Fluttershy tripped, Big mac fell over with her, both laying on the floor in fits of laughter before continuing to kiss.