Chapter 3

FLUTTERSHY POV

After the sleepover was over, the girls and I each went our separate ways home to attend to our duties. Rainbow Dash was going to sleep more, Twilight Sparkle was going to study, Pinkie Pie was going to attend another party, Rarity was going to design some more fashion outfits, and as for me, I was going to attend to my animals' needs.

As I was walking home, I couldn't help but think of what went on last night between Big Mac and me. It hardly took a day for my friends to get us together, and for that, I am still astonished. But, wow. He turned out to be even more of a gentleman than I had even imagined. Instead of being irritated by my fear of thunderstorms (like Rainbow Dash would have been), he was caring and gentle, probably due to his experience of having two young sisters.

Not only that, but he let me lay on him throughout the whole night. Goodness, his arm must have been dreadfully numb when he woke up. I hope he's not mad that I left without saying good bye to him. I wonder what he thought of last night. Did he enjoy it? Does he wish it never happened? Did I keep him from doing something? What if I did, and now he's upset at me? Oh gosh, what if he hates me and will try with all his effort to avoid me from now on?!

No! Get a hold of yourself, Fluttershy. You're overreacting. I took a deep breath and exhaled. I shouldn't think too much of what happened. I had finally arrived home. The walk from Sweet Apple Acres to my house is about 20 minutes, passing through the market place. Speaking of which, I probably should have brought some delicious veggies and grains for my animals while I was there, but I was preoccupied by inane thoughts. . . . Oh well, another time then.

As I open the door, I realized I was right about my prediction last night. My little animals had left the house in frenzy when they panicked over the thunderstorm last night (similar to me, actually haha). I quickly got to work. I put all the furniture back up, threw out all the broken glass and ceramics, and then cleaned the house. After that, I took out food for my little critters and cooed them out of their individual hiding places. Some of them were in my clothes drawers, others on my bed, a few in the kitchen cabinets. My rabbit, Angel, had hid himself in my pillow. It was adorable. He was still shivering, but after a lot of persuasion and bribes, he finally came out. Everyone got their share of veggies and grains, and as for my picky Angel, he received a salad.

And finally, when all work was done, I showered and laid on my bed in exhaustion. My mind raced to all the possibilities I may have with Big MacIntosh in the future. Like, for example, us going out. What would that be like? What kind of couples would we be? Or if we go beyond dating, and we get married. How will our wedding be arranged? And if we have kids, what will they look like? Will they be good kids? Will we be good parents? Will we still get along? All these possibilities ran through my head as I stare blankly at my plain wooden ceiling.

BIG MACINTOSH POV

Another big day of apple picking, yes it is. I immediately set out to work: putting a few buckets on a wooden wagon and pulling it to the apple fields. Today was Saturday, so that means Applejack and Apple Bloom will be doing picking with me. Once at the field, I picked the ripest, reddest apples I could find in each tree and placed them in the bucket. After years of doing this daily, this chore is just second nature. No need to think and question my hands and eyes.

Instead, my mind was thinking of a certain girl with strawberry-flavored, pink hair. Fluttershy. Beautiful, gentle Fluttershy. Panicky, scared Fluttershy. Last night . . . it was incredible. Incredible to the point of unbelievable. It could have been a dream for all I knew. But it's not, because I smell like strawberries today, and the numbness in my arm still lingers. I've known of her since Applejack and her friends became the elements of harmony. Sometimes her friends come over, but we don't speak much. It wasn't until last week that Fluttershy and I officially met. Her little pets had scurried away from her house and were hiding in the family farm. She looked so helpless. Not one animal was listening to her plead, so I came to her aid. They were really no big difficulty to control, you just got to set your foot down and take control, which I can see does not come very easily for her.

I picked a shiny red apple off the tree and placed it in the bucket I was carrying on my back. Then I set the bucket down on the wagon and grabbed another. One more to go before I unload them back at the barn.

"Hey, big bro," Applejack greeted as she came, pulling along her own wagon, which wasn't very smart, because I already had my own wagon here and I was already working on this part of the field.

"G'mornin', AJ," I said back. Better to keep my opinions to myself before she gets hotheaded.

"So," she started smugly, "I heard about what happened last night." I didn't say anything in reply. Maybe it was embarrassment; maybe I was just being secretive. She continued on, "So, Fluttershy, you fancy her?"

So to the point, I was thrown off guard, "Uh."

She smiled. And then her smile grew into a grin. Then she was beaming. There was excitement in her eyes, and she started bouncing around. "You do! Aw, shucks, Big MacIntosh is in love!"

"Hey, hey," she was getting too loud, "listen here," I grabbed her shoulder, "you keep this to yourself, ya hear?"

"Okay, okay, big bro," she agreed easily. A little too easily.

"Good," I said, sheepish, "now get back to work." She did as I ordered and left. Never have I lost my calm like that. My heart is beating fast. AJ and Fluttershy are close friends, what if she finds out? I hope she doesn't laugh at the thought. It's best I just act as if nothing normal. Yeah. Just another day picking apples. No love striking or nothing.

Then I picked another shiny red apple and placed it in the bucket on my back.

THIRD PERSON POV

While Fluttershy and Big MacIntosh were stressing over their feelings for each other, the friends secretly met in the woods and arranged their next plan for Project F.F.L.; a specific job for each girl according to their own personality. Oh this is going to be fun.