Two weeks had now gone by since I moved to Ponyville, and in those two weeks, I found myself adjusting to the country life a lot easier than I would have expected. Not that I didn't miss home, but here, the ponies were friendly, the scenery beautiful, and my new friends, always a pleasure to be around. Sure, my job at Sweet Apple Acres had taken its toll on me at first, due to being so out of shape now, but I didn't mind it. It felt good to be working again, and I had gotten the hang of what I was doing. Or, at least I wasn't constantly missing the apple trees I was trying to buck. Regardless, things in my life had been much better. I had even managed to successfully be-friend Fluttershy without her going into hiding, and even more surprisingly, she was who I was with today, on my day off.

Striking up conversations on animal care and fashion (both of which I knew absolutely nothing about), Fluttershy and I happily walked through Ponyville's open air market, shopping for groceries so she could feed her critters.

"Oh my," said Fluttershy as returned from one of the fruit stands. "I can never seem to get here in time to buy cherries, and even when I do, they're so pricey!"

"Aww come on Fluttershy. I'm sure there's a few more stands around that might have some left. Come on, we're not done yet!" I placed a hoof on her shoulder for reassurance.

"But, you've been with me all morning Blaze...I don't want to take up your entire day off..."

"Nonsense! It's not like I have anything else of importance to do today, or anypony to see!"

"I...well....okay, if you say so. But...." she paused. "I'm sure youd r-rather be with Applejack right now...right?"

I flushed. And apparently Fluttershy had caught what she had just said as well, her face turning a bright, noticeable crimson, as she stared down at the ground.

"WHAT?!" I shouted a little too loudly. Fluttershy whimpered, and I noticed I was beginning to draw looks from a few of the ponies around us. I lowered my voice to a whisper. "I uh...umm....well...umm....no?"

Fluttershy now looked straight into my eyes, and I felt frozen, unable to move, and a slight fear began to wash over me. She spoke, with a very critical voice. "So you don't like her?"

"Gah, what? I..I..never said that! I just so happen to be having a nice time with you, is all!" I responded quickly.

And it was true. I was having a great time with Fluttershy, but, thinking about it, I suppose my mind had occasionally filled with thoughts of a certain orange mare throughout the day. Not that I had shared that, or would share that with anypony for that matter. So then why had Fluttershy said that?

Her gaze had not left mine.

"Uhh...maybe we should go somewhere a little less populated if you want to talk?" I asked nervously.

"I suppose you're right." Fluttershy squeaked as she took notice of all the eyes on us. "Maybe we should go back to my cottage? My back could use a break from carrying around these heavy groceries." She nudged her bursting saddle bags to show me.

I simply nodded my approval, still left a little dazed by the stare down she had given me just a second ago.

The walk to her cottage at the edge of the Everfree Forest was awfully silent, and awkward, as expected. Fluttershy and I had walked side by side, without so much as glancing at each other. As soon as we arrived at her front door, I let her open it and go on in. On the other hand, I stayed glued to my spot just outside.

Now's my chance to run!

I'm not a coward though! So what if she knows, big deal!

Oh this is going to suck...

"So," I heard directly in front of me. "Are you coming in?"

"Well uh...I uh...m-maybe...go...to..uh...h-home?" I stammered.

Fluttershy walked up behind me and began to push me inside her home. I resisted, but found her to be unusually strong at the moment for some reason. Knowing how this would turn out, I relaxed myself as best I could while she pushed me inside, and closed the door behind her. Quickly, she dropped her saddlebags on the floor and then came straight up to me.

"You never did directly answer my question." said Fluttershy, rather assertively.

"About?" I asked, as innocently as possible, pretending to look at all the trinkets on the counter tops and tables.

"About you know exactly what!"

I sighed, and faced her, making sure to avoid direct eye contact again. "Applejack?"

"Yes."

"Uhh..." I could feel myself fidgeting around, but couldn't seem to stop. Suddenly, the room felt five thousand times hotter as sweat began to develop on my brow. "Well...maybe...I d-do like her...j-ust a bit...?" I somehow managed to whisper. Finally looking at Fluttershy, I was surprised to see a smile forming on her face.

Letting out a small squee first, she exclaimed, "Oh, how wonderful!" I knew from the beginning! Well, we all knew, but, then aga-"

"Wait," I interrupted. "You all knew? You mean everypony else knows too?!"

Fluttershy retreated back, her voice returning to it's normal silent squeakiness. "It was k-kinda obvious."

"I...well....really?"

"Just a bit."

Had it really been that obvious? With the way we met, and all the meetups, had everyone seen how I looked at Applejack, how I talked to her? Not to mention all the time I spent with her even when we weren't working. I guess I had been too carried away with my thoughts and fantasies to take notice of how everypony else was viewing the whole situation. My eyes widened in horror as a thought came to my mind.

"Please, please, please don't tell me that Applejack knows!"

"Oh, no. Not at all as far as I know. But, I wouldn't be too surprised if she ended up finding it out on her own. I mean, the way you look and talk to her just shouts your feelings out! It's umm...cute" she added with a slight blush.

Full panic set in. "Oh nononono! Crap, what if Big Mac or Granny Smith or Applebloom found out? They'll probably think I'm weird and end up firing me! I mean, I've only been there two weeks! That'll probably get the attention of everypony I did business with while working the Apple's cart in town! And THEN A.J. will find out and she'll probably say something like 'What kind of a loser starts takin' a likin' to a pony they just met not too long ago?' And then, and then..."

I noticed that I was pacing quickly, but that for some reason, Fluttershy had a gentle look on her face. Come on Blaze, you're starting to sound like Twilight when she has one of her signature freakouts! Keep. It. Together.

"I'm thinking it wouldn't be the best idea to tell you that Big Macintosh already kinda...knows?"

"Then why'd you tell me?!"

"I thought you should know..." she said quietly. "But it might not be so bad..."

"What? How could it not be so bad?!"

"Maybe I shouldn't say...and let things...run their course. B-but, it could help."

"Fluttershy. Tell me." I moved in closer to her. Instinctively, she backed away, but couldn't go any further as she had trapped herself in a corner.

"Umm...well...Big Macintosh said...that he really thinks you're a great colt and all...and that....he thinks you and Applejack seem to fit in almost...perfectly...."

I blinked a few times. "Wha? Huh?" was all I could manage to say.

I shook my head as a mixed feeling of emotions raced through my mind.

"Oh, who am I kidding? She'd never go for somepony like me...I mean, really, I'm a city pony and she's a country mare. Our differences are too vast to even begin to describe!"

Fluttershy gave me an interesting look, but a gentle smile appeared on her face. "Listen to yourself, Blaze. You're worrying too much about this. You should stop looking at the negative and take some time to reflect on the things that matter. For example, when you think about it, you and Applejack aren't as different as you make it seem. Sure, you both grew up in different environments, but you're both hard working earth ponies with similar likes and dislikes. And truth be told, I and the rest of our friends can see you both together in the future."

It took me a minute to process all the information Fluttershy had just told me. I finally relaxed enough to compose some rational thought. "You...really think so?"

"I know so." she said genuinely.

Regaining my confidence, I grinned at Fluttershy. "Jeez, when did you get all emotionally supportive and stuff?"

"Oh...I umm...I don't know."

My moment of happiness didn't last too long though. As much as I understood and took to heart what Fluttershy had said, there was still one thing that everypony didn't know, except Twilight and Spike. One thing that could potentially ruin the trust I had built up with all my new friends and interest. My past.

"Fluttershy?"

"Yes?"

"I don't suppose Twilight has told you anything about me?" I asked.

"Oh...other than that you used to be a Manehattan Fire Pony?"

"Yeah, but did she ever tell you why I left the job or Manehattan in the first place?"

Fluttershy shook her head. I took a deep breath....

"Oh my gosh Blaze! I'm s-s-so sorry..." Fluttershy struggled to say in between her tears. "I had no idea..." She came up close to hug me, and I hugged her back, my solemn expression not changing a bit. I stared into the distance, my thoughts elsewhere.