"I can't." I slowly backed away from the door. Fluttershy giggled. "Why not?" I shook my head. "It's just....odd." She put a hoof on my shoulder. "Please? All the others will be here. It will give us all a chance to be together. We don't get to do that enough." I looked up at the building in front of us. "But does it have to be at the spa?" She shrugged. "Today is usually when Rarity and I have our spa day. We just decided to invite the rest of our friends this time."

Why did she want me at the spa? I had never set hoof in such a place. Why should I start now? The worst part was I couldn't come up with an excuse. All the rest of my friends were in there. I couldn't say I was going to meet them. How was I going to slip out of this? Why did all of my friends have to be mares that liked going to the spa?

That's when the gears in my head began turning. Mares. I had six best friends that were mares. But I didn't have any stallions that were friends. I didn't really know any stallions except for.... Of course! How could I be so stupid. I looked at Shy. "Why don't you go  have a mare's day with the others? I've been meaning to go and talk to Big Mac about something." She looked disappointed. Her head turned and her face became hidden behind her mane. "Oh....um...okay." I put a hoof under her chin and turned her face back to me. "Hey. I'll make you a deal. You can....you can bring me here another time. Just the two of us. I'm sure it must be pretty nice if you want to get me here so bad. We'll make a date of it. What do you say?" She smiled and nodded. "Okay. Do you Pinkie Promise?" I chuckled. I had only just become acquainted with the Pinkie Promise, but I knew it was an important thing if Shy was asking for it.

I went through the motions ending with my hoof on my eye. Fluttershy smiled and grabbed me in a hug. I hugged her back and then we broke apart. "I'll see you later, okay?" She kissed me on the cheek and went into the spa. I sat watching her until the last of her tail had disappeared through the doorway. I turned and started off for Sweet Apple Acres.

It was a beautiful day. Summer was coming to an end, but it was still warm. I could see red and yellow leaves beginning to appear among the green. Soon it would be autumn. My favorite time of the year. I walked onto the farm and found Big Mac hauling in a cart of apples. I took my time in reaching the barn. When I got to the door Big Mac was just unloading the last of his haul. "Look's like there's going to be a good harvest this year." Mac didn't even turn around before answering. "Eeyup." I walked around him until I could see his face. He smiled at me. "What can I do for ya Speedy?" I shrugged. "I just wanted to come see how you were. Maybe help out." I could tell he knew I was holding back, but he nodded. "Let's go." He walked out of the barn and I followed.

We spent the next hour or so apple bucking before we took a break for lunch. We sat under a tree and ate some delicious hay sandwiches. As he finished his sandwich, Mac looked at me. "Are you gonna tell me why you came over?" I looked at him from the corner of my eye and smiled. "I just needed to spend some time with a pony that wasn't a mare." He chuckled. "Don't tell me ya'll have grown tired of my sister and her friends?" I shook my head. "Of course not. It's just that sometimes they want to do things that I don't." He cocked his head to the side. "Like what?" I rolled my eyes. "They're at the spa today."

I could see Mac's mouth quiver. I glared at him. "You start laughing and I will kick you across this orchard." He smiled. "I wasn't going to laugh. I understand. You didn't want to join yer friends at...the spa." His smile was getting wider. My eyes narrowed. "Mac if you dare..." He forced his face into a frown. "So you thought you'd spend the day here. Why?" I shrugged. "In all honestly, I consider you to be a good friend. In fact, you're my only friend that's a stallion. To me that makes you a best friend." Mac's smile came back, but it was softer this time. "That's mighty kind of you to say. And I do mean that. I don't have a lot of friends. I'm always busy helpin' with business." I nodded. All the times I had seen Big Mac he was always hauling something or getting supplies for the farm.

For the rest of the afternoon we harvested and talked. We got to know each other and had some laughs. We even had some friendly competition. Of course Mac won. A seasoned farmer against a beginning applebucker with one fake leg? No contest. But we didn't care. It was good fun. By the time we had finished the work, the sun was just beginning to set. We were just walking out of the barn when Applejack appeared. "Howdy you two." I smiled. "Howdy." She looked between me and Mac. "Good day?" We both nodded. Mac nudged me. "Eeyup." I nuged him back and we started laughing. Applejack smiled and shook her head. "Wasn't surprised to not see you today Speedy. I've never seen a stallion in a spa." I nodded. "And I don't plan to." Applejack flashed a knowing smile. "By the way, Fluttershy wanted me to tell you she's looking forward to going to the spa with you next week." I froze.

The chuckle was unmistakable. I turned on Big Mac and he stopped. I narrowed my eyes. "Laugh all you want. Like you would say no to Twilight?" Big Mac's jaw dropped. I flinched and looked back at Applejack. She was laughing. "So you know about that huh?" Now I was confused. Applejack knew? So why was Mac so stunned? Mac looked at Applejack. "You know?" She rolled her eyes. "Of course I do. I'm yer sister. Ain't nothin' gettin' past me. Especially when it involves one of mah friends." Mac and I looked at each other and then back at the mare.

I shuffled my hooves. "Well...I guess I'd better head home." I took a step forward only to be stopped by a hoof on my shoulder. I followed the red hoof up to Mac's face. He was smiling. "Come inside. Granny's got supper cookin'." I was surprised by the invitation. "Are...are you sure?" He pulled me into a quick hug and let go a second later. "Ya'll are mah best friend. Why shouldn't you come to dinner?" I smiled and followed him and Applejack towards the house. He glanced at me and chuckled. "A spa day with yer marefriend huh?" I shoved him with my shoulder. "Love makes you do crazy things Big Mac. I bet Twilight could get you to read her whole library." He began to laugh. And soon he had me laughing too. Next Chapter: Nightmare Night Estimated time remaining: 41 Minutes