Heart-Shaped Horseshoes

Caramel played with his hat, the chair he was on the very definition of “uncomfortable”, while Sheriff Silverstar struggled to use the typewriter.

“Dman contraptions,” he shouted out loud. “Wish my secretary was still around but the Appleloosan weather was too dry for her Canterlot tastes.”

Caramel nodded, not really sure if he was supposed to say anything.

“So, Caramel was it?”

Caramel nodded.

“I understand you plan to stay in tow for the rest of the harvest season, correct?” the Sheriff asked.

Caramel nodded again.

“Well, your references from the Apple´s farm are quite good. Now, I'm usually not the type to meddle in other ponies business but, as the Sheriff, I have to ask this, why exactly did you came here, son?”

Caramel played with his hat. He knew he will had to answer that question, sooner or alter. He even practiced his answer in the train but now that he was asked, he couldn't help but lie.

“I needed a few extra bits and a friend told me I could get them working here for the season.”

The Sheriff raised and eyebrow, not really buying the story, but like he said, he usually didn´t dwell in other ponies lives. He signed the papers and sent Caramel off.

****

“And over here we have the south field, now you may think these are the same trees as before, but let me tell you...”

Caramel didn't interrupted Braeburn introduction speech, even if he knew everything he will say before he said it. Applejack did the exact same speech when he first visited the farm. The Apples could get really obnoxious about their product sometimes, he thought. Caramel was starting to get a little offended but kept his mouth shut while Braeburn carried on.

“Now, I was about to explain you about how to buck the trees but I heard you already work with my cousins, back there in Ponyville,” Braeburn said.

“Yes, I worked for the Apples of Ponyville for a few years,” Caramel said.

“A lovely family. I´ll said they're the brightest apples in our little barrel of a family,” Braeburn joked but Caramel simply grinned at the comment.

Braeburn noticed this and adjusted his hat. “Now then, let´s get to work.”

*****

Working in the Appleloosan fields was a lot harder than in Sweet Apple Acres, Caramel had to admit. He could understand why the Sheriff´s secretary had leave since the weather was unbereable. The lack of a local pegasi team meant the water had to be brought from other towns.

Harvesting apples on itself wasn't such hard work for Caramel. The fields were slightly smaller than in Ponyville and while the trees were sturdier, he could stick buck them if he aimed right and put enough force; so Caramel didn't find his chores too exhausting.

The part that disturbed Caramel was the silence. Unlike the always loud and lively Apple´s farm back in town, the Appleloosian fields were quiet and lonely. Barebrun was the only Apple in the whole town and he had very few assistants. The townsponies worked their side of the fields in complete silence and they barely crossed paths. Caramel could spent hours walking around the trees, without bumping into any pony until a passing hawk made him look up and realize how big the fields truly were.

Being in the middle of that apple forest, hidden in the desert area of Equestria, made Caramel felt really small.

The only times the town was loud was at night when most of them gathered at the salt bar. Caramel had never been in a salt bar before. Most of Ponyville gathered in Sugarcube Corner or in a restaurant and those places where family friend environments. The salt bar was a completely different beast. All the ponies prances and stomped their ground, shouting songs and throwing hats every time a pretty mare started to dance.

Caramel had refused going to the bar the first couple night but he soon began to feel the looks of other ponies so, one night he went to take a drink. Braeburn was already there, being his usual cheerful side. He spotted Caramel and invited him to the table. He actually had a good time, drinking and chatting. It wasn't until a mare invited him to dance and the other stallions basically pushed him that Caramel started to regret his decision. He tried to smile and pretend to be interested but as soon as the dance ended and he excused himself, he knew they figured it out and decided never to return to town again.

****

Caramel kicked the tree but the apples didn't fell. He tried again but nothing happened. Furious, he tried a third time and once again, not a single apple dropped. Caramel kicked the tree over and over, her hind hooves getting sore after hitting such a hard tree but all he managed was to shake the leafs.

“You do realize you're hitting a dead tree?” Braeburn asked him.

Caramel looked at the almost dead tree with its few leaves and blushed.

“Couldn't tell. They all look pretty much like that,” he lied.

“Here. Help me carry these,” Braeburn said, pushing a bucket full of apples next to him.

Caramel placed the bucket on his saddlebags and walked back to the house, along with Braeburn.

“So you haven´t been going out of the house lately, “ Braeburn said.

“What makes you said that?” Caramel asked.

“You sleep in the next room. hard not to notice your light is always on,” Braeburn said.

Caramel knew that sharing a place with Braeburn it would make difficult keep his privacy. He couldn't afford a room in the hotel and Braeburn just happened to live alone, so living with him seemed like a practical option. But now that he had started to ask questions, Caramel began to regret another of his decisions.

“Now, here in Appleloosa we usually don't mind other ponies business...” Braeburn began.

“I heard that already,” Caramel retorted.

“But if you and me are going to share the same roof, I´ll said is better we start sharing other things too.”

Caramel kept quiet, silently wishing for Braeburn to stop talking. To not ask the question.

“Like, breakfast.”

“Uh?”

“I realized we never shared any any breakfast. or meals. Or dinners, for that matter. You always eat in your room and I fetch something in the kitchen. Well, that has to change. We're living together now, so we better start acting like it. So, here´s the deal, partner. Every morning we take turns making breakfast. start tomorrow, then you. Sounds like a deal?”

Caramel couldn't stand Braeburn´s smile so he just turned his head and said “Fine by me.”

****

Only twelve more weeks, Caramel repeated himself before that first breakfast. He wanted to go through this the easiest way possible but the second he saw the breakfast table, filled with apple related treats, he knew that it wouldn't be easy.

Braeburn had a natural charm, similar to his cousin Applejack´s charisma but in a different light. While Applejack won ponies over with her good-spirited nature, Braeburn inexhaustible energy was contagious. Despite himself, Caramel had to admit breakfast wasn't so painful.

He started to look forward for it. Getting up early every even day to make food for both of them. He wasn't the greatest cook but Braeburn never complained. They shared little at the table, Braeburn doing most of the talk. Like any Apple, he bragged about family and friends but Caramel didn't mind him that much. He especially liked when he talked about buffaloes. In all his time at Appleloosa, he haven't seen one single buffaloe. Caramel was told they were in migration but he still wished to see at least one of them before leaving.

Leaving. As time went by, he started to dread that word. Initially, he wanted the harvest season to end quickly but after a while, the routine he made with Braeburn began to grow in him. They started sharing not just the breakfast but also work in the fields. They met at one point halfway their routes and walked back to the house together. They tried going to the bar a few times but soon, they both realized they enjoyed spending their night time together than with other ponies. They played cards or walked around the rochard, looking at the stars.

One afternoon, when the ponies from Cloudsdale brought the weekly dose of water. When all the settler ponies rushed to fill their bottles and always end up wasting a lot of water, splashing each other. When he saw Braeburn being throw a bucket to the head, his wet mane falling all over his jacket while he laughed out loud; that Caramel knew he had to leave.

****

Caramel was at the train station, anxiously waiting to leave. He would have leave the previous night but the train only worked in the morning. He still had one more day of harvesting to do but he couldn't stay in the farm any longer, he couldn't be around Braeburn anymore.

Caramel tapped the ground, cursing the driver for taking so long to announce he could aboard the train.

“Skipping one day of work. That won't look good on your resume.”

Caramel turned around and found an angry looking Braeburn behind him.

“I need to go back early. Family emergency,” he lied.

“Funny. You mentioned your whole family comes from Fillydelphia and this train here goes straight to Ponyville.”

Caramel didn't answered and kept looking at the driver.

“Why are you running away, Caramel?” he asked.

“No reason. I just feel homesick.”

“Horseapples.” This was the first time caramel had heard him curse. “Don't try to play me dumb ´cause momma here didn't raise no fool. This all because of the way you look at me.”

Caramel turned his head again, blushing.

“Don´t know why you think I didn´t noticed.”

“Yeah, I bet I was really obvious,” Caramel coldly said.

“Not really, but I can tell  cause...” Curious, Caramel peeked at the blushing Braeburn. “that´s the same way I look at you, I bet.”

Caramel didn´t know how to respond to that so he kept quiet.

“That´s why you're leaving? Because you think here you´ll have a hard time?” Braeburn asked him.

“You have no idea what you're talking about,” Caramel replied.

“No, I don´t.  ´cause I know for a fact no family of mine could live with no tolerance to others, so I don't know why you left town to come here nor why are you leaving now.”

“It wasn't about them, it was about me! Back there, I was nothing. I was simply the clumsy assistant with the hopeless crush in the Apple´s boy. Everypony knew that and everypony treated me like that. Nopony took me seriously or listened to my opinions. I was just Caramel, they said like the punchline to a joke. So, I came here thinking that I could make a name for myself. But I know what they are all thinking there in town, I know how they see me. Like the fancy pony with the funny haircut that is chasing the Apple´s pretty boy that would never give him a chance. I´m stilla punchline.”

Braeburn response to that confession was to give him a smack on the head.

“Auh! What was that for?” Caramel asked.

“Three reasons. One, for trying to leave one day early. Two, for being so dumb and think that kind of things. And third...” and Braeburn moved in and planted a kiss on Caramel´s lips. “For jumping to conclusions. Who said that I won't ever gave you a chance?”

“You can do better than me,” Caramel replied, blushing. “I´m sure there a few ponies in the bar that will gladly give you a chance.”

“I´m sure they would but I don't care about them. You see, the problem with those ponies is that I don't share a roof with them, I don't cook with them and more importantly, they're not you.”

Braeburn moved forward for another kiss, only this time Caramel returned the favor. They stood there for a long while, the whole disappearing except for them both. The driver announced the train was about to leave but Caramel choose to ignore him and brought Braeburn closer to him. Finally when the dust settled and the station was empty, Caramel let go and looked into Braeburn´s eyes.

“What do you say we get back to the farm and tomorrow, we both go tell the Sheriff that you plan to extend your visit here?” Braeburn asked.

Caramel nodded and gave Braeburn a small kiss in return. Just as they were about to leave, they saw a couple of buffalos in the distance, standing atop a mountain. Caramel eyes went wide and Braeburn smiled, placing an arm around him.

The sun was high in Appleloosa, offering a new life full of opportunities for both of them.