Epilogue

10 months later

Caramel gulped, he looked seemingly nervous. Big Macintosh placed his hoof on his. Caramel looked up and smiled as he leant against the red stallion. They had been sitting on the train to Canterlot for a while now; it wouldn’t be too long before they were both in the heart of Equestria.

In the larger booth just behind Big Mac and Caramel, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity were having their own excited talk about the booming city they were less than an hour away. They were just talking about what they would each do once they had arrived when Pinkie spotted the yellow stallion leaning lovingly against Big Mac in the booth in front of her. Pinkie tried to contain her laughter, poorly.

“HAHAHAHAHA! THEY’RE JUST SO CUTE!” Pinkie Pie burst out.

“Pinkie! You shouldn’t laugh, it’s rude!” Twilight retorted.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s cute I get it; I’m just too excited to get there!” Rainbow Dash inputted.

“Um, it is quite cute Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy softly replied.

“Well, I for one am delighted about it, especially since it gave me an opportunity to make a suit for once, not quite enough glitz in my dear opinion but alas, it’s been done.” Rarity announced

“How about ya’ll try seein’ that every day for the best part of a year. Not sayin’ it ain’t cute or nuttin’, but it loses its appeal when it’s all you ever see your big bro do!” Applejack huffed.

In the other booth, the entire conversation could be heard by Big Mac and Caramel, who after hearing the inane chatter and friendly squabbles over how cute the two of them were, couldn’t stop laughing, which only egged the six good friends on even more.

“Hey look! You can see it from here!” Rainbow Dash blurted out excitedly.

The beautiful city of Canterlot seemed to glimmer in the distance; it wouldn’t be much longer before they all arrived.

“Wow, would you look at that! That Grand Galloping Gala. It seems only yesterday that we were here last, and yet a whole year has passed! So much has happened since then, but with all that we've imagined, the reality of this night is sure to make this... The Best Night Ever!”

“Yeah! I just can’t help but get a sense of déjà vu about tonight already.” Rainbow Dash pondered for a moment before simply shrugging it off.

The ponies all went their separate ways, in the hope that last night’s unfortunate events didn’t repeat themselves.
Caramel prepped his suit nervously, standing at the door to the great hall. Big Mac standing by his side, Mac stroked Caramel’s arm lightly, as if to tell him not to worry. Caramel replied with a soft smile before pecking him quickly on the cheek as they headed through the open door to the Gala.

When Twilight told Caramel about how Princess Celestia had personally invited Big Mac and Caramel to this year’s Gala he had been over the moon, Big Mac honestly just went to make Caramel happy, but once he got on the train, he felt himself feeling just as excited for the party.

Some kind faces and some snobby faces greeted the couple as they entered the great hall, the same buffet and the same snooty people were talking throughout the large room. The only thing that was different this year was the music playing in the background, for another pony had joined the critically acclaimed Octavia Clef on stage today, but that’s a story for another day.

As the couple danced together in the middle of the room, a few faces turned, but it went mostly unnoticed, as they leant into each other’s open arms, the ambient electro mixed with the classical cello couldn’t fit the mood better, Big Mac lightly kissed Caramel’s forehead as they continued to sway and spin to the music that seemed to fill and swim in the very air around them.

The rest of the Gala seemed to go on without any occurrence; it was a beautiful but uneventful night.
As the group of eight packed themselves back in to the train home to Ponyville, they told their stories of their more-so eventful night.

“The music was way better than last year! Everybody was jumping by the end! With Pinkie on stage I told you guys this would be a real kicker, unlike last year!”

“I couldn’t believe my luck! The princess wasn’t even greeting people tonight! She left it up to her Nephew Blueblood to introduce the guests and I got to talk to her about magic all night! Oh it’s such a shame that Spike was too ill to make it this year, he probably wouldn’t of liked it anyway.”

“OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH!!! Not only did The Wonderbolts recognize me from last year, they actually had time to talk to me! They invited me for a private race next week!!!”

“Oh, it was magical. All the critters actually came to say hello this year, we all sang together and I got to meet all the different kinds of birds and the cute rabbits too.”

“Absolutely INCREDIBLE! I didn’t even know the awful Blueblood HAD a brother, and I especially didn’t expect him to be so utterly charming! A true gentlemen, indeed!”

“Look at all these bits I made! Soarin from tha’ Wonderbolts came again and bought out all of my pies! I made enough across the whole day to upgrade the barn! Mainly though I’m just glad that Big Mac and Caramel enjoyed themselves, even if they didn’t seem to do anything’ other than dance.”

The train continued back home, every pony and stallion alike in completely content with their very own perfect day. Twilight really was right; it wasn’t a day they’d forget in a hurry.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I know it’s only been a day since I last saw you at the Gala, but a lot’s been on my mind lately and I've wanted to share it to you.

Ever since my brother Mac and my friend Caramel started seeing eachother, I haven’t really thought much of it. I like to see him happy, that’s all, he’s happy with Caramel, and I’m happy because he’s happy!

It made me think alot about it though, you see, Caramel is a stallion, and so is Big Mac. I can’t imagine why, but some ponies just don’t like that for some reason, it made me think alot about acceptance, especially of the ones you love.

Maybe what I’m trying to say is, that I learned a lesson today about not turning your back on your family, but the truth it, I didn't! I would never do anything like that to Big Mac or Caramel, whether they like mares, stallions or frogs. It wouldn't
make any difference to me.

If anything, the bond between us in our family, which now includes Caramel, as well as Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie, has only grown stronger the last ten months those two love birds have been together.

When you love or trust a family member enough to tell them a secret, or something they feel you may not like about them that shows you how much they really mean to you.

Now even though the way I found out about them wasn’t the most... glamorous, I respect Big Mac and caramel none the less for being straight with me about it the next day atleast.

That’s another point about love, when I look at those two I don’t think that’ll ever be broken, I wonder myself if I'll ever find someone like Caramel like Big Mac did, they way they spend their days together, they way they seem inseparable, well, it reminds me of me and my friends.

You see, we never really have our fights, everything we go through, it makes our bond stronger, and I feel the same way when I look at Big Mac and caramel.

I’d like to say I learned a valuable lesson today, but they truth is, My dear brother, and my good friend Caramel, just helped me realise what was right there in front of me, that true love, trust and friendship is something that can come just once in a lifetime.

That that bond that you share with that person, is the strongest thing in Equestria. I guess you can only hope that you get your own happy ever after, just like my brother did with his special somepony.

Thank you for listening,

Applejack

The End