A taste of Caramel

Chapters

A bite of Big Red.
Winter Wrap Up with Caramel Drizzle
A Bite of Bitter Sweet
A slice of Jonagold Pie
Caramel for Desert.

A bite of Big Red.

A Taste of Caramel
Chapter 1 : A bite of Big Red.

Big Macintosh lifted his hind quarters, muscles tight; flexing beyond the boundaries of a pony’s body. The tree which received the tremendous boot of his hooves shook and shivered violently enough to deliver upon the big red Stallion its bounty of delicious apples. They rained all around the pony causing him to smile as they poured richly down into the barrels circling the tree. As if fearing the retribution of another buck from the mighty Earth Pony the tree made sure it delivered all of its treasure without missing a drop. Allowing Big Mac to move to the next tree; which would receive the same powerful treatment.

Applebuck Season would be starting next week here on Sweet Apple Acres and the red stallion had decided to get a good quarter of the trees done today before a weekend of rest and recuperation.

Big Macintosh would have loved to get his work done uninterrupted; taking solace in the rhythmic bucking of his hooves and the raw physical strain on his large body. The fates however had decided a different matter. Caramel gave a yelp from behind and stumbled over, spilling yet another bushel of apples to the ground bruising many of them beyond conventional use. Breaking his rhythm with a deep seated sigh, Macintosh turned about face and went to help his younger cousin collect the apples.

“I’m soooo sorry Cousin Macintosh…” Caramel whimpered; hustling to get as many apples in the bin to not slow down Macintosh. Wordlessly the big stallion picked up the apples and placed them back in his slow methodical way. Reaching up one of his heavy hooves to ruffle his cousin’s mane the strong Big Macintosh gave him one of his famous few word replies.

“Don’t. Worry.” Macintosh moved back to the next tree, not noticing the embarrassed flush on Caramel’s face. Who was busy shuffling on the spot.

The two apple family stallions could not have been an odder pair for an outsider to behold. Caramel with his lightly tanned coat, and nervous twitching; cheeks flushed redder then what the colour spectrum would deem proper standing beside the tall and powerful Macintosh with his apple red coat and long blonde mane.

Caramel’s grandfather and sister had intended on doing Applebuck season alternatively so that they would always have a stand in Ponyville proper. Which meant that this week they would be bucking non-stop to sell while Applejack and Macintosh would buck all the next week. Usually Big Mac would think this a mighty proper idea and agree that it would serve both families powerfully; if not make sure the ponies in Ponyville would not go without apples. Usually he would have nodded along quietly and bucked trees to his hearts content occasionally stopping to eat and sleep. However, the family had different plans for the large stallion.

Those plans were Caramel. His grandfather and sister pleaded to Granny Smith to take Caramel off their hooves while they buck their trees so as to keep things moving at a steady pace. Of course this meant that Big Mac would be bucking with his cousin. Now its not safe to assume that this annoyed or even upset Big Macintosh, he was an apple family pony through and through. He loved his cousin and was truly proud watching him work as hard as he could out of the corner of his eye… even if he messed up almost everything he did and stumbled over his own hooves. A habit that seemed to double whenever Big Macintosh was around. It made Big Macintosh genuinely happy to see Caramel working hard though the others would pick on him, and even though he wanted to quit. Caramel was one of the few ponies who ever heard Big Macintosh speak more then one word, the two having spent a lot of time together alone out in the woods had formed a tight brotherhood.

Macintosh felt deep down that he understood Caramel, having always been picked on for being slow, and during rough times poor. The red stallion bucking another tree with his perfectly toned muscles, causing the red rain to fall.

It would help ever so much, Macintosh thought, if Caramel could go one day without ruining some apples, or breaking something of someone else’s. If he could just do that it’d give him that confidence boost he needed…though Macintosh assumed that would never happen around him at least. His presence seemed to disturb Caramel to some degree; making him shake and blush and twitch nervously.

Another hour had passed while the stallion bucked and thought in total silence, echoing trees shatter the utter peace with their snapping surrender. The sun had past its zenith long ago and Macintosh could feel his throat begin to parch from the long work.

“Mel. Drinks?” he called to his cousin who was busy loading up another cart of apples.

The beige stallion yelped and jumped, almost over turning the wagon he was busy loading. “Uh- yeah sure Cousin Mac.” he yelled back in his high, squeaky voice before running off.

Macintosh smiled at his cousin and walked over slowly to the trees around him, bending his neck low to remove the plough hook he kept around his neck. A yawn escaped the big stallion’s lips and he felt the weariness of the long day weighing down on his body. Usually Macintosh would give his rump and head a shake and start bucking more trees for all his worth but today he felt so exhausted and spent that he needed to sit down. Taking a not so casual look around for Applejack ( she would never let her brother live it down if she caught him sleeping when he was “on the job) before laying down against the thickest tree in the vicinity. He felt his body shake in relief and with a deep throated sigh allowed himself to enter into a state of sleep.

XXXXXXXX

Caramel, carrying a platter of glasses thick with lemonade and ice; accompanied by two steaming hot apple rolls made his way back to the spot where he and Mac had been working. Though the beige pony hated to admit it he had gotten lost twice before finding the same path he had used just moments before and had almost dropped their plate on several occasions. He blushed furiously with himself repeating in his head a constant mantra “Don’t screw up. Don’t screw up.” not that it ever really helped him. Today of all days he wanted to be on his best, to help his kind Cousin out…

Mel had always liked Macintosh. Much more then the rest of his extended family. Big Macintosh, though a pony of few words had always spoken to Caramel kindly, like a wise and caring older brother which made the beige screw up blush at the thought. Over the years he had done his best and screwed up his hardest but Macintosh was the only one to never sigh defeated at him, he’d always just grin and tell Caramel not to worry and to work on. Sighing, Caramel thought of those memories fondly for a moment of stillness in the quiet orchard. He could feel a warmth spread from his heart at the memories of the crimson red stallion standing over him protectively, guarding him from the rest of his family. Mel could feel his heart throb and his stomach knot tightly as it always did when he focused too much on Macintosh.

He had no true idea of what this had meant, he had talked to his sister once and she had at first looked very surprised…then very menacing. She would tease Caramel viciously about that conversation anytime he would be alone with Big Macintosh. At first Mel had thought it was because of his strong desire to do his best around his “brother” and to make him proud…but over the years he had a sense of the feeling changing. He had heard Applejack and other ponies discuss crushes and what it felt like to “fall in love” with another pony and that had turned Caramel’s stomach all the more. If he was a coltcuddler, a term he had picked up from his Aunt and Uncle Orange who had visited a few years ago from Manehatten, then how would his family react? Not beyond the fact that if he had fallen in love with Big Macintosh, his cousin. The very thought made him swoon deeply, in mid panic; almost dropping the plate with their snack.

Could he really be in love with Macintosh? It was a constant thought in Caramel’s head whenever the brilliant stallion was around. An idea that scared Caramel deeply… if he did love Macintosh how would the family take it, or worse how would Macintosh take it? Caramel paused and shook his head, almost overturning the glasses he forgot he was carrying. “How would he take it himself?” He wondered, making his way through the orchard.

Just as he was getting worried that he may be lost again he came across a scene that renewed and redoubled all of his fears. It was an single moment of divine gifted clarity.

Laying beneath the thickest and most beautiful tree Caramel had ever seen, body glistening in the orange glow of twilight was Macintosh. His brilliant red coat reflected the sun’s rays casting the stallion in a divine halo, his orange hair was thick with sweat from a long day’s work; glistened in the sunlight. Mouth open slightly as he slept unaware of the silent watcher who’s cheeks had turned a shade of red three levels deeper then his own coat.

Jaw slackening in awe; Caramel uttered a involuntary groan which originated from deep within his soul. In the time it took for the glass platter between his teeth to fall down and shatter on a rock Caramel’s heart was opened completely and violently by the image before him.

The thunderous crash drained the color from Caramel’s heavily flushed face and startled Macintosh to the world of the living. “Oh no! No no no no no no no no!” Caramel panicked trying to get the food and glasses off the ground before they were ruined/ spilt their contents, pushing away the shattered peaces of glass. A strong, gentle hoof placed itself on his hair bringing tears to his eyes.

“It’s okay.” Big Macintosh said, ruffling Caramel’s mane playfully. Leaning down the slow talking stallion grabbed up his snack and ate it quickly, unable to see the tears in his cousin’s eyes.

“Big Mac…I…I…I-I…” Caramel stuttered, heart wanting to shout the words, body crying for him to say what he wanted to say but there was that deep seated fear preventing him. Again that hoof placed itself upon the younger stallion; its warmth spreading all throughout his body immediately, as if it were a common and trivial task for the limb to achieve. Caramel shivered and shuddered under that pressure and warmth. Almost unable to bear it.

“Come on Mel, let’s finish up.” The thick voice shook Caramel deep to the core, causing him to whimper and wipe away his tears. Nodding strongly Caramel got up and went to the apple wagon taking the bit in his mouth he turned the beastly contraption towards the farmhouse.

“I-I’ll take this b-back now…” he stuttered unable to meet eyes with Macintosh.

“Eeyup.” his cousin replied, the resonating beat of his feet colliding with the tree echoing out over the orchard.

XXXXXXX

“Stupid stupid stupid!” Caramel scolded himself, his words muffled by the bit in his mouth. His mind and heart were with the realization that was shaking the very foundation of his character.

He loved Big Macintosh.

Another stallion.

His Cousin.

And still he loved him.

He loved him…He was in love with him.

Dropping the bit from his mouth Caramel fell to his haunches his cheeks alight in the dim twilight. The words running in his mind had a soothing effect on him like he had never known. It was like a soothing massage placed directly over his heart…his thoughts cleared up too.

His first crush…

His first love.

Caramel sighed and pawed the ground with his hoof curious if his Cousin would be receptive…the thought scared him, but the love he felt was helping to stem the panic. He wanted Big Macintosh to love him too… but he was unsure that the powerful stallion would…especially since as far as Caramel was concerned his love interest was not a coltcuddler like he had discovered himself to being.

But he loved him.

That reassuring thought gave Caramel the strength to buck up and grab the bit in his mouth. He wanted to get back to Macintosh as quickly as possible…he wanted to be with the pony he loved. So he gave a mighty tug on the wagon full of barrels of apples and with all his might got it in the barn as quickly as possible.

XXXXXXXX

Big Macintosh bucked the apple tree for all his worth and was rewarded richly. The light of the sun had faded to a dangerously low level and he knew that there would only be time for one or two more trees before calling it a day. Large read ear flopped attentively; Caramel would be joining him soon. It was a comforting thought, he was glad that Caramel had been able to get at least one wagon in the barn today without any major problems. It took only a moment and another tree bucked before Caramel arrived at the scene.

“Mel, one more tree. Then bed.” He said in that deep strong voice nodding towards the thick apple tree he had been sleeping under just an hour or so before. The beige stallion mumbled something incoherent and nodded, a shadow over his face that cause a look of concern on Big Mac’s kind face. “Okay? Mel?”

A shaky, small voice replied beneath his breath. “Y-yes…”

Macintosh found it odd but nodded and went to get into position facing away from the tree. This tree had been planted generations ago and was the oldest, sturdiest tree in the whole orchard. It would take all of Big Mac’s strength and energy to force the tree to gift its glorious fruit for the family to use.

“H-hey… Macintosh…can I tell you something p-pretty serious…” Mel whispered to the Stallion who was tensing up his muscles, hind legs raising as he stored all of his energy for one tree shaking buck.

“Eeyup.”

“Macintosh… I think… I think I’m in love with you.”

Release. Big Macintosh released all that power in his body, mid turn and gasp towards his cousin. All of his body’s built up kinetic energy meeting no resistance and turning slightly in a way that allowed the stallion to feel the muscles on his side twist and tear. He gasped roughly in pain and collapsed to the ground bellow, a yelp escaping the stallion who had just confessed.

“Macintosh!? Oh Princesses, Macintosh are you ok!?” Caramel panicked hooves moving over Mac’s body making him yelp in pain. “Oh shit I’m sorry!” Caramel yelled, so much pain was Macintosh in was that he barely noticed this was the first time he had ever heard his cousin curse. “Macintosh be okay!” Caramel cried, fully cried; the tears burning down the dirt on his cheeks.

The beige pony had no idea what was going on he paced back and forth quickly, breaking down. His confession had hurt Macintosh, he had hurt Macintosh. His stomach was in the tightest knot he could ever imagine. Breath caught in his throat he stammered incoherently through the tears as Macintosh tried to get up, the pained and injured expression on the red stallion’s face breaking Caramel’s heart.

The break was complete and thorough, every ounce of the loving pony’s soul was being shattered by the pain he had caused the object of his love. Unable to make out the situation any more he found himself reverting to a flight response, taking off sobbing in the distance.

XXXXXXXX

“Wait, MEL!” Macintosh yelled at the dust cloud of crying pony. “Darnit!” the angry stallion groaned, angry with himself. Reaching a fore hoof forward he tried to force his muscles to his will but ended up only collapsing beneath the agony in his side. Tears dampening his cheeks at the pain in his side.

He could barely recall the confession, the surprise had taken him far to quickly and far too suddenly.

Groaning Macintosh attempted to force himself up one more time to chase after his crying, wounded cousin. Worried only for him right now. But his side gave way and he collapsed under his own weight.

Giving a hearty. “Eenope.” at his situation.

XXXXXXXX

It was a little under an hour of the red stallion laying down immobile in the first before Applejack came dashing through the orchard, right past her brother. The orange coated filly slid to a grinding halt and ran back to him quickly.

“Big Mac! What happened?” she gasped, panting. Putting her nuzzle under him to help him up; she jumped back quickly at the gasp of pain he made.

“Don’t wanna talk about it.” Macintosh said in his deep voice, fighting back as much of the pain as he could in front of his sister. She sighed and hoofed his noggin.

“Ah don’ know what ya’ll two dolts were doin’ her’ but Caramel ran by me in full on tears yellin’ about ya’ll being hurt or something’” Applejack said accusingly, angry that all she got in reply was a grumble. “Grrrr ya’ll lay right there, I’ma go ge’ Twilight and have her magic you to bed.” the filly said gruffly, turning and galloping off at full speed.

Macintosh laid there unable to move his eyes heavy. The pain in his side had resided to a small and annoying throbbing as long as he did nothing and stayed perfectly still. The usual reserved and slow thinking pony rested there his mind a flurry of activity about the crying stallion who had fled him…and the full weight that Caramel’s consciousness would have on his mind.

Winter Wrap Up with Caramel Drizzle

A Taste of Caramel
Chapter 2 : Winter Wrap Up with Caramel Drizzle.

Caramel had spent the following three weeks after the injury of Macintosh locked tight in his room, inconsolable. His sister, Toffee, had tried to come into his room only once over this time and was rather rudely slammed away.

Some days he would just lay there and think over that most ill fated day’s happenings. His gradual sinking into love for his cousin, the confession, the injury. Caramel would take and analyze each memory he had of the handsome stallion in his mind to confirm his feelings; to his disappointment the result was always the same. He was madly in love with Macintosh. It was all he could think about, every minute of everyday was Macintosh. Some of those days the beige pony would lean into his pillow and sob over his freshly broken heart. Caramel wasn’t the most emotionally stable pony there was before the incident, with his cutie mark of three blue horseshoes reflecting his talent for losing things and screwing up and the ridicule that comes with such a talent. Sadly it was that ridicule that had helped solidify the love in Caramel’s heart, much like the candy of his name, towards Macintosh whom had always watched over him with gentle and caring eyes.

But Caramel had hurt him and since then had been unable to face any other member of the Apple Family. After the first three weeks had passed the beige pony had unfortunately found himself dead center in the middle of winter, those three months of work free vacation were doing their best, mocking his crushed heart. Caramel begged to throw himself in his work, he wanted to buck something, hard; with all of his might. So much pent up frustration was coursing through his form with no way of release.

So Caramel had begun to run. His grandfather and sister didn’t know when he left the house, he was gone long before they were up… and they would only catch a glimpse of him coming back at night. They had no idea where he was going, and half the time neither did he. On some days, when there was that thick grey overcast which haunted Ponyville over the three long months of winter he would gallop through their orchard and run laps around the dead trees. The running allowed a methodical moment of non-thought for the emotionally stressed pony. Bittersweet.

Though he would run for hours and clear his minds of all thought there was no satisfaction in his actions…the satisfaction only came from those moments when his mind was filled with Macintosh…every other moment seemed dull as if it was a moment unlived.

Caramel would lay in his bed late at night, biting his pillow softly, his arms wrapped around it; bitter tears staining the white cover. At times he wished Macintosh would come for him, take him in his strong arms and make him his own… at others he wished he could go back in time and take back the confession to keep everything the way it was. Between living with unrequited love and living without Macintosh in his life Caramel felt sure he would have chosen the first.

On those nights when the cold moon would cast their snowy orchard in a pristine glow Caramel would find himself trapped in a restless sleep, Macintosh’s pained face haunting his nightmares, the rejection cutting him through. Toffee would never admit the things she had heard her brother moaning at night during these nightmares when she would sneak in and make sure he was ok. Some of it had made her cheeks turn redder then the hottest fire and others had made her want to cry deeply. She had never seen her brother so focused in all her life, he never was what one would call “focused”…but his love for Macintosh had changed that, she was sure right now with that stallion on his mind Caramel would have been able to buck the hours away without screwing up.

Toffee wasn’t sure how she felt with the situation though…her brother was in love, believe it or not she figured that may eventually happen. Given his complete and utter incompetence when dealing with women Toffee had always been ready to accept him as a coltcuddler, assuming that beyond his normal shyness, his clumsiness was something more. Big Macintosh, on the other hand was Family, a cousin (though she’d admit several times removed), but family none the less. It had confused her a lot the first night and it wasn’t until many other visits that she had fully come to understand her brother’s moaning.

He was in love with their cousin. He loved him.

Her first thought was repulsion…but Toffee considered Caramel, the shy pony who hesitated with everything he did out of fear of screwing up, being so passionate about something for the first time in his life. She considered the implications it would have if they did become a couple in the eyes of the elders. Sighing she reached a hoof out and stroked her brother’s sweat dampened mane as he called out for Macintosh in his sleep again. Toffee looked at her tossing brother and decided that, for better or worse, she would have a talk with Macintosh and find out what’s what. Before deciding whether she was okay with her brother’s obsession or not.

Resolve set she turned and silently left the room as her brother relaxed into a calmer sleep. Yes, she thought, tomorrow she would go visit Big Macintosh.

XXXXXXX

Macintosh lay in the barn, chewing on a piece of hay. He was in a bed of the stuff left over from the fall harvest, his eyes on nothing…staring off into space. The muscles in his side, thankfully, had fully recovered in due time just a week before. Now winter was here, however, and the stallion found himself with nothing to do but think.

The stallion found himself thinking all the time…Caramel’s confession weighed heavily on his mind.

Now, Big Mac was not one to toot his own horn but he had been liked and pursued by more then a handful of filly and mares in his time ( a colt or two as well, surprisingly) but they had always been one-sided crushes. The red stallion had always sat down his pursuer and told them straight out that he was not interested, he had a farm to run and was far too busy to play those kind of games. Then again none of them had ever confessed being in love with him.

This crucial part of the story had kept Macintosh up late into the nights. Nopony ever said they loved him, it was all just crushes and hints at dating, nothing like love… and the fact that he kept thinking about the situation made his stomach twist a little when he focused too hard. As stated he had always turned the ponies down and moved on, ignoring any additional pining, it was pushed out of sight and out of mind. But this was not anypony.

This was Caramel.

His sweet, soft spoken cousin who was so scared of causing trouble for others that he could barely stand to work out in the field. But he tried so hard anyway, a trait that Big Macintosh had always respected and held pride in. Groaning the red stallion rubbed his hooves against his eyes trying to push away those treacherous thoughts.

He loved Caramel, he loved Applebloom and Applejack, they were family. It was his duty to love them. But to be in love… that was something that stirred unusual feelings inside Mac. The large pony lay there staring up into the rafters of the barn lost in his head. Macintosh had never given another confession a second thought, so why now was he being so considerate towards Caramel’s? Having never really considered it before… Macintosh considered coltcuddling as a whole. It never really crossed his mind and he had always been indifferent to it and fillyfooling, ponies were free to live their life anyway they wanted as far as Macintosh reckoned and it was everypony else’s job to keep their nose in their own business where it belong.

But for him? And with his cousin… Macintosh would never admit it, to anypony but he had spent the majority of his time off injured looking at the Sweet Apple Acres family portrait, tracing the lines between him and Caramel. Second cousins, twice removed. A rather far connection, but blood was thicker then applesauce in their family and all the relatives remained fairly close.

Macintosh shook his head violently, what was he thinking? Caramel was family, and another stallion. Groaning the red tank of a pony rolled onto his stomach covering his face beneath his thick fore legs. Why was he so tied up in all of this? He should just go to Caramel and tell him how he felt.

It was at this moment that Macintosh was hit with a staggering realization which left him staring dumbfounded.

He really didn’t know how he felt on the matter.

Unlike any other pony and any other confession he didn’t have the urge to just turn them down and get back to work. There was the feeling, the need to considered it from all sides. It tightened his stomach and he could feel his cheeks burning with blood. Stop that! he ordered groaning the blush away as best he could. Why did he need to think about it, this was Caramel for heaven’s sake.

A pony not unlike his little brother.

No, a stallion like his little brother. Macintosh shook his head and buried his head at that thought. Groaning he tossed and closed his eyes only to find his thoughts flooded with the beige pony. Every moment together with Caramel was there. Macintosh could see him working so hard to fit in and contribute to their family in the corner of his eye time and time again…Had he always been watching Caramel like this? There was a moment of muscle memory, that warmth of Caramel’s silky mane under Mac’s hoof and it pushed a shiver down his spine and a sigh to escape his lips resonating deeply from his throat.

Maybe loving Caramel wasn’t so wrong.

XXXXXXX

“MACINTOSH!” Applejack bellowed out from the door of the main house making Toffee flinch, a smaller pony then AJ with a deep brown coat and a multilayered mane of brown and grey Toffee looked out of place to the country belle.

A grunt resonated from the barn and AJ sighed deeply. “I don’ know what’s gotten into that pony. It seems all he do’s is sit up in that there barn.” she said with a defeated look on her face. Toffee tried her best to not make eye contact, hoof dragging in the snow a little as she tried to hide the knowledge she had from her cousin’s eyes.

“Toffee’s here for you! You busy?” Applejack yelled to him a thick resonating response.

“Eenope.”

A pause and no sign of Big Mac could be seen.

“Well aren’t yall gonna come talk to ‘er!?” AJ yelled infuriated, slamming her hoof down.

“Eenope.”

“I’m powerful sorr’ Toffee, looks like you’ll just have to go see him urself.” AJ groaned walking back into the house giving Toffee a wave of her hoof for good luck.

Toffee was quiet till she was sure AJ was gone, thinking herself lucky. She wanted to be alone with Macintosh.

Finding him in the same pile of hay staring at the ceiling as he had been in the morning Macintosh paid little attention to her arrival, his eyes far off. Toffee gave him the ol’ once over, his strong red coated body; brilliant orange hair. The green apple half on his flank, the cutie mark he had earned many years ago. She understood how such a strong and dependable pony could entice her brother, enthral him.

“I assume you know why I’m here Cuz.” she said sitting down beside him, his brilliant wide eyes rolling her way for a long moment. Toffee shivered, it was a power of Macintosh’s; those eyes and that stare could see deep into the heart of anypony as he gradually calculated a response.

“Eeyup.” he nodded looking back to the ceiling his eyes fading, looking farther then the barrier would prevent.

Toffee gave him a minute to reply but no more words came, a moment more and still nothing but silence. Growling a little she stepped over her cousin pinning him down with her hooves pressed to his shoulders, knocking from his stupor.

“And what are you going to do about it?!” she growled quietly, if there was anything that set Toffee off more then someone hurting her older brother it was being straight out ignored.

Macintosh looked deeply into her eyes for a long moment, analyzing them; his mind thinking through its usual process.

“Don’t know.” he whispered in a uncharacteristically quiet voice for the deep throated stallion.

Toffee came very close to smacking her cousin at that moment for the first time in her life. It took all of her discipline as the heir to her family’s farm to not just punch him right in the face.

“That’s not good ‘nough.” she said in that deep, motherly tone she used whenever Caramel would tick her off. “You may have it all fun and free over here but I’m the one who has to listen to Caramel cry himself to sleep each night for hurtin’ your relationship and your body! Do you have any idea what you’re doing to him Macintosh!?” she growled yelling loudly in his face, eyes closed in her fury. She was shaking mad, could feel her blood pressure rising. Slowly she opened her candy coloured eyes and stared down taken aback by what she was seeing.

Macintosh was a Stallion among Stallion’s; stoic and strong in all hardships. The pony had always felt it his duty as the eventual heir to his farm and the man of the house. Toffee had never known him to get overly emotional over anything, or anypony. Macintosh was always the rock. The slow spoken savoir for his family would take any situation in his calm and strong matter.

So why then was he here pinned under her arms, shaking and crying like a new foal looking up at her with a pained expression on his face that nopony else had ever seen.

“Caramel’s…C-Caramel’s…” Big Mac stuttered, STUTTERED.

Toffee slid off him and turned, walking away she left the barn feeling terrible with herself. She had not taken into account Macintosh’s feelings in this whole ordeal. She had now seen a side of him nopony else had ever seen, a broken and feeble Macintosh and realized… he loved Caramel, even if he had not come to terms with it yet the confusion the big, quiet Stallion felt was eating him up inside as much as Caramel’s was his outside.

Toffee cried on her way home, not stopping for anypony who pulled over and asked if she was okay. Locking herself in her room she lay there feeling awful with herself.

XXXXXXXX

Macintosh lay there in the hay his eyes and cheeks soaked with his tears; hooves working furiously to brush them aside. Why was he crying? Why was he so upset with himself?

Why did the image of Caramel laying broken in bed, in tears over him; causing Macintosh so much pain?

It would not be until late in the night still in that same hay pile, crying till no more tears could run down the manly stallion’s cheek would the answer come to him.

He was in love with Caramel.

XXXXXXX

Winter Wrap up was upon the two stallions quicker then either could have planned. Macintosh had spent over two months thinking deeply, quietly to himself on the farm just what his feelings were. While Caramel had done all he could to drive them from his mind. Both ponies had excused themselves from every family function and holiday get together out of fear of bumping in to each other before they were ready.

Macintosh paced much through the night before they were all scheduled to get together and clean up winter to make way for spring. A long standing tradition in Ponyville; founded by earth ponies. Magic was a taboo topic this time of year and everypony chipped in the best they could without the arcane aid.

Not that Macintosh worried about that, no the Apple Family was one of Ponyville’s founding families and was very hard in the tradition. Another reason why the fact he had fallen in love with his cousin was worrying him…there was no way to predict what the elders would do in response.

Assuming Caramel would still have him… Macintosh had no word on the beige object of his (albeit subdued) passion had been since Toffee’s visit. He had decided that today would be the day, he would find some time alone with Mel and tell him how he really felt, from the bottom of his heart.

Scanning the list of jobs again for what must have been the hundredth time this night to ensure he hadn’t misread. Macintosh and Caramel were scheduled together, He would be ploughing the snow out of Mel’s way to the grass seeds for the re-plantation of the fields. It would be time alone…time together, Macintosh reached deep inside and found his resolve.

XXXXXXXX

Scanning the list of jobs again for what must have been the hundredth time this night to ensure he hadn’t misread. Caramel twitched and paced nervously in his rooms. His heart was pounding violently in his chest, crying for some release; he considered seriously calling in sick and having some other pony do the work. Especially having lost the seeds last year, the idea of having to spend the day with Macintosh…it was overwhelming.

One part of Mel wanted desperately to be near Macintosh, craved the red stallion like a heroine addict. The other wanted to stay as far away as possible, ashamed and scared of how the meeting would go down. He pawed at the floorboards in his room anxiously… trying to calm his beating heart with memories of Macintosh…the stallion’s rich apple smell; his strong hoof caressing Mel’s mane in a way he found all to pleasurable.

These memories solidified his soul and heart far better then anything else, both sides of the split relaxing as long as the red stallion was there. One thing was sure for Caramel above all others in his tumulus mind that night.

Tomorrow he would get his Macintosh fix, for better or worse.

XXXXXXXX

The two ponies met up coming along two different paths head on. Macintosh had never been more grateful for his magnificent red coat as he was in that moment as he gave Caramel a one over, he could feel the blood in his cheeks rising and just hoped his fur would hide it. Caramel on the other hand was flushed completely, turning his face away from Macintosh’s hiding his shame, his hooves buckling against each other absently as he waited for something to break the silence.

“’Morning…” Mac said, his deep voice shaking snow off the trees, sending a spark along Mel’s spine. That voice, had that voice always been so deep and earth shattering? Caramel wondered just how attuned to Big Mac he had become… that voice spoke to him on a level none other could.

Caramel mumbled something incoherent and turned away from Macintosh…unsure as to how to handle the situation, was the stallion just going to ignore the confession and carry on as if it had never happened…and was Caramel okay with that? He loved Mac, he wanted to be loved back desperately, falling in step behind the red mare; he found his eyes glued to the others body as he ploughed the thick snow away.

Caramel wouldn’t be happy with it being ignored…he knew that. This wasn’t a passing crush or him screwing up his feelings… This was a fiery passion that he had never felt before. The thought of ultimate rejection scared him to the core, he loved Macintosh, needed him… Caramel could hardly recall a time when those feelings were not prominent.

Still he plod on after his love in silence, eyes trained to his tight muscular body. At least until he noticed Macintosh looking back, in which case he would turn away violently; cheeks hot enough to melt the snow.

Little did the beige stallion know that the smile that played on Mac’s lips stemmed from those little glimpses of a near drooling awestruck Caramel. Macintosh felt happy to be with Mel, happy that he couldn’t keep hi eyes off of him… he had never needed that sort of reinforcement before, and even now he didn’t know how to handle it. But Big Mac felt the…want, the feeling of being wanted and it filled him with a warmth he had not known before.

Yes, he thought plodding away the bit heavy in his mouth; neck harness relinquishing as much of the strain as it could. He was very much in love with Caramel. It was a beautiful feeling that large stallion was unused to…he would have loved to focus on it more but the snow was thick and hard, the plough heavy on his back. Forcing all thoughts from his mind he pushed with all his might to clear the snow for Caramel.

Caramel plodded along in silence, whenever Macintosh would focus on ploughing the beige pony would focus on him…those muscles straining so hard to clear the way for him…He flushed violently.

Caramel understood that it wasn’t for him specifically, it was a job that Macintosh had been given for the day…but he wished it was for him, wanted it to be for him. Sighing quietly he kept pace with Big Mac, it was going slow but he would never complain. Every silent moment with Macintosh was one more perfect memory etched into his mind before, what he feared the most, would come to pass.

The next hours went by peacefully, it was a lot of ground to cover from the edge of the orchard to the shed where the grass was stored and Macintosh by the end of it was completely spent… His time injured and then the months of winter had broken the strong stallion’s routine of exercise and strict regime of work. Big Mac sighed and pushed open the door to the large shed, it was roughly half the size of the barn he had spent the majority of his winter in and was equally as cozy.

Ushering Caramel inside, whom was flushing furiously as he walked by to go in and grab the seed bag, Macintosh gave a long look that there was no one in sight. He wanted this moment to be just them…it needed to be.

Coast was clear.

Trotting inside after disconnecting himself from the plough Macintosh closed the door, blocking out the early afternoon light.

Caramel shivered for a moment and froze. They were alone in a rather dark room; his heart began to race. “Calm down clam down calm down” his mind demanded with great anxiety, Macintosh just wanted to get out of the cold for sure… Which is what Caramel though honestly. There was a deep sound in the room…panting? Macintosh must have been more tired then he had let on his breath coming in haggard gasps that sent shivers all over Caramel.

He could feel himself becoming aroused by the sound and hated himself for it. It was a deep throated pant of exhaustion but to Caramel it sounded lik so much more…so many fantasies would be so much clearer now and he found his cheeks glowing at the thought. Gripping the large bag of seeds in his mouth he began to turn, trying to tune out the panting.

Only to be stopped by a surprisingly heavy weight on his back.

Macintosh, eyes close din exhaustion had fallen forward onto Caramel a bit, making the beige pony scream within his mind trying as hard as he could to stem his heart before it began to shake the building. Mel swallowed hard, gripping the bag in his teeth to try and bite back his own panting and moans, his body coursing with electricity.

There was a light pressure, like lips pressed to flesh at the base of his neck which sent sparks flying…Another and another working its way up his neck making Caramel swoon, his legs buckling under the pleasure. The pressure reached his ear and he felt the hot breath of another pony tickling him.

It took all of Caramel’s might to keep the open seed bag in his mouth groaning through the pleasure. There was a deep sound, followed by a groan which escaped Caramel’s lips… It was words being spoken into his ear…the voice was the earth itself he was sure that had to be it; so deep and powerful was it.

“Caramel…I love you.”

Whimpering Caramel found the bag of seeds falling from his mouth, spilling down beneath the floor boards; not that he minded. A red hoof leaned up and turned his head to face Macintosh’s. On the verge of tears, cheeks flaring so red it put the other stallion’s coat to shame Caramel leaned into the hoof.

A pair of succulent red lips pressed against his own causing his body to groan in delight…

Pushing back, to his infinite gratitude he found the pressure of the lips fighting back. In that moment those two shared a moment that so few ponies in this world will ever get to know. Their first kiss with the one they loved the very most in the whole world.

It wasn’t a dream… Macintosh loved Caramel…And the rest of the world melted away.

XXXXXXXX

Over an hour passed with the two Stallions locked in their kiss, panting hard by the end of it; their faces pressed close together. Both were smiling like fools. Caramel leaned forward and rested against Macintosh’s chest listening to his heart beat and thud as deep as his earthly voice. A strong, but soft hoof caressing down his mane sending a shiver down Caramel’s spine. He smiled absently not wanting this moment to end…though he knew it must…and he knew that the two of them had to decide where to go next… given the situation there would be a lot of flak and a lot of hate from a lot of ponies…But that all melted away when Macintosh leaned down and kissed him again.

“Yes…” he thought silently. As long as Macintosh was with him it would all be okay.

“Hey…Mel…” Macintosh whispered in that throaty voice of his.

“Hmm?” Caramel inquired digging into his new coltfriend’s body taking pleasure in his warmth.

“Think we should go tell AJ ya’ll lost the seeds again.” He teased, making Caramel blush furiously.

“Oh yeah…that.”

A Bite of Bitter Sweet

A Taste of Caramel
Chapter 3 : A Bite of Bitter Sweet

Applebloom sat at the small kitchen table with her brother, Big Macintosh, her sister Appljack and Granny Smith. It had been a little over a week since the start of Spring and the end of Winter Wrap and all the members of the Apple family here on Sweet Apple Acres had been almost too busy preparing for another year of hard work to share a meal together. However this evening, with everything all caught up the four ponies found themselves sitting together enjoying some delicious apple pie that they had stored over the winter months; it still had a hint of frost which gave the crust an unusually delicious kick.

The little filly nommed away at her pie considering if coming up with a way to make more of these frozen pies could in some way help her get her cutie mark. Applebloom was becoming increasingly aware of fewer and fewer of her school mates with blank flanks like herself and she had a deep seated fear of being left behind because of it.

Her red eyes took in her siblings in turn. Macintosh was doing much better after the injury in the fall ( something the stubborn mule refused to tell her or Applejack how he had received) and was looking much better. He seemed to be smiling a lot more too since Winter Wrap up, making his little sister wonder if something good had happened to him. Applejack, much the same seemed to be more happy now that winter was gone…she had almost a glow about her. Silently pondering this while she played with her food the little filly asked herself if this change in mood could have something to do with how to get a cutie mark…

“So did ya’ll have a nice Winter’ Wrap’p.” Granny Smith said in her old, high pitched voice. The old mare, with her bad hip had a rough time this winter and Applebloom had spent a lot of her time helping her Granny get around and move.

Macintosh was mumbled a deep “Eeyup” when a memory flooded into Applebloom’s mind like a apple falling from a tree!

“OH! Something really weird happened during winter wrap up!” she said excitedly while all three turned to face her, their eyes on her; center stage. There was a pause, they were waiting for her to go on so the small girl took a deep breath. “Well I was coming back to the farm to get Granny’s Cane and I remembered that I had left her old line jacket in the barn! So I went down the path that was cleared to the barn and I heard some really weird noises!” she exclaimed happily, all in one breath. Macintosh’s minor choking in reaction lost on her, but not her Older Sister.

“It was really weird, I tried opening the door but the plough was in the way and it was far too heavy for me to move myself.” She said sadly at how she couldn’t move the heavy mechanism. “And there was those weird noises from inside! It sounded like someone was saying Big Macintosh’s name…” She said pausing to consider this as her brother choked on his pie, AJ giving him a rather sly look across the table.

“Applebloom, any chance ye know who dat voice was?” Applejack teased leaning her way.

“Ya, it kind of sounded like Cara--” Applebloom started to say before she found a wedge of able pushed into her mouth by Macintosh.

“You shouldn’t play with your food.” His deep baritone resonated throughout the room, more words in one setting then he had said in that room in months. Macintosh’s cheeks were flushed a deep red by the conversation, his eyes on AJ who had the most annoying look he had ever seen.

“Oh-hoho!” AJ chuckled winking at Macintosh, and action that made Applebloom rather confused. “Seems like someone was having more fun with the Winter Wrap up then the rest of us…” She teased brutally. Applebloom, forcing the food down her throat had a moment of epiphany.

“Ya Sis,” she started in her thick southern accent. “It sounded a lot like the sounds ah heard the last time ah went to fetch yall from Rar--” She was cut off again this time by Applejack’s booming voice.

“Ah my, look at the time! Time for little fillies to go to bed!” She said kindly, but with a deeply stern undertone. Applebloom sighed and was going to protest but a silent nod from her Big Brother. Groaning the little filly got up and left the room going to her bed.

Leaving behind two blushing siblings and a half asleep Granny who’s face was resting in her pie.

XXXXXXXXX

Applejack sat at the table long after Granny Smith had gone up to her bed, leaving just her and Big Macintosh in the dining room/ kitchenette part of Sweet Apple Acres. The orange coated filly watched her scarlet brother taking the plates from the table and put them into the sink carefully with his teeth. Wondering silently how often she had just gone to bed and not remember how much Big Mac did around the house when the rest were asleep.

AJ shook her head violently pushing those thoughts from her head, no not now. It was a little to late to start questioning her relationship with her brother…so much had changed recently.

Young Applejack had come to some revelations about herself that had shaken the foundation of her character and scared her deeply…to the core. The painfully honest pony pulled on her hat nervously with a hoof as she tried to word her concerns to Big Mac…out of all their extended family Big Mac was the calmest and most open to others… He never let his emotions cloud his judgement or prejudices, not like the usual cowpony…AJ herself felt guilty of it at times herself, but never Big Mac.

“Big Mac…can Ah ask ye somit?” She asked hoofs twiddling together on top of the table.

The big stallion paused for a moment, his tail gave a nervous twitch; a habit he developed whenever a voice breaks a nice silence.

“Eeyup.” he said giving his shoulders a roll and going back to the dishes.

AJ took another moment of preparation thinking of how she could word what she wanted to without giving away the truth or lying…She just had to know somepony in her family would be behind her if she…well….

“How do you feel about…you know?” She asked fiddling her hooves more, an act extremely unlike the often overly loud “Like say a colt likes another colt…” she started, deciding the best way to distance herself from the question was to start with the opposite sex; she didn’t notice the nervous twitch in his tail or the glass he dropped into the sink. “… or like two mare’s being together…?” she left the words hanging keeping her eyes on him now, trying not to look to needy.

Applejack expected a long pause, the usual deep thought response from Big Mac, and it did indeed take the Stallion the usual amount of time to respond as he put the last of the dishes into the other side of the sink to dry.

“Well…” His deep drawl started, “I think that one pony’s business is to that pony, and if somepony falls for anoth’r… be them colt or mare…then it’s up to that pony.” Big Mac said in his thick accent. “T’ain’t nopony who has a righ’ to interfere with that.” He moved past her, quickly; wanting to get to bed as soon as he could. Away from this conversation before HE let something slip.

Leaving AJ alone in the kitchen, happy at his words…She did notice he had probably said more words in that little speech then he had said to her in the past two months but in all honesty she had pushed that aside. There was atleast one pony in their house hold who would be behind her when the time was right.

She could always count on Big Macintosh on being there for her, whether she wanted it or not.

XXXXXXXXXX

Toffee had recovered well from her encounter with Big Macintosh, it had taken some time. A part of her still was haunted with the memory of how her older cousin had looked when he had been pinned beneath her. Giving her candy coloured mane a toss she shook those traitorous thoughts from her mind.

Buck a tree. She thought to herself, kicking out her strong hind quarters. Rewards falling all around her into the buckets she had placed. Bucking keeps the bad thoughts away. She confirmed to herself, becoming lost in the rhythm of the buck. Toffee fond herself entering into a near comatose state of: build, prepare, release. The bucking mantra that had been in the family for generations.

Still though, hints of her transgression haunted her, she had not been able to see Caramel… Would not allow herself to see Caramel. Toffee had stuck her muzzle in somewhere it did not belong and had possible damaged the situation far more then she may have helped. She had glimpsed her brother only once, when she had heard he was going to be with Macintosh during the Winter Wrap Up. He had looked nervous, scared and it had hurt her deeply that she was unable to confide in him.

She couldn’t tell him what she had heard when he tossed and turned at night…Though Toffee had noticed him doing that a lot less lately…hopefully he was growing out of his crush…the mare though, bucking another tree.

As if crashing through the forest like a rolling boulder there was a crack directly behind her making Toffee leap into the air. Turning she was face to flank with Caramel…

The situation took a moment to sink in, and it embarrassed Toffee to no end to admit that her initial reaction was
focused purely on the fact that Caramel’s presence had meant he had cleared his part of the orchard and had been helping her do hers without her knowing. Her cheeks flared a brilliant red as she looked away not willing to meet her brother’s face.

“Hey Toffee!” the clumsy Caramel said, in his voice was not depression or sadness…no it was, joy?

Looking up slowly she was able to glimpse her Brother’s smiling face before he turned and bucked another tree. There was no crash of the tree snapping in half, or a bundle of flailing limps as Caramel missed and went careening into a rock or any other catastrophe that Toffee had come to expect whenever her brother was nearby.

Only the resounding thunder of a solid hit and the rain of delicious apples.

“You don’t look okay Tof, maybe you should head in for the night.” He was talking to her. To Toffee. She pulled herself out of her small trance and stuttered some half-assed reply to him, confused.

Caramel shrugged at her reply and walked over the hill which she had imagined him being tossed over just moments before. He plopped himself down laying there in the setting sun. Toffee blinked hard watching her brother, his muscles seemed more tone; his walk no longer had (well as thick) of a nervous sway to it. His sweat dampened coat had a healthy sheen to it as he rested there breathing deeply, exhausted by his pace. Toffee trotted over to him and sat there keeping an eye on him now, suspicious.

There was a deep sigh, a content sigh from her brother’s throat.

Toffee recognized that sigh.

She blushed a little and chuckled slyly, figuring now would be a good time to let it out of the bag.

“So I guess you worked everything out with him…” she teased knowingly, enjoying her brothers flushed and flustered reply.

“ B-but w-what do-do you me-mean…” he stuttered deeply suddenly that clumsy little self again, the Brother she knew so well.

“Mmm fine don’t tell me… but when you do I’ll be there for you.” she said knowingly she nuzzled against her brother before turning in for the night walking away.

XXXXXXXX

Toffee was busying herself with the dishes while Caramel went up to bed early, he had deserved it after an almost flawless day of bucking. It was almost impossible to imagine he had overtaken her today… but it made her feel rather proud of her Brother. Grampa Jonagold was sitting still, the elderly Stallion watching his Grandson leave the room with curious eyes.

“Well somepony’s cheered up quite a bit…” Jonagold said, to himself more to Toffee though she dropped the plate in her mouth anyway. It crashed against the other dishes loudly, but harmlessly. “I wonder if he finally stallioned up and got himself a nice young filly-friend.” The elderly stallion said in a deeply pondering voice stroking his chin with his hoof as he watched the door from which his grandson had just left. “What do you think Toffee?” He asked, the one question she wished he wouldn’t.

Now Toffee’s never been one above extending the truth, almost to the point of a straight out lie… But she had never needed to lie or omit in regards to something so serious before. Swallowing deeply her eyes shifted to the door, hoping silently that Caramel would come in and interupt the conversation… Toffee wanted nothing more then to protect her brother till he was ready to bring his relationship to their family’s eyes… But this was something serious to lie about, much more serious then lying about how many apples Caramel sold, or saying a tree had fallen and that was how so many apples in their load had been bruised and ruined… Those were easy lies, something that really didn’t matter to Jonagold… he was content that she would go out of her way to make sure Caramel was happy. This was something so much more though…

Still… Toffee loved her brother and would protect him. Do anything to protect him.

She bit her lip for a moment, trying to make the pause seem sincere thought and not her panic. “I wouldn’t know, but he’s doing much better out in the field.” She said softly finishing the dishes, Toffee wanted to leave. Moving past Jonagold she put a hoof to the handle pulling on the door he interrupted her.

“Keep an eye on him for me? I don’ mind him playin’ around with some filly as long as it don’ hurt the family.” The elder’s voice was deep and caring, Toffee knew he meant nothing harmful about it.

Jonagold was from a different time, a different generation of pony… Toffee knew that but it did nothing to stem the panic in her heart. She said something non-committal but nodded to him anyway before walking through the door and closing it behind herself.

She found herself panting on the other side eyes closed trying to stem the racing of her heart.

Oh Caramel what have you gotten yourself into this time…?

XXXXXXXXX

Caramel leaned back against the hay stack being forced against it by Big Macintosh… It was the first time the two of them had been able to spend any time together since Winter Wrap Up. Beyond the occasional blush ridden nod…

They were locked in a deep kiss, passionate… Caramel had come over to help buck the first batch of apples as well as help fertilize the soil for the next batch since he had done so well the last few days at his own farm that they were ahead of schedule…

Honestly the time had just flown by for him…there was when he was with Macintosh and there were the times when he wasn’t…those moments always seemed to fade away into a blur though. Purely reflexive. Caramel’s body wanted to do the work as fast as he could, as right as he could to be back with Macintosh as he was now…

The brilliant red stallion reached up on his hind legs a little fore-hoof stroking down Caramel’s chocolate mane in a way that created a bestial growl within his throat that he never knew he could make. He wanted Macintosh, and the idea scared him a little… they really hadn’t done much more then they were doing now and the idea of more well… suffice to say Macintosh was a large Stallion and Caramel feared it would all be to scale…

All those fears went away when his back hit the back of the barn and a thick powerful tongue forced its way into his mouth…Swooning it was all he could do to keep standing.

They were both so deep into it that neither heard the tell-tale creaking of the barn door opening, and they wouldn’t have stopped at all if it wasn’t for the squeal and the crash that followed. The two stallions turning and breaking from each other to see a collapsed and shivering Granny Smith, her breath casting broken cones of fog into the air.

The elderly mare seemed to be badly shaken up and the fall had seemed to have hurt her rusty ol’ hip a lot more then either of the stallions could understand. They rushed apart from each other.

It felt almost as if time was moving in slow motion for Caramel as they moved to her side, Macintosh’s deep voice calling out to her as he lifted her up over one shoulder, the other side of her tossed over Caramel’s. Though the beige pony couldn’t make out a word of what he was saying.

Caramel was far to scared to hear much of anything…

Scared for Granny Smith, for Macintosh…for the Farm…and for them…

After all… they had been seen. It was not something they could hide any more.

A slice of Jonagold Pie

A Taste of Caramel

Chapter 4: A Slice of Jonagold Pie

Big Macintosh, Applejack and Applebloom all stood around the hospital bed at Ponyville Emergency looking down on a bed-ridden Granny Smith. Caramel paced outside of the room, watching Nurse Redheart working over the counter where the data on Granny Smith was compiled.

Frantic would be the most mildest of descriptions for Caramel’s current state of mind as he paced in a tight small circle. His heart hadn’t left his neck since the incident in the barn. First and foremost on his mind was the constant fear that something bad had happened to Granny Smith and that she may not be able to recover from it (she was an old pony). However, beyond that, was the constant nagging fear that they had been discovered; there would be no hiding their relationship now. A part of Caramel was shaking non-stop like a new foal at the fear of everything that was going on, and his fears did not dissipate when Toffee and Grandpa Jonagold came galloping into sight.

“We heard all about it from Twilight!” Toffee said coming to a clattering stop next to Caramel; her hoofs scraping against the marble floor viciously.

Jonagold however, ran right past his Grandson and got into the room as fast as possible. It was only a moment or two later when Big Macintosh and his siblings left the room to leave the two Elderly Ponies alone.

None of them wanted to meet eyes, and Applebloom was too young to fully understand what was going on. Applejack was busy looking at the ligthing, her hoof dragging along the marble floor absently, while Toffee had sat down in the waiting section and was flipping through a magazine that was up-side down. Leaving Big Macintosh and Caramel standing alone awkwardly in front of the door to Granny Smith’s room.

The tension in the air had achieved a level beyond palpable, it felt like it was ready to choke the very air from the room. They both felt terrible that Granny Smith had ended up in the hospital, they both felt guilty and shamed, and above that they felt the urge to be nearer to each other then ever before. And the swirling emotions were beginning to get too much for the two stallions standing silently in the hallway until Jonagold (followed by a tired looking Nurse Redheart) exited the near-by room.

Big Mac looked at his Great Uncle questioningly, not needing to voice any of his worries. Jonagold wouldn’t leave the poor stallion without an answer.

“Rest easy Macintosh, they say she’ll be fine.” Jonagold said in his weariest of old stallion voices. “They say that the shock wasn’t the big problem but the fall put out her bad hip.” Caramel winced as his Grandfather explained the injuries that Granny Smith had suffered due to his actions.

Caramel was not a pony built to hoofle guilt.

“She should be all healed up in time for the Zapapple harvest.” the old stallion said taking a look back into the room where his sister lay. “You two on the other hand may take a lot longer to recover when I’m done with you.” he said pointedly to Caramel and Macintosh; his eyes sharp, even with their golden hue faded.

Caramel looked down unable to meet his Grandfather’s eyes, terrified with what he may see in them. Anger, shame, disgrace... disappointment. Jonagold had always been the driving factor in Caramel’s life, without a father or mother of his own he had tried so hard to be the best he could and screwed up his hardest. Disappointing Jonagold always hurt Caramel the most, and he just couldn’t bring himself to look this time; keeping his eyes trained on Big Mac’s hooves.

Caramel released a whiny from his throat when his Grandfather’s hoof cuffed him behind the head and started to drag him out of the hospital. “You too Macintosh!” he bellowed back, Caramel just closed his eyes tighter hoping that it was all just a bad dream.

XXXXXXX

Caramel sat in the kitchen of his home, what he hoped would remain his farm when Jonagold was done with him, scared of being removed from the family. Big Macintosh was sitting opposite of his colt-friend keeping his eyes down, deep in thought. If there was something that any Apply pony knew it was that when Big Macintosh had that look on his face then leaving him alone was the best idea.

Jonagold was busying himself heating up some hot apple cider not looking at either of the stallion’s occupying his kitchen. Caramel swallowed hard watching his Grandfather’s back as he worked, listening to the occasional sigh of exhaustion, the sign of inner fatigue. “Caramel...Caramel... Caramel!” Jonagold sighed shaking his head with each word a hoof going up to rub the old earth pony’s forehead before bringing the drinks over on a platter wedged between his teeth; sitting down upon the head chair and looking out at the two Apple stallions. Jona sat there looking at the hot cider for a long moment before pushing two cups out to the Stallions with another deep sigh.

“You’re not going to make this easy on me are you, Mel?” he asked; a rhetorical question if Caramel ever heard one. If there was one thing that the young stallion had learned over the years was that his grandfather was a master of words. He was very much like a mayor or governor, some politician with pretty words and a kind message that could make you believe almost anything he wanted. Caramel thought it best not to answer and took a sip from his cider, wincing as the bitter drink bit at his throat. Jonagold sure brewed it rougher then any other cider Caramel had ever tasted before. The cider would speak volumes for the pony in question.

“It wasn’t something we planned...” Caramel whispered into the cup not looking to either Macintosh or his Grandfather. “Macintosh and I...” he tried to vocalize, to make words out of the confusion in his mind, but Caramel was not a speaker like his Grandfather.

“Hush, Mel.” Jonagold ordered, cutting the younger pony off immediately. Leaning back in his chair looking at the pair of them. “You two know the elders will need to be called in on this... my brother and sisters will not be happy.” Jona sighed thinking of their reactions, fearing it; a thick sense of deja vu haunting him at the moment. “I don’t know how they’ll take this Caramel...I really don’t.” he whispered into his cider more than to anypony in the room. Big Macintosh looked up at him for a long moment.

“The worst?” his resounding baritone echoed off the windows and shook the plates. Macintosh always had a way of cutting through the thick of things and getting right to what he wanted.

“They remove you both from the family and attempt to force you off the farms.” Jonagold said with a shrug. Still lost in the world of his cider.

The silence weighed heavily on their shoulders as much as a hard day of working in the sun; it felt like a physical enemy holding the three of them back, choking the life from their bodies. It was almost too much to bare for Caramel when he felt a weight press against his leg beneath the table. It was Macintosh’s hoof. Caramel could feel that all too familiar warmth spreading from his leg up over his body; it had a healing effect like none other. In that one moment Caramel had almost no fears, almost no worries. Macintosh would love him no matter what the elders said and no matter what the ultimate decision was. They had each other.

They always would. Jonagold gave an awkward cough and broke the beige stallion’s concentration; causing Caramel to wonder just how he must have looked in that one moment of relaxed nirvana.

“I’m going to go to bed.” the elderly stallion said with a defeated shake of his head and a sigh of exhaustion. “I suggest you two do the same... they’ll be here in a few days.” He moved from the table, pounding back the rest of his cider like a champ and placing the cup gently in the sink before walking out of the door way.

It was just as Caramel was about to suggest that he and Macintosh follow suit that his Grandfather’s voice cut out harshly. “Your own beds!”

Caramel was flushing furiously at the comment which caused Macintosh to release a deep chuckle, it always amused the big stallion how embarrassed his cousin could become. Macintosh moved slowly, the cider weighing him down slightly making him feel bloated. Passing Caramel he lifted his hoof and ran it gently through that familiar beige mane. The warming sensation was mutual, it spread through both of them through a connection that neither of them could explain.

It was in those moments of released love that brought so much peace to the two stallions whose lives were being tossed upside down.

XXXXXXX

Jonagold sat in the town square of Ponyville on a bench which was often used by the elderly to feed the pigeons and offer carrots to the local bunnies to persuade them from attacking the flowers and vegetables used in the shops. The old stallion looked like any other weathered apple family member to the mare’s and foals running by in the early morning bustle. They would nod there head, wave a hoof, or give a polite “Good Morning!” and go about their day. None of them really seeing the man sitting on the bench, the pain he was in, nor did they see the resolve he was building.

The tell-tale sound of her arrival echoed the streets long before Granny Smith came into sight; Jonagold wincing at the sounds her hingy hip was making with every move.

“Morning Maria...” Jonagold called to his sister; whom fresh from the hospital plopped down beside her older brother.

“Good Mornin’ Jona!” Granny Smith practically yelled, stretching out her words comically. Age had hit her hard, but Jonagold was a patient stallion.

“Feeling better sis?”

“Right as a bit of applesauce rain!” she crowed happily giving her limbs a rickety shake that was supposed to reflect sturdiness. It caused only further worry.

“And the boy?” he asked keeping an eye on Maria when she wasn’t focusing on him, it was one of the few things that talking about seemed to pull Maria out of her stupor; her family.

“Macintosh is a good boy Jona... he’ll get through this somehow.” she was suddenly very somber, this felt almost all too familiar to Maria and she was almost sure that it would be much worse on Jonagold. “And he’ll have Caramel either way... those two will make it. With or without the backing of the Apple Family.” she said with a stretch of her neck softly. “Feels similar though doesn’t it.” the nostalgia in her tone spoke wonders for the two parts of this conversation.

Jona looked at his sister for a full moment. “When did you notice?” he asked quietly, it wasn’t something he had ever talked about it in his long, and tiring life. Even now with his sister it hurt the old pony to the core to think of that past.

Maria smiled and looked at the birds in a nearby tree which dotted a small park in the center of the town, eyes lost on them. “Probably shortly before you did...”

“And the others?” he asked roughly, choking on his voice.

Granny Smith shook her old head slowly. “I don’t think they ever clued in.” she said with a defeated sigh. Looking to her brother first time fully since their conversation, there was a deep sadness in his once golden eyes. “We’ll cross that bridge tomorrow after the hearing... You’re going to tell them everything aren’t you Jona...?”

“Yes, Maria.” the old stallion said after what felt like an eternity of silence. “I’m going to tell them everything.”

XXXXXXXXX

Macintosh and Caramel stood in the Smith family barn at Sweet Apple Acres, having just met individually with the three elders who had arrived earlier: the eldest Akane Apple with his weathered old coat of red and a apple third resting on his flank; mane of flaxen gold turned to muddy blond, Sansa Apple an elderly mare with a coat of dulled mud and a hair of burning red who’s bitten apple reflected her talent as the best pie maker in the family, and lastly Maggy Bonum with her red speckled blond coat and a tarnished apple bearing a crown on her flank; the oldest of the Apple family siblings.

They both looked shaken up as the three elders sat behind the makeshift wall and podium that was thrown together for their visit. Incest was a serious offence within the apple family, they knew first hand the problems that could come of inbreeding and worse the loss of public appeal. The fact that Caramel and Big Mac were both stallions and could not produce offspring would not work in their favour at all, Colt-cuddling was not something that was too publicly accepted, especially in the more rural areas of Ponyville or Dodge.

Granny Smith and Jonagold stood by the barn doors keeping an eye on their two grandchildren, worried for them. Applejack was up on a stack of hay keeping an eye on them as well, nervous as to how this would go in regards to her own ultimate fate.

Caramel was absolutely beside himself as the hours ticked by waiting for the decision of the elders, he couldn’t stop himself from shaking and jumping at any little sound that happened to occur. Macintosh on the other hand sat in stoic quiet, though the ponies in the room were sure his mind was a tumulus mess.

It felt like time had decided to take leave for the “day” and leave the ponies to the agonizing pain of the wait. The air seemed to stop moving and the clouds hung static in the sky, casting the room in menacing shadows ( which caused Caramel to shake and shiver all the more). It was a dawning moment for all of them, this long silence, for it could determine if certain ponies would remain as members of the Apple family.

When the back of the barn opened Caramel practically jumped out of his skeleton. They came in one at a time and moved to the podium before the others gathered bellow. The sun had past its zenith by now and the sky was beginning to dim, casting all three of them in a natural shadow.

Akane cleared his throat and all the ears in the room perked up to listen to what the head elder had to say.

“Now we have discussed this over long... and hard.” he began; the voice touched by years beyond either Jonagold and Maria. “And the three of us have communally decided to have both Big Macintosh’s and Caramel’s names cut from the family tree, and removed immediately from their farms.”

Caramel fell onto his haunches and it looked for all his worth that his soul had completely left him, Macintosh was as unmoving as ever, the two grandparents seemed unsurprised by the answer and Applejack looked more than a little worried.

“A relationship between family members is strictly forbidden. Beyond that the two of you getting together blocks any chance of a direct heir bring born to the land you once held to your name. Sweet Apple Acres will fall to Applejack and Candy Apple Grove will fall to Toffee.” He said looking out at the two stallions. He opened his mouth again to give them a what could possibly be the sternest and most intense chewing out that old Akane had ever given in his life.

It was at that moment that Jonagold spoke up.

“If the primary factor of expelling Macintosh from the family tree is that he chose to mate with another Apple Family member then I object.

“On what grounds?” Sansa said leaning to get a better look at her younger brother.

“Caramel Apple is in no way related to the Apple Family.” He said, plain as day. In a tone of complete common place.

The still comatose Caramel turned his head towards his grandfather and his soft voice spoke a word benign to his own command. “What...?”

“My Son, Toffee’s Father, died just short of a year before Candy was impregnated with Caramel...” Jonagold said ignoring Caramel and staring right at Akane.

“And you never thought to mention this before?” the eldest sibling growled, his ancient voice on the edge of blind chagrin.

“I loved my Son.” Jonagold said with that fatherly tone of his which made anypony quiet down and listen up. “I lost him once, and I got him back. Then he was taken from me a second time. I swore I’d look after Candy and Toffee after Caramel passed away... But Candy took my son’s death hard, there was a long time when she was gone and I was alone with Toffee. She came back and she was pregnant and scared. The poor girl had been lost for so long, and I figured that my Son, MY BOY” he raised his voice, the elder-pony getting lost in his memories, “would want me to take care of his wife no matter what. I figured none of you would have paid enough attention to the dates to notice the inconsistency and I was right... And then Caramel was born... MY Caramel.” he said softly looking down.

“So all this time...” Caramel said, feeling completely lost; he had no idea who he was.

“All this time you’ve been my grandson!” Jonagold barked looking at Caramel. “Mel, I lost my son when he was young. He fell in love with a city girl and I refused to accept her as an Apple and removed him from my farm. Years later my little brother talked to me and showed me how wrong I was Mel... and I took my son and his wife into my life with open arms. It was hard, and short. He was taken from me shortly and then I was left with Candy and Toffee... then you! You were born Caramel...” Jonagold said his voice raising and falling almost wildly, Maria kept her eye on her older brother worried for his health. “You looked so much like my son! My Mel... I had felt like Celestia was giving me a second chance with my boy. I had you Caramel! And I loved you like my son, like I never did with my boy. You have been and always will be my boy Caramel.” Jonagold was staring at him with all his seriousness.

“Well even if this is so...” Sansa began dragging the focus back to the elder three. “ these two are still both Stallions and this relationship can not be tolerated. Even if we choose to keep Macintosh on the tree he will be unable to hold land within the Family and will need to vacate Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Now hold up one bucking-minute.” Jonagold said turning on his older siblings moving up towards the podium, making his sisters withdrawal a step. “I have a bone to pick with all of you and this issue of “Colt-Cuddling”.”

Akane took a deep swallow and stared down his younger brother. “Proceed then, Jona.”

“I had to sit by and watch my younger brother die alone and cold because of ponies like you. Ponies who’d judge and punish a pony like Macintosh and my Mel... and my little brother.” He was staring into their confused faces and felt a bit of his rage deflate. “Did you really never see it? How he would look at a handsome stallion the same way you and I would look at a handsome mare...? Akane, did you really never see him sigh when he saw the Stallions pairing up and making families when he was being left behind by his Family. The one group of people in this world that was supposed to look out for him, take care of him... and we enforced onto him a life of solidarity... I had to watch my brother live a life of silent pain out of fear of your reactions, and Celestia bless their souls, out parents. I loved my brother, and I loved him in everyway. It wouldn’t have bothered me for him to come out to the family but I knew, and he knew that none of you would be able to deal with it.”

There was a long pause between the Apple Family members until Sansa spoke softly. “Maria... did you know...?”

“Ahhhh I had my ideas, turns out they were right.”

There was silence between all the elders, it was then that, for the first time Maggy Bonum spoke. “You can’t expect us to be so accepting, we are still living in the old ways Jonagold... Even if we as a family agree to allow this relationship to continue we can not allow them to continue living on the farms and owning Apple Land.” her voice was one of the deepest baritones that anypony in the room had ever heard.

“Sweet Apple Acres is my farm, actually.” Granny Smith said moving forward. “And who I choose to live there is mine, no matter your verdict.”

“Same for my farm, taken from the family or not that is the land I settled myself.” Jonagold said. There was silence between them all as they looked into each other’s eyes. The challenge had been delivered and accepted.

“We’ll take the night and make our final decision.” Akane said stepping back first leaving the other Apple Family members to their own Machinations; the elders choosing to stay at a local bead and breakfast for their visit.

Caramel, for this entire time, had remained immobile staring at the spot where Jonagold had told him that his entire life was a lie. He felt in this time, this space that he was cut off completely, that not even Macintosh’s warm touch could pull him back. If he wasn’t an Apple pony then what was he... who was he....who would he become.

His soft voice broke the awkward silence with it’s gentle tones. “It’s all been a lie then...?”

A hoof was on his shoulder then and there was none of the comforting warmth that usually flowed into him. His eyes moved lazily to view the limb, it was a dull blond color instead of the usual brilliant red... Jonagold...

“Caramel, do you know why you have that cutie mark...” Jonagold asked him, his voice quiet and resonating. “You have that cutie-mark because my Son, Caramel had the same cutie mark and because.... because my younger brother... who took in my Son when I turned him away had that mark... his name was Caramel too did you know that? Caramel that mark has been passed down through three generations of apples, your real father be damned Caramel. You are an Apple pony, you always have been and always will be Mel... I promise.” Jonagold whispered as he wrapped a fore-hoof around his grandson’s neck, then another limb did.

It was Macintosh’s. From this limb flowed the almost magical warmth that always seemed to follow the quiet stallion wherever he went. His deep voice resonated with the words he must have been plotting to say all day.

“Caramel. I love you.”

Caramel for Desert.

A Taste of Caramel
Part 5- Caramel for Dessert.

(be warned this part will contain graphic adult content and the rating of this story HAS CHANGED)

Caramel was out of the barn faster than anypony there had ever seen the young stallion move. It had all been too overwhelming, he wasn’t a member of the Apple Family, nor was he related to anypony there; everything about his life and the way he had lived it up till this day had been an absolute lie. He was living the life of a stallion that was never born, a life that wasn’t his.

Caramel had, in all fairness, never known himself to run as fast as he was now; with his limbs being as numb as they felt he would later decide that it had been an impressive feat. Where he was running Caramel had no idea, he would know when got there; for now all the beige stallion wanted to focus on was getting as far away from that barn as he could, the trees of the orchard going past him in a violent blur of mahogany and emerald.

______________________________________

Macintosh took to chase after Caramel immediately when the withered, faded hoof of Jonagold stopped him.

“I think we need to give him a time to think.” The elderly pony with his coat of faded sandpaper said, his voice quivering with the exhaustion of his earlier speech. His bronze-gold eyes widening by the look of almost outright indignation on Macintosh’s face as he pulled his flank away from his Grand-Uncle. There was a rage in that red face that was untamed and bubbling up to the surface. “He needs time to sort this out on his own, nothing we can say will-``

“With all due respect, I think we’ve seen what happens when we don’t talk to ponies when they need it the most.” Macintosh said in his deep, powerful voice; more words than Jonagold had ever heard the silent stallion string together in one sentence. With that Macintosh was gone after Caramel, a bolt of red lightning cleaving through the orchard.

Sighing Jonagold rubbed his hoof over his mane with an exasperated look, he felt tired and old… more tired and far older than he had ever felt before. He felt himself falling back onto his haunches, kicking up some sand coloured dust from the barn floor which mingled with his coat seamlessly. The afternoon sun was fading to a dark yellow and cut its way through the gaps in the wood that made the Apple Family barn giving the entire room a sickening delicious gold tint.

“Did I do the right thing…?” the old pony asked looking to his sister, eyes heavy for some reason; he couldn’t remember a time when he had felt so tired… save one time long ago when he had turned his son away from his home for the life he had chosen to live… It felt the same but it was a different story now, this was a happy one…Jonagold thought looking to Granny Smith.

“Ah think you did.” Applejack said softly, but with deep consideration, as she always did when dealing with matters beyond her control. Jumping down from her shadowed spot on top of a hay pile she entered the filtering light of the setting sun. Her eyes were puffed up slightly, it had been an emotional day for everypony, and there was a bit of dirt along her orange coat blemishing on her cutiemark but a little dirt never bothered a pony like Applejack. “For bettah or worse Ah think you did the right thing Jonagold and they’ll see it too, they’re just powerfully sore.” She said with a flick of her tail she whipped away some of the dirt on her coat and turned to leave. “Ah have to go get Applebloom from Rarity’s and tell Toffee the news, you two make it home safe. Ah’ll get Toffee and we can have supper together.”

With that the mare was gone leaving the two old sods to themselves in the barn for a long silence of deep consideration that can only come in the moments of clarity gifted by age.

“I suppose…that Applejack is right.” Jonagold said giving his mane a shake, dust spreading from the action as he forced himself to his tired old legs. “Let’s go inside Maria.” He said giving her a nudge, her aged body hinging loudly as a result.

“I have a feeling it’s going to be a long road coming… isn’t it Jona?” Grannysmith asked as she leaned on her brother for support, just as much as he leaned back their weight pressed together in perfect balance.

“Aye, it will.” He said his voice deep with resolve, eyes forward to the sun hiding behind the mountain in the distance. “But we’ll take it side-by-side… like we always do little sis.” He said giving his younger sister a gentle nudge, making their way to the house.

_______________________________________________

Macintosh panted as he chased after the blur of brown which was cutting a path through the trees without care, never had he seen Caramel move so easily; the smaller pony always seemed so nervous of running into objects…

Breathless he tried to call out Caramel’s name but the resounding boom of his voice was lost in the crisp evening air. The sun was just teasing the distant mountain with its warm embrace, the wind picking up as night began to fall; somewhere the White and Black princesses began their ritual of setting the sun and raising the moon once again, unknowing of the lovers chasing after each other through the orchard. The tree’s green leaves turned the golden light down against the ponies sprinting through the trees covering them in amber reminiscent to prehistoric life; the moon’s white light began to pierce through the fading sunlight, amber turning to liquid marble.

Gasping Caramel collapsed, having been unaware of his pursuer having thought (much like Jonagold) that he would be left alone; now that he was no longer sprinting at full tilt with his blood and the wind howling in his ears he could make out the thunderous clop of Macintosh. Lucky for Caramel he had moved to the side and collapsed against a nearby tree for Big Mac barrelled through the path like a cannon tearing through the spot where Caramel had been just moments before; shattering the air and what Caramel believed to be the sound barrier.

Panting Caramel leaned against the thick tree his eyes half closed, noticing that Macintosh was panting as hard he opted to catch his breath; as did his blood red lover.

Panting the two stallions took almost five minutes to calm down; the adrenaline of the run mixed with the emotions of the meeting had their blood pounding in their ears and hearts throbbing in their throats. Slowly they laid down in the rich, green grass of spring as the sun sunk completely away and the world of Equestria was painted in the soft white glow of Luna’s moon.

“What was the meaning of that…?” Macintosh asked staring into Caramel as he calmed down, laying in the grass opposite of the beige stallion who was resting his head still catching his breath.

“I thought I’d need some time alone…” Caramel whispered turning his face fully against the tree, feeling his face flush in embarrassment at how he had acted. Yes, he was not a member of the Apple Family proper but he was still Caramel… now that he had a moment of silence he was able to fully comprehend that fact.

Maybe it had been the run, the violent pounding of his hooves against the earth, as if he was striking out at it with every ounce of his frustration and confusion that the earth pony now found himself completely, and utterly spent on an emotional level. It was an amazing euphoria he was in, without the fears and pains of his emotions which had been trampled into the ground with his run. For the first time since Jonagold had revealed the truth of himself to himself Caramel was able to think; his mind was not just a scrambled mess of remembering’s and lies he felt he didn’t deserve. It was like a knife in his heart however, clear though his mind was it was still a haunting realization that he wasn’t connected to the ponies that he had considered family, the ponies that had considered him family. It all seemed to matter very little, though it hurt all the same. Caramel could make out the words of the day, and know that he was still welcome on the farm, even if he could not inherent it (a horrifying thought that honestly was a relief off his shoulders)… there was something inside of him that was arguing, though weakly that, even if he had been living a lie all of his life the lie itself wasn’t that far away from the truth.

He was still the same pony, who did the same things, moved the same way and had the same feelings… Caramel was just no longer an Apple. It was this that, he would realize, that cut the deepest, he had a family; a loving community that had accepted him and all of his screw ups and now that community was gone. Yes, locally he was sure that his family, those who had been close to him would remain the same to him, and Toffee was indeed his sister (if only half a sister), but there was a sense of loss as a whole; like a ghost limb lingering long after it had been dismembered.

Warmth interrupted his thoughts just was he was beginning to self-reflect on the pony he was now and the pony he had always been; it was a kind of magical warmth that had flowed readily into him at the mere touch. Macintosh had pushed his head against Caramel’s exposed neck, his face still turned away; a strong hoof sliding down his back, shiver inducing.

“Eenope.” Macintosh said in a deep simple matter, knowing that Caramel didn’t need to be alone; even if the other stallion wanted that. He needed to be loved, and held… he needed Macintosh and nothing was gonna keep him away.

Caramel, coming to the same realization was flushing rather brilliantly and leaned away from the tree pushing himself against his red companion.

“You recognize this tree…?” Macintosh asked, leaning his face up from Caramel’s neck burrowing it in the other’s mane. There was an electric spike down Caramel’s spine and a soft swoon as he looked around trying to recall where he had seen such a large and powerful tree. Caramel released a sharp whiny, thick plume of steam erupting from his mouth in the cooling night air as he felt Macintosh biting along the back of his neck teasingly, what was it about the tree again? He was having a hard time focusing through Macintosh’s gentle and underdone actions; the softness of them only amplifying their effect on Caramel.

A flash of Macintosh bucking into nothing but air and injuring his side painfully striking at Caramel as the tree itself flashed a brilliant green in the dull moonlight, a gasp prevented immediate response for Macintosh had moved to gently chewing at his throat. Caramel had found out early on in their relationship how sensitive his neck was to the other’s nibbling and it was something that Big Mac rarely missed an opportunity to do. “This… this is the tree where you got hurt?” Caramel panted through the pleasure moving his hind leg up a bit to hide himself feeling exceptionally naked now as the warmth of Macintosh’s hoof stroked down along his spine to his flank; uttering a soft meep.

“Eenope…” Macintosh growled, at least it felt like a growl to Caramel, the deep baritone resonating in his throat making him swoon and lean into the other’s teasing teeth. Caramel shivered and quaked against Macintosh as the stallion began to kiss his way lover, over Caramel’s beige chest. This was the tree he was sure of it, though at the moment his thoughts were more focused on the tongue probing its way across his stomach; tightening his legs on impulse. It was an amazing medicine, Caramel could only feel Big Mac, every emotion going through the big stallion was transferred into his smaller counterpart by his thick broad tongue which had explored its way lower. Letting loose a whimper Caramel looked down to Macintosh, his cheeks burning hot with an intensity to match the blood red of Mac’s coat, tightening his legs was hiding very little given their positions. “This is the tree were ye said ye loved me.” Macintosh said planting another one of his teasing kisses right beside what Caramel had been trying to hide.

Caramel whimpered hard; breathe escaping in a rough gasp as he felt his lover’s mouth slide around his exposed, flared cock. His long brown, yellow spotted shaft disappearing slightly as it slid its way into Macintosh’s mouth; the hot force of Mac’s tongue sliding over the throbbing, solid member. Fighting the urge to wrap his hind legs around Macintosh’s neck and grip him tightly Caramel pushed his back against the thick, overbearing tree for support as the new feelings assaulted his system. He and Macintosh had, as Toffee had described it “made-out” a few times, but they had never crossed this line before; Caramel found himself questioning why he would ever wait for something that felt so good.

Twitching Caramel bit his lip violently as he felt Macintosh begin to bob slightly, the wet warmth of a flat tongue curled around his shaft. Strong hooves pressed against his legs pushing them aside allowing Macintosh more access to the throbbing member which was wrapped in his lips. The big stallion’s eyes were closed as he pushed his head down its length before pulling back slightly; coiled tongue dragging along the taut flesh, absorbing the taste.

Macintosh pushed his face further down taking Caramel in, feeling beneath the skin the subtle build-up of his lover’s juices preparing for release. Groanging a little making the hot penis in his mouth vibrate violently he gently brushed his teeth across the flesh, in a teasing manner; just like he would any other part of Caramel’s body. The reaction was quite rewarding as thick, hot semen began erupting into the back of his throat. Coughing on it a bit he pulled back, drinking what happened to land in his mouth the rest he allowed to fall to the grass bellow; moving up to his feet Macintosh looked down at his shivering lover. Caramel was flushed almost completely from head to toe and shivering in the throes of his orgasm, his eyes on Macintosh seeming lost in a kind of bliss induced trance. With a loving kiss and nudge Macintosh spoke, without words as he was wont to do, informed Caramel what to do next.

The beige stallion stood up and put his front against the tree standing up on his hind legs to make it easier; unable to not eye the thick black penis swinging between his lover’s legs. Shivering Caramel released a hissing breath of pleasure as he felt that flared penis push against his rectum and the gentle biting of Macintosh’s teeth on the back of his neck. There was a sharp groan as Macintosh moved into a full mounting position and forced his way into Caramel, his forehooves up against the tree far above his lover for support as he began his movements. Caramel latched onto the tree with his teeth to stifle his moaning as Macintosh began to move, feeling the hot member spreading him felt so foreign…there was a wetness to it that Caramel had not expected which was acting as a lubricant. Gasping for air Caramel let loose a primordial groan as Macintosh began to speed up in his bucking, the long member filling up his insides perfectly.

The massive red stallion gaining speed, his hooves falling down to Caramel’s hips to help increase his speed as he approached his climax; the tightness of his lover like nothing the farmcolt had ever experienced before.

Caramel let loose a swoon as he felt the buildup inside his lover’s cock, the prelude to release was swelling all too much inside the long black shaft which was wedged within his body. With a final thrust ( and a rather violent bite of Caramel’s ear) Macintosh began to relieve himself into his lover, the force of his orgasm almost viciously pushing his cock out of the other’s ass. White, thick jets of semen poured out over the tree and the grass in pools as he finished his orgasm his legs suddenly feeling as if he had bucked the entire orchard himself.

With heavy breaths the two lovers collapsed against one another sore and tired from the long day and their passionate love making, though both of their lives would be drastically changing from here on out there would be one thing that always remained the same.

They had each other.

_______________________________________

Caramel and Macintosh walked up to Sweet Apple Acres shortly after the three elders had left, meeting Jonagold, toffee and Granny Smith outside as they moved about their daily routines to do what they always did on the farm. Buck apples.

The trio looked at the two stallions as the stumbled out of the orchard with more than feigning interest, there were awkward stares and a gentle cough. Toffee quickly excused herself, there would be time for her later she decided and Macintosh gave her a nod, motioning for Toffee and his Grandmother to join him back in the field, feeling more than refreshed enough to buck some trees after the night he had just experienced. Leaving just Caramel and Jonagold alone.

Caramel looked to his ‘Grandfather’ and allowed his emotions to sort themselves out, he wasn’t angry any more… and after the night with Macintosh he certainly felt a lot less lost, but he was still a foreigner trapped within the Apple Family traditions and net now and he was unsure of how to handle being an outcast of something that had been so crucial to his development.

Jonagold spoke first. “You should probably take today off, head to the farm and clear your head.” He said awkwardly, the elderly stallion making sure his eyes landed anywhere that wasn’t Caramel.

Sighing Caramel gave his grandfather a withered smile, yes this man was his grandfather he decided. He saw no reason for that to change now. “I’m not angry…or hurt. Just a little lonely.” Caramel said, explaining his feelings bluntly for his grandfather to understand without misinterpretation. “Thank you, Grandfather… defending me like that took a lot of courage and I won’t forget it.”

There as a pause between them as they both considered the weight of their actions and what they were going to do now. Just as Jonagold was about to look at Caramel he found a beige arm wrapped around his shoulder pulling him. \

“Let’s go, we have apples to buck.” Caramel said sweetly pulling his grandfather along towards the journey that he was doomed to live. Hardship, strife, laughter and love hiding just beyond the bend.