Apples and Sweets

Chapters

Drink
Reaction
Sexuality
Rain
Strength (Explicit)
Nightmare
Skipping
Crossdressing
Depression

Drink

“Never?”

Big Macintosh blinked his large emerald eyes and stared down into the golden drink sitting in his mug. He swished it around and listened to the sounds of the bar and ponies talking loudly. He moved his eyes up to look at the tan stallion before him and rested his head on his hoof. The pony was looking at him with a curious expression, though a smile lay on his face when he took a sip of his drink.

He could hear the sound of a creaking floorboard, and the workhorse noticed Caramel squirming in place. Big Macintosh giggled, and his lover looked even more curious than before.

“Nope.” Big Macintosh shook his head.

“But you’ve been here with me before!” Caramel’s voice sounded like he was nearly about to whine. Big Macintosh could feel a smile tug on his lips and it only seemed to make Caramel’s annoyance grow. He grumbled and looked into his own drink before he took a large sip and gulped it down.

“Ah’m tellin’ ya,” The workhorse took a drink from his mug. The sweet taste of cider hit his tongue before he wiped his lips with the back of his hoof. “Ah ain’t ever been hungover. Ah always wake up at seven sharp and get ta workin’.” Big Macintosh nodded his head. “Ain’t never felt sick from gettin’ a little tipsy.”

“I don’t believe you…” Caramel grumbled under his breath. He looked like he wanted to be annoyed, but when Big Macintosh threw him a smile he hid one of his own quickly by taking a drink from his mug.

“Ah only drink when Ah’m with ya,” Big Macintosh reached out his hoof and tapped it against Caramel’s mug. When Caramel lowered it Mac tapped his nose. Caramel giggled, and Mac smiled back. “Ya ain’t nothin’ but a bad influence.”

“Y-Yeah, that’s me. Bad boy your parents warn you about.” Caramel was blushing at his own words. He rubbed where Big Macintosh’s hoof had tapped him and giggled again. “But come on, you get so weird when you drink. You’ve had to have gotten hungover.”

“Nope.”

“I’ve seen you drunk before…” Caramel mumbled under his breath. He looked out of their little booth and watched several mares and stallions drink and talk loudly in the dim light of the bar. “You’re always happy and less shy and… y’know…”

“Ah know?” Big Macintosh questioned.

“Grabby… I mean…” Caramel trailed off.

“Ya say Ah’m grabby when Ah’m not drunk.” Big Mac reminded the stallion. He tried his best not to let a smirk hit his face when he reached out his hoof from the cushion he sat on and brushed it against Caramel’s leg. He could feel his own face grow warm, and that was when he decided to gently push away the cider. “Ah don’t need ta get so drunk to get a hangover that I need ta grab ya.”

Caramel pushed away Mac’s hind leg and let his crystal blue eyes roll. He pushed back his mane with his hoof and continued to stare down into his drink. “I don’t know how stuff like that doesn’t embarrass you… Being grabby and all.”

Big Macintosh shrugged his shoulders at Caramel. He could see Caramel’s foreleg rub back and forth, and the workhorse could only assume that his boyfriend was rubbing the area he was touched in circles.

“That why ya ain’t sittin’ here with me, Sugarcube?” Big Macintosh tilted his head in question. He could see Caramel’s eyes widen and snap to his attention, and soon he began to violently shake his head.

“N-No, I like sitting near you. You’re warm and you let me lean on you and you smell nice most of the time,” Caramel babbled and gripped at his mug with both hooves. He took another drink and Mac could see his cheeks flush crimson. He wasn’t positive if it was fully out of embarrassment or if the cider was beginning to go to his head.

“Most of the time?”

“W-Wait, no, I mean…!” Caramel was beginning to look flustered. He was squirming in place again. He finally bit on his lip and began to ruffle his own mane. He gave up on his words and simply let out a quiet whimper.

“Sugar?” Big Macintosh frowned at his boyfriend, who was now frowning into his mug. “Ya alright?”

“You smell nice…” Caramel mumbled. His eyes looked out into the bar once more. “Most of the time really, even after you work…”

“Thank ya kindly.” Big Macintosh grinned again, though it was short lived when Caramel squirmed in place once more. The creaky floorboards seemed to draw even more attention to him. “But that ain’t what Ah meant.”

“I know,” Caramel shook his head and rubbed at his temple. “You just get grabby when you have a few drinks.”

“Ah do?” Big Macintosh raised his brow. “Ya don’t like that?”

“No I…” Caramel’s cheeks turned pink. Big Macintosh reached out his hoof and laid it over Caramel’s, earning a smile in return. “I… obviously like it when you grab me.” He squirmed again, but this time his face didn’t appear nervous.

“Oh really?” Big Macintosh asked. Caramel looked like he wanted to reply, but he shut his mouth for a few moments as if realizing he might just feel more embarrassed if he dwelled.

“You always kiss me a lot when we’re in town… it was really scary at first, you kissed me when you felt like it even if we were watched by a few dozen ponies,” Caramel chuckled and ruffled his own mane a bit. “You only get grabby in public if you drink some though… you touch my belly and legs a lot and I get nervous ponies might stare.”

Caramel tried to laugh, though Mac noticed his hoof was tapping down on the table.

“And… I’m glad you like me enough to want me like that, I am.” Caramel swallowed a lump in his throat. “But Mac, I just… I don’t like the way ponies look at us when you’re like that… and I really like you being like that, so I get scared that they’re right.”

“Look at us like what?” Big Macintosh frowned.

“Like we’re some dirty couple… or that I’m just your…” Caramel couldn’t finish that last part. He did however hug his legs around his body briefly and look out into the bar. “Sorry, I’m being dumb.”

“No ya aren’t, Sugar,” Big Macintosh said quickly. Caramel gave him a weak smile. The way his eyes look made Big Mac suddenly feel cold. “Now yer the one actin’ silly because of a drink.”

“I like it when you drink though,” Caramel admitted. “Not too much though, just enough where you loosen up some… You flirt sometimes and it makes me feel…”

Big Macintosh raised both eyebrows and leaned into his seat.

“Y-Yeah,” Caramel chuckled. He went to take a sip of his cider and his eyes widened when he realized it was empty. The tan stallion shook his head and rubbed his forehead. “Sorry Mac, I’m being silly.”

“Ya really aren’t, Sugar.” Big Macintosh reached out his hoof and grabbed Caramel’s. “Ah’ll try not ta get grabby over a drink or two, just gotta let me know if ya feel uncomfortable.”

“T-Thank you, Mac.” Caramel smiled at his boyfriend.

Big Macintosh grinned back, though he could feel his expression turn to stone when he saw a yellow mare with a red mane approach the two.

“You two cuties done with these?” A mare in a green apron walked up that caused Caramel to jump. She had walked up from behind him and settled a hoof on his shoulder. He nodded his head quickly but looked like he couldn’t open his mouth to get answers out. His cheeks were still crimson after Mac’s words.

The mare smiled at the two of them and picked up both of the mugs with her hooves and put them on a tray. She set down a piece of paper on the table that Big Macintosh glanced at before he began ruffling through a bag of bits.

“Ya like me being grabby if nopony can see?” Big Macintosh asked. Caramel seemed to stop breathing for just a moment, and Big Mac could swear his heart skipped a beat at the way his face flushed. He couldn’t answer in anything more than a nod and eyes that darted away. “We can just leave if I start gettin’ too grabby Ah reckon.”

“I guess, I don’t mind that. I like it when you get like that, I mean. S-Sometimes I want more, just not in public.” Caramel’s eyes moved up to stare in Big Macintosh’s own. There was a short Silence, and Caramel blinked three times before his eyes widened. “O-Oh you mean now?”

The workhorse took out four bits and laid them on the table with a slap of his hoof. “I reckon we don’t gotta go very far where ponies can’t see us.”

“W-What’s wrong with going home?” Caramel asked. He was holding a hoof over his chest over his heart and squeezing gently.

“The cider’s startin’ ta tell me yer mighty cute t’night.” Big Macintosh got up from his seat and leaned over the table. He grabbed Caramel’s hoof again and pulled on it.

“I’m not letting you fuck me in an alley…” Caramel mumbled under his breath. His eyes looked into the crowd. “A-And I’m not doing you in one either. It was your turn last night, anyway.”

“Apple fields are closer than home.” Big Macintosh couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw Caramel smile. He slowly nodded his head and let Big Macintosh pull him up from his seat. The shorter stallion sighed, but it soon turned into another giggle when Mac kissed his warm cheek.

“You’re impatient, you know that?” Caramel was pulled along a few steps by Mac’s tug.

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh nodded his head.

Reaction

Big Macintosh kept his face solid as a stone. Admittedly this was more difficult than usual at this specific point in time, for while his face showed no emotion his breathing was indeed heavier than normal. He closed his eyes to avoid any sign of his feelings being shown to the stallion in front of him.

The workhorse tried to think how exactly he had ended up in a situation where he tried so desperately not to show emotion. They were kissing just moments ago, and then Caramel had suddenly started kissing his neck and running his hooves all over his chest. He didn’t think he would have nearly this much of a reaction, or lack there of. Caramel was squirming on his lap, and all that did was cause a new sensation to travel through his body.

A pair of lips pressed themselves to the underside of his neck, causing his body to wiggle as well as his own lips. When a tongue began to lick at the area the bed creaked from how much Big Macintosh squirmed.

“Nghnn…” Big Macintosh let one sound escape his lips. His face was burning after that, a flush covering up his freckles. Caramel was all but laying on his chest and running both hooves up and down his burly chest. While Big Macintosh could control the muscles in his face, it was nearly impossible to control his pounding heart that he knew Caramel felt.

He had begun to hold his breath when teeth nibbled on a particularly sensitive part of his neck. Big Mac grinded his teeth and let his hooves grip at the green covers on his particularly loud bed. Eventually he had lifted his own hooves without much warning and put them on Caramel’s sides.

“T-That’s enough!” Big Macintosh hadn’t meant to snap it, but it still came out. He pushed Caramel away and held him at a foreleg’s reach. He didn’t want to look in Caramel’s eyes, but he could tell the stallion’s face was growing pink. Caramel opened his mouth several times, but it was like he couldn’t find the right words.

“Y-You didn’t like it, did you?” Caramel’s voice was quiet, almost apologetic. He lifted his hooves to put them on Big Mac, but soon lowered them to grab his own arm. “I’m sorry, I should have stopped when I…”

Caramel trailed off. He looked down between the two with a look of defeat on his face. Big Macintosh felt his heart sink, and nearly hit himself upside the head for snapping at his lover.

“It’s okay, Sugarcube,” Big Macintosh reassured his partner. He pressed his hoof under Caramel’s chin, thankful that the other didn’t seem like he was about to cry. “It just felt weird, that’s all.”

“I just thought you would like it,” Caramel shrugged his shoulders. The tan stallion swallowed hard and hesitantly let his body fall on Mac’s chest. “Sometimes when we kiss for a while you start kissing other places, a-and I really like it. I should have asked, I’m sorry.”

“Stop aplogizin’, Sugar,” Big Macintosh let his voice be firm. He kissed Caramel’s nose and heard him giggle. That at least brought a smile onto both of their faces. “Ah didn’t say it was awful.”

“But you didn’t like it,” Caramel shook his head. “You were really quiet… when we kiss you normally smile and chuckle and just act happy.”

“Ah…” Big Macintosh trailed off. He lifted a hoof to scratch at his cheek and felt it was still warm. Caramel seemed to notice this as well, for his eyebrow lifted in question. “It… tickled…”

That last word was so quiet even Mac wasn’t positive what he had said.

“Uh… what?” Caramel seemed even more confused.

“It tickled.” Big Macintosh got the words out quickly, but he could still see Caramel’s smile grow.

“You’re ticklish?” Caramel asked. Big Macintosh felt his heart pound loudly at just how excited his boyfriend sounded at the idea of that. Caramel sat up with a grin on his face and put his hooves on Mac’s shoulders. “Y-You never told me.”

“Ah didn’t think Ah had ta,” Big Macintosh shrugged his shoulders. He could see Caramel roll his eyes. “Ain’t everypony?”

“You tickle me all the time,” Caramel’s cheeks were beginning to turn pink again. “I thought you wouldn’t be… most of your skin is rough and you’re strong and big and… w-wait, you weren’t laughing…”

“What?”

“When I… kissed your neck…” Caramel mumbled.

“Ah uh,” Big Macintosh scratched behind his head. “Ah bit my tongue.”

“Mac,” Caramel giggled, though his lips soon turned to a frown. Big Macintosh frowned back, aware that worry was indeed crossing over his face. “Can you not… y-y’know, hide how you feel?” Caramel’s hooves rested on Mac’s sides. “I get nervous if I don’t know if you like things I do… I-If you like something, can you tell me?”

Big Macintosh nodded his head. He could feel his face grow warm once more, though he agreed to Caramel. The thought of squirming and giggling at Caramel’s will wasn’t exactly a thought that settled down his beating heart. “Ah won’t try an hide it.”

“Promise?” Caramel asked.

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh nodded his head, though he did notice Caramel’s smile looked different from before… almost devilish.

“So you’re really ticklish?” Caramel asked.

“Ah uh… Eeyup.” Big Macintosh kept looking at Caramel’s smile.

“Can I see?” Caramel asked. Mac frowned at just how excited he sounded.

“Uh,” Big Macintosh looked down. He tried to think of the last time he had been properly tickled, yet he couldn’t remember. “S-Sure just… just don’t go too fas-”

Big Macintosh wasn’t prepared for the hooves that dug into his belly. His cheeks puffed out in a way that must have looked rather silly when Caramel’s hooves ran up and down his belly in quick strokes.

“Pffff, BahahaHAHA!” The workhorse didn’t think he would laugh so fast at that, but Caramel’s hooves were pressing down hard enough to work past his thick skin.

“Oh, so you are ticklish!” Caramel’s laugh reminded Big Macintosh of something from a novel about a villain. He didn’t expect Caramel to push him to his side, but before he knew it he was on his back on the loud creaking bed. The more he squirmed the more Caramel seemed to want to make him suffer. He tried to kick his back legs but it was useless, Caramel was sitting on them.

“Sh-Sh-Sugarcuhahaha!” Big Mac laughed and Caramel’s giggling only taunted him. Eventually he lifted up both his forelegs and grabbed Caramel with strength he wouldn’t normally use. He rolled over quickly and pinned Caramel underneath him.

“M-Mac?” Caramel must have needed a moment to adjust to just how quick Mac had turned the tables, because his smile didn’t fade for a few moments. Mac was pinning him down by his forelegs and sitting above him with a pant in his breath. His own face was red from just how loud he had been, how much he squirmed.

“Ya don’t think things through, Caramel.” Big Macintosh tried harder than he had in his life to show no emotion on his face. He could see Caramel’s eyes widen, and Mac simply put both his hooves on Caramel’s belly. He didn’t do more than wiggle them in place before Caramel’s reaction made it clear he was indeed going to suffer.

“M-Mac, I just wanted to see if you were ticklish,” Caramel giggled. His eyes darted down to his belly. He tried to push on Mac’s hooves, but it was clear his boyfriend wasn’t going to budge. “C-Can I just kiss your neck again? Or you can kiss mine!”

“Since we’re doin’ inspections, better check ta make sure yer still ticklish too.” Big Macintosh let a smile hit his face. He lowered his body and let his lips press down on Caramel’s belly. He gave it a brief lick, and Caramel nearly whimpered as well as giggled when Mac gave the first stroke of his hooves.

The first laugh was the sweetest to Mac’s ears, but that’s not to say that the next three minutes were anything but pleasant.

Sexuality

“M-Mac, c’mon!” Caramel’s voice was nearly a whine when he hurriedly picked up his pace to trot at Mac’s side. He looked around at the ponies walking through Ponyville and could feel himself swallow a lump in his throat. “I don’t need it, really!”

“But ya want this,” Big Macintosh told the other. It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Caramel attempted to open his mouth and disagree with his boyfriend, but the words wouldn’t seem to come. He looked down at his hooves and he trotted through the grassy pathway.

“But it’s just a sweater.” Caramel bumped up against Big Macintosh in an attempt to get his attention. His eyes looked to the shops they passed, seeing food and quills and five buildings down he saw carousel boutique. “It’s too expensive…”

“I told ya, farm’s gotten more money this year so AJ’s given us all a bit of extra share.” Big Macintosh slow down in his walk and grabbed Caramel’s hoof. “Ya want this.”

“It costs thirty bits…” Caramel felt his ears flatten against his head when he looked to his side. He watched ponies pass, some in groups and some alone, but they all seemed disconnected from the two. “You could buy yourself something really nice with that, I have plenty of sweaters and scarfs and things to keep warm.”

“Ya stare at it every time we pass here, Sugar,” Big Macintosh laid his hoof on Caramel’s head. The emerald eyes of the other stared into Caramel’s own blue, and before he had the chance to blink Mac’s lips pressed down to his own. Caramel felt a wave of cool sensation run over his body, and he couldn’t help but smile when Mac help his lips there.

“But…” Caramel tried to speak when he pulled away, however Mac lifted his hoof and pressed it down on Caramel’s lips. He gave his nose a quick kiss before he shook his head.

“Yer at least gonna try it on.” Big Macintosh said. Caramel looked back to the crowd, and frowned when he saw a few ponies staring at the two of them.

Mac’s smile was reassuring, though Caramel still felt his heart sink when Mac continued walking. The tan stallion trotted to catch up and bumped up against Big Mac’s backside when they had reached their destination. Big Macintosh lifted his hoof to knock on the door, and took in a deep breath while he waited.

“Mac, are you sure there isn’t something you want to get for yourself?” Caramel asked one last time.

“Nope.” Big Macintosh shook his head.

The door opened quite quickly and the two stallions were greeted by wide, sparkling eyes that belonged to Rarity the unicorn.

“Oh, why hello darlings!” She spoke in a delighted tone, the smile on her face polite yet genuine. “I haven’t seen either of you in quite some time… though I’m quite sure I’m in no need of repair of anything…”

Rarity paused and put her hoof to her mouth in thought.

“We’re actually here fer a lil’ shoppin’.” Big Macintosh’s face was lacking most of the emotion he had just a few moments ago.

“Oh, my, that is an excellent bit of news I must say!” Rarity’s voice was louder than before. “I’ve told Applejack a hundred times I would love to give you a bit of a touch up! You have such a lovely coat and mane, it’s a shame there’s always that icky mud in it!”

Caramel’s head felt like it was beginning to spin at just how much Rarity was rambling on.

“Actually, Miss Rarity,” Big Macintosh lifted his hoof. “We just want ta see a sweater, an’ it’s fer Caramel here.”

“Oh!” Rarity’s attention turned to Caramel. “That’s good news as well. Why don’t you two...” Rarity paused and looked down to their hooves. “You came from the farm? Oh I’m being silly, of course you did, just, hold on.”

Rarity’s horn began to glow a light blue color, and Caramel heard a slap against the floor. He looked down to see a welcome mat placed before them.

“Do wipe your hooves, sweetie, I just had the place cleaned.” Rarity stepped aside and let Big Macintosh come in first. The large workhorse wiped down his hooves before Caramel followed.

Caramel’s eyes were greeted with lavender and magenta with few colors in between decorating the walls to the floors. It occurred to him that he had never actually stepped inside of the shop before, only looked in from the windows. It was much smaller than he had imagined it to be. He was so focused on looking at the diamond patterned ceiling that he bumped into the solid mass that was Big Macintosh.

“Now, normally darling I work on designing outfits. It’s not usual that you can just walk in like this and pick up anything,” Rarity lifted her hoof when she spoke and trotted around the room. “But, if we’re both thinking of the same adorable sweater that I made, then I’m positive it’s still in the shop.”

Caramel could feel Big Macintosh’s body wander off somewhere behind him, though he kept his eyes focused on Rarity.

“It’s a… A green sweater,” Caramel tried to remember the details. “Dark green. The top opened up but there was some string and a button to tie it shut.”

“I know exactly what you are looking for!” Rarity clapped her hooves together. “I made it in my spare time, I might have to make a few adjustments for your size, but nothing major.”

Caramel frowned and looked down at his own body.

“I’ll go see if I can find it. Wait here and feel free to browse!” Rarity trotted off quickly with a spring in her step.

When the door to the back room shut, Caramel could hear the sound of a chuckle. He raised his brow and turned to see Big Macintosh rifling through a rainbow of dresses. Caramel trotted over to him and saw the rack Mac was looking through. Nearly every dress had some kind of gemstone or ribbon on it.

“What’s so funny?” Caramel asked.

“Applejack said she’d rather die than put on these dresses one time,” Big Macintosh chuckled again. He pulled on a bright orange dress with blue gems scattered down the sides. "Place is pretty froo froo."

“They’re pretty, though,” Caramel smiled and looked at a pink dress.

“Ah dated a mare once who bought a dress from here,” Big Macintosh smiled and looked to Caramel. “She wore it on the first date. We went fer a walk through the farm, an she got it all muddy. Ah offered ta carry her but she wasn’t gonna have any of it.”

“What did she say to stop you from carrying her that I haven’t?” Caramel giggled at the thought.

“Yer easy ta convince,” Big Macintosh spoke with a shrug.

“She must have liked you a lot if she wore a dress,” Caramel moved his hooves through several of the dresses. “Was she pretty?”

Big Macintosh was silent for a few moments, as if he had to think on that. He put his hoof to his lips and stared down at the lavender floor.

“Well?”

“Ah can’t remember.”

“You can’t?” Caramel tried not to laugh at that, but failed. Big Macintosh simply shrugged his shoulders again. “How many girlfriends do you even remember the names too?”

“Ah remember a… a few..” Big Macintosh’s freckles started to blend into his fur. “Ah only remember the ones Ah liked.”

Caramel smiled, but it soon faded when he looked down at his body. He thought about Mac’s words a moment, and could feel his belly tingle when he thought more about it. “Do… do you like me?”

“Course Ah do, Sugar,” Big Macintosh chuckled as if the question was funny. He ruffled Caramel’s mane with his hoof. He kissed Caramel’s cheek, and Caramel could feel it start to redden.

“I’m your first boyfriend, aren’t I?” Caramel looked in Big Macintosh’s eyes for a brief moment before he darted his sight away. “I mean… I know I am, you told me. But… when did you learn you liked stallions?”

“Ah didn’t.”

Caramel blinked his eyes. He let himself process Mac’s answer for a few moments while he continued looking through the dresses. It only occurred to him that Mac had said something strange when a few moments had passed.

“Wait, what?” Caramel turned and looked to Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh blinked his emerald eyes, but his face remained emotionless.

“Ah like what Ah like,” Big Macintosh shrugged yet again. “Ah didn’t think stallions were an option till Ah started talkin’ ta ya. Just never occured ta me.”

“You never… I dunno, looked at stallions and thought about them for a while?” Caramel’s cheeks felt warm when he touched them. He shook his head and held back a groan of irritation.

“I look at ya a lot,” Big Macintosh smiled.

“Yeah, but… you don’t look at other stallions?” Caramel asked. Big Macintosh shook his head, and Caramel’s face felt even warmer.

“Ah don’t really look at ponies like ya do,” Big Macintosh answered Caramel. “Lot of mares asked me out on dinner dates an’ Ah just went ta be polite… only really felt attracted ta any after I got ta know them. Same fer you.”

“What do you mean the same?” Caramel put his hoof on Mac’s own.

“Just…” Big Macintosh sat down and swished his tail as he thought about how to word it. He stayed silent for a good ten seconds before he answered. “When Ah started talkin’ ta ya Ah didn’t think much of how ya looked. The more Ah got ta know ya the more I kept stealin’ glances an’ wantin’ ta touch ya. Ya looked cuter than any stallion Ah’d ever seen before… Ah didn’t have any clue if Ah would even like what ya whipped out first time we were in bed.”

“Shhhh!” Caramel put a hoof over Big Mac’s lips. Big Macintosh chuckled and Caramel only felt his heart pound. It took a few seconds, but Caramel lowered his hooves and sat down in front of his boyfriend. “I mean… Is that why you only started being so grabby after you started dating me?”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh answered. “Ain’t ever had my hooves all over a pony unless Ah know em real good. Ain’t that attractive if Ah don’t love em. Ah’d like ya if ya were a mare or a stallion or… Griffon or Dragon Ah guess.”

Caramel smiled and looked down to his hooves. He giggled and felt Mac kiss his ear. “I love you too.” He said in a quiet tone.

“Oh look what I found!” The two stallions both jumped when Rarity came trotting back into the room. She was holding up the green sweater with magic and twirling it around. Caramel quickly got to his hooves and smiled at the sight of it before she walked over to him. “Oh you simply must try it on! You’ll look gorgeous!”

“Alright,” Caramel said with a laugh when Rarity handed him the sweater. He wiggled and squirmed his body to get it over his head and over his body. It was snug, but not too tight. It fit his body like a glove.

“Oh, you look absolutely breathtaking!” Rarity nearly squealed. Big Macintosh walked up beside Caramel and ran a hoof down his side. “Doesn’t he look great, Big Macintosh?”

“He did before.” Big Macintosh replied. Caramel looked away, but he had a feeling Mac was smiling at him.

“Oh, now that you’re here I’m not letting this opportunity pass away!” Rarity spoke in a headstrong tone. “Come over here Big Macintosh, I have a few outfits I’d like you to try on. I’ll even throw in a five bit discount off of that sweater if you let me!”

“Excuse me?” Big Macintosh’s eyes broke their usual expressionless sight and turned ot one of worry. “T-That’s fine Rarity, we only really wanted the sweate-”

“Nonsense!” Rarity grabbed at Mac’s hoof with her magic. “I want to make you shine! I’m sure Caramel will just melt when he sees what I have in store for you! If you hate it you can roll in mud or whatever you do in the farm once you get out of my clothes.’

“C-C’mon Mac, it could be fun,” Caramel giggled at just how worried Mac managed to look. He kissed Mac’s freckles and the workhorse simply looked between the two. “You’d look cute if you cleaned up a bit.”

“But Ah…” Big Macintosh walked towards Rarity despite his hesitance. Caramel giggled at his deep red blush that covered up his freckles. “Ah’m already clean.”

“Nonsense.” Rarity shook her head. “I’ve seen what Applejack calls cleaning, and and I’m going to have my work ahead of me if you’re anything like her.”

“Sugar?” Big Macintosh looked to Caramel, but was only greeted with a tiny shove that Big Macintosh frowned at.

Maybe by now Big Macintosh began to regret dragging Caramel to the store.

Author's Note

I don't know why but I was weirdly excited to talk about Mac being a Pansexual.

Rain

A puddle is what almost caused the red workhorse to trip and fall face first into the mud, but he had somehow managed to keep his balance. He lifted his foreleg and wiped at his eyes, the sky hitting him with heavy bullets of water that were already beginning to soak him. Even the cover of the apple trees weren’t very helpful in the winds that seemed to blow the rain towards them.

Big Macintosh made sure to look behind him every few moments to make sure Caramel was keeping up. His hooves splashed down against the muddy ground and kicked up mud as he galloped along. He had to squint his eyes to make out more than ten feet ahead of him in the icy downpour falling down on his body.

His breath was heavy, and he has to constantly push his wet mane from his eyes to keep going. He was careful not to drop the tied up blanket on his back as he galloped along, Caramel close behind and seeming to pant even louder than him.

“This way, Sugar,” Big Macintosh said loudly through a crash of thunder that he saw made Caramel jump. He resisted the urge to grab Caramel’s hoof, knowing the only thing that would help would be getting out of this rain. He weaved his way through the trees and eventually spotted a familiar sight. His bright red barn took in the distance, and he found himself picking up in speed before he threw open the door.

Caramel’s gallop was closer to a brisk walk by the time he stumbled in the doorway of the pitch black barn. Mac squinted his eyes and from the light of the doorway he was able to make out little more than a cart, some hay, and wooden beams that held the whole place up. He took a moment to catch his breath and soon felt Caramel lean up against him.

“Is it okay?” Caramel asked, his hooves shaky as well as his breath. He grabbed the blanket from off of Mac’s back. Big Macintosh let him snatch it away before he took several steps into the open room. He was careful to watch where he placed his hooves in the darkness so not to trip, and felt his hoof along the walls.

“It’s soaking…” Caramel mumbled. Mac glanced back and saw Caramel’s hooves touch the slop that covered the blanket with a disgusted look on his face. He flicked whatever stuck to his hooves and pushed his dripping mane from his eyes. Mac frowned, but still turned away and walked along the wall until his hoof brushed up against a hook.

He could feel and make out the outline of a lamp with his hoof, which he quickly snatched up. he was thankful there seemed to be a box of matches with them when he heard a crash of thunder that made him jump and Caramel exclaim a yelp. Mac’s eyes darted back to Caramel and he saw the tan stallion cover both his ears with his hooves and shut his eyes. Water dripped off the end of his nose and he tightened his body the best he could.

“Sugar,” Big Macintosh spoke softly when he approached Caramel. He let his eyes wander to the blanket to see what was once apple pie before it had gotten soaked and mashed up in the mad attempt to gather everything. There were bits of greens and oats that were part of salads. That had gotten mixed up as well. Whatever it was, the mess certainly wasn’t edible anymore. “Can ya light this while Ah look fer somethin’ ta dry us off?”

Mac set the lantern and matchbox next to Caramel. He put his hooves on Caramel’s own and lowered them from his ears. He didn’t expect his lover’s muscles to be so tense, but they were. Caramel was cold, and the touch of the other made the workhorse frown. When he looked into Caramel’s eyes he saw they were watering.

“I-I’m sorry Mac,” Caramel nearly whimpered the words. He quickly hugged himself and sniffled loudly before he clamped a hoof over his eye. “I should have listened, you said it would rain and I… I didn’t listen. C-Can we just go back to the house?”

“Nope.” Big Macintosh shook his head. “This here’s a back barn, not the one near the house. House is a good five minute run from here, an Ah don’t want ya ta get a cold.”

The workhorse got to his hooves again and heard Caramel fumble with the lantern. He tried to walk to the cart slowly and put his hoof over some apples. He could see just a tiny bit better once the lantern was lit, and out of the corner of his eye he spotted a white towel. He snatched it up with his hooves and quickly returned to Caramel, placing the towel over his mane and seating himself behind him.

“M-Mac, I can dry myself,” Caramel protested with a bit of a squirm. His voice was edging on being choked. Mac didn’t reply, but instead pressed his lips down against Carmel's damp mane. He ran the towel up and down Caramel’s back just enough so he wouldn’t be dripping any longer. Thankfully Caramel didn’t seem to trample through the mud as much as Mac did, so the towel was still clean enough for Mac to begin

“I wanted to surprise you…” Caramel mumbled. He looked into Mac’s eyes for just a brief moment before he bit down on his lip and stared at the mess before them. Wind blew up against the barn, and the rain only seemed to grow louder as time passed.

“Surprise me with what?” Mac questioned. He could feel Caramel’s muscles tense when another slam of thunder hit.

“A-Applejack’s been teaching me how to make your favorite pie,” Caramel tried to force a chuckle, though it sounded more like a sniffle. “I’ve been practicing and she says I’m getting good, and I made you some and… I was excited for you to try it.”

Caramel’s eyes seemed to linger on the dancing flame of the lantern. He wiped at his eyes with his damp hoof. Mac reached out to touch him and realized he was cold. Without much warning, Mac wrapped Caramel in his forelegs and brought him closer, seating the smaller stallion between his legs so he could hold him close.

“M-Mac, what are you doing?” Caramel squirmed in Mac’s arms when he was dragged. His face pressing up to the base of Big Mac’s neck seemed to calm him down.

“Yer gonna catch a cold.” Big Mac blinked his eyes and stared down into Caramel’s own. He ran his hoof over Caramel’s mane and kissed his forehead gently. “Don’t worry ‘bout the pie.”

“B-But… I didn’t listen to you and we both go- WAH!” Caramel’s babbling was stopped by another crash of thunder. Mac felt himself be squeezed back, and a warm cheek was soon pressed against his fur. Caramel whimpered and seemed to dig his hoof into the dirt floor. “I’m sorry… You pay attention to this more than I ever do. I should have trusted you and listened and… not gotten us both stuck here till the storm passes.”

“Stop beatin’ yerself up, Caramel.” Big Macintosh pushed away Caramel’s body and held him at a forelegs reach. He stared firmly into Caramel’s eyes and made it a point not to blink. “Ya made a mistake, it’s alright. Ah ain’t even mad, see?”

Caramel ran his hooves in circles over Mac’s damp chest. He wiped at his eyes yet again and sniffled for what felt like the tenth time. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, but never seemed to decide on an answer.

“But…”

“If ya say ‘but’ anythin’, Ah’ll find a way ta make ya stop bein’ so mopey.” Mac tried his best not to smile with a flash of what could only be described as terror popped into Caramel’s eyes.

“But Mac!” Caramel tried to protest, but Mac simple shook his head.

“Always the direct approach of just ticklin’ ya, but that’s too easy.” Mac teased. He held Caramel in place with his hind legs and pressed a hoof against his belly. “Maybe Ah’ll just grab this belly of yers, ya always smile when Ah do.”

“M-Mac, c’mon,” Caramel’s mouth was wiggling and trying to suppress a smile. He pushed away Mac’s muzzle and turned his head so the workhorse wouldn’t see him blushing. He ran his hooves over Caramel’s round belly and licked his lips.

“Ah got all the Caramel here that Ah need. Why would Ah want a pie?” Mac questioned. He could feel Caramel squirm and he simply forced his lips down against Caramel’s cheek. Caramel burst out in a fit of giggles and Mac simply smiled.

“O-Okay I get it, stop teasing me!” Caramel was giggling at this point. Mac pulled Caramel closer until their bellies pressed together and simply smiled at him.

“Ain’t the worst place ta get stuck in a storm,” Big Macintosh whispered to Caramel. He ran his hoof up Caramel’s leg and over his cutie mark. “Plenty of entertainment. Ya can show me how to make that pie. Ah bet it has some apples all over the sugar.”

“Pfff… hehehe...” Caramel bit down hard on his lip. He closed his eyes and held back laughter that Mac couldn't help but frown at. He used both his hooves to cover up his face and giggle helplessly.

“W-What’s so funny?” Mac’s demeanor broke for just a moment. He could feel his own face grow warm.

“Too far.” Caramel nearly whimpered through his giggling. Mac realized Caramel’s muscles had loosened, and he was so busy giggling that a burst of thunder didn’t even seem to phase him. Mac blushed and scratched at his own ear, though Caramel soon sat up and pressed their lips together. “Y-You’re such a dork.”

"No Ah ain't..."

Caramel managed to push Mac on his back in one simple push. Out of the corner of his eye Mac saw the dancing flame of the lantern. Caramel’s damp fur felt cold on his warm cheek when he kissed Caramel’s neck. He soon realized that Caramel was indeed spreading Mac’s legs.

“O-One corny line an Ah’m on bottom?” Mac laughed loudly, a sort of laugh that came from the bottom of his chest.

“I can’t take you seriously now,” Caramel smiled down at Mac when he spoke. He pressed his lips against Big Mac’s, and all the desire to protest to melted away. “You're right though. Plenty of entertainment."

And with that, Big Macintosh suddenly had no reply. Caramel kissed him again, and the bullets of rain began to sound rather soothing. Big Macintosh closed his eyes, and felt warmth overtake his body. His face felt warm just like the fire of the lantern, and Caramel's advances were certainly no help in the matter.

Not that the workhorse was willing to complain.

Author's Note

Now that I teased the audience, next chapter might actually have some explicit material.

Strength (Explicit)

Caramel had re-read the page of his book at least half a dozen times before he realized he hadn’t taken in a single word. He found himself frowning and blinking at the page, though his mind simply couldn’t focus on the words. It probably didn’t help that a hard crack of hooves slamming against the trunk of the trees around him kept echoing around the orchard. His eyes glanced over the pages of his book when he saw Big Macintosh wipe the sweat from his brow with the back of his hoof.

The sun was beating down on the stallion, and for just a moment Caramel felt just a bit bad that he was seated in the shade nice and comfortably.

Caramel’s eyes kept darting away every few moments. The sight of Big Macintosh panting and working was always difficult to stare at for too long without… side effects. Every time Mac kicked his hooves against the trunk of the tree Caramel could see his muscles in full effect. Big Mac was moving around the trees in a circle, yet every time he looked Caramel’s way the stallion couldn’t stare back. His heart was starting to beat awfully quickly.

A grumble of frustration hit Caramel’s lips when he shook his head. He tried to cleanse his mind, though that only seemed to make it worse.

The stallion forced his eyes to stare back at the pages of his book. He was fully aware that his cheeks were red when he squirmed his hind legs a bit at the thought of Big Macintosh. He shut his eyes firmly and tried to think of something else. It didn’t work, his mind was locked on this one topic. He looked up one last time to see Big Macintosh was gone.

“Yer allowed ta stare, ya know.”

“GAH!” Caramel had actually managed to drop his book when the sound of Big Macintosh’s voice came from behind the tree he was leaning against. He looked around him to see Big Macintosh staring down at him with a blank expression. Caramel was holding both hooves over his chest and breathing heavily. “M-Mac… I wasn’t…”

Caramel frowned when Big Macintosh chuckled at him. The workhorse’s face was red from work, and his freckles were blending into his fur. He seated himself down besides Caramel and folded his front legs before he rested his head on them.

“Yer blushin.”

“S-Sorry,” Caramel mumbled. He had the strangest desire to cover his face with his hooves. He was sitting on his hind legs, looking down at Big Macintosh, but not into his eyes. “I-I made you stop working, didn’t I?”

“Ya ain’t got nothin’ ta apologize fer, Sugar.” Big Macintosh squirmed himself closer to Caramel. Caramel picked up his book and began looking for his place, thankfully finding it quickly before he folded the page and shut it. “Ya don’t gotta be so embarassed ‘bout lookin’ at me though.”

“But I…” Caramel bit into both his cheeks. He brought his hooves together and began to fiddle with them, the thoughts of Mac’s body in his mind again. “It’s embarrassing."

“Ya starin’ at yer boyfriend is embarassin’?” Big Mac raised his brow. It was hard to read his face beyond curiosity. This only seemed to fluster Caramel further as he squirmed around in place.

“I look weird just staring at you,” Caramel said with an attempt of a laugh that fell flat before it even began. Big Macintosh simply blinked his large, emerald eyes. “I want to stare and just watch you because when you act strong you… you’re really attractive. Y-You’re muscles are big and even when you squeeze me me I can tell you’re holding back… b-but you never hold back when you work. A-And I… I think about stuff."

Big Macintosh chuckled, and Caramel’s blush only deepened when he shut his mouth. Big Macintosh rose to his hind legs to sit on them, though he leaned on Caramel and put his hoof onto Caramel’s chest. Mac must have felt his heart beat, for the air from his chuckle tickled Caramel’s ear.

“Can Ah tell ya a secret?” Big Macintosh pressed his lips down against Caramel’s cheek. Caramel could tell he was smiling by the feel of them. The stallion nodded his head.

“S-Sure, go ahead,” Caramel spoke softly. The way Mac’s hooves were moving and wrapping around him made Caramel giggle as well.

“Ah work harder when yer here,” Big Macintosh said in a tone that made Caramel squirm. When Caramel got a glimpse of his cheeks he saw they were still red despite the rest of him cooling down. “Ya always get all giggly when Ah get a dozen barrels full ‘stead of six in twenty minutes.”

“G-Giggly?”

“Like ya do when Ah touch yer belly,” Big Macintosh must have been planning that line, for his hoof instantly went to the lower part of Caramel’s body to give it a gentle squeeze. Caramel tried but bite down on his tongue, but a giggle escaped him nonetheless.

Ya like it when Ah’m strong?” Big Macintosh questioned.

“I… y-yeah…” Caramel looked up at Big Macintosh’s eyes. “I like imagining you being strong and…”

“And?” Big Macintosh questioned with a raise of his brow.

“And s-sometimes you show off… it’s weird,” Caramel mumbled. His ears were laying flat against his head when he spoke.

“Go on, Sugar.”

“You… You’re stronger than me.” Caramel’s voice somehow managed to grow even quieter. However, if there was one thing Caramel had learned, it was that Big Macintosh was a very good listener. “Sometimes I imagine you not being so kind and gentle and… I like that a lot, it helps me calm down all the time when I panic and feel like I screwed up and…” Caramel shook his head, as if he realizing that he was losing his point. “You just want me and… a-are strong so you do what you want. S-See, I told you it was weird!”

“It ain’t weird.” Big Macintosh stated. Caramel realized that he had removed his hooves from his belly.

“B-But I like you being nice and kind and everything.” Caramel bit on his lower lip.

“Ah like that yer sweet and nervous, but Ah still like it when ya order me ‘round an get pushy.” Big Macintosh chuckled in response. Maybe he was laughing to comfort Caramel, but it could have also been because he was blushing again. “So ya just like it if Ah do what Ah want with ya?”

“Y-Yeah, but you… you have to want me.” Caramel kept his eyes shut when Big Mac looked at him. “Kinda like you get when you grab me in bed. I like it when I feel… feel like you can’t get enough of me. It’s just… like you're an animal in heat or something. Y-You want me bad enough that it's hard to hold back... It's weird."

“It makes ya happy.” Big Macintosh smiled with a nod on his head. “Ah got it.”

“You what?”

In less than five seconds Caramel found himself pushed to the ground with Big Macintosh on top of him. Their eyes were in front of each other now, though Mac’s hooves were still running over his body.

Mac’s face suddenly grew emotionless. Caramel didn’t realize he was holding his breath until his lungs began to ache, but he nodded his head anyway. Caramel realized that Mac was flexing the muscles in his forelegs. He tried to cover his face with his hooves to hide his blush, but Mac was having none of it when he pulled them back and forced them at Caramel’s sides.

“D-Don’t you have to work?” Caramel closed his eyes. He knew that something was indeed stiffening between his legs. He honestly didn’t expect Mac’s usual softness being absent to be this… invigorating. “I mean… W-We don’t have to do this now.”

“Not when a stallion all turned on cause Ah’m so strong,” Big Macintosh chuckled. When Caramel looked to him his eyes were still hard. The words Mac used caused him to blush.

Mac once again quickly pulled Caramel back up until the stallion was sitting on his lap. Caramel kept his legs shut, knowing full well that Mac was causing some stirring down between them. His forelegs were strong at holding him in place, and no matter how much Caramel squirmed he knew he wasn’t going to break free.

“Is… is this too rough?” Big Macintosh’s grip loosened a bit, his tone softening. “Ah don’t wanna scare ya. Y-Yer heart’s beatin’ fast.”

“Y-You’re alright,” Caramel nodded his head when he replied. Mac’s lips kissed his neck softly, and then his cheek. His tone sounded nervous, which surprised Caramel just a bit. “This is… Y-You can keep going.”

“Just tell me if yer scared, alright?” Mac nuzzled his nose to Caramel’s cheek.

Mac’s hoof nearly slapped onto Caramel’s belly. It stung just a bit, but Caramel didn’t do more than squirm in fear that Mac would stop. He squeezed and moved his hoof around. His free leg was holding Caramel’s back up against his chest, constricting Caramel’s own forelegs at his sides. Some part of him thought that just this once, Mac really wasn’t holding back his strength.

Suddenly the hoof that kept touching his belly squirmed it’s way between Caramel’s legs and forced them open. Out fell Caramel’s half hard cock, growing harder by the second. Mac’s tongue licked at his neck, and Caramel nearly whimpered out of over stimulation.

The breeze from the warm day made Caramel feel strange and exposed. No matter how much he squirmed Mac wouldn’t release him.

“Yer all mine,” Mac nearly growled. Caramel didn’t know it was possible for Mac’s voice to sound like it was dripping with desire like that. Sure Mac had told him things like how much he wanted him, but Caramel’s cock had never grown harder faster at just three words.

Mac’s hoof kept rubbing his balls, and when Caramel looked down he felt a bite in his shoulder. He whimpered just a bit, but it was more out of trying to catch his breath. Mac’s hoof moved to his shaft and squeezed before he began to pump it. It wasn’t a gentle stroke like he normally started out with, but full force. Mac’s own cock was now pressing up against Caramel’s back.

Caramel’s other hoof released Caramel’s forelegs and began groping at Caramel’s body, as if he couldn’t get enough. Mac was panting as well by this point, but Caramel could feel fire in his shaft.

“Yer so hot,” Mac growled. He might have been salivating for all Caramel had known.

Caramel closed his eyes at the sound of Mac’s voice, something going off inside his head. He tightened his muscles and bit into both his cheeks, and before he knew it all of Mac’s actions had stopped.

“Already…?” Mac’s voice sounded more impressed than anything.

“I…” Caramel’s cock felt sticky. He could feel his blush return full force, though the sound of Mac laughing and kissing his cheek when he was turned over was at least a good sign not to feel too embarrassed.

“Can’t believe ya had trouble cummin the first time we slept ‘gether, Sugar.” Mac’s character had broken and he was back to his usual warm self. His muscles loosened and it was only now that Caramel realized Mac had been squeezing so tight it hurt just a bit. "Ah wasn't too rough, was Ah?"

“N-No you weren't... Stop laughing though.” Caramel was released from Mac’s grasp when he closed his legs up again. His cock was quickly shrinking the more Mac chuckled at him. “You’re the one who couldn’t go slow. You're just... really strong, okay? Your muscles are... y-y'know."

“We can try ‘gain later,” Big Macintosh chuckled. “Maybe even a little bit of rope. Might make it even faster, though. Preferably when we get ya some lube.”

“I’m not like you,” Caramel broke a smile and let out a giggle. “I don’t like being tied up.” Though his eyes did look down to what he had caused between Mac’s legs. It was still half hard. “H-Here, you got excited.”

“Y-Ya don’t gotta do that, Sugarcube.” Mac held out both his hooves with a frown on his face. “Ah gotta get back ta work anyway, this was just fer ya. Ya ain't even turned on anymore."

Caramel smiled at Mac and scratched behind his ear. He shook his head and moved Mac’s hooves away before he put his hoof on Mac’s half hard cock. Mac bit into his lip, though he stopped resisting near instantly.

“It makes you happy,” Caramel stated.

Mac's blush was back.

Author's Note

While it is brief, I do like to imagine that Mac and Caramel have a lively eventful sex life that they like to try new things. Mac also has very little shame in having sex outdoors since it's where he spends most of his time anyway. I already have a story where Mac enjoys being tied up and ordered around, and I always believed Caramel liked Mac strong and also really liked it when he felt attractive, so it seemed to fit.

Nightmare

Big Macintosh could feel a gasp of air enter his lungs to revive him when he snapped open his eyes. He looked around the room quickly. The darkness enshrouding every inch of the room crept along in silence with little more than his own breath being audible. He stared up and out the window outside his bed and saw the light of Luna’s moon beam down onto his face. When he put his own hoof onto his forehead he felt it was damp along with the base of his mane.

His breathing was unnaturally rapid as well as his heart when he sat up in bed. He could feel and hear the bed creak and moan after his swift movement, though he also flinched when he heard a near silent whimper from beside him. He looked down to his right and saw that Caramel was sweating nearly as much as he was.

“Sorry, Sugarcube,” Big Macintosh said quietly. He placed his hoof down on Caramel’s cheek and felt how warm it was. The workhorse closed his own eyes and could feel a shift in the pit of his belly that he wasn’t able to control. He slid off the bed as carefully as he could allow himself to. He was thankful that Caramel was seated closer to the window than the edge. He saw Caramel turn in his sleep when the large mass beside him vanished, and his body sprawled out just a bit.

Mac took Caramel’s hoof and grasped it as gently as he possibly could before he kissed it. He didn’t want to risk making any more noise than necessary by leaning over to find Caramel’s lips… not that Caramel would have approved of that kind of kiss in his current state. It was hard enough convincing Caramel to sleep in the same house as him, much less the same bed.

Big Macintosh took the blanket and put it over Caramel’s body. He touched his cheek once more just to make sure he was still warm. His body shivered when he felt the cold sweat on both their bodies. He stared at Caramel for a long while, though he felt himself look away when his eyes began to sting.

“He’s fine.” The red stallion mumbled under his breath.

The workhorse flinched every time his hoof pressed down onto his creaky floorboards, and even more when he opened his door and it decided to scream it’s purpose. He decided to leave it open when another whimper came from Caramel.

The muscles in his legs loosened just a bit when he walked past both Applejack and Applebloom’s rooms and went straight for the stairway. It was the same as always, every step was silent except for the second to last which squeaked. He had repaired it at least half a dozen times, but it never stuck. Granny Smith sometimes said it was a cursed step and always refused to step on it.

The workhorse walked silently to the kitchen sink and began to run water. The tiled floor and wooden countertop greeted him to the nighttime silence of the kitchen. He took a look around the place, realizing just how unusual it was for him to be up this late in the middle of the night. He wasn’t like Applebloom or even Caramel who liked to sneak midnight snacks. He stared at the stream for a while and felt his body shiver once more.

Mac ran his hooves under the water and slapped both up against his face. He shut his eyes firmly and slowly shook his head when he thought about Caramel. It was a bit strange, but he began to regret not risking kissing his lips. His own heart felt heavy each time it beat in his chest, his stomach turning when he thought about exactly why he woke up in a cold sweat.

Big Macintosh shook his head and tightened the muscles in his foreleg when he realized he was trembling. He opened the cupboard more swiftly than he intended and accidently sent a loud bang throughout the kitchen when he slipped out of his hoof. He ignored the sound and grabbed a kettle before he filled it with water and set it on the stove.

When he grabbed at the matchbox he only grew annoyed at the trembling in his hooves. It took his three attempts on lighting the match before it caught, and even then lighting the stove took nearly all of his concentration. He actually slammed his hoof down onto the countertop and shut his eyes firmly. The sound echoed out and died like it had never happened.

Though it hadn’t happened in quite some time being around younger mares for most of his life, Big Macintosh actually felt a swear pass his lips when the fire finally caught. He thought about if Granny would make him eat soap even at this age if she heard him. He sat down right there in the middle of the kitchen and wrapped both forelegs around his body. His belly felt weird again, twisting and turning the more his thoughts circled around and around.

And in that moment, his ears perked up when he heard a creak in the stairs. His head snapped to the right. He was expecting to see Applebloom or even Applejack coming down the steps to wonder what all the noise was about. Though his heart only seemed to sink more when Caramel’s head popped out from behind the corner of the staircase.

“Mac?” Caramel’s voice was quiet and hoarse. The workhorse instantly found himself at his hooves and moving quickly to Caramel’s side to put his hooves on Caramel’s shoulder. His lover’s eyes were red and he looked exhuasted.

“W-What are ya doin’ out of bed, Sugar?” Big Macintosh put his hoof on Caramel’s side, maybe to help him walk or just be close to him he wasn’t positive, either way Caramel shrugged him off.

“I can walk on my own,” Caramel seemed annoyed, but maybe he was just tired. His eyes instantly softened when he looked up and down Mac’s body. “I heard a noise… And you were gone and I just… I got worried and… Mac you’re trembling.”

Big Macintosh could feel his eyes widen. He tightened nearly every muscle in his body and shook his head in denial. Caramel frowned at him and took a step closer. Though Big Macintosh wasn’t positive why, he took a step back and accidently felt his rump hit a counter.

“Ah just woke up an’ wanted some tea is all,” Big Macintosh nodded his head in the direction of the kettle. He turned away when Caramel tried to look into his eyes and moved over to the kettle. Though the water was only simmering he watched it as if it would overflow at any moment. “Ah… Ah couldn’t sleep.”

“Really?” Caramel coughed into his hoof when he tried to laugh. Big Macintosh felt himself visibly flinch at the sound. “You normally sleep like a log… sometimes in the morning you’re on top of me and I can’t get you to move.”

“Who says Ah’m sleepin’ then?” Big Macintosh tried to chuckle, though it sounded more forced than he intended. He still didn’t look at Caramel, but he could hear the hoofsteps draw nearer when he stared down at the kettle like it was the most important thing in the world. “D-Do ya need anything, Sugar? Ah can make ya somethin’ if yer hungry… if ya can keep it down an’ all. Or just water an’… an’ ya should really be in bed.”

“I’m fine.” Caramel reached out his hoof and set it down on his lover’s hoof. “Mac, I’m not that sick, y’know.”

Big Macintosh remained silent at those words. When the kettle finally did start boiling he blew out the flame and turned away from Caramel even more to search the cupboards for mugs.

“It’s just…” Caramel continued without Big Macintosh’s word. “You tossed and turned a lot in bed. You say I do that a lot when I have bad dreams. I… I don’t really know what’d make you have a bad dream though. You aren’t scared of silly things like I am.”

“Ya ain’t scared of silly stuff,” Big Macintosh stated. He turned to Caramel without thinking about it and stared deeply into those crystal blue eyes. He felt himself be instinctively defensive to Caramel’s words. Caramel smiled at him and thankfully didn’t try to argue any further. His face was just a bit paler than usual and eyes not as well rested, though Big Macintosh still stared at that smile for longer than he probably should have.

“Y-You’re making me lose my point,” Caramel chuckled. He wiped at his forehead and leaned up against a counter. “You weren’t… dreaming of something bad, were you?”

“Ah…” Big Macintosh clamped his jaw shut.

“It’s okay if you were!” Caramel tried to raise his voice, though it was obvious he struggled in doing so from the cough he let out. “I have bad dreams, and you’re there when I wake up… I-I’d be a bad boyfriend if I didn’t at least ask. And you were trembling and looked scared and… I don’t see you look like that a lot and it made me nervous too.”

“Ya… ya were…” Big Macintosh looked down at his own hooves. He wanted to word this in a way that wouldn’t make him blush, though he already was by the feel of his cheeks. “Ah couldn’t keep ya safe.”

“W-What?” Caramel sounded like he was even more confused now. He raised his brow at Mac and took a step closer.

“Remember when Ah punched that stallion who called ya a no-good Coltcuddler in the middle of town and made ya real embarrassed?” Big Macintosh smiled at Caramel. He could see Caramel’s confusion linger, but he did nod his head.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Mac could see Caramel’s ears lay flat at the memory.

“Ya were gonna cry if Ah didn’t.” Big Macintosh stated. Caramel bit into his own cheek and didn’t reply to that comment. “Ah just… Ah wanted ta protect ya. Sometimes it’s scary when ya feel down and it feels like nothin’ Ah say can help but… if I wait ya’ll open up an I can help a little.” Big Macintosh poured the hot water into the two mugs and inserted the tea bags. “It’s easy ta punch a stallion or ta talk ta ya, even if it’s hard fer both of us but…”

Big Macintosh trailed off. He looked to Caramel and saw him close his eyes to rub his forehead with a temple. “But Ah can’t keep ya safe from yer own body.”

“That’s silly!” Caramel blurted out. He must have felt embarrassed by it because he let out a scarlet red blush. But he apparently wasn’t embarrassed enough to keep his mouth shut. “I get sick all the time! I’m always fine.”

“Ah know,” Big Macintosh began to feel his own embarrassment creep onto his face. He scratched his cheek and took a step closer to Caramel. “But Ah can’t do anythin’ but just sit there an wait and try ta make ya hurt less… if yer sad Ah can fix it fast if Ah’m lucky, but this… Ah’ve had dreams like this with AJ and Applebloom and Granny too.”

Caramel frowned at him. It was strange getting a look like that from a pony who looked like he could barely stand much less sit up straight for extended periods of time.

“Ah don’t wanna lose ya like…” He looked from Caramel to the floor several times. “Like my folks.” He kicked at the tiled floor and let out a loud sigh as if he wanted to cover up what he had just said. "Ah wanna be strong 'nuff to keep ya'll safe."

"Mac, you're already strong," Caramel insisted when he pressed his hoof down to his own chest. "You're sweet and gentle and kind and... I love you. You're stronger than anypony I've ever met and you're also the most kind and..." Caramel was blushing. "Nopony took care of me like you do when I got sick before. I'm just glad you still want to kiss me and cuddle me even though I look awful."

"Why wouldn't I?" Mac felt confused when Caramel said that last bit, but Caramel simply smiled at him and giggled.

“Mac, I’m fine,” Caramel stated with a firm tone. He took a step to Big Macintosh and put his hoof on his chin. “I’m dizzy though… and light headed and my stomach keeps twisting. But I’m fine.”

“Ah dreamed ya were cold,” Big Macintosh put his hoof up against Caramel’s cheek. He could feel Caramel lay himself down onto Big Macintosh’s chest until Mac embarrassed him with one foreleg. He used his free foreleg to run his hoof over Caramel’s mane. “Ah don’t remember much but… Ah couldn’t breathe Ah was so scared. Ya were cold an Ah couldn’t get ya ta move no matter what Ah did.”

“If it helps, I feel really hot right now.” Caramel was smiling. Mac could feel it n his lips when Caramel’s face pressed to his neck.

“Ya sure look that part,” Big Macintosh chuckled. Caramel didn’t say anything, though he did further bury his face to avoid Mac from seeing it. He shut his eyes when he realized they were stinging at just the memory of his dream. “Ah just want ya safe, Sugarcube”

“I’m going to be fine,” Caramel was firm in his phrasing. Big Macintosh nodded his head and squeezed him tightly with both his forelegs. “You’re big and strong, but you can’t punch germs who make me feel bad.”

“Can Ah try?” Big Macintosh could hear Caramel’s gentle giggle and felt his chest grow in warmth. “Ah love ya sugar… Sorry Ah worried ya.”

“H-How’d I do?” Caramel looked up and into Big Macintosh’s eyes.

“On what?” Big Mac raised his eyebrow in question.

“The comforting boyfriend thing,” Caramel lifted his hoof to scratch behind his ear. “You’re better at it than I am. I wanna be there for you too, you know.”

“Ah know, Sugar.”

Big Macintosh watched Caramel’s ear perk up before he even heard the creak of the step. When he looked up he saw a small filly with a red mane walk out from the stairs with messy hair and tired eyes.

“What in the world is goin’ on?” Applebloom yawned. She took a few steps forward and stared at Big Macintosh. “Ah heard a few loud noises.”

Big Macintosh kissed Caramel’s forehead before he released him from his tight grip, though he still let Caramel lean up against his chest. “Nothin’s wrong, Applebloom, just… just a little klutzy is all.”

“Y-Yeah,” Caramel giggled and looked to Applebloom. He took a step forward and tried his best to keep steady on his hooves. “Mac was nice to make me some tea though, do you want mine? I don’t feel well enough to drink it, yet.”

“Yuck.” Applebloom made a face that Big Macintosh smiled at. “Can Ah just have some water?”

“S-Sure, let me jus- Woah wait, Mac!” Caramel was turning to the sink, but Big Macintosh quickly intercepted and forced his neck between Caramel’s fore and hindlegs to slide the stallion onto his back.

“Ya ain’t gettin’ nothin fer nopony. Yer gettin’ ta bed.” Big Macintosh talked to Caramel a lot like Applebloom when she was sick. It seemed to have the same effect, for Caramel instantly started to protest.

“M-Mac, I can walk fine on my own!” Caramel whined. He tried to slide himself off of Big Mac’s back, but the workhorse jumped and Caramel slid right back into place. He made a whimper of protest but eventually settled down.

“Ya look silly squirming like that, Caramel.” Applebloom giggled. Mac could tell Caramel was blushing when he used both his hooves to cover his own face. “Mac always embarasses me like that, too.”

“It’s fer his own good,” Big Macintosh took several steps forward. “Sorry AB, but Ah gotta get Caramel back into bed an kiss him g’night. He’ll fall down the stairs if Ah don’t take him. Ah’ll get ya a glass of water in a jiffy.”

“Okay, Big Mac.” Applebloom giggled again.

“I won’t fall!” Caramel weakly protested. “Y-You shouldn’t be kissing me when I’m sick though.”

“Ya can barely stand.” Big Macintosh reminded Caramel. “Keep whinin’ an Ah’ll give ya two.

“But…” Caramel shut his mouth when Big Macintosh’s hoof touched the first step and moved onto the creaky one. Mac’s belly felt a little looser when Caramel hugged his neck and kissed the back of his head.

“You’re so stubborn.” Caramel mumbled.

Skipping

The sway of the tall beams of grass before Big Macintosh’s eyes caused him to whinny. He looked down at his hoof and stared at the long, flat gray rock that he held. He turned it over and saw that it was indeed flat. He blinked his eyes slowly before closing them, taking in a deep breath as he walked slowly to the side.

“I don’t think an angle is gonna help you, Mac,” The voice of Caramel tried to insist. He sounded like he was on the verge of giggling, which only caused the workhorse to feel his cheeks grow warm. He opened his eyes again and stared out into the vast lake that rippled each time a small insect landed on it. Beyond the lake he could see trees and the setting twilight sun, though only the lake was his concern right now.

The workhorse lifted his hoof and drew it back. He had settled on a clear spot that rested on a bit of a cliff above the water. He took two small steps forward and then quickly retreated three steps back. He glanced behind his shoulder for just a moment to see the tan stallion cover his mouth with his hoof, likely concealing a smile. He grumbled softly under his breath.

Big Macintosh whipping his hoof and watched the rock fly from his grasp. It hit the water once and… sunk immediately. It splashed large and magnificent, like somepony jumping in with a cannonball. The sound of a splash caused Big Macintosh to groan loudly and fall straight down onto the earth. His body fell with enough force to vibrate the ground before he groaned again.

“Mac, you…” Caramel tried to speak.

“Quiet.” The steed stated. Caramel giggled softly and he felt his ears flatten against his head. He set his chin on the grass and stared out into the lake.

“You throw it wrong, you know,” Caramel said. Mac could see his hooves approach out of the corner of his eyes. He looked over to Caramel and saw that he was holding his own rock, one just a bit less jagged. “You used too big of a rock, too. It’s easier to use tiny ones, even if they aren’t as flat.”

Caramel lifted his hoof and tossed the rock. It seemed to fly like a frisbee, only skidding across the water with one, two, and three bounces before it finally sunk. Caramel giggled again, almost like he was enjoying his boyfriend’s annoyance.

“Sugarcube?” Mac spoke up. He looked up to the stallion with a blank expression. “Yer a show off.”

Caramel started giggling once more almost immediately. Mac looked out into the twilight setting sun once more and let a whinny past his lips. He rolled onto his back and stared at the lake upside down.

“You’re throwing it too strong!” Caramel crouched down beside Mac and bumped his body into the others. He pressed his lips down against Mac’s cheek and smirked softly. “You’re really getting annoyed about this, aren’t you?”

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh stated. He bit on the inside of his cheek and stared out into the rippling water. He reached out his hoof and ripped up several blades of grass. He frowned and watched Caramel pick up yet another rock and toss it out. This time he managed to make it skip four times. He had this large, goofy smile on his face when he did so.

“Yer a real show off, ya know that?” Big Macintosh mumbled.

Caramel’s smile shrunk, it was subtle at first, but soon became more apparent. He looked out into the lake for a moment and then at Mac. He giggled, but when he did so his face turned a light shade of pink. “S-Sorry Mac… I shouldn’t tease you so much. Sorry…”

“Ah…” Big Macintosh sat up quickly. He opened his mouth briefly, but soon closed it before looking down at his own hooves. “Let’s stop this fer a bit. Ya don’t gotta apologize, Ah’m just bein’ grumpy.”

“Yeah, sor-” Caramel shut his mouth quickly before shaking his head and moving closer to Mac. He grasped Mac’s hoof in his own and tried to put on a smile, though Mac saw that it didn’t quite reach his eyes. His hoof was warm but not as strong as it usually was. “Let’s go back to the farm now, okay?

“Sugarcube…” Mac mumbled. Caramel looked away quickly when he pulled on the hoof. “C’mon, ya were havin’ fun. Ya still wanted ta go an’ walk at the park, didn’t ya?”

“I-I’m still having fun!” Caramel tried to argue, though Mac stared at his frown. He pushed aside his brown mane and tried to chuckle again, though it sounded more forced than before. His crystal blue eyes stared into Mac’s own, though the harder Mac stared the more frequently he glanced away. “It’s just… I’m tired, alright?”

“Ah’m sorry, Sugar,” Mac stated. Caramel’s eyes widened before he took two steps back and began shaking his head. “Ah didn’t mean ta sound upset. It’s just a dumb rock.”

“N-No, Mac that’s not what I mean!” Caramel’s raised his hoof and shook it in denial. “It’s just that… y-you’re…” He lowered his hoof slowly, but changed his mind when he brought it back to his chest. “I’m not better at stuff than you most of the time, I mean…”

“Huh?” Big Macintosh cocked his head to the side. Caramel looked down to his hooves before turning away towards the thick bracket of trees which they had emerged from earlier. There was a long silence between the two for a long time. Mac opened his mouth several times, telling himself this was the time he would say something to comfort his coltfriend, but each time he fell silent.

“Mac, c-can we just g-”

“Show me again.” The workhorse spoke up. Caramel finally looked up only to turn to Big Macintosh in mild bewilderment. Big Macintosh kept his face stone and emotionless when he reached to the ground and picked up a small rock half the size of the frog of his hoof. He held it out to the other pony.

“M-Mac, I...” Caramel tried to argue, but Big Macintosh simply shook his head. Caramel took the stone with a shaking hoof and stared out into the lake. He looked to Mac and the rock a few times before finally tossing it out. It was half hearted, but it still skipped two times. His ears instantly flattened against his head in response. “Sorry,” He mumbled.

“Don’t apologize.” Mac shook his head.

“Sor-” Caramel bit hard into his cheek.

“Yer good at workin’ on the farm.” Mac looked over to Caramel. Caramel glanced back to him with a small frown on his lips.

“It took you that long to come up with an answer?” Caramel questioned. He chuckled, but it sounded dry. “And you’re better at me than that… even fixing things up I’m bad at. I mean my cutie mark is about making stuff and fixing things and… I dunno.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You can cook better than I ever could… I probably got all chubby just because I didn’t know how to feed myself properly for so long.” He chucked but his face no longer even attempted to smile. “And you’re stronger and better with handling stress and…”

“Ah don’t handle stress well.” Mac frowned at Caramel.

“Yes you do!” Caramel argued. He took a step forward towards Mac and pointed out to the lake. “Y-You don’t get upset over something stupid like rock skipping. You just stay quiet and don’t let things bother you and… And don’t think stupid things like this…”

“Ya like talkin’ things out, though,” Mac frowned at Caramel. “Ah just try ta ignore it. Yer better at talkin’ in general… Ah can’t think of what ta say half the time and just get frustrated if Ah try… Ya really think ya aren’t good at doing things?”

“I don’t… I don’t know…” Caramel mumbled softly. He shot his eyes down and stared at his hooves. He bit hard into his lip and soon began to rub angrily at his eye. “Everypony knows who you are in town. You help ponies and fix things for ponies all the time… I’m just… some stallion who follows you around all the time.”

“Yer my boyfriend,” Big Macintosh stated. He took another step forward and watched Caramel’s crystal blue eyes widen. The tan stallion seemed to dig his teeth further into his lip. “Ya ain’t just some stallion ta me… Ah don’t love ya because ya…”

The workhorse sighed loudly. He quickly plopping himself down on the grass and swished his tail out of frustration. He could feel a burning in the center of his chest that was becoming increasingly difficult to control.

“Why do you like me?” Caramel questioned. The question was sudden and caught Big Macintosh off guard. He closed his eyes soon after asking it and held his breath. “I’m not… attractive like you are. I’m not strong or stable or anything either.”

“Ah…” Big Macintosh opened his mouth, though found it hard to speak with his chest burning like it was. He looked out onto the lake and stared at the sky, already turning dark with fading twilight. “Yer… Yer my best friend, Sugarcube. Yer the first pony who didn’t think Ah’d be quiet and cold… ya never said anythin’ when Ah stopped bein’ like that all the time. Ya don’t judge me. Ah can open up ta ya.” Mac bit into his lip and stared at Caramel. He took a hesitant step forward and reached out his hoof to touch Caramel’s face. The stallion flinched, but didn’t pull away.

“Yer loud with yer feelings,” The workhorse frowned softly before pressing his lips down to Caramel’s nose. “Ah can’t… It’s easier ta just cuddle ya and kiss ya an’ hope ya get the message.” He knew his face was redder than usual. “Ya ain’t… thick like me. Ah don’t wanna screw up what Ah say so ah just say it outright. Ya can talk ta ponies naturally even if Ah can’t… Ah know ya get uncomfortable when Ah’m so direct all the time.”

“Mac,” Caramel mumbled softly. He lifted his own hoof and pressed it against Mac’s own. He kissed Mac’s hoof softly before he closed his eyes. Mac could feel his breath while he slowly breathed in and out. “I don’t get… I mean I wish… I want to be direct like you sometimes. It feels like nothing bothers you all the time… But I still love you… a lot, actually.”

Caramel craned out his neck and pressed his lips to Mac’s own. Mac smiled softly in response, and Caramel couldn’t help but giggle. The way Caramel giggled through the kiss only made Mac press harder until Caramel had to turned his head, only to let Mac kiss his cheek.

“Ya know what else yer good at?” Mac questioned. “Bein’ on top.”

“Mac!” Caramel cried out. “I am not!”

“Yer real good with that leash, sir.” Mac smiled widely.

“Ahh, shut up!” Caramel covered his face with both hooves to hide his rapidly spreading blush. “I’m not listening!”

“Ya were wonderin’” Mac chuckled. He pressed his hooves to either of Caramel’s sides and pulled him closer. “Yer better at kissin’ too… ya were real bad at that at the start. But ya got real good at it real quick.”

“Okay, okay shut up!” Caramel looked like he was trying with simply all his might to stop smiling, though Mac’s constant prodding of the subject kept it plastered on his face.

“Yer better with Winona, animals in general actually. Sometimes yer better with Applebloom,” Mac shook his head slowly.

“W-What, no I’m not!” Caramel shook his head and backed away from Mac. “You’re crazy.”

Big Macintosh shrugged his shoulders in response and stared out onto the lake. “She’s already callin’ ya Uncle Caramel. She asked me last week when ya’d be my husband, actually.”

“S-She… She uh… y-yeah…” Caramel coughed loudly into his hoof. Mac smiled at him and trotted next to him to swish his tail across Caramel’s face while he passed.

“Yer special Caramel… not just ta me, but in general.” Mac chuckled. He bent over and picked up a stone to stare at it. “Ya don’t gotta act like some dumb rock skippin’ is all yer worth… Ah wouldn’t have ever thought ‘bout havin’ a boyfriend before ya, much less one Ah love so much. Ya taught me a lot ‘bout how ta open up.” Mac scratched behind his head and sighed loudly. “Even if it’s only ta ya.”

“Mac…” Caramel took several steps forward. Mac lifted his hoof and tossed the stone. It hit the water and… splashed. Caramel’s muscles tightened when he looked over to Mac, but the workhorse simply was chuckling.

“Ah say ya still got a thing or two ta teach me.” Mac picked up another rock and held out his free hoof in Caramel’s direction. “Wanna help me, Sugarcube? Ah ain’t gonna get grumpy again, Ah swear.”

Caramel stared at the hoof for several moments, as if unsure or hesitant if he should take it. He looked out to the twilight sky briefly and then to Mac. Mac smiled softly, and was pleased to see one hit Caramel’s face in return. Caramel planted his hoof in the grasp of Mac’s own and roped him closer with a playfully rough pull.

“O-Okay, okay I’ll show you!” Caramel laughed when he landed on Big Macintosh’s body. He wrapped one hoof around Mac’s free foreleg and pecked his shoulder. His smiled seemed genuine this time. “You’re holding your hoof wrong, actually.” He placed his hoof on Mac’s own and began to adjust it correctly until the stone was perfectly flat in his hoof. “Now, don’t move it.”

“Yes, Sugar.” Mac smirked at his lover.

“Don’t give me that look.” Caramel rolled his eyes. Something about Caramel’s smile seemed just a bit brighter than before.

Author's Note

This started as fun annoyed Mac annoyed with not being able to skip rocks and turned into me spilling all my feelings on why Mac likes Caramel and why Caramel likes Mac.

Crossdressing

Author's Note

It's amazing how one little screenshot can inspire you to waste so much time on nothing of value like this.

Crossdressing

“Mac, what the hell?”

Caramel had stood there for quite some time trying to think of anything to say when he saw the sight of the… pony before him. He knew very well that it was a stallion, yet the way this stallion was dressed made him stare uncontrollably. His big, broad muscles covered but still bulging from his dress and skirt and large hard hooves concealed in heels seemed to do nothing but scream in his mind “Stallion stallion stallion!” again and again while he stood there in silence, twisting his mouth. His outburst when the stallion went by almost came out without warning, as if he hadn’t planned it by the way even he bit at his lip when he realized just how loud he had snapped.

Caramel looked to either of his sides nervously and saw several ponies on either side of him each staring at the same sights. Now that he had gotten the attention of the red workhorse, who was now moving closer to him with every step all eyes began to draw to him as well. He stood paralyzed, unable to push away the sudden glances that began to fall on him even when he took a step away from the approaching stallion. Something in his chest clenched, and his breath caught in his throat.

“Why, howdy do, mister cutie pie!” The way Big Macintosh's voice was forcibly raised in octaves scraped the inside of Caramel’s ears in a visible cringe that shook his body. He outstretched his hoof to Caramel and held it before him as if he expected Caramel to grab it and kiss it like he was a mare.

The way his lipstick moved and was applied so… perfectly worried Caramel for just how he had managed to apply all of this without fault. True it didn’t fit his body one tiny bit, but it still wasn’t applied shoddily or even thrown together last minute. What worried Caramel most is that this outfit had to have taken time and effort to construct.

Caramel opened his mouth but it was dry. The eyes of stallions around him pierced deeper into him, and nothing he could say would fix it at this point.

“Mac, what the hell?” He repeated dumbstruck. The stallion before him brought his hoof back and covered his mouth, widening his eyes in shock. He covered his face with his hoof in defeat and lowered his head. Mac’s wig looked incredibly fake, so scratchy and almost like hay. “Why are there bows on your shoes? T-That doesn't even go with... anything you're wearing!"

“Why such choice language from a stallion such as yourself!” Big Macintosh reached out his heel covered hoof and bopped Caramel lightly on his nose. Caramel flinched as if he had just gotten hit and his stomach twisted. Ponies kept staring. “Shame on you, darling! And I have to say referring to me as such a brutish stallion is just flat out rude! Mac’s back at the farm getting some rest! Oh I’m positive he’s mentioned me before! I’m Orchard Blossom! Why me and Mac used to play together all the time as kids!”

“Mac can you please just give me an inkling of sanity right now,” Caramel swallowed a lump in his throat. “W-We’ve talked about cross-dressing before, right? Neither of us like doing that, right? I-I know you didn’t lie to me, I can tell when you lie. T-This isn’t even good cross-dressing, that dress doesn’t suit you at all!”

“And why on earth does a stallion like yourself know so much about cross-dressing in the first place?” The… stallion… shook his head and sighed. He gave a smile but the way Caramel instantly glared him down it didn’t reach his eyes and began to look like it ached his face to keep. “I-If I were to guess I’d say you have some very naughty p-private time!”

“Mac!” Caramel snapped. His cheeks were flushing at this point. His outburst had caused even more ponies to look at them. No no no there was just no way he could think rationally right now. “This is just... y-you don't like cross-dressing!” He hissed under his breath and shut his eyes tightly. It didn’t sound completely unreasonable and insane until Caramel had actually said it outloud, but his breathing was getting faster.

“W-Why sugar… darling,” The stallion’s expression only now began to falter. He looked around himself and only now began to notice all the stares he was acclimating. Caramel took another shrinking step away and felt his cheeks continue to flush. “You look more nervous than a… bushel of… thorns… er… Sugarcube?”

Thank Celestia he lowered his voice. He was whispering at this point, but it was still his normal voice.

“Y-Yeah?” Caramel’s voice was growing quieter. He dared to look Mac in the eye for a few moments despite his nerves and felt his mouth go dry again.

“Do Ah really look that bad?” Mac for the first time was frowning and looking at his hooves. He seemed to be examining his heels.

“Why is that what concerns you?” Caramel shook his head and planted his hoof to his face. “L-Look why are you dressed like that? Y-Your makeup is awful... R-Rarity's done work on stallions and they look much better than... t-this..."

“I found the dress in Granny’s room. AJ doesn’t wear too much frilly stuff.” Big Macintosh blinked and Caramel fell to his seat in the grass and covered his face with both hooves. “Granny only wears it on special occasions but Ah thoug-

“I didn’t mean where you got the dress!” Caramel whined. No amount of rubbing his temples would make his headache go away.

“Oh,” Big Macintosh replied.

“Why are you cross-dressing?” Caramel couldn’t help but groan at this point. Normally he was more… collective and accepting, to put it kindly. But the more this conversation lingered the more he worried his heart would burst from his chest.

“Oh,” Big Macintosh repeated. He brought his hoof to his chin as if he had to think about it for a second. “W-Well Ah… Applejack got called away an’ Applebloom was mighty down ‘bout not bein’ able ta compete today. A-Ah thought she would… she would be happy an’...” He kicked his hoof lightly to the ground.

“This… this isn’t about what’s been bugging you lately, is it?” Caramel reached out a hoof hesitantly towards Mac and placed it lightly on part of his cheek which thankfully hadn’t been exposed to makeup. “About Apple Bloom growing up?”

Big Macintosh’s frown deepened visibly. Caramel pulled his hoof away and felt his belly tighten. He bit his lip for a moment when the two remained in silence. Big Macintosh brushed at his skirt a few times which only made Caramel’s chest tighten.

“L-Look… can you just do what you wanna do? I’m not gonna bring it up after this if you don’t wanna. I think ponies here are gonna ask me questions if I stick around, though,” Caramel scratched behind his head. “A-And I don’t know if I wanna watch you do this.”

“Ya don’t think Ah’m pretty?” Big Mac put on a bit of a smile. He was using the voice again.

“Please don’t make me call you ugly,” Caramel giggled and shook his head. “A-And never use that voice again around me.”

“No promises.” Big Macintosh reached into the pocket of his dress and Caramel heard the sound of a few jingling coins. “Hold on just a sec, Sugercube, ya should go get somethin’ ta eat without me.”

“You don’t have t-”

“All contestants please line up in front of the sign up booth to get your number!” An announcer voice boomed throughout the area. Big Mac’s eyes widened and soon he nearly threw the coins into Caramel’s hooves.

“Gotta go, Darling!” Big Macintosh used the voice again and grabbed Caramel’s face on both sides before planting possibly the longest sloppiest kiss he had ever planted on Caramel in his life. When he pulled away Caramel could feel about five layers of lipstick had rubbed off onto him.

“Now I betcha ain’t even been kissed by a mare like that!” Big Ma… Orchard Blossom winked before turning away and brushing his tail against Caramel’s face. Caramel stood dumbfounded for a moment, unable to do anything but wipe at the lipstick now clearly showing on his flushed face.

Ponies were staring at him, but it was a different kind of stare from before. Half of the ponies were looking at him instead of Mac at this point after that stunt.

“I-I need some cider,” Caramel mumbled while looking at the coins in his hoof.

Depression

“Do ya like flowers at all?”

Big Macintosh knew the question was strange when he saw the look on Applejack’s face turned to confusion. Her large green eyes blinked at him when she wiped her brow with her foreleg. The silence that the two had worked in had finally been broken, though it didn’t seem like it had when his sister took several moments of opening and closing her mouth to even respond.

“Pardon?” Applejack tilted her head.

Big Macintosh twisted his lips and returned his gaze to the thick apple tree before him. He lifted his hoof and pressed it up against the cracked bark. They really were making good progress, these were some of the newest trees they had and the ones closest to Ponyville’s town limits. The sound of apples tumbling into baskets and hooves slamming up onto trunks was usually enough to put Big Macintosh's mind into a state of deep thought while he worked.

The red workhorse ran his hoof down the trunk before he wiped at his own pool of sweat gathering on his face. Applejack was still giving him that gaze that suddenly made the steed hope his red face could be passed off for hard work and not a blush. He bit into his cheek and shrugged his shoulders before shaking his head.

“N-Nothin. We can get some more trees bucked before lunch if we hurry,” Big Macintosh looked away from his sister and scratched his ear. He bit harder into his cheek when her gaze stayed locked onto him. The workhorse quickly walked to the other side of the tree and lifted his legs to kick up against it.

“Just wait a sec-”

“It ain’t nothin, AJ.” Big Macintosh cut his sister off. The apples fell and when they did as did the silence of words. A breeze filled Big Macintosh’s ears instead, but was soon picked up again by his sister’s mouth.

“I like flowers good enough,” Applejack said in a confident tone. The workhorse whinnied quietly when he realized she wasn’t going to drop the question. “Sure they’re mostly just weeds and all, but a flower ain’t ever bit me. Least not yet.”

“Ah uh…” Big Macintosh could heard Applejack’s hoofsteps grow closer to him. He tried to keep his face stone and straight, but he recalled that was growing more and more difficult these days. “That’s… good… Look we should finish up.”

“Now just wait a darn tootin second” Applejack trotted right in front of her brother and lifted her brow as well as the brim of her hat. She held up her hoof and pressed it down to Big Macintosh’s chest. “Ya don’t normally ask silly small talk questions. What’s up.”

Big Macintosh opened his mouth and then closed it again. He attempted a hard stare into Applejack’s eyes, but her fiery determination suddenly caused his chest to feel tight. He looked away, and realized he showed a sign of weakness when she took a step forward.

“Do ya… do ya like it when a stallion gives ya flowers?” Big Macintosh asked in a tone that was close to a mumble.

“This ain’t some dumb plan to set me up on a blind date, is it?” Applejack questioned. She didn’t seem as accusing as she might have been, but more curious. “Nothin’ like that, right?”

“Nope.” Big Macintosh shook his head. He looked down to the grass under his hooves and kicked at the base of the tree trunk lightly. He let out a sigh. “It’s just… Would ya ever give a stallion flowers? Ah mean… that wouldn’t be weird?”

“Ah wouldn’t really think of that, no.” Applejack shook her head and adjusted her hat. “Is this about Caramel?”

Big Macintosh knew that if he wasn’t blushing before he was now. He simply nodded his head and continued staring down at his hooves. He suddenly began to feel big and clunky the more thoughts tumbled around in his head.

“He’s not my boyfriend!” Applejack tried to laugh, though when Big Macintosh met her eyes he realized she was trying to comfort him. “I mean, you’re the one who’d know him best. Why are you asking me about it? I’m not all soft and mushy like you two are.”

“Ah ain’t…” Big Macintosh considered arguing, but he simply shook his head. “Ah just… Ah don’t normally give him stuff like that. Ah don’t know if stallions like that.”

Applejack leaned up against the trunk of the tree. “I don’t think about gift giving that much when I date ponies.” She shrugged her shoulders at her brother. “Why do ya ask, anyway?”

“Caramel’s just…” Big Macintosh lifted his hoof and began to rub his neck in small circles. “Caramel ain’t been feelin’ well… Ah want him ta feel better. Ah don’t really know what’d do that right now.”

“Is he sick again?” Applejack questioned.

“No, he ain’t feelin’ bad like that,” Big Macintosh pulled on the end of his mane. He began to feel an irritating tick in his chest the more he was forced to talk. “Ah just saw him a few times last week an… an every time he just felt sad.”

“Sad?” Applejack’s lips twisted a bit in thought. “Was he upset about somethin’? He looked happy last time he was here.”

Big Macintosh shrugged his shoulders. He sat himself down on the grass and sighed once more when he thought about it. Applejack soon did the same. For a while the breeze rustling the leaves above their heads was all that was heard.

“Caramel just feels down sometimes… It ain’t anypony’s fault.” The workhorse frowned and looked into Applejack’s eyes. “He talks a lot about why he’s feelin’ like that. It’s a lot of little things, but he still feels off ‘bout them… He didn’t want ta leave the house at all last week.”

“So he’s feelin’ a little under the weather,” Applejack said with a frown still lingering on her lips. “And ya think flowers are gonna make him feel better?”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh started to nod his head, but it sooned turned to a shake. “Nope… Ah mean… Ah don’t know. He’s lost some energy and keeps gettin’ scared that Ah’m upset at him. He thinks Ah’ll get mad that he cries sometimes or that he’s gained some weight or silly stuff.” The workhorse wrapped his forelegs around his body. “Ah don’t know what ta say when he babbles like that. Ah tell him Ah love him an hold him long as he don’t feel too nervous ‘bout it.”

“Well what else have ya tried?” Applejack tilted her head. The shade from the tree had finally begun to cool the two of them off from their work, and their sweat had dried off their bodies. “Ah mean… Ah feel down sometimes. When we were little ya used ta let me help you work on the farm. Or just listen to my problems.”

“Ah don’t think that’d work for Caramel,” Big Macintosh shook his head and let out a grumble of frustration when he pulled up several blades of grass. “Ah’m just tryin’ ta make him feel like it ain’t all bad. We talked a little ‘bout the trees here an made dinner together a few nights. First few nights he really didn’t wanna sleep together, so w-”

“Ew ew ew!” Applejack cried out and slapped both her hooves down on either side of her head. “Sweet Celestia! Ah don’t wanna think about my brother and his boyfriend in bed!”

“S-Sorry,” Big Macintosh chuckled. Applejack took a few moments to remove her hooves from her ears but she smiled as well. “B-But he liked kissin’ still… last time Ah visited he even started it. He’s gettin’ a little better but… A-Ah convinced him that t’night we could go on a date outside.”

“So that flower thing is just…” Applejack swatted her hoof through the air a bit.

The workhorse shrugged his shoulders yet again. “Ah don’t really know. Ah just wanna let him know Ah ain’t upset with him… If he’s still too upset ta go inta town we can just go an’ look at stars. An if he’s feelin’ up for it Ah’ve been savin’ up enough bits fer a nice night.”

“Hmm…” Applejack put her hoof up to her lips.

“What’s wrong?” Big Macintosh lifted his brow.

“It’s just… Caramel could always not want ta go out.” Applejack frowned again, and Big Macintosh found himself soon to follow. “Ah know sometimes Ah bounce back and forth between feelin’ a little better and back to bad.”

“Ah just want him ta know Ah love him,” Big Macintosh mumbled with a blush covering his freckles. Applejack gave him a small smile that only made the stallion look away from her gaze. “If Ah have ta push him a bit it’s because Ah want him ta be happy." The workhorse began molding his hooves together. “Ah’ve been thinkin’ all mornin’ what he’d like. Just make him feel special. Ah don’t know if stallions like flowers, but mares like it when Ah gave them flowers.”

“Mac, I see the way Caramel looks at you,” Applejack smirked and seemed to hold back a laugh. “You could give him a pile of leaves and he’d melt if ya buttered him up a bit first.”

The workhorse smiled at that.

Applejack suddenly clapped her hooves together and hopped up to stand. Big Macintosh started at her and blinked his emerald eyes. She gave her back legs a stretch before staring up at the sky to adjust the brim of her hat.

“Well, I’d say that you’ll have fair better luck makin’ that silly stallion feel better if ya don’t smell like dirt and sweat. Why don’t you go clean up a bit and think ‘bout if you wanna throw in a few more bits into tonight’s bucket.” Applejack smiled down at her brother and turned towards the direction of apple trees which needed to be picked.

“Don’t ya need help?” Big Macintosh slowly got to his own hooves. “Ah don’t have ta be there fer two hours.”

“He’ll like it if you go see him early,” Applejack nodded her head confidently when she looked back to the workhorse. “Ah’m sure he doesn’t just wanna worry bout if he looks good enough ta see his boyfriend. Ya act like I’ve never handled a day’s work for two on my own before.”

“But… are ya sure yer fine?” The stallion tilted his head. He could feel his own hooves become ancy at the idea of leaving to see Caramel early. He must look like a silly colt.

The mare waved her hoof to shoo her brother away. “Go do the thing I don’t wanna hear about later.”

Big Macintosh smiled at his sister and soon received one in return. His chest felt a bit less constricted and his mind more clear. Now all he had to figure out was what kind of flowers Caramel might like. With that thought on his mind he took his first step/

“Thanks fer listenin, AJ.”