Braeburn's Big Adventure

You wanna hear a story, huh? A romantic one… with sex? The weirdest one ah got? Erm, well, I don’t normally talk about this sorta stuff with anypony, especially near strangers like yourselves. Ah guess this is one that’d be good to get off my chest though. It’s actually all about getting something off my chest. It turned out alright when ah did it then, so I guess it’ll be okay now. Uhhm, give me just a minute, ah ain’t used to telling stories all that much, especially something like this.

Alright, ah’m a guessin’ the best place to start would be the day ah was packin’ a few things for my trip, my big adventure as ah’ve taken to callin’ it. Now, travelin’ to Ponyville to see my family and such is a pretty normal thing for me. This certainly wasn’t the first time ah’d been down, and certainly wasn’t the last neither. Ah considered this here adventure a bit grander because one reason, and one reason only. Ah was gonna try’in re-connect with my cousin, Big Mac. We’d been friends when we were little colts, but as time drew on, we sorta drifted apart. Ah was never able to get him talkin’ like we had when ah was a little one. Ah knew it was gonna be tough, but ah was downright determined to do it this trip. That’s why my trip was gonna be a big one. You’re wonderin’ where the romance and sex comes in on this one? Ya think ah’ll probably meet a handsome stallion along the way? Well, you’re just gonna have to wait and see.

As ah was stuffin’ a few things into my saddle bags which ah noticed were startin’ to get worn down, ah couldn’t help but get all excited about seein’ Applejack and Mac and even ol’ Miss Smith. That, and ah was itchin’ for a change of scenery. The dried up seas of grass and rocky, desert cliffs of Appleloosa are alright, but they start to get old after a while, especially when everything is bakin’ in the midsummer heat. Ah was more than ready to see some nice green hills for once and especially some big ol’ mountains and flowers and forests and such. Even better was the change of faces. Seein’ the same people each and every day gets tired after a while too, especially in such a small town like Appleloosa. Ah was ready to see new faces and those familiar ones of my kin… especially Big Mac’s.

After packin’ up what little ah had, ah put my hat on my head, strapped on my saddle bags, and was out the door. Ah made it to the train station a little early, and was pretty disappointed when ah did. It was another arid day and the sun was beamin’ down on me like the heat inside an oven. Even sittin’ under the shade of the awning was hotter than the depths of Tartarus. Ah eventually stood up from the bench ah was restin’ on because sittin’ was almost hotter than standin’. Ah tapped my hoof impatiently on the wooden deck beneath it, and even started pacin’ back and forth before the train finally came chuggin’ in. It’s whistlin’ greeting rang through my heart givin’ me a rush of excitement beyond what ah was already feelin’. Energy surged through legs as ah watched the dark gray coal smoke barrel out from its chimney. Something that seemed much more beautiful than usual. It was hard to wait for even just the few passengers that were on the train to get off. I was rip-roaring and ready to go! My hooves were clackin’ away as ah hopped giddly on over to the train.

Ah showed the conductor my ticket and settled myself into a seat as quickly as ah could, like he was a waitin’ for me and the train would leave the moment my backside touched down. That wasn’t the case, a’course. While ah was waitin’ for the train to get a move on, ah started to figure ah could catch some shut eye on the ride over, so ah’d be all energized when ah arrived. Once things did finally get rollin’, well, ah was much too riled up to even relax. All ah could think about was Big Mac… and the others too, but mostly Big Mac. Ah was thinkin’ about the best course of action to take on catching up with him and rebuilding our relationship, maybe even stronger than it was way back when. Luckily for me, there wasn’t many passengers heading to Ponyville, so ah could do a lot more thinkin’ instead of talkin’. Ah figured my eyes needed somethin’ interesting to look at while my mind was busy workin’, so ah turned my gaze out the window, even rested my forehead on the cool pane every once and a while. Slowly but surely, desert turned to beautiful, rollin’ hills that got greener and greener the closer we came to the mountains. Eventually, the hills gave way to rockier, mountainous terrain, and then we reached the beautiful valleys that surround Ponyville. Ah was more than pleased to see the straw covered tops of Ponyville’s many quaint cottages, and the large spire of the town hall at their center.

Ah was growin’ all anxious to get off the train and to Sweet Apple Acres. Ah’d finally gotten my plan for Mac all figured out and ready to be put into action. Since the big guy worked all the time, ah figured ah’d just tag along with him and help out. Ah was takin’ what ah considered a vacation at the time, but that didn’t mean ah couldn’t be nice and thank my gracious hosts for their hospitality. That, and the only way to actually spend time with anypony in the Apple family was to work with’em. We’re the type that never really stops. The problem was just gettin’ him to accept the help. We Apples are also pretty stubborn folk.

My body was sore as ah stood up from the old bench. It was cushioned and all, but sittin’ there for as long as ah did really got to me. Along with that, ah was feelin’ a little woozy and out of it. Ah knew ah shoulda caught a few hours of shut eye, but a’course ah didn’t. Ah gave the conductor a quick nod of thanks before steppin’ off and was greeted by a few wide, welcomin’, Apple family grins. “Howdy there, gals, ah didn’t know you’d be waitin’ for me,” ah said with a wave, squintin’ in the strong afternoon sunshine to see each of the Apple filly’s faces. Granny Smith looked as ancient as ever, but happy and in good health. Apple Bloom was getting’ older, ah could tell, but still no cutie mark on her flank. Then there was my cousin, AJ, lookin’ gorgeous like always but a little tuckered out from a day on the farm. There was no Big Mac in sight though.

“Howdy there, Braeburn,” Applejack greeted as she trotted over and gave me a big ol’ hug.

“Hey cuz,” I muttered, squeezin’ her back just as tight.

“Brae!” Apple Bloom yelped happily as she came over and gave my leg a hug as strong as AJ’s.

“Where’s all your luggage?” AJ asked as she pulled away, giving me a pat on the back.

“Ah got all ah need right here,” I said, noddin’ to my saddlebags.

“Packin’ only the necessities, huh? Like any good Apple should,” she said, given’ me a wink with those deep green eyes of hers.

“And howdy to you too, Granny,” ah said to Granny Smith, givin’ her a kiss on the cheek.

“Hello, dearie,” she said with a grin.

“Now where’s, Big Mac?” ah asked as ah pulled away, given’ each of them a look.

“He’s just out workin’ as always,” AJ said, givin’ me a shrug. “Dunno when he’ll finish up, but he’ll be back by dinner, ah’m sure.

“How are ya?” Apple Bloom asked as we turned and started makin’ our way to the farm.

“Ah’m doin’ just fine… but pretty darn tired even though all ah did today was sit,” ah admitted.

“Well, after dinner you can settle in early if you’d like,” Applejack said kindly. The thought of a comfy bed and some warm covers sure did seem like a lovely prospect.

“Now that sounds mighty fine,” ah said with a nod. It was nice to see the many lively and friendly ponies of Ponyville wanderin’ around the town again. It was even nicer sayin’ sayin’ howdy to each and every one of’em too. It wasn’t long before we got to the outskirts of town though, wasn’t much life at all there. So ah got to thinkin’ again, and then talkin’. Ah turned to Applejack, “Ya think Mac might want some help?”

“Nah,” she said with a short shake of her head. “He’ll be fine, and besides, ya need to rest up don’tcha?”

“Yeah, true enough,” ah said with a sigh. “Speakin’ of helpin’ out, ah figured ah could do a little of that while ah’m here.”

“Ah’d never turn down another Apple’s help, but don’t be silly, cuz,” AJ said, shakin’ her head. “You’re takin’ a vacation. You don’t need to be workin’.”

“It’s not really that, ah just wanna spend some time with Mac and you is all, and since you’re out workin’ all day, ah won’t have much.”

“True, true, makes enough sense ta me,” Appplejack said with a nod this time.

“Or ya could spend time with me. Ah’ll be around the house for most of the day, ya know?” Granny Smith told me with the sweetest of smiles. Ah had to let her down gently.

“Well, Granny, ah wanted to spend time with everypony, includin’ you, and as for Big Mac, well ah hardly ever get to talk to him anymore.”

“Hmpf, suit yourself,” she said with a huff.

***

Well, ah guess ah should skip ahead to the more important stuff, huh? We didn’t really talk much after that anyways. Ah had helped the Apple fillies as much as ah could while they started preparing for dinner, but for the most part, they seemed to be handlin’ it well enough on their own. Ah sorta felt like ah had become more of a nuisance than anything. So ah ended up sittin’ back and watchin’ after settin’ the table. The evenin’ light was dying away as Celestia began lowering the sun behind the hills. Instead of gettin’ settled in, my worries were risin’. Big Mac still hadn’t showed up. Ah hadn’t even gotten to give him a nice friendly hello yet. What was he doin’ out there that was takin’ him so long?

Ah stepped out onto to the porch for a moment, not only to get some fresh air for my exhausted mind but to see if ah could spot Mac out in the distance. On the horizon were shadowed hills met with the cultivated fields and pink skies fading to purple above’em. Besides that, there was nothin’. That colt was nowhere to be found. Ah stood there a moment longer, hopin’ to catch sight of him. All was silent besides the chirpin’ of happy crickets and a slight breeze wistlin’ through the fields.

As ah gave up and headed back inside, ah was greeted by the pleasantest of smells: apples, cinnamon, and sugar. It’d been there the whole time, but ah must’ve grown used to it. Well, ah wasn’t anymore, and my stomach was growlin’ fiercer than a pampered cat who missed a meal. We sat down to what ah would consider a banquet of wonderful home cooked dishes. The talkin’ was the usual family discussion about each other’s day and what they were planning on workin’ on the next. There wasn’t even the slightest mention of Big Mac’s absence. Ah would like to tell ya ah was too worried to even eat, but ah couldn’t resist food made by Granny and AJ. They were some of the best cooks around. Besides, not eatin’ was impolite. As it says in the name, that down home comfort food was certainly doin’ the trick of comfortin’. Wasn’t long before Big Mac finally did show up. Lemme tell ya, when ah heard that door openin’ up, my heart was jumpin’ faster than a jack rabbit.

“Mac!” ah yelped giddily, pushin’ myself out of the seat and rushin’ over to give him a big ol’ hug. Ah squeezed him tight, but he seemed rather stiff. Ah noticed his eyes were bulgin’ out of his head too. Ah guess ah startled him a little with my affection.

“Eyup,” he said like always as ah pulled away, givin’ my back a slight pat.

“Erm, ah’m sorry about that, Mac. Ah just haven’t seen ya for so darn long.”

“Eyup,” he said again.

Ah sat down to finish my meal, still as worried as ever. Ah new Big Mac was a quiet fella, but gosh darn, he used to not be around me. Ah was still tryin’ to figure out whatever had come between us. Ah was sure nothin’ ever went sour with the two of us, at least not that ah remembered. Ah was sure ah would’ve remembered somethin’ like that too.