As The Seasons Change

by Storm Butt

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Sad, Romance
Length: 7802

What is right when it comes to love? Can you simply push away feelings that eat away at the heart?

Big Macintosh knows he has a cousin named Braeburn, he knows that he lives in Appleloosa a thousand miles away, but he doesn't know the pony himself, not really. Perhaps the fact that his cousin rarely visited is to blame, or it could be because of his extreme shy nature that he isn't close to his own family member.

Regardless of if he is well acquainted with his cousin or not isn't the issue, the issue at hand is that his cousin is coming to visit, trying to get his life together once and for all with family breathing down his neck to finally settle down so not to end up a lonely old stallion.

While trying to be supportive of his cousin, Big Macintosh finds himself growing closer to the yellow coated fellow… perhaps a bit too close.

Incest is Wincest, don't like don't read.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-07-26 04:08:26 UTC

Rest Stop

Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to The Hub, Hasbro, Studio B, and Lauren Faust. I do not own any of these characters in any way or how, nor do I claim ownership to the pony franchise. These characters are simply my toys.

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"How on earth could I forget somebody like you?"

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As The Seasons Change

Chapter 1: Rest Stop

Big Macintosh paused briefly as he contemplated the words that had just left his sisters mouth and entered his ears.  He wasn’t sure what exactly distracted him from hearing the words the first time, nor did he bother to think about it much.  The gentle breeze sweeping under the branches of the trees began whipping the tufts of his orange mane and casually cooled off his sweating body as his hind legs left the apple trees behind him.  He braced himself for the sudden increasing of weight on his back as hoards of apples landed in the baskets on either side of his body.  He let out a small grunt as he worked his leg muscles to put himself back up normally.

“What was, AJ?” Big Macintosh questioned, his deep voice slightly raspy, as if he hadn’t used it to speak more than a few words in quite a long time.  The curtains of his eyelids opened and shut several times.

Applejack gave her brother an annoyed glance out of the corner of her eyes.  “Ah said,” The orange earth pony stated in a matter-of-factly tone of voice, stomping one hoof on the ground to catch her brothers eye, as if to make sure he was paying attention this time around.  “Remember our cousin, Braeburn?” She asked, her emerald green eyes lighting up.

Big Macintosh had to contemplate this question for several moments as him and his sister stood in the orchard of Sweet Apple Acres.  The trees surrounding them would have confused any common pony, but both he and his kin knew the land by heart.  It was their home, their work, almost everything about them revolved around their orchard.  As the large red stallion thought about this question, he found himself cocking up a brow.  “Brae… burn?” He asked.  Nothing was coming to mind, not a single thing.  How on earth the topic of their family had come to Applejack’s mind was beyond him in the first place.

“C’mon Big Mac, me and him used to play together as foals all darn time at every family reunion!” His sister said, his sister’s own eyes lighting up once more as she reminisced in fond memories “Me an’ him used ta get in all kinds ‘er trouble together when we were little, heck I just visited him to deliver Blumberg not even two whole months ago!”

At that instant it clicked in Big Macintosh’s mind who exactly his sister was referring to.  “The… cousin in Appleloosa?” He asked on a whim.

“’Course ya featherbrain!” His sister teased, trotting over to him and nudging his side with her upper leg, winking with one of her eyes.  “Did ya think I was talkin’ ‘bout Granny’s old apple pickin’ cousin?”

Big Macintosh focused on the freckles on his sisters cheeks, having a dozen dots stare at him was better than her teasing glances.  He became glad for his red coat as he felt a hint of pink come upon his cheeks, which he quickly hid and signs of by shaking his head and moving on.  “Why… why would ya bring him up at a time like this?”

“Well,” Applejack began, kicking her front leg lightly on the ground, kicking up a large cloud of dirt as she took several steps in front of her older brother.  “Aunty Gala sent us a letter about him.” She stated innocently.

Big Macintosh cocked up an eyebrow.  He could always tell when his little sister was hiding something from him.  “That so?” He murmured out.  “What ‘bout?”

Applejack paused briefly, as if wondering how to phrase the next part of her speech.  “Apparently she’s gettin’ mighty worried for him, he is just refusin’ to settle down with a mare.  She’s gettin’ worried that he’ll grow old and alone or something like that.”  Applejack paused, glancing at her brother.  “Like ya need to worry ‘bout.” She added.  Big Macintosh became relieved she didn’t push this side topic any further.

“So, she wanted him to try and find a mare ‘round these parts!” Applejack said.  She looked away from her older brother as he slowly followed behind her.  “An’… ah might er told her that he could stay here for a while… just a while, not that long.” Applejack said.

“W-Wait, what?” Big Macintosh asked, bewilderment in his voice.  “You didn’t even ask me ‘bout it?” He didn’t seem angry, just a tad shocked.

“W-Well, he is family after all, gotta look after our kin and such!” Applejack said, turning to glare at her older brother.  “Wouldn’t ya have decided the same darn thing?” She asked.

Big Macintosh rolled his eyes as he stepped forward up to his sister.  “You aren’t just doing this to get Aunty Gala to spread connections for sellin’ these here apples, are ya?” He asked, looking down at his little sister with a cocked up eye.

The red stallion was greeted with a hoof in his side.  “S-Shut it, he’s kin, like ah said!” Applejack defended herself, her cheeks flushing a pale red.  She put her nose up and began to trot off.  “Anyways, he’ll be here sometime tomorrow?”

“Droppin’ this mighty suddenly, aren’t ya?” Big Macintosh asked, trotting up to his sister once more.  “Ah mean, couldn’t even give me a little warnin’?  We’re entering the cold season soon, we’ll be strugglin’ for rations as it is!”

“Brae ain’t a baby!” Applejack stated “He’ll pull his own weight, don’t worry.  He’s used ta apple buckin’, a little colder climate ain’t gonna change that!”

“But…” Big Macintosh stopped his conversation at that point, knowing full well that he wasn’t going to be able to convince his sister otherwise.  Besides, if he was arriving tomorrow, he would already be on the train.  It would seem rude to just send him home or to not let him stay with them for a while.  It was only going to a while anyway.

“Big Mac, ya comin’?” Applejack called as she walked down the memorized path back to the barn “Granny an’ Applebloom gotta eat tonight, ah’ll go on ahead and fix us all some apples fer dinner.”

Big Macintosh simply nodded to his sister and watched her gallop off with barrels full of apples on her sides.  He simply took it slowly, allowing himself time to take in the world he knew so well around him.

The red stallion blinked his emerald eyes open and shut, open and shut.  It was just like Applejack to drop some big news on him like this so suddenly, she didn’t usually take the time to think in advance of this she thought weren’t all that important.  If anything, Big Macintosh was shocked he wasn’t hearing about the news tomorrow three hours before his cousin came.

“Sure is pretty.” Big Macintosh mumbled to himself at the green leaves beginning to be dipped in paints of orange and brown.  As he wondered what life was going to be like with another family member around, the stallion simply enjoyed the scenery like it was brand new, golden, not yet to rust by the sands of time.

Big Macintosh felt the tips of his hooves glide softly upon the glass of the pictures he stared at what was held behind the frames.  Black and white pictures of Granny Smith and her family when they first came to Ponyville, newer pictures of his parents before their tragic death, and some scattered about of the family around Equestria.

The red stallion’s green eyes shifted across the glass frames, following his dragging hoof until he came to a picture that caught his eye.  He slowly reached out his other hoof and grasped the picture on either side before pulling it down.

The sounds of running water hit his ears, he imagined both Applejack and Applebloom must be doing the dishes, it was their turn this week after all.  Big Macintosh looked briefly at the light coming from the kitchen and then turned his head back to the picture, and stared at his Aunt Gala.  Her orange coat that matched Applejack’s was almost uncanny as she wore a cowpony hat, sitting down with a blanket wrapped up in her arms.  It was a small blanket, obviously something was tucked inside of it.  Or perhaps it was more certain to state that it was somepony wrapped in that blanket, likely cousin Braeburn.

The earth pony stared closer at the blanket, making out the tip of a yellow ear.  The more he thought about it, he could picture his little sister and another pony running around when he was not quite a colt yet not quite a stallion yet.  Aunt Gala and his parents were awful close to each other, likely more than the rest of the family was to each other.  That must have all changed when both his parents died and Applejack started becoming more stubborn, and he himself stopped talking as much.

Big Macintosh remained silent as he stared at the picture.  He knew he had a cousin named Braeburn, he just couldn’t picture his face in the slightest, nor his mane or cutie mark.  He could remember him… mostly remember him… just that darn face.

It was always comfortable living with his Granny and sisters, so comfortable in fact that besides the family reunions, which Braeburn and Aunt Gala never attended, he sometimes thought they were the only ones in the family… but the fact remained that he did indeed have a cousin, a cousin around Applejack’s age.  A cousin who was going to start living with them tomorrow…

Big Macintosh focused on the yellow ear for a long time.  The face of his cousin Braeburn still wasn’t coming to mind, and he was positive this was the only picture of his relatives over in Appleloosa.

The earth pony let out a small sigh, closing his eyes and leaning his head down a few inches.  Braeburn had to be at least five or six years younger than he was…  that was how much younger Applejack was.

Big Macintosh’s ears erected themselves as the sound of water ceased, as did the small talk of his two sisters about school life and work life.  The stallion quickly placed the picture back in its proper place and turned, trotting in the darkness to the stairway up into his room.

As the stallion traveled up into his room, he allowed the subject of Braeburn to slip into the back of his mind, deciding to pick it up once more in the morning.

Big Macintosh refused to let the sun beating down on his back bother him.  Celestia’s sun may have been causing his body to sweat and his coat to become sleek as he pulled along the cart filled to the brim with fresh apples.  He allowed himself to lift up a hoof and whip it across his brow to remove the moisture from his eyes.  The stallion didn’t slow down in the slightest however, he was used to work in this kind of weather with his body in even worse condition than this.

But the stallion had to admit, it was hot as hay outside today.  Perhaps Princess Celestia was giving the final days of summer extra heat, for autumn was quickly approaching.

The red earth pony opened his eyes once more.  Braeburn should be here at nightfall is what Applejack told him, at least if he remembered correctly.  He would sleep in the living room for a few days until they managed to fix up the guest room they had currently been using as a storage room for the past years.  Why Applejack hadn’t told him earlier so he could clean out the room himself, he would never know.

The earth pony picked up speed a tiny bit, wanting to simply take these apples to Sugar Cube Corner, both Mister and Miss Cake wanted to use them for Apple Fritters and Apple Pie recipes, and collect the money so he could go and get a head start on Braeburn’s room, at least then he could sleep in his own room tonight.

“Horse apples…”

Big Macintosh ceased as those words entered his ears.  He wasn’t sure why that simple voice of annoyance stood out in the large crowd the most.  He was in the center of town for pony’s sake, there were dozens of voices!  Perhaps it was the fact that the voice was different from the rest, or perhaps the frantic tail whipping past his head as the voice traveled next to him, and the source even bumped into the cart, although it didn’t affect the contents whatsoever.

The stallion blinked a few times as he turned his head around.  The first thing that met his eyes was the long, flowing, golden mane of the stallion that just passed his cart.  He had a cowpony hat atop his head, and a vest on his body.  Both of the items were worn, old and tattered yet wearable, showing the stallion was a hard worker.

Big Macintosh let his emerald eyes drift down to the ground as he spotted a small bag, its contents had spilled out and several golden bits showed themselves on the ground.  The stallion didn’t know what came over him as he called out “Sir?” his voice gave no response from the stallion becoming lost in the crowd.

The red stallion quickly let the cart drop from the horse collar around his neck and trotted over to the bag of spilled bits, gathering them back up and tying the knot with his hoof.  “Sir?” He called again, galloping forward, dodging between unicorns and pegasi alike as he got closer to the yellow stallion.

As he got closer, he reached out a hoof and tapped the stallion’s back.  He watched the pony jump and whip his head around.  His green eyes met Big Macintosh’s in silence, the gentle blowing breeze blew his golden mane slowly as he raised a brow in question.  Big Macintosh was silent for several moments, he wasn’t sure why, but he thought he was blushing…

“C-Can ah help ya?” The stallion asked, his clear accent breaking through.

Big Macintosh jumped at the words.  “T-This!” He stated, earning a confused look from the earth pony before him.  He quickly shook his head, and held out the small bag.

The yellow stallion’s gaze fell to the small bag before his eyes widened.  “O-Oh, gosh,” He quickly spit out, taking the bag back and stuffing it in his vest, cheeks turning a pale pink.  “Ah… Ah didn’t even realize ah dropped it!” He paused briefly, as if summoning the courage before raising his head and looking into Big Macintosh’s eyes.  “T-Thank ya kindly.” He said, smiling softly.

Big Macintosh found himself looking away from the stallion in front of him.  He still wasn’t sure why, perhaps the heat was getting to him or something like that.

“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh found the words leaving his mouth.  He quickly ducked his head and turned away, not allowing himself to speak another word, nor for the other to thank him further.

That stallion stuck in his mind the rest of Big Macintosh’s trip to Sugar Cube Corner.

Big Macintosh carried the bag of bits in his mouth as he drug the empty cart.  He had picked his share of apples early today, so he could spend the rest of the day attempting to fix up Braeburn’s room at the very least.  He knew Applejack would make him do most of the work anyway, might as well get a head start.

The wind gently whipped the stallion’s orange mane, the horse collar around his neck began to feel heavier.  He knew he was going to be exhausted by day’s end.  The things he would do for his family never surprised him, but he wished that he wasn’t the only stallion with enough strength to do all of the heavy lifting at times, even if he was used to it.

The red earth pony blinked several times as he glanced at the sky.  It had to be around three at the very least.  That gave him plenty of time before Braeburn arrived.  The area was still bustling with ponies, although they were in less numbers.  He lifted his head, the breeze at least felt nice.  He passed by random houses and businesses as he wandered around the town.

It was around the time Big Macintosh was pondering what exactly to do with all of the junk in the spare bedroom that something caught his eye.  He turned his head as he saw him again… the stallion from before.  He was currently sitting on a bench next to the fountain in the middle of the town market center, he seemed to be fiddling his hooves impatiently.

Normally Big Macintosh would have simply walked by the stallion and not stop for anything.  But something… perhaps the golden flowing mane, or simply the way he was acting held his attention no matter how hard he tried to push it away.  The stallion sighed, quickly backing up the cart into an alleyway he usually used to put it, and unhooked it from his collar.

What in Equestria was he even doing?

The stallion found himself trotting forward across the hoard of ponies, not really sure of what was coming over him to make himself do this.  He planted his rump down on the bench next to the stallion, hearing him gasp softly in surprise.  He saw out of the corner of his eye the yellow face turn and the large eyes blink several times.  “Oh, it’s ya!” The earth pony said, pointing out a hoof.  “Thank ya kindly again, ah woulda gotten an earful if ah lost this!” He said.  Big Macintosh turned his head to see the yellow stallion hold up the bag of bits from before.

Big Macintosh simply nodded.  Why was he even here, shouldn’t he be fixing up Braeburn’s room?  He paused for a while.  “Ya ain’t from round these parts, are ya?” He mumbled.

The stallion blinked several times.  “Yeah… it’s the accent ain’t it?” He said, chuckling nervously.  “Ya got the same one, ya travelin’ too?”

Big Macintosh shook his head.  “Born and raised in these here parts.” He mumbled, reaching a hoof behind his head to gently rub his mane, trying to calm his nerves.  He was shy when talking to anypony, all except for his family.  Normally he would have just replied “Eeyup” or “Enope” and gotten the question over with.  Why was he so talkative with this stallion?

The smaller stallion nodded.  “Yah, ah got here a little early, supposed to meet somebody here, train was real fast though.” He said.  “Reckon ah got myself a few hours.”

Big Macintosh felt his cheeks tint, and became thankful for his red coat once more.  “So, you’re new here, never been here?” He asked.

The stallion shook his head.  “Not since ah was barely more than a foal, ah don’t ‘member nothin’ ‘bout these parts.”  He looked up at the sky.  “Sounds silly, but ah’m a little nervous.  ‘Round my house there’s nothin’ but earth ponies… here there are all kinds er ponies, unicorns, pegasi…” He mumbled.

Big Macintosh shrugged.  “Ain’t nothin’ ta worry ‘bout.” He almost whispered.  “Almost everypony ‘round here is friendly.” He was waiting for the other to reply, it took him a few moments before he realized that he was not going to get a response.  “So…” He mumbled.  “If ya want… ah can show ya ‘round these parts…”

What in the world was he saying?  He needed to go home and work?  He should take it back now… right now…

“Really?” The stallion asked.

“Sure.” Big Macintosh replied at once.  What was wrong with him today?

The golden stallion sat up “O-Okay, thank ya!” He quickly said, flashing a smile warmly, tipping his hat off of his head.  Big Macintosh didn’t know why, but he blushed at that smile.

“A-Anyway.” Big Macintosh said, standing up quickly and turning away from the yellow earth pony.  “W-Where too?”

The rest of the afternoon was somewhat simple to Big Macintosh.  Both him and the yellow stallion traveled around the whole of Ponyville, one of the only places they didn’t visit was oddly enough the red stallion’s home itself.  His plans of fixing up Braeburn’s room were distracted… he still wasn’t sure why.  He hoped the stallion wouldn’t mind sleeping in the living room for a few days.

“This town sure is pretty nice.” The yellow stallion said softly to himself as they found their way back to the bench they started at.  The twilight sky above was quickly fading to stars and darkness, Luna’s moon began to rise in the sky, not as powerful as the one a few nights before, yet still providing light for all.  “Nicer than my home, it’s more… alive.” He mumbled.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac found himself mumbling out of habit.    It was easy to get caught up is saying the same old thing again and again.  As he followed the other back to the bench, watching him sit down.

The yellow earth pony looked up at Big Macintosh.  “Thank ya kindly… ah feel a little more at home now.” He admitted, blushing gently for no apparent reason.  He looked down.  “Truth really is… ah didn’t wanna come here in the first place really…”

The red stallion blinked several times, cocking up a brow in question, waiting for the stallion to reply.  “W-Well,” The yellow pony mumbled “Ah would have been happy just stayin’ at home, but my folks are worried ‘bout me… specially my mom… she thinks I’ll grow old and alone if ah don’t find a “mate” soon.” He mumbled.  “I don’t really care about that stuff…” He paused briefly.

Big Macintosh paused.  That sounded… familiar… “Why not give it a shot?” He asked, watching the stallion lift up his head “You might like it…”

The stallion looked down.  “Ah suppose…” He mumbled.

Big Macintosh paused, staring at the smaller stallion for several moments.  “W-Well… ah have ta go.” He mumbled, turning away, feeling a tad awkward.  He tried to think of why he had spent his time with this stallion he didn’t even know the name of… he didn’t know… he honestly didn’t know.

“W-Wai-”

“Braeburn!”

The sound of his sister’s voice caused Big Macintosh to lift up his head in surprise.  “A-AJ?” He mumbled.  His eyes watched his sister gallop up.  “Mighty sorry ah’m late, looks like Big Macintosh came to greet ya!” She called out.

The red stallion's mouth fell open, he began whipping his head around and looking at Braeburn.  He instantly felt stupid for not making the connection at first sight, he watched the other’s cheeks burn as he got up and walked to Big Macintosh.

“Yer… yer my cousin?” He asked, his eyes wide, voice curious.

“Ah…” Big Macintosh began before his sister got up to speed with the two.  His cheeks were burning.

“Looks like ah didn’t have to come after all… anyway, let’s get you home, Aunt Gala already sent your stuff, so you can sleep on the couch till the room gets ready.”  She trotted forward, and then glanced back.  “C’mon ya two, we need to get somthin’ in Braeburn before he passes out!”

Big Macintosh looked at his cousin for a long time, Braeburn looked back at him.  His cheeks burned, and he had no idea why once again.

It was always comfortable living with his Granny and sisters, so comfortable in fact that besides the family reunions, which Braeburn and Aunt Gala never attended, he sometimes thought they were the only ones in the family… but the fact remained that he did indeed have a cousin, a cousin around Applejack’s age.  A cousin who was going to start living with them… today…

Makeshift Home

Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to The Hub, Hasbro, Studio B, and Lauren Faust. I do not own any of these characters in any way or how, nor do I claim ownership to the pony franchise. These characters are simply my toys.

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"Leave me alone..."

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As The Seasons Change

Chapter 2: Makeshift Home

Braeburn Apple let his large, green, emerald eyes blink several times as him and his two cousins walked through the darkness of the apple orchard, just recently passing a sign that said in bold letters "Sweet Apple Acres".  The yellow stallion was currently only half listening to Applejack's blabbering about the different trees, and which fields they harvested on which days.  He might have felt bad about hardly paying attention to his cousin, if not for the fact that his eyes kept growing heavier and heavier.  He wasn't sure when the last time he slept was, he hardly got more than a couple of hours on the train.

However, the thought entered the mind of the yellow stallion, the fact that his older cousin trailed behind them, hardly speaking a single word the entire time they walked back, always looking away whenever Braeburn tried to glance behind him, was irritating him more than anything.

Big Macintosh had taken the entire afternoon to show the earth pony around town, and seemed to enjoy himself as they trotted from place to place well enough.  Now he seemed... upset, not exactly angry, but more or less upset.  He wasn't looking at him, didn't speak, and kept his head down as he walked five paces behind him and his cousin.  Braeburn found himself growing worried that he himself had made his cousin upset, after all he had spent the entire day with him, the stallion was likely just trying to show his cousin around, expecting they already knew each other.

Braeburn already bluntly implied that he had no idea that this stallion was his cousin until Applejack decided to come galloping up to meet him.  For all he knew his cousin was just a kind pony until twenty minutes ago.  Boy did he feel like an idiot.

"And there's this mare I want you to meet..." Just as he drifted his ears back to Applejack's voice he found himself met with these confusing words.  He turned back to her, giving his cousin his full attention as he galloped up to her side.

"W-What?" He asked "A-A mare?"  He felt his heart quicken with worry and he gave the other fearful eyes.  He knew that was the reason he was forced to come here in the first place, but what was the point in setting him up on random blind dates?  "I just' got here cousin Applejack, ain't we gonna take things slow?" He almost whined out, trying his best to hind the pure panic in his voice.  He never wanted to settle down so soon in the first place, he was perfectly fine simply working and living his life day to day!

Applejack glanced at her cousin with eyes that held a mixture of both annoyance and determination "Can't expect ta sit on ya hind jus' waitin' for the right mare ta show up at the front door," The orange mare said in an optimistic voice "Gotta get yer hind out there and show the mares of Ponyville what yer made of!"  Braeburn could feel a hoof hit his chest, to which he half winced at and was given yet another glance of annoyance from his cousin.

"Uh... AJ... maybe yer rushin' things."  Braeburn almost stopped as he finally was able to hear the sound of his older cousin's voice once more.  He could feel a small sense of relief flicker in his chest at those words.  As he glanced back, the older still turned away, and his words began to feel more like they came out on their own, and the red stallion was wondering why he said it in the first place.

“Shoot, Big Mac, ya gonna hop on with him too?  Do ya want our cousin ta end up an old and lonely stallion?” She half teased, although there was a sense of serious nature in her voice.  Braeburn briefly wondered why exactly he had to settle down, for he had been living his life just fine without a mare by his side.

Braeburn glanced back at Big Macintosh in desperation, only to notice the stallion was not willing to hold up the argument any longer.

Braeburn felt his heart sink, as well as his ears droop.  His cousin began to speak up again.  “Anyway, this mare ah mentioned, she’s real nice, ya met her when me and my friends traveled ta Appleloosa to deliver Braeburn!” She said.  “She couldn’t stop talkin’ about ya on the way back, she was a little upset for not makin’ a move, what with everything going on she didn’t have the gosh darn time.”

“Really?” Braeburn asked, trying his darn best not to sound completely uninterested by the entire series of events unfolding in front of his own four hooves.  “Which one?” He asked.

“Believe it or not, Rainbow Dash.  Didn’t think she would be into ya… hay ah even thought her barn door might not swing that way.” Applejack paused before nudging her cousin in the chest with her hoof “But maybe she just like’s herself some cowpony after all.” Applejack teased.

Braeburn felt his mind turn wheels as he thought about the name of the mare, the only thing coming to mind was some cyan pony with rainbow colored hair.  “That feisty one?” He asked “Ah don’t know AJ… she doesn’t seem much my type…” He paused.

“Than what is yet gosh darn type?” Applejack said, her voice a mixture of both teasing and also a hint of questioning.

Braeburn half opened his mouth, yet felt it become dry as he tried to speak a word.  Whenever he pictured himself at his wedding, there was never another mare there with him.  When he pictured himself dating as a young colt, he could never see the face of the one galloping beside him.  He had been taught his entire life to work on finding that other mare for him so he could be happy.  Yet he could never picture another mare for him.

“Strong type…” The stallion felt the words pass his lips on their own.  He squeezed his own eyes shut, for he felt like an idiot because what popped into his head.  “Ah… ah mean… Applejack… mind if ah tell ya somethin’?” He began, his voice just above the audible sounds of a whisper.

“There’s the house.” Applejack said, apparently not hearing her cousin “Now let’s get ya inside, probably tuckered out after the long trip, huh?” She asked, cocking up her brow with a smirk on her face before trotting ahead.

Braeburn blinked several times as he stopped, looking at the house before letting out a sigh mixed with both relief and disappointment that Applejack had in fact not heard him.  He tried to summon memories from his colthood, yet couldn’t come up with anything.  He let out a sigh just as he saw the large red colt from behind him pass by his side.  He shook his head and quickly trotted up to his cousin’s side.  “So… Big Mac,” He began “W-What’s it like… livin’ in this here Ponyville ah mean?” He asked.

The red stallion was silent for several moments.  “Like Appleloosa ah’m guessin’.” He said, his tone almost grumbling the words out, as if Braeburn had interrupted his deep thoughts.  “Jus’ colder an’ more of a mixture of ponies.”

Braeburn looked at him with wide eyes as they trotted side by side, becoming slightly irritated that the other’s eyes wouldn’t meet his own.  “So… what do ya do ‘round here for fun?” He asked.  Why the hay was he feeling so awkward all of a sudden?

Big Macintosh paused “Why don’t ya find out yerself?” He asked.  His voice seemed smaller from before… but his voice was still grumbling.  If Braeburn’s eyes weren’t playing tricks on him, his cheeks were tinted pink.

“W-What?” The stallion asked.  He felt his belly tighten.  Was Big Macintosh really so upset that he didn’t recognize him?  Braeburn felt hurt, the red stallion seemed so nice earlier.  He looked down, feeling like he had done something wrong, which he likely had.  He blinked several times before trotting forward on his own.

Braeburn galloped up to meet Applejack, hoping in the back of his mind that by leaving before Big Macintosh could reply had hurt the red stallion in some way.  He quickly plastered a fake smile on his face, trying to forget about his bad mannered cousin as he reached Applejack right before she opened the door.

As the door cracked open and a beam of light from inside shone on the yellow stallions face.  Just before he reached out a hoof to take a step in, he suddenly felt a creature attack his legs.  Braeburn Apple felt himself topple right over as the sound of barking hit his ears and the long, slobbery tongue of a dog drug itself across his face.  He found himself chuckling as he reached out both hooves “Down girl, down!” He said to the small dog attempting to lick off his entire face.

“Winona, bad girl, ya know not to attack strangers!” Applejack said as she gently pushed the dog away before reaching out a hoof to help the fallen stallion back to his hooves.  Just as Braeburn found himself getting up, another voice hit his ears.

“Is he here, is he really here?” And before he knew it a small body of a filly came running around the corner of the staircase to come running down, eyes wide with excitement as she all but slid into the yellow stallion when she jumped off the last step in front of Braeburn.

“Applebloom, ah told ya ta go ta bed right before I left!” Applejack stated in an annoyed voice as she looked down upon her younger sister with judgmental eyes.  The look wasn’t exactly mean, just one expected out of an older sister.

“Wow, your cutie mark’s so cool!” Applebloom cried, admiring Braeburn’s cutie mark yet completely ignoring her sister “How did ya get it?  It’s really neat!”

“Just kinda… appeared.” Braeburn said, after getting over his initial shock at seeing such a get-up-and-go attitude from the filly, he began to giggle in a bit of envy.  He could remember when he was just a colt, and strived for his own cutie mark as well.  He missed that energy he had before the rules of life began to kick into gear.  He supposed that it was only natural for the world to stop looking so golden the more one aged.  “While pickin’ apples I suppose.”

“Really?” Applebloom asked “Ah’ve tried that, but nothin’ happened yet…”

Braeburn was just about to open his mouth to reply to the filly that maybe her special talent lay someplace else before another, raspy voice hit his ears.  He glanced up to see a pair of shaky hind legs scoot on the floor toward him, on top of them was an elderly, green mare with white hair tied behind her head.  “Well, if it ain’t Braeburn!” She cried out in a cheerful voice “Come here and give yer old granny a big ‘ol hug why don’t ya?” She asked.

The yellow stallion quickly split his face into an only half forced grin before trotting forward and embracing his grandmother over the walker she was leaning on, patting her back softly.  “Howdy, Granny!” He mumbled into one of her ears before breaking away.  “So nice to see ya’ll!” He was addressing his entire family this time, not just his grandmother.

“Oh, Granny Smith!” Applejack said in a disapproving voice “Ah thought ah helped ya inta yer bed an hour ago, what are ya doin’ up?”

“Shut yer piehole, Applejack!” Granny Smith said, wagging her hoof “Ah wasn’t jus’ gonna sleep ‘round when my grandson needs ta feel at home!  He’s new in the big city, what with all of that there heavin’ and a hootin’ of the youngin’s around!”

“I’m fine Granny.” Braeburn said, feeling a slight warmth come forth to the tips of his ears.  Even with the warm, perhaps too ecstatic, welcome from his family, he still felt a tad out of place.  He began to wonder why he finally gave in and came to this town in the first place, before Applejack’s loud and proud voice interrupted his train of thought.

“Fine, fine, if we’re gonna all stay up ta talk ta Braeburn, why don’t we at least let him sit down and rest, poor sucker likely been on that train all day!” The orange mare said before giving Braeburn a pat on the back “Let’s all head ta the livin’ room, where we can all sit down!” Her smirk screamed trying too hard in Braeburn’s eyes to make him feel welcomed.  However it could be the fact that Braeburn didn’t want to be here in the first place that caused everything.

Braeburn began to follow both his younger cousin and grandmother, leaving Applejack and Big Macintosh to follow.  He paused, only briefly as the next words exited the mouth of Applejack “Big Mac, aren’t ya comin’?”

The yellow stallion turned his head in question as he stared at the red stallion who looked like he was already half way to the steps leading upstairs.  It took Braeburn exactly three seconds of silence before he realized those green eyes were staring at him.  He began feeling fidgety, wanting nothing more than to look away.  There was something about those eyes that made him uncomfortable, made him feel as if they were examining him in all the wrong ways… But that was silly wasn’t it, just his imagination… after all, they were both stallions… not to mention cousins on top of that.

“Why are you blushing then?” A voice in the back of his mind inquired.  He jumped at almost the exact moment, realizing that his cheeks were indeed red.  He began to feel even more uncomfortable, and thanked Celestia that Big Macintosh finally worked up the energy to take his eyes from his own body after what seemed like an eternity.

“Ah feel tired, ah better go ta bed.” The red stallion muttered before turning his head and walking his four legs up the stairs, one after another.

“Kay… g’night.” Applejack murmured.  “What’s got his apples outta the tree?” She asked herself.  Braeburn blinked several times the moment Big Macintosh was out of sight.  Those eyes that he had been inspected with scared him a little, threatened him almost.  But… that had to be in his imagination… didn’t it?

Braeburn turned his head, beginning to trot back to the living room where the rest of his family was waiting.

He wasn’t able to shake the feeling of Big Macintosh’s eyes for the rest of the night.

“Rainbow… Dash…” The name didn’t sit well on Braeburn’s tongue.  It almost seemed like it was a rotten apple that he had accidently swallowed.  He began to think of this comparison as he laid on his back, a blanket covering his lower half, his vest and hat next to him as the lumpy cushions under him began to feel even more uncomfortable by the second.

There was nothing wrong with the name he supposed, nor did the mare seem all that bad the few times he spotted or spoke to her once things settled down.  But he didn’t understand why she would want anything to do with him, why any mare would for that matter.   She seemed nice and all… but Braeburn wasn’t sure if he wanted to even see her for more than just a quick chat, something romantic seemed too much like a blind date.  Did she think he was good looking or something?  Was that why she wanted to date him?

The yellow stallion turned over, unable to close his eyes as his belly churned in itself.  He tightened himself into a small ball before letting out a small, faint sigh out from his lungs as he let a piece of his long mane fall into his mouth before beginning to nibble on it.  It smelled of apples… he was a little surprised he hadn’t become used to that scent yet.

One of his floppy ears stood erect on their own the moment a sound of creaking erupted from above him.  His eyes widened slightly before he glanced up, hearing it again accompanied by a few grunts and gasps, before continuing once more.  “What in the name of Sam hill…” Braeburn mumbled as he sat up, rubbing one of his eyes with a free hoof, letting the corner of his mane slip from his mouth.

His hooves began to work on their own as they stepped in front of each other toward the stairs leading to the source of the sound.  He paused briefly at the bottom of the white steps, sticking his neck out and up before seeing a faint glow.  His ears erected once more as the grunting entered his ears.  He suddenly recognized the owner of the sounds as Big Macintosh.

Braeburn considered turning around right there, those strange eyes and the cold shoulder earlier popping into his mind.  However the stallion shook his head, knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep until he found out the cause of those strange noises.

The stallion placed his hoof on the creakily, old, first step of the staircase.  He swallowed hard before taking several more steps up and reaching a position where he could clearly see the top.  The yellow earth pony’s head began to turn as his left brow cocked up in question, several boxes and large piles of random junk littered the hallway.

“What in the name of Celestia is goin’ on here?” He suddenly asked as he trotted up the rest of the stairs, avoiding where he placed his hooves so not to trip and fall on some tiny toy or ancient knick-knack.  “B-Big Mac?” He called, remembering to keep his voice just above a whisper so not to disturb the rest of the family.

“Eeyup?” The voice startled him as the large, red stallion suddenly emerged, carrying several bags in his mouth before spitting them out.  He looked down on Braeburn with the same eyes as before.  The yellow pony felt his body tense up, he felt like a foal at the moment being looked down upon by an older sibling, or in this case cousin.  He looked away, a blush appearing on his cheeks.

“W-What are ya doin’ in here?” Braeburn asked, he couldn’t help but keep his voice small, as if those eyes would crush him under their weight of whatever emotion they were attempting to make him feel.  He suddenly began to feel weak, both mentally and physically.

“This here is gonna be your room.” Big Macintosh stated without even batting an eye, nor glancing away as he spit the bags onto the ground “Ah’m movin’ everything ta the barn, so ya can have a place ta sleep by tomorrow.”

“S-Shouldn’t that wait till mornin’?” Braeburn asked, staring into the neck of the other, which was about two inches taller than his eyesight.  He began to wonder if he was always this short, or Big Macintosh was just freakishly tall? “Ah mean, yer tired at night, and ya could hurt yerself goin’ up and down these stairs!”

“Couldn’t sleep.” Big Macintosh stated once more.  This time he turned, lifting a great weight off of the yellow earth pony’s shoulders almost instantly.  Dammit, why did he keep feeling so awkward whenever the red stallion looked at him?  “Better now than later, everything is already out.”

“Well… I guess ya have a point…” Braeburn mumbled, putting a hoof to his chin as he thought a moment.  He opened his mouth and began to speak, despite his throat feeling as dry as a desert.  “A-Ah couldn’t sleep either, do ya need any hel-”

“No.” Big Macintosh stated, his voice cool and distant.

Braeburn winced.  He felt as if he had physically been pierced by a sharp object.  “B-But A-Ah…” His voice was beginning to stutter, and he couldn’t think up a reasonable reason why.  “Why not?” He asked “For the sake of Luna, if ah don’t h-help ya, ya might be stuck out here till the roosters crow at mornin’!”

“Maybe.” Big Macintosh mumbled, shrugging his shoulders as he reached out a hoof to drag a box closer to him from inside the room.  “Maybe it would go a little faster if somepony weren’t botherin’ me.”

Those words stung, they truly did.  Braeburn bit his lip and glanced at another box.  “Jus’ let me give ya a helpin’ hoof, ah promise ah won’t get in yer wa-”  A sudden pain shot through his upper leg that he began reaching out as it was suddenly grabbed and twisted in an odd way, causing him to lean toward the stairs, which he would most likely end up tumbling down if his leg was bent any further.

“O-O-Ow…” Braeburn managed to spit out.  “W-What are ya doin’?” He cried out as his eyes began to sting, and he silently cursed himself for suddenly feeling so weak and powerless.  His leg was suddenly released and he all but collapsed onto his lower half.  He did indeed manage to catch himself as his other leg began vigorously rubbing his newly freed hoof with teary eyes.

Braeburn managed to glance up, and he managed to get one final glimpse of Big Macintosh’s hind as he wondered back into the room to get more items for the barn.  The yellow stallion suppressed a sniffle as he got to his hooves, and began to slowly trot down the stairs, tears in eyes.  He felt like a child getting a scolding, and it made him feel weak and helpless.

“J-Jerk!” He managed to spit out, although keeping it below normal tone in fear of Big Macintosh losing his temper.

Wasn’t he so nice earlier?

Braeburn sniffled as he began to trot back to his makeshift bed, in his makeshift home.

Big Macintosh currently lay in his own bed, with his own thoughts, staring out his own window.  His window clearly showed that all his hard work in emptying as much of the room until he almost collapsed had indeed taken him until the start of dawn, where the sky held an orange, heavenly glow.

He curled up tighter under the blanket covering his body, a tiny stuffed, old donkey in his arms.  He normally would have felt a little childish for holding it so tightly, but at the current moment he was a little too focused on his feelings to care.

“Why was I so mean to him?”

The words entered the mind of the red stallion as his weary eyes began to loop a little droopy.  He wasn’t sure of the answer as he closed his eyes.  Maybe he was mad at himself for not recognizing his own cousin, and simply taking out the hidden anger through giving the other the cold shoulder.  That at least would be plausible other than he suddenly turned into a big jerk.

Big Macintosh began to think about his younger cousin, the way he talked, the way he seemed awkward in public and afraid to talk to anypony.  He had a shy nature, but once he opened up he seemed like a naturally sweet stallion…

The red stallion suddenly squeezed his eyes shut and pulled the covers back up over his head.  His cheeks began to blush as he felt a mixture of guilt and anger for what he had done only mere hours ago.  It was only instinct…

Maybe he was upset because Braeburn constantly… made his belly seem as if it were fluttery and light for no reason.

Big Macintosh was blushing again… wasn’t he?