Hopes. Dreams. Aspirations. They're what everyone survives, and even thrives, on. What happens, then, when hopes and dreams are dashed? When something so monumentally destructive and life-changing occurs, and dreams, hopes, even ponies' lives are thrown into turmoil, where can solace be found? When somepony's entire world comes crumbling around them, who can they turn to for support? What can they do when everything they once had is shattered?

All is well in the Apple Family, until Granny Smith decides that Big Macintosh, Applejack, and Apple Bloom need to get flu shots. Two of the siblings accept their fate maturely, while one tries to avoid it at all costs.

New cover art by SketchinEtch

The road not traveled is often the subject of much speculation in many lives. 'What if' this, or 'If I'd just had done that' plagues the minds of those sensitive to feelings of remorse. None more so than the stoic and quiet patriarch of Sweet Apple Acres. Cover art by the wonderfully talented ROBBERGON!

Yes, it contains M/M shipping. If it isn't your thing, bail now.
Huge thanks to the following: RazedRainbow FanNotANerd and that most knowledgeable of grammar fascists, Comma-Kazie

Some ponies aren't really satisfied with the lives.
Would Caramel be one of them?

(Caramac, Coltcuddling,fluffy, nothing serious but if you don't like then go away?)

Big Mac has been working the farm much more lately, putting much of his time towards it. One day, he gets a surprise visit from his coltfriend and decides to spend a little extra time with him.

Big Macintosh tells his friend about his problems and how he feels. He tells about his life and how he grew up the gentle, caring stallion he is, and how others don't see it.

Since the moment Jon was first approached by Celestia to interview ponies, from the mystic land known as Equestria, he knew that one day he would have to interview that pony. A pony of such overwhelming importance and prominence that he would need to call upon all his years of training to properly execute an interview worthy of their presence.

It is on this day that Jon will interview such a pony. But the question is what new secrets will be revealed.

Please feel free to leave a suggestion for who Jon should interview next.

Thank you to Zeta040 for proofreading this.

Disclaimer: One does not need to read previous interviews to read this though there might be some references to previous guest appearances.
For more Equestrian interviews with Jon Stewart please visit the browse section of all my other stories.

The name's Applejack. Canterlot, the capital of our kingdom was beset by a plague of changelings durin' a weddin'. Had it not been for Cadence and Shining sendin' them packin', we might all be changelings by now. Not long after, Princess Celestia ordered a stallion from every house to enlist for the counterattack against them. He served his kingdom, as did countless other colts, and he came back without a scratch on him. Or, so Ah thought...

After tragedy strikes the Apple family, a teenage Big McIntosh is left alone to struggle with taking care of the farm. It soon becomes apparent that he simply can't handle the load on his own, but is just too darn stubborn to admit that he needs help. It's not long before the community of Ponyville step in to offer their assistance, but not all for the same reasons and certainly not in the ways that Big Mac had expected.

I would like to thank SirMagicHooves for:
- proof-reading Chapter One - Help prior to its submission.
- helping me decide to slice the original Chapter Two in half and add an additional chapter.

I would like to thank BigMacintosh1 for:
- inspiring me to broaden my imagination and knowledge with this fic.
- invaluable farming information that will come into play from Chapter 03 onwards.

Caramel finally understands his feelings, but is he too late to act on them? Will he break out of his shell and find love? Is Big Macintosh even available?
A love story between Caramel and Big Macintosh (obviously...). Contains M/M coltcuddling and some innuendos. If thou doest not enjoy such topics, shield thine eyes.