"Are ya sure ya'll can't stay any longer Braeburn? It's a sad sight to see ya headin' home." Applejack whispered, a small smile on her face and tears brimming in her eyes. It had been two days since Macintosh had come to their rescue in the alleyway, and with Hearth's Warming over...it was time to say farewell.
Braeburn chuckled as he gave his cousin a hug, whispering "Now don't you go uh cryin' over somethin' as little as this cous'! We'll be back to visit, don't ya'll worry!"
"Ah hope ya'll will be back soon if that's the case then" Macintosh exclaimed, grabbing Braeburn in a sort of headlock and giving him a noogie, knocking his stetson off his head. From beside Applejack, Fluttershy and Caramel laughed, watching as Braeburn squirmed in the stallion's grip. When Macintosh finally let Braeburn go, they both shared a light chuckle, smiling at one another. Braeburn reached down for his Stetson has Macintosh whispered "Ya'll...will be back soon, right?"
Braeburn looked up, Stetson on his hoof as he muttered "It's like yer always sayin' Macintosh, bout' family n' all. As long as ya'll got the heart for yer family, it don't matter how far away we all are. We're always right there in yer heart." With that, he gently reached up and placed the Stetson on Macintosh's head, giving it a minor adjustment and whispering with tears in his eyes "T...there. Looks mighty proper on you cousin!"
Macintosh felt a tear drip down his face as he pulled his cousin into a tight hug, his voice cracking a little as he tried his best not to sob "Ya'll come back right quick...at least a month or two, after everythin's settled down at Appleloosa!"
Braeburn smiled and muttered "Ah promise...we'll be back".
He turned his head to Caramel, watching as he gave Applejack and Fluttershy a tight hug as he said "Thank ya cousin Jack, ah'll be sure to...well...ah'll TRY to keep Braeburn outta trouble but...ya know how that pony is..." Applejack chuckled, tipping her hat to him as he trotted over to Braeburn. With a final wave and several goodbyes, Braeburn and Caramel turned and headed out the gate, going at a slow walk through the apple trees. The three ponies left on the farm simply smiled, chuckling as the two adventurous colts shouted towards one another.
"So Caramel...ah was thinkin'"
"Ooooh no, nuh uh Braeburn! Ah know where this is goin'!"
"You haven't even heard the plan yet!!!"
"And ah don't plan to!"
"Alright...how bout a game of Boulders, Scrolls, Knives?"
"Ok...go!"
"Boulders, Scrolls, Knives, YEEHAW!"
"Boulders, Scrolls, Knives, YEEHAW!"
"HA! Ah win again Caramel!"
"Aw horseshit! Ya'll cheated!"
Applejack shook her head, a smile on her face as she looked up towards Big Macintosh, partially surprised to see the big stallion wiping away tears from his eyes. "Well shucks..." the mare whispered, gaining a look from her older brother "Guess them waterworks ain't broken after all!" Macintosh scoffed but smiled, looking up towards Braeburn's Stetson, the dark brown hat offering his eyes shade from the heat of the sun. Applejack turned, heading back towards the farmhouse as she whispered "Looks good on ya Mac'...looks purty good..."
Macintosh smiled as he felt Fluttershy press her side against his, her cheek resting against his shoulder as he breathed "Eeyup..."
~~~
The couple found themselves walking through the fields of apple trees, their voices quiet but their hearts warm with love. The wind gently blew about the fields, making the two's manes whip about in the breeze. Macintosh looked up however, smiling as he whispered "Well ah'll be...". A large apple swung gently in the breeze, it's color as red as rubies and its shape that of a heart. It seemed to glitter in the soft sun as Macintosh muttered "Ah must have missed this one during Applebuck Season...odd...ah never miss an apple!"
He turned his head as Fluttershy put a soft hoof on his shoulder and whispered "Maybe...it just wasn't ready yet."
Macintosh looked deeply into her eyes and whispered "Is it ready now...?"
Fluttershy looked back at him, her voice soft as she tilted her head up, pushing on her front hooves to gain a little height "You tell me..." Macintosh smiled and leaned his head down, pushing his lips against Fluttershy's, the two of them sharing a tender kiss and letting the heat of their moment warm them both.
As they pulled away, Macintosh smiled and tipped back Braeburn's stetson, leaning back and standing up on his back hooves, reaching up towards the apple with soft, caring hooves. As he picked it and gently brought it down, he turned to Fluttershy and held out the heart-shaped apple in his hoof.
Fluttershy looked at it with awe and whispered "F...for me?"
Macintosh nodded, gently whispering as the wind blew a bit harder through the field.
"Eeyup...it's always belonged to you."
~The End~