Big Mac’s confrontation
Chapter 1: The barn doors
Sweat dripped from Caramel’s brow as he stood in the vast land of Sweet apple Acres, his cheeks flushed a dark crimson as he gazed at the handsome stallion on the far side of the clearing. He watched admiringly as the colt lifted up his hind legs, muscles rippling and refined after years of bucking on his land. As he watched, he couldn’t help but admire every inch of his crush’s body. Watching as every fibre of the stallion’s body tensed, preparing to buck the apple tree behind him, in the hope of gaining the delicious fruit that dangled from its pale green leaves and muddy brown branches that veered here and there, not seeming to follow any pattern as nature allowed it to grow as it pleaesd. His fur was a dark shade of crimson, matched in colour only by the shade of Caramel’s cheeks as he drooled over the beautiful body of the colt he so dearly wanted. The stallion’s golden mane swayed in the light summer breeze, gently following the course of the winds as they drifted from a place far to the east. It was the only part of Big Mac that was moving, the rest of his body tensing up for the buck he was about to deliver. His strong hooves flat, facing the large yet elegant form behind the stallion.
*Thud*
The hind legs of the stallion shot backwards, propelled by the sheer force of his muscles, connecting with the thick trunk of the tree. The pressure that was building up near his perfect flank had moved, almost flowed, through his legs. The muscles in his legs bulging as the pressure was exerted onto the tree It was, by far, one of the tallest, thickest and most beautiful trees in the whole orchard, and required the full force of Big Mac’s buck to even shudder. His previously tightened muscles had exerted the pressure that was built up, landing a tremendous kick onto the trunk, shaking the whole tree itself. The branches above him released their bountiful harvest, with a small “thud” as each succulent piece of fruit landed on the soft grass or in the wooden buckets lying around the tree. Pleased with his work, having knocked every apple visible from the branches above, began to pick the apples that had not landed in the buckets by his teeth, and gently placed each one in the several piles of the delicious red and green orbs, scattered around the tree. The way he could deliver a kick such as he had done, showing off his tough physique, only to be matched by his elegance as he showed off his gentle soul, sent Caramel’s mind in all sorts of directions.
Caramel, snapping back to reality after realising that he must have looked quite foolish just standing and staring at the magnificent colt ahead, got back to his share of the work, placing the full force of his hind legs onto the tree behind him. His muscles were nowhere near the size of Big Mac’s, and even though the tree he was bucking was not even half the size of the tree that Big Mac had just finished with, Caramel still only managed to shake a few apples off of the branches. They fell to the floor with a small thud each time, as every single one missed the buckets he had strewn around the tree by mere inches. Any other pony would feel stupid and disappointed, but Caramel knew that this was just his lack of luck acting on him again. He was renowned for being the most unlucky pony in all of Ponyville, if not all of Equestria. That was his “special talent” after all, although he found it difficult to class bad luck as a talent, no matter how proficient he was at attracting it.
Even so, he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed after his meagre attempt. He hung his head low and prepared to buck the tree again, when he resigned himself to the conclusion that, having worked all day, he simply did not have the energy to do it anymore and gave up, picking up the small amount of apples that lay on the grass around him and the tree, his head still hanging low. As if things couldn’t get worse, Big Mac had already started to stroll over towards him. Caramel’s cheeks burned a bright red as he approached, not wanting his crush to see the pathetic display.
“What’s wrong Mel? Ya look a might down today.” Big Mac, in his usual, droll accent asked. That accent always made Caramel want to melt right there on the spot, sending a warm feeling throughout his entire body.
“I’m really sorry Mac. I did try, honest! I just…”
“Mel, ya did a great job today, and ah’m thankful fer ya help. Don’ go beatin’ yerself up over it. I don’ expect ya ta be buckin’ the whole orchard!” Big Mac interrupted, a slight chuckle behind his thick accent. His accent caused butterflies to appear in Caramel’s stomach. He was always respectful of Caramel. Now he knew that Caramel, as hard as he tried, wasn’t a farm pony, but he respected the determination and hard work that he continued to show, no matter what.
“Thanks Big Mac. Is there anything else I can do to help?” Caramel asked, placing all his hope in the chance of being able to help his crush in any way he can, even if it is only getting him a glass of apple juice, a job he had to fulfil at least three times a day. He didn’t mind though, as he liked any chance to aid Big Mac.
“Nnnope” Big Mac replied; a common catchphrase that the stallion used quite often. “Ah’m thinkin’ that you’re jus’ exhausted. C’mon, ah think it’s time we head in. Getting’ dark out here. Ah’ll cook us up a nice, homemade applepie. That is if Applejack ain’t already started with it.”
So the two ponies headed back towards the cosy, little cottage that Big Mac lived in, along with his two sisters, AppleJack and AppleBloom, and his Granny Smith. On the way back, Caramel lagged behind, using his exhaustion as an excuse to stare at that amazing flank of Mac’s. The muscles seemed to ripple even as they walked! The left side coveted a small half of an apple; his cutie mark. To Caramel, it was the most stunning cutie mark in all of Equestria.
“Ummm…”
“You alright Mel?” Big Mac’s voice showing genuine concern. He was the kindest stallion you would ever meet, and he always looked after friends and family.
Caramel had decided that today was the day. He was sick of hiding his feelings and he was going to tell Big Mac everything. He was nervous, and although he wasn’t showing it, he was petrified. He didn’t want to ruin anything by telling Big Mac, and it would break his heart if he lost him as a friend over it. He was sure it would go fine though. He had faith in Mac. “I wanted to talk to you. It’s something that’s been…on my mind, for a while now. I just felt like you should be the first one to know.” He smiled, letting (or trying to anyway) Big Mac know that he trusted him.
“Ah’m all ears Mel.” Big Mac replied, placing his rump on the grass. He was always there for Caramel, and he treated this like any family ordeal. His face was emotionless. The word “serious” wasn’t enough to describe it! “What is it?”
“Well…” Caramel Struggled to find the words, his cheeks burning. He felt like he was on fire right now. “Well we’ve been friends a long time right? Heck, we’ve been best friends since before I can even remember!”
Big Mac just nodded, adding a simple “eeyup” to show that he was listening.
His tongue was dryer than it had ever been before, his head swimming at the thought of rejection. “Uhhh…aw gosh darnit there isn’t any other way to say it! I like you Big Mac. I mean, like like you. I have for a while now and I just felt like I needed to tell someone. Now I get it if your barn doors don’t swing that way, and I’ll completely respect it. I just….”. Caramel just looked into Big Mac’s eyes. Those emerald green gems. He was sure that if Rarity were here, she would be diving for them like she would a rare diamond.
Big Mac sat there, the blank expression on his face remained. Caramel was worried and was getting more and more nervous by the minute. Finally, standing up, blank expression wavering now to something…different. Caramel couldn’t tell what it was though.
“Now listen here Mel. Ah ain’t no bucking coltcuddling, freak. Ya hear me? It ain’t right, colts with colts. It’s unnatural. Wrong!” His face had contorted into a mixture of anger and disgust. His emerald eyes replaced with burning fires as he let his thoughts spill out. “Now if this is some kinda…sick joke, then ya better tell me. This ain’t somethin’ ta mess around sayin’. I sure as hell ain’t gonna be friends with a sick, bucking coltcuddler ya hear?! If you are one of them freaks, then I wan’t you ta get the heck off mah farm, and ah don’ ever wanna see you, or your disgusting, perverted ways, ever again!”
Turning around he stomped off in the direction of his home, leaving Caramel, sitting in a pile of despair and depression, to wallow in his own tears, as they began to flow down his cheeks like small waterfalls, collecting in small puddles by his hooves.