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.

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

Caramel wasn't always a Changeling, but he's going to become one. And he's going to do it for the sake of his very special somepony.

Gentle Strokes is a cynical drunk from Dodge Junction. Stormy is the proud black sheep of a wealthy Manehattan family. Together they're two shining examples of the student body at Camden — Equestria's most prestigious liberal arts college. Navigating their way through one night stands, flirty professors, "End Of The World" parties, junkie roommates, family melodrama, sex, drugs and Rock 'N' Roll as they try their hooves at a college relationship.

Cover art provided by the wonderful: Kill Joy.

WARNING M/M SHIPPING

Big Macintosh and Shining Armor have always been friends. Feelings finally starting to come to them they work towards telling each other. But when Shining Armor leaves for Cadet School Mac is left waiting for the day he will return. That day has finally come, will Shining still feel the same for Mac as he did before? Will Mac be able to tell Shining? Romance, Suspense! All waiting within Together Until the End!

Young Night Light meets a new stallion at his school in the last months of his final year, named Shiny Rock.They develop a great friendship, but soon discover something more...

An OC Story by Starweardo

Caramel's life could be considered a simple one at best, but a boring one at first. He's never been one to easily make friends, that's for sure. He sticks to himself mostly and attempts to stay out of the way of the lives of ponies around him. It's easier that way. Simpler. Talking to ponies is a challenging enough task on its own merits, but romance? He's never dreamed of romance.

Of course, that all changed when Big Macintosh entered his life.

(Cover art by Snark!)

Big Mac helps Braeburn bring better gardening to Appleloosa, and a spark of romance springs to life in the most unlikely places. We also learn a lot more about the Apple family in general. This was written for a fic contest, in a single weekend. It looks like I went over it afterwards to clean it up, but this is actually what went into the contest- no changes made after the fact.Thanks to the rigors of competition, we got ourselves some M/M romance right here in Appleloosa! (I consider Braeburn and Big Macintosh to be essentially unrelated, mind you- some ponies might not see 'em that way)

Caramel is more excited than anypony in Equestria! For the first time in his life, he is allowed to help during the winter wrap-up festivities. Nothing could make him happier. But when Caramel begins to spend time with Big Macintosh, his whole world is turned upside-down.

Twilight Sparkle and Big Macintosh couldn't be happier together. Everypony around them is glad for them too. But things get a bit complicated when an unexpected visitor shows up at Twilight's library. The rest of her friends also start to think about their futures and whether or not they'll find a special somepony.

Sequel to my previous fic Apples Are Magic. I highly recommend reading that one first.

Decided to change the cover image given that this became a more Rainbow Dash and Rarity centric story. Also felt it fit the tone a little better. Image is a combo from two pics if found on deviantart courtesy of http://hawk9mm.deviantart.com/ and http://red4028.deviantart.com/art/Rarity-s-fabulous-facehoof-315536022 ^_^