//------------------------------// // Chapter Eight: Right Over Your Head // Story: Roots // by Storm butt //------------------------------// “Is he always like that?” “Eeyup,” Big Macintosh replied. Caramel hadn’t stopped asking questions about Braeburn ever since they were alone. He was no longer looking around the town with wide-eyed curiosity, but instead staring straight down at his hooves. He didn’t look upset or scared, but nervous. Big Macintosh frowned to himself, silently wishing he had prepared Caramel more for just how loud and intrusive Braeburn could be. His cousin had always been the loud one, the one who loved to hug and bounce and be bubbly beyond reason. It was hard to imagine Braeburn without a big goofy smile on his face. Of course, he himself hadn’t been expecting to be tackled in such a blindside, so he couldn’t fully take blame for Caramel’s nervousness. “He’s real friendly,” Big Macintosh said when Caramel had been silent for more than thirty seconds. They were out of the center of town now and on one of the smaller paths that led to the scattered roads. The houses here weren’t like in Ponyville. They were spread out and scattered at seemingly random with a lot of yard between them. Ponyville was tight knit, and each pony barely had a dozen feet of yard to themselves except for few, Mac included. He had visited Appleloosa twice, and was tracing his steps to where Braeburn’s home lay. “He was… loud,” Caramel said. His voice was ironically quiet. Braeburn’s house was familiar in the strangest way. Most of the houses around here were. The wooden porch out front was well made and sturdy, not creaking at all when Big Macintosh stepped on it. It reminded him of his home in every way except the smell, which usually had a wafting scent of dirt given three of the four ponies in it worded in the field for a couple hours a day. This house smelled surprisingly more like flour and cinnamon even from a distance. It smelled a lot like when Applejack or Granny Smith baked, actually. “Do I have to do anything?” Caramel asked before Big Macintosh could knock on the door. He was still staring down at his hooves, his cheek concaved slightly in a way that made it clear he was biting it. “What do you mean?” Big Macintosh asked. “I-I’ve never met any of your family outside of Ponyville before,” Caramel said sheepishly. He looked embarrassed. “What if they don’t like me?” “I don’t know if it’s possible for Braeburn to not like somepony, Sugar,” Big Macintosh smirked. “I know but I’m… Don’t ponies like your family not like… girly stallions?” Caramel mumbled. Big Macintosh blinked. Caramel was far from what he would call a girl stallion, but he could see his boyfriend’s point. His hair was soft looking and coat well-groomed compared to Mac’s slightly ruffled look. He had a way of blushing often and giggling instead of laughing. Caramel’s voice was higher pitched than most stallions, and whenever they found out he liked other stallions ponies always had a slight glimmer of ‘oh that’s what it is’ in their eyes that Mac noticed, but never knew if Caramel did. “That’s stereotypical,” Big Macintosh said. “N-No, I just… sorry,” Caramel mumbled in a bit of a frustrated huff. “Sugar,” Big Macintosh said, leaning in for a slight kiss on Caramel’s nose that his boyfriend let him steal. “Braeburn is the gayest stallion I have ever met and his Pa an’ him are like two peas in a pod. You’ll be fine.” Caramel’s eyes widened a bit at Mac’s description, but then he smiled back a little. It was weak, but still a smile. “Mmm,” Caramel made a noise, a bit unconvinced, but still reached out his hoof and touched it to Big Mac’s cheek before nodding slowly. He kissed Mac’s nose in return and it was his own silent way of saying he trusted the workhorse. Big Macintosh knocked at the door hard, the whole thing rattling. He heard a grunt from the cracked window to their left and then heard movement shuffling around on the inside. When the door cracked he noticed Caramel tense slightly. The stallion who stepped out was large. Large enough to stare at Mac straight in the eye without needing to look up, which was a feat most ponies couldn’t do. His coat was yellow, as bright as Braeburn’s, however his eyes were emerald and reflected Mac’s own. His mane was short and white with hints of blonde that had faded with age. It didn’t look nearly as lush or soft as Braeburn’s, more course and rough like most of the ponies in Appleloosa. He looked tired and yawned, as if he had just been woken up from a nap. “My my,” The stallion replied. His voice was deep, though not quite as much as Big Macintosh’s own. His eyes lit up, and Big Macintosh noticed that Caramel seemed to lighten up. This stallion if nothing else had bright, happy eyes that seemed almost full of love. “If it ain’t my favorite nephew!” “Howdy, Uncle Cameo,” Big Macintosh said. “That’s Uncle Cam to you, Mac! What don’t you love me enough for a nickname?” The stallion replied. He went for a punch to Big Macintosh’s shoulder first but then went forward to embrace him in a sudden and strong hug. He was laughing though nopony had said anything particularly funny yet. It was a warm laugh. “Land Sakes what brings you here, Partner?” Cam replied with another laugh as he pushed back Big Macintosh and held him at shoulder length. “You’re lucky I’m glad to see you or else I’d sock you again for waking me up from a nap!” “It’s a bit of a story,” Big Macintosh replied with a smile. “But I brought a friend to meet ya’ll. You and Braeburn, I mean.” Whatever Caramel had let go in the few moments of seeing the warm, golden pony was instantly shot back into him when he was finally noticed. He pushed Mac away and continued to smile. “Well, I’ll be,” Cam responded with somehow an even bigger smile. It was probably very clear now to Caramel where Braeburn got those alarmingly white teeth and bright eyes. He reached out his hoof and Big Mac saw Caramel go for a hoofshake but yelped when Cam tugged him into a forceful hug. “Can’t remember the last time ol’ Big Shy Mac here even mentioned friends much less you!” “U-Uncle Cam,” Big Macintosh said. It was the first time he had felt mildly embarrassed. He looked to Caramel who seemed a little stunned that this stranger was hugging him. When he was let go Caramel looked more ruffled than he had before, and Big Mac couldn’t help but chuckle. “What’s your name, Partner?” Cam questioned. “Um… C-Caramel,” Caramel said with a bit of a stutter. His face was a light shade of pink. “Howdy, Caramel!” Cam said, only now taking Caramel’s hoof and shaking it with gusto. “Name’s Cameo Apple, but ponies call me Cam. Don’t call me anything different if you don’t wanna hurt my feelings.” “O-Okay,” Caramel nodded along once his hoof was finally released. The smaller earth pony looked dumbfounded. His hoof still seemed to be shaking a little when he set it back down. Cam was stronger than he realized, it seemed. “Come on in come on in!” Cam said, backing up and waving the two inside. “Don’t make me look like a bad host!” “Holy Celestia,” Caramel hissed under his breath so quiet only Big Macintosh could hear. The workhorse had a feeling that Caramel never expected such loud, outgoing ponies to be the ones to meet him. It wasn’t a bad sound that he made, just overwhelmed. Mac giggled and followed his boyfriend inside. The whole place was right out of a picture book for some home design magazine themed around westerns. The house opened up into a large square room which branched off into three others with a polished dark oak staircase that led upstairs. Caramel’s head was cocked up and staring at the railing above them. The whole place felt warm but not unbearably so as the outside had felt. The walls were coated in stripes of green wallpaper with white trim, and the carpet on the floor was bright red and yellow. It was all so new looking that it reminded Mac almost what he remembered his home to be when he was a foal. The smell of baked goods was even stronger in here. “You boys like tea? Or how about some grub?” “I-I’m good,” Caramel said, his face light pink again with flush. “I don’t need anything, really.” “He’s starving,” Big Macintosh retorted. “M-Mac!” Caramel snapped, looking even more embarrassed. However, Cam just laughed. He seemed to like laughing. “I’ll see what we got in the kitchen. C’mon, c’mon.” Big Macintosh flicked Caramel’s ear playfully after a nasty look was shot his way and Cam had turned away. His boyfriend’s irritation faded fast however when they walked into the kitchen and the smell of baking was almost overpowering. If Big Macintosh’s mouth was watering at the smell of it, he couldn’t imagine Caramel’s thoughts. “Well we have some leftover pie, I swear Brae wants to fatten me up with how much he bakes the stuff,” Cam said when he tossed a pie tin onto the half countertop half breakfast table and ushered for both Mac and Caramel to sit. He was already bringing out plates and silverware. “Now tell me did I get the dates mixed up or are you way early to this family reunion, Big Mac?” Caramel looked like he tensed slightly. Big Macintosh tried to think quickly, to say something, but Cam had already looked at Caramel and cocked his brow up slightly when he froze with his hoof halfway to the pie tin. He looked like he was just about to open his mouth and ask something, but Mac’s brain finally clicked into gear. “Vacation,” Big Macintosh said. “The harvest ain’t starting till after the reunion, an’ AJ and Apple Bloom can hold down the fort till after the reunion. I was thinkin’ of coming up to see ya’ll and help out myself, and I thought Caramel might like to come.” It was possibly the most believable half-lie Big Macintosh had ever told. He knew this because Cam seemed to buy it. “You’re a workaholic, as usual,” Cam chuckled as he served two big slices of the sweetest smelling pie Mac thought he had ever had before him. “I ain’t gonna turn my nose up at an extra hoof or two, though. Me and Brae have been worked to the bone for the reunion. First one in Appleloosa, y’know. Gotta make a good first impression! I’ll see what I can whip you boys up! Don’t get too full on pie, now.” There Cam went. He was rambling a lot like Braeburn had been before. Changing from one subject to the next as though he were bouncing around. Big Macintosh glanced to Caramel who had taken a bite of his apple pie, but didn’t seem to really be tasting it by his expression looking a bit dulled. Big Mac reached his hoof over under the counter and gave him a squeeze. He jumped slightly and tugged, perhaps fearful Cam might see, but Mac held firmly until he relaxed and finally looked to Big Macintosh. It’s okay. I’m here. Big Macintosh tried to say silently through that simple squeeze. He could tell the question about them being here was already stuck in Caramel’s thoughts. Caramel smiled, and took another bite of his pie. This time his eyes lit up and his back legs began to kick as though he was overwhelmed. “You like that, huh?” Cam laughed. “Better be careful, I saw that belly of yours. Brae’s food’ll turn that chub twice as big in a sitting if you ain’t careful. Then again, some ponies like those breeder hips look.” Though Caramel blushed at that and tried to say something in return, Big Macintosh could swear that Cam was staring right at him when he said that last part. Mac blushed too. Were… were they that obvious? SLAM! Before Big Macintosh could even question this, he was interrupted by a loud crash right at the front door that made both him and Caramel jump, but only Cam sigh. Both ponies whipped around at the sight of it “Gosh darn it, Braeburn,” Cam mumbled under his breath. A creak from the door was heard as Braeburn came slinking into the house. He was holding his nose and his eyes looked half closed and face all scrunched up in a grimace. “H-Hey, Papa,” Braeburn said in a whiny tone quieter and more embarrassed than he had spoken with before. “You forgot to leave the door cracked again.” “You forgot to slow down again!” Cam snapped back. Big Macintosh blinked. He realized that Braeburn had slammed his face into the door he had been running home so fast. He didn’t think that was even possible to do once, much less the apparent multiple times this had happened given the dialogue going on between the two. “Are you bleeding this time?” “This time,” Caramel echoed both Cam and Big Macintosh’s thoughts. It was hard not to smirk. “S-Shoot, Mac, you settlin’ in alright?” Braeburn asked when he set his hoof down. It seemed almost like he had just forcefully shaken off the nose slamming when he bounced up over to Big Macintosh. “Oh! You likin’ my famous pie?” “It’s good as always, Braeburn,” Big Macintosh nodded after swallowing. “It’s really good,” Caramel said with a giggle of his own. “Oh, you brought a friend?” Braeburn said loudly as though he had both just forgotten Caramel was in the room as well as the fact he had already met and introduced himself less than an hour ago. “Oh gosh! Mac never brings ponies to reunions!” Already Braeburn was at it. Before Big Macintosh even thought to intervene or even as much as talk his cousin was on his boyfriend like a shark hungry for blood. Within seconds he was berating and throwing question after question at Caramel. He had been asked three before he even had the chance to swallow the food in his mouth. “How long have you known Mac?” “Um… A little over two years I guess?” “You like my pie? I made it myself.” “Y-Yeah, it’s really good.” “Oh, wow, your mane is soft! What do you use on it? I use apple conditioner and scrub it three times with shampoo on mine!” “Excuse me?” “Brae,” Cam said in a bit of a stern tone. “Give Big Mac’s friend a second to get used to your speed. He looks ready to pass out.” Caramel very clearly and very forcefully blushed at the mention of this. He looked down at his plate, but he didn’t see Braeburn almost mirror him and do the same as he stepped back and rubbed nervously at his mane. “Hehe. Sorry, Papa.” Cam told Braeburn to come over and held him make lunch, which Big Macintosh offered to help with before being threatened by the older pony with a spatula saying in a very stern and fatherly tone that he was the guest and he would be served. So he sat next to Caramel, occasionally reaching over his hoof under the counter and squeezing it. Braeburn asked him about a million questions, throwing the occasional one about Caramel. He asked first why Mac was even here, which prompted the workhorse to spout the same half-lie as before. “Well, I’m more than happy to have you!” Braeburn said with a big, goofy grin on his face. He passed out four plates around the counter to them and sat down at the opposite side. It was salad mixed with hay bacon and big, juicy looking apple slices. “Oh I love it when family comes to town! It’s like a mini reunion and everything!” “The real one’s coming up soon,” Cam said. “You sure you have everything almost ready.” “Yes, Papa,” Braeburn said with a roll of his eyes as though he had been asked this a million times. “I ain’t a colt anymore.” “You’re still my colt,” Cam replied, reaching out his hoof and knocking off Braeburn’s hat to ruffle at his mane and mess it up. “C-C’mon, not in front of Mac’s friend!” Braeburn blushed when he hugged his head to protect his fluffy and soft looking mane. “You don’t want to scare him off from bringing another?” “Um,” Caramel said. It was the first time he had spoken up without being prompted in quite a long time, so six pairs of eyes all shot directly to him. “Is it really rare that Mac brought me? I mean, I’m sure a lot of the family doesn’t bring somepony.” “Well, sure,” Braeburn shrugged his shoulders as though Big Macintosh weren’t in the room. “But usually every year a pony or two brings a date or friend or something. I brought somepony last year who I was dating. But Mac never brings somepony! You’ll be the talk of the reunion!” Caramel made a noise and froze at the mere thought of that. A million ponies eyes on him at once. “Brae,” Big Macintosh said, giving Braeburn a stern look. They met eyes for a moment before his own eyes widened and he realized Caramel was heavily uncomfortable with that comment. “W-Wait! I meant to say nopony will notice you at all and you’ll be ignored!” Braeburn shouted. “Totally invisible!” “Braeburn!” Cam snapped. “Ahhh! What do I say?” Braeburn yelled helplessly and shielded his head again. “I-It’s okay, Braeburn,” Caramel said. “I know you’re trying to be nice. Thanks.” “Don’t encourage him,” Cam said. “Shut up Papa he likes me!” Braeburn hissed. The rest of the lunch went peacefully. That was a complete and total lie considering Braeburn was there and his father snapped at him when somepony (Caramel) let it slip that he tackled Mac as a greeting. But otherwise it went well, and Big Macintosh’s own belly was filled. Caramel looked a little happier by the end of it, more loose and accustomed to this stranger who talked and acted like they had known each other for ages. Big Macintosh felt warm at seeing Caramel smile like that. “I’ll make us some tea and wash up,” Cam said when everypony was finished. “You like apple tea, Caramel?” “Yeah. Mac makes it for me sometimes,” Caramel said. He gave Big Macintosh a warm look after he said that, and Big Mac swore Cam flicked his eyes directly at him again like he had before. “Alright, Brae, take them to the living room and be thankful I’m not making you wash up with me,” Cam teased. “C’mon!” Braeburn said as he snatched Caramel’s hoof. Caramel was startled and let out a noise when he was dragged, but Big Macintosh merely shook his head and followed the two in the direction of the living room. “And THIS one is the reunion three years ago!” Braeburn said, already showing Caramel a picture by the fireplace. Caramel looked a little dizzy, but not scared or nervous like he had before. He nodded along to Braeburn’s fast talking. “There’s me an’ Papa in the back. That was a fun reunion. It was in… er…” “Trottingham,” Big Macintosh finished. “Golden Apple hosted that one.” “Oh, right,” Braeburn nodded his head. For the first time his smile faltered for just a second. It was rare to see him without a big goofy grin, so it stuck out in Mac’s mind. He thought only he caught it, because Caramel was still staring at the picture. “I sure hope this one’ll be as fun.” “Is this really the first Appleloosa reunion?” Caramel asked. “Yup!” Braeburn giggled, his smile returning to normal. “Appleloosa’s a real new town! Look at a map five years old an’ we ain’t even on it! I don’t want my family to think ‘bout here and hate it when it’s our turn again! I’m tryin’ to make it perfect, y’know?” Big Macintosh felt his chest warm. Something about that dedication and caring in Braeburn’s tone was something he hadn’t noticed before. Braeburn looked to Big Macintosh and grinned. “You guys hosted that great reunion a while ago,” Braeburn said. “Might have been a little rickety but it was so fun! I wanna have something twice as fun.” Big Macintosh resisted the urge to tell Braeburn that it wouldn’t be hard. However, he was too surprised by the fact that Braeburn found that mild train wreck of a reunion in Ponyville actually fun enough to comment. “I’ll help any way I can. Promise,” Big Macintosh said when he reached forward and touched a hoof to Braeburn’s shoulder. “Thanks, Cousin,” Braeburn said with a mild tint of pink flushing his cheeks. “Wow, is that you, Mac?” Caramel asked when pointing up at another photo on the mantle. Braeburn replaced the one he was holding with it and tugged it down. It was a picture of bunch of young foals all gathered around. It looked like Braeburn, Big Macintosh, Applejack, and a few other ponies Mac hadn’t seen in quite some time. “He was real big even back then,” Braeburn giggled. Big Macintosh was a foal then, but he was the size of a fully grown mare. He stood towers above the other kids and in the back of the picture looking a bit shy. Braeburn however was in front, the smallest of the bunch even though it was clear he was trying to look as tall as possible. “I was a runt,” Braeburn said with a smile. “Sorry, you guys bein’ here is makin’ me all nostalgic. C’mon, let’s sit down.” Braeburn hogged the couch by dragging Caramel right to it and stealing Mac’s boyfriend away to talk to him face to face. Big Macintosh sat in a nearby chair alone and tried not to chuckle as Braeburn was already off asking Caramel a dozen questions. It was clear he was in no mood to slow down now that he had taken a ten second break. “Tea’s ready,” A voice came from behind them. Cam entered holding a tray on his back which he set down on the coffee table. Each stallion took a cup and sipped from it, Braeburn settling into the couch as he was still getting his ear talked off. Cam sat at a chair on the other end of the room slightly in the corner simply smiling at all of it. “Oh, where are you two staying?” Braeburn asked. “Well, I don’t know,” Caramel shrugged. “I was thinkin’ just a hotel or inn here in town,” Big Macintosh responded quickly. “We didn’t have much, and I have the money to…” “No. Way.” Braeburn said, slapping his cup of tea down on the tray so hard a few drops spilled out. “No way I’m lettin’ my cousin sleep in some ratty inn when he’s stayin’ for so long!” “Braeburn we helped build that inn,” His father mumbled from across the room a bit disappointedly. “Still!” Braeburn argued. “No way! You’re stayin’ with us!” “Um,” Caramel said, blinking as this sudden arrangement was made before his eyes. “Braeburn, really, it’s fi-” “No, I think Braeburn’s right,” Cam said as he sipped at his tea. “You’re family and we have the room. We have an extra guest room you boys can sleep in.” “Right, we have that room and… oh… shoot,” Braeburn muttered under his breath as he drew a hoof to his chin. “There’s only one bed.” Caramel’s eyes widened. He met Mac’s own, but Mac simply frowned and didn’t look back. He could tell his boyfriend was asking if not begging him to say something. “Braeburn,” Big Macintosh started. “I guess I could sleep on the couch,” Braeburn was mumbling to himself. “Brae,” Mac repeated. “No way I’d let one of ya’ll sleep on it when my bed is perfectly good,” Braeburn continued. “Braeburn,” This time it was Cam who spoke. Somehow this got Braeburns attention. He looked up and stared at his father in question. His head was cocked slightly. “They don’t need separate beds,” Cam said. Caramel audibly choked on his tea and Mac felt his chest tighten and eyes widen. “Huh?” Braeburn asked. Did he really not get it? “What do you mean, Papa? Two ponies? One bed?” “Braeburn,” Cam repeated, staring at his son. He flicked his eyes to Mac for a moment. “They only need one bed.” Braeburn was silent for a few moments. This was a new feat for him. In fact, the whole room was silent as they waited for the stallion to take it in. Suddenly Braeburn’s eyes widened and he jumped up from his seat and pointed his hoof accusingly at Big Macintosh. “Wait? You’re GAY?” Braeburn shouted. He pointed his hoof behind him at Caramel, but never turned his head away from Mac. “And you’re dating HIM?” Cam facehoofed in the corner. Caramel buried his face in both hooves and began to curl up slightly. Big Macintosh stared back at Braeburn with a stone-like face. "Actually," Big Macintosh said. "I like mares too."