//------------------------------//
// Chapter Three: The Market Incident and Aftermath 
// Story: Making Apple Butter - Teen Version 
// by Autumn Twilight 
//------------------------------//

Butterscotch continued to keep his eye on Big Macintosh as he settled in to his new village and home, meeting other ponies at the market as he fulfilled various needs for himself or his animal friends, yet never did he feel so emotionally towards any of them as he did for that apple-flanked stallion. Week after week he watched from a distance, admiring how well the soft-spoken stallion seemed to fit in around town, and never usually having to do so much as speak but a few words to get his point across.

Pinkie Pie, that first mare he'd met here - and nearly had a heart attack from, as she'd greeted him so suddenly and loudly during his first visit to town - actually turned out to be a pretty nice pony, even if she was practically his polar opposite. While he was quiet, kept to himself, and was rather demure, she was loud and boisterous, and claimed everypony in town was her friend. She even remembered all of their birthdays, and gave each of them presents or even parties on it!

One day, while chatting with Pinkie and heading to the market to get his weekly requirements, they stopped short of the 'Sweet Apple Acres Apples' stall, and Butterscotch felt his heart start pounding as he saw Big Mac again. He felt nervous, as he did every time he saw the stallion, ever since he'd rubbed one out at a fantasy of him, and had realized at that moment that he just may prefer stallions over mares. Pinkie picked up on that nervousness. "Hey, what's wrong? Parasprites?!" Pinkie asked, looking around suspiciously, and slowly drawing a trombone from her mane.

"Oh...n-no...what are parasprites?" Butterscotch responded, "Nevermind. No, it's nothing..." Butterscotch said, yet he couldn't pull his gaze from that big, muscular earth pony selling a half-dozen apples at that moment, and Pinkie seemed to pick up on his lovestruck gaze.

"Aw, I know that look! Do you like Big Mac? He is a pretty cool, handsome pony! He's the brother to one of my bestest friends, Applejack, too! You two should totally meet, I'm sure she'd like—" Pinkie exclaimed like it was the most normal thing in the world to voice somepony's crush aloud, much to Butter's horror, as he clamped a hoof over her mouth and stopped her before she could make it worse.

"I...!" Butter started in a panicked yelp, looking over to see if Big Mac had heard Pinkie's outburst. He clearly hadn't, still talking to his customer, before taking a deep breath to compose himself. He'd never thought he'd be found out so early, though he supposed gawking at such an attractive stallion with a dreamy expression on his face was kind of a dead give-away, "...I don't know, OK?"

"Okie-dokie-loki!" Pinkie said in her usual, exuberant way, "I didn't know you were into stallions though! I figured you'd totally be into mares? Huh! Guess it was me who got surprised this time! Hahaha!"

"I, um, I didn't know until recently either..." Butterscotch admitted, once more glancing over at the big, handsome earth pony stallion, "...until I met...him," Butterscotch's eyes then widened a bit, somewhat surprised her friend would be so open to the idea of him, a stallion, being attracted to another stallion.

"So, when're you gonna ask him out?!"

Butterscotch froze up at that question, eyes wide as he looked at this mare incredulously. "M-me? Ask h-him?" Butterscotch stammered, rapidly shaking his head, "N-no, no, I couldn't! He...I mean, I'm sure he's got mares beating down his doors for his foals already!"

"Hmm...nah, don't think so. Every time I've heard of a mare hitting on him, he's let them down gently, saying they're 'jus' not his type', whatever he means by that." Pinkie said, miming Mac's accent poorly as she quoted him, before cocking her head slightly.

"O-oh..." Butterscotch said, "w-well surely he wouldn't think I’m his type. I mean, I'm a stallion..."

"Well, ya won't ever know until ya ask! Anyhow, where did you need to go now?" Pinkie asked, with Butterscotch realizing, with heavy saddle bags, a full cart, and disconcertation, that he had only one destination left today.

"T-there..." Butterscotch said, his cheeks already flushing red as he saw Big Mac finishing up with his latest customer, pointing at the apple cart.

"Aaaah, gotcha," Pinkie said, giving Butterscotch a wink, and confusing the butter-yellow stallion.

Approaching the apple stall, Pinkie at his flank, Butterscotch hesitantly approached the apple vendor, his usual meek posture once more assumed, face partially hidden behind his mid-length, powder-pink, swirled mane. "Oh, um, hi B-Big Mac," Butterscotch said in a demure tone, looking away submissively as always from the bigger stallion, "t-the usual dozen, please?" Presenting a dozen golden Bits from his pouch, he placed them on the counter, and waited for Big Mac to fulfill his request.

As the Apple stallion was putting his order into a small sack, Butterscotch didn't notice Pinkie trotting close to Big Mac. "So, Big Mac, my friend here said he has a crush on you! Isn't he super handsome?!" Pinkie suddenly stated, with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer smashing a gong, clearly thinking Butterscotch was here for more than just apples after his admission, and thinking he was after Big Mac's 'apples'. She thenafter stood there, looking proud of herself for helping Butterscotch break the ice and being a good new friend.

Big Mac dropped the apple whose stem he was holding in his teeth as his jaw dropped, before looking at Butterscotch, clearly quite surprised at what Pinkie had said.

Butterscotch screamed internally as he felt rooted to the spot, several pairs of eyes on him now as his secret crush was aired like so much dirty laundry. He started trembling as he wilted from the unwanted attention, eyes wide as dinner plates, his stomach feeling like it was in his hooves. And then he suddenly felt wind rushing past him, the impact of the ground under his hooves, his heart breaking, as he galloped away. He could also feel a cold wetness on his cheeks, his vision blurred with tears, and his mane sticking to his face as he spread his wings, and took flight as fast as he could away from the mortifying situation.

Pinkie meanwhile pronked away from the market with a big smile, humming merrily, leaving Big Mac with his jaw agape, and more than a little to think about. "Well, I think that went great!" Pinkie said to herself cheerily, sitting and giving herself a self-hoofbump, "Mission accomplished!" Soon, though, she felt a heavy hoof land on her shoulder.

"Pinkie, Ah gotta ask ya somethin’..."





Butterscotch sat in his living room, where he'd ended up after his panicked retreat from the market, slumped down, his wings unfurled and laying limp beside him. He vaguely remembered opening the door and entering, now stared at the floor beneath him as his thoughts ran a mile a minute, the occasional tear dripping down from his muzzle to join the small puddle already there. Butterscotch had never felt so humiliated and betrayed in his life as he had that day, with even failing and being bullied in flight camp as a colt now only a close second. 

Butterscotch didn't even notice the first knock on his door, so lost in his shame - and despair of thinking he'd never be able to see Big Mac again, let alone be anything more to him, all thanks to Pinkie's outburst - that it took the next, now hinge-rattling, series of poundings on his cottage door to finally shake him from his daze enough to elicit a reaction.

Not remembering expecting a package, Butter mumbled a 'coming!' as loud as he could muster in his depressed state, dragging himself to his hooves, his unfurled wings dragging behind him as he walked.

As he opened the door, Butterscotch's view was filled with a burly, candy-apple-red-coated chest. His heart sinking at the implications, Butterscotch forced his gaze upwards, before they were found true upon meeting his eyes with the those of Big Macintosh. They both just stared at each other for a while, emerald-green meeting teal eyes, before Butterscotch felt fresh tears rolling down his cheeks as he fell back onto his rump, closing his eyes and looking away in consternation and shame.

After the silence grew uncomfortable, then unbearable, Butterscotch's eyes snapped open and widened, letting out a surprised squeak as he was suddenly hauled from his seated position and into the air. Expecting to feel the hard floor, or a hard hoof, meeting his face, wincing in anticipation of the pain, he was instead surprised to feel the exact opposite: softness. In complete surprise, Butterscotch's vision was once more taken up by vivid red, his nose buried in soft, if mildly-course, fur, and the soft flesh and firm muscles beneath it, feeling two thick forelegs wrapped around his back. His sensitive muzzle also picked up the other stallion's soft musk, with everypony having their own unique scent, his mixed with a faint hint of salty sweat, cut pinewood, and sweet apples.

In complete awe at the surrealism of the moment, Butterscotch realized he was being hugged. Big Mac was holding him, and softly squeezing him in a bear hug. "Ah never could stand seein' ponies cry," Butterscotch both heard, and felt through Big Mac's chest, "'E'specially if Ahm th' cause of it, directly er not," Big Mac sighed. "Makes me feel like Ah wronged 'em, even if Ah didn't."

Hearing Big Mac talk was soothing to Butterscotch, and his embrace was almost like being hugged by a big stuffed teddy-pony come to life. After calming down some in his embrace, Butterscotch realized he'd never told Big Mac where he lived. "H-how, um...how did you find me?"

"Pinkie," Big Mac said, and the mention of that mare’s name sent a pang of anger and betrayal through Butterscotch again. He also regretted telling the mare where he lived, but he had a feeling she'd have found out on her own, if she'd wanted to. "She also asked me to tell ya she's sorry fer shoutin' out that ya like me."

Butterscotch felt the very unusual sensation of seething anger growing inside him as he thought of that little pink traitor, that feeling quickly devolving to resentment, before he was pulled out of his hate spiral by a slightly-rough hoof on his cheek, guiding him to come face to face with Big Mac again. Seeing the rage on Butter's face, Mac's brows furrowed a bit in worry, concerned that his anger was directed at him. Deciding that since he was already angry, he may as well take the shot and hope for the best, Big Mac did just that.

"So, is it true, what she said?"

The question hit Butterscotch like a freight train. "W-what?" Butterscotch asked, still in the big stallion's tight embrace.

"What Pinkie said in the market, that's got ya all in a tussle. That ya..." Big Mac paused, his blush evident even against his naturally red cheeks, "...that ya got feelin's fer me?"

Butterscotch felt his own cheeks explode with heat, squirming a bit in Big Mac's grasp, as he felt his embarrassment arise anew. That Big Mac had just so bluntly asked him, without a hint of malice, was somewhat of a surprise to him. "I...I...um..." Butterscotch stammered, his tongue struggling to even consider making words, "...I don't kn-know...?"

Pulling back from the hug, letting Butterscotch sit on his own now, and sitting a mere half-meter from him, Mac gave a chuckle. "Lemme guess, ya think Ah got mah eye on some ten-outta-ten mare, and Ahm gonna be all mad that ya think Ahm attractive?" Mac asked, getting a surprised look from Butterscotch, before the smaller stallion nodded. "Heh, figured. Well, lemme tell ya somethin' here, Butterscotch, somethin' Ah ain't never told nopony else. All these mares comin' to me durin' estrus season, lookin' fer a foal from me, er asking me on dates then er otherwise..." Mac said, before sighing, his turn to be nervous now, "...’ell, they're barkin' up the wrong tree. Ah never really been inta fillies as a colt, or mares now."

That was quite possibly one of the last things Butterscotch had ever expected to hear from Big Mac. Here was possibly the most handsome stallion he'd ever seen, able to pick any mare he wanted, and sire beautiful foals to them, yet he wasn't attracted to them. "Y-you...um...what?" Butterscotch asked, unable to believe his ears.

"Yeah, Ah never focused on anythin' romantic or sexual, really. Mah first love's always been the farm an' orchard, an' Ah viewed everything else as a distraction for th' longest time," Mac said, apparently finding an outlet for this now, seeming to have been bothering him for some time. "Always focused on work an' family...but never mahself. Mah own wants 'n' needs. Always for somepony else. Not sayin’ it ain't family first, but..."

Butterscotch sat there, puzzled, as Big Mac beared his heart to him, all shame or embarrassment gone now, only a strange pity for their shared lack of relationships; Mac because of dedication to his job and family, and Butterscotch from sheer shyness.

Soon, Butterscotch found himself scooching closer to the other stallion, before reaching out his forelegs and embracing Macintosh. "Yes." Butterscotch all but whispered, slightly confusing the earth pony stallion.

"Pardon?" Big Mac asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yes, Pinkie was right. I did say you were attractive." Butterscotch replied, nodding softly against Big Mac's shoulder, "and yes, I also thought you'd have to be beating mares off with your stick..." Butterscotch's eyes widened at the unintended innuendo, "...I-I mean...!"

Big Mac chuckled at the flustered stallion, pulling back from the hug to look down at him. "Like Ah said, Ah never really thought about what er who Ah was interested in romantically. Now, here Ah got a stallion who seems into me."

"I-I'm sorry..." Butterscotch answered reflexively, before feeling a soft hoof land on his cheek.

"Ain't nothing ta apologize fer. Maybe ya helped me, in fact."

"Helped you?"

"Yeah. Maybe Ah was looking at things all wrong."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"Ah mean, maybe it weren't a mare Ah may be interested in like Ah was thinkin' as a colt."

"O-oh?" Butterscotch asked, his wings springing up in anticipation, waiting with baited breath on Mac's words.

"Yeah," Mac said, nodding, "Ah was always under th' impression ya needed ta be with a mare as a stallion, 'specially with all them askin' t' date me, or even jus' ta have mah foals, but that jus' never felt right t' me. But, Ah realize now that...that ain't gotta be how it is. Pinkie kinda opened mah eyes to that...an' you too."

"M-me? Really?"

"Yeah, you. Never really even considered gettin' together with a stallion, let alone anypony really. Then here along you come, puttin' that in mah head like that." Mac smiled, a genuine smile, and Butterscotch couldn't help but smile himself, this stallion's happiness being quite contagious.

"Well, I..." Butterscotch said, looking bashful now, "I just thought you were really handsome that first time I saw you, and you're very generous, and..." Butterscotch said, before biting his tongue before the traitorous muscle could let 'sexy' slip. Memories of his fantasy between him and Mac flashed in his mind, with him feeling a stirring and twitch in his sheath, and he had to clamp down on those thoughts before his member slipped free.


“Hmm…” Big Mac hummed as he stepped back. He then looked over Butterscotch, actually checking out the smaller stallion. While he was a bit taller than the average mare, it wasn’t by much, with pegasi in general always being on the smaller, more lithe side. He realized he probably didn’t weigh half of what Big Mac did, what with having to be light enough to fly and all, with most earth ponies meanwhile as tall as trees, and built like boulders, in comparison.

What Big Mac did certainly enjoy about the smaller stallion, though, were his wings, and his adorable, nearly-round muzzle, much like some colts’ were. He didn’t mind that he wasn't big and hunky like some mares seemed to like in a stallion, instead rather lanky, thinking he was rather handsome just the way he was. Hay, with his mane longer like it was, he almost looked like a mare at first glance! “...Hmm...hmm...hmm…” Big Mac continued to hum as he continued to blatantly check out Butterscotch, with the stallion under his scrutiny nearly wilting under his peering eyes, his tail tucked between his legs.

“U-um…?” Butterscotch asked, Big Mac’s ears perking up as he looked away from the extended, erect wing that he’d been examining, “...I...I didn’t know this was a physical.” Butterscotch smiled, then let out a little giggle, Mac letting out a deeper guffaw of his own.

“Sorry, tend t’ get a little, uh, ‘over-observant’ on some things...or in this case, somepony,” Mac said, before giving a sheepish little smile.

“Did, um…” Butterscotch started, feeling his cheeks flare up with heat again, “...did...did you like what you saw?”

Big Mac simply smiled at the question, then scooped the pegasus stallion up entirely and hugged him again, earning another surprised squeak from him. “Mmmhm…” Big Mac answered, nodding, “...yer real handsome to me. An' since ya asked, Ah think it’s only fair ya say whatcha think’a me too.”

“I...I like how you look too,” “Butterscotch said, feeling a bit shy about being told he was handsome by somepony else, let alone an absolute stud like Big Mac was. “Your, um...muscles are nice, and...so is your...um…”

“Relax there,” Bit Mac said, seeing Butterscotch getting flustered as he clearly tried to think of more compliments, before deciding to try a joke, “ain’t nothin’ t’ get worked up over...unless it’s in the fun kinda gettin’ worked up, y'dig?”

Butterscotch collapsed onto his back on the ground with a very goat-like bleat, his legs standing stiff in the air as he apparently froze up and fainted. “OK, note ta self: don’t make sexual innuendo to Butterscotch anymore...” Big Mac whispered to himself, lifting the pegasus up and over his withers, then laying him on the couch, before smiling at the cute stallion laying there, “...not yet, at least.”