//------------------------------// // Heart Over Hooves // Story: Love, Equestria Style // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// (Once again, this story takes place near the end of "Twilight's Love".) Applebucking season had once again arrived, and Sweet Apple Acres had quite a bumper crop of apples. Between Applejack and Big McIntosh, such numbers were barely a challenge. Unfortunately, Big Mac had tripped and sprained his ankle a day before the harvest, cutting their ponypower in half. Applejack, knowing from personal experience that she couldn't buck all those apples alone, sought out help. Applejack called upon her friends. Twilight had to attend a royal summit in the Crystal Empire, Rarity had to deliver fashion designs to Canterlot, Rainbow was visiting family in Cloudsdale, Fluttershy was caring for a flock of sick birds, and Pinkie was too busy planning Pound and Pumpkin Cake's birthday party. "What are we gonna do, Granny?" Applejack asked. "Ah can't do the entire harvest by mahself." "Don't fret, young 'un." Granny Smith declared. "Ah know somepony who might be able ta help. You get ta bucking, and Ah'll bring 'im in." Trusting her grandmother's choice, Applejack started bucking apples. As she moved to her fourth tree, Granny Smith came by with a stallion that Applejack recognized: Caramel. "What the hay-?" Applejack spluttered. "Applejack, you remember Caramel, right?" Granny Smith smiled. "Hello…" Caramel nervously inquired, waving his hoof. Applejack half-heartedly returned the gesture, before turning to the elderly mare. "Granny, can I talk ta you in private?" Granny nodded, Applejack led her a short distance away. "Is this really the help you were talkin' about?" Applejack asked. "Sure was." Granny Smith nodded. "What seems to be the problem?" "The problem is that Caramel ain't exactly the most dependable stallion." Applejack told her. "Every Winter Wrap Up, he loses the seeds!" "What, ya think he'll lose the trees?" Granny Smith joked. "or the apples?" "Very funny." Applejack frowned, "But I don't think a pony that loses seeds would be the right pony for this kind of work." "Oh, come now, Applejack. He's jest what we need: An able-bodied stallion." Granny Smith told her. "Ya'll oughta be grateful he agreed ta help. Ponies hadn't 'xactly been lining up to help, you know." "Yer right, Granny." Applejack sighed. "Better get ta work." Applejack walked over to Caramel. "Ya ever applebucked before?" She asked. "No." Caramel admitted. "But how hard can it be?" "It's more complicated then ya think." Applejack countered. "Ya gotta hit the trees jest right, in order ta get as many apples ta fall as possible." To emphasize her point, Applejack kicked the nearest tree, resulting in a downpour of apples. "Not bad." Caramel gazed. "Yer turn." Applejack prompted. "Okay." Caramel took his place by another tree, "Here goes…" He bucked a tree, causing a single apple to fall. "Might wanna work on that." Applejack chided. "But fer now, let's get ta work." Together, they bucked trees all day. Caramel got better as the day progressd, managing two or three apples with each buck. The improvement did not go un-noticed by Applejack. 'Gotta admit, he's a hard worker.' Applejack mused. 'Not up ta mah applebuckin' standard, but he'll do fer now.' By that point, Caramel had worked up quite a sweat. His body, while not as well-built as Big Mac's, he was in good shape. His sweat-laden body glistened in the sunlight, and Applejack found herself staring for a moment, before she shook herself. 'Dang heatstroke.' She thought to herself. As the sun began to set, the working day came to an end. Applejack and Caramel pulled the overflowing apple carts to the barn. "Good work today, Caramel." Applejack smiled. "Thanks, AJ." Caramel grinned. "See you tomorrow?" "Bright an' early." Applejack nodded. Later that evening, the Apple family had gathered for supper. "How's yer ankle, Big Mac?" Applejack asked. "Feelin' better?" "Eeyup." Big McIntosh nodded. "It felt even better when miss Cheerilee came ta visit." Applebloom smirked. "Big Mac really liked that." Big McIntosh glared at his little sister. "So, how'd the applebuckin' go?" Granny Smith asked. "Not bad." Applejack shrugged. "Caramel ain't a champion bucker, but he did okay." "there, see?" Granny Smith smiled. "Ah knew he'd be great help." "Just so long as he keeps it up." Applejack declared. "Still plenty more apples ta buck..." The next morning, Caramel returned, and they started applebucking again. "I think I'm getting the hang of this." Caramel smiled, downing four apples with one buck. "Maybe I should consider a career in applebu-guh!" His words were cut short as a fifth apple came down, right on his head. "You okay?" Applejack asked, mildly concerned. "I think so." Caramel cringed, one hoof on his head. "Can you see a bump?" Applejack examined the area. "Nope, everything's-" She stopped as Caramel turned her, their eyes meeting. Applejack had never looked Caramel in the eyes before, at least not closely. He had pretty moderate cerulean eyes… so pretty in fact that it took Applejack a few extra seconds to respond. "…fine." "That's good." Caramel smiled, blushing lightly from their close proximity. "And the apple looks like it's okay, too." He put the apple in the cart. "Well, time to get back to work." "Yeah, sure." Applejack nodded, choosing to ignore the strange new feeling in her chest. "Speaking of which, this is some hard work." Caramel noted. "And I thought Winter Wrap Up was tough. You really do this for a living?" "Sure do." Applejack nodded. "Wow." Caramel smiled. "Gotta admit, I'm impressed." "Thanks." Applejack smiled. "I know I'm kind of a bungler, what with always losing the seeds for Winter Wrap Up... but to honest, I've always admired the work ethic of you Apples." Caramel admitted. "Every time I messed up, I felt bad about letting you ponies down. Which is why I'm not gonna mess this up. These apples are your livelihood, and I won't let them go to waste." "That's right honourable of you." Applejack smiled, impressed by Caramel dedication.. "Now, let's get to it." As they continued their work, Applejack found herself stealing glances at Caramel. Aside from his absent-mindedness during Winter Wrap Up, she realized she knew very little about him. In the short time he'd been helping her, she'd realized he was hard-working, honest, and kind-hearted. A truly decent stallion. An image suddenly popped into her mind's eye; The two of them on a grassy hill, enjoying the sunset together. His hoof around her shoulders... 'Whoa, dawgie.' Applejack stopped herself. 'Ah'm way too busy for any a' that lovey-dovey hoohaw.' Despite what she told herself, Applejack couldn't help stealing more glances as the day went on. As the sunset once more, Caramel departed, waving brightly at her. She bashfully waved back. It took a moment for her to realize Granny Smith was right behind her. "Did I ever tell ya how Ah met yer grandpappy?" Granny Smith asked. "What th-?" Applejack frowned. "He was a farmhand mah pa hired." Granny smiled with nostalgic. "Ah had such a crush on 'im. Took me weeks ta work up the courage ta talk ta him. We got real friendly after that, and one day, he asked me out. The rest is history." "What are you gettin' at, Granny?" Applejack asked. "Why, you got feelin's for that nice Caramel fella, that's what." Granny smirked. "Wh- Na- Ah do not!" Applejack spluttered. "Sure ya do." Granny smirked. "It's as plain as the blush on yer cheeks." "So what?" Applejack pouted. "Ah don't have time fer that romance hogwash anyway. Ah'm way too busy workin' on this 'ere farm. Ah've got mah hooves planted firmly on the ground." "Oh, Applejack." Granny smiled. "Sometimes, ya gotta put yer heart before yer hooves." "But, Granny-" Applejack countered. "No 'buts', young 'un." Granny interrupted. "Ya shouldn't deny yer feelings. Ah mean, look at yer brother. He may be just as dedicated to the farm as you, yet he seems to be wooing that schoolteacher of Applebloom…" "Well, he had a lot of free time on his hooves, with the sprain and all. What's yer point, anyhow, Granny?" Applejack asked. "All that I am saying is that it wouldn't kill ya to get outta the orchard every once in a while. Get out there and see what the world have to offer! Ya understand where I'm coming from, right?" "Ah guess..." Applejack shrugged. "But what exactly should Ah do? Ah ain't exactly experienced in these matters, ya know..." "What's ta know?" Granny chuckled. "Just come up ta him and ask 'im on a date. It's so easy that a blank flank rancher could easily ask out a princess!" "That easy, huh?" Applejack snarked. "Worth a try, Ah guess." The next day, Caramel returned for the final round of applebucking. Applejack nervously bided her time, waiting for what she thought was the perfect time to ask Caramel. As the day ended, she finally managed to spit it out. "Hey, Caramel?" She asked. "Yeah, AJ?" Caramel asked back. "Ah've been thinking..." Applejack stated. "Ah got ya all pegged wrong, always chidin' ya for losin' those Winter Wrap Up seeds. Yer a pretty decent stallion, all in all." "Oh, thanks." Caramel smiled. "And thanks for giving me a shot. I know it can't have been easy, after the aforementioned seed incidents..." "What say we get to know each other a little better?" Applejack offered. "Like... maybe a nice, romantic hay ride?" "Romantic?" Caramel instantly blushed. "Ah…sure. I'd love to!" "Darn tootin'." Applejack smiled. A short while later, they were riding on a cart filled with hay, being pulled by Big Mac (Whose ankle had finally healed). Applejack was leaning against Caramel's side. "Now, this is what Ah call a hay ride." Applejack smiled. "Yeah." Caramel nodded. "So, what exactly changed your opinion of me so much?" "Let's just say Ah like hard-working stallions with blue eyes." Applejack kissed Caramel on the cheek. "Lucky for me, huh?" Caramel chuckled, wrapping a hoof around her. "Good thing Granny Smith came to me for help with applebucking." "Easy there." Big McIntosh told them. "Don't forget about the peanut gallery." "Enough chin-wagging." Applejack chuckled. "Let's just enjoy the view, and each other's company." "Yes, ma'am." Caramel snuggled closer to Applejack. The cart continued it's trip around the now-harvested orchard, the two ponies content to be in each other's company.