A story focusing on Caramel adjusting to his new life as a father and husband
Caramel and Applejack have recently became parents to their daughter, Toffee Apple. But whilst Applejack has become more than aware that she has to do what's best for her daughter, Caramel is still trying to face the fact that he is now a parent and isn't sure that he'll be a good one.
It's been four years since me and Applejack got married, and it's been a whole month since our daughter, Toffee, was born, she's a perfectly healthy filly and I hope that she goes on to do big things when she's older. And now knowing that I have a daughter to look after has made me a very happy stallion. I haven't been this happy since I married my wife in Canterlot. But with all this happiness, there is an emotion that's digging deep inside of me, and it's a fierce and somewhat sharp emotion, that feels like it's pierced through my stomach and is twisting slowly into it. It's an emotion of fear, it's dread. So despite me being completely overjoyed at the birth of Toffee, I'm scared, I'm scared of the fact that I might not be a good father, I'm scared that I might end up like my dad, or worse, my mom.
So now here I am, I've moved away from Manehattan nine years ago, when I was eighteen and I've lived here in Sweet Apple Acres for five years with Applejack and the rest of the family, my big brother-in-law, Big MacIntosh, my little sister-in-law, Applebloom, my grandmother-in-law, Granny Smith and finally the newest addition to the family, l'il Toffee Apple.
6:00am, Saturday, I'm lying in bed with my wife, cuddled together with her, she is snug and asleep and has her face nuzzled into my neck in comfort and I'm awake, with my neck in comfort under AJ's soft cheeks. The birds were chirruping outside our bedroom window and Toffee is wrapped in blankets in her crib at the end of our bed, and since I've woken up this early, this must mean that the baby is going to start crying any second now, she always does when I wake up unusually early. And just like that, she starts crying, making me more alert and waking Applejack up,
"Oh my,Toffee's up again" She said as she lifted her head off my neck.
"I know, baby. You want me to go take her downstairs?" I asked.
"That'd be great, Sugarcube. Ah need ma rest anyways" She replied.
"Sure thing, Applejack" I told her.
"Thanks, Caramel" Applejack replied.
Before I got up, I gave my wife a small peck on the lips, then got up, and approached my daughter's crib and looked inside the crib, to see Toffee crying and her pacifier away from her, she must've accidentally let it out of her mouth, I picked up the pacifier and tried placing it in her mouth again, but she spat it out, still crying. After another attempt at trying to make her take her pacifier, I picked her up and cradled her in my left arm,
"Ah think she's hungry, hon" Applejack said.
"I'll give her a bottle of milk. They're still downstairs, right?" I asked.
"Mhm" AJ nodded.
"OK, you get some rest, babe" I said to her.
"Ah'll be up in about forty-five minutes, sugarcube" She replied.
"No problem" I said.
I left the bedroom with Toffee still in my left arm, she wasn't crying as much once we left the room, but was still crying, so I took her downstairs to the kitchen to give her a bottle of milk. I heated the milk up slightly, so it tastes better for her, I got the bottle and went into the living room with Toffee now moved onto my right arm. She was still crying,
"Ssh, Toffee, it's OK, Daddy's here" I whispered to her.
I pressed the bottle gently against Toffee's lips until she finally hesitated to drink it, and from that point on on, she was silent.
She was still wrapped and snug in her blankets, and after two minutes of suckling on the bottle, she went to sleep once again. No point of going back to bed now that I'm almost completely awake, and no point of putting Toffee in her crib upstairs because Applejack will be downstairs in just a short while. So I'm just sitting on the couch, with my daughter in my arms and left to my own thoughts. One of my thoughts is that I still dreading the fact I'm now a dad, but strangely enough I love the fact that I'm a dad as well. To be honest, when Applejack announced she was pregnant to all of us, I fainted, I collapsed on the floor and was out cold for ten goddamn minutes, Applebloom thought I had a stroke, but really, I just fainted of shock. AJ must've thought not to tell me or anypony else, because she wanted to surprise us, and she surprised the HELL out of me. I must've forgot to put a condom on whilst me and Applejack were having sex, because I really wasn't expecting her to be pregnant. During the months prior to Toffee's birth, I was scared shitless, yet excited. I knew that Applejack had experience in raising a child, since she's been helping Granny Smith and Mac raise Applebloom since she was born, but when I was growing up, my parents raised me horribly, since they're drug addled assholes, and also I was raised in the shit part of Manehattan. I'm just worried that being an asshole runs in my family, and that I'm going to raise Toffee like scum.
After zoning out whilst thinking about parenthood and holding my daughter in my arms, I heard a sound that snapped me out of my daydream, a creak from the stairs. However the pony that entered the living wasn't my wife, she still has another fifteen minutes in bed. Instead, it was my sister-in-law, Applebloom,
"Morning 'Mel" She yawned.
"Morning Applebloom" I greeted back to her.
"Did Toffee get y'all up again?" Applebloom asked me.
"Yeah, but she's quieted down now" I told her.
"Where's Applejack?" She asked.
"She's still in bed, she'll be up in about 15 minutes though" I replied.
Applebloom then trotted over towards me and Toffee, she then looked over at her niece and said,
"They're adorable when they're sleepin'"
"They?" I asked.
"It's adorable when all babies are sleepin', in ma opinion anyways" Applebloom replied.
"Yeah, I think so too" I agreed.
"Well, I'm gonna make my breakfast" She told me.
"I'll make it for you, Applebloom. You can sit here and hold Toffee if you want to" I optioned.
"That'd be cool, thanks 'Mel" She replied.
Applebloom sat beside me and I passed Toffee over to her, I got up off the couch and went over and stood next to the kitchen door,
"What you wanting?" I asked.
"Can I have toast please, with peanut butter please?" She replied and asked.
"Coming right up" I said.
I resumed my way into the kitchen and went over to the fridge, I opened the fridge and found multiple foods and drinks, like two jars of zap apple jam, a carton of milk, a tub of butter, a cake, and that's just to name a few. I got the peanut butter beside the milk, it was in a jar labeled "Big Mac's P.B. Do not touch". I don't think Big MacIntosh will mind if I take some. I put the jar of peanut butter beside the toaster and got the bread out of the cupboard, I then closed the fridge and put two slices of bread in the toaster and the rest of it back in the cupboard.
After about two minutes, the toast was ready, I got the toast out and placed both slices on a plate, and then I got a knife out of the cutlery drawer, opened the jar of peanut butter and then felt a tap on my flank, I turned my head and saw that it was Applejack,
"Howdy, sweetie" She greeted me as she came to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Morning, babe. You still could've had an extra ten minutes in bed if you wanted to" I told her as I pointed to the clock above the fridge.
"Good thing ah didn't wanna" Applejack smiled.
"How's Toffee in there with Applebloom?" I asked.
"They're both fine. Ah noticed ya'll have got Big Mac's peanut butter out, 'Mel" She observed.
"Pfft, he isn't gonna notice. Besides, he won't get at me for making Applebloom's breakfast" I replied.
"Ya never know" My wife told me.
"Well, if he does get mad at me, I'll talk myself out of it. I always do" I said.
"Ah will admit, y'are a tight-lipped stallion" She complimented.
I got the butter knife and stab it into the almost completely solid peanut butter, since it was in the fridge, it took me a while to scoop out some peanut butter from the jar, but I finally did it,
"Ha, you're one to talk about lips, eh babe?" I asked.
"Shh, don't say that out loud, besides, ah thought me and you agreed never ta speak of that again" She said.
"Yeah, we did, sorry Applejack" I apologized as I spread the peanut butter on Applebloom's toast.
"It's OK, what date was that again anyways?" She asked me.
"I think....it was our seventh, I don't know, I can't remember, my mind's a little groggy" I told her.
"As always" Applejack replied.
"Sorry" I apologized once more.
"Oh, don't apologize, Caramel. Yer forgetfulness is one of the reasons why ah fell in love with ya" She told me.
"Thanks, hon" I said.
She then wrapped her arms around my neck and came close and gave me a kiss on the lips, she then leaned towards my left ear and whispered,
"Y'all thank me later"
She backed up, but still had her arms around me, she then gave me a seductive smile and wink, she unwrapped her arms from my neck and said,
"Y'all better get Applebloom her breakfast"
"I will" I replied.
"Ah'm gonna make coffee for you and me" She told me.
"Can I get cream with that, please?" I asked.
"Sure thing" Applejack replied.
I then went back into the living room with the plate of toast balanced on my head, I saw Applebloom still holding Toffee, now looking as if tired of holding the baby. So I went over to the couch and slid the plate off my head and onto the arm of the couch, and took Toffee off of Applebloom's hooves,
"Sorry about the short delay, me and AJ were just chatting" I told my sister-in-law.
"It's OK, and thanks for the toast" She smiled.
"Don't mention it" I replied, "Toffee hasn't been any bother to you, has she?"
Applebloom shook her head, "Nope, she's been fine, ah did get a lil' tired when holdin' her"
"OK, but I've taken her off your hooves now. You got any plans for today?" I asked.
"Yeah, me, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are just going to be hanging out today. You got any plans today, 'Mel?" She replied and asked.
"Nothing, really. I'm probably just going to chill out today with Toffee and AJ, none of us really have any plans" I told her.
"Cool" Applebloom replied.
At this point, Toffee woke up, her eyes widened, she has the green eyes of her mom, she looked around the room, observing everything, looking puzzled like most babies do,
"Hey Toffee, how was your sleep?" I asked, though, I wasn't expecting any answer, except from a few gurgles and grumbles.
I took Toffee over into the kitchen and put her onto her high chair beside the kitchen table, Applejack had finished sorting out our two cups of coffee and then came over to Toffee,
"Hey, Sugarcube. How's ma l'il filly doin'?" She asked Toffee.
"She just woke" I told Applejack.
"Aww, did ya have a good sleepy, Toffee?" Applejack asked her.
Whilst Applejack was trying to make our daughter laugh by making funny faces and gestures, I went over to the two mugs of coffee beside the kettle, one mug had cream in it, it was obviously mine, and AJ's mug had black coffee in it, she doesn't like milk in her coffee, I took my coffee over to the kitchen table and still saw Applejack making funny faces to Toffee,
"I thought I was meant to be the funny one?" I asked and smiled.
"You are, Ah'm the tough one" She happily replied.
"Oh, come on. I'm manly and tough" I proclaimed.
"Says the one who has yer ass saved by his wife on more than one occasion" Applejack told me.
So I decided to say, "I've saved you thousands..."
Applejack looked at me with a smirk and a raised eyebrow,
"Hundreds...." I continued.
She still had the face on,
"Sometimes" I finished.
She nodded in agreement, she then backed away to get her coffee then sat beside me at the table,
"Sorry, I'm a coward" I sighed.
Applejack placed one of her hooves on one of mine and smiled at me,
"Don't be sorry, sugarcube. Yer ma coward"
"Thanks, Applejack" I smiled back at her.
"Listen, baby. Ya may be forgetful, and ya may be a coward. But ah still love ya for who y'are. And y'are ma husband, the stallion ah fell in love with, and no matter how many flaws ya have, I'm not gonna stop lovin' ya" She told me.
"Yeah, but that's the thing, I have flaws, you don't" I said.
"Caramel, that's foolish. Nopony is without his or her flaws. Fer example, Rainbow Dash can have her head so far up 'er ass that she can't see what's right in front of her" She explained, "Even ah have ma own flaws, when ah get so caught up in ma work on the farm, ma pride seems to get in the way of me wanting help from ma family and friends"
"Huh, yeah" I chuckled.
"So don't think that ah'm flawless" Applejack told me.
"You're flawless to me, babe" I replied.
Applejack smiled, "Thanks Caramel"
"No problem" I replied.
She then leaned over to give a kiss on the lips, Toffee just sat in her high chair and was sucking on her hoof, and wasn't quite sure what me and her mom were doing,
Applejack suddenly stopped smooching, "Can ya do me a favor please, hon?"
"Sure, babe. What is it?" I asked.
"Can you take Winona out for a walk please?" She asked.
"Sure thing, Applejack" I replied.
"Thanks, hon. Ya're the best. Do it after ya finish yer coffee though" She told me.
I've just finished my cozy cup of coffee, and now I'm getting myself ready to take the family dog, Winona out for a walk. I was in the living room trying to find Winona's leash, also in the living room was Applejack who was trying to help me find the leash, and Applebloom and Toffee were sitting on the rug, Applebloom was playing with Toffee, and was desperately trying to get her niece's attention, but like most babies, Toffee just sat on the rug, picking up one toy and smashing it into another, and occasionally sucking on one.
I was rummaging through the back of the couch, searching for the leash, whilst my wife was trying to find the leash at the back of Big MacIntosh's chair,
"You find it, honey?" I loudly asked out from behind the couch.
"Ah haven't yet, sugarcube, but Ah'll let ya know if ah do" She replied.
"Thanks, Applejack" I said.
"Don't thank me yet, Caramel" She told me.
I continued my search through the messy behind of the couch. There was empty crates that were used for transporting off apples to different places in Equestria, there was empty glass cider bottles, probably from the previous family reunions we host here, can't believe we were too lazy to even notice that they've chucked bottles, and finally there was cobwebs, lots and lots of cobwebs, and when there's cobwebs, there's spiders. I hate spiders, I absolutely hate them, and I'm not scared of them, they just creep me out, well to be honest, I have developed a fear of a certain kind of spider, I don't remember the name of what kind of spider it was (obviously), but a few years ago during Nightmare Night, Princess Luna went in a mood and turned these toy spiders into these massive, hairy fuckers, with blood red eyes, I was terrified.
Since Applebloom took the dog out last, I decided to ask her,
"Excuse me, Applebloom?"
"Yeah, 'Mel?" She replied.
"Where did you put the leash when you came back with the dog last night?" I asked her.
"Ah put it in the kitchen beside the sink" She told me.
"Applejack, did you check there, babe?" I asked my wife.
"Ah did, it ain't there" Applejack replied.
I sighed, "OK, I'll have to get a thin rope from the storage cupboard, and use that as a leash"
"Won't be necessary, baby" Applejack called out.
"What was that, hon?" I asked as I turned to look at her from behind the couch.
I saw Applejack raise Winona's leash in the air, and gave me a smirk, suggesting that she's done much better than I did, and to be truthful, she has done better,
"Babe, you're a lifesaver" I complimented.
She gave me another smirk and blushed, and shrugged me after I gave her a compliment, I find it cute of her when she gets slightly shy whenever she's complimented. I hopped over the couch and went over to where AJ was, behind Big Mac's chair,
"Ah'm not a lifesaver, Caramel" She told me.
"Hey, says the pony who has saved her husband's ass multiple times" I said as a gave her kiss on the cheek, "You're also one of six ponies who beat Nightmare Moon, stopped Discord from turning Ponyville into the chaos capital of Equestria, saved Canterlot from Chageli.."
"OK, honey, ah get yer point" Applejack giggled.
"Where was the leash anyways" I asked.
"Strangely enough, under the floorboards" She told me.
"Really?" I asked, "What the hell was it doing under there?"
"No idea" She replied.
"Hmm, that's weird" I said, "I'll get behind this when I come back from the walk. Speaking of which, can I get the leash please?"
"Sure" She said.
Applejack then passed the leash to me, I looked behind me and still saw Toffee and Applebloom playing together, then I looked back at Applejack,
"Thanks babe" I said.
"You're welcome, sweetie" Applejack said after.
"Do you need anything whilst I'm out with Winona?" I asked.
"No thank ya, Caramel" She replied.
"Alright let me just get Winona and then I'll be on my way" I told her.
"Go ahead" She replied.
I walked out of the living room and made it towards the front door of the house, I opened the door and called out,
"WINONA! Come here girl!" I called and then whistled.
I looked out ahead at the apple acres that I could see for miles, hoping Winona heard my whistle, and that she's just playing around in the farm after Applejack let her out for her breakfast.
Suddenly I heard the sound come from the bushes near the apple trees, and out came our brown and white border collie, Winona. She came racing towards then pounced onto me and started to lick my face,
"OK. OK. Winona, get off" I told her.
She obeyed and hopped off of me,
"OK, now sit" I commanded.
She sat on the floor and got myself back up on my hooves, I got the leash and hooked it to her collar. Applejack then came over to the front door, carrying Toffee, to say goodbye for just now,
"Caramel, how long do ya think ya'll be gone for?" Applejack asked.
"Em....about an hour, Applejack" I replied.
"OK, hon" Applejack said, "Somepony else wants ta say bye to ya"
She looked down at our child in her arms and got her into a more comfortable position,
"Ain't that right, sweetheart?" She asked Toffee.
I crouched lower to speak to Toffee, she was sucking on her hoof once again. I gently stroked her cheek and said to her,
"You gonna say goodbye to Daddy?" I asked my daughter.
"Ah think she wants a raspberry" Applejack smiled.
"Oh, a raspberry? Instead of a goodbye? Seems fair" I laughed.
I pressed my lips against my daughter's belly and took a deep breath then blew on her tummy. Toffee started to laugh, it was adorable to hear her laugh. I love the sound of laughter, from anypony, whether it could be a laugh from my wife or my daughter, it makes me have a smile on my face.
After I finished blowing on Toffee's tummy, I stood back up on my hooves and said to Applejack,
"I'll be home before you know it"
"OK, honey" She replied.
"Love you" I told her.
"I love ya too" Applejack told me.
I held Winona's leash, and leaned forward slightly and gave Applejack a kiss goodbye, so I walked away from the house with the dog and waved goodbye to Applejack and Toffee.
Walking Winona from the house to town is no bother for me, I let her off her leash and she'll just run to the bottom of the dirt path that leads from my house to town and wait for me to get there. But it's when we're in town, is when she starts to aggravate me, because she hardly ever listens to me when out for a walk, as opposed to when she's with Applejack, then she obeys every command she's given. Also, Winona isn't too good around other dogs, she usually growls at them and tries to pounce on one whenever she gets the chance, which pulls me along with her, and strains my arm, so I have to pull her away from the other dogs, which hurts her and I don't want to hurt her.
Ponyville is looking nice as always, it's a sunny day. The birds are chirruping in the trees and strangely enough, at 7:10am, hardly anypony was outside, and it's Saturday, usually a lot of ponies would be up at this time, strangely enough on a weekend, but maybe everypony is just trying to chill today.
Due to Toffee being born, I haven't been in Ponyville in about two weeks, I've been having to look after her and Applejack, who wasn't feeling well at the time, with Big Mac kindly going into town to get things for the baby, such as diapers, milk, etc. Big Mac and I don't get on often, but I do have respect for the guy, and he treats his family well, all in the family except from me most of the time. During me and Applejack's first dates, Big Mac didn't approve of us going out, and he even threatened me to stay away from her or bad stuff will happen. I also strongly remember the words he said to me at me and Applejack's wedding (which is very rare of me to remember, considering I was also drunk at the time), he said and I quote,
"Do anything to hurt my sister and I'll fucking kill you"
Good thing me and AJ have been happily married for almost four years now. I don't think I've done anything to hurt my mare, we've never had an intense argument about anything before, we've never fought about anything, we've pretty been going smooth since our first dates seven years ago. With that said, I've been safe from Big MacIntosh's threats, and now I might have his respect, but I'm still not sure about that.
I continued to walk down the path with Winona until I heard a stallion's voice call my name from behind me,
"Caramel! Yo, Caramel!"
I turned around to check who it was, it was a grey stallion about my build and height, with a cutie mark of three four-leafed clovers. Holy shit, it was my best friend, Lucky Clover,
"Lucky! Holy shit, I've haven't you since Toffee's birth" I greeted him.
"Dude, how have you been?" He asked me.
"I've been fine, man" I replied. "What about yourself?"
"I've been great, pal" He told me.
Lucky raised his left hoof and pointed it in front of me, expecting a hoofbump. So I raised my right hoof, which was my only free hoof, as my left hoof was holding Winona's leash and I gently bumped my right hoof against Lucky's,
"Where you headed with your dog?" Lucky asked me.
"No, we're just walking around, I'm probably gonna head back home in about half an hour" I told him.
"Cool, Caramel. I was on my way to get a coffee, wanna come with?" He asked.
"Sure thing, thanks for the offer" I said.
"Hey, anything for my best bud" He replied.
Me and Lucky were now at the Cafe, we were at the one me and Lucky used to work at, Mocha la Coca, we were sitting outside, obviously due to my dog not allowed in the Cafe, so I tied Winona's leash to the chair I was sitting on, and Lucky had just came back with the coffee, he got a latte for himself and got me something new and fancy called the "Stark Suis",
"So 'Mel, how's the family been, pal?" Lucky asked me.
"They've all been fine, Applejack has been good, Applebloom's been fine.." I was telling him.
"How's your daughter been?" He interrupted.
"Oh god, man. She's been wonderful, it's brilliant having a kid now, y'know?" I said to him.
"I wouldn't know, man. I ain't got a kid yet" He replied.
"Fair point" I said as I shrugged and took a sip of my Stark Suis.
As soon as the Stark Suis touched my taste buds, it was possible the most powerful non-alcoholic drink I've ever heard in my life, it was like rum but without any alcohol, it burned right though me, and gave a strong kick of adrenaline,
"WOO! Oh my gosh, this is strong as hell" I told him.
"I knew you'd like it" He said.
"Dude, you do know I like creamy coffee? This shit is much more up Applejack's turf, you know?" I asked.
"Yeah, but I knew you like strong, powerful drinks, and this a strong and powerful drink" He told me.
"True. It may not be Granny Smith's special apple moonshine, but it's something" I chuckled.
"You never let down your spirit, do you 'Mel?" Lucky asked me.
"I guess I don't, Lucky" I replied.
I looked around me to check if there was anypony else at the other tables, but no, it was just me and Lucky,
I sighed and took a breath, "There has been something bothering me for the past nine months"
"What is it, dude?" Lucky asked.
"Please promise me you won't tell anypony?" I pleaded.
"In the words of Pinkie. Cross my heart, hope to fly and stick a cupcake in my eye" He promised as he made the gestures that go along with the promise.
"OK, here goes, during the months leading up to Toffee's birth, I've been scared, I've been scared of raising a child" I told him.
"Caramel, why are you scared of raising a kid?" Lucky replied and asked.
"I'm worried I might end up like my parents" I replied.
Lucky sighed, "Dude, you do know that is stupid what you just said there, right?" He asked me.
"No, I didn't know" I replied.
"Listen, I've known you as long as I can remember, we grew on the same shitty streets of Manehattan together, I know your parents, they treated you like shit, they were assholes" He told me.
This is true, me and Lucky grew up together in Manehattan, I lived with my awful parents, he lived in an orphanage, we attended the same school, dropped out the same college, he's pretty much the brother I never had,
"Man, you're the only family I have, you've taught me more things than any teacher could. When you told me you were getting married, I was extremely happy for you" He told me, "Do you remember my best man speech?"
I nodded, "Yes, I remember most of it"
"Well here's all of it and I quote.." He began, "My greatest wish for you two is that through the years your love for each other will so deepen and grow, that years from now that you will look back on this day, your wedding day, as the day you loved each other the least"
"Yeah, I remember that speech, it was a great speech, man" I complimented him.
"Do you know what I meant by 'the day you loved each other the least'?" Lucky asked me.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out, I struggled to find them, I wasn't sure what it meant,
"I meant that you and Applejack's love for each other has enlarged hugely. Your parents never understood the meaning of love, hell, I don't think they ever even heard of that word" He said.
"Right" I nodded again.
"If there is anything you've taught me, 'Mel. It is the definition of love, you've shown me that through you and Applejack. And I will damn well see that through you, Applejack and Toffee" He told me, "Caramel, just because your parents raised you badly, that don't mean you'll raise your daughter badly, you'll be a great dad, 'Mel"
"Thanks, Lucky" I said.
"Bro, it's what I'm hear to do" He said as he turned to look inside the Cafe for the time, it was 7:45am, "Oh god, I gotta go, work calls, y'know?"
"Yeah, I know" I replied.
"Catch you later, Caramel" He bid his farewell as he got off his seat and took his latte with him.
"Wait, Lucky. Before you go, do you want to come and visit Toffee at the farm, she hasn't really got a chance to meet her uncle, really" I asked him.
"Sure thing, man" He replied, "See you"
"Bye, Lucky" I bid my farewell as well.
I saw him walk away from the table and walked to the left of the Cafe over to his job, I still sat in my seat, Winona was sleeping at the side of my chair, and I still have this Stark Suis to drink, I looked around at the streets of Ponyville and they were finally starting to get a little busier, after I finish my coffee, I'm gonna head home, I have the feeling this will be a great day.
I'm just outside my home, I opened the gate that leads to my back yard, and I let Winona off her leash into the yard, I then closed the gate and made my way to the front door. Once I made there, I heard the sound of what seemed like muffled singing, are the girls doing a little sing-song? Maybe. So I went and placed my ear against the door, to get a better hearing of what's being sung. It sounded like a birthday song, but it's only been one month since Toffee was born. Wait. One month? Happy and cheery singing in the form of a birthday song? There's only one pony I know who does that, and that pony is Pinkamena Diane "Pinkie" Pie.
I opened the front door and the singing became much more clear, Pinkie was entertaining my happy daughter by hopping around and singing,
"Oh, little Toffee Apple, you're one month old today,
And it's months before your birthday, but I'll still say hooray..."
I entered the living room, where Applejack was standing beside the door watching Pinkie effortlessly make my daughter extremely happy, I tapped Applejacks's shoulder, to get her attention,
"Oh, hi sugarcube" She greeted and gave me a kiss.
"Hey, AJ. When did Pinkie arrive?" I asked.
"Bout five minutes ago" She told me.
"Huh, guess we really should've saw this coming, eh?" I asked.
"Haha, yeah. After a month Pinkie usually comes ta visit somepony's child" Applejack chuckled.
"I still owe her for the party she threw in celebration of Toffee's birth" I told me.
"Oh, she told me it's all fine, ya don't owe 'er anything, she says" Applejack told me.
"Really?" I asked, "Can I double check with her?"
"Sure ya can, sweetie. But she'll probably say the same things she said ta me" My wife replied.
"OK" I said, "So when's she going to finish singing?"
"Give it time, she's been at it for two and a half minutes, give it another thirty seconds" Applejack said.
"Fine" I replied.
"...and that's because you are one month old today!"
Me and Applejack gave Pinkie a round of applause by stomping our hooves, Pinkie stood on her hind legs and took a bow,
"Thanks guys" Pinkie smiled.
"Yer welcome, Pink" Applejack said to her.
"That was really good, Pinkie" I complimented her.
"Thank you, Caramel" Pinkie said to me, "I haven't seen you since the party, Caramel. How have you been?"
"I've been good, Pinkie" I replied, "How have you been?"
"I've beeeen....GREAT!" She jumped happily and excitedly.
"Pinkie, can I ask you something about the party, please?" I asked my hyperactive friend.
"Of course, Caramel" She replied.
"Do I owe you anything, for the party at all?" I asked.
"Nope, it's all OK. You don't owe me anything, Caramel" She told me.
"See? Ah told ya so, hon" Applejack told me.
"Yes, you did, babe" I replied to Applejack.
"Aww, you two are soooo cute together" Pinkie said, "It's like you to were made for each other"
"Ya really think so, Pinkie?" Applejack asked her.
"Yep" Pinkie said.
Strangely enough, I would have never met Applejack if it weren't for Pinkie. Because when I first arrived in Ponyville along with Lucky, we were instantly approached by our extremely hyper pink friend, she was really nice to me and welcomed both me and Lucky to Ponyville, she later asked us if we wanted to hang out with her, and we accepted her nice offer, and we were slowly introduced to her best friends.
First was Rarity, a very pretty pony who me and Lucky became neighbors with, and though I can be somewhat annoyed by her mostly consistent prissiness, she is a good and generous and holds her own, honestly, she is a pretty aggressive fighter.
Next was Fluttershy, a pony who is Rarity's best friend and Rainbow Dash's best friend, and I can see why, she's a very kind pony, but she's always so quiet, when me and her first started to speak to each other, she always spoke so quiet, that I didn't even think she was saying anything half the time and just mouthing the words, but since she's gotten to know me a bit more, she speaks a lot more normal.
Thirdly, was Rainbow Dash, probably the most ego-eccentric of Pinkie's friends, and my wife is true about her in some way, she can get caught up in her "awesomeness" that she can't see the problem that's right in front of her.
Fourthly is when I met Applejack, she was just as beautiful then as she is now, she was the most relatable of Pinkie's friends, it took us a while before me and her went on our first dates, but before we went out, we grew closer to one another, learning more about each other, the similarities me and her have, it was all good.
And last but not least, Twilight Sparkle, Twilight came to Ponyville about a year after Lucky and I arrived, she was really un-optimistic about arriving, and until the entire Nightmare Moon, she finally bonded with everypony I mentioned above and she decided to stay, Twilight is an interesting pony so to speak, she is intelligent and well-spoken, but she has let her OCD and anxiety get the better of her at times.
But anyways, back to what's important. Me, Applejack and Pinkie continued our conversation in the kitchen with Toffee in there with us, in her high chair. I was sitting beside her and Applejack and Pinkie were standing up,
"So Pinkie, you got any plans for yourself today?" I asked.
Pinkie nodded, "I do, I'm meeting somepony later on today"
"Oh, who ya meeting?" Applejack asked.
"Just meeting Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight, Rarity, Spike, you know, the usual" Pinkie told her.
"Oh, cool" Applejack said.
"You should come along, it'll be like old times" Pinkie offered.
"Pinkie, ah'd love too, seriously, ah would. But ah have ta stay hear and look after Toffee, y'know, motherly duties" Applejack explained to her.
"Babe, you don't need to stay here every night, go ahead and see your friends if you want to" I said.
"Really? Ya sure?" Applejack asked me.
"Of course, hon. Go ahead and catch up with your friends tonight, I'll look after the baby" I replied.
Applejack looked awfully excited to hear that, she hasn't really spoken to her friends properly in a month, aside from brief visits and the party that Pinkie threw. She came to me and gave a tight hug, strangely enough, the hug was comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time, the comfort came from Applejack's soft blonde mane against me, but the most uncomfortable part was that she was hugging me too tightly, Applejack is extremely strong, and though she might have the physique of all of her friends, she is really, absurdly, unnaturally strong, probably second strongest aside from Rarity.
Right now, I was being suffocated in my wife's own arms, my face was red, and I was desperately trying to get her to stop, but she's far too strong,
"Honey?" I choked.
"Yes, 'Mel?" She asked.
"Y...you're suf...suffocating me" I struggled.
"Oh, gosh, sorry babe" She apologized as she released me.
I gasped for air, and rapidly inhaled and exhaled, until I was breathing at my normal standard. Toffee, for some reason, was laughing at the entire thing, maybe she was laughing at my facial expressions, but either way, I now know my baby daughter has a dark sense of humor, she seems to laugh every time when ponies hurt themselves,
"I'm so sorry about that, Caramel" Applejack apologized again.
"AJ, it's fine" I said, "You just have an extremely tight grip"
Pinkie laughed, "Ha! That's what he said"
"Aw, gross, Pinkie. Not in front of my kid" I told her.
"Caramel, she's a month old, ah doubt she'll know even half tha words we're speakin'" Applejack said to me.
"Still, babe, it's inappropriate" I replied.
Applejack started to chuckle, her chuckle then erupted into a laugh, a laugh that started to sound suspicious, and then it started to sound evil,
"Em....Applejack, what're you laughing at, you're starting to creep me out now, hon" I said.
Applejack chuckled, "Sweetie, ah was laughing at the fact, that we used to do things that were inappropriate, so ta speak"
"Don't I know it" I smirked.
"Ah mean, remember our first couple of dates, and our wedding for that matter?" She asked.
"I remember most of our dates, and I definitely remember our wedding, I remember everything" I replied.
"OH Caramel! Do you remember our quartet along with Fluttershy and Twilight at the wedding reception?" Pinkie abruptly asked me.
"Oh god, Pinkie. Don't bring that up, I looked like a total ass up there" I jokingly replied.
The wedding reception. My god, the wedding reception, never have I had such an amazing experience, it was fun, really fun. Most of us, except from the minors, got drunk, super drunk, I was drunk, Applejack was drunk, hell, even Fluttershy was drunk, and she hardly ever drinks. One of the most popular moments that happened that night, was me going on stage with Twilight, Pinkie and a very drunk Fluttershy and we all sang "Love is in Bloom", all the girls were all good at the singing, but I was singing with a very slurred voice, due to all the alcohol I consumed. The more I look back on the event, the more I see that it was the worst moment of my life, ironically, taking place on the best day of my life. What happened was, everypony was taking pictures of the entire thing, and I passed out for about five minutes after singing around the girls, then after I woke up, I went back on stage, by myself, and sung a love song about me and Applejack. God damn, I saw the pictures about three days after the wedding, when me and AJ where just about to go on our honeymoon, and all I could say to myself was,
"I hope those pictures get destroyed"
But sadly, they weren't, instead, copies of a lot of the photos went to parts of the Apple family all across Equestria, from Appleloosa to Baltimare, it was embarrassing, but there was nothing I could do about, so that wasn't too good, but the rest of the wedding reception was brilliant, it was just a good time,
Applejack chuckled, "Well, yer ma total ass"
"Oh my god, babe" I laughed, "I thought your ass was behind you?"
"It is. Ah just have another one in the form of you" She explained.
"May I remind you, your ass is a sexy one" I slyly replied.
"That makes both of 'em" She smiled.
"Eh-hem" A gruff voice called from the kitchen door.
Everypony except from Toffee (who was looking at her hooves) looked over to the kitchen door to see a big, red, gruff-voiced stallion. It was my big brother-in-law, Big MacIntosh,
"Oh, um.....hi, Mac!" I awkwardly greeted, "How....how are you?"
"Can it, 'Mel, ah heard everything" He spoke.
I looked away from Applejack's intimidating older brother. He went over to the fridge and opened it for something to eat, I looked at Applejack and I twitched my head in Big Mac's direction, indicating I want her to say something to him. Good thing, she knew what I was doing,
"So....was yer sleep good, Big Brother?" She asked him.
"Eeyup" He replied.
"Hi Macky!" Pinkie greeted.
"Oh, mornin' Pinkie, how ya been?" He politely asked her.
"I've been great! What about yourself?" She replied.
"I've been alright. I've been a little tired, the l'il one over there has kept me up a little bit, due to the crying at night" He explained.
"I know what you mean. The baby Cakes used to do that when they were little" Pinkie said.
"Not so little now, are they, Pink?" Applejack asked.
"Nope, six years old now" Pinkie told us.
"Wow" Applejack replied.
"I know, right?" Pinkie said.
"Who the hell touched ma peanut butter?" Big MacIntosh interrupted.
We turned over to look at Big MacIntosh, who was looking at his peanut butter jar and then at us, then back at the jar, then back at us, expecting answer,
I shrugged, "I don't know who touched your peanut butter, Mac. I didn't even know you had Peanut Butter in there" I calmly told him.
I then snapped my head to face Applejack, I winked at her, with the eye that was on the side of my face Mac couldn't see, which was pretty my way of saying, "your turn, hon". Me and Applejack have our form of communicating, were we use small facial expressions and movements to tell each other something, it's like a little sign language we made up during our first two years of dating, so right now, in this case, a wink means, that I'm passing something on to her, where as in another situation, for example, if Applejack was getting in trouble, I would take the blame for her and then wink at her as if I was saying, "I gotcha covered, babe",
"Yeah, ah didn't touch yer PB, Big MacIntosh" Applejack said.
"OOH, Peanut Butter? I love peanut butter!" Pinkie cheered.
"Same here, Pinkie" Big MacIntosh said.
"Well, come to think of it, Mac. I did see Granny Smith come in here yesterday and I think she took a jar out of the fridge, I didn't get a clear look on what it was though" I lied.
"Ah can't really get annoyed at Granny, especially at the age she's at, she's the kind of pony who can't remember what she had for dinner yesterday, so asking about it would really seem pointless" He said.
"I know what you mean" I replied.
"Oh, do any of you have the time?" Pinkie asked.
"When ah was coming down the stairs, ah saw on the clock that it was 8:45" Big MacIntosh replied.
"Oh, I better get going, Mr. and Mrs. Cake are going out to a convention for about five hours and I need to babysit the kids" Pinkie told us.
"OK, Pink. Ah'll see ya tonight, yeah?" Applejack wanted to make sure.
Pinkie nodded, "Yeah, I'll see you tonight, Applejack. See ya later, everypony. And happy one month birthday, Toffee"
Toffee just stared at Pinkie in confusion, then drooled, then giggled at her. Pinkie giggled back at her, then Applejack escorted Pinkie to the front door, wished her goodbye and says that she is looking forward to hanging out tonight, Pinkie said the same and left.
Applejack came back into the kitchen and started to sort out another bottle for Toffee, and Big MacIntosh sorted out a peanut butter sandwich for himself, and not really caring about the entire peanut butter incident anymore, He took his sandwich out with him to the living room, leaving me yet again, in the kitchen, with my wife and daughter. Applejack, whilst sorting out milk for Toffee, said to me,
"Ya talked yerself out of almost getting killed by ma brother again"
"Why? You impressed?" I asked.
"Very. Ma total ass may not be such an ass after all" She replied.
"Ooh, you want to continue that conversation, hon?" I asked as I got off my seat and went closer to her.
"Ah might do" Applejack implied.
"Well, considering you did call me sexy, I just wanna see where the convo goes from there" I said as I hugged Applejack from behind.
"Well, ya still are sexy, yer just as good-looking now as ya were seven years ago" Applejack said.
"Thanks, babe. You're still hot as well" I replied.
I leaned more over her towards her ear,
"The hat makes you look cuter" I whispered.
Applejack giggled and blushed, "Ya really think so?"
"Hell yeah" I replied.
"This hat was my Ma's" She told me.
"No way! Really?" I asked.
Applejack nodded, as she lightly pushed me off of her and took the bottle of milk over to Toffee,
"After Ma and Pa died, I was given this by Granny Smith, she said it was my Ma's hat, and she was going to pass it on to me, but she died before she could've done it herself" She sighed depressingly as she fed Toffee the milk.
"You think we should pass over to Toffee once she's old enough?" I asked.
"That would be a good idea" Applejack replied, feeling a little better.
"Let's see what she'll look like with it on, it'll be funny" I said.
Applejack chuckled, "OK"
Applejack took off her hat and put it on our child, who was holding her bottle of milk, the hat didn't fit her and it covered her eyes, due to it being too big, Toffee pushed up the hat up revealing her eyes, while still drinking her milk.
The look of Toffee wearing Applejack's hat, was funny, but when I looked at Applejack's expression, she was smiling, but she was upset, something was bothering her. She was smiling with joy at the sight of Toffee looking silly in her hat, but at the same time it looked as if a tear was going to fall from her eye. So I gently tapped Applejack, and then, out of absolute nowhere, she tightly hugged once more, but the hug wasn't as tight as the last one, at least this time, I'm able to breath well. Applejack, who was now cuddling me, nuzzled her face into my shoulder, and then started to cry, she broke down. I was still shocked when she just abruptly hugged me, so I didn't wrapped my arms around her just as soon as she hugged me, but after about thirty seconds, I gave in and decided to cozy up my wife,
"What's wrong, Applejack?" I asked.
I didn't get an answer, she was still sobbing on my shoulder. I decided to then release myself from her hug, and since she wasn't crying on my shoulder, she was looking at the floor, still upset.
I placed my hoof underneath her chin, and I raised her chin up so she was facing me instead of the floor,
"Baby, I can't help you if you don't tell what's bothering you" I told her.
"Ah know, sugarcube. It's just.." She paused, "It's just.."
"It's just what, hon?" I asked.
"It's just, ah thought about ma parents again" Applejack sighed, "It just got ta me, y'know? Ah'm sorry about all that, 'Mel" She apologized.
"Baby. It's OK. I completely understand" I replied, "You don't have to apologize"
Applejack nodded, "Ah ain't broken down like that, since ah was ten"
"Usually it helps if you talk about more, get it all of it out your system. Do you want to?" I offered.
"No thanks, Caramel" She replied, "Y'know, yer always here for me when ah need ya"
"It's my job, I'm your husband" I chuckled slightly, "If I weren't here for you, I'd be a bit of ass"
Applejack smiled at me, "Do ya wanna know the reason ah fell in love with ya and married ya?" She asked.
"I actually don't know why, so yes please tell me" I replied.
"Ah fell in love with ya because yer heart is always in the right place" She told me.
"Wanna know why I fell in love with you?" I asked her.
"Please" She replied.
"I fell in love with because you're honest, loyal, kind, generous..." I was saying.
"Honey, those are the Elements of Harmony" Applejack interrupted.
"Oh" I just realized as I was coincidentally listing off her traits and the elements.
"Don't stop, ah wanna hear the end, babe" She told me.
"You're also really loving and caring, and you're the most beautiful pony I've ever seen in my life" I told her.
Applejack blushed, "Ya always make me feel special"
"You are, baby" I smiled.
Our little conversation was interrupted by Toffee, she had finished her drink of milk, and interrupted us with a slightly loud burp, a little too loud for a baby burp,
"Oh, some little baby needs her burpin'" Applejack spoke out.
"Aww, but our talk" I said.
Applejack placed her hoof gently on my cheek and said,
"We'll continue it later" She told me, "But right now, we need ta burp Toffee"
It's now approaching 5:00pm, nothing much happened leading up this afternoon. Toffee slept most of the time, Applejack started to help Granny Smith make dinner, I don't know what the hell Mac was doing and I am helping Applebloom with one of two homeworks she needs to do, the one I'm helping her with is History, and the other homework is English, I think.
Applebloom's History homework is currently centered around the Great Equestrian War, that occurred over 9,000 years ago, and lasted twenty years, at the time when all races of ponies were up against the Changelings. We won the war, but many ponies were perished. The Changelings even almost wiped out the entire Unicorn race, and from what I heard, it was a brutal onslaught. The Changelings almost won, if it weren't for Princess Luna killing the Changeling King, Masai in battle, and Chrysalis not being able to command her armies by herself, after he was killed.
Applebloom had a worksheet with questions on them, right now, me and her were on question seven out of ten, the question says "Explain how the Changeling King was killed". Easy, he was killed by Luna after she shot his head clean off his neck, Applebloom should easily get this,
"OK, you know this one, Applebloom" I said.
"Ah know, it's um...King Masai....was killed by Luna" She replied.
"Yeah, you got that part right, so how was he killed?" I asked her.
"Em....He...uh...was killed by....." She struggled.
"Come on, you've got this one" I encouraged her.
"Em...he was..."
Applebloom was interrupted by the dinner bell being rung by Applejack downstairs before she could finish her sentence,
"Aww, damn it, so close, Applebloom" I said.
"Ah know" She sighed, "What was the answer anyways?"
"I'll tell you after dinner" I replied.
We both left her room and made it downstairs into the kitchen, Big MacIntosh was sitting at the very end of the table, beside him was Granny Smith, she was sleeping at the table, the seat beside her is reserved for Applebloom. Across from the table was Applejack, who was across the table from her younger sister, with Toffee sitting beside her mother in her high chair, and there is a seat reserved for me beside my daughter and in front of my brother-in-law. I went over to my seat and sat down, I then asked,
"So, what's for eats?"
"Steak, mashed potatoes, carrots and leeks" Applejack told me.
"Mmm" I hummed, "Sounds good"
"Well, eat up then, sweetie" Applejack told me.
I picked up my cutlery, I held my fork in my left hoof and my knife in my right. I sliced off a chunk of the steak, and ate it, and it was delicious, it was juicy, tender and succulent, slightly bloody, the way I like it.
Toffee, was of course, not having the same thing as us, instead, she just normal baby food, I think it is Turkey Vegetable flavor,
"Excuse me, 'Mel?" Applebloom asked.
"What's up, Applebloom?" I replied.
"After this, can ya still help me with ma homework please?" She asked me.
"Sure thing" I said.
"Thanks, Caramel" She said.
"Not a problem" I replied.
"What kind of homework is it ya'll are doing?" Applejack asked the both of us, as she had some of her potatoes.
"It's History homework, sis" Applebloom replied to her.
"Oh, then it's good yer gettin' help from Caramel, he's brilliant at History" Applejack told her sister.
"Ah know" Applebloom replied, "Caramel, how come yer not a History or an Art teacher? Cause yer great at both"
"Well, little one. I couldn't be either one, because I'm a college drop-out, I don't have the full qualifications to be either" I told my sister-in-law, "You see, growing up in Manehattan, there comes a point where you can't take any more"
"Our cousin Babs is from Manehattan though" Applebloom told me, "She seems ta be doing fine"
"Ah, but you see, Applebloom. Babs is growing up in the good part of Manehattan with your Aunt and Uncle Orange, whilst I grew up in the shit part of Manehattan"
"Sweetie, watch yer language at the table" My wife reminded me.
"Oh, sorry hon" I apologized.
I got my fork and scooped out some mashed potatoes, I ate it. And it was, well, very dry, and needs gravy,
"What was it like growing up there?" Applebloom asked me.
"I don't really want to talk about it, Applebloom, too many bad memories" I told her. "Sorry"
"Oh, it's OK, if it's too personal, then ya don't have ta tell" Applebloom replied.
"Thanks, Applebloom" I said.
"No problem" She replied.
I had another forkful of potatoes, still very dry, I looked around the table to look for the gravy, and it was, across from me, behind the ketchup and near Big Mac. Now, you're probably thinking, why can't I just get up and get it or reach out and grab it? Well, for one thing, the side of the table I was on was against the wall, and I couldn't reach out for it, because this table is fucking huge. So the reasonable thing to do is ask Mac,
"Excuse me, MacIntosh, can you please pass me the gravy?" I ask him.
He doesn't respond, instead, he just sits in his chair, looking down at his food, and starts playing with his food with his cutlery,
"Excuse me, dude, can I please get the gravy from you?" I asked, a bit more annoyed and voice slightly raised.
I leaned over and turned my head to see Applejack helping Toffee eat her food, whilst she was helping Toffee, she looked at me, I twitched my head towards Big Mac, and then Applejack nodded. We were using our special little sign language again, in this case, my head twitch means "Can you do something please, babe?" and her nod means "Sure thing". So she stopped feeding Toffee, who seemed a little fool anyway, and asked her brother,
"Excuse me, big brother, can ah please get the gravy?"
"Eeyup, of course" He replied as he slid the gravy over to her.
She then slid the gravy to me, and Big Mac continued play with his food. I then poured the gravy on my potatoes and asked Big MacIntosh,
"What the hell was that about, Big Mac?"
"What the hell was what about?" He asked back.
"The whole ignoring me completely, when I asked you something?" I reminded him, "That ring a bell?"
"No, ya must've not spoken loud enough" He sarcastically replied.
I was getting aggravated now, but not aggravated enough to make me lose my shit,
"I asked you twice and in the same level of volume as your sister, so if you're able to hear the pony further away from you, then you must've been able to hear me" I told him.
"Caramel, calm down, hon" Applejack said.
I took a deep breath and calmed down slightly,
"OK, AJ" I sighed.
I took a bite of my potatoes, now topped with gravy, the gravy was hellishly rich, it takes like Canterlot food now, which is never a bad thing, Canterlot food is always delicious. So whilst I was munching on my food, Big Mac quietly spoke out to me, with his head still down and playing with his food,
"Asshole"
I dropped on my cutlery on my plate and quickly faced him, "OK, what the hell is your problem, man?"
"Big MacIntosh, please" Applejack said at the time as me.
"What do you have against me, Mac?" I asked him, "I've had to put up with this for seven years, man. I'm apart of your family now, man"
"Don't ya dare say that" He stood up and intimidatingly replied, "DON'T YA DARE SAY THAT YER PART OF MA FAMILY!"
His raging explosion woke up Granny Smith and Toffee started to cry in fright,
"Big Brother, calm down!" Applebloom shouted for me.
"Shut up, Applebloom!" He loudly replied back at her.
Applebloom closed her eyes, holding back tears, that was awful of her big brother,
"MacIntosh, calm down, nothing here is Caramel's fault" Applejack tried to calm him down, "Yer upsetting Toffee"
"It's his fault he proposed to ya, it's this scumbag's fault for marrying ya" He told my wife.
"What the hell are you saying, man?" I asked him furiously.
"Ah don't want a Manehattan college drop-out from a junkie family apart of mine" He replied.
"Big MacIntosh" Granny Smith uttered, "Ya best leave this room, right now"
"Damn right I do" He replied to her command, and left the kitchen.
I sighed in annoyance, and helped my daughter calm down, I then comforted my sister-in-law.
Applejack then came over to me and asked me,
"Sweetie, you OK?"
I nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine" I sighed.
"Ya sure, babe?" She asked. "Ya look terrible"
"But I'm fi..." I tried to tell her.
"Look, Caramel, go upstairs and lie on the bed, ah'll talk to Big MacIntosh" She told me.
I opened my mouth but the words I planned to say, didn't come out, as I just realized that arguing with my wife would be stupid and a waste of time,
"OK, baby" I replaced the words I planned to say, "I'll go upstairs"
Applejack leaned over a gave me a small peck on the cheek, then stroked the cheek she kissed with her hoof,
"Hey, babe. Ah'm sure that Big MacIntosh didn't mean to say what he just did, he's just angry about something, is all" She told me.
"I hope he was just angry about something" I replied.
"Everything will be fine" She comforted me, "Look, go upstairs, me and Toffee will be up in half an hour"
"OK" I said.
I left the kitchen and made my way up the stairs, and I quietly passed my raging brother-in-law's bedroom door, and went into my bedroom that was two doors down.
I opened my door and felt a cold gust of wind caused by a draft between my door and my open window, I shivered slightly and went up over to my window closed it, ultimately stopping the draft. I went back to my door and closed it, I then went to my bed and laid myself on the covers, the covers were cold, due to the open window, I don't mind cold covers, or the cold in general. The cold is something is I like in a way, it strangely keeps me awake and focused, and on my hooves. I laid on the cold covers as they slowly warmed up to my body temperature, I was thinking about what Big MacIntosh said, "A Manehattan college drop-out from a junkie family", I kept on reconciling this quote in my head, I kept on thinking about it and realized it was true, I'm a Manehattan college drop-out, and I'm from a junkie family. It's stupid but everypony knows about my past, and most ponies know me for my past, and assume that I've done a lot of bad things in the past. Well, hasn't everypony? Of course I've done a considerable amount regrettable things, but I've never done anything like get addicted to drugs. I've known Applejack and her family for almost a decade, all of them have accepted what's happened in my past, and consider me apart of their family, all except from Big MacIntosh, me and him don't get along much, so we haven't interacted many times, so he doesn't really know what the full story of my past is, but he does know bits and pieces, sadly, the bits and pieces he knows are some of the worse parts of my life.
The worse parts. The worst parts of my life, my neglectful family, their drug addiction, my drop-out. All of them things and more are the things I hate most about my life, I guess my life hasn't really had much of a purpose until I met my wife. she saved me.
Before I met Applejack, I always thought to myself during my youth, that if I die, then no one except from Lucky would care, not even my parents. But now since I met Applejack, I got married to her, and now we share a beautiful baby girl, and I feel better about myself because of it. She gave me a purpose to go on, and my daughter gave me a reason to keep going on.
So now hear I am, still going on, I'm lying on my bed covers thinking about my life and my past. I closed my eyes and kept on flashing back to my past, I kept on going back to the memories of my fifteen year old self, thinking of my parents, my mom screaming at my dad and my dad howling back at her, I kept on thinking of the racket they always caused as I was in my room, and I drifted off into the dreams about my childhood...
I'm currently sleeping, I've delved deep into my sub-conscious, and now I see nothing but blackness, something horrifying is gonna happen, but I'm sure of it. A light flickered on and off above my head, leaving me standing in a circle of light, but the darkness was still surrounding me. I then saw dark blue smoke wrap around my neck, I knew who it was already,
I sighed, "Come on, Princess. Don't do this just now. I'm not in the mood"
The darkness surrounding me now abruptly flashed into a bright white room, I wasn't sure where the room ended as it was completely white. Then, completely out of nowhere, a big flash of darkness erupted and then a slender, dark mare appeared before me, the Princess of the Night, Luna,
"Caramel" Her loud Canterlot voice beamed, "You have fears you need to conqu..."
"Cut to the chase, Your Highness" I interrupted the Princess, which is pretty ballsy of me, "I'm really not in the mood for this"
"You interrupted me. None of my subjects have done that. I can have you executed just for doing that" She told me.
"No, you can't, not anymore, that form of punishment was abolished over 200 years ago" I explained, "You've been free from your lunar prison for....seven years now, and still you don't know the modern laws?"
"You're not any fun, you know that?" She asked me.
"You enjoy doing this?" I asked back.
"No, I have to, it's my job as Princess of the Night" She told me.
"Well, Your Highness, it's only half past five in the afternoon" I replied.
"Well, get ready for hell, Caramel" She changed the subject.
"Yea..." I almost said as I just realized the phrase she said, "Wait, what?"
Luna vanished into a puff of black smoke, and then behind me, the ground sucked into itself, much like a whirlpool or a black hole, and I ran away from the disaster that was happening inside my mind, with Luna's evil cackle in the background,
"Fuck you, Princess!" I cursed at her.
I then smashed myself into an invisible wall, I now can't escape from the floor sucking into itself, and in about thirty seconds, I'll be sucked into it as well,
"I've conquered my fears, Luna! Get me out of here! PLEASE!" I pleaded.
I only got an ongoing laugh from the former Nightmare Moon, as if she was sickly enjoying this,
"Please, I'm sorry for cursing at you and interrupting you!" I cried in fear.
The hole stop sinking into itself as soon as it came to my hooves. I let out a huge breath of air,
"Thanks, Your Highness" I gasped as I slid down the invisible wall to sit down.
"Oh, it's not over yet, my subject" Her voice echoed.
I sighed in disbelief, "Aw, come on!"
"You've only been asleep for forty seconds" She told me.
"THIS HAS ONLY BEEN FORTY SECONDS!?!?" I raged.
"Yep, your mind functions slower when you're asleep" She replied, "You know what, remember the spiders from that Nightmare Night a few years ago?"
"No. Please no. No fucking way, please" I pleaded.
Luna started to laugh evilly again. then hairy, black spiders about the width of my hoof, with blood red eyes came out of the walls and crawled their way down there to try and get me. God dammit, I hate them spiders, and I guess there's only to do before they're able to get me. I'm gonna have to jump into the hole,
"I hate nightmares and Luna Krueger haunting me in them" I said myself, "OK, phew....here goes nothing"
I leaped off the edge and dived down into the hole, away from the hairy little hellspawn above me, I saw the white light above me quickly get smaller and melted away into darkness. I didn't scream on my way down, but my heart was racing, I was terrified.
I stopped falling, I fell on something soft, after I bounced on it slightly, it became a little more solid. The lights came on, and I was in a room that I remember from years ago, I was in my childhood bedroom.
I stood up on my hooves and walked around my old bedroom, I looked around and saw my bed, my bedside table, my drawers, my closet, everything how it was.
Out of nowhere, Luna, again, abruptly appeared from a flash of dark smoke,
"OK, is this a going to be a regular occurrence with you?" I asked her in an annoyed tone.
"Maybe, Caramel" Luna replied, "Do you remember this place?"
I nodded, "Yes, I do. It's my old bedroom from when I was a kid"
"Do you remember what happened at this moment of time?" She asked.
"No, I don't. So far, nothing has happened" I replied.
"This is the moment of your life when you hid from your abusive father in your room, let's watch" She said.
I then heard the sound of a loud balling come from outside the door, then burst a little colt with a yellow coat of fur and a brown mane. The young pony then slammed his door in fear, then pushed his drawers in front of the door. The young pony was crying and was scared, that young colt, was me when I was younger. The event then paused and Luna continued with her explanation on what this was,
"This moment of you life happened exactly twenty years ago, when you were seven years old, hiding from your drug-addled father" Luna explained, "Do you remember this moment now?"
My eyes went misty, "Yes, I do remember this moment now. I accidentally spilled milk on the carpet, and dad was high off of cocaine at the time and he just lost his shit" A tear escaped it's duct and fell down my cheek, "It was one of the scariest moments in my life"
"Let's continue to watch" Luna told me.
The images then began to move again, the younger me backed up at the very end of my old room, opposite the door my dad was trying to break through, my younger self was crying, and dreading the fact that my dad could break in at any second, however, considering I know what happens, he will not break down my door,
"CARAMEL! YOU LITTLE SHIT!" My Dad shouted as he banged on the door repeatedly, "OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR!"
"No, Dad!" The younger me replied, "You're going to hurt me again"
"DAMN RIGHT I WILL!!" My dad balled out, "GET OUT OF THERE NOW!"
Me and Luna both watched my younger cower into the corner of the room, with my dad still thumping his hoof off my door. Once again, Luna paused the sequence,
"Do you know what happens from here?" Luna asked me.
"Yeah, my Mom tries to help my dad get me out of my room, he doesn't like that. Not. One. Bit" I replied, "My Dad, usually wants to deal with problems by himself, when Mom started to help him, he....he..."
"...Just let it out, Caramel" Her Royal Highness said to me.
"He beat her. He just beat her to a pulp. I didn't see it, but I heard it, all of it, it was horrible" I sighed.
"Do you want to continue watching this or do you want to go to the next memory?" Luna asked.
"Next memory, please" I replied.
Luna nodded and then a blue magical light beamed from her horn and she transformed my bedroom into a new location from my memories, this time the location was close to my Manehattan neighborhood's street, There was four apartment buildings, two on opposite sides, beside the buildings were a few houses, a mini-market and a rubbish looking coffee-shop. The street looked gloomy and wet, due to this memory taking place on a rainy day,
"Here we are, another nasty memory of yours" Luna told me.
"Just un-pause it please" I said.
"Fine" Luna replied.
The scenario un-paused, I felt the rain on my fur and the wind in my mane, it was cold, but knowing this is a dream, I'm probably not cold on my bed. I then saw another younger version of myself, however this version was older than the previous one. Also, walking beside the younger version of me, was Lucky. Me and Lucky were talking about girls, school and the gangs that were in separate turfs of Manehattan.
Now at the time, there was over fifty gangs operating around Manehattan, with the only places being gang free being the coast and the borders leading in and out of Manehattan. I'm not sure if many of the gangs still exist today, but from what I heard, they've all been disbanding quickly. I used to be able to remember almost all the gangs by heart, but now, I've only been able to remember the three of them. First was my turf's main gang, The Lunar Runners, a bunch of hard-hitting bad-asses who you could pay for protection. Next, was The Wingers, a rival gang which mostly consisted of Pegasi, though there was some Unicorns and Earth Ponies in the gang, the Wingers are a violent bunch, often causing raids in other gangs' turfs all over Manehattan. And finally, the next rival gang near Lunar's turf were The Discords, a bunch anarchists who commit a lot of terrorist acts in the name of the famed chaotic Draconequus, their the gang that the whole of Manehattan fear, fuck with them then you're already labeled dead, nopony would save you.
I saw the young me and Lucky walking down the street in the rain, from the spraypaint on the wall beside me and him, I saw which turf we were in, The Wingers turf. A bad thing was going to happen,
"...so yeah, Caramel. Duke almost got wasted by some of the Highers" Lucky was saying to the younger me.
"How many Highers were there?" The teenage me asked.
"Around about eighteen" He replied, "Duke was parleying through, he even made a truce with the Highers. But they broke it and just went balls deep around him"
"Shit, man" I uttered.
"Shit indeed, bro" Lucky replied.
Luna and I saw the young Lucky and me continue to walk down the sidewalk until we were greeted by a Pegasus I haven't seen in years, Blitz, the second-in-command of the Wingers. Blitz was a white Pegasus with a brown mane, he's a bit a crazy pony, though he remains calm and calculative most of the time, and his *Trottish accent gave him an intimidating demeanor. Blitz walked out of an alleyway and confronted both me and Lucky,
"Hey Colt brothers!" He sarcastically greeted us.
Me and Lucky just walked on, ignoring him, he's clearly been taking narcotics, so he seems extremely cranky,
"Hey, you two!" Blitz tried to get our attention once again.
We still ignored him, and Blitz got annoyed. And getting Blitz annoyed is a bad thing. So whilst me and Lucky were walking down the sidewalk, Blitz leaped and flew over us and landed swiftly in front of us,
"Young brothers, I just want to ask you two a question" Blitz told us.
"Yeah....sure" I wasn't sure.
"Ask away" Lucky said.
"Well, what are you little shites doing in our turf without parley?" Blitz asked us.
"How do you know we don't live here?" Lucky asked back in a smartass tone.
"Don't get smart with me, boyo" Blitz said, "Or they'll be a problem"
"When a Pegasus with a fucking sing-song voice tells my friend not to get smart with him, then there will be a problem" I stood up for my friend.
"That's the reason why I called you two over, you're both not Pegasi. And I know all the Unicorns and Earth Ponies who live around these parts. So what the hell are you two doing in my turf?" He asked intimidatingly.
"We're just trotting home from school" I replied.
"Yeah, man. Just give us five minutes and we'll be out of your turf" Lucky added.
"Wait, I recognize you two" Blitz realized, "You cunts are from Lunar's turf, ain't ya?"
Lucky nodded,
"I know you" He pointed at me, "You're the son o' those fucking psychos in Wesson Towers?"
I gave him a cold stare, "Yes" I gritted my teeth
"And you..." He turned to look at Lucky, "You're that punk from the orphanage, I remember you sprayed a tag for the Lunar Runner's on the side of my Apartment's wall, I didn't get to catch the first, but now there's no escape, you wee cunt" He exclaimed.
I stood in front of Lucky, fending for him,
"Hey, back the fuck up, man! Or I'll beat the living shit out of you!" I shouted at Blitz.
"Oh yeah....." He replied.
He loudly whistled, so much so, that it almost burst my eardrums. After the loud whistle, eighteen other Pegasi came out of the alleyways in the neighborhood, it was safe to say that me and Lucky at the time were shitting ourselves in fear,
".....You and what homo parade?" He finished.
"Em..." I couldn't find the words.
"Dude, run! Fucking leg it!" Lucky shouted.
Both me and him started to run away from the Wingers. But Blitz had other plans in mind for me and Lucky,
"Fanty, Mingo!" He called for his soldiers, "Take your groups up to the sky, boys. Me and my group won't be far behind"
And before we knew it, me and Lucky were being chased down by grounded and flying Pegasi, in the pissing rain and the battering wind.
Me and Luna were still watching this, But when the dreamed images of young Lucky and me started moving, I thought I had to start running along with the images in order to keep up with the action, but no. Instead, Luna created this floating, white and moving platform for us to stand on and it would follow the images and keep up with what's happening.
I saw me and Lucky panting for air as the Pegasi gang were closing in on us, and I remember what me and Lucky did, what happened was that lighting was striking near us, so me and Lucky slipped under their radar by turning into a dark alleyway, it was the smartest thing me and Lucky done, during this incident, the rest of the incident, not so much,
I gasped for air, "You're alright, Luck?" I asked.
"Yeah, man. I'm fine" He breathed heavily, "Thanks for sticking up for me back there, 'Mel"
"Don't sweat it, man" I replied, "You think we can make it out of here?"
"I don't know, man. They're still patrolling out on the streets, we probably will be able to make it out, just with one broken bone or more" He explained.
"Fucking hell. Fanty and Mingo are out in the skies as well. God DAMMIT!" I shouted.
"Ssh, dude. Keep your voice, Caramel" whispered Lucky.
"Sorry, Lucky" I apologized in a quieter voice, "You got a plan?"
"Yeah, I've got one. Since they past us we can just make a break for Lunar Runner's turf..."
"That it? It doesn't that bad" I said.
"It's not, 'Mel." He added "Our real problem is Fanty and Mingo. You see, those two have the eyes of fucking eagles, man. Even if we stay hidden, they'll still think there's something wrong. Hell, if it weren't for the lightning, then we probably wouldn't have been able to hide"
I sighed, "How did this get so wrong?" I spoke to myself.
"It's my fault, man. Tell you what, if the both of us get injured, I'll pay for the damage" He told me.
I chuckled slightly, "Huh, fifteen years old and already making enemies, I'm proud of you"
"It's nothing to be proud of" Lucky replied, "OK, if we got cornered, we stand our ground and soldier, got it?"
The younger me nodded,
"OK, lets get ready, Caramel" Lucky commanded.
We both stood beside each and made our way at the end of the alley and we both got ready to run,
"OK, so on three, we'll go, and we both sprint it like there's no fucking tomorrow" Lucky made sure.
I nodded, "Got it, man"
"OK. Here we go" He nervously gasped, "One..."
I got myself ready,
"Two..."
I got set,
"Three!"
I ran. Never I had I ran so fast in my life, the wind and rain made me go faster. I didn't hear anything, not even the thunder, the rain patter or the battering wind. All I heard was the beating in my heart, the adrenaline rush, the blood rushing through my veins as I ran for my life. I was snapped out of my trance once I turned my head to look back, I saw the eighteen Pegasi flying into the air and instantly targeted us, it made me hear everything, I heard the panicking from Lucky and the war cries of Wingers, I looked back ahead of me and saw that my turf was just over the bridge that separated mine from the Wingers, we've almost made it back. Just twenty yards away. And meand Lucky were almost home free. If it weren't for possibly the worst thing that happened to me during this entire scenario, Blitz darted into me, full force, right into my back, the worst pain I ever felt in my entire life, it felt like a spear piercing through my bone. Whilst I was pushed to the middle of the bridge by the 150 lb charging Pegasus, I saw Lucky get tackled to the ground beside me by Mingo. And from that point on, we were beat up, I got trampled on by eight Pegasi and Lucky was getting the shit beat out of him by the other ten. I coughed out blood, I was bruised and cut all over and my back was broken, the pain over took my body so much, that I almost didn't feel a thing after the 80 kicks I took,
Luna paused the images once again, and was curious about something,
"All of this was caused by Lucky using spray paint on their wall?"
"Yeah, he actually told me the whole story while me and him were in hospital, odd of me to remember that. But anyways he was getting told by the Lunar Runner's gang leader at the time, Ajax, to go a tag the Winger's wall, he said he'd pay him 200 bits for doing it, ultimately, Lucky didn't pass off the offer" I replied.
"Can we skip this part, I don't like violent confrontation" Luna told me.
I laughed, "Says the pony who served in a war that lasted 20 years and even killed the Changeling king"
"You know your history, impressive" Luna complimented, "How did I kill Masai?"
"Shot his neck and that swiped his head clean off" I replied.
Luna nodded, "Very good. But really, can I skip it?"
"You seem to have more power in my subconscious than I do so yeah, go ahead" I replied.
She then let magic beam from her horn and the images moved faster than they usually did, she un-paused at the point where the Pegasi stopped beating me and Lucky up and were taunting us,
"Little pricks!"
"You fucking cunts!"
"Get up and fight you little faggots!"
We both struggled to try and get up, but it was too much for me and Lucky, as soon as I even tried to push myself up on my hooves, I would collapse back onto the ground in a pool of my blood, that's been mixed with rainwater. But then I looked far ahead into my turf whilst I was lying on the cold, wet ground. We almost made it there, me and Lucky almost made it to our sanctuary, our home, our turf, our little piece of turf, but instead here me and him were bleeding badly on our bridge. My eyes were swollen so I didn't see well, but I saw what looked like figures coming from the distance, around twenty-five, but I couldn't tell. The figures came closer and looked more like actual ponies, with dark blue jackets, and before I knew it, the Lunar Runner's were here, much to the Wingers surprise,
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the mighty Ajax, finally showing is fucking face" Blitz said as the Lunar's came on to the bridge, "Long time, no see, boyo"
"Shut the fuck up, Braveheart" Ajax cursed, "I'm gonna give you only one chance to walk yourself and your fucking mutt soldiers back to where you came from"
"These wee bastards came onto our turf without parley" Blitz explained to the Lunar Runner's leader.
"We were just walking home from school, you jackass!" Lucky shouted out in a slurred voice.
"Shut the fuck up" Blitz said to Lucky as he kicked Lucky in the stomach.
"Woah, these dudes aren't wearing any colors on them!" A Lunar Runner shouted.
"He's right, these guys aren't wearing jackets representing us. They're civilians, hell, if you're boss were still alive he'd be disappointed in you, in all of you stupid fucks" Ajax told them.
"Hey, boyo, don't you dare mention that Cloud would be disappointed in us!" Blitz said, "We have an excuse for kicking these two. One of them tagged our walls"
"One of them tagged your walls so you beat up two of them?" Ajax questioned, "That's fucking stupid, Blitz. First of all, I payed Lucky here to do it, so if you have anypony to blame, it's me. And secondly, if Cloud was still around he wouldn't beat the shit out of two fifteen-year-olds" Ajax sounded like he knew more about the Winger's former leader than the Winger's did themselves.
"Well....Cloud isn't here, I'm taking the reigns of this gang now, Ajax" Blitz lied.
"The fuck you are, I know you're still not leader of your little gang. You're still second-in-command. Who's really taking over the Wingers?" Ajax confronted.
Blitz sighed, "It's Conchie"
"Conchie?!" Ajax was surprised, "The member of the Discords? How the fuck did you end up with him, didn't he kill Cloud?"
"Aye, he did, he was actually sent by the Discords themselves, he threatened that if we didn't hire him, then he would send the Discords to kill all us, and if we killed him, then we would be fucked before the Discords could even reach our turf" Blitz seemed scared know, as if Conchie might be listening to him.
The Discords, as I mentioned before, are a bunch of evil ponies, they represent chaos, much like the being the gang named themselves after. The Discords main leader, Cracker, is an intense pony, if you make deals with him, don't screw him over, or he'll personally kill you himself. But Conchie, though he might not be the leader, he is the most feared of the Discords. He single hoofedly took out an entire gang, AN ENTIRE GANG, and now he owns a gang,
"Damn, Blitz, does your gang abide the rules anymore?" Ajax asked him.
"No, boyo, Discords don't abide by the rules, you should know that now after what they did to Keisha" Blitz replied.
"Don't mention her name" Ajax told him, "Now fuck off to your boss like the loyal dog you are"
Blitz walked off and was followed by his group. Ajax looked down at me and Lucky in pain, he looked over at his gang and said,
"Rico, help me get this dude up" Ajax referred to me, "Chatterbox. Virgil. Help Lucky"
Out came from the crowd of Lunar Runners were three ponies. A pale green Unicorn with dark blue mane and two Earth ponies, one brown with a Mohawk-like mane and one yellow with a dark blue mane as well. The pony with with the Mohawk mane came over to Ajax to help me up, so he must be Rico. Ajax put my left arm around him and Rico put my right arm around him,
"OK, Rico. We'll pick him up on three" Ajax told his soldier.
"Got it, Boss" Rico replied.
"OK. One. Two. Three" Ajax counted down.
At three, both Ajax and Rico lifted me up,
"...And up you go" Ajax said, "You got a name, Pal?"
"Ye-yeah, I'm Ca-C-Caramel" I stuttered in pain.
"You a friend of Lucky?" Ajax asked.
"Yeah" I replied.
"Cool. Any friend of Lucky is a friend of mine" He said, "Me and the Runners are going to take you and Lucky to a hospital, OK Buddy?"
"Th-thanks man" I thanked him.
"Not a problem" Ajax replied.
After that, I passed out and Rico and Ajax continued to pull me over to the hospital. Once the dreamed-up me passed out, the buildings and other images erased and turned back in to the white room that I started at, as the memory was over.
Luna came over to me and said,
"Now do you know what fears you need to conquer?"
"To be frank, no" I replied, "I didn't see what the point of this was, it's like you couldn't find somepony who has fears so you instead had to torture me with these two awful memories"
"Would you rather go to a happier memory?" Luna asked me.
"No, Your Highness. I'd rather wake up from this hell" I replied calmly and annoyed at the same time, "Maybe I could go to a happy memory later, but I can't deal with that right now, I want to wake up and see my wife and daughter, please"
"Fine, I'll send you back" Luna replied, "But I have one thing to say"
"What's that?" I asked.
"There's a spider on your back" She uttered and disappeared.
I turned my head and saw one of those big hairy spiders from Nightmare Night crawling on my back and this how I was woken up. By getting scared shitless by a spider.
I sat up on my bed instantly once I woke up, being scared of that little spider in my dreams. I sat up on my bed and looked around my room, I saw Applejack getting ready for her night out in front of her mirror, and I looked beside me to see Toffee sleeping on Applejack's side of the bed. I looked at my wife's reflection in the mirror and she looked at me back,
"Hey, sleepyhead" Applejack greeted me.
"Hey baby" I greeted back groggily, "When did you and Toffee come in?"
"Just about ten minutes, ah didn't wanna wake you up so I just put Toffee on ma side of the bed, she just slept beside ya whilst ah'm getting ready" She replied.
"Did you speak to your brother?" I asked.
"Ah did, he says wants to speak to ya later" She said as she turned around to look at me better, "Hon, are ya OK? Ya look like ya seen a ghost"
"I'm fine, it's just I had a bad dream, is all" I replied.
"What was it about?" Applejack asked.
I thought for a second. Should I tell her about how Luna put me through hell or should I just break it down short?
"It was..." I paused, "...about Manehattan"
"Oh, about the gangs?" She asked.
"Wow, it's like you can read my mind" I joked.
"Maybe ah can" She chuckled.
I looked at Applejack and saw that she was wearing her dress from the Grand Galloping Gala a few years, the same gala that me and Lucky dropped her and friends off at,
"You look beautiful in that dress, Applejack" I complimented.
"Well, Pinkie told me that Rarity wants us ta wear our dresses from the gala tonight, so I'm gonna wear it just for sentimental value" Applejack replied.
"You know, none of you girls thanked me or Lucky for taking you over to the Gala, besides you could've easily taken the train" I told her.
"Everypony wanted to arrive there in style, so Rarity hired you and Lucky to pull Twilight's carriage" Applejack explained.
"Huh, Rarity never did get me what she owed me and Lucky" I spoke to myself.
"Which was what?" My wife asked.
Me and my big mouth, or should I say Rarity and her big mouth. Because this was before me and Applejack got married, or even started dating for that matter, and back when Rarity asked us to help pull the carriage and she would, in return, give both me and Lucky two blowjobs each. But considering I'm a married stallion and it would be awkward to discuss that one of my wife's closest friends offered me oral sex, in front of my wife and child (though she's sleeping). So I guess I have no choice but to lie,
"Em...she promised me and Lucky fifty bits each"
Applejack looked at me with a raised eyebrow and a smirk,
"C'mon, Caramel. Ah know that ain't the truth. Rarity wouldn't offer money to men to get what she wants" Applejack told me, "Ah know her really well, sugarcube, ya can tell me if she offered ya sex, because to be honest, Ah'd expect from her"
I sighed in shame and blushed in embarrassment, "She offered me and Lucky two blowjobs each"
"Haha, ya see, that's total Rarity right there" Applejack told me, "Ah mean there was this one time ah seen Rarity give the video store clerk a rub and tug to waive the late fees and..."
"OK, babe that's too much info" I said before she could finish her story.
"Sorry, ah got a carried away there" She chuckled
"It's strange how you laughed at that" I uttered.
"Well, If ya've know Rarity for as long as ah have, then ya'd be laughing too" Applejack replied.
"Wow" I replied.
"But anyways, Applebloom still needs help with her homework, if ya can do that after ya settle Toffee to sleep, she would really appreciate it" Applejack changed the subject.
"Sure thing, I'll bath Toffee, put her bed, help Applebloom and speak to Mac" I replied.
"That seems like a good idea" My wife agreed.
"So are ya sure ya can look after her tonight?" Applejack asked.
"Sweetie, don't worry" I replied, "She'll be fine with me. You go out and enjoy yourself, you deserve it, babe"
"OK, hon" She leaned over to give me a kiss on the lips.
"You gonna say bye to Mom you little rascal?" I said to Toffee, who was in my arm.
"Mommy's gonna be out for tonight, sweetie" Applejack told Toffee, "You'll probably see me tomorrow morning, hon"
"Goodbye, Applejack, have fun" I bid my farewell.
"Bye, Caramel" She said to me, "Bye everypony"
"Bye Sis" Applebloom called from another room.
"Bye Applejack" Big MacIntosh shouted from another room as well.
Applejack gave me a smile and then walked out the front to go and meet her friends, once the door closed behind her, I looked down at my daughter and said to her,
"Let's go and get you clean, sweetheart"
I walked over into the living room to see Applebloom sitting next to a sleeping Granny Smith, Applebloom was reading a book, I couldn't tell what the book was called as I was standing up and she had the cover of the book facing downwards to the floor,
"What's that you're reading there, Applebloom?" I asked.
"Just a book Sweetie Belle lent me, it's a Daring Do book" Applebloom replied.
"Aw, Daring Do. I remember reading those books when I was your age" I said, "Which one is that?"
"City of the Stone Gods" Applebloom replied.
"Awesome, I think I read that one" I said, "Can you do me a favor please, Applebloom?"
"Sure. What is it?" Applebloom asked.
"I need you to watch Toffee whilst I get the baby bath tub sorted for her please" I said to her.
"Sure thing, ah'll watch her" Applebloom told me.
"Thank you, I'll only be about five minutes" I made sure.
"Take yer time" Applebloom replied.
I placed Toffee on the floor and gave her some of her toys to play with, and she just played away. So I went upstairs into the bathroom and saw the plastic baby bath tub beside the adult tub/shower and beside the toilet, I placed the baby tub in the adult tub and ran some cozy, bubbly water in it, I can't do it in the sink as that's too small. Usually I have a tendency for using water that's too hot, so just now I have to be careful, because if I don't, then I'll probably accidentally scald my daughter and I don't want that.
Once I sorted out her bath, I double checked that it was the right temperature for her, not too cold and not too hot,
"That should do it" I spoke to myself.
After I sorted the tub, I went downstairs to get Toffee, she was still sitting and playing with her toys, Applebloom was still reading and Granny Smith was still sleeping,
"Toffee wasn't any bother, was she, Applebloom?" I asked.
"Nope, she's been fine" Applebloom replied.
"OK, thank you for watching her" I said.
"Don't mention it, 'Mel" She spoke back.
I picked up my daughter and made my way upstairs into the bathroom and I placed her in the baby tub,
"OK, Toffee, after your bath, it's bed time" I said to my daughter, who was too busy playing with the bubbles to pay attention to me.
After Toffee's bath, it took me about half an hour to get her to sleep, but once she settled, I placed her in her crib and she continued to sleep without any huffs or moans.
Right now, I'm helping Applebloom with her History homework again, we're on the final question,
"OK, Applebloom. How many soldiers lost their lives in the first day of the Battle of the Bad Lands?" I asked her to be sure.
"Yeah...um...." She struggled again.
"You've got this" I reassured.
"There was 18,000 soldiers who died the first day?" Applebloom wasn't sure.
"That's right!" I cheered.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yes, well done, Applebloom" I congratulated her, "I bet you when Cheerilee marks that homework, then you'll get an A+"
"Thanks for helping me, Caramel" Applebloom blushed and thanked.
"It's the least I can do" I replied.
"Can ah ask ya something, Caramel?" She asked.
"You just did" I joked.
"No, ah meant..." Applebloom tried to say something.
"I know what you meant, what was you wanted to ask me?" I asked her now.
"Is it OK if you can help me with my English homework tomorrow?" She asked.
"I can try" I replied.
"Oh, it's not writing or anything, ah'm conducting an interview, Miss Cheerilee wants us to have an interview with a pony from our families, ah chose to interview you if that's OK?" She asked.
An interview for English homework? I'm interested to see how that plays into English,
"How does that fit into English?"
"She each gave of us a tape recorder for our interviews, so she can review our speech" Applebloom told me.
"Oh right" I replied, "You know what, I'd love to do the interview"
"Thanks, 'Mel" Applebloom said.
"Again, it's the least I can do" I replied.
I got up off Applebloom's bed where I sat beside her, I made my way over to the door and said to Applebloom,
"I'm going downstairs now, Applebloom. Wanna come with?"
"No thanks, ah'm gonna finish readin' this chapter" Applebloom replied, talking about her book.
"You wanting anything? Food? A drink?" I asked.
"No thank ya, Caramel" Applebloom replied.
"Alright, bye for now" I said.
"Bye" She replied.
I walked out of Applebloom's room and I took one step down the stairs, but stopped after I just remembered I was going to speak to Big MacIntosh, I backed away from the stair and walked down the hallway to make to his door,
I sighed and whispered to myself, "Here goes nothing"
I knocked on the door three times,
"Come in" Big MacIntosh called from inside his room.
I opened the door and entered,
"Hey, Mac" I greeted, "Applejack told me that you wanted to speak to me"
Big Mac nodded, "Eeyup, ah did"
"Cool, so...um..." I was lost for words, I've never really had many proper conversations with Big MacIntosh.
"Look, ah just wanted to say ah'm sorry for snapping at ya earlier.." He said.
"Dude, it's OK" I interrupted.
"..Let me finish. Ah'm also sorry that ya've had to put up with ma shit fer the past seven years as well" He added to his apology.
"Can I ask why you don't like me?" I asked.
Mac sighed, "It's a long story"
"Well, I don't have anything else to do, so you can tell the story" I said.
"Fine" He said, "After ma Ma and Pa died I had to become the man of the house, ma Dad was against the idea of Applejack dating other guys, after he died, ah kinda stuck with being against the idea of her dating ponies, maybe fer longer than ah had to" He told me.
"Right" I uttered.
"So by the time you and Applejack started dating, I still stuck to that phase, and I got mad, but I knew it wasn't fair for her, so I let it slide, but ma anger grew for a long time. By the time you proposed to her, ah grew and more mad, even letting out some of ma anger" He added.
"Like how you threatened me at my own wedding?" I asked.
"Eeyup" He replied, "And after you and Applejack's wedding, ah held ma anger fer another four years and then....then..."
Big MacIntosh sighed in distress,
"Look, ah was feeling like crap during dinner, ah just needed to let out ma anger on ya, all of that back at the table was all ma anger I built up fer seven years, it may not have seemed to be a lot, but ta me, it was" He explained, "When Applejack came to speak to me, ah was embarrassed for what ah did, and ma sister was disappointed, no wonder. She told me that ya didn't deserve that, and she's right, she also said that if Ma and Pa were still alive, then they would be disappointed in me as well, and she's right. If ma parents were still here, they'd be proud ta have ya as a son-in-law, Caramel. And shit, though ah don't show it, ah'm proud ta have ya as ma brother-in-law. Hell, yer the closest thing ah have to a brother"
"Thanks, Mac" I said to him.
"Oh, speaking of which, there's something ah want to give ya" He said.
Big MacIntosh got off his bed and went over to his closet, he opened it and searched through the back of his top shelf, and he pulled out a black cowpony hat, which was caked in dust. He blew the dust off the hat and and then he said,
"This here, Caramel, is ma Pa's hat" Big MacIntosh told me.
"Cool" I already knew where this was going.
"After he died, ah was given his hat by Granny Smith. But ah could never bring myself ta wear it, it brought back too many memories. Applejack was always braver than me, she vowed that she would wear Ma's hat at least once every single day for the rest of her life. But ah could never have done that with my dad's hat, everytime ah would put it on, ah'd usually start to cry" He teared up, but he didn't cry.
"Sorry, Mac" I apologized for his parents.
"That's why ah want ta give this hat ta you" He told me.
"No, Mac. I can't take your dad's hat" I hesitated.
"Please, the two hats we have symbolize the loving relationship between a husband and a wife, so it doesn't even make sense for me ta wear it" He told me, "Take it please, it's not any use ta me"
I looked at the hat and thought about the family I have now, about Applejack, Toffee, Mac, Granny Smith, Applebloom. It made me sentimental. Mac describes this black hat he has as something that brings a relationship closer together, and when with the other brown hat that AJ owns, then it feels like we can never be separated. I took the hat and said to Mac,
Sunday, 1:00 am, I'm currently lying on top of my bed covers, everypony currently in the house is asleep, Applejack hasn't came back from her night out yet. But I'm not worried about her being late, she deserves to have her fun.
My father-in-law's hat is on my bedside table, strangely enough, all I could be thinking about right now, is how Applejack might react to seeing the hat for the first time in Celestia knows how long. Will she be sad, because it brings back too many memories? Or will she be overjoyed by it? I have no idea, and never have I thought so much about a hat. But to Big MacIntosh and possibly to the rest of the ponies who live under the roof of this house, it's special, and if it's special to my family then it's special to me.
I can't sleep, I'm worried that if I sleep, Luna will come into my dreams and force me to watch depressing memories from my past. Maybe if she can show a little bit of compassion and show me a good memory, then that would be awesome, like she could probably show me proposing to Applejack, or my wedding itself, or the first time I came to Ponyville and was greeted by Pinkie, that was a good memory, or my bachelor party with Thunderlane, Lucky, Pokey Pierce, Comet Tail and Noteworthy, that was fucking amazing. But the chances of thinking that will happen are slim to none, because Luna is just evil, I think sooner or later she's going to snap back into the alternate persona that got her banished to the moon, I can tell she sickly enjoys doing the dream thing to others, it's hell for them though.
I can't seem to get myself comfortable on my bed, so I got myself up and just paced myself back and forth from my door and to the window across from it, I paced quietly so I wouldn't wake up Toffee, but it shouldn't really wake her up, she's out cold. After about seven paces back and forth, I stopped at my window, opened the curtains and stared out of my window to see the Moon, bright and beautiful, shining through my window, casting my shadow in the white light. Despite the fact that I hate Luna, I will give Luna credit for one thing, she always makes the Moon look amazing. I continued to stare at the moon, and then I thought about my former home town's turf gang, The Lunar Runners.
Me and Lucky were actually members of the Lunar Runner for about seven months after Lucky and I recovered from our injuries at the hooves of the Wingers. I was recruited as a scout and Lucky was recruited as a tagger. During our seven months, we both seen horrible shit, around three months into our recruitment, we both saw Ajax get wasted by Conchie, and the final four months were just raid upon raid from other gangs. Good thing me and Lucky quit the gang when we did, or we would probably be dead.
I zoned out thinking about the Manehattan gangs, until the sound of the front door opening snapped me out of my phase. Applejack must be home now. The door closed and I quietly and quickly went back to lie on my bed, I heard her step up the stairs and then she opened the door and much to my surprise, she wasn't steaming drunk, like previous times when she went out with her friends. I spoke out to Applejack, who was taking her dress off,
"Hey hon"
Applejack jumped in fright, obviously not expecting me to be awake,
"Oh hey, sugarcube, ah wasn't expecting ya to be up at this time" She whispered.
"Honey, you can talk in your normal volume, Toffee's out cold" I told my wife.
"Oh OK, but anyways, how come yer still awake?" She asked in her normal tone of voice.
"I can't sleep" I replied, "How was your night, sweetie?"
"It was really fun, ah had a good time" She replied.
"What was happening?" I asked.
"Me and the gals went up to the nightclub just had a few drinks, ah had only about four drinks, the others had more, the worse being Fluttershy, she pretty much became opposite of 'shy' after about ten drinks" She told me.
"Anything else that happened?" I asked.
"Well, Rarity hooked up with some guy, big surprise right there" She sarcastically said, "Rainbow Dash was just being herself, in fact, she almost got into a fight, but with me being the only one that wasn't completely drunk, ah had to talk her out of it. Pinkie was just partying like there was no tomorrow. And Twilight came second place in a drinking contest, first place was Fluttershy"
"So you everything was good?" I asked again.
Applejack nodded, "Yeah, apart from minor hiccups along the way"
"That's good then" I replied.
"Hon, can ya turn on yer lamp please?" She asked.
"Sure thing" I replied.
I turned my body on its side and turned my bedside lamp on at the back of the bedside table, then Applejack finally undone the final part of her dress, which must've been difficult to see in the dark, and the Moon was hiding behind dark clouds, so she couldn't use the Moon as a light. Once she took her dress off, she turned around and paused,
"Where did ya find that?" She asked as she pointed to her dad's hat.
I turned to look at it, then I faced her again, "Your brother gave it to me"
"Golly, ah ain't seen that hat since.." She paused once more, "...since Celestia knows when"
"Mac said he's kept it all this time, but could never bring himself to wear it" I said to my wife, "He also said this hat and yours work better for a husband and wife than it does for a brother and sister"
"Have ya tried it on yet?" Applejack asked.
"Not yet, hon" I replied.
"Try it on just now" Applejack said, "Ah wanna see ya wear it, please"
"OK, hon" I replied.
I grabbed the hat from my bedside table and put it on. I saw Applejack's reaction to me putting it on, she looked stunned, though I could see it in her eyes that it looked like she was going to cry, possibly due to remembering her dad,
"Babe? Are you alright?" I asked.
Applejack teared up and sniffed, "Yeah, ah'm fine, it's just memories"
"Come here and lie down beside me, babe" I said, "I'll make you feel better"
Applejack smiled but she was still upset, she hung up her dress on the closet handle and lied on her side of the bed.
A tear rolled out of her eye and down her cheek, I stroked my hoof against the cheek that the tear was on,
"Ah'm sorry for being so emotional" Applejack apologized.
"Oh, babe, don't be sorry, I completely understand why you're upset" I told her, "If you need somepony to cry to, I'm that pony. I just want to comfort you, Applejack"
Applejack wrapped her arms around me and came closer to me, she nuzzled her face against my chest, I wrapped my arms around her and cuddled her,
"It's OK, just let it out, hon" I said.
Applejack backed her head away from my chest, but she still cuddled close to me,
"Caramel, thanks for being here for me" Applejack said.
"Hey, I'm your husband, Applejack. If I wasn't here for you, that'd make me a complete bastard" I replied.
She snuggled herself closer into me,
"Ah love you" Applejack told me.
"I love you too, baby" I replied.
She relaxed her head against my chest once more, but instead of nuzzling her face there to cry, she laid the side of her head there. she was calmed down now,
"Can we talk about something else, that isn't about any of ma parents please?" My wife asked me.
"Of course, Applejack" I replied as I closed my eyes, trying to relax as well, "What do you want to talk about?"
Applejack hummed whilst she thought of something to say, "Tell me about those gangs back in Manehattan"
I opened my eyes in disbelief, I never knew Applejack would ever pick that subject, "Really? The gangs?"
"Yeah, ah wanna know more about them, ah've only heard bits and pieces. Ah heard you were apart of a gang, and ah know ya got beat up by one" She said.
"Where did you hear that I got beat up?" I asked.
"Lucky told me" She replied.
"Well, that would explain it then" I spoke to myself.
"So it is true?" She jokingly asked.
"Yes, I got beat up" I blushed.
"Aww, babe. How bad was it?" She asked me.
"I got a broken back, and I think Lucky broke his collar bone, or his arm, but I'm not sure" I told Applejack.
"Ooh, how long were ya hospitalized?" Applejack was curious.
"About a month" I replied, "After me and Lucky were let out, we initiated for my main turf's gang, The Lunar Runners. Wanna find out how I joined?" I asked.
"Yeah, it sounds cool" She replied.
"OK, then get comfy, honey" I told her.
Applejack snuggled into me even more. She then lifted her head to look at me from my chest and gave a smile,
"Ah already am" She replied.
"Well, after me and Lucky were coming out of hospital, Lucky coaxed me into joining the Lunar Runners after saying we could get our own back against the gang that beat me and Lucky up, and....well...we did, but before that we have to partake in an initiation test to get our colors..." I told her.
"What do ya mean by 'colors?" Applejack asked.
"Oh, sorry about that, colors mean our gang's jacket, once you get them, you're in the gang. It's just gang lingo, I'll explain the ones I used as I continue the story" I told her.
"OK, babe" Applejack replied, "Please continue"
"OK, so as I was saying, Luck and I had to endure in a little test to become apart of the Lunars, the test was bopping, I mean, beating, some of the Lunars finest single hoofedly, and me and Lucky did well, we earned our colors, I was recruited as a scout, and Lucky was recruited as a tagger, which was pretty much a pony who went around other turfs in the city and sprayed painted our gang's logo on their walls" I explained to Applejack, "Me and Lucky stayed in the gang for around seven months, but after the death of our gang's leader, Ajax, which was around three months after I joined, the gang almost fell completely apart, we had raids constantly, so me and Lucky quit the gang, if we stayed any longer, we'd probably be dead"
"Wow, sounds horrible" Applejack said.
"It was, after Ajax's death" I replied.
"Do ya wanna talk about something different?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah, you can pick the subject again" I replied.
"OK, em....strangely enough, honey, ah want ta talk about ma walk home from the nightclub" She told me.
At this point, I was puzzled, why does she want to talk about her walk home? Did something bad happen? From her tone it doesn't seem like she's going to say something bad,
"Go ahead. hon" I played along.
"Well, whilst ah was walking down the dirt path that led ta the house, it was dark, but there was light guiding me, it was the fireflies. Ah just wanted to bring that up, because the fireflies reminded me of the night you proposed to me" She told me.
"I remember that night" I said.
"You? You actually remember something?" Applejack chuckled.
"I remember what's important, honey" I said.
"Oh really? Do ya remember where we went for our second date?" She asked me.
Our second date? Crap, it's at the back of my mind. If there was something important about it, then why can't I remember it?
"Um..." I struggled.
Applejack sighed, but then giggled afterwards, "Ah'll give ya a clue, it was were we shared our first kiss"
"Oh" I realized now, "It was Sugarcube Corner"
"That's right hon" Applejack said, "Ah guess ya do remember the important things most of the time"
"I guess I do" I replied, "But I've got one for you. Do you, remember the first time we met?"
Applejack smiled, "Well, ah try not to" She said in joking tone.
"Come on, Ms. Element of Honesty, even I know that's a lie" I replied.
Applejack chuckled, she then rolled me over and she crawled forwards on top me to give me a kiss, "Well, ah do remember the first we met, yer mane was much more shaggy then" She said as she stroked my mane.
"Really?" I replied.
"Ya were also slightly chubbier back then" Applejack said.
"Slightly?" I asked again.
"Yeah" She replied, "And ah take ya're gonna make fun of how ah looked back then as well?"
I shook my head as she was on top of me,
"Nope" I replied to her question.
"And why's that?" She whispered seductively as she moved her face closer to mine, attempting to give me a kiss.
But before she could kiss me, I rolled her over until I was on top, I came closer to her ear and I whispered,
"Because, you still look as young and as beautiful as you did back then"
I nibbled on her ear and then she let out gasp of air, and a moan. But the moan wasn't a moan of pain, but a moan of pleasure. After I nibbled her ear, I backed my face away and looked at hers, her mouth was open and her pretty, green eyes were sparkling. She then bit her bottom lip and let it loose and then asked me,
"Can ya turn off the light, please?" She whispered.
I nodded at her request and leaned over towards my lamp at my bedside table, I was still atop of her. I switched off my lamp and came closer to her again, this time, near her neck, I bit it slightly, and again, she moaned with pleasure,
"Caramel, can ya stop for a second?" She asked.
I retreated my head away from her neck,
"What's the matter, honey?" I replied and asked.
"What if we wake up Toffee?" Applejack asked.
"She won't, she's out cold" I quietly replied.
"But what if she doe..." She tried to say.
I placed my hoof on her top lip before she could finish what she wanted to say,
"Ssshh, she won't" I whispered, "Trust me"
I moved my hoof off of her top lip and then she whispered something,
"Please.....be gentle"
The emotion in her voice spoke loudly than the words themselves. The way she paused after she said "please" was the most powerful part of her three word sentence,
Sunday 3:45 am. I still haven't been able to sleep, I was thinking about my day yesterday, my conversation with Lucky, my argument with Big MacIntosh, going through two of my memories with Princess Luna. The thing I'm thinking about the most is my talk with Lucky, how he said I'll be a good father. But he's the only one who I told that I was scared of being a dad. Lucky made me feel better by saying that I'll be a good dad, but I need to tell Applejack about it as well, I need to be honest with her about how scared I was in the months leading up to Toffee's birth.
It's not like she'll be completely shocked that I was scared, after all, she did see me faint after she announced that she was pregnant.
I guess I never thought I'd ever become a father, or get married for that matter. I thought I would've been killed in Manehattan by a gang member before I actually managed to make out of there with Lucky. But now, here I am, married and I have a child, I don't have much to accomplish anymore, except to keep on caring for my family and friends.
It's been two hours and forty-five minutes since Applejack came home from her night out with her friends, right now, she's asleep, along with everypony else in the house, except from me. I can't sleep, I'm trying to, but I can't. Something is forcing me to keep myself awake, it's either one of two of these things, it could be the fact that Luna is still lurking in the dream realm or it could be that I can sense that Toffee is going to start crying at any minute, because that's what usually happens when I can't get to sleep, she'll start wailing and I just have to give it time before she does,
About five minutes later, she let out a cry, which woke up Applejack,
"Oh, God Damn" Applejack exclaimed as she sat up and rubbed her eyes, "She's up again"
"I know, hon, I think she needs changing" I replied as I got out of bed, "I'll go get a diaper or something"
"No, you go and comfort her, ah'll get the diaper, babe" She told me.
"You sure, sweetie?" I asked.
Applejack nodded, "Yeah, ah'll see to the diaper, ya see to her"
"OK, Applejack" I replied.
I went over to my daughter's crib and picked her up in my arms and Applejack left the room to go downstairs,
"Ssh, Toffee, it's alright, Mommy's going to get you a diaper, and I might change you, OK, baby" I tried to calm down my daughter.
She still cried, but not as loud as before,
"Ssh, Daddy's here, Toffee, Daddy's here" I said as I hugged her.
I repeatedly patted my daughter's back gently, I usually do this for burping her, but whenever she has difficulty calming down, I use the same patting technique to help her calm down.
After about a minute, she stopped crying, but was still awake, I raised her slightly so I could smell how bad the diaper she's wearing is, and safe to say, it didn't smell nice.
Shortly after I took a whiff, Applejack came back with a fresh diaper for Toffee, the changing mat and a bottle of milk for her,
"Ah think feeding her will get her to sleep quicker" Applejack said.
"I think that's a good idea" I replied, "But who's changing the little one?"
"Ah'll do it, hon" She was optimistic.
"You sure?" I asked.
"Yeah, ah'll change her, you feed her, alright?" She made it clear.
"Of course" I replied.
Applejack placed the changing mat on a free space on the floor and I passed Toffee over to hear mother where she put her on the changing mat and got ready to change her.
Applejack has changed Toffee and now she was in my arms, I was feeding her a bottle of milk whilst Applejack was standing beside me, her head against my shoulder. I'm about to tell my wife about how I felt during the time she was pregnant,
"She's beautiful, ain't she?" Applejack asked.
"She is, sweetie" I replied.
"Ah can't even express how happy ah am about it" She uttered.
I sighed happily and peacefully, "Neither can I"
OK, here I go, I've finished feeding my daughter, I placed the empty bottle on a nearby desk, I gave my daughter a small kiss on the cheek and gently settled her in her crib. Now, I've have to tell Applejack about how I was feeling during her pregnancy,
"Um....sweetie?" I asked.
"Yeah, hon?" She replied.
"I need to tell you something" I said.
"Sure, Caramel. What's bothering you?" She asked.
"Wait, can we sit the edge of the bed?" I asked back.
Applejack nodded and she made her way to the side of the bed and sat there, leaving a space for me,
"What do ya need ta tell me, 'Mel?" She asked.
"Applejack, this is difficult for me to say to you but.." I paused.
"But what, honey? It's OK"
"..During the time you pregnant, I was feeling weird about the entire fact that I was going to be a father and I guess what I'm trying to say is that..." I choked up, I didn't want to say this to the mother of my child, ".. the truth is...I was scared"
"Scared?" She questioned, "It's OK to say ya were scared, sugarcube"
"I know, but just yesterday when I was out with the dog, I met up with Lucky, I told him that I thought I was going to end up making too many mistakes and becoming like my parents" I told Applejack.
"Honey, that's silly, ah may not have met yer parents, but from what ah've been told, they seemed horrible to ya" My wife replied, "Listen, ah know ah can't be the shiniest apple in the orchard at times, but ah ain't an idiot when ah say that you're not a horrible pony"
"I know, I just needed to tell you about it. How I was scared of being a dad"
"And ah'm glad ya did" She said she came closer to me and place her hoof on mine, "Ah love you, Caramel. Yer the most loving, caring, generous stallion ah know and you always have yer heart in the right place, that's why ah'm proud to have you as ma husband"
"Thanks, honey" I felt better.
"Listen, you also said something about making mistakes. Honey, life is about mistakes, we have them so we can learn from them, you're not going to be the only one to make mistakes, ah'm gonna make mistakes as well. Don't think that you'll end up raising Toffee badly, because you've got me, yer friends, yer family, we'll help ya"
"You're right, hon" I said.
"To be honest, ah was scared as well, when ah took my pregnancy test, and found out the results were positive, ma heart skipped a beat, and ah was too scared to tell ya, so that's ah decided to surprise everypony. But that made you faint in shock, ah'm sorry for that" She admitted.
"That's OK, Applejack" I replied.
"But listen, it's good that ya finally told me, and now ah can tell ya honey, that ya have nothing to worry about, because we can do this" She encouraged me.
"You're right" I replied.
"Ah know" She said.
She leaned over and gave me a small kiss on the cheek, and gave me a hug after that,
"We're good parents, Caramel" Applejack uttered, "Don't think otherwise"
Sunday 10:00 am. I'm awake and I'm wearing my father-in-law's hat. I'm currently in kitchen sorting breakfast for myself, Applejack, Applebloom and Toffee. I'm making pancakes for everypony who's awake, except from Toffee, as she obviously can't eat that kind of food yet. Big MacIntosh and Granny Smith were still asleep, enjoying the last of their late sleeps before working tomorrow. It was another sunny morning on Sweet Apple Acres, I can hear the wind lightly brush off the trees in the orchards from the open windows of the kitchen along with the smell of sizzling pancake batter on the frying pan. Applejack was in the kitchen with me, enjoying her usual morning cup of coffee at the table, whilst my daughter and my sister-in-law were in the living room, where Applebloom was making another attempt desperately trying to make Toffee laugh again, but it's sad for me to say, Applebloom is no Pinkie Pie. I started to whistle a song whilst I was cooking, I have a nasty habit for doing that, today's song is "Love is in Bloom", the one of two songs I sung at my wedding reception, I sung this song with Twilight, Pinkie and Fluttershy,
"Ah remember that song" Applejack said from the table.
"It's pretty timeless" I replied.
"You singing it was timeless" She said, "Along with yer other song"
"Pfft, please, I was terrible at singing on our wedding" I told her.
"No ya weren't, not ta me, anyways" She said.
"If I wasn't as drunk as I was then, I probably would've sung better" I replied.
"Babe, ah was really drunk on that night as well, ah couldn't tell the difference" She explained.
"Huh, I found it embarrassing" I said.
"Ah thought it was cute" She said, "What was the name of that song ya sung about me again, Caramel?"
"It's called 'She's like a Star" I replied.
"Ah thought that was really romantic of ya" She uttered, "Can ya sing it please?"
I flipped the pancake in the pan and thought of an answer. Should I sing aloud to my wife? Or disappoint her by not doing it? The latter choice would unarguably make me seem like a douche towards my wife, so I guess singing the first few verses won't be that bad,
"OK, Applejack. I'll sing it" I said.
"Yay" She jokingly imitated Fluttershy.
I chuckled after her and I took a deep breath in and out before I began to sing,
"She's my everything
Like a morning girl
She's my angel
Up above my world
She's the only one,
Who understands me
That's why I call her
My new family
'Cause she's the only that I want by my side
She's the only one that I believe can save my life
She makes me wanna be a better man, oh why
She's higher than the Sky, the Suns and the Moon
She's like a star, a star, ooh baby
She's like a star, a star, ooh baby
She's like a star, a star, ooh baby
She's like a star, a star, ooh yeah"
"Aww, is that it?" Applejack complained after I stopped singing.
"Yeah" I said, "Sorry, sweetie"
"Well, at least ya did it, 'Mel" Applejack said, "Thanks, babe"
"No problem, AJ" I replied, "What are you wanting on your pancakes? Whipped cream, butter, syrup, etc?"
"Em..." Applejack hummed as she was thinking, "Can ah have syrup please, hon?"
"Sure thing, pretty" I replied as I flipped the last of her pancakes on her plate.
All the pancakes were ready for Applejack, Applebloom and myself. But I need to find out what Applebloom wants on her pancakes,
"Excuse me, Applebloom!" I shouted to the living room from the kitchen.
"Yeah, Caramel!?" She replied loudly.
"What are you wanting on your pancakes, kiddo?" I asked.
"Um....can ah have some zap apple jam, please?" She asked back.
"Coming right up, kid" I replied.
I went over to the fridge and got out the whipped cream, the zap apple jam and the maple syrup for the pancakes. I took them over to the three stacks of pancakes. I dolloped my pancakes with the cream, I spread the zap apple jam on each individual layer of the stack of pancakes that Applebloom is having and I finally squeezed the bottle of syrup onto my wife's pancakes. I slid my wife's plate over to her across the table and I put my plate at the empty space beside her,
"Applebloom! Come get your pancakes!" I shouted.
Applebloom came into the kitchen and got the plate of pancakes,
"Thanks, 'Mel" Applebloom thanked.
"No problem" I replied, "Oh, do you want to do that interview homework later on?"
"Oh yeah, ah almost forgot about that" She mentioned, "Ah'd love to do it later on"
Applebloom then took her plate and went back in the living room to watch Toffee. I'll sort my daughter's breakfast later, after I finish mine. With me wearing my father-in-law's hat, it didn't really phase Applebloom, as she probably didn't spend a lot of time with her parents, it's a shame really, not really knowing her parents, but hell, I'm the opposite, I don't really want to remember or know my parents, but I sadly remember everything they ever done when I was around them, it was uncomfortable around them, you couldn't even turn on the tap without them interrogating you about something. I was happy when I went out to meet up with my fellow gang members to get away from my parents, even in the final four months of my time in the Lunar Runners, at a time when I knew I could have died at any moment, that was still better than taking ongoing verbal and psychical abuse from my parents.
I went and sat beside Applejack and had a bite of my pancakes, I'm not sure if they taste good or not, because I'm very critical of a lot of the things I do, with cooking being one of them,
"You like the pancakes, sweetie?" I asked Applejack.
"Ah do, they're really nice" Applejack complimented my cooking, "Thanks for making them"
"Anything for you, baby" I said and I gave a her small kiss on the cheek.
Applejack blushed after I gave her the kiss, I find it cute whenever she blushes.
She continued to eat the rest of her pancakes and I took the first few bites of mine, they tasted OK. I don't really find my cooking to great per say, but plenty of ponies love my cooking, I don't. Maybe because I don't like to brag, I really don't, not anymore. Because back in Manehattan, during my time in the gang, I bragged about how much of a good fighter I was back then, but once I came in contact with a much more powerful gang, I ate the words I bragged.
But anyways, I ate my pancakes and got up off of my seat and told my wife,
"I'll see to the baby, Applejack"
"Alright, sugarcube" She replied.
I went into the living room and saw Toffee lying down on the carpet and gurgling at the sight of the ceiling, my silly little angel. I saw Applebloom sitting on the couch, with her finished plate on the arm of the couch and she was still keeping watch on her niece, while also reading her book as well,
"Still on the same book, Applebloom?" I asked her.
"Yeah, but ah'm almost done" She replied.
"What's the next one called?" I asked.
"It's called 'The Emerald Eyes of the Timberwolf Elders" Applebloom replied.
"Sounds cool" I told her.
"Ah know, ah can't wait ta read it" She said.
"How were the pancakes?" I changed the subject.
"They were great, you make the best pancakes, Caramel" Applebloom complimented me.
"Pfft, they're not the best" I replied.
"They're still pretty damn tasty" She proclaimed, "Ah'll bring ma plate through"
"No need, I'm going back to the kitchen anyways to feed the little one, I'll take the plate, kiddo" I told her.
"OK, thanks, 'Mel" She said.
"No probs" I replied.
I grabbed the plate with my teeth off of the arm of the couch and I picked up my daughter in one of my free arms. I then went back into the kitchen, placed my daughter in her high chair and I put the plate in the sink. Applejack scooted her chair closer to Toffee's and she said to Toffee,
"Hiya, Toffee" Applejack greeted her, "How's ma little cutie doing this morning?"
I looked over to see my wife acting playful around our beautiful baby girl, I couldn't help myself but smile at the sight. I turned back to clean the dishes in the sink, and I heard hoof steps come down the stairs, big ones, it was Big MacIntosh,
"Morning everypony" Big Mac greeted us as he stepped into the kitchen.
"Morning, Mac" I greeted back.
"Howdy, big brother" Applejack greeted him.
"How is everypony?" Big Mac asked us.
"I'm good, what about yourself, man?" I asked back.
"Ah'm fine, 'Mel" Big Mac replied.
Applejack stopped acting playful around Toffee and looked at both me and Big MacIntosh with a surprised look on her face,
"It's weird, hearing you two not bickering or arguing and actually socializing" She uttered.
"It's not weird, baby" I replied.
"Eeyup, we're just talking" Big MacIntosh added.
"That's why it's weird. Y'all never 'Just talk" She told us.
"Well, we've settled our differences" I said.
"Eeyup, we have" Big Mac said.
"But anyways" I decided to change subject, "You wanting anything for breakfast, Mac?"
"Nope, but thanks for the offer" He replied.
"You sure?" I asked, "I can make pancakes if you want?"
"No thanks, ah'm gonna get a quick drink, then ah'm going out to....uh....meet somepony" He told us.
"Who are meeting, Big MacIntosh" His younger sister asked him.
"A.....uh....friend" He struggled.
"OK then" Applejack's suspicions were rising, but she didn't want to ask anymore questions.
"So yeah...ah'm just going to get a drink of milk and then ah'm off" He told us.
"Oh, you do that then, Mac" I replied.
Big MacIntosh went into the fridge and got out the bottle of whole milk. And I continued to clean the dishes, after I finished washing them, I got out some baby food for Toffee, it was in a small jar and I took it with me along with a small plastic spoon over to the table, I turned the high chair so me and my daughter were facing each other, I scooped out some of my daughter's baby food and said to her,
"OK, Toffee, open wide,say "Aah" I told her as I made a gaping mouth gesture.
Toffee copied me, so I gently place the spoon in her mouth and she ate her food, but also let out a dribble of some of the food, so I scooped the food she dribbled out and fed her it, and Applejack was giggling at me about something,
"What are you laughing at, babe?" I asked.
"The expressions ya're making on yer face whilst ya're feeding Toffee" She chuckled.
"Oh c'mon, give me a chance, it makes her eat the food, doesn't it?" I asked.
"Well.....yeah" Applejack replied.
"Then it's necessary" I told her.
"No it ain't" She uttered, "Ah could feed her without making faces like that"
Big MacIntosh put the bottle of milk back into the fridge and quickly downed his drink as if it were a shot of whisky,
"Do you two usually have these kind of conversations?" Big Mac asked the both of us, "Because ah've never really paid attention to yer talks"
"Oh, we have conversations like this almost everyday, big brother" Applejack replied.
"Yeah, it's a regular occurrence, I think a lot of married couples have random conversations like these" I added.
"Well, it's pretty funny when you two do it" Big Mac said.
"Well, if you end up getting married then you and your wife would probably have talks like these" I said,
"Huh, yeah, probably" He said as he put his empty glass in the sink, "Well, ah'm off, guys"
"Bye, Mac" I said.
"See ya later, Big MacIntosh" Applejack said as well.
"Bye" He bid his farewell as he left out the back door.
I turned over and faced my wife again,
"Can you continue feeding Toffee please, babe?" I asked my wife, "I need to cleanse the glass in the sink"
"Of course, hon" Applejack replied.
I got myself up and went over to the sink, and Applejack turned Toffee's high chair so that's she's facing her, and then she continued to feed her, and also, true to Applejack's word, she never made a silly face,
"Oh, Caramel. Did ah tell the girls are coming around later?" She asked me.
"Em....no, you didn't. When about's are they coming?" I asked back.
"Around about 11" She replied.
"Oh right, they all coming to see the baby?" I asked.
Applejack nodded,
"Well, I also forgot to tell you yesterday that Lucky might visit, but we didn't exactly say when he would turn up" I told her, "So apologies if he turns up out of nowhere"
Applejack shrugged, "It's fine, babe. Ah don't mind, hell, all yer friends could stop by if they wanna"
"Huh, yeah" I said as I finally cleaned the glass, "Oh, I almost forgot something"
"Oh yeah, well ya better get on ta that" She replied.
I went over to the cupboard in between the fridge and the sink and got out the bag of dog food, I then opened the back door and went outside and closed the door behind me,
"WINONA!" I called out and whistled afterwards, "Come get your food girl!"
Winona then came over from the side of the house, not being as energetic as she would usually be, I poured out the dog food from the bag into her food bowl, slightly over filling, not that Winona would mind that.
11:00 am. I'm now in the living room with Applejack and Toffee, Applebloom was in her room upstairs, and Granny Smith was still asleep. Toffee was playing with her toys and Applejack was leaning against me whilst we were both on the couch, I had my arm around her and we were both keeping an eye of Toffee,
"Huh, five years time, and it'll be her first day of school" She told me.
"Oh God, I just realized something" I said.
"What?" Applejack asked.
"I'll be thirty-two when that happens" I explained.
Applejack started to laugh, "Thirty-two? Babe, ya make it seem like it's a bad thing"
"It kind of is, eight years from then, I'll be forty" I chuckled.
Applejack chuckled along with me,
"Wow, ah'll be thirty-one by the time Toffee starts school, and we would be married nine years from that point on" Applejack said.
"Wow" I said, "It's weird getting older"
"Huh, it is" Applejack uttered.
Then came five knocks at the door, stopping my wife and I's somewhat weird conversation,
"Can ya go get that, Caramel?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah, I will" I replied.
I got off the couch and made my way to the door, I opened it and it was a crowd of ponies and all of them yelled,
"Hey, Caramel!" They all greeted.
Much too my expectation, all of Applejack's friends were at the door. Rarity, Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Also, Lucky was there with them, and also, to my surprise, so was my other good friends, Thunderlane, Pokey Pierce, Noteworthy and Comet Tail,
"Hey, everypony!" I greeted, "Come in"
"How's the baby, Caramel?" Twilight asked me as she came inside first.
"She's been great, thanks for asking, Twilight" I replied to her, "Hey Applejack, sweetie! Everypony's here now!"
"Alright, Caramel!" Applejack shouted from the living room.
Everypony then went into the living room, it was almost like Toffee's party all over again. All of Applejack's friends went over to her and the baby, and all of my friends came to me,
"Mel, buddy. What's up" Comet asked me.
"Comet! Nothing much, man" I replied, "I haven't seen you in two months, did you just back from your Astronomy trip?" I asked him back.
Comet nodded, "Yeah, man. And your baby's been born? Man, I'm proud of you"
"Yeah, Toffee was born just last month. I wished you could've came to the party after she was born" I said.
"I wish I was there" Comet replied, "But hey, I was visiting Lucky and he said he was visiting you to see the baby, he told me to tag along and then we ended up inviting the rest of the boys..."
"Well, it is Sunday, the most boring day of the week" Pokey interrupted Comet, "I had nothing better to do"
"Yeah" Comet added, "Caramel, do you mind if I see Toffee?"
I shook my head, "Not at all, man"
Comet then went over to see the baby, whilst the rest of the guys were still talking to me,
"So, Pierce, Thunderlane, Blues?" I asked, "How's it going?"
"Things are going fine for me, 'Mel" Noteworthy told me, "I've got a gig in three days"
"Cool, Blues" I replied.
"Yeah, things are going well for me as well" Thunderlane uttered.
"Yeah, Thunderlane. How's your brother doing?" I asked.
"I haven't been seeing much of him lately, he's been going out to see his girlfriend most of the time" Thunderlane told me.
"Who's his girlfriend?" Pokey Pierce asked.
"That Scootaloo girl from his school" Thunderlane replied.
"Oh, I know her" I mentioned, "She's good friends with my sister-in-law"
"Is she trouble?" Thunderlane asked.
I shrugged, "Dunno, man. You'd have to see Applebloom about that"
"Meh, can't be bothered" Thunderlane said.
"Huh, typical of you, Laney" I told him.
"I know" He replied.
"So, Pierce, how have you been, man?" I asked, "How have you and Pinkie been doing?"
"I've been good, Caramel. Pinkie and I have been doing great" He said as he turned to look at the energetic pink pony, "You know, guys?"
"Know what?" Lucky asked.
"I think she's the one" Pokey told us.
"You finally gonna break out the big question?" Thunderlane asked him.
"Planning to" Pierce said.
"I think you should just go for it, pal" I told him, "I mean how long have you two been dating?"
"Six years" He told us.
"Then, Pokey, I'll bet you she'd accept your proposal, if she's stayed with you this long, because she obviously loves you lots" I told him.
Pokey sighed,
"Hey, pal. Caramel's got a point" Lucky told Pierce.
"Yeah, Pokey. Just ask her, go for it" Noteworthy added.
Pokey nodded, "Yeah, I will. Thanks for the votes for confidence, guys"
"No problem, dude" I replied.
"Yeah, you and Pinkie are great together" Noteworthy said.
"You and Rarity were great together" Pokey joked and laughed.
"NO! That was only one time" Noteworthy hesitated.
"Yeah, but we only have your word for that" Thunderlane chuckled.
At this point, me, Lucky, Pokey and Thunderlane began to laugh at Noteworthy. Reminding him of his date with Rarity a few months back, and let's just say, it ended in embarrassing results for him. But I really don't want to mention what happened, because it's also pretty sickening what happened as well,
"Shut up, Thunderlane" Blues said, "Just because you like Fluttershy, and you are. ironically, too shy to ask her on a date"
"Oh, Thunderlane" Lucky said to Thunderlane, "Blues might be blunt, but he's got a point"
"Hey! I'm not blunt, I've written seventeen songs" Noteworthy told us.
"Fourteen of them you stole from Octavia" Pokey replied.
"And the other three you probably found in the trash can" I joked.
"Well, yeah, I might've gotten help from Tavi, but I've..." Noteworthy tried to say.
"You plagiarist" Thunderlane interrupted him, "Octavia could've sued you for stealing her songs. You can get sued for that, right?"
"I think so" I replied.
At this point I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned around to see that it was Applebloom,
"Excuse me, Caramel?" Applebloom said, "Ya're not busy, are ya?"
"No, I'm just chatting with my friends" I told her.
"OK, can me and you get ma English homework interview over and done with, if that's alright?" Applebloom asked.
"Sure thing, we'll do that outside, where there's less noise, OK?" I made sure.
Applebloom nodded, "OK, ah'll wait outside for ya"
"Cool, I'll be out in a minute" I told her.
Applebloom then went outside the house by exiting throughout the front door and I turned back to my friends,
"What was that about, man?" Lucky asked.
"My sister-in-law is conducting an interview for her homework, I'm the one getting interviewed" I replied.
"Oh right" Thunderlane said.
"You guys can go see the baby, if Applejack asks, just say I'm helping Applebloom with homework" I said.
"Sure thing, man" Pokey said.
The guys then made it over to where Toffee was and I left the house to get outside, it was much more peaceful than indoors, as there was less chatter out here than in there. I saw Applebloom sitting at one of the many picnic benches around the farm, with a tape recorder on the bench, we'd usually use the benches for the family reunions and BBQs. I came over to her and sat on the opposite side of her,
"So this interview is for English, yeah?" I asked.
"Yep" Applebloom nodded.
"So is there a limit to how many questions you can ask?"
"It has ta be more than fifteen, and the questions have ta relate ta the topic ah'm doing" Applebloom explained to me.
"What's your topic?" I asked.
"Family members. Ah also got a title fer it" Applebloom replied.
"What's the title" I asked.
"It's called 'The Most Interesting Pony in ma Family" She replied.
I was overwhelmed by that reply, my sister-in-law consider's me the most interesting pony in the family. I smiled at her and felt warm inside,
"Thanks, Applebloom"
"Ya're welcome, Caramel" Applebloom replied.
"Well then, let's get started with the interview" I said.
"OK" Applebloom said as she turned on the tape recorder, "Question one: Who are you?"
Who am I? That's probably the easiest question anypony could answer, but for me, it's not easy.when I tell people who I am, I think of everything I've been through in my life. My abusive parents, my days in the Lunar Runners, dropping out of college, leaving for Ponyville, meeting Pinkie Pie, getting introduced to her friends, meeting Applejack, dating her, moving in with her, marrying her, going on our honeymoon, and having Toffee. It seemed life for me was just getting better.
So, the only response I could think of for this question is,
"Huh, well you see, Applebloom. That's a really good question......"
FIVE YEARS LATER.........
I'm outside Ponyville elementary school with Applejack and Toffee. I'm wearing my father-in-law's hat and Applejack is wearing her mother's hat. And Toffee, has grown up to look like her Mom, she looked like a five year old version of her mom, but with a brown mane, and a dark pink bow. There was crowds of parents wishing their daughters and sons good luck on their first day of school, and me and my wife were about to wish our daughter the same,
"Ooh, ah can't believe it's yer first day of school, Toffee" Applejack said to her, with a tear rolling down her cheek.
"It's OK, Mommy. Ya don't need to cry" Toffee told her.
"Ah know, sweetie" Applejack said as she rubbed the tear off her cheek with her hoof, "Ah'm just so proud of ya, is all"
"You think you'll enjoy school, Toffee?" I asked.
Toffee nodded confidently, "Yep, Daddy. I think ah'm gonna love it"
I crouched down lower to about Toffee's height,
"Are you going to tell me everything you've done at school, once you come back home?" I asked her again.
"Mhm" She hummed, "I'll tell you and Mom everything"
I opened my arms out and asked my daughter,
"Can me and your Mom get a hug before you go?"
Toffee then gave me hug goodbye. After she gave me a hug, I got up to my normal height and Toffee went over to Applejack and still had her arms opened out for a hug. Applejack then crouched down and gave her a hug goodbye as well,
"Have a nice day, sugarcube" Applejack told her, "Good luck"
"Yeah, good luck, sweetheart" I said to Toffee.
"Thanks Mom, thanks Dad" She thanked the both of us, "Ah better get going then"
"Bye, honey" Applejack said as she got herself up.
"See you later, Toffee" I said to her.
"Bye Mommy, bye Daddy" Toffee bid her farewell to the both of us as she trotted over towards the school.
I placed my arm around Applejack and both we waved goodbye to our daughter, and we continued to do so until she walked into the school itself, after she went inside, my wife said to me,
"They grow up so fast"
"School already" I replied.
"Ah know, ah wish ah could've had her as the baby she was five years ago" Applejack sighed.
"Same here" I said.
"Wait, Caramel. ah just thought of something" Applejack said.
"Thought of what, hon?" I asked.
"Maybe, we can have another baby?" Applejack suggested.
That's not a bad idea, I mean, I'm now confident I can raise a child seeing as I've raised Toffee well, and it would good to introduce another Apple into the family,
"You know, Applejack?" I asked.
"What is it, Caramel?" She asked back.
"I think it would be great to have another child" I replied, " And I know a good coffee shop where we can talk about it more"
"Ya really think it's a good idea?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah, babe, honestly" I replied, "Now let's get some coffee, OK?"
"What's the coffee shop called?" Applejack asked.
"Mocha la Coca" I replied.
"Didn't ya used to work there?" She asked.
"I did" I replied.
So me and Applejack went over to Mocha la Coca, we sat down had some coffee, and we talked about having a second child, we both agreed to have one and not only was my wife happy, but I was also happy, everything shit in my life has led up to this and it's safe to say that I've finally found peace in my life. I guess ponies just need to know that peace can be found in the smallest of places, and that one of those small places where ponies can easily find peace, lies in the heart of ponyville and in the core of the apple.
The End
BONUS Chapter: The Wedding (prequel to main story)
Four years before Toffee was born, there was the most important of my life, the best day of my life, my wedding to Applejack. My day started back in Canterlot, four days prior to that, I had my Bachelor party with Lucky, Pokey, Blues, Thunderlane and Comet, but that's another story for another time. I was staying at a hotel getting ready for the big event. I was putting on a tuxedo until I heard a knock at the door,
"Who is it?" I asked loudly as I was adjusting my tie in front of a mirror.
"It's me, buddy" Lucky called from outside the door.
"Oh, Lucky. Come in, man" I said.
I looked through the mirror and saw Lucky enter through the door, wearing his tuxedo as well. He closed the door behind him and approached me,
"Caramel, you look magnificent, bro" Lucky complimented.
"Thanks, Lucky. You don't look too bad yourself, Hell, I swear with tuxes like these, we could be twins" I replied.
"Hey, we don't need to be twins, man. You're still my brother" Lucky chuckled.
"Thanks Lucky" I thanked again.
"You alright, 'Mel?" He asked me.
"Yeah, Luck. I'm just a little um....a little bit..." I struggled to find the write word.
"Nervous?" Lucky questioned.
"Yeah, that" I replied.
"Hey, man. Don't be nervous, this is your big day. But if you're still worried, it's not that bad, your wife-to-be is nervous as well from what I heard from Dash and Rarity" Lucky told me.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah, man. But still, today isn't a day for you to be nervous, man. This is a day for you to be excited" Lucky said.
"Yeah, you're right" I replied as I nodded.
"Hey, man. Just relax when it's happening, and savor every moment of it" He said.
"Yeah. Thanks man" I thanked for the third time.
"Do you know you have a tendency for saying thanks a lot?" Lucky asked.
"I do know" I joked.
"Huh, I think Applejack will get annoyed at that" Lucky said.
"Nah, she'll roll with it. I mean, she's been doing so for the past....um....three years, I think" I struggled to say.
"You don't know how long you've been with Applejack?" Lucky chuckled.
I thought to myself about how long me and Applejack have been together. I moved in with her last year, I arrived in Ponyville four years prior to this day, so I must've been with her three years now, because I started dating her about a year after I arrived in Ponyville,
"It's three years, I'm pretty sure it's three years" I told him.
"Yeah, but you forget things..." Lucky replied, "...lots of times"
"Oh, speaking of forgetting things" I said, "Did you remember the wedding bracelets?"
"Oh shit! I left at where we had the bachelor party!" He explained.
"You idiot! Why did you bring them to the bachelor party?!" I shouted.
Lucky then pulled the small box that had me and my wife-to-be's wedding bracelet, and started to laugh,
"Oh my God, you actually fell for that. Hahaha" He chuckled.
"Fucking hell, don't ever do that again!" I cursed.
"Hey, man. It was just a joke" Lucky said.
I calmed myself down, I can't get mad over one little joke on my wedding day,
"Yeah, I know" I replied, "I can't let your bad prank ruin my day"
"Bad prank? Man, it was a good prank" Lucky told me.
I chuckled slightly, "If you actually forgot the bracelets for real, I would've had to kill you"
"You? Kill me? Bro, you fucking love me, you wouldn't do that" Lucky told me.
"True. I would never kill you" I said.
"Didn't you kill someone back in Manehattan though?" He asked.
"Didn't you?" I asked back, "I don't think we should even be talking about Manehattan, especially on this day, man. I fucking hated it back there and don't ever want to go back there again" I told him.
"Do you wish you know..your parents were here?" Lucky asked.
"Luck, that's like asking if I want the Discords here, and you know they fuck up, big time" I explained.
"I'll take that as a no then" Lucky replied.
"Huh, yeah, it's a no. Still, what are the rest of the dudes doing?" I asked and changed the subject.
"They're already at the venue, man" He replied, "We just need to get there"
"Alright" I said.
I finally made it to where the Wedding ceremony was being held, Twilight had the privilege of asking Princess Celestia if the ceremony could be held in her palace gardens, and Celestia gladly accepted that, not just in favor of her student, but for Applejack as well, for her "many attributes to the Element of Honesty". Either way, I'm grateful it's being held in such a beautiful place, on a beautiful day as well. They're was many chairs set up for friends and family, with a tonne of family coming in from Applejack's side, none coming from my side. All of the ponies that were invited had arrived.
I was standing at the altar beside my groomsmen, Thunderlane, Pokey Pierce, Blues Noteworthy, Comet Tail and my best man, Lucky Clover. Also, one the left side of us, was Applejack's bridesmaids, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity and the maid of honor, Rainbow Dash. Another friend of Applejack, Spike the dragon, had learned to play the organ for when she comes down the aisle, and I'm grateful that he's doing that,
"We should be annoyed at you, 'Mel" Thunderlane spoke.
"Why's that?" I questioned.
"You're getting hitched, dude. You're the first one of us to get married, you've finally became a man" Thunderlane said.
"I'm twenty-three, Thunderlane" I chuckled.
"You get the picture" Thunderlane joked.
"He's not the first one to get married out of us. I got married before him" Blues told us.
"Rubbish" Pokey Pierce replied.
"Man, you're talking out your rear" Comet said.
"With who?" Lucky asked.
"You wouldn't know her" Noteworthy says.
"Then you don't have anything to hide" Thunderlane said.
"Guys..." I spoke out.
All five of my friends turned to look at me,
"Be quiet please. If you want to prove Blues wrong, do it after the ceremony, please" I said.
"Oh yeah, sorry, man" Lucky apologized.
"Didn't mean that, bro" Thunderlane said.
"I'll prove it though" Blues told them.
"Shut up, Blues" Pokey and Comet told our musician friend.
I shook my head, though I was staying positive, their stupid argument could not make me annoyed at them, because in about one minute, Applejack is going to be walking the aisle, and I'm going to make the most important vows of my life.
Here comes the Bride is starting to play on the organ, I stand there at the altar, awaiting my bride. I then see her walking down the aisle, wearing a beautiful dress, she's more beautiful than I've ever seen her before, being led by a trail of rose petals that were let out by Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, she came closer to the altar, being walked down by her Uncle Orange until she finally made it to me, she stood in front of me, wearing a wedding veil which obscured her face, I lifted it from in front of her and placed it behind, and it revealed to me Applejack's beautiful face, her emerald eyes, her soft smile, her beauty made me feel warm inside, I smiled back, she blushed.
The Vicar stood on my right, whilst he stood on Applejack's left, he was reading to say his opening words,
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today, in the sign of our Princesses and in the face of this company, to join together this stallion and this mare in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honorable among all stallions; and therefore, is not by any, to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two ponies present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace" The Vicar said.
I moved my eyes slightly away from Applejack's direction to look at the crowd, I looked at Big MacIntosh, thinking he was going to say something, but he never did, he let it slip, and apart from him, everypony was happy with me and Applejack getting married,
The Vicar continued, "Marriage is the union of husband and wife in heart, body and mind. It is intended for their mutual joy, and for the help and comfort given on another in prosperity and adversity. But more importantly, it is a means through which a stable and loving environment may be attained" He spoke, "Through marriage, Caramel and Applejack make a commitment together to face their disappointments, embrace their dreams, realize their hopes and accept each others failures. Caramel and Applejack will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together, through mutual understanding, openness and sensitivity to each other"
The Vicar observed the crowd before asking,
"Who gives this mare in marriage to this stallion?" He asked.
Applejack's Uncle Orange stepped forward,
"This stallion here does so" The Vicar said as he nodded.
He turned to look at me, it must be time for the vows,
"Do you Caramel, take Applejack to be your wife, will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?" He asked me.
"I will" I simply replied as I smiled at Applejack, she smiled back..
And then the Vicar turned to Applejack and asked her the same question,
"Do you Applejack, take Caramel to be your husband, will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?"
"I will" She replied.
I continued to look into her emerald eyes, as she looked into mine, I can't express how happy I am, and the best thing is it's not even over, it's still building up to possibly the best moment that will ever in my life, when I kiss my bride. The part we're at now, is the exchanging of the bracelets,
"For what token of your love do you offer?" The Vicar asked.
I turned my neck to face Lucky,
"Oh, yeah, the bracelets" Lucky realized as he pull the bracelets out of his pocket and passed them to me.
"Thanks, man" I thanked.
The two bracelets were inside a small box, I opened them up and then the Vicar asked,
"May you place them both in my hoof?"
I nodded and followed his command,
"May these bracelets be a blessed symbol of this affectionate unity. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they return to each other, always. May these two find in each other the love for which all stallions and mares year and may they also grow in understanding and in compassion." He said as he passed my bracelet and Applejack hers, "And Caramel, Applejack?"
We both turned to face him, for the final thing he has to say,
"It is within my greatest honor, to pronounce you two Husband and Wife" He said, "You may kiss the bride"
And so I did, I held my wife close and I kissed her, it was the best kiss of my entire life. As soon as our lips pressed against each others, the crowd applauded and cheered for us, but I couldn't hear it over the nirvana I was currently in with my new wife. As soon as we stopped kissing, we still held each other close and walked down the aisle, out of the palace gardens and then into our wedding, where we rode off onto where the wedding reception was being held, and the when our friends and family watched us ride away in the carriage, they all saw the back of it, which had a painted sign on it,
