> That Awkward silence
>  by Eveyann
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Winter wrap up
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




"Winter wrap up, Winter wrap up, lets end our holiday cheer, Winter wrap up, Winter Wrap up, cause tomorrow spring is here, tomorrow spring is here. 




"Winter wrap up, Winter wrap up" Applejack hummed to herself checking that the last of the seeds had been planted correctly. The ground beneath her flank was frosty and damp; only one of  a few reminders of the Winter that had been very much in its prime only five hours ago, Winter's wrap up had been very successful this year thanks to a certain purple Princess, a title she still had trouble associating with her friend;  she still hadn't got used to the wings and the crown, not to mention the paparazzi. She remembered clearly the time when Twilight had been chased all around Ponyville by some school yard fillies; the orange mare chuckled at her friend expense. Winter wrap up this year had taken less than twenty-four hours; Mayor Mare had been delighted.

Suddenly she heard someone calling her name. The orange mare turned her head to see her friend, the all teams organiser, galloping over to her. Twilight was panting and sweaty, as if she'd run from Canterlot or similar.
"Are y'all right sugarcube?" Applejack asked, concerned, as her friend began to turn a deeper-than-normal shade of purple.
"I jus-st r-ran aall the wway fr-from the cen-centre of town t-to find youu." Twilight wheezed.
"Why, for some fitness lessons?" Applejack often did that particular run for a light warm up before one of Rainbow's Daring Dare Challenges. Twilight shot her 'friend' a death glare but soon regained her placid demeanour, Twilight, for the life of her, couldn't hold a grudge that petty.
"No," she continued, "but I do need to know how long you think it'll be until you've finished planting the last of the flowers."
"Oh well I'm all done, just gotta take these bags of compost to the barn, jump in bed and hit the hay".
"Ahhhh" Twilight joined in the yawn. "I best get to sleep as well; I'm exhausted." Applejack nodded in agreement.
"Oh and don't tell Pinkie Pie about the record breaking: she'd have a party up and running before you could say 'Apple-strudel'." AJ whispered, eyes darting about; their friend could be anywhere at any time. She could be invisible, she could have super pony hearing or she could be flying above them in that crazy flying mobile of hers,  there was just no telling what their bouncing friend could do. Twilight, in her state, could do nothing more than nod and she did so before trotting off towards her shiny new castle. She sighed wishing for her library back. 

Applejack was all alone again under the twinkling stars, the night was always stunningly beautiful since she and her friends had washed the evil from Nightmare moon two years ago. Luna had put all her heart into every night since in an effort never to be unappreciated again. Not to mention the wacky new dream walking abilities. Luna had come into the farm mare's dreams many times before: once to persuade her to ask for her friends help in harvesting apples and another to stop the 'stupid competitions' with Rainbow Dash that one day one of them was going to kill themselves in; the latter she hadn't really paid much attention too, but hey it was her life.  Applejack lifted a sack of compost onto the wheel barrow and turned away from the field.

She had only been trotting a moment when a streak of electric pink flashed down the hill bouncing and rolling into every nook and cranny and skidding to halt beside Applejack. She had experienced similar events before however, and didn't bat an eyelash. "Hey, Pinkie." said Applejack.
"Hey ya, Applejack" Pinkie squealed, beaming. "You know what my ammmmazing maths skills just worked out?"
Applejack's eyes began to dart from left to right, rapidly. She didn't want to lie, and she was plum awful at it, but if this conversation continued along this line then she might just run out of options. "What?" she mumbled, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
"I just realised that we broke our Ponyville all time Winter wrap up record and without our super fabulous friend Twilight being the all teams thingy what'sit we wouldn't have done it so we have to throw her a party!" She then broke of it to song, which Aj toned out to as she really wasn't in the mood for Pinkie antics but she belived it was a reprise of a song she sung a few years ago, Celestia knew how she still remembered it.

"Pinkie" Applejack sighed "Twilight said we- uh, should set a party for tomorrow ...umm tomorrow umm tomorrow afternoon?" Applejack hazarded, eyes shifting in all directions. Celesitia, how she hated lying, especially to her friends, Pinkie was eyeing her up and down.
"Okay dokey lokey." Pinkie said slowly, voice practically dripping with suspicion. The lying mare nodded vigorously.
"So Pinkie what are you planning for Twilight's party?" Applejack said, swiftly changing the conversation to something safer.
"Oooo balloons, steamers, candy, cake, dancing, songs, punch." Pinkie paused for a second to think, "Oh, and cherry pie; don't you just love saying "cherrychanga, cherrychanga, chimicherrychanga?" Applejack groaned, internally. "Oooo I'll bake cupcakes, I wonder if Rainbow Dash wants one." She gave a little laugh that made Applejack jump, and with that she was galloping off leaving Applejack alone again in (peaceful) silence.

When she finally arrived in back at the farmhouse, Applejack dumped the bag of compost in the shed and was just doing one last scout of the farm for those little rascals Fluttershy called 'Cutie bunny rabbits' when she heard a soft voice from behind her.
"Hey, Applejack" Applejack turned to see two round blue eyes starring back at her.
"Howdy C-Caramel" She stammered. What in the hay was wrong with her? Caramel was her friend and suddenly she could barley say howdy.
What a beautiful mare! Her mane glistened under Luna's stars like liquid gold, her eyes shone like emeralds cutting through the night, her coat bright orange making the dimly lit orchard feel as bright as noon, her flank- whoa cool it, Caramel. He darted his eyes away from that particular feature before Applejack noticed, but it was damn difficult to stop them wandering; he'd had a crush on her for longer than he could remember and wasn't going away because of one little fumble like that. "Howdy" he muttered, desperately trying to think of something to say. Perhaps he should have just carried on walking "Um," he began, "So Winter Wrap up was quick this year. "  
"Yeah you could say that." Awkward silence. "Uh, anyway I should head of home: Big Mac might be worried." Applejack was almost certainly lying, again, Macintosh wasn't half as protective as she was. Nevertheless, she galloped off and Caramel scolded himself for watching her flanks as she left.
"Some pony got crush on Caramel?" her sister, Apple Bloom, chimed as she walked through the front door.
"What? I don't have a crush, who has a crush? Shouldn't you be in bed? Big Mac?" She look at her brother, but he was lounging in the kitchen, and he looked just as amused as his sister.
"Big Mac, has Applejack got a crush?" Applebloom asked.
"Eeyup."
"You have crush!" Applebloom laughed. "Caramel & AJ Sitting in a Tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G, First Comes Love Then Come Marriage Then Comes a Little Foal in a Golden Carriage!"
"Ah'm tellin' ya. I don't have a crush!"
But her siblings only laughed. She frowned, then, pouting, made her way up to bed.

Applejack lay in the darkness listening to the ticking of her clock. Her body was exhausted but her mind was buzzing and one particular stallion was in forefront of it. It was only recently that she had started to grow feelings for Caramel but she already felt like she could get lost in his deep blue eyes, be soothed by his calming, caring voice or swoon over his deep masculine laugh. However, it couldn't be: he had a marefriend after all and she had too much work on the farm, plus they had known each other since they were foals. He probably thought of her as a sister at best. She knew she was making excuses but she just wasn't wasn't ready and she didn't have the time.

She closed her eyes, and tried to force herself to sleep. Everything should look better in the morning.
> Pinkie's party
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------




This is your singing telegram
I hope it finds you well
You're invited to a party
'Cause we think you're really swell




Sunlight reflected off dust particles, the rooster cried its morning call, and Applejack sat up, brushing off the sleep from her eyes and gazing out blearily at the morning sun that already hung high in the sky. She'd overslept! Applejack rolled chaotically from her bed and grabbed her old work duds in her mouth. She sprang out the door and made her way quickly downstairs, already trying to think of an apology to Big Mac for her tardiness. She stepped into the kitchen, then immediately ducked as something whirled over her head and hit her hat, which she'd managed to struggle on in the rush. The plate bounced off her Stetson like a Frisbee and she caught it in her mouth, removing its apple fritter cargo. From across the room, Granny Smith scowled.
"You're late," She pointed out, but Applejack was already out the door and making a line for the orchard.
Applejack took a moment to observe the orchard. It was a sunny day, the apples in the orchard reflecting the sunlight like mini red disco-balls. Everypony thought the thing she cared about the most was apples. They where they were wrong. The "Apple" in her name was not for the apples on the trees, but the Apples she loved: Her family. The apples on her flank didn’t represent the apples she so expertly bucked from the apple trees; no, they signified the Apples she had to care and protect the most: Granny Smith, Apple Bloom and Big Mac.
Applejack turned and saw Pinkie Pie was bouncing up the drive. "It's tomorrow!" she squealed. "Party, party, party, party, party, PARTY!"
Applejack jumped. "Calm down, sugarcube. What's got y'all in a fuss?" Pinkie was hopping from leg to leg like an excited filly. "What party?"
"You know, silly! The one you told me to plan last night!"
Last night. What? Applejack searched through the tired haze of the previous night and the shame of her dishonesty came crashing back like a ton of bricks.
"Oh, that party." Applejack made a mental note to warn Twilight before Pinkie invited her.
"Yep, I was up all last night planning it!" How in the hay was Pinkie this bouncy having stayed up all last night? But then Pinkie was a pony shaped ball of energy.
“Pinkie, Ah’m, umm, goin’ ta’ Twilight’s now, for a visit, and ah’ was wondering if ya’ wanted me ta’ take Twi’s invitation to her,” Applejack said carefully.
"OOo, you’re the best friend ever! Thanks, AJ," Pinkie cheered and squee’d "Here's both of your invitations. This is gonna be so much fun!" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing off, leaving Applejack holding the invites carefully in her hoof like a mega-spell about to explode. She sighed and opened her invitation cautiously. Well, unfortunately, she wasn't cautious enough, as the second she opened the invitation, a shower of confetti sprayed out of the card and into her mane, making it frizz. Applejack chuckled. Pinkie and her practical jokes... She wondered how Rarity and Fluttershy would react to this particular joke; she really hoped that Pinkie would have the sense not to pull this particular prank on her shy friend. Applejack pulled a harness over her head, connected it to a wagon filled to the brim with freshly bucked apples, and trotted off to town.





Knock, knock, knock. Five seconds later, surrounded in the soft glow of purple magic, the door swung open to reveal a tired looking Twilight. "Applejack," she snapped "We're not all the morning pony you are."
"Afternoon," Applejack corrected the mare who was rarely corrected, pointing to Celestia’s sun high up in the sky.
Twilight glared at her. "What do you want?" But after seeing a flash of hurt upon the orange mare’s face, she calmed herself. "Sorry, I'm tired."
"That’s all right sugarcube," Applejack chirped, beaming to a very groggy alicorn "I have to warn you about something..." A shot of concern passed along Twi's face. "Pinkie Pie’s planning a party."
"When for?!" She urged, clearly understanding the importance of the situation.
"This afternoon," the farm mare answered flatly. Twilight seem to hesitate.
"What, as in this afternoon, this afternoon?" The orange mage rolled her eyes.
"No, I mean Thursday afternoon," Applejack said with and extra ladling of sarcasm. "Of course I mean this afternoon, so you’d better get over your tiredness ASAP. You know how well Pinkie takes it when ponies decline her invitations!" They both shuddered at Pinkie’s last reaction to their previous declinations.
"Okay," Twilight sighed. "I'll be there." AJ breathed a sigh of relief.
“Great! Here’s yer invite, Twi,” she said, passing the invitation over to her friend.
“Thank you,” Twilight said, smiling as Applejack turned and galloped away. 
"Oh, and Twilight?" Applejack shouted back to Twilight. "I'd ask Spike to open your invite if I was you." Hearing that, Spike hid behind a bookcase as Twilight trotted back inside to make a very strong coffee.





A war was raging inside Caramel’s head. How could he look at AJ like that? He had a marefriend, Sassaflash, and she was beautiful and they were just starting to get serious. He loved her... Didn't he?  Yes, he did. They had been going out for months and he was not going to give it all up for one mare with a sexy flank. "AHHHHHHHHH!" He screamed in frustration causing nearby ponies to stare at him with worried expressions "Sorry," he whined sheepishly and retreated back into his thoughts as knot of guilt formed in his stomach. He was on his way to Sassaflash's to surprise her with a gift he had been thinking of giving her for a long time. Arriving at her house, He trotted up to her door, took a deep breath, and knocked.






Knock, knock. "What was that?" Thunderlane gasped, nuzzling Sassaflash. She sighed.
"Some pony knocking at the door," She sighed getting out of bed wings sticking out awkwardly, trying to contain her wing boner and failing miserably.
"Baby, just ignore it."
"No, I'll get it" she sighed "It could be important."





The door swung open to reveal Sassaflash. He looked from her face to her erect wings, to her embarrassed and guilty expression. "Baby, who is it?" He heard a stallion call from upstairs. The penny dropped: All the vague reasons to avoid him, that stallion's voice in the background every time he called her. "Sassaflash," Caramel pleaded meekly. "Please, tell me this isn’t what I think this is."
"I can't-" No… all this time she had been lying to me - cheating on me... tears welled up in his eyes, finally he spoke "We’re through," he muttered through tears. "Don't call!"
"Oh, come on, Caramel, you need me," Sassaflash said lightly, but he was already gone.





Pinkie Pie was bouncing from door to door, handing out invitations with a smile. "Come to the ‘Ponyville Winter Wrap Up Record Breaking’ party!" Suddenly, she spotted Caramel crying, looking sullen and upset. That wouldn’t do! "Heya, Caramel!" She exclaimed while bouncing beside the blue eyed stallion. "Are you okie dokie lokie?" Caramel stayed quiet and continued walking; head hung low, tears streaming down his face, making a whimpering sound like a dog with a hurt paw. "Hey, you wanna come to the ‘Ponyville Winter Wrap Up Record Breaking’ party?" Pinkie Pie suggested.
Caramel turned to face the pink mare and took a deep breath like it hurt him to speak. "Ok." he said in a low, sad tone.
"Great! This is going to be so much fun! We’re going to have: Fairy lights, balloons, cake, ice cream, and-" Pinkie took a deep breath. "-Vinyl Scratch, the Best Dj in all of Equestria, is going to be there!" Pinkie Pie gushed, squee’ing. Caramel put on a fake smile which Pinkie Pie didn't buy for one second, but let it slide, hoping he would lighten up for the party, and passed him an invite without the streamers, just like the ones she'd given to Fluttershy and Rarity. She didn't want any pony to get upset from practical jokes, so she picked her victims very carefully, and Caramel looked as fragile as eggshells at the moment. She hoped a party would help him feel better.
"Thank you, Pinkie," Caramel muttered facing the ground again and trotted off.





In the market, Applejack had been selling apples all afternoon. "Next!" She called out. Caramel walked up his eyes were puffy and red making it evident that he'd been crying. "Are you alright, Caramel?"
"Yeah. Where's Big Mac?" Applejack’s concern was growing
"At the farm, I think," she told him. "But is there anything I can do for ya’ in the meantime?"
"Yeah, I'll take one kilogram of apples," he muttered
"Sure, anything I can do to help." Applejack grinned, hauling a big bag of apples on to the counter "One kilogram of apples. That’ll be two bits."
"But, AJ, it says four bits on the sign." He pointed to the crude sign hanging to the farm mare’s right. The paint was chipping away and there were cracks in the framing.
"It two bits for you. You're a family friend. Two bits and that’s final." The orange mare said, her stubbornness kicking in.
"Thank you," Caramel said, forcing a smile before sliding over two bits, taking the bag of apples, and putting it on his back before he began making his way towards the farm. He needed to speak to Big Mac, needed to get things of his chest, feeling that he could only talk to his best friend.





Lights, music, ponies: Pinkie had really outdone herself this time. The decorations were beautifully crazy, and Vinyl was an amazing DJ. Even Fluttershy was dancing! "So, you're finally here,” Rainbow Dash said from behind her.
"Hey, Dash," Applejack said, still in awe of what she was seeing.
"Isn't this party so cool?" She gushed "I mean, it’s not as awesome as me, but really what can beat that?"
"Sure is, Rainbow Dash," she replied ignoring the last part.
"Hey, I’m going to the dance floor to bust some wicked dance moves. You could come too, that is, unless you're too chicken!" She boasted, giving an evil, daring grin to her friend.
"You’re on!" Applejack’s competitiveness kicking in! The rainbow maned mare nodded and they raced each other over to the dance floor.

Meanwhile, Rarity was glaring at any pony that stepped within three feet of her. "Stay back!" She barked. "Nobody's going to ruin my beautiful dress!" She was looking all around her, growling at anypony that got close, but she didn't look up. Behind her, on the hors d’oeuvre table, stood a gigantic cake which was currently being eaten from the inside by a certain pink earth pony. Suddenly, a shadow formed over Rarity, who looked up only to see the gigantic cake millimeters away from her stunning gown. That was the last thing she saw before being covered head to hoof in brown, sticky, chocolate goop. "PINKIE PIE!" she screamed not caring that everypony was staring at her.
"Oops! Sorry, Rarity." She began the chuckle, but quickly stopped noticing the glare Rarity held on her.
"SPIKE!" Spike responded straight away, skidding to a stop beside her.
"Yes, Miss Rarity," He said looking up at her with starry eyes despite her being caked in Devil's Chocolate Sponge.  
"I need three gallons of water and detergent, stat!” Spike saluted the white mare and marched off.

"Alright everypony, it’s time for the slow dance." Pinkie’ voice came from the speakers while she ducked and dodged through the crowd, intent on playing matchmaker.

Applejack felt herself being pushed toward her crush, Caramel. She gazed up in to his massive blue eyes. "Hey, Caramel." She smiled softly at him but said nothing else as she looked around, intent on not getting lost in his eyes. Twilight had been paired with a yellow stallion with a star and moon cutie mark and Fluttershy was paired with… her brother! Oh she was going to have so much fun teasing him about this later!
The dance started and she could barely look at Caramel. It didn't help that she couldn’t take her eyes off her hooves in fear of tripping, but then, as she started to get into the flow of the music, she felt herself look up into Caramel’s eyes. Looking into those big, blue eyes, she felt as if she time moved slower and felt her stomach flutter at the thought that maybe something could work out between them, maybe. The music stopped and she quickly snapped her eyes away and trotted away shyly to hide amongst her friends, her cheeks a deep shade of crimson.


> Letting The Teardrops Fall
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the party finished and Rarity had got her emergency dress safely outside, Applejack started to trot back home with her brother. "So, you danced with Fluttershy," She said with a grin the size of Equestria plastered on her face.
"Eeyup," He said plainly as Applejack nudged him with her forehoof.
"Ooooh, do you love her?" AJ teased.
"Nope," He lied. In reality, he’d had feelings for the small mare since he was a colt but was too afraid of scaring her, so he kept his distance.
"Then why were you dancing with her? Did Pinkie Pie just fail at matchmaking again?"
"Eeyup.”
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA, I mean you and wee little Fluttershy?" She wiped a tear from her eye. "Priceless." 
"Why is it so impossible for me to be with Fluttershy?" He snapped. Oooh somepony was talkative today, well at least by Big Mac’s standards.
"Because it’s you," She said firmly "You're an Apple, hard as rock, and little Fluttershy is as soft as ice cream inside a volcano!" Big Mac’s heart plummeted.
"Eeyup." He stayed silent all the way back to the barn, listening to his sister talk about her friend’s antics and walked silently off to bed.





The next morning, Applejack watched her brother set off along the road with a massive train of heavy applecarts while tending her crops. It was a hot, sunny day especially for early spring. As she worked, her mind swiftly fell back to Caramel. Why had dancing with him felt so right? Last time she checked, the stallion had a girlfriend and that wasn't long ago. Caramel was always on the farm; He practically lived there. They were practically siblings! It should have felt as weird as flirting with Big Mac. She remembered when their eyes locked on to one another, she had felt as if she was flying; soaring, walking on clouds... did pegasi feel this way all the time?  





Caramel was trotting over to the Apples’ barn, dust was blowing in his mane as his mind raced with thoughts of Sassaflash and everything between them; he remembered every time they kissed, every time she said she loved him, every time she had smiled and told him he was the only one. "LIES!" He spat under his breath. Fresh tears dripped from his eyes, which he instantly blinked away. If he cried now, she would have won, she can't win, he thought desperately. 

As he approached the barn, his mouth watered at the smell of freshly baked apple pie "Mmm," He drooled. He slowly raised his left hoof to knock the barn door. Knock, knock, knock. The door swung open to reveal Big Mac, his best friend. "Hey, Big Mac, you alright?" He asked
"Eeyup." Caramel walked in, Big Mac motioned for him to sit down.
"Thanks, I need to talk to you... it's Sassaflash. She’s cheating on me, she was lying to me... she's such a BITCH!"
"Eeyup."
"After all I did for her, this is how she repays me?" He turned directly to Big Mac "You know how much I loved her."
"Eeyup."
"You know what?"
"Nope."
"I Hate Her. I Hate Her. I Hate Her!" Caramel roared, tears streaming down his face.

Tears of love, tears of hate, tears of sadness all in his eyes, he was brimming with emotions. He slumped to the floor. "And you know what? She doesn't deserve me, does she?"
"Nope."
"Thank you, Big Mac. You're a great friend."
"Eeyup." They shared a melancholy smile.
"Anyway, I’m going to go see Sassaflash and tell her how I feel in a calm and collected manner," He explained. "See ya, Big Mac."
"Eeyup." As Caramel turned to the door a mare bumped into him, a very pink mare. 
"Pinkie?!" Caramel asked incredulously.
"That’s my name, don't wear it out!" Pinkie giggled. 
"WHAT?! Why are you here?"
"Well I had a leg twitch, tail twitch, and tongue flutter which means that Caramel is sad and angry at sweet apple acres."
"Huh? WHAT? BUT-" Caramel spluttered.
"Don't think about it too hard," Big Mac advised.
"I'm fine now, Pinkie," Caramel said with a weak smile on his face.
"Hmm..." Pinkie gave him a look that told him she didn't really believe him "Well. okay..." She said slowly.
"Oh!" She gasped as inspiration hit her like a bolt of lightning. "Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and I are all going out for a camp out tonight, and I'm inviting Applejack, Fluttershy, and Twilight, too! You guys should totally come along!"
"Um, thanks, but why?"
"Cause duhh! You're all sad and gloomy-" 
"Ah ain't." Pinkie seemed to ignore him and carried on.
"Aaand because he needs to keep you company,” She said to Caramel. She then turned to Big Mac.“Plus I know a certain filly that would love to see you there."
"Who?" Big Mac asked.
"Fluttershy! DUH!" The Pink pony replied. 
"Eeyup- ah mean nope- ah mean- wait, what?" Big Mac stuttered while Caramel chuckled.
"Anyway, I've gotta get some marshmallows for tonight. See ya!" And with that, she bounced down the lane and out of sight.

"Unless mother nature’s got any more surprises for me, I've gotta go too. See ya, Big Mac." Caramel said looking at Big Mac, who was just standing in a corner muttering a series of "Eeyups" and "Nopes" under his breath. Caramel was just walking out when Apple Bloom walked in.
"Er, Caramel? What's up with Big Mac?" She asked, staring at her brother, confused.
"I think Pinkie might have broken him," He chuckled before closing the door.





It was mid Afternoon when Applejack started bucking trees. All Applejack could think about was him. Why was she falling like this? She couldn't love Caramel. I don’t have time for this sort of rubbish. She turned to buck the nearest apple tree, but missed by a couple of feet and landed with a splat in the mud. She tasted dirt in her mouth and avoided gagging from the smell of manure freshly put on the crops that morning. She groaned and slowly picked herself up, her ears perking up as she heard suppressed laughter above her. "Rainbow Dash! Stop yer giggling and help me out." More laughter. "RAINBOW DASH!" Applejack screamed so loud that the birds roosting in the apple trees squawked in surprise.

"He, he. Alright, I'm coming, geesh! Ha, ha." Rainbow Dash smirked. She hauled her friend up. "So, have a nice 'trip'?" She teased.
"Oh, yes it was quite splendid. I had a fantastic time." Applejack said sarcastically, glaring at Rainbow dash.
"Sorry," Rainbow Dash apologized half-heartedly. "So, how was that grass facial? I see it’s done wonders for your freckles!" She said, putting on a fake Manehatten accent.
"DASH! Did you come all this way just to tease me or did you want to ask me something?" She shouted harshly, fixing Rainbow Dash with a glare that could knock a fully grown stallion off his hooves. Dash, seeing she had upset her friend hung her head low.
"Sorry, I got carried away," Rainbow Dash apologized before pulling her into a tight embrace. 
"Yeah, you were pretty rotten," Applejack joked before hugging her friend back.

A moment later, Rainbow Dash stiffened. "Yeah, there was something I wanted to ask you," She mumbled stepping back from the embrace. "Pinkie’s preparing a campout tonight and I was wondering if you would like to come. We’re all going and so are Big Mac and Caramel." Applejack shot Rainbow Dash a look of confusion. "Pinkie Pie said that Caramel was looking down in the dumps and wanted to cheer him up." Applejack nodded in reply "And Big Mac is keeping him company." Applejack smiled.
"He's good at that, he always listens and understands you," Applejack cheered proudly "And he's someone you can tru-" 
"Applejack!" She interrupted "Not that I doubt your brother’s a great guy and all...” She paused for a moment “But I gotta fly. I need to move these clouds before sunset."
"Alright, I've gotta buck more apple trees before Big Mac finds out ah’ve been slacking!" 
"Alright, gotta fly!" Rainbow Dash yelled before taking to the sky. Applejack took a deep sigh before getting back to work.





Caramel was trotting through the orchard. His talk with Big Mac had put him in a better mood, but his mind was still racing and his heart was still scarred. He hated Sassaflash for what she did, but he still loved her, didn't he? Doubt filled his mind. If he had truly loved Sassaflash then he wouldn't have feelings for Applejack. He remembered last night when they danced. He must have messed up at least five times, and she didn't even look at him till the dance was over. Plus, she ran away the second Octavia put down her bow. Oh Celestia, I messed up so bad. He sat down on patch of grass that looked inviting, reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a small box. He slowly opened it to reveal a ring. The diamond had been shaped into a heart and the gold band was engraved with the words "I love you". He had planned to give it to Sassaflash last night. Of course, that would never happen now. He choked back tears, he had given up so much for Sassaflash and she couldn't even be faithful. He put the ring away in his saddlebag, laid on the grass, and let the tears fall.





Applejack’s ears perked up. She could hear something muffled in the distance. Is that somepony cryin’?. She raced over to see what it was. Through the trees she just glimpsed Caramel. She ran over to him. "Caramel, are you ok?" She asked, concerned.
"Yeah, I’m fine," He said wiping away tears. "I just had something in my eyes," He lied, which Applejack spotted immediately.
"Yeah, like a bunch of lies," Applejack said with one eyebrow raised. Caramel looked down and whimpered. "Caramel, please tell me what wrong." 
"Sassaflashcheatedonme..." 
"Pardon? Ah didn't quite catch that. Wanna run it by me again?”
"Sassaflashcheatedonme!" 
"Still didn't catch that," Applejack said with a confused look on her face. 
"Sassaflash cheated on me!" He sobbed. Realization hit Applejack like a train at full speed: that's why he was sad, why he had to see Big Mac, why he hadn't gone to Pinkie's party with Sassaflash. She had thought it was strange.
"Ah'm so sorry, Caramel," She said while giving Caramel a light hug.
"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault," He said.  "You know, I was planning on marrying Sassaflash. I loved her, I really did, and she just used me."
"Oh Caramel, ah don't know what ta say," She said, hugging him again and letting him cry into her. Nopony should have to cry alone.

Suddenly, they heard a shrill shriek from above. "Apple Tart! Get your hooves off my coltfriend!"
"S-Sassaflash," Caramel sputtered as the light blue pegasus descended down to them.
"Y'all have some nerve turning up here after what yah did ta Caramel here," Applejack growled. 
"What I did to Caramel? Caramel ran off before I could explain and then I find him in the hooves of another mare! If anything, he should be apologizing to me," She said smugly to Applejack. Applejack grinded her teeth and glared at the smirking mare before her.
"And what, exactly, is your explanation?" Applejack said skeptically.
"It was the plumber. My pipes got damaged over the winter and I had to get a plumber to fix it." She’d said it so smoothly that not even Applejack could find any hint that she may be lying.
"And yer sure he wasn't putting his plunger somewhere else?" Applejack spat. 
"Applejack, stop," Caramel said softly, his emotions going into overdrive, going from sad, to angry, to remorseful, and back to sad in a few seconds, his eyes flipping frantically from Applejack to Sassaflash. They finally rested on Sassaflash. "I’m sorry," He whined to her. 
"Well, because I'm such a kind and loving mare, I'll forgive you. But if you go near that whore again," She said, glaring at Applejack while stroking Caramel’s mane possessively. "I won't be so forgiving." Applejack opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it as Caramel gave her a pleading look and simply leveled a glare at Sassaflash.

As Sassaflash and Caramel walked off into the setting sun, she talked about a diamond necklace she wanted while he looked sadly back at Applejack and whispered, "Sorry".  Applejack took a deep sigh before turning to the hill where her friends would spend the night, tears running down her face.