> Worming Into an Apple's Heart
>  by GrizzlytheMedic
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Thrown Under the Bus
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Kate!” The deep masculine voice of Big Macintosh echoed through the empty hay filled walls of the barn. 
“Yo Mac! What’s up?” Kate, the first and only human woman in the land of Equestria said in a slight southern accent from the barn door. 
Kate had grown up in the rural counties of the mid-atlantic US and had a certain connection with being a farmer that it just stuck with her. An agricultural science major now in a land of talking cartoon horses, far away from anywhere she expected to be. Yet when, she was offered a place to stay at Sweet Apple Acres, she gladly accepted, figuring it would be as close to home as she could get here. Her initial judgement was correct but the work was a little bit harder than she expected. Kate couldn’t help but marvel at how these ponies were able to knock every single apple out of a tree in one kick compared to the hours of climbing up and down ladders and heavy machinery work used back home. Her usefulness came with her hands and fingers. 	Kate spent hours peeling and cutting apples for different products. It was tedious work but it paid off in the end for the most part. The carrying of heavy barrels of apples and apple remnants had left her with a solid flat midriff, one that girls back on Earth would’ve killed for. Her lack of strength is what made her a tad curious as to why Mac was calling her. 
“Uh, can you help me out up here in the loft? I lost something and I can’t find it.” Mac said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
“Can’t you just feel around for it?” Kate asked.
Uh, nope.” Mac grunted.
Kate was now genuinely confused as to what Mac could have dropped and not wanted to move. He didn’t wear contacts as far as she was concerned, and she had lived with him for almost a year. 
“Uh, what is it anyway?” Kate asked, making her way up the steps to the loft.
“It was a string of hay diamonds.” Mac sighed.
Kate gasped and her eyebrows shot up. 
“Mac you charming devil you! Who’s the lucky mare?” Kate asked, nudging him in the ribs. 
Mac just blushed and said nothing. 
“Alright, I understand if you don’t want to tell me. At least you told me they were hay diamonds. I still don’t know why they call 	it a diamond if it’s got the brittleness of glass.” Kate ranted as she got to her knees and began the search for Mac’s missing treasure. 
A glint caught the corner of her eye about a yard away from Mac’s left front leg.
“Bingo!” Kate cheered as she hoisted the necklace of sandy blonde gems. 
Kate then noticed it was quite small to fit a mare’s neck. It looked like it was meant for...
“Mac? Was this for me?” Kate asked, hands on her hips.
“Eeyup.” Mac said in a defeated tone.
“Wow, no person or pony has ever done something like this for me. Besides my parents of course.” Kate blushed as she held the necklace. 
“I just wanted to let you know that you are a great help on the farm and at home. It was my idea but Applejack picked the necklace out.” Mac’s cheeks were a vibrant pink against his ruby red fur. 
“Wow Mac, I didn’t take you for the romantic type.” Kate smirked.
Mac blushed and stammered wildly as he tried to back away but Kate stopped him by bringing him into a big long hug. 
“Thanks Mac. You know that there’s a mare out there for you. You just gotta get out more you know?” Kate said, brushing her long black hair behind her ears. 
“Eeyup.” Mac said a little uneasily. 
“Tell ya what, tomorrow night, you and me are gonna hit the local bar and see what kinda selection we got around here. I’ve never played matchmaker but I know you well enough to see whether a mare is a keeper or not. Whaddya say?” Kate asked.
“That sounds like a plan.” Mac said, a small note of enthusiasm in his voice. 
Kate let out a little squee and hugged him again. 
“Alright! Mac’s gonna get some ladies!” Kate teased. 
“Hey Kate, could we keep the teasing to a minimum please?” Mac asked quietly.
Kate raised an eyebrow and Mac pointed to the necklace she had put on. 
“Alright you win for now buddy, but that’s only because I like it so much.” Kate grinned and pecked Mac on the cheek as she usually did. 
He had been her best friend for a year now and this was a normal thing, however, Mac responded in a way that was unlike what had happened in the past. He felt his cheeks burn bright pink and his heart flutter in his chest. Did he have a crush on Kate? He couldn’t, they were only just friends right? Right? What if he did have a crush on her, it would certainly seem like it with the way he looked at her nice firm rear that stuck out from her jeans and the way her cleavage glistened with sweat after a hard day’s work. What would Granny Smith say when she found out he was dating a human who he couldn’t even have foals with and carry on the family bloodline. His mind was a pendulum, swinging back and forth from old societal norms and values to the ones of the brave new world he lived in currently. His mind was a mess, he needed to sort his thoughts out over a nice mug of cold cider when the day was over. 

Big Mac sat at the kitchen table, a mug of cider nearby. 
“Hey Big Mac. What’s on your mind there sugarcube?” Applejack asked, looking at her brother’s constantly stoic face with concern. 
“Oh, it’s nuthin.” He sighed.
“Now we both know that that is a cart load of cow pies. Fess up big brother.” Applejack looked sternly at her sibling.
“Well, it’s about Kate and such.” Mac finally relented.
“Oh! Did she like her gift?” Applejack chimed.
“Yeah, of course. You know more about mares, excuse me, girls more than I do so I figured I’d let you pick it out” Mac waved his hoof in a carefree manner. 
“Great! But back to the original topic mister.” Applejack put the conversation back on its original track. 
Mac sighed as his attempt to covertly change the subject was thwarted by his younger sister.
“Well, I was talking to Kate earlier and she is taking me out on the town to see if she can find a mare for me.” Mac half-moaned, half-sighed his confession.
“Hmm. Not a bad idea actually. However, kinda far from what I was expectin.” Applejack said.
“What do ya mean by that?” Mac asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“I always thought you had a big throbbing crush on her,” Applejack smirked.
Mac’s eyes widened and his pupils shrank to pinpricks. 
“Mac, I can see through you like a big ol’ window.” She raised an eyebrow at her brother’s surprise.
“I-I, uhhh.” Mac struggled to find any words as to how to explain to his sister about his secret love for Kate. 
“It’s alright Big Mac, I know how ya feel. Maybe you should just tell her?” Applejack proposed.
“NO!” Mac said firmly.
“Sweet Celestia Mac, you’re as stiff as Granny Smith in the morning. Give her a chance. There are a few human and pony couples out there already, why not just confess?” Applejack asked.
“What would Granny say? I can’t have foals with a human! I’d be unable to carry the bloodline on!” Mac argued, his voice now raised.
“Who gives a flying buck about the bloodline? Your goal should be to find somepony or somebody that you care for and love rather than stupid blood relations! Listen to yourself Mac!” Applejack argued back, her voice at a yell now. 
Mac stopped and thought on her words. Applejack was right, life wasn’t about bloodlines or family trees. It was about love and living life how you want. 
“Applejack, thank you. I’ve seen the light.” Mac breathed.
“So you’re gonna tell her?” Applejack asked.
“Y-yes.” Mac swallowed the last of his fear and looked his sister in the eye.
“Atta boy!” Applejack clapped her brother on the back and bumped his hoof.
“I think I’ll tell her before we go out tomorrow.” Mac pondered.
“Are you guys alright? I heard yelling.” Kate burst through the front door, the cool night air rushing into the kitchen in her wake. 
“Nah, it’s all good. We were just talking about you.” Applejack smirked.
Mac looked at his sister with a mixture of horror and pure rage. 
“Oh? Enlighten me.” Kate said, pulling up a chair and shutting the door, hiding the darkness of the night from the eyes of the occupants. 
Mac glared at Applejack and practically willed her to stop. 
“Well, Mac here was talking to me about how he has a crush on you.” Applejack finished the job by throwing Mac violently to the timberwolves. 
Kate looked at Mac and then back to Applejack. 
If looks could kill, Mac would have disemboweled his sister limb by limb.
“Mac?” Kate’s voice made the stallion look up at her, “Is this true?” 
Mac hung his head and swallowed his pride. “Eeyup.” 
Mac was ready for immediate rejection, so he never in eons thought that what was about to happen would happen.
“If it’s any consolation, I’ve had a crush on you for a while now too.” Kate said, a rose red blush ripping its way across her tanned skin. 
Mac’s jaw dropped.
“She ain’t lyin neither sugarcube.” Applejack said, nudging her brother, “I’ll leave you two alone.” She got up and headed for her own room. 

“Well, didn’t see that one coming.” Kate said, getting up and sitting next to the buff farm stallion. 
“Neither did I.” He mumbled.
“Look, Mac, it’s ok. I get what you’re going through.” Kate tried to console him.
“Do ya?” Mac wanted to hear the story behind this out of pure curiosity.
“When you confessed, you felt like I would reject you almost immediately right?” Kate asked.
“Eeyup.” Mac said, cocking an eyebrow.
“Well, that’s what I went through when I asked a guy out. He did reject me but I did it and that’s what mattered. In essence, it’s about growing a pair and actually doing it rather than the answer. You feel me?” Kate asked.
“Eeyup.” Mac responded, a relieved tone in his voice.
“Hey, I’ve got a great idea for after this confession session” Kate said. 
“Go on.” Mac said.
“The barn loft has a great view of the night sky. Whaddya say that we go on over there and do some stargazing and maybe 	some cuddling?” Kate proposed. 
“I think I’d like that.” Mac said with a smile as he got up and opened the door. 
> Mac the Mighty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“Wow, the sky is so clear here. Back home, stars were kinda disappearing due to the lights of the big cities nearby, but here you get the perfect view.” Kate whispered as she and Mac lay in the hayloft of the barn. 
“Yeah, I reckon this is the one thing I can do that never gets old. I love the way the big ones sparkle and twinkle. Always reminded me of my mom’s eyes. But lately, it’s reminded me of your eyes.” Mac said truthfully. He had always been fascinated by her small but brilliant brown eyes.
“Aww Mac. You’re so sweet!” Kate blushed as she nuzzled into Mac’s chest and he wrapped his foreleg around her torso and hugged her to him. 
“Mmmm” Kate sighed into Mac’s muscular chest, taking a large breath. She got the smell of fresh apples, sweat, and dirt. It was intoxicating to her and to be honest it was kinda turning her on, but Kate did not let these thoughts intrude her head as she laid in the hay with Big Mac holding her tight. She felt warm and safe here, nothing could ruin this moment at this point for her. Mac on the other hoof was even happier than the human. He had taken a liking to Kate and the way she was so willing to accept this and that the feeling was mutual made his heart soar into the stratosphere. He thought he had found his match, his special somepony and possibly lover. Mac wasn’t going to push her to that, she could go at whatever pace she liked. Mac was a slow paced stallion when it came to relationships anyway, if you discounted the little debacle with Cheerilee and the love potion his sister and the rest of the CMC cooked up, it still made him shudder to this day. Now that he thought about it, this made him feel even better, he had won Kate over by himself, well for the most part. Mac shook his head lightly to keep his thoughts on the beautiful summer’s night sky and the human wrapped around him. He felt his eyelids grow in weight as he drifted off to sleep. 

Mac awoke to a hoof prodding his cheek and saw Applebloom looking down at him with a confused expression. 
“Hey Mac, ya mind telling me why Kate is sleeping next to you in the barn?” Applebloom asked bluntly.
“Well, we cuddled and stargazed. I guess we just got tired and were too lazy to move.” Mac explained.
“Yep, I’ll go with that.” Kate chirped from her place on Mac’s left side. 
Mac just smiled and made a daring move by kissing Kate on the cheek. 
Kate shrank back in surprise, a blush making its way across her cheeks. 
“Should I not have done that?” Mac stammered an apology.
“No, it’s fine Mac. I just didn’t expect you to be so bold.” Kate giggled.
Applebloom stuck out her tongue in disgust.
“Ewww.” She mocked gagging.
“Says the one who almost made me marry her teacher.” Mac interjected.
Applebloom opened her mouth to respond, but couldn’t find the words. 
“Breakfast is ready by the way.” She added as she left the hayloft. 

At the mention of food, both Mac and Kate’s stomachs growled loudly. They looked at each other for a second and burst out laughing. 
“Dude that was hysterical!” Kate said, gasping for air. 
“Guess we’re more in sync than I thought.” MAc chuckled as he helped Kate up. When Kate stood, she stood about 5’ 5” and Mac was a huge pony at 5’ 4” so they stood at the same height. This lead to a problem when Kate rose due to Mac’s large muzzle, Kate’s lips went directly onto his as he helped her to her feet. They both let out a sharp gasp but as Mac tried to pull away, Kate steadied herself and wrapped her arms around the stallion’s neck giving way to a deep kiss. Mac closed his eyes and embraced the soft texture of Kate’s lips. She let out a soft coo when he moved his hoof to her waist, wrapping it lightly around her body. As they broke apart for air, Kate was the first to speak.
“Oops.” She blushed,
“That was amazing.” Mac breathed.
“Feeling’s mutual.” Kate smiled.
“Wanna go get some breakfast?” Mac asked.
“Hell yeah!” Kate exclaimed. 
After a quite satisfying breakfast from Granny Smith and her own nod of approval at the new couple despite her obvious oppositions to the pairing, but love always won in the end. 
As the pair worked in the orchards they talked and talked, making the hard labor whiz by and take a lesser toll on their bodies.
“Wait a second! When you were in school, you had a band called Maccy Mac and the Funky Bunch?” Kate said.
Mac just nodded, his embarrassment written all over his face in the form of a large blush. 
Kate doubled over in laughter and Mac joined in. Her laugh was contagious to the point where both of them were shedding tears. 
“Wait! That’s nothing! When I was in second grade, I took the class goldfish and flushed it down the toilet! I had to say I kept forgetting to bring it in when it was swimming the Pittsburgh sewers!” Kate barely finished her sentence before bursting into another fit of hysterical laughter. This time, both her and Mac fell to the ground and were practically rolling, their bellies heaving as their laughs died down to giggles as they tried to regain their breath. 
“I guess we both have our moments right Kate?” Mac asked, rolling close to her in the shade of a rather large apple tree. Kate did the same as she put her head in the soft firm haven of Mac’s chest. She let out a happy sigh as she grabbed 2 apples from the basket she had been carrying. She handed one to Mac and they both took a bite. 
“I honestly don’t know how you do it.” Kate admitted.
“How we do what?” Mac asked, curious as to what she meant.
“Have apples that are perfect every time. On Earth, that’s impossible, like one in a million shot of getting that perfect apple.” Kate said, waving the fruit in the air. 
“It’s all in the soil and the family.” Mac said plainly.
“I like the sound of that. You know, I kinda see what Taylor meant when he was talking to me when I first got here.” Kate said.
“What’s that?” Mac asked once more.
“He said that when he met Bon Bon, he didn’t want to go back, he had become too attached to the world and didn’t want to go back to the dark hole that is Earth. Not exactly all butterflies and rainbows like it is here. Earth is probably the exact opposite. Now he has a foal and everything, why would he ever go back now?” Kate muttered, her smile fading slightly. 
“Well I’m glad you’re willing to have foals with me.” Mac smirked.
“WHAT?!” Kate jumped a little when he said it.
“I’m kidding!” Mac laughed.
“I didn’t take you for a jokester Mac!” Kate giggled as she settled back down on Mac’s chest. 
“Well, most ponies think I’m mute actually. I only know two words and I can buck apples.” Mac chuckled.
“Are you serious?” Kate asked, looking into his green eyes.
“Eeyup.” Mac smiled at the irony.
“Well, I for one think you are the most attractive and strongest stallion in all of Ponyville, no Equestria!” Kate said, running a finger down his chest. Mac shivered at her touch.
“You ok?” Kate asked.
“Yeah, I’ve just never had another pony, or person cuddle with me like this.” Mac confessed.
“Well you’ve got me whenever you want. If you want a cuddle, just holler at your girlfriend here.” Kate pointed to herself. 
“I’ll take you up on that offer, but right now I think we should finish our work before we have any more fun right?” Mac asked.
“Eeyup.” She playfully mocked him.
Mac could only smile at the black haired wonder atop him as he let out a heavy sigh of regret in having to end the cuddle. 
“Hey Mac?” Kate’s voice came from the apple barrel she lifted.
“Yes?” 
“I meant that by the way. Every word of it.” She said as she walked away. 
Kate would have probably called him out for the rosy blush that ripped across his face moments later had she not walked away. 
That night Mac decided to take Kate out on a formal date. He took her to Sugarcube Corner. It was no hot date, it was just the two of them and a milkshake. Then again, Kate didn’t seem like the type to like big fancy stuff. She was a fairly simple girl, or at least as simple as girls went. Kate enjoyed it immensely mostly because she got some alone time with Mac when she wasn’t on the job. She really did feel a strong connection to the farm stallion and felt a slight ache in her being when he was running even the shortest of errands. Was she clingy? Absolutely not, but damn it if she wasn’t gonna him the attention he so rightly deserved. He worked too damn hard to not have someone special to go home to, Kate felt as if she was doing a good deed by going out with Mac and fulfilling her own desires as well. Desires being her need for romance, care, and cuddles (God she could not get over how soft and warm Mac was!) rather than her more animalistic desires like lust and hunger, though she knows they’re going to play a part sooner or later in the future. 
As the pair walked home after enjoying the sweet treat, Kate walked close to Mac’s side the cool breeze making his fur rustle like the leaves on the trees. 
“Mac?” Kate broke the silence of the night as they made their way to the end of the street lights and began traveling down the dirt road to Sweet Apple Acres. 
“Yeah Kate?” Mac answered.
“I love you.” She sighed after a moments hesitation. 
Mac’s eyes went wide and he stopped and looked at the human in front of him. 
“Mac? Are you ok?” Kate asked.
“I-I...Uh.” Mac stammered. 
Kate stopped his attempt at an answer with a deep kiss. Mac closed his eyes and let out a happy sigh. 
As they surfaced for air, Kate beamed at him. 
“I’ll take that as a yes Macky Poo.” Kate said playfully.
Mac cringed at the nickname.
“Nope. Absolutely not.” Mac shook his head. 
“Well I’ll compromise, how about Mac the Mighty?” Kate asked. 
They both let out a laugh as they began walking home once more. 
“Let’s just stick with Mac alright?” He smiled and pulled Kate in for another kiss.
“Can’t get enough of that can you mister?” Kate smiled playfully.
“I don’t hear you complaining.” Mac said, a sly smile on his face.