Chocolate

Chocolate blinked, much like her he had had a feeling her feelings for him were there but he wasn't entirely sure. "...You do?" He asked almost seeming very surprised by her confession. "I am happy to hear that." He said reaching his hoof forward towards hers and gently touching hers, his large hoof nearly dwarfing hers. "I felt the same way... I remember how I felt seeing you with another stallion and I remember feeling something I hadn't before. I believe it was 'jealousy'? Since deep down I had wanted you all to my own." It was just then he reached into his saddle and placed a small flower on the table and smiled to her. "This is a rare type of flower that only blooms around this time of year and I found it on the farm. It is special and I wanted you to have it."

He gently prodded the ground under the table with his front hooves, he felt a knot in his throat as she looked into his eyes. She had that adorable look about her while she looked into his eyes. He opened his muzzle to say something but no words came out the first time, he quickly cleared his throat and recovered. His head lowered a bit and his black mane covered his eyes for a moment. "I remember when I first saw you back at the resort and all the things I wanted to say but didn't." He paused and took a deep breath. He knew he was probably making her nervous and it was getting a little awkward so he decided to out and say it. "I am... fond of you." He said biting his lip. It was probably the most awkward admittance of feelings ever spoken by an equine but he wasn't very good at romance.

Chocolate nodded in agreement to her suggestion, sandwiches sounded great right about now. He took a moment to look around the small town. "It must be nice to live here." He thought aloud. He accompanied her to the cafe and stood next to her while they made their orders. "Please allow me to pay, it's the least I can do for all your help back at the farm." He insisted placing some bits on the table. While he ate he found himself watching her while she ate. "Starshy I just wanted to get a few things off my chest, you know... off the record. Since this is probably where I'll be able to speak to you one on one in private." He explained.

Chocolate seemed a little relieved that Starshy agreed to go with him, she hadn't asked why but he figured it was because she was as parched as he was. They needed a break after all. He followed behind her and closed the gate behind them as they left his farm, one last glance back was all Chocolate needed to remind him of why this relationship was going to be difficult to maintain. He wanted so much to make it work but how would he be able to with his family going about like this. It was one thing if they intended to shun him for his decision but when they would go so far as to harass her like this. He lifted his head as he trotted alongside her and realized he hadn't said a word, and they were almost back in Ponyville. "I'm sorry about what happened earlier on the farm." He apologized again before his rumbling stomach cut him off. He blushed and lightened up again. "What are you in the mood for? I haven't had a chance to try most of the food around here. We can get to know each other a little better over lunch. You know... since we aren't working." He said with a small soft chuckle.

He gave a small smile and went back to painting his side of the barn. Once the two had finished it was a little past lunchtime and he trotted alongside her while they walked the fields. "It's getting a little late in the afternoon. Are you hungry? If you like we can go back to town to grab something to eat-" His sentence cut short when he looked back home and saw a familiar face glaring at him from the window. An even larger draft horse, who appeared to either be Chocolate's father or uncle. He positioned his large body in front of her so he was blocking the view of his home so she wouldn't see the spiteful eyes watching them. "We should probably get going..." He said all of a sudden going silent like he had been before.

He nodded and trotted a bit closer until he was close to her and nudged the paintbrush in her muzzle so it was a bit straightened. "You'll get an even coat if you hold it like this." He said correcting her a little. He did a quick look over her side and nodded in approval. "You are doing great so far but..." He prodded her side with his hoof and tried to wipe some paint off with a small smile. "You might want to be a little more careful." He teased.

Chocolate started on the other side of the barn, picking up the paintbrush in his muzzle he began to paint in long strokes along the unfinished sections. After a few minutes he peeked his head around the corner to check on Starshy. He noticed she wasn't using magic to paint the barn and put his brush down to go and check on her. He trotted up beside her and looked her over. "What are you doing? How come you aren't using your magic?" He asked looking her over. She didn't look injured and her horn appeared okay. "It's not because of what happened earlier is it?" He asked lowering his tone to a whisper. "You don't have to stop using magic because of it. Your magic makes you... you."

Chocolate gave her a warm smile when she agreed to stay there with him. It was one of the nicest things someone had ever done for him. She had every right to want to leave after her encounter with his cousin, but her choosing to stay meant a lot to him. Though he looked calm on the outside he was also feeling rather giddy himself. Though he had no idea what to do with said feelings, since he wasn't the type to skip or dance in happiness. "Thank you..." He said doing something he had never done before. He leaned his muzzle close to hers and briefly kissed her cheek. He quickly pulled back and cleared his throat as if to signal it was time for business. "There are a few things left to do today. We have to paint the rest of the buildings. Tend to the fields and refill the feed troughs." He said thinking aloud. "If you like, we can work on the harder things first. Painting could take some time." He said leading her to the half painted barns.

He nodded as she continued her explanation, he understood what she meant about her magic and how difficult it probably was to wield. He remembered a certain incident back at the resort that showed him just what uncontrolled magic could do. " I wish that I could stay, Chocolate. It's been so nice being able to spend time with you here and getting to know you more.. as I certainly didn't get much of a chance when we first met..." He spoke before she could finish and looked into her eyes as well, "...Then stay." an expression present on his face that showed how serious he was about this. "Having you here has been been a huge help. And even more so, I... I want you stay here with me." He admitted, letting her know there was more to her staying than just being help to him. "I can deal with whatever happens with my family but I don't want you to go." He lowered his head close to hers and hesitated. "Will you stay?"

Chocolate knew the question was bound to come up sooner or later, especially considering what had just happened. He couldn't keep it a secret from her, she deserved to know. He trotted a bit into the barn and explained while he paced back and forth. "They believe unicorns are nothing but lazy ponies who can't do real work. I believe it is jealousy that you were all blessed with magic while we earth ponies were left with no special talents. No flight, no magic... Not to mention my family has had a few run ins with them. We were looked down on because of our status as lowly farmers." He closed his eyes and nodded. "They even went so far as to limit me to who I met and spent time with. Though I am older now and they don't really have a say in that anymore. Even still, this is their farm as well as my own. There is likely going to be trouble if you continue to stay here." He warned. But then he stepped closer to her and placed a reassuring hoof on hers. "...But I don't want you to leave."

Chocolate bit his lip at his cousin's threat. He knew just what she had in mind. There would be a falling out later when he went back home when his family would talk to him. Just then Starshy's voice snapped him back to reality. "It's okay." He said bowing his head a little. He looked to her and looked guilty. "It is as I said before... my family doesn't work well with others." He said shaking his head. "I'm sorry you had to experience that." He looked around the barn and decided to change the subject. "Did... you do this all by yourself?" He asked sounding impressed.

((A cousin is fine by me~)) Chocolate stirred in his bed bright and early, there was hardly a sound as he left the house. He normally never skipped breakfast but he just had to check and see if she had shown up early. As he exited his home he hit his head on the doorway and sighed while rubbing his now sore head. In his excitement he was forgetting his basic morning routine. He ducked down and walked through the fields, his eyes scanning for any signs of life. It was only then he heard the faint sound of voices coming from one of the nearby barns. With a curious expression he trotted closer and could make out the voices. One was that of his cousin and the other was... Starshy! His expression turned grim as he realized she had been discovered by one of his family members. " You can help by leaving! Right now, ya hear? " "Is there a problem here?" His deep voice rumbled as he stepped into the barn behind his cousin. His eyes narrowed on the smaller mare. He knew she was going to be hostile so he tried to calm the situation. He trotted in until he was standing beside Starshy and looked to his cousin. "I see you have met the new help. Her name is Starshy. And she will be helping me on the farm. If you have a problem then take it up with me." He spoke without hesitation, and his tone sounded more like he was giving a command than a request as he stood up for her. He knew there would only be trouble after this but he wasn't about to let them bully her.

"Your welcome." He said as she walked through her door. Once she closed the door behind her, he stepped down from her doorway. He would take a few steps before stopping and looking back to her house as if expecting her to be there. Once he was back in the town he trotted back through the lit streets of Ponyville. The sun was already setting and most of the ponies were back home getting ready for dinner. He had a bit of a walk ahead of him, no that he minded. He felt at ease now that Starshy was home safe and sound. Not that there was anything to worry about in Ponyville, except the other stallions that were possible rivals for her affection. Wait rivals? What was he thinking? She was a farm helper and nothing more. He needed to be professional with her at all times. Besides he wasn't one for romance, not anymore. But still... He touched his cheek with his hoof and smiled to himself. It would be his little secret for now. Maybe that unicorn had caught the stoic stallion's affection. * * * He slipped into bed and closed his eyes, his huge body hanging off the side as he tried to get comfortable. Tomorrow was going to be another busy day. Hopefully, she would be there bright and early.

He narrowed his eyes on her as she turned her back to him, was she toying with him? There seemed to be a shy playfulness to her tone so he couldn't tell. "...Right behind you." He rubbed his cheek slowly with his huge hoof and slowly followed behind her. Though his eyes wandered to her flank for whatever reason and he saw her cutie mark. "..." He shouldn't have been looking there in the first place, he was supposed to be a gentlestallion! Once they arrived at her place he stood with her in the doorway and smiled. "It was nice to spend time with you again. I hope to see you tomorrow." he said looking at her door. "Do you live alone?" He asked softly.

The brown stallion could see her moving closer to him, her face a few inches from his own. "What are you..." He said softly but was cut short when she gave him a small kiss on his cheek. His eyes widened a bit and a blush enveloped his face as he stood motionless his head still lowered as she pulled away, trying to process what had just happened. His heart was racing in his chest. He had been completely oblivious to her affections before but now he was aware of it. He trotted backwards and looked down to her, he wasn't quite sure what to say but his face said it all. "Star..." he said softly.

"Lower my head?" He repeated, doing as she asked. After lowering his head he could see her face, and took a moment to really get a good look at her cute features. Since he was so large he never really got to see many ponies eye to eye. Wait was she blushing? His golden eyes looked over her face and he knew that was the case. There was an obvious look of curiosity on his face, his ears twitching on his head as he looked to her. "Like this?" He asked. He was normally very distant and reluctant to be close to others since he wasn't fond of being touched but he felt like he could trust her.

Chocolate's eyes fell on her as she explained what had happened back at the resort. Her expression had changed once he had brought up the subject of her previous relationship and he listened close. He felt bad when he saw how sad she looked after she finished her explanation. "I'm sorry to have brought it up again." He said wanting to hug the mare as she looked down to the ground. He couldn't explain why, perhaps it was just to comfort her. He hated to see girls sad. When she brightened up he nodded in agreement. "That's good to hear. You may find that special stallion soon." He said feeling a bit jealous as he said it. He had initially wanted to bond with her when they had first met but he had already ruled himself out as a potential suitor for her affections. But it couldn't hurt to try again right? They had arrived in town and he looked around in wonder. "I've never been here so late. It's a very nice scene." He said motioning to the lights that were on.

Chocolate opened the gate for her and the two of them began to the trek back to town. For most of the walk he didn't say much but it was obvious there were questions on his mind. Questions he had hoped to ask her once they weren't on his farm and working. Since they had to postpone the trip to Sugarcube he'd hold off for now. But there was one question on his mind that continued to linger. "So how did things end up like they did at the resort?" He asked hoping she wouldn't be too upset with him for asking. "You know... with him? Are you... single as well?"

The two worked alongside each other, getting the farm work down relatively quickly. Roughly an hour later, the two emerged from the barn and Chocolate wiped the sweat from his brow. "Thanks again for your help, Starshy." He said. "That job normally would have taken me two hours to do on my own. Your magic is really incredible." He said showing her his appreciation with a very brief smile. He looked at the sun which was starting to set and looked hesitant. "Looks like the sun is setting early today." He noted aloud. "If it is too late to go to Sugarcube then would you allow me to walk you home?" He asked stepping a bit closer to her. "I know you are capable of getting back on your own, but it would make me feel a little better." His golden gaze fell on her and he felt a strange sensation through his chest as he stood next to her. He didn't want to stick around too much longer or his family might catch sight of her.

He led her all the way to the barn where the two would start working on getting the feed ready for the livestock. Sometime after they began working she asked about his previous relationship back at the resort. He shook his head, "No... she deserved better than me." He said before hefting a large bag of feed on his saddle. He looked back to her about to ask her the same but remembered back to the incident at the resort and thought better of it. It was probably for the best he didn't bring him up again. Besides now was not the time. "We need to get this feed to the trough. Once that is finished we will be finished with today's tasks." He informed her, trying to nudge the conversation from their past for now. Then he realized may have been coming off as aloof or cold and he changed his tone. "I can't wait to go to Sugarcube... with you. " He said showing a softer side of himself as he gave her a genuine smile. "I never really had the chance to spend time with you. Errmm... besides now, which doesn't count." He said blushing lightly.

He looked down to the ground, almost out of shame. "I never told them. The very thought of it was enough to make me reconsider." He sighed and shifted his weight a little. It was hard to explain. "It is... complicated." The deep voice replied as he tried not to make eye contact. "I know there are others out there that aren't like us earth ponies, but I before I met you and the others at the resort I had never seen anything like you all before. Even now your magic is something I can't understand. But I would never..." His voice wavered a bit and there was a brief silence between the two. "Sorry." Was all he said once he trotted ahead. "Let's get to work. There isn't much left to do today, and maybe after we finish we can go to Sugarcube for a bit?" He asked sounding a bit hopeful. It was obvious the stallion was eager to learn more about her and spend time away from the farm he called home.

The stallion nodded to himself as if confirming something and gave a soft smile to the unicorn. "Welcome to the Farm, Starshy." He said extending his large hoof to shake. Once the two had exchanged a few words he motioned for her to follow him with his head and spoke to her with his gentle tone. "Follow me, I'll show you around the farm." He said guiding her around the many barns and buildings. During the tour the large stallion looked down to her while they trotted together. "I should probably warn you... my family doesn't take too kindly to unicorns." He said sadly. He had never understood why they were like that, it was another reason magic was so amazing to him. "They might not take to you so well. But I have a feeling they could change if they meet you sometime." He said smiling weakly to her. It was a shame too, since he really wanted her to be around more often. He'd never admit it but he had been lonely working the farms, and seeing her had boosted his spirits. Once the tour was over he stood in front of her and his tail was slowly swaying behind him. "Any questions?"

The dark brown work horse took a few steps back as the mare began to work her magic, literally. He had never truly understood the concept behind it all but maybe the demonstration would help a little. He watched as she struggled to lift it at first, but after a few readjustments she had managed to lift the hay bale and move it with the others. For a moment he thought about stopping her but she had managed it one way or another. It was very impressive a mare her size could do something like that, but maybe that was the power of her magic? He caught himself staring at her for a moment, she looked cute as she wiped the sweat from her head. It was only after he saw her mouth moving did he realize she was speaking to him. "Hm?" He asked as he caught himself gazing at her and shook his head, looking back to the hay bales. "Oh! Yes... well done." He said recomposing himself as he trotted past her, trying to hide his embarrassment. She had proven herself, and even more so he found himself feeling familiar vibes as he stood close to her. They were in need of help and who better than the mare he had been watching for a while back at the resort. "...When can you start?" He asked turning to face her.

The stallion watched the very cute delicate mare poke her hoof at the ground while she spoke. His expression was one of curiosity. "You wish to help here?" He asked looking back over his shoulder to some of the hay bales that had been hauled to the side. "I... am not sure about that..." He said while averting his eyes. Being an earth pony, it was harder for him to come to grips with magic and how it could be used to help on his family's farm. He didn't want her to hurt herself. "If you feel you are up to it I suppose..." He said trying to think of a nice way to tell her he didn't think she could handle the work. Before he could say anything else he heard her speak of wanting to see him again. "I errr..." He was normally a stallion of great repose, he normally kept a calm and stoic demeanor but all it took was a little mention of personal feelings to fluster him. in all honesty he hadn't forgotten about her either, he had missed her more than his initial reaction let on. There was a light blush on his face as he brushed some of his hair from his face. "I missed you too." He said finally looking in her eye. "Come on, let's see what you can do." He said motioning for her to follow him to a hay bale with a tiny smile.