Caramel had a busy morning. He had gotten up early and hired a moving company to come and pack up Fudge's apartment, and send her stuff down to Ponyville. He also talked with the landlord and explained what had happened with Fudge, and made arrangements to cancel Fudge's lease. After that, he made a quick visit to the hospital to finish the paperwork with Whirl Void. All in all, it was a productive morning

Caramel had pulled out his sisters luggage bag from her closet and was busy packing all the things he wanted to take with them for their trip back to Ponyville. Cinnamon was in her crib, sleeping peacefully, at least for now. Her diarrhea had returned, worse than before, and Caramel had to stop at the store, on his way back, to buy some cream to soothe her burning and inflamed pucker. Now that she had a clean and dry bottom, along with a healthy application of the soothing cream, she had finally quieted down and drifted of to sleep, much to Caramel's relief.

Lifting up the container of formula he had been using, Caramel crossed the room and dropped it into the trash. "One less thing to worry about." Stepping back to the table he pulled out the new formula he had bought along with the cream. Holding it up, he looked over the list of ingredients it had listed on its back. "Whey protein concentrate, Enzymatically Hydrolyzed... reduced minerals?... I have no idea what this all this means?" Caramel shook his head, he couldn't make heads or tails of what he was reading, and the only reason he got it was because an employee he had talked to, had told him that this formula came highly recommended by the Medical Nutritional Society.

Sighing, Caramel continued packing. Picking up the photo album that Dawn had given him, Caramel opened it for a moment and looked at the two clippings that still rested on the front page. It was only yesterday that Dawn and Stellar had left for their new home, and Caramel wondered how they were doing settling in. Closing the album, he packed it into the luggage. It suddenly occurred to him that he was missing something. Looking around, he wondered where his sister had put it.

It took him a bit of searching but he finally found what he was looking for in a chest that Fudge kept in her bedroom. Lifting out his prize, Caramel took it to the table and set it down. It had been years since he had last seen it. His old family photo album. It looked thicker than he remembered, Fudge must have been adding to it.

Flipping it open to a random page, Caramel found a picture of himself at a very young age, taking a bath with his sister. Caramel couldn't help but smile at it, remembering how Fudge loved taking bath's with him, when he was younger. Flipping a few pages forward brought up a picture of himself, wearing a very stupid party hat, while blowing out candle's on a cake. Turning to the next page, Caramel suddenly paused.

The picture showed Caramel, and a filly with their hooves mutually linked around each others shoulders, as they looked up at the camera giving their biggest smiles while covered from head to their hooves in mud. Caramel remembered when the picture had been taken, it was just before he started school. His parents had traveled to Prance to work under some famous chef there, to learn Prance cuisine. His sister was older, and had been allowed to go with them, but Caramel was too young, so Lilly and Chisel had taken him in for six months, while his parents were away.

Caramel thought about when he had first met that filly. He had been playing in Lilly's office when the door opened and Lilly walked in, with a nervous looking filly following behind her. Her father had brought her in, but then found he couldn't watch her while he was doing business in the warehouse, so Lilly had offered to watch her.

The filly told Caramel that her name was Golden Harvest, but everypony at school called her Carrot Top due to the color of her mane and tail, but she admitted to Caramel that she didn't really like being called that, so she told him to just call her Goldie. Their fist day together lasted only an hour before she had to go, but the next day, Goldie and her father, Taproot, returned. He claimed that Goldie had relentlessly badgered him to bring her back to visit with Caramel. So after he talked it out with Lilly, it was agreed to let Goldie stay over for the rest of the day. This arrangement soon expanded to pretty much every day, as the two became the best of friends.

For the next six month's, they got into all sorts of trouble. Like having a tea party, that nearly caused Lilly to faint, when she discovered them using her good tea set, and then there was the time they played hide and seek up in the attic, kicking up all sorts of dust, and tracking it all over the house.

And then there was this day, the day the picture had been taken. They had gone exploring in the back yard just after a rainstorm, and found a large puddle. For a time they raced boats made out of twigs and leaves across the watery expanse, until Goldie stuck up behind him and pushed him in. It of course meant war, and by the time Lilly called them in for lunch, they were a complete wreck. At first Lilly looked like she was going to be furious, but then she suddenly broke out laughing, and as soon as she could, she grabbed her camera and snapped the picture that Caramel was now looking at.

A week latter, Caramel returned to Fillydelphia, and the next time he met Goldie was years latter, when he moved to Ponyville. Caramel had just started working for Chisel and Lilly, at the Farmers Supply store, when she came in one day with her father. At first, Caramel could only gawk at her stupidly, as he suddenly saw his filly friend suddenly grown into a beautiful young mare. After he got his tongue unglued enough to make coherent speech, he was able to at least to hold a friendly conversation. At least until Golden's father, Taproot, noticed and made sure they were hardly ever alone together. A few times Taproot would draw Caramel aside, and tell him odd stories about what some farmer friend of his did, when that farmer had discovered a colt messing around with one of his daughters. His stories were always rich in detail and oftentimes colorful with humor, until the end, where the colt always had some kind of bad end. He never understood why Taproot was so protective of his daughter, until now. Cinnamon had given him much insight in what it meant and felt like to be a father, and the desire to protect that which is dear to you.

Flipping the album shut, Caramel stored it away in the luggage, along with the other. Reaching over he lifted up a quilt and looked it over again. It had been hoof stitched by his sister for Cinnamon, and it was covered in colorfully stitched ponies. She always was good at stitching, Caramel thought before he carefully folded the quilt and placed it into the luggage. Glancing at the time, he realized he would need to hurry the packing if he was to make the train.

Golden Harvest stepped onto her train. With her ticket held in her mouth, she moved forward to find a seat. A young stallion lewdly nickered at her as she passed, prompting her to lower her ears in irritation as she staunchly ignored him. Taking a empty seat, Golden sat down and tucked her ticket into her bag before she slipped it under her seat.

Fillydelphia was not her favorite city to visit, but her latest trip had been quite fruitful. Her father will be happy with the deal she was able to make for his Equestrian Gold line with one of the local restaurants, that had been growing increasingly displeased with their current produce farmer for the last few years, when they had been failing to meet their quota, by delivering pour quality vegetables in ever decreasing amounts.

Her father, Taproot, never was very good at sales. Preferring to just stay at home and work the fields, leaving what he called the boring job to his wife, May Flower. In recent times, Golden had been making the sales trips herself, finding that she had quite a knack for it, but her father wasn't so happy about her making these long trips all by herself. At first, he had her brother Oregon Trail, tag along to keep an eye on her, but that quickly grew to be a problem as he was needed at home to help with the fields. Reluctantly, her father gave in, and allowed her to travel alone, but only if she promised to be careful, and to stay as far away from strange stallions as she could.

As Golden gazed out the window, she could see the clock on the platform, and saw it was going to be another five minutes before the train was scheduled to leave. Sighing, she idly looked around at the passengers as they moved about the platform. She saw an old mare holding up the line at the ticket counter, and many of the ponies stuck in line behind her were grumbling and complaining, as they waited their turn. Moving off, she found her cheeks suddenly blushing, when her gaze focused on a young stallion and mare, who were kissing each other passionately. It looked like the young stallion was leaving to join the guard and the mare was showing him how much he was going to be missed. Golden gazed at them wistfully for a time, feeling envious of the couple, before she forced herself to look elsewhere.

A light amber colored stallion passing by her window suddenly caught her attention, and Golden's ears shot up strait in surprise when she suddenly realized that she recognized him! She rubbed her eyes and did a double take, but there was no mistaking the three blue horseshoe's cutie mark on the stallions flank, it was Caramel! What was he doing in Fillydelphia? And why is he carrying a...FILLY!? She couldn't believe her eyes, Caramel had just passed by her window carrying a filly. Quickly Golden plastered her face against the window to look down the side of the train. Is he boarding the train!? She couldn't tell when she lost sight of him, but it did look like he might board the train further up. What was he doing with a filly? Could she be his? Caramel wasn't the kind who would loosely play around with mares, so for him to have an accident like this, just seemed ridiculous.

Golden fondly remembered the time when she had forced her father to take her into town so she could play with Caramel. During that time they were as think as thieves, getting into all kinds of trouble, and Golden took it hard when it came time for him to finally leave, to go back home. She had locked herself in her room for the rest of the day, and wept uncontrollably into her pillow. When he returned many years latter, she was ecstatic to see him again, but was saddened to see some of the changes in him. He had a shadow about him at times, and was now distant and withdrawn. Obviously he was hurting over something, and Golden was disappointed when he never opened up and confided to her. She missed the old playful Caramel. The one with the zest for life, who would poke at spiderwebs for fun. She missed her best friend.

"Hay there pretty thing, what are you doing here all by your lonesome?" A voice said from beside her, interrupting her private thoughts. Golden let out a sigh that fogged the glass she was pressed against, and turned. Unwanted stallion advances, was one of the unfortunate side effects of traveling alone, and what she saw now was a prime example. Leaning against her seat with a leering smile was that same young stallion she had passed a few moments ago, when she was looking for a seat.

Pressing her ears back, Golden gave him a flat irritated look, hoping to impress her feelings to him. "I would like to be left alone, and I don't want to be disturbed." It was surprising how often this response worked, but then there were always the occasionally stubborn or stupid stallion that failed to listen.

The suave grayish green colored stallion appeared, much to Golden's annoyance, to be the kind who listened only to himself, as he ignored her as he sat down. Flashing her a smile with his overly white teeth, he idly brushed his long dirty straw colored mane back. "A pretty filly like you shouldn't be sitting all alone, not when there is a stallion like myself who can keep you company."

Alarmed at the stallion's boldness and apparent lack of tact, Golden moved herself further away until she was pressing herself to the window. This stallion was obviously full of himself, and Golden was loosing her patience with him, not to mention he was creeping her out. "A filly like myself shouldn't also be harassed by passing stallions ether."

The stallion slid himself closer, and Golden felt her skin crawl. She was feeling decisively trapped as he loomed over her. "Oh come now, I'm not harassing you, I'm just offering some friendly companionship for the long trip." She could smell his husky breath as he spoke. Lifting his hoof, he lightly slid it down her shoulder, causing shivers to run down her spine. "I have a private car we can retire to, where we can enjoy some champagne, that I'll have dinning car bring over just for us. Then, we can relax and enjoy ourselves in privacy." Golden rolled her shoulder in an attempt to brush off his petting hoof, but much to her disgust, she only succeeded in shifting his touch to her whithers. "What do you say to a little fun, huh? Maybe get to know each other a little better?"

Golden pressed her hoof to his chest and pushed him back, but only as far as her hoof would reach. She could feel him pressing back into her hoof, ready to move back in, if she pulled her hoof away. "I'm sorry Mr... whoever you are, I will not be spending any time with you, so please go."

The earth stallion was undaunted, as he lifted his hoof and slid sensually along the leg she was using to hold him back with. "Oh! How rude of me. I neglected to introduce myself, my name is Bitternut Dandy." He leaned in harder against her restraining hoof as his eyes roamed openly over her body, causing Golden feel her skin crawl at his openly salacious gaze. "What might your name be?"

Golden's ears were pressed tightly against the back of her head, as her lip lifted in distaste. Never before, had she seen a stallion ever be this persistent, or this lewd. Distantly she heard the train engine blast out a horn blast as a warning that the train was about to leave the station. With her patience at a end, Golden decided to act. "I just want to be left alone!" Lifting her other hoof, she shoved him back with both her hooves. Momentarily free, she quickly jumped out of her seat and pulled her bag out. "If you will excuse me, I have somewhere else to be!"

As she moved past him, the train suddenly lurched as it started to move. The sudden movement caused Golden to loose her balance and much to her absolute mortification, she flopped her rump down, right into Bitternut Dandy's lap.

"Oh my! How very eager of you, I like that in a mare." Bitternut Dandy said salaciously, very much pleased with the situation. Golden felt his groping hoof grasp her around her flanks, as he rubbed her over her three carrots with greens cutie marks.

Golden's face heated up bright red in mortified outrage, at the feeling of his lewdly grasping hooves. Leaping up as fast as she could, she whirled about, and before she knew what she was doing, she lashed out with her hoof, and punched the perverted stallion square into his face. The shock of her hoof meeting his cheek, sent feeling of satisfaction though Golden as she watched Bitternut Dandy fall back off the seat.

Golden stared in surprise at what she had just done. She had never punched somepony before, and as the realization of what she had just done hit her, she felt immensely pleased with herself at having put the crude stallion down. A quick glance at him confirmed that her punch had cleanly knocked him out, as he lay drooling on the floor with his tongue hanging out.

Picking up her bag, Golden quickly left the car, heading forward towards where she had last seen Caramel going, in the hopes of finding him.

Caramel had chosen to sit in the most forward passenger car, so that he could distance himself from the other passengers who usually preferred to sit closer to the dinning car in the back. His plan worked as he had the car all to himself. With his sisters quilt spread over the seat, he had Cinnamon laid out between his forelegs as he lounged on his belly. Cinnamon was now able to roll over, and crawl around a bit, so Caramel worried that she might fall off the seat.

Set out at the end of his outstretched hooves, Caramel had his old family album opened, as he slowly flipped though the pages. A sad sense of nostalgia had settled over him as he turned the pages. So many happy times lost to the past. Pictures of his parents came to an abrupt end, as he reached the point where they had died. Pausing, Caramel looked at a picture with a sense of sadness. The picture showed a young Caramel wearing a dark suit standing next to his sister Fudge, as she wore a muted black dress. They were standing forlornly before two coffins that their parents rested in, prier to their burial.

Sad tears, slowly fell from his eyes, as he viewed the image of his parents funeral. Soon, there will be another picture added to this book, the one from Fudge's funeral. Tired of the depressing images, Caramel let out a sigh, and flipped it back to a random point in the book, before he pushed it away.

Lowering his head, Caramel set it down alongside Cinnamon. He smiled when he felt Cinnamon sleepily roll over and cuddle herself up to the side of his face. Drowsily he shut his eyes, and with the comforting feeling of Cinnamon's hot breath against his cheek, Caramel drifted off to asleep.

Golden moved through several of the train's cars, but failed to find Caramel. She was beginning to wonder if he even got on in the first place. Maybe he was there at the train station to pick up somepony, perhaps that filly's mother. Her hope that he was here began to fade as she passed though a completely empty car. As she opened the door to the last passenger car, her heart sank at first when she didn't see anypony there, but then she noticed a form laying on one of the seats, midway though the car.

Golden paused nervously for a moment, wondering if she should approach him. After wrestling with her feeling for a bit, Golden took a breath and let it out, as she made up her mind. Silently she stepped closer. She could see that Caramel was laid out on his belly with his head resting between his forelegs. As she drew closer, Golden suddenly had to bite her lip, to keep herself from letting out a daww, at the adorable sight of the foal snuggled up to the side of Caramel's sleeping face.

Once she drew close and was standing just over him, she noticed the photo album sitting at the edge of his seat, its page was open to a series of photo's that Golden couldn't help but recognize. With a smile on her face she leaned her head over, so she could more closely looked them over. They all showed images of herself and Caramel, during their summer together.

Carefully, she lifted up the album and sat down in the seat behind Caramel's. With a smile on her face, she looked though the pictures of their time together as foalhood friends. Golden soon realized, that Lilly liked to take lot of pictures, as she flipped though the pages. She nearly laughed out loud when she came to one where they were covered in mud. The next one made her blush furiously as she saw that Lilly had put them in a bath together. I forgot about that.

A soft mewling sound made Golden's ears perk up. Looking over she saw that the foal was awake and was rolling over. As Golden watched, the foal struggled to the crest of Caramel's leg, and with her diapered rump pressed up against Caramel's cheek, she paused as she lifted her head up and stared at Golden curiously. Golden thought all foals were adorable, but this one was even more so. White, was a rare color for earth ponies, and as Golden looked the filly over, she couldn't help but admire the beauty of the foal's mane and tail, as they looked like they were dipped in liquid caramel. What a fitting color, she thought.

Setting the photo album to the side, Golden stood and leaned down close to the filly. Taking in the filly's scent, Golden's nose suddenly touched the filly's nose as the filly sniffed her back. Golden felt a warmth spread throughout her body as her heart quickened. An almost uncontrollable need to hold, and snuggle the filly came over her. With a quick glace to make sure Caramel was still asleep, she brought up her hooves and carefully lifted the filly up.

Sitting herself back down, Golden held the filly to herself as she slowly rocked her body. It had been a while since she last held a foal. The last time being when her two sisters where little, and her mother needed her help, to care for them. Golden found that things seemed different now. She was now a full grown mare, and the feeling of the filly against her body just felt right, as a pleasant contented feeling settled over her.

Humming an old melody she knew, Golden looked to Caramel, and watched as he slept. She wondered what his story was, and how he came to have a foal. Caramel's scent was all over the filly, so Golden figured he'd been caring for her, and judging by the clean white coat and well groomed and cared for mane and tail, he was doing a fine job of it as well.

Golden glanced to the side, and eyed the photo album. Why was he also traveling with the photo album? Reaching out her free hoof Golden began flipping through the pages, soon she came to a stop, when she started to find pictures of Caramel with a older light brown filly. Golden remembered Caramel sister, having met her when they returned to pick up Caramel. Gazing at the pictures of Caramel's sister, Golden then looked down at the snoozing filly she held. It wasn't hard to see the resemblance. The pieces started to come together. The filly must be Caramel niece, not his daughter. Golden surmised.

Golden was confused as to why she suddenly felt relieved that Caramel wasn't the filly's father, but then a thought came to her, a thought that made her cold in the pit of her stomach. If Caramel is traveling with his niece, and he has the family album, something bad must have happened. Something so bad that it required Caramel to take his niece. Looking over at Caramel's sleeping form, Golden felt her eyes tear up. Oh Caramel, please let me be wrong about this.

Caramel slowly came awake. The first thing he became aware of was the feel of the train as it moved down the tracks. Reaching up, Caramel scratched his chin, as he blinked his eyes open. Lifting his head up, he let out a long yawn, before he looked down. For a moment, Caramel stared down blankly at where Cinnamon should have been. It took a moment for the realization that she was missing to sink in. Panic seized his chest, and with a cry, Caramel scrambled to the edge of the seat and looked down, terrified that she had fallen down, and had gotten hurt. Leaning over the edge Caramel scoured the floor, looking under his seat and all around, only for his searching gaze to suddenly fall on a pare of legs dangling down from the seat behind his.

"Huh?" Caramel's eyes roamed up, and he found himself staring at a smiling... "Goldie?" Shock and disbelief ran though his mind as he gazed at her. Goldie smiled at him while holding Cinnamon in the crux of her leg, while she fed her a bottle of formula, Caramel had prepared earlier.

"Hello." Golden said cheerfully. "Look at what I found!" She said happily, nodding her head down to Cinnamon.

Caramel was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact the Golden was here, and that she had stolen Cinnamon right out from under him. His position was rather precarious, as he was still leaning over the edge of his seat, as he stared at her dumbfounded. His hoof was situated right at the edge of his seat, and it suddenly chose this moment to slip out from under him. With a cry, Caramel crumpled, face first to the floor.

With a grunt of pain, Caramel opened his eyes. His jaw hurt where he landed on it, and with a groan, Caramel flopped his body over, so it was no longer resting on his face. Staring strait up, Caramel looked up at Golden, as she leaning over and looked down at him, with a look of concern and amusement on her face. "Caramel? You okay? That was quite a spill."

Caramel blinked, as he cleared his vision. "Goldie?"

Golden cocked her head to the side, as she considered him. "Caramel, if you keep repeating that, I'm going to start believing that you somehow broke your brain."

Caramel quickly scrambled up and looked Golden over. She blinked at his close scrutiny, as she leaned herself back slightly. Reaching his hoof forward, he lightly jabbed Golden in her shoulder.

"Hay! The last stallion who got too touchy, I ended up punching him in the face!" Golden snapped, as she knocked his hoof away.

Caramel flopped his rump down to the floor. "Goldie? What are you doing here?" Reaching his hoof up, he scratched the back of his head in confusion.

Goldie resumed feeding Cinnamon her bottle. "I was in Fillydelphia talking to a restaurant about buying produce from our farm, and as I was leaving I saw you boarding the train at the station, when looked around for you, I managed to find you here." Golden explained simply, before she looked back at him seriously. "Okay your turn. Why do you have your niece, and what happened to your sister."

Caramel froze as he stared at her dumbfounded. "How did you...?"

Golden shrugged, giving him a sheepish grin. "I like to read mystery novels." But when she saw that he was expecting more, she let out a sigh, and continued. "First, your traveling with your family album, most ponies don't travel around with those, which means your taking it back home with you. And second, the filly resembles your sister quite strongly, and since the filly is with you, instead of with her. I can't help but worry that something has gone terribly wrong." Golden met his eyes. "Please tell me that its all part of my wild imaginings, and that there is a reasonably happy explanation to explain all this."

Caramel's ears drooped down, as he looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry, something has happen." Caramel said slowly. "My sister... died in an accident a few days ago." Caramel nodded towards the filly. "Cinnamon is mine now, I'm all she's got."

Golden remained silent for a moment, before she looked down at the filly. "So her name is Cinnamon." She murmured softly. "Such a beautiful name, for a beautiful filly." She let out a sad sigh before looking up. "Caramel, will you please sit next to me."

Caramel eyed her curiously, as he stood. Moving around next to her, he sat down, making sure that he kept a respectable distance. Once he was seated, Golden suddenly scooted closer and laid her head against his shoulder. The moment her head pressed into his shoulder, Caramel's ears shot up, as all of his muscles locked up tight. Thoughts about what her father would do to him suddenly flashed through his mind.

She stayed like this for a time, as Caramel felt himself sweating nervously, as he worried about what he should do. "I'm sorry about your sister." Golden suddenly said, breaking the solemn silence. "She was nice to me when I met her that one time. I had come over like usual to play, but you were busy with your parents inside, so Fudge made me some tea. We sat out on Lilly's porch, and had a proper tea party, while I told her about all the fun things we did, and she in turn told me about her time in Prance."

Caramel felt himself relax as she spoke, smiling as he saw the images play out in his mind. He had never heard of any of this, and was grateful that she was sharing it with him.

"As we talked, your mother came out, and brought us cookies, she ended up joining our tea party, and listened as I told them both about our little adventures together." Golden paused for a moment, losing herself in her memory. "Your mother was very beautiful and had the most wonderful laugh."

Caramel nodded in agreement as he lightly rested his cheek atop Golden's head. "Yes, she was very beautiful, and I very much miss hearing her laughter. I bet she laughed a whole bunch, when you told her about all the antics we managed to get into."

Golden let out a giggle. "You'd win that bet. She particularly loved the story of how we caught that toad, and brought it into the house to show Lilly."

Caramel smiled and let out a chuckle. "I never expected that with a name like Lilly Pad, that she would end up having such a huge fear of toads."

Golden shifted herself, and Caramel felt disappointed when she suddenly pulled herself away. He had been enjoying the feeling of her, as she was pressed up against him. Looking over at her, he saw Golden lean over and set the now empty bottle she had been using to feed Cinnamon down.

"Would you please bring me a burp towel?" Golden asked, as she adjusted Cinnamon around in her lap. Quickly, Caramel moved over to the diaper bag, and pulled one out. Giving it to her, Caramel sat in the seat across from her, and watched as Golden burped Cinnamon. He was amazed at the practiced ease in which she was able to performed it.

"Your really good at that." Caramel said, as he admired her technique.

"Come on, I know you have one more in there." Golden said to Cinnamon as she patted her back. "I helped out with my younger sisters when they were little foals." She explained, before Cinnamon suddenly let out a particularly loud burp. Smiling at Cinnamon, Golden lowered her down from her shoulder. "Ohhh, your such a good filly, you didn't even spit up! What a proper young filly you are!" Golden praised Cinnamon as she settled her back down in her lap.

As Golden slowly rubbed Cinnamon's belly, she looked back up at Caramel with an amused sparkle in her eyes. "You know, during that tea party I ah... kind of told your mother that I was going to marry you."

Caramel's heart jumped in his chest, as his head shot up. With his ears quivering, he looked over at Golden. "You... told my mom that we were going to get married!" Caramel felt a warm flush rush up his spine, right up to the tip of his ears, where he was now sure that they had just caught fire. "What!?... what did she say." Caramel found he was having trouble controlling his voice for some reason.

"Well, she told me that I was going to haft to chase you down first, and once I caught you, I was to hold on to you really tight, and to never let you go." Golden smiled at the memory. "She wished me luck, and told me that I'd make an excellent wife for you."

Caramel thought back to that day, his eyes going wide when he realized something. "Wait a minute! Is that why you chased me around the yard for like an hour while my mom was cheering you on?"

Golden was trying hard not to laugh. "As I recall, I caught you in the end."

Caramel's ears wilted as it all started to make sense. "I remember, you sat on me."

Golden giggled as she scratched the back of her head with her free hoof. "Yeah, sorry about that. I kind of got overly excited. But in my defense, it was all your moms fault. She thought it was hilarious."

Caramel grinned and began to chuckle. "She lifted you onto her back, and happily paraded you about shouting that you got your stallion."

Golden laughed, thinking of those fun times, but then her smile wilted as she considered Caramel. Ever since he had come back to Ponyville, he had been different. More reserved and withdrawn. She had tried on numerous occasions to get him to spend time with her, and have some fun, but he always got a funny look on his face before he would tell her that he wasn't feeling up to it. She had been holding it in for a while but now she just needed to know. "Caramel?" She said, calling his attention to her. "Why don't you want to be my friend anymore?"

Caramel was caught by surprise by the question, as his eye's suddenly went wide. "What?... Where did you get a funny idea like that? I'm not trying to stop being your friend." Caramel tried to control his voice, but it still came out shaky.

Golden's expression darkened, as a look of disappointment settled on her. "I never thought I would hear you lie to me." Golden sat for a moment looking Caramel over, as he wilted under her gaze and stared at the floor. "When you came back, I was excited to see my old friend again, but you were subdued and rather cold to me, keeping me at a distance." Golden's eyes hardened as she looked at Caramel, who continued staring down at the floor. "It hurt me, you know that? I want to know why your pushing me away? What is it that is making you do this to me?"

Caramel's body was now shuddering, as he struggled to control himself. Refusing to look up at Golden and risk meeting her gaze, Caramel began to panic. She was asking questions of him that he never wanted her to know the answers to. He had been so careful, hiding that part of himself from her, as he dreaded the look of revulsion she was sure to have for him should she learn what had happened to him. Swallowing, Caramel opened his mouth as he attempted to respond. "I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to hurt you." Caramel's lungs burned as he took a breath, as it felt like he wasn't getting enough air. "I... I was happy to see you too, but... there were things... I just couldn't let you see..." Caramel suddenly stopped when it seemed he said too much.

"See what?... Caramel, what didn't you want me to see?" Golden leaned forward. "Please talk to me. What didn't you want me to see?"

It was a long while before Caramel answered, his hoof was visibly shaking. "I... I can't.... I can't... I can't." Caramel was shaking his head. "I just can't." He lifted a hooves and covered his head, in an attempt to hide himself from her.

"Caramel, you were once my best friend, we shared everything with each other. We had no secrets with each other." Golden pleaded, as tears started to come to her eyes. "Why are you driving me away!? Why can't I have my best friend back!? What is it that's making you destroy what we had together!?"

Caramel was still clutching his hooves around his head, as he hid his face. "I can't!" He exclaimed as he shook his head. "Don't you understand, I CAN'T LET YOU KNOW!"

His refusal was another blow that hurt Golden as she felt her heart breaking. She could see that Caramel was hiding something, and it was eating him up, but he was refusing to face it, and let it out. He was letting their friendship die, to keep it hidden. She wanted to be there for him, but if he refused to trust her, then there was very little she saw she could do.

Leaning further forward, Golden reached her hoof out. "Caramel, please. Why can't you tell me?" The moment her hoof touched his, Caramel suddenly jumped and slapped her hoof away as he recoiled from her.

Golden let her uplifted hoof drop down. She felt defeated. There seemed to be nothing she could do to reach her old friend. He was refusing her help, and rejecting her friendship.

With tears falling from her eyes, Golden adjusted Cinnamon in her grasp as she stood up. Using a blanket, Golden made a nest between the diaper bags before she carefully lowered the sleeping filly into it. Lifting her pack up, she turned to leave. "I'm sorry Caramel... I'm so sorry. I wanted to save our friendship, but as long as you don't trust me, and continue to push me away, I don't see how that is possible." She said softly. "I'm... going to go now, and... I won't be bothering you ever again. Goodbye Caramel."

Golden's heart was wrenching in her chest as she walked towards the door. With every step she took, she hoped and prayed that he would call out to her, but with each step all she heard was silence, as she approached the door. Golden despaired, Caramel was choosing to let her go, effectively throwing away their friendship, and with tears openly flowing down her cheeks, she reached for the handle. No pony had ever told her that the end of a friendship was such a painful experience. It felt like her heart was being torn out of her chest.

..."Wait."...

Golden's hoof froze on the handle at the sound of Caramel's voice calling out.

"Please..."

His voice was almost a whisper, but to Golden, it was practically a shout.

Hope bound up in Golden as she wiped the back of her hoof across her eyes. Caramel had called out to her, and in that one feeble effort, he had shown a glimmer of desire to save their friendship. Lowering her hoof, Golden turned and walked back to her seat. "I'm here Caramel, and I promise you, that no matter what you tell me, I will continue to be here for you. You can trust me." She assured him.

Caramel remained silent for a long while, but then he took a deep breath and let out a shuddering exhale. "I've been a jerk, and a idiot, and I can't tell you how sorry I am for how I have acted. It wasn't fair to you." Caramel sat hunched over as he spoke, his gaze locked onto the floor. "I... hid a part of myself from you, because... I didn't want you to see,... how damaged I was inside." Caramel's shoulders shook, as he let out a whimper. "I didn't... want you to see my shame."

Golden couldn't see his eyes, but she could see the tears that slowly dripped off the end of his nose. "Caramel, I would never think any less of you."

"You don't understand!" Caramel suddenly snapped. "She used me! She polluted my very being, and left me wanting to die! If you knew the things she did to me, you would never be able to look at me without disgust in your eyes ever again!"

"That's not true! I would never do that to you!" Golden slashed her hoof to the side in denial.

Caramel ignored her as he stared down at the floor, with no indication that he had even heard her. When he spoke, his voice came out hollow, and devoid of life. "She lured me into her home. We were to work on a class project together, but she had something else on her mind, and nothing was going to stop her from getting what she wanted."

As Golden listened to Caramel as he spoke, a sudden sense of dread started to twist her gut around.

"I couldn't do anything. Her magic was too strong, and I was powerless to stop her from using me. That monster hurt me so much, just for the fun of it, she took pleasure from my pain, and in the end she made my body betray me. She used my body as her plaything and she took from me... something precious, something that I will never get back again. Once she was finished with me, she left me dirtied and fouled inside." Caramel's shoulders were hitching, as he strained to speak. "I didn't want you to see that! Our friendship was clean and pure, and one of the most precious things that I cherish, and I didn't want to dirty it with that filth!"

Golden couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had her hoof pressed to her mouth in abject horror, as she listened. "Caramel." She said softly, struggling to form the words. "Were you...?" She paused, when her voice caught in her throat. "Were you... raped?"

Caramel wrapped his hooves around himself, as he let out a wailing cry as he suddenly wept. Golden didn't need to hear his answer to know the truth of her question. Quickly she lunged forward and wrapped her hooves around him, and held him as tightly as she could, desperate to make him feel like he wasn't alone. "Oh Goldie! It hurts so much inside! I can't stand it!" Caramel's agonized wails cut into Golden heart, as she felt his body shudder under her, driving her to hold him all the harder.

"Caramel, it wasn't your fault." Golden desperately said, feeling Caramel's head nestled under hers as she spoke. "What happened to you was terrible, but I know your strong, and you can overcome it. Your not alone, I'm here for you, and you must understand that what you just told me is not going to change that! Your still that sweet wild maned colt I used to know, and love, and that is not going to change! You hear me?."

Caramel had been holding it in for so long. All that pain and self loathing, bottled up, and slowly eating him alive. Now that he had shared it with her, he suddenly felt a great release. The feeling of Golden as she held him was a great comfort, as he felt a closer connection with her now that she knew things about him, he had never told any other pony, including his sister. Golden's acceptance of of his shame and degradation showed Caramel a strength that was truly wondrous.

For a long time they quietly held each other, as the landscape rolled past outside the window. The coldness that Carmel had felt inside was replaced by a searing fire from Golden's friendship and love, that she gave to him freely, and completely, as she held nothing back.

"I... don't want to loose our friendship." Caramel suddenly confessed, breaking the long silence.

Golden reached up and brushed his mane back, from his eyes. "Good, I don't want to loose it ether." She said softly into his ear.

After that, things became easier as they talked. At first they talked about little things, but after a time Caramel opened up and began telling Golden about what he had been doing in Fillydelphia since he arrived. He told her what it was like holding Cinnamon for the very first time, and all he had to do to learn how to care for her. Golden was particularly interested in hearing about his time with Dawn Sparks, and his involvement in helping with her delivery of Stellar Prize.

"I can't believe you helped deliver a foal!" Golden said, laughing.

Caramel grinned and thumped himself in the chest. "Hay, this stallion ain't just for decorations, I can be useful sometimes."

"I'm sorry, I'm not trying to demean you, its just that its so amazing that you did that for a filly you just met." Golden slid herself closer to him. "For doing something so sweet, I believe you deserve a reward." Golden quickly leaned over and planted a kiss to his cheek. The feeling of her lips pressing against his cheek, sent a shock though his body, and left him feeling like he was floating. Leaning back from her kiss, Golden smacked her lips thoughtfully. "Hmm, that reminds me of the time you stole my first kiss."

Still feeling a bit lightheaded from her unexpected kiss, Caramel looked over at Golden with a dubious look, lifting one of his eyebrows. "As I recall, it was you who stole that kiss from me."

Golden wobbled her head back and forth, as she thought about it. "I'd say that it was more of a mutual kiss."

Caramel let out a sigh, he clearly remembered that it was Golden, who snuck up on him and tackled him, and once she had him pinned to the ground, she then planted her lips onto his, in a rather wet and slobbery kiss. Caramel found himself smiling, as he thought about it. Glancing over at Golden, he couldn't help but admire how beautiful she now was, compared to that gawky filly she used to be. "Yeah, I guess it was mutual." He admitted, feeling his cheeks blush.

Caramel's stomach grumble, reminding him how long it had been since he last ate. "Are you hungry? How about I go back to the dinning car and get us some sandwiches." Caramel offered, glancing at Golden.

"That's a good idea, I am pretty hungry." Lifting her hoof, she gestured over to Cinnamon. "Here, how about you give me Cinnamon. I'll watch her while your getting the food."

Once Cinnamon was in Golden's possession, Caramel rummaged though his bag for his bits to buy their meal. Suddenly the train car gave a lurch, followed by another. Regaining his balance, Caramel looked over in concern at Golden, as she clutched Cinnamon protectively to herself. Suddenly the breaks slammed on, and Golden let out a terrified scream as she was flung forward. Caramel reacted instantly, leaping forward, he wrapped himself protectively around both Golden and Cinnamon.

With a grunt of pain, Caramel slammed into the next seat up. Taking the impact from Golden and Cinnamon, as they were cushioned by his body. Holding the pair tightly, as he braced himself in place, Caramel felt the train shudder, as the breaks screeched and howled, as they attempted to slow the train down. For a panicky moment, Caramel worried that the train might derail and crash. But his worries faded as the violent shuddering lessened until the train finally came to a stop.

"Are you okay? Is Cinnamon hurt!?" Caramel asked, with an edge of panic in his voice, as he looked them over.

Golden lifted herself up, and quickly checked on Cinnamon who was wailing her lungs out. "We're both fine, thanks you to. Cinnamon's only scared." Golden went to the diaper bag and looked though it until she found a pacifier, and stuck it into Cinnamon mouth, who quickly quieted down, as she suckled her pacifier.

Caramel groaned as he picked himself up, the side of his back felt bruised from the edge of the seat he had fallen against. "What happened? Why did we stop?" Caramel asked out loud, voicing the same questions that Golden was thinking.

Golden went to the window and looked out. All she saw was rolling grasslands, with a few scattered oak trees for miles. It was a rather beautiful landscape she thought. Pressing her face to the glass she looked forward and saw that the train was on a curve when it had stopped, so she was able to see the side of the train engine, and what she saw was rather alarming. Great white plumes of steam was pouring out of many places around the boiler. "Wow, look at that."

Caramel, rolled his shoulder painfully, and joined her at the window. "Looks like the boiler on the engine has split open, that's not good." Caramel said, as he looked at the engine.

The sound of the forward door opening caught their attention. A conductor stepped though and paused when he saw them. "I'm sorry folks, but the engine has broken down. We are asking all passengers to move to the dinning car for instructions for what to do. Please make your way there as soon as you can." The conductor then quickly walked through their car, as he made his way to the next.

Quickly, Caramel and Golden gathered up their belongings and made their way to the dinning car, where they joined a great many other ponies who were already waiting. Since the car was rather full already, Caramel and Golden had to squeeze themselves in near the door.

Suddenly there was a commotion, as somepony shoved their way forward. "You!"

Golden let out a groan, and draped her hoof over her face in consternation. "Oh great... not him again."

Leaning in close. "And who would that be?" Caramel whispered.

"Bitternut Dandy." Golden answered with a groan.

"You!" Shoving his way forward, the grayish green colored stallion stopped before Golden, shoving his face close to hers. "You cow! You punched me!"

Golden let out a sigh, as she leveled her gaze at the stallion. "Well you deserved it! You were groping me all over my cutie mark!"

The stallion shook his hoof at her. "You wanted me to, you tease! You sat in my lap, and begged me to touch you."

Golden lowered her ears and snorted in irritation. "The train started to move, and I fell into your lap. That does not give you an excuse to feel me up!"

Bitternut threw back his head and scoffed. "No self respecting stallion like myself would ever lower my standards so much, as to feel up a ugly cow like yourself . Admit it! You dropped your fat tushy into my lap on purpose, to get a good feel out of me!" The stallion sneered down at Golden.

Caramel felt his blood boiling. This gruff and perverted stallion had molested Golden, and the mere thought of what he had done to Golden, made Caramel absolutely livid with rage. He didn't realize that he was moving until he found himself shoving his way between Golden and the stallion. Bitternut Dandy flinched when he met Caramel's enraged gaze, as it fixed on him, causing him to shy back a few steps.

"Who is this? Your coltfriend or something? What'd you do? Sit in his lap too, and he fell madly in love with you?"

Caramel felt his muscles quiver with the need to strike his hoof across the pompous stallions sneering face.

The stallions eyes fell down on Cinnamon, who was slung off of Caramel neck in her foal carrier. "Oh! What is this? Going after stallions with baggage! Oh, how desperate a cow like you must be!"

Caramel let out an angry snort, he had heard enough! Lifting his hoof, he drew it back. Golden saw this and quickly lunged forward and wrapped both her hooves around his, and held him back.

"No!" Golden cried out, straining to hold back his attack. "Caramel! Don't do it!" She begged, hoping her words would reach his enraged mind. "He's not worth it! Think about Cinnamon, she might get hurt!"

The stallion's sneering smile dropped as he looked at Caramel with sudden alarm. He retreated a few steps back, as he worried that Golden wouldn't be able to hold the enraged Caramel back. Unwisely he decided to push his luck. "You'd better listen to your cow. You wouldn't want to do something foolish that might hurt the little one, would you?"

Caramel released another snort, before he relaxed and lowered his uplifted hoof. Golden let out a relieved sigh, as she leaned up against his side.

"Excuse me everypony! May I have your attention please!" The same conductor that spoke to them earlier said, as he stepped to the center of the dinning car. "I am here to inform you that the engine has broken down, and cannot be fixed until its brought back to the rail yard."

"What's going to happen to us then!?" A pony in the crowd suddenly asked. Others around the car also voiced their concern, while a few shouted out angrily, or just complained.

The conductor waved his hoof for silence, and once everypony had settled down enough for him to be heard he continued. "Unfortunately, the breakdown has occurred while we were traveling on a less used line off of the main line. But luckily, there is a town only a few miles down the line, so for those of you who don't mind a bit of a walk, you can make your way there, where you can wait for a new train to arrive, tickets will of course be comped by the railroad. For those of you unable to make the trip to the town, a wagon will be sent back to pick you up. Now, please before anypony leaves, I'll need to have your names, so come and see me as soon as you can."

An hour latter, Caramel stepped off the train, packed up and ready to go. He had Cinnamon's diaper bags on, with his luggage sitting between them on the center of his back. Cinnamon was in her customary place, slung from around his neck in her foal carrier, happy now that she had her diaper freshly changed.

Looking around, he saw Golden trotting over to him. Trying to not be to obvious about it, Caramel admired Golden's elegant figure as she moved with a smooth grace, that made Caramel's heart quicken.

"Your staring." Golden said, smirking as she drew close.

Caramel blinked, as he realized that he had just been caught. "No I wasn't."

Sitting her rump down, Golden cocked her head with an amused grin. "Oh? Then what where you doing then?" She asked curiously.

Caramel chuckled and scratched his head. "I ah... was just watching you, while practicing not blinking." Caramel explained while nodding his head. "See, I told you I wasn't staring."

Golden lifted one of her eyebrows as she considered him, looking like she wasn't buying it at all. Caramel cleared his throat and looked about awkwardly for a moment before he let out a sigh and hung his head down. "Fine, you win, I was staring." Caramel confessed. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself."

Golden flashed a happy smile, as her ears perked up. "Really!? Well I must admit that I too, couldn't help myself." She said before she leaned in close and whispered to Caramel. "I've been sneaking looks at you too."

Caramel's ears started twitching uncontrollably, as he suddenly felt much too warm. He figured she was just teasing him, but that still didn't stop him from reacting to it. He just couldn't help himself. "So ah... Where you ah.. able to find anything?"

Nodding her head, Golden gestured back to her pack. "I got some water, and I managed to find some bread, cheese, a couple of apples, and a surprise treat."

"A surprise treat?" Caramel asked curiously.

Golden lifted her hoof and cocked it back and forth a few times. "Ah ah ahhh. It's a surprise. Now, before we leave, there is one last thing to do."

"Oh? What is that?"

Golden leveled her hoof, pointing it at his chest, right where Cinnamon was resting against it. "The filly, pass her over."

Caramel lifted his hoof, and set it protectively over Cinnamon. "That's okay, I can carry her."

Golden's expression became stern. "Caramel, if our relationship is going to work, then you are going to haft to learn how to share. Now gimme." She gestured impatiently for him to give her Cinnamon.

Caramel thought about it for a moment, but then he noticed the frown she was throwing at him, and quickly decided that this was a fight he was not going to win. Giving Cinnamon to Golden took only a few moments, and now Golden was happily humming to herself, as her tail happily swished back and forth.

"Okay, lets get a move on. What was the name of that town?" Caramel looked out at the rolling hills of waving grass.

Golden stepped up next to Caramel. "It's called Galloping Springs."

Glancing at Golden, Caramel grinned at her. "Well Golden, you feel like going on a walk with me?"

Meeting his gaze, Golden smiled back. "The weather is perfect, and the landscape is beautiful. With a adorable filly in my possession and a handsome stallion by my side, nothing would please me more."

"Well then, lets be off." Together, they moved away from the train, and began walking north.

Author's Notes:

*Many fans have nicknamed Golden Harvest, Carrot Top. But I found that when I tried using the name Carrot, it just didn't have the right feeling as what I was wanting for her. So I decided to go with her original name of Golden Harvest.
*I wrote and rewrote Caramel's confession a dozen times trying to get the right feeling for it, I hope it comes through okay.
*I mentioned Golden Harvest's brother Oregon Trail. This characters has gone though several changes. Oregon Trail is a background pony seen in several episodes: Family Appreciation Day, and The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. He is dirty tan with light straw colored mane with a wagon wheel cutie mark.

Bitternut Dandy is based on a background pony seen in "The Gift of a Maud Pie" He is Unnamed Earth Stallion #5 seen in a window.