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Description
Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to The Hub, Hasbro, Studio B, and Lauren Faust. I do not own any of these characters in any way or how, nor do I claim ownership to the pony franchise. These characters are simply my toys.

------------------------------------------------------------
"Same shit, different day."
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Winding Roads
Chapter 1: The Bar

It really wasn't the things everypony said to him that made him like he was worthless, nor was it the way ponies treated him.  No, it was the way the townsfolk, good friends, and even his own family began to look at him.  Their gazes alone acted like they knew him and his entire life story after he let it slip.  He wasn't happy with himself, his own folks made sure to make him feel more than ashamed about it, which he was already thanks to them.

He blinked several times as he walked down the middle of the street with his head hung slightly, a his cowpony hat covering his eyes as he grumbled something under his breath "'T'aint fair..."  He glanced around at all of the faces.  Almost all of them looked at him like he was a criminal, and stabbed his heart deeper than any words had ever done before.  He sighed out loudly and blew out another sigh forcefully.

His back hooves ached from all of the apple bucking he had done that day.  His employer was one of the few ponies who would still talk to him without being overly judgmental about what he said.  Then again, he remained one of the most loyal employees, considering his circumstances he had to, and never complained about the long hours or under pay.  He needed to work, just to live, like everypony else.

His emerald colored eyes blinked slowly as the twilight sky began to set in the distance.  He really didn't want to go home and find out what surprise somepony would have left in his apartment.  Another death threat?  A flier trying to change him?  Or maybe another classic, a rock flying through his window with a hate letter attached!  Yippie...

The yellow pony licked his lips as he felt his mane stick to his face.  His body was still sleek with sweat from all of the running and bucking he had to do.  He wasn't one to complain, but it was pretty bucking hot.  It was one of those days were your skin stayed moist from sweat even indoors and you simply needed a nice and cool shower.  Appleloosa was famous for things like that, being so far south, Celestia couldn't help that the sun was so much closer to them, she simply rose and set it every day.

The earth pony sighed yet again.  Sighing had become a major habit of his, he wasn't able to help it much at this point he had become so accustomed to it.  He lifted his head just as the last essence of twilight was about to fade from the sky.  He glanced to the local watering hole, The Salt Block.  Of course they sold real bar drinks, but almost all of their food was covered in pounds of salt.  And in this kind of weather, he knew the owner was just a cheapskate who gave unsuspecting tourists a free sample only to charge them twenty bits for a glass of water.  It was a good strategy yes, but a little cruel in Braeburn's eyes.

He blinked several times once more to get his eyes adjusted to the darkness, only to find himself wandering straight to the door of The Salt Block.  He wasn't usually one to drink, but these days he found himself needing one or else he wouldn't be able to get to sleep his thoughts were so clouded with thoughts on how he was ever going to pay the rent.

The bartender looked grumpy, but to be fair, he usually looked like that, but to be unfair, it didn't help when he grumbled something under his breath the moment Braeburn walked in.  The yellow earth pony did a quick glance around the room.  There was only one other customer in the place, which was odd considering that this was the only saloon in town, but then again it wasn't the weekend.

The first thing that drew Braeburn's attention about the customer was the large wings pressed against his back as he sat on a small cushion right in front of the counter.  His coat was a light blue while his mane and tale were a dark, royal blue, and extremely messy and wind blown by the looks of it.  It was almost as if the colt flew all the time and his hair had just become stuck like that.

Braeburn shrugged it off as the colt just being a passerby stopping for a drink and a place to rest for the night as he trotted up "The usual..." He grumbled to the taller, gray colt with greased hair in a fancy looking tuxedo.  He had a single eyepiece and a black mustache.  He seemed too proper to fit in this town, but then again, Braeburn wasn't one to speak with all the rumors...

"Hmpth!" The grumpy colt said before rolling his eyes and walking off.  Braeburn sighed.  Another day without any small talk between them.  There hadn't been much day to day conversations with the other townsfolk since everything happened...

The yellow pony glanced to his right, a brow cocking up as he saw the pair of blue goggles with a lightning bolt hanging around his neck by a rubber strap.  The earth pony blinked.  He could have swore he knew that design from somewhere...

Thoughts one again were interrupted when a glass was all but slammed in front of him.  He blinked and looked up at the owner before reaching into his vest pocket and pulling out a bit and placing it on the counter.  The owner looked at it as if it contained unspeakable filth.

"Damn coltcuddler..." He grumbled rather loudly, making sure that Braeburn heard it.  The earth pony winced, he didn't even try to hide it.  That damn word that had followed him for the past three months still stung him deep in his chest.  He didn't know what he was supposed to do either, he was in no way violent nor unfriendly, even when he tried his best.  He just sat there and took it.  The colt sitting next to him suddenly glanced over at him with a raised brow.  He must think he was disgusting.  The corner of his emerald eyes couldn't read past the pegasi's poker face.

The bartender turned to walk away and Braeburn grumbled out something as his money moved away from him.  He went to grab the cool glass just to get his damn thoughts and feelings hazy before a voice interrupted him.

"Dude, I wouldn't drink that..." The colt next to him suddenly whispered.  Braeburn stopped what he was doing.  The voice of the other obviously wasn't from around these parts, if anything it sounded slightly redundant or jockey.  Braeburn didn't hate sports, he just found no interest in them.  he glanced over at the other and blinked slowly, confusion showing on his face.

"I seriously think that dude spit in it." He grumbled out, pointing with his head toward the gray owner.  Braebrun glanced at the owner then back into the colt's green eyes that mirrored his own.  He sighed before pushing the drink away and lying his head on the table.  He wouldn't put it past the gray stallion to do something like that.

Something cold hit his arm as Braebrun glanced to his side to find the other had moved closer to him.  The colt blinked before sitting up and noticing the half empty drink rubbing against his sweaty coat.  "W-Wha... what's this 'ere for?" He asked.

"Dunno dude, you just seem like you need a pick me up.  Wasn't gonna tell you 'cause I thought you might be a jerk, but after he said that..."  The light blue pegasus mumbled "Might be covered in my slobber, but it sure as hell ain't some cranky salt man's spit!" He seemed friendly, and he knew about the rumor spreading around... what was the catch?

Braeburn felt something hit his stomach as it suddenly became light and bouncy.  He swore in his mind at himself to get a grip before he looked at the drink.  He shrugged and took it, gulping half of the half in less then a second before gasping for air and setting it down.  The other looked at him and smiled warmly.

"Name's Soarin... probably heard of me..." He said the last part with a little bit of a sigh, yet he was sticking out his chest like he should be proud as he shifted on his rump.  He was a few inches taller than Braeburn, and seemed strong for being a pegasus.

"Sorry... 'ould I?" Braeburn asked, running his hoof through his soft, golden mane awkwardly.

Soarin looked shocked a moment before smiling happily.  He didn't seem all that bright, but he didn't seem all that terrible or mean either.  "No, I guess not... it's kind of a refresher after all the crazy fangir-" He cut off his own speech before chuckling awkwardly "Never mind, dude."

What in Equestria was a dude?  Braeburn hadn't seen many pegasus in his life, he was born and raised in a colony surrounded by earth ponies, and only recently left for Appleloosa, which only had earth ponies as well.  The few times he had seen any real pegasi or Unicorns were passerby travelers or his cousin Applejack's unicorn and pegasi friends.  Did they all talk like this?

"Um... t'anks for the heads up back 'er." Braeburn mumbled, taking another small sip.  The eyes of the other looked at him, his cheeks rose to a blush at the (likely) older pegasus's gaze.  He swore in his mind yet again.  Why was he having these damn thoughts.

"I was told things were like this here, man." Soarin grumbled out, running a hoof through his mane as he closed his eyes a moment and shook his head "Pegasus, hell, even unicorns don't treat me this badly!" He grumbled.  "I don't see why earth ponies are so intolerable about this crap." Braeburn felt like he should say something to defend his kind, but his mouth remained dry as he took another cautious sip.  He didn't feel like the insult was directed at him, so he didn't push it.

"So... what is that there... intolerable crap?" Braeburn asked, glancing to his side at the ruffs of fur on the pegasi's chest.  He looked soft... like it would feel good to take a little nap on his chest.  His cheeks flushed again.  He hated these thoughts, so damn much.

"Y'know, everypony around here against me and other coltcuddlers..." Soarin grumbled.  Braeburn almost spit out his drink that shocked him so much.  He slammed a hoof over his mouth to keep the drink in before swallowing roughly and gasping for air.  This pegasus was a coltcuddler?  He seemed to... attractive to be a... No, wait, he was not attractive, just handsome, in a mares perspective.  Braeburn felt angry at himself again.

Soarin chuckled "That much of a shock eh?"  He asked. "Want the truth, dude?  I like both."

Braeburn glanced at him "I-It's wrong!" He said, stunned slightly.

Soarin looked confused "Um... alright dude, whatever you say."  He sounded unconvinced "Then what was up with that comment back there from that owner?"

"It's jus' a rumor, nothin' else." Braeburn grumbled out.  He could tell Soarin was taking a good look at him, likely his mane.  He wasn't fond of his mane, it seemed too girly and soft for him.  But nonetheless, the pegasus just stared at it and chuckled gently, causing Braeburn to blush even further and bite his lip as the owner of the show.

"Pegasus... don't... think it's wrong?" Braeburn asked, stunned.

Soarin shrugged "Most of em, Unicorns usually don't care, but their a little more mixed, and then Earth ponies hate it, it's like they think we're still a hundred years in the past, the further you go this way the worse it gets.  Do you live under a rock or something country colt?"

There was something about this pegasus, something familiar... Like he had seen or heard of him somewhere before.  Braeburn took another gentle sip, blushing once more.

"So it's just a rumor eh, country dude?" Soarin asked.  Braeburn felt a little annoyance at being called a 'dude' once more.  He sighed out and glanced to the other.  It seemed rude to just tell him to buzz off, and he was too friendly after all this time of hate and nasty looks for the yellow pony to even want to turn him away "How come ya keep blushing?"  He said in a teasingly manor.

Braeburn wanted to leave that moment.  He kept reminding himself that he hated colts, and that he was supposed to be attracted to mares and mares alone.  The comments seemed to do nothing as the blush crept back as the older's snout came close enough for the earth pony to feel warm breath on his ear.  He adjusted his cowpony hat teasingly.

"I-It's hot..." He made the excuse up.  Soarin looked like he didn't buy it once more.  The two sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity and a half before Braeburn finally spoke up "'taint fair."  He mumbled, catching Soarin's attention.  "I built this here town from the 'round up, planted dem there apple trees, and I was here from the start!  Why does everypony 'ave to go and treat me like some kinda criminal!" He growled.

Soarin rolled his eyes "Lighten up man..."  This time Braeburn felt hurt, and anger was already in his blood.  He was never a hurtful or violent pony.  He grumbled out something before the pegasus spoke up again "Life's too damn short to act like you're dying."

Braeburn blinked away the tears that he could feel forming in his own eyes.  He felt angry, upset, and most of all, this pegasus was pissing him off.

"So..." Soarin began "You seem like a pretty cool little dude, wanna hook up tommorow?  Say three?"  This time Braeburn did spit out his drink, right into his hooves.  He was dead silent a few moments before closing his eyes and simply standing up and trotting out of the store in slight anger.  This time tears WERE in his eyes, and he fought to keep them down.  When he burst out of The Salt Block it was already nighttime, the sky was filled with over a million stars as the earth pony hit the ground.

"Hey, wait!" Soarin called, flying out of the saloon and landing right in front of Braeburn.  "Dude, what's up?" He asked.

Braeburn bit his lip "I ain't a coltcuddler!" He cried out, anger finally breaking his eyes "Move!"

Soarin didn't budge, somehow knowing the yellow pony didn't have the guts to kick him.  Braeburn huffed out air, his own watering eyes didn't help his image.  Soarin rolled his eyes "Denial." He mumbled "Don't see why it's such a damn big deal to you earth ponies, I can see it all over your face... and by the way, dude, it's red."

Braeburn wanted to growl, but found himself sniffling as he turned away.  He felt pissed, he really did.  He didn't think he had been this angry in a long time.  He closed his eyes and huffed and puffed "I-I can't alright, I won't!" He said.

"And...why?" Soarin asked, in a redundant voice of confusion.

Braeburn bit his lip once more "I'm on my own, alright?" He said "My 'arents kicked me out because I let it slip that I like colts, it was a gosh darn slip of the tongue, I swear, and they just blabbed 'bout it to everypony in town, almost none of them talk to me anymore.  I've been trying to gain their trust back, but if they see me with you they..." Tears were now welling in his eyes "I just want things to go back to normal... it just ain't right for me to be a coltcuddler like ya."

"Why dontchya just leave, man?" Soarin asked.

Leave?  He never even considered that.  Leaving these parts... just felt like he didn't belong.  "I'm sorry to say mister Soarin, but I don't think we see eye to eye on this, will you please just let me go?"

Soarin looked down at him before shrugging and stepping to the side.  The earth pony trotted by, glancing up at the older as he passed.  Pegasus sure were strange... he had never met somepony so... strange before...

"So.. I'll see you at three?"

Braeburn stopped dead before turning around "Come 'gain?"

"Three, for the hook-up."

"I said no!" Braeburn said, the confusion in his voice clear as day.

"So... three thirty?"

Braeburn turned and growled under his breath without saying another word, stomping away in anger, confusion, sorrow, frustration, and most of all, guilt.  He felt something when looking at the other, his cheeks kept blushing...

What an idiot...

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So... short chapter, I know, but trust me when I say it was ONLY the introduction chapter, and things till pick up after this.

Description
Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It belongs to The Hub, Hasbro, Studio B, and Lauren Faust. I do not own any of these characters in any way or how, nor do I claim ownership to the pony franchise. These characters are simply my toys.

------------------------------------------------------------
"Same shit, different day."
------------------------------------------------------------

Winding Roads
Chapter 1: The Bar

It really wasn't the things everypony said to him that made him like he was worthless, nor was it the way ponies treated him.  No, it was the way the townsfolk, good friends, and even his own family began to look at him.  Their gazes alone acted like they knew him and his entire life story after he let it slip.  He wasn't happy with himself, his own folks made sure to make him feel more than ashamed about it, which he was already thanks to them.

He blinked several times as he walked down the middle of the street with his head hung slightly, a his cowpony hat covering his eyes as he grumbled something under his breath "'T'aint fair..."  He glanced around at all of the faces.  Almost all of them looked at him like he was a criminal, and stabbed his heart deeper than any words had ever done before.  He sighed out loudly and blew out another sigh forcefully.

His back hooves ached from all of the apple bucking he had done that day.  His employer was one of the few ponies who would still talk to him without being overly judgmental about what he said.  Then again, he remained one of the most loyal employees, considering his circumstances he had to, and never complained about the long hours or under pay.  He needed to work, just to live, like everypony else.

His emerald colored eyes blinked slowly as the twilight sky began to set in the distance.  He really didn't want to go home and find out what surprise somepony would have left in his apartment.  Another death threat?  A flier trying to change him?  Or maybe another classic, a rock flying through his window with a hate letter attached!  Yippie...

The yellow pony licked his lips as he felt his mane stick to his face.  His body was still sleek with sweat from all of the running and bucking he had to do.  He wasn't one to complain, but it was pretty bucking hot.  It was one of those days were your skin stayed moist from sweat even indoors and you simply needed a nice and cool shower.  Appleloosa was famous for things like that, being so far south, Celestia couldn't help that the sun was so much closer to them, she simply rose and set it every day.

The earth pony sighed yet again.  Sighing had become a major habit of his, he wasn't able to help it much at this point he had become so accustomed to it.  He lifted his head just as the last essence of twilight was about to fade from the sky.  He glanced to the local watering hole, The Salt Block.  Of course they sold real bar drinks, but almost all of their food was covered in pounds of salt.  And in this kind of weather, he knew the owner was just a cheapskate who gave unsuspecting tourists a free sample only to charge them twenty bits for a glass of water.  It was a good strategy yes, but a little cruel in Braeburn's eyes.

He blinked several times once more to get his eyes adjusted to the darkness, only to find himself wandering straight to the door of The Salt Block.  He wasn't usually one to drink, but these days he found himself needing one or else he wouldn't be able to get to sleep his thoughts were so clouded with thoughts on how he was ever going to pay the rent.

The bartender looked grumpy, but to be fair, he usually looked like that, but to be unfair, it didn't help when he grumbled something under his breath the moment Braeburn walked in.  The yellow earth pony did a quick glance around the room.  There was only one other customer in the place, which was odd considering that this was the only saloon in town, but then again it wasn't the weekend.

The first thing that drew Braeburn's attention about the customer was the large wings pressed against his back as he sat on a small cushion right in front of the counter.  His coat was a light blue while his mane and tale were a dark, royal blue, and extremely messy and wind blown by the looks of it.  It was almost as if the colt flew all the time and his hair had just become stuck like that.

Braeburn shrugged it off as the colt just being a passerby stopping for a drink and a place to rest for the night as he trotted up "The usual..." He grumbled to the taller, gray colt with greased hair in a fancy looking tuxedo.  He had a single eyepiece and a black mustache.  He seemed too proper to fit in this town, but then again, Braeburn wasn't one to speak with all the rumors...

"Hmpth!" The grumpy colt said before rolling his eyes and walking off.  Braeburn sighed.  Another day without any small talk between them.  There hadn't been much day to day conversations with the other townsfolk since everything happened...

The yellow pony glanced to his right, a brow cocking up as he saw the pair of blue goggles with a lightning bolt hanging around his neck by a rubber strap.  The earth pony blinked.  He could have swore he knew that design from somewhere...

Thoughts one again were interrupted when a glass was all but slammed in front of him.  He blinked and looked up at the owner before reaching into his vest pocket and pulling out a bit and placing it on the counter.  The owner looked at it as if it contained unspeakable filth.

"Damn coltcuddler..." He grumbled rather loudly, making sure that Braeburn heard it.  The earth pony winced, he didn't even try to hide it.  That damn word that had followed him for the past three months still stung him deep in his chest.  He didn't know what he was supposed to do either, he was in no way violent nor unfriendly, even when he tried his best.  He just sat there and took it.  The colt sitting next to him suddenly glanced over at him with a raised brow.  He must think he was disgusting.  The corner of his emerald eyes couldn't read past the pegasi's poker face.

The bartender turned to walk away and Braeburn grumbled out something as his money moved away from him.  He went to grab the cool glass just to get his damn thoughts and feelings hazy before a voice interrupted him.

"Dude, I wouldn't drink that..." The colt next to him suddenly whispered.  Braeburn stopped what he was doing.  The voice of the other obviously wasn't from around these parts, if anything it sounded slightly redundant or jockey.  Braeburn didn't hate sports, he just found no interest in them.  he glanced over at the other and blinked slowly, confusion showing on his face.

"I seriously think that dude spit in it." He grumbled out, pointing with his head toward the gray owner.  Braebrun glanced at the owner then back into the colt's green eyes that mirrored his own.  He sighed before pushing the drink away and lying his head on the table.  He wouldn't put it past the gray stallion to do something like that.

Something cold hit his arm as Braebrun glanced to his side to find the other had moved closer to him.  The colt blinked before sitting up and noticing the half empty drink rubbing against his sweaty coat.  "W-Wha... what's this 'ere for?" He asked.

"Dunno dude, you just seem like you need a pick me up.  Wasn't gonna tell you 'cause I thought you might be a jerk, but after he said that..."  The light blue pegasus mumbled "Might be covered in my slobber, but it sure as hell ain't some cranky salt man's spit!" He seemed friendly, and he knew about the rumor spreading around... what was the catch?

Braeburn felt something hit his stomach as it suddenly became light and bouncy.  He swore in his mind at himself to get a grip before he looked at the drink.  He shrugged and took it, gulping half of the half in less then a second before gasping for air and setting it down.  The other looked at him and smiled warmly.

"Name's Soarin... probably heard of me..." He said the last part with a little bit of a sigh, yet he was sticking out his chest like he should be proud as he shifted on his rump.  He was a few inches taller than Braeburn, and seemed strong for being a pegasus.

"Sorry... 'ould I?" Braeburn asked, running his hoof through his soft, golden mane awkwardly.

Soarin looked shocked a moment before smiling happily.  He didn't seem all that bright, but he didn't seem all that terrible or mean either.  "No, I guess not... it's kind of a refresher after all the crazy fangir-" He cut off his own speech before chuckling awkwardly "Never mind, dude."

What in Equestria was a dude?  Braeburn hadn't seen many pegasus in his life, he was born and raised in a colony surrounded by earth ponies, and only recently left for Appleloosa, which only had earth ponies as well.  The few times he had seen any real pegasi or Unicorns were passerby travelers or his cousin Applejack's unicorn and pegasi friends.  Did they all talk like this?

"Um... t'anks for the heads up back 'er." Braeburn mumbled, taking another small sip.  The eyes of the other looked at him, his cheeks rose to a blush at the (likely) older pegasus's gaze.  He swore in his mind yet again.  Why was he having these damn thoughts.

"I was told things were like this here, man." Soarin grumbled out, running a hoof through his mane as he closed his eyes a moment and shook his head "Pegasus, hell, even unicorns don't treat me this badly!" He grumbled.  "I don't see why earth ponies are so intolerable about this crap." Braeburn felt like he should say something to defend his kind, but his mouth remained dry as he took another cautious sip.  He didn't feel like the insult was directed at him, so he didn't push it.

"So... what is that there... intolerable crap?" Braeburn asked, glancing to his side at the ruffs of fur on the pegasi's chest.  He looked soft... like it would feel good to take a little nap on his chest.  His cheeks flushed again.  He hated these thoughts, so damn much.

"Y'know, everypony around here against me and other coltcuddlers..." Soarin grumbled.  Braeburn almost spit out his drink that shocked him so much.  He slammed a hoof over his mouth to keep the drink in before swallowing roughly and gasping for air.  This pegasus was a coltcuddler?  He seemed to... attractive to be a... No, wait, he was not attractive, just handsome, in a mares perspective.  Braeburn felt angry at himself again.

Soarin chuckled "That much of a shock eh?"  He asked. "Want the truth, dude?  I like both."

Braeburn glanced at him "I-It's wrong!" He said, stunned slightly.

Soarin looked confused "Um... alright dude, whatever you say."  He sounded unconvinced "Then what was up with that comment back there from that owner?"

"It's jus' a rumor, nothin' else." Braeburn grumbled out.  He could tell Soarin was taking a good look at him, likely his mane.  He wasn't fond of his mane, it seemed too girly and soft for him.  But nonetheless, the pegasus just stared at it and chuckled gently, causing Braeburn to blush even further and bite his lip as the owner of the show.

"Pegasus... don't... think it's wrong?" Braeburn asked, stunned.

Soarin shrugged "Most of em, Unicorns usually don't care, but their a little more mixed, and then Earth ponies hate it, it's like they think we're still a hundred years in the past, the further you go this way the worse it gets.  Do you live under a rock or something country colt?"

There was something about this pegasus, something familiar... Like he had seen or heard of him somewhere before.  Braeburn took another gentle sip, blushing once more.

"So it's just a rumor eh, country dude?" Soarin asked.  Braeburn felt a little annoyance at being called a 'dude' once more.  He sighed out and glanced to the other.  It seemed rude to just tell him to buzz off, and he was too friendly after all this time of hate and nasty looks for the yellow pony to even want to turn him away "How come ya keep blushing?"  He said in a teasingly manor.

Braeburn wanted to leave that moment.  He kept reminding himself that he hated colts, and that he was supposed to be attracted to mares and mares alone.  The comments seemed to do nothing as the blush crept back as the older's snout came close enough for the earth pony to feel warm breath on his ear.  He adjusted his cowpony hat teasingly.

"I-It's hot..." He made the excuse up.  Soarin looked like he didn't buy it once more.  The two sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity and a half before Braeburn finally spoke up "'taint fair."  He mumbled, catching Soarin's attention.  "I built this here town from the 'round up, planted dem there apple trees, and I was here from the start!  Why does everypony 'ave to go and treat me like some kinda criminal!" He growled.

Soarin rolled his eyes "Lighten up man..."  This time Braeburn felt hurt, and anger was already in his blood.  He was never a hurtful or violent pony.  He grumbled out something before the pegasus spoke up again "Life's too damn short to act like you're dying."

Braeburn blinked away the tears that he could feel forming in his own eyes.  He felt angry, upset, and most of all, this pegasus was pissing him off.

"So..." Soarin began "You seem like a pretty cool little dude, wanna hook up tommorow?  Say three?"  This time Braeburn did spit out his drink, right into his hooves.  He was dead silent a few moments before closing his eyes and simply standing up and trotting out of the store in slight anger.  This time tears WERE in his eyes, and he fought to keep them down.  When he burst out of The Salt Block it was already nighttime, the sky was filled with over a million stars as the earth pony hit the ground.

"Hey, wait!" Soarin called, flying out of the saloon and landing right in front of Braeburn.  "Dude, what's up?" He asked.

Braeburn bit his lip "I ain't a coltcuddler!" He cried out, anger finally breaking his eyes "Move!"

Soarin didn't budge, somehow knowing the yellow pony didn't have the guts to kick him.  Braeburn huffed out air, his own watering eyes didn't help his image.  Soarin rolled his eyes "Denial." He mumbled "Don't see why it's such a damn big deal to you earth ponies, I can see it all over your face... and by the way, dude, it's red."

Braeburn wanted to growl, but found himself sniffling as he turned away.  He felt pissed, he really did.  He didn't think he had been this angry in a long time.  He closed his eyes and huffed and puffed "I-I can't alright, I won't!" He said.

"And...why?" Soarin asked, in a redundant voice of confusion.

Braeburn bit his lip once more "I'm on my own, alright?" He said "My 'arents kicked me out because I let it slip that I like colts, it was a gosh darn slip of the tongue, I swear, and they just blabbed 'bout it to everypony in town, almost none of them talk to me anymore.  I've been trying to gain their trust back, but if they see me with you they..." Tears were now welling in his eyes "I just want things to go back to normal... it just ain't right for me to be a coltcuddler like ya."

"Why dontchya just leave, man?" Soarin asked.

Leave?  He never even considered that.  Leaving these parts... just felt like he didn't belong.  "I'm sorry to say mister Soarin, but I don't think we see eye to eye on this, will you please just let me go?"

Soarin looked down at him before shrugging and stepping to the side.  The earth pony trotted by, glancing up at the older as he passed.  Pegasus sure were strange... he had never met somepony so... strange before...

"So.. I'll see you at three?"

Braeburn stopped dead before turning around "Come 'gain?"

"Three, for the hook-up."

"I said no!" Braeburn said, the confusion in his voice clear as day.

"So... three thirty?"

Braeburn turned and growled under his breath without saying another word, stomping away in anger, confusion, sorrow, frustration, and most of all, guilt.  He felt something when looking at the other, his cheeks kept blushing...

What an idiot...

-------------------------------------------------------------

So... short chapter, I know, but trust me when I say it was ONLY the introduction chapter, and things till pick up after this.