It was a while before the siblings broke apart. When they finally did Mac's face was completely wet, as was Applejack's shoulder, but with a quick shake she was dry again. For a while the two of them just sat there and watched each other, both of them at a loss for words. Now what? Who was going to explain themselves first?

"So..." Big Mac started looking at the ceiling as he tried to figure out how to explain his current situation to Applejack. After a few minutes Applejack coughed and brought Mac back to reality.

"So?" Applejack asked, urging Mac to speak up.

"Well, I, uh, cam out to mourn for you and Applebloom," Big Mac started, thinking about how it all went down, "Then I found this place and Applebloom tried to attack me, only managing to scratch my leg". Applejack gave Big Mac a confused look after he said the last part.

"How did her lightly scratching your leg do this?" Applejack asked, waving her hoof in front of Big Mac's face to show what she was talking about, if he didn't know.

"It poisoned me somehow, but I got to Zecora's before it killed me, and she managed to revive me like she did for Scootaloo" Big Mac said, smiling happily, thinking about his filly that he had with Zecora.

"So how long were you with Zecora for?" Applejack asked, making Big Mac look at her in surprise and confusion.

"How did you know about that?!" Big Mac shouted. Who could have told her? Did she always know? What does it have to do with any of this? Does Granny-

"SIS!" Applebloom shouted as she jumped past Big Mac onto Applejack, making her fall backwards over the bed. The two sister's rolled around playfully before getting to their hooves and sitting back on the bed.

"She told me by the way" Applejack said, nodding towards Applebloom who was sitting next to her with a big smile on her face. Big Mac looked at Applebloom quickly, not happy with her telling Applejack about what happened with Zecora, but then again, who would have guessed she'd come back to life as well.

"So how long have you been with Zecora?" Applejack asked firmly, wanting a straight answer about it.

"Since the Cutie Pox incident" Big Mac said defeated as he lowered his head to look at the floor. He had originally gone to say thank you and apologize to Zecora for what happened, but in the end he ended up staying to help her with somethings around her house. Since she didn't have anything to pay him with she made him dinner, and then one thing led to another and...

"Wow..." Applebloom said slowly, thinking about how long the Cutie Pox incident was. Her eyes opened wide when she figured it out, surprised that her brother had managed to keep things a secret for that long. Applebloom turned to Applejack, who had a smug smile on her face.

"Good job lover boy" Applejack said as she got to her hooves, walking over to put her hooves on Big Mac's shoulder, "When do I get to meet the foal?"

"Can we go tomorrow?!" Applebloom shouted. She loved her niece more than anything in the world and loved to play with her. So did Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, but it meant something different to Applebloom. It let her feel like a real pony again, as if she wasn't a horrible monster from the forest, and it let her feel like a real aunt. Anytime Mac brought up Pearl she begged to go see her, but Mac was afraid she might do something to either Zecora or Pearl, so only Scootaloo got to see her whenever.

"Sorry Applebloom, but you already saw her this week" Big Mac said firmly, making Applebloom lower her head in sadness. Applejack quickly kicked Big Mac in the ribs, making him grunt, but he got the message.

"Okay you can come, but if you anything weird you're coming back here, got it?" Big Mac asked while leaning into Applebloom's face to drive the point home. Applebloom nodded quickly, understanding him perfectly clear. Before leaving the house Applebloom gave Applejack a big hug, quickly dashing out to go see Scootaloo as soon as she let go.

"So, what about you sis?" Big Mac asked, interested in what made her come back as a ghost. Applejack simply shrugged. She had no idea what made her come back as a ghost, but she was certainly happy to be back again, even if she was just a monster from a fairy tale. Big Mac looked Applejack over to see if she was hiding something, but he was able to see that she was telling the truth. She honestly had no idea what made her come back. The two siblings left it at that and went outside to see if the girls needed help with anything.

________________________________________________________

"Come on let's go!" Applebloom shouted, bouncing around outside the house, eager to see Pearl again. She hoped it would be even more fun now that Applejack was going to be there. As she bounced around Applejack came through the door, literally, making Applebloom stop on the spot.

"You can walk through walls?!" Applebloom shouted while running up to Applejack.

"Eeyup" Applejack replied lazily, still half asleep. She didn't know why she was tired considering she was a ghost, but she couldn't care less, the brisk air outside the house was waking her up. After a few more minutes Mac made his way out of the house, a couple of bags in his mouth. When Applejack looked inside she saw food, clothing, and what looked like medicine.

"Who's that for?" Applejack asked, pointing a hoof at the bags.

"Pearl" Big Mac grunted through the bags, finding it hard to talk and hold them at the same time. The three of them quickly left the camp after Big Mac got comfortable with the bags in his mouth, and withing minutes were standing outside of Zecora's house. Big Mac knocked softly, the zebra quickly appearing on the other side. The two of them nodded at each other and the Apples made their way inside. Without saying anything Zecora handed Big Mac the foal and went to her bedroom. A few moments loud snores could be heard coming from inside the room.

"She must have been really tired" Applebloom said, noticing a note sitting on the main table. She quickly read it over before saying anything else.

"I guess Pearl kept her up last night" Applebloom said, putting the note back down. Big Mac chuckled as he held Pearl, rocking her back and forth on his back. Applejack watched carefully, being slightly afraid that Mac might sway to the side just a tiny bit too much and drop the foal on the ground. Applebloom laughed as she watched Applejack watch Pearl like a hawk, just in case something might happen. Knowing that Applejack would probably jump to catch Pearl, Applebloom tapped Big Mac, making him tip a bit too much to one side, causing Pearl to roll of his back.

Applejack's eyes opened wide as she dived for Pearl, only to see Applebloom balancing her on her head,  a smug smile on her face. Applebloom laughed as Applejack turned around, cursing under her breath as she looked for a place to sit. After a while she calmed down and eventually joined Applebloom in playing with Pearl. Despite Pearl having never seen Applejack before she seemed to like her more than Applebloom.

"Why is she going to you more than me?" Applebloom whined as Pearl turned to play with Applejack for the tenth time.

"I don't know, maybe she knows I'm friendlier" Applejack said smugly, laughing as Applebloom stuck her bottom lip out to pout. Pearl seemed to pick up on it and she quickly crawled over to Applebloom, pushing her down on her back. Applebloom quickly started laughing as she rolled around on the floor, hugging Pearl as she did. Applejack smiled before turning to face Big Mac, but he had left the room.

"Mac?" Applejack asked as she slowly opened the door to Zecora's room, finding her brother sitting next to her bed, holding onto her hoof, "Are you okay Big Mac?"

"Eeyup" Big Mac replied quietly as he got to his hooves, rubbing Zecora's forehead before leaving the room. Applejack watched as he took a seat on the couch, watching Applebloom and Pearl roll around with a blank face. She worried sat next to him, putting her hoof on his shoulder, but he didn't turn to her.

"What is it sis?" Big Mac asked, faking interest in what Applejack had to say.

"What's going on with you, you seem down" Applejack asked, receiving a grunt from Big Mac. He got off of the couch and headed outside, nodding to Applejack so she would follow him. When they got outside Big Mac let out a tired sigh.

"I can't take it sis" Big Mac admitted, confusing Applejack.

"Can't take what?" Applejack asked, moving forward to comfort Big Mac.

"Leaving Zecora alone like this, to raise Pearl all on her own" Big Mac said sadly, looking inside at Pearl, who was bouncing around on Applebloom's back, "But I can't leave the girls alone"

"I know it's hard Mac, but maybe now that I'm here..." Applejack said slowly, remembering her own problem. She wouldn't be able to watch the girls as well as Mac. He was big, strong, and was physically there, Applejack was a ghost, they could probably run right through her if they tried.

"Here, what if you stayed here most of the day, and when you're back at the camp I'm here?" Applejack suggested, knowing then Mac might be able to rest easy knowing somepony is always with Zecora. Big Mac looked at Applejack worriedly.

"Are you sure about this sis?" Big Mac asked, hoping she would say yes.

"Eeyup" Applejack said with a smile, "They are family after all"

"Thank you so much sis" Big Mac said happily as he moved in for a hug, only to find himself face first in the mud. When he looked up he didn't see Applejack, but upon looking into the house he found her, scolding Applebloom for doing something.

"I won't tell him this time, but do it again and that's it" Applejack warned Applebloom. She saw her start to turn, her hungry eyes looking at Pearl.

"Tell me what?" Big Mac asked, the door open behind him,

"Nothing!" the two of them said quickly. Big Mac smiled as he made his way to the couch again, laying down on his side with his legs falling over the edge. Withing minutes he was asleep, making Applejack smile. With he worries gone he was finally able to sleep peacefully. Or he did, until Applebloom found a marker and drew on him with Pearl.