Living with her all her life, Big Macintosh has seen the array of emotions his sister has expressed. Her main reaction was the initial response of frustration if she had felt wronged. There were many times where her irritation caused emotional explosions, but there were three that were the most prominent in his memory.

The earliest one was when they went to a harvest festival. They were only foals, but Granny Smith figured they had reached the right age to appreciate the culture and celebration of it all. Applejack's bangs covered her eyes at the time, so she sensibly came to the conclusion to cut them. Big Macintosh volunteered to trim them so that they were sure to be even. Given the fact that hooves don't necessarily have the best of grips, his promise didn't hold up to the guaranteed result. To this day, he still cannot comprehend how such a young filly could injure his leg to where he had to wear a splint temporarily. The second time involved less physical fighting and more of running the mouth. Second explosion happened when they were slightly older as they got Winona as a puppy. It wasn't truly his fault; Big Macintosh couldn't help that the Sheppard took a better liking to him than to Applejack originally. Luckily, as they grew up, Winona warmed up to Applejack and are now inseparable. The most recent time she had an outburst was comment that Big Macintosh had made about her figure. He joked she should be cautious what she should be eating after observing her balance a pie in one hoof, a slice of carrot cake on her back, and a cookie in her mouth at the last convention. Before he could assure he was just jesting with her, he found himself wiping the pie crusts off his face. They both laugh about it now, thankfully. However, he still makes sure to tell his sister how beautiful she looks every day. Mainly because he loves to see her happy but also due to the tedious amount of time that had been burned into his mind it took to wash out the jam in his fur.

Most of her flare-ups had been towards him so he had become accustomed to it. However, heading over to his room, he heard her voice ring throughout the locomotive and quickly galloped to the kitchen without hesitation. Stopping in front of the doorway, he saw the blonde mare standing up with her chair knocked over behind her as Rainbow Dash glared at her.

"Mah cousin? And you?" Shifting her eyes around the room, the cyan Pegasus dropped her head. "Ah don't believe it. How? How did this happen? How?"

"I think you know how this happened, AJ," Rainbow muttered, slowing raising her head up. "Didn't ya learn about the birds and the bees?" Whenever an awkward situation would present itself to Rainbow, she couldn't help but make flat teases to help levitate the problem.

"D'ya think this is some kinda joke?" Applejack boomed. "It's bad enough that ya screwed up in this but now mah family has tah be dragged in this? And all y'all can do is make fun and avoid mah eyes?"

"Now now, Applejack," Big Macintosh interrupted, joining her side, "Ya don't want tah say anythin' you'll regret."

"Try to put yourself in my position, will ya?" Rainbow shot back, bringing herself to her hooves, "I'm worse off than you so what are you complaining about?"

"Ah'm not complainin', Ah'm just in shock, that's all."

"I'm in shock, too! I just found out about this earlier in the afternoon. I wish you would stop being so overprotective and judgmental about this! I thought you'd be the most understanding and most supportive. I can't believe what kind of friend you are now!"

"Oh you mean like you have these past years?" Applejack responded, seeing the bewilderment form in Rainbow's visage, "What happen to us? We use tah tell each other everythin'. We use tah be close, remember that? You were mah best friend and Ah was yours. It was that way ever since we were little fillies. Ever since ya joined the Wonderbolts and began this fancy celebrity life, Ah became nothin' to ya. No letters, you barely visit, you became too busy for me. I'm happy that ya achieved your dreams and goals, I know how hard and long you've been working for this, but it seemed as if ya cared less and less about my things I cared about. And now ya finally see me tah tell me that you're having my cousin's foal." Rainbow snorted her breaths hard.

"You're saying I'm the one who changed, but listen to yourself. If I was your so-called friend, you wouldn't treat me like dirt like you are now." She began to turn to the entry way before the country mare ran in front of her after a long silence.

"Rainbow-"

"Forget it," she cut in, walking out the room, "I'm going to bed."

"Rainbow! Don't walk away, we're not gonna solve anythin' if you-" The sound of the door shut evaporated the small amount of patience Rainbow had for her friend. Applejack faced her brother with her eyes welling up. "A-Ah didn't mean tah hurt her feelings."

"I know," he comforted, wrapping his leg around her as she buried her head into his chest.

"Ah couldn't help mahself. A-Ah was just sayin' what came tuh mah mind. Why do Ah have such a big mouth?"

"What happened sugarcube?" She hesitated slightly then blew out a lengthy sigh.

"She's havin' Brae's foal." There was no reply from him. For several moments, the two horses stood in the middle of the floor. He rubbed her neck after she whimpered slightly.

"Listen, nopony did anythin' wrong," he began, "Nopony don't want tah be in these situations. She's in her room blowin' steam off and gettin' ready for a new day and fresh start. Ah reckon you should do the same."

"You're right," she admitted stepping back, "Thanks. Good night, Big Mac." As she walked to her room, she halted as she heard her brother say her name. "Yes?"

"You look beautiful tonight," he complimented, giving a small grin.

………………………………........

Feeling the sunlight against her fur, Rainbow leisurely revealed her magenta orbs to the scenery outside the window. As she stretched her wings upward, she closed her eyes again when the sound of her door opening occurred.

"Rainbow?" Applejack whispered, tiptoeing towards her bed. "Are ya awake?" She settled herself next to her pseudo-slumbering friend. Comparing her legs to the Wonderbolt, she noticed the dramatic changes in size and shape. From years of apple bucking, Applejack's muscles were strongly defined making her legs shapelier that Rainbow's. Overall, Rainbow's body was much thinner, yet toned, due to her build as a Pegasus and professional athlete while Applejack's had more bulk. However, the light from outside slightly washed the colors from Rainbow’s body, making her look almost fragile. She frowned at the thought of the delicate appearance of the winged pony had to carry another life in her. Now, she could grasp the fear that Rainbow was feeling which only made her cringe at her behavior the night before.

"I'm awake," she answered, startling Applejack.

"Ah just wanted tah apologize for how Ah acted yesterday. It was outta line fer me to judge ya like that." Rainbow turned over onto her back to face her.

"It was a lot that I put on you," she admitted, "I wasn't expecting you to be exactly happy about it. Celestia knows I'm not."

"Well, this is an unfortunate incident, but we're gonna get through it. Ah'll be there every step of the way fer ya."

"Applejack? I'm sorry that I haven't been keeping touch with you. It's just-" A hoof rested on her mouth.

"That's fer another time, sugarcube." The duo grinned at each other as a quiet agreement. "So are ya plannin' on seein' Brae and tellin' him?"

"That's the plan."

"Just the thought of you and mah cousin…havin' a foal…is just…"

"Distressing? Scary? Disappointing? Careless?"

"Weird." Unexpectedly, Rainbow started to giggle then shrieked in laughter. "What's the matter?

"Out of all the words I felt these past two days--heck even further than that-- I would've never thought of that one. But, I mean, it's perfect. Weird." She laughed more with Applejack joining her. "This whole thing is just so…strange," she declared, causing their guffaws to grow louder.

"Mah word, RD," Applejack said, stifling her chuckles as the train stopped, "You're such a weirdo. C'mon, we've a reunion to get to."

…………………………….

Settling in the cabin by the station, the Apple family rested inside while Rainbow sat on the porch by herself.

"Rainbow, can ya help me with this?" Applebloom asked.

"Sure thing, ki--gah!" she exclaimed, staring at the clay-covered filly, "What did you do to yourself?"

"Ah'm still tryin' tah get mah cutie mark," she exclaimed, handing her the hose in her hoof, "Ah'm scared, Rainbow. What if Ah never get it? I mean, even Sweetie Belle got her cutie mark months ago of a microphone and Scootaloo got hers way before us of a skateboard! When am Ah gonna get mine?"

"Well wasn't your sister, like, the last one to get hers in her class?" Rainbow questioned, turning on the water. She watched some of the gray slop off the yellow pony. "Maybe you'll be a late bloomer, too, or something. What were you even trying to do?"

"Ah was makin' ceramic pieces for the dinner. Ah don't know what tah do. Got any advice?"

"Well, let's see," Rainbow thought out loud, running her hoof through her pink strands to get rid of the excess, "Your sister Applejack has a cutie mark of three apples. Your brother Big Macintosh has a cutie mark of a big green apple. Granny Smith has apple pie, Apple Fritter has an apple fritter, Braeburn has a red apple, Apple Tart has a pink apple. You live on an apple farm. Got the picture, Applebloom?"

"Huh," she murmured, furrowing her eyebrows, "Yeah, yeah I think so. I got it!"

"What are ya thinking, kiddo?"

"Water-rafting! Gee, thanks fer the idea!"

"That's not what I-" she watched Applebloom gallop back into the cabin and shrugged, "I hope she has insurance."

………………………………................

Rainbow had never been to a family reunion before. Honestly, these sorts of events intimidated her, especially as an outsider. She had never been fortunate and blessed like Applejack had been with the amount of relatives she had. Not only just the large number of family members, but the closeness that Applejack seemed to share with them--even the distant ones. Sitting in her chair, Rainbow smiled to herself as she watched her country counterpart interact with the others at the dinner table. It had been a long time since she had seen her and realized how much she terribly missed her. A high pitched giggle escaped from her mouth as she recalled a memory with a great aunt. She tried to figure out whether the new colt was her third or fourth cousin with their parents. Finally, she gave up and decided to call him a cousin, claiming she was never good at 'fancy mathematics' anyway. Applejack had also tried to coax a timid young filly from behind from her father's leg to play loopty hoop with Applebloom.

Rainbow Dash had also gotten attention as well.

"Oh, sweetheart you're so tiny! Have some mash potaters!"

"Please, try the cranberry sauce!"

"Don't be shy! Try the salad!"

"Where did you say you were from again?"

"Is your mane naturally those colors?"

"Are ya one of them Pegasus ponies?"

"D'ya wanna dance?"

"Huh?" she retorted, her cheeks filled with food. Pulling her head upward to gulp, she let the food uncomfortably slide down her throat.

"I said, would ya care tah dance with me?" Apple Strudel offered, holding out his wrinkled hoof, "Promise tah try tah keep up with me!"

"Sure thing," she accepted, pushing herself off the seat to join him with the rest of the ponies on the dance floor. The live band surrounded around the grooving ponies as they all screamed in delight. For an elderly pony, Rainbow noted, Apple Strudel was moving just fine. Suddenly, the leader of the music group stepped up towards the microphone.

"Swing yer parner 'round and 'round, stomps yer hooves into the ground!"

"This is fun!" she shouted over the music.

"Heh?"

"I said this is…never mind!"

"Now go faster as you dosey-doe, but be careful not to let go!" As Apple Strudel hooked his foreleg around hers, Rainbow found herself struggling to keep up with him.

"You're kinda fast!" she panted, speeding up with him. The atmosphere turned into colorful blurs and she begged him to slow down. Unable to hear her, he galloped hastier, catching up with the music. They lost their grip and she stumbled the opposite direction from him, baring a large smile from the excitement. Yet again, living up to her nickname, she crashed into another body and quickly stepped back to apologize. A familiar face turned to look at her with a subsequent gleam in his emerald eyes. Her body stiffened as he readjusted his hat and blew away his light-colored curls.

"Well howdy, Miss Dash!"