Applejack took a deep breath and knocked on her brother's door.
"Hay, Mac. Are ya decent?" she belted into the doorjamb.
"H-hold up now!" came a very nervous voice from the other side.
"It's fine if you're gussied up, hon. Apple Bloom already told me," said Applejack. "I'm comin' in now."
Steeling her nerves for the worst, Applejack opened the door.
The room was messy. There were a few old dresses on his bed, and cosmetics littered the nightstand. Big Macintosh was cowering in the far corner. He wore a formal gown, a large blonde wig, and a lot of makeup. Applejack was impressed: if not for her brother's giant muzzle and the fact he stood sixteen hoofspan tall at the withers, he could easily pass for a mare.
She'd been worried she might laugh, but those worries were laid to rest by the expression on her brother's face. Big Mac was terrified. His legs trembled and his eyes were shut tighter than a new barn door. Applejack felt a pang hit her deep in the innards. She shut the door behind her, walked up to her brother, and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Then she stepped back and whistled. "You wear that better'n I ever could, brother. I ain't even kiddin'," she said.
"Th-thanks," he said, "but I, um, I was only practicin', case we had to do it again next year."
Applejack took a seat on Big Mac's bed. It didn't have much spring to it, since it needed to be specially reinforced to handle his weight.
"Listen Mac, we need to have us some words," said Applejack. "I'm startin' to think that maybe this thing could be about more than just the Sisterhooves Social."
Big Macintosh shook his head nervously. "Nnope," he said.
Applejack sighed. "Look here. I ain't assumin' you got some kinda issue just 'cause you dressed like a mare to help out your li'l sis," she said. "I spoke with our neighbors already, and foalks think it was mighty sweet of you."
"Then, what's the big deal?" said Big Macintosh, furrowing his brow.
"Well, word is you talked, Mac," said Applejack.
For a few awkward moments, nopony said anything.
"I can talk," snorted Big Mac, and he frowned. "I'm talkin' now, ain't I?"
"Well sure, you can talk to family. You can even sing. But you and I both know you can't speak hardly nothin' to strangers," Applejack said. "In my whole life, I ain't never heard you say more'n two or three words to anypony outside of kin. When I heard the news, it blew me away. I really wish I could have been there to see it."
Big Macintosh sat down on the edge of the bed next to his sister and stared at the floor.
Applejack put a leg around her brother. "Mac, don't you think bein' able to talk in public for the first time in your entire life might mean somethin' significant?"
"Nnope," said Big Macintosh, turning his face away. "Just means I love Apple Bloom, and that's that."
Applejack reached over and took Big Mac's jaw in her hoof and turned his face back toward hers. His makeup was immaculate.
"Well colt howdy. That face o' yours looks amazin'. Rares herself couldn't a-done it up more proper'n that," she said. "You do it all by yourself?"
"Eeyup," said Big Macintosh, with a shy smile.
"Work of that quality don't come easy. That sorta thing takes plenty practice," said Applejack, softening her tone. "Now be honest with me, brother. How long has this thing really been goin' on for?"
Big Macintosh's eyes watered and his ears fell back, and Applejack quickly hoofed him a handkerchief. "Don't muss that darlin' face up, now. It'd be a shame," she said, with a grimace.
"It's already a shame," he cried, blotting his eyes as his mascara began to run.
Applejack bit at her lip, trying not to cry herself. "No, it ain't no shame, Mac. Look, nopony in their right mind would choose to suffer like you're doin' here right now," she said.
"'Cause I ain't in my right mind," choked Big Macintosh, as streaks of black stained the hanky.
Applejack reached behind her brother and gently stroked his strong, red back with a hoof. "Now that ain't what I meant, and you know it," said Applejack. "What I mean is, whatever this thing is you're rasslin' with, it ain't no real kinda choice."
Big Macintosh sniffled a few times and blew his nose into the handkerchief.
Applejack paused for a moment as her brother dried his tears. "Do... you wanna dress like this all the time?" she asked, very gently.
"I... I don't know. Maybe just sometimes," mumbled Big Macintosh. "Oh AJ, what'll ponies think?"
Applejack huffed. "Well Mac, it don't rightly matter what other ponies think. Granny, Bloom, and I back you completely, and our friends will too," said Applejack. "Pinkie'll wanna throw you some kind of crazy party. Or more likely, a bunch of parties. Rarity's gonna want to play dress-up with you whenever she gets the chance. Now, truth be told, I don't really know what to expect from Dash and Twi. But they're both good friends with love in their hearts, and they respect you, so I'm sure they'll come around in no time."
"Fluttershy..." whispered Big Macintosh.
"I've already talked to Fluttershy, and she still fancies you," said Applejack. "You should show 'er sometime. She thinks it's kinda cute, actually."
"She... she does?" said Big Macintosh. The tears stopped rolling.
"Eeyup," said Applejack, with a smile. "Now fix yourself up, 'cause you and I got plans this evenin'."
"I ain't goin' out like this tonight," said Big Macintosh, his eyes wide.
"Course not. I just think it's 'bout time I get to know my big sister," said Applejack, with a wink.
Hearing that, Orchard Blossom dried her eyes and smiled.
