“Sooner or later you’re going to have to tell me what’s bothering you,” said Twilight as she poured some tea and pushed it over to Applejack’s side of the table.

“I don’t have to do anything,” said Applejack with a sudden burst of defensiveness.

“Then why did you come over here in the first place?”

Applejack stared at the tea in front of her and avoided making eye contact with Twilight.

“I needed to tell someone… But now I’ve changed my mind.”

“But what about the element of honesty?”

“Gosh darn it, Twilight,” said Applejack as she banged her hoof on the table. “That doesn’t…”

Twilight’s concerned smile calmed Applejack down almost instantly.

“I’m sorry, Twilight,” she said. “This just ain’t as easy as I thought. I’ve never had to share something this awkward.”

“I know. And that’s why you need to talk about it. This isn’t about your honesty or satisfying my curiosity. You should’ve seen yourself when you came bursting through my door.”

“It’s just...”

“You’re obviously really nervous about something. And it’s my duty as a friend to make sure you’re alright.”

“It sounds like it’s also your duty to nag her to death,” said Spike as he walked through the room.

Twilight turned towards Spike and glared at him.

“I appreciate your concern, Twilight,” said Applejack. “I really do. I just don’t know if I can say what I need to say. At least not right now…”

“Then why don’t you just write it down?” Spike shouted from the other room.

“That’s a great idea, Spike,” said Twilight. “I’ll go get the—”

“I CAUGHT MY BROTHER HAVING SEX WITH OUR COUSIN!” Applejack decided to get it over with, like ripping off a bandage.

Twilight stopped in her tracks and stared at Applejack. Spike’s head peaked in from the other room.

“…with your cousin?” asked Twilight.

“Yes. I heard the whole thing,” said Applejack as she nodded with her eyes closed.

“So you didn’t actually see them?” asked Twilight.

“No. But I know what I heard.”

“Oh… Well, how do you feel about them…uh, being together?”

Applejack just stared at Twilight.

“Yeah,” said Twilight looking away and tapping her front hooves together. “Dumb question.”

“What am I gonna do, Twilight? What if they keep doin’ this? What if somepony else finds out? They’ll be shamed forever.”

“Well I have to admit, I wouldn’t consider this a normal relationship… But as long as they’re happy, I have a hard time making any personal judgments myself.”

“How does that—?”

“I know. I know,” said Twilight placing her hoof on Applejack’s. “Everypony will probably have a different opinion about something like this. I just want you to know that I won’t think any less of Big Macintosh, or your cousin…or you.”

“That’s why I came here first,” said Applejack, almost to herself.

“So who is it?” said Spike, finally speaking up.

“Spike!” shouted Twilight.

“C’mon, Twilight,” he said. “Aren’t you at least curious?”

“I’m sure Applejack was planning on sharing that when she was ready.”

“I bet it’s that cute one with the green pigtails,” said Spike with a goofy smile on his face.

“Nope,” said Applejack. “It was…Braeburn.”

Twilight’s eyes grew wide, and her cheeks turned bright red. Spike barely reacted.

“Which one was she again?” he asked.

“He was the one with the blonde hair that we met at Appleloosa,” said Applejack.

“Oh yeah,” said Spike. “I remember....him?!”

Now Spike’s expression matched Twilight’s perfectly.

“I think I’ll catch you guys later,” he said. “I need to go…do some stuff.”

Spike slowly walked out the front door. Applejack watched him leave then turned back towards Twilight. Twilight still looked disturbingly dazed.

“You’re still not going to judge anypony…right, Twilight? I know it’s—”

“Who was on top?”

“Twilight!”

“I know you didn’t see them. I just want to know if you could—”

“Twilight…”

Twilight shook her head and got out of her little daze.

“I’m sorry, Applejack. I was just…curious.” Her cheeks were still bright red.

“It sounds like somepony is more than just tolerant of my brother’s new relationship all of a sudden,” said Applejack with a raised eyebrow.

“Who me? No. I just…I’m just…because…”

“It’s okay, Twilight. Don’t get yourself all worked up. I know how you feel….”

“Know how I feel about what?”

“Learning about Braeburn and my brother sorta made me…curious.”

“Oh. I think I know what the real problem is here. You’re more worried about your own curiosity, not Big Macintosh and Braeburn’s reputations.”

“He’s my brother! And Braeburn’s my cousin… I shouldn’t be feeling this way.”

“And exactly how do you feel?” asked Twilight as she went back to taking the situation more seriously.

“Well when I heard them…going at it, I was…I was….aroused. There. I said it.” Applejack slammed both of her hoofs on the table, almost knocking over her tea. “I was aroused. A. R. O. U. S. E. D. Aroused. I was aroused. I was wetter than a cat sleepin’ in a barn with no roof during a rainstorm. I was hornier than a giant spiked dragon. I was—”

“Alright,” said Twilight, holding back a laugh. “I get it.”

“Sorry,” said Applejack. “It feels good to get this off my chest.”

“I knew it would.”

Author's Note

Sorry this one doesn't actually feature Big Mac and Braeburn. They'll be in it again eventually. They're still the central focus. ;)