Applejack took a deep breath and knocked on her brother's door.

"Hay, Mac. Ya decent?" she asked.

"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 the 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 hooves 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 walked up to him 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 kiddin," she said.

"Th-thanks," he said, "but I, um, I was only practicin' in 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 talk. I think this is about a whole lot more than Apple Bloom," said Applejack.

Big Macintosh shook his head nervously. "Nnope," he said.

"Everypony's talkin' about it. Nothin' bad, mind you, most folks think it was sweet of you to do that for your li'l sis," she replied. "But word is, you spoke."

"I can talk," snorted Big Mac, and he frowned. "I'm talkin' now, ain't I?"

"Sure, you can talk to family. You can even sing. But we both know you can't talk 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. 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. "Don't you think bein' able to speak 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 enough."

Applejack reached over and took Big Mac's jaw in her hoof and turned his face back toward hers. His makeup was immaculate.

"Your face looks amazin'. Do it yourself?" she asked.

"Eeyup," said Big Macintosh, with a shy smile.

"Work of that quality takes plenty practice," said Applejack. "Be honest with me. How long has this been goin' on?"

Big Macintosh's eyes watered, and Applejack handed him a handkerchief. "Don't muss that pretty face up, now. It'd be a shame," she grimaced.

"It's already a shame," he cried, blotting his eyes as his mascara began to run.

"No, it ain't. Look, nopony in their right mind would choose to suffer like you're doin' right now," said Applejack.

"I ain't in my right mind," choked Big Macintosh, as streaks of black stained the hanky.

"That ain't what I meant and you know it," said Applejack. "What I mean is, whatever this thing is, it ain't no real choice."

Big Macintosh sniffled a few times and blew his nose into the handkerchief.

"Do you wanna dress like this all the time?" asked Applejack.

"I don't know. Maybe just sometimes," mumbled Big Macintosh. "AJ, what'll ponies think?"

"It don't matter what other ponies think. Granny, Bloom, and I back you completely, and our friends will too," said Applejack. "Pinkie'll wanna celebrate it. Rarity'll wanna play dress-up with you. I dunno what to expect from Dash and Twi, but they'll come around."

"Fluttershy..." said Big Macintosh.

"I've already talked to Fluttershy, and she still fancies you," said Applejack. "She thinks it's cute, actually."

"She... she does?" said Big Macintosh. The tears stopped rolling.

"Eeyup. Now fix yourself up, cause we got plans this evenin'," said Applejack.

"I ain't goin' out like this tonight," said Big Macintosh, eyes wide.

"Course not. I just wanna get to know my big sister," Applejack winked.

And Orchard Blossom smiled.