It had been six months since the wedding of Twilight Sparkle, now Twilight Apple, and Big Macintosh Apple. The newlyweds were living in the Golden Oaks Library, and Twilight was currently eight months pregnant with their first child. With all this going on, Big Macintosh was having a harder time doing as many work hours as he usually did at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack decided they needed some outside help, so she sent a message to her cousin Braeburn out in Appleoosa. A few days after contacting him, Applejack, Big Macintosh, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Hayseed Turnip Truck, and Fluttershy waited for Braeburn to arrive at the train station. Rainbow Dash wasn’t present, as she was busy with her high flying career with Equestria’s best flyers, the Wonderbolts. She was managed by her loving husband, famed author Bookworm Scholar. Pinkie Pie was hopping about in excitement, as she always loved greeting visitors, but Applejack seemed a bit frustrated.
“Applejack, darling, why the long face,” asked Rarity.
“Ah don’t know what yer talkin about,” lied Applejack.
“Aren’t you super excited for your cousin visiting,” said Pinkie Pie. “I sure am! He’s super duper fun time go!”
“I’m very happy Braeburn is visiting,” said Applejack.
“Then why do you look so annoyed,” said Fluttershy.
“No reason,” Applejack lied again.
“She’s upset cuz Braeburn is bringin a friend with him,” chimed in Big Macintosh.
“What’s wrong with friends,” said Pinkie Pie. “I love friends! Friends are the best!”
“It’s a particular friend,” said Big Macintosh.
“Malady Wesson,” said Hayseed. “Or Mal for short. He and Braeburn been the best uh friends since they could walk.”
“Sounds marvelous,” said Rarity. “But why is Applejack upset about him coming along? Won’t the extra help be a good thing?”
“Extra help is always good,” said Applejack in monotone.
“Ah’d help out more if ah didn’t have to watch the park,” said Hayseed.
“She and Mal don’t get along,” said Big Mac.
“Why’s that,” asked Fluttershy.
“Cuz he’s a no good bully,” exclaimed Applejack.
“He used to pick on her a little when they were kids,” said Big Mac.
“Pick on is an understatement,” exclaimed Applejack. “He’d constantly give me noogies, steal mah hat, and just chase me all over the place! He always took advantage of the fact that he was bigger than me!”
“He was just a colt, AJ,” said Big Mac. “Ah’m sure he’s matured since then.”
“Oh sure, and ah’m the ruler of Equestria,” said Applejack.
“You’re not the ruler of Equestria, Applejack,” said Pinkie Pie. “Princess Celestia is the ruler of Equestria.”
“Ah know that, Pinkie,” said Applejack. “It was sarcasm.”
“Ohhhhhhhh,” exclaimed Pinkie.
“Would this Malady Wesson be related to Smith Wesson,” asked Rarity.
“Eeyup,” said Big Mac. “The very same.”
“Who’s Smith Wesson,” asked Fluttershy.
“The Wesson Family are the biggest manufacturers of projectile weapons in all of Equestria,” said Rarity.
“How do you know that,” asked Big Mac.
“Some clients are interested in having sequenced holsters for their slingshots,” said Rarity. “But they say the Wesson line of holsters are very expensive.”
“Mal’s a heck of a shot,” said Hayseed. “He could castrate a fly from over a hundred yards away with his eyes closed.”
“Sounds impressive,” said Rarity.
“He’d always fling apples at me with his dang slingshot,” said Applejack.
“Sounds like he was teasing,” said Rarity. “My guess is, he had a bit of a crush.”
“Oh please,” said Applejack. “No bully like that gets crushes.”
“Whatever you say,” said Rarity with a giggle. “I bet he’s handsome too.”
Hayseed gave Rarity a look.
“Now now, dear, I still only have eyes for you,” assured Rarity.
She leaned in and gave her colt friend a passionate kiss. When she was done, Hayseed blushed brightly and grew a big, goofy grin. It was his goofy grin that Rarity found to be his cutest feature. The two of them had been dating over a year now, and about a week ago Hayseed finally got the courage to propose to Rarity. Fluttershy and Snowflake had had a secret wedding together, because Fluttershy didn’t want a huge fuss made about her getting married. Of course, a week or so later, Pinkie Pie threw a party for the timid pegasus pony with just their closest friends. Snowflake wasn’t with them now because he was the gym teacher at the Ponyville Schoolhouse; this was also why Apple Bloom wasn’t there to greet her cousin. Finally the train pulled into the station. Pinkie Pie began tossing confetti all over the station.
“He hasn’t even gotten out of the train, dear,” said Rarity.
“It’s always fun to throw confetti though,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
Out of the train came cousin Braeburn.
“Howdy, ya’ll,” exclaimed Braeburn.
He went over to give Applejack a big hug, along with Big Macintosh.
“Cousin Applejack, it has been way too long,” exclaimed Braeburn. “And Big Macintosh! It has been even longer! And is that Hayseed Turnip Truck?! Ah thought he lived in Canterlot?”
“Ah was, fer a while,” said Hayseed. “But ah moved back nearly two years ago. Ah’m now the groundskeeper of the park here.”
“Well that’s fantastic,” exclaimed Breaburn. “Why Miss Rarity, still looking lovely as always! Miss Fluttershy, a real pleasure! And Miss Pinkie, ah see you already brought out the confetti!”
“Sure did,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “It’s super duper exciting to see you again, Braeburn! Rainbow Dash couldn’t make it because she’s a Wonderbolt! Twilight couldn’t come because she’s really really REALLY pregnant now and can’t walk around very far!”
“That’s right, ah almost forgot,” said Braeburn. “Big Mac here’s gonna be a daddy! Ah can’t wait to see the birth of yer little fella!”
“So where is he,” asked Applejack morosely.
“Ya mean, Mal,” asked Braeburn.
“Course ah mean, Malady,” said Applejack.
“You know you can always call me, Mal,” said a pony coming out of the train.
Out of the train was a large, white stallion, with a dark brown mane and blue eyes. He was a little taller than Big Macintosh, was wearing a black stetson hat, and had a black bulls eye for a cutie mark. He tipped his hat to the welcome party, while sporting a large smile on the right side of his face.
“Everypony else calls me that,” said Mal.
“Yeah, well, ah just prefer calling you Malady,” said Applejack.
“Suit yerself,” said Mal, still smiling big. “Janaluska.”
“Why you,” exclaimed Applejack.
“Janaluska,” exclaimed Rarity and Fluttershy.
“You guys didn’t know Applejack’s real name was Janaluska Clementine,” said Pinkie.
“How the hay did you know that,” exclaimed Applejack.
“Duh! I know everything about everypony in Ponyville,” said Pinkie Pie. “I thought you knew that by now.”
“Whatever,” said Applejack, taking her attention back to Mal. “Nopony calls me that and you know it.”
“Well, nopony calls me Malady,” said Mal with smugness in his voice.
“Ya’ll think yer so charmin,” exclaimed Applejack.
“Ah never said no such thing,” said Mal. “But, ah can’t control what you think of me.”
Applejack face went red at that remark.
“You sure are turning red, Applejack,” said Pinkie Pie.
“Ah am not,” exclaimed Applejack.
“Are you sure,” said Pinkie Pie. “Because you sure look red.”
“Pinkie Pie, knock it off,” exclaimed Applejack.
Pinkie Pie finally took the hint based on Applejack’s tone. Pinkie turned her attention to Braeburn.
“I should show you around Ponyville when you’re free,” said Pinkie Pie.
“That sounds mighty fine,” said Braeburn with a enthusiastic smile. “Ah can’t think of a better pony to show me around. You seem to know all there is to know.”
“You betcha,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.
“Might as well show me some of the town now,” said Braeburn. “After all, ah don’t wanna head to farm without getting to see Miss Twilight and her growin belly.”
“Okie dokie lokie,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Let’s move out!”
“Ah do believe this is gonna be a fun trip,” said Mal, giving a wink to Applejack.
Applejack simply gave Mal an extremely annoyed look.