//------------------------------// // Bros Know, Bro // Story: Brother Knows Best // by Stratocaster //------------------------------// Brother Knows Best By Stratocaster Chapter 1: Bros Know, Bro "Boy it sure was awful kind of your brother and Princess Cadence to come visit, Twi." Applejack said as she and Twilight walked along the fence outside of Sweet Apple Acres. "I agree," replied Twilight. "They said it was long overdue. It's nice to see the happy couple are still doing well." "Heck, I don't think I've seen either o' them since yer coronation." "Well, Cadence has been really busy lately in the Crystal Empire; and Shining Armor too with the Royal Guard. So it's just nice to see them relax and enjoy themselves." "Cadence, will you please slow down?!" called Shining Armor who struggled to keep up with his ecstatic wife on the dirt road. "Oh Armor, isn't this the cutest little farm you've ever seen?" Cadence said giddily as she stopped by the acres. Shining Armor finally staggered up to her, nearly out of breath. "Yes, dear, it's cute. But you have to give me a moment to breathe before you-" "Oh my gosh, what an adorable little dog!" squealed Cadence as she knelt down to hug Winona who licked her face. Shining Armor only sulked behind her. "Although, I've never seen Cadence quite this energetic." Twilight said. "It must be culture shock after bein' in the big crystal city." Applejack added as Shining Armor joined next to his sister. "Ugh, remind me why I married your foal sitter in the first place, Twily." He sighed tiredly. "Good to see you too big brother." Twilight smiled. "Ah I'm just fooling. It's nice to see not much has changed here in Ponyville; especially with you becoming a princess." "Oh don't worry, the library is where I belong." Twilight shrugged. "Besides, I'd never forget about all my friends." "Well I hope you're not too busy to be my little sis!" Shining Armor then grabbed her in a tight hold and mussed up her mane. "Ah! Shining Armor, cut it out!" Twilight giggled. "Is this any way to treat a princess?!" "Why it's a pleasure to meet you, fair stallion." Came Cadence's voice. Shining Armor paused to see her standing on the stone path, as a beefy red stallion knelt before her and even kissed her hoof courteously. The watchful husband walked over to the stranger, in case something fishy was happening. "Um, honey, who is this?" asked Shining Armor. "Oh! Armor, I'd like you to meet Big Macintosh, Applejack's older brother." Cadence introduced the burly farmer. "He helps around the farm with his family." Big Macintosh gave the captain an honorable salute. "Pleasure to make yer acquaintance, Captain Shinin' Armor." "Please, no need to be formal, pal." Shining Armor smiled and extended his hoof. "We're among friends! So I guess I'm not the only big brother in Ponyville, huh?" "Eeyup." "Well, I think we'll let you two boys to get to know each other." Applejack said. "C'mon Princess Cadence, how's about tryin' some real homemade apple pie?" "Sounds heavenly!" Cadence followed her and Twilight into the farmhouse, leaving the two fellow brothers standing awkwardly. Shining Armor desperately tried to make small talk. "So, uh, did you happen to see the Wonderbolt race last night?" Big Mac stared blankly. "What's a Wonderbolt?" "Oh boy..." ... After much pie eating and farm touring, the royal couple had very well enjoyed their time at Sweet Apple Acres. Shining Armor and Big Macintosh even hit it off and quickly became friends as they sat on the front porch sharing stories from growing up with Twilight and Applejack. Needless to say, they could relate to one another. "And then little Twily just let the crab out and it bit our dad!" said Shining Armor, catching his breath between laughs. Big Mac was about to fall off the bench from laughter. "Tarnation! That's just like what AJ did, but with bees!" "Oh man, sisters are just a riot sometimes!" "Eeyup!" Big Mac wiped a tear from his eye then simmered back down to his calm and deep demeanor. "Phew! But Applejack really has grown a lot over the years. An' I'm proud to see her through it all." "She's a sweet mare." Shining Armor added. "Twilight's lucky to have her as a friend." "An' Caramel's lucky to have her as a marefriend." "Caramel? Who's that?" asked Armor. "Oh, she didn't tell ya? She's been datin' my friend Caramel, who helps out around the farm sometimes. At first I wasn't so sure about it, but Caramel's pretty much like family now, so I've taken to trust him with my lil' sis. So far, they've been closer than weevils in a sack o' grain." Shining Armor pondered on the earth pony's strange analogy for a bit. "Wow, they certainly grow up fast." "Eeyup. In fact, you should see Twilight n' her new stallion." "...Wait, what?!" "Ya didn't hear?" Big Mac looked half as surprised. "Twilight also started goin' out with this feller named Time Turner. She's been invitin' him into the library a few times. An' he even brought her flowers!" "She's been dating a stallion?!" Armor blurted in shock. "Why didn't she tell me?!" "Well, she's only been seein' him recently, not as long as AJ and Caramel. Plus, you've probably been busy with Royal Guard stuff so she didn't want to bother ya." "I'm her brother! This is kind of a lot to drop on me!" "Are you okay, pardner?" asked Big Mac. "I didn't strike a nerve, did I?" "Big Mac, how well does Twilight know this Time Turner guy?" "Come to think of it, they haven't exactly been close friends. But they did know each other acquaintance-like. Although I'm not really sure what it is he does around Ponyville. Why do you ask, Armor?" "I don't like this one bit." Shining Armor suddenly grew a surly expression, worthy of a royal captain. "What if this pony is some kind of secret criminal? Or he's planning to use Twilight somehow? What if he's not really a pony at all?!" "Simmer down, fella," said Big Mac, trying to ease him. "You look like you've seen a changeling." "Buddy you have no idea. But that's not that point! I'm saying I don't trust this Time Turner to be hanging around my little Twily. He could very well be a total scumbag, and so can Applejack's new coltfriend." "Who? Caramel?" Big Mac looked skeptically. "That pony is righter than rain. He wouldn't never try anything on lil' ol' AJ." "But aren't you bothered the least bit that your own sister is letting a guy into her life?" "Look pardner, Applejack may be growin' up, but I think I'd know when she's ready for romance." Big Mac stepped up to the porch rail and looked out across the farm. "Besides, I bet this whole thing with Caramel is just a passin' fling. They'll probably just stay friends and won't do anything more than just..." He stopped and gawked as he spotted Applejack over by the fence with Caramel on the other side, holding her hoof. He laid a tender kiss on his sister's forehead causing her to smile and blush. Something inside Big Mac snapped after seeing his sister canoodling with a stallion. He narrowed his eyes as he suddenly went into primal mode. "Shinin' Armor," he said simply. "We got some no-good rustlers in the family." "Are we just going to stand by while our sisters get ensnared by their seductive tricks?" replied Shining Armor, with the same exact expression. "Nnope!"