The next morning, Diamond Tiara woke up and said to herself, This isn't my room. then she remembered everything. The storm knocked her house's power out so she and her father were staying with the Apples. She looked over to the other bed and saw it was empty, and the door to the room was slightly ajar, letting in the smell of bacon and eggs.
Getting up rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Tiara started brushing her hair and got dressed.
A knock came to the door. "Hey Diamond Tiara," Apple Bloom's voice said "We're getting breakfast up, if you want any."
"Ok," Tiara said checking herself over before leaving the room.
*
Down in the kitchen Applejack was dishing up the bacon and eggs onto the plates while Big Mac was setting the table.
Diamond Tiara walked into the kitchen looking around.
"Where's my dad?" was the first question she asked.
"He went back to your house to check the power," Big Mac said pulling out a chair for her.
The front door opened and into the kitchen walked Filthy Rich looking a bit disappointed.
"I take it that your house isn't fix yet then sir." Apple Bloom asked sitting at the table herself across from Tiara.
"Not yet," he said.
"Well just like last time, you're welcome to stay as long as you need." Granny Smith said coming in to the kitchen herself hearing the bad news.
Everyone looked at her, then to Filthy Rich and back to Granny Smith.
"What do you mean 'like last time' Granny?" Applejack asked.
"Well, this isn't the first time I was invited to stay here because of a storm," Filthy Rich said.
Apple Bloom was thinking about what Mac had said yesterday about how they place jam and cider apart for Fancy Pants because he stayed here with Mac.... Which meant, because Filthy Rich has the same deal, and he just said he stayed here before too....
"Pa did have an opposite," Apple Bloom said eyes wide.
"And that was you Mr Rich?" Applejack asked catching on to where her sister was going with this.
"It was Miss Apple," Filthy Rich said smiling "It was."
The rest of the breakfast was done in silence, only the sound of forks and knives scratching on the plates could be heard.
Until... "Mr Rich..." Apple Bloom spoke up getting everyone's attention. "What was our dad like?"
Filthy Rich looked at her and smiled a little. "He was my first and best friend," he began "He was always one that would stand up for the weaker kids at school, and help them back up after the bullies tripped or knocked them over."
"What were you like Daddy?" Diamond Tiara asked poking at the bacon on her plate a little.
There came a pause here. "Well, unfortunately I was one of those bullies Appleseed stood up against."
"Like father like daughter" Apple Bloom whispered to herself looking at Tiara's slightly shocked face.
"What was that Apple Bloom?" Big Mac asked turning everyone's attention back to Apple Bloom.
"Nothing," Apple Bloom said clearing her place. Then turning to Applejack asked "Can I go see Nutmeg AJ?"
"Want to see she's pregnant for yourself do ya?" Applejack asked lightly punching her brother on the arm when he started chuckling.
"Yeah, in fact..." Apple Bloom said thinking. "Can I call Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to come over and see her too?"
"I think one at a time will do for now Apple Bloom." Big Mac said pretending to rub his arm.
"Who's Nutmeg?" Diamond Tiara asked looking up at the three siblings.
"Nutmeg's my mare," Applejack said clearing away her place too. "And it seems that Mac's stallion has gotten her pregnant." she said going behind her brother and flicking him on the back of the head. "Thanks for that bro."
"Hey I have no control what Appleseed does behind those doors at night," Mac said rubbing his head, then turning back to Tiara continued the conversation. "Fluttershy, our horses vet, said she'll come around sometime this morning to see if she's alright."
"And because of the bet he made with me last night, he get to see his Nutmeg from the second she gets here." Applejack said placing her hat on her head, putting on her coat and heading out the door mumbling.
Silence went around the room again Granny Smith looking at her grandson. "What have I said about betting chores with your sister youngin?"
"She was up for the challenge Granny," Mac said "She didn't believe me, so we settled this like the age group we are. Besides it's only one week."
Sighing Granny Shook her head. "Just take your sister to see Nutmeg and wait for Fluttershy." she said heading for her knitting room.
"Can I come too?" Tiara asked getting down from the table and running up to Big Mac who was putting his own coat on.
"Fine by me," Mac said looking to Filthy Rich to ask his opinion, getting a nod in return, and headed out to the animal barn.
*
After a few minutes the three made it to the barn, Big Mac opened the doors and showed the girls the horses in question.
"That one is Nutmeg," he pointed to a sleeping brown mare to Diamond Tiara . "And this is Appleseed." he patted his own horse.
"They're lovely," Tiara said reaching out a hand to Appleseed. But he reared up and backed away shaking his head.
"Whoa boy, whoa," Mac said stroking his horse slowly and smoothly. "She's a new friend."
"May I take a closer look at Nutmeg, Appleseed?" Apple Bloom asked staring her brothers horse in the eye.
Waiting a few minuets as if he was thinking of something, Appleseed nodded and moved away from Nutmeg, letting Apple Bloom in.
"Wha... Why did he back away from me but let Apple Bloom pass?" Diamond Tiara asked getting up from falling over when Appleseed reared.
"It might be that you're new, and he's known Apple Bloom longer," a new voice said from the doors. Turning around everyone saw it was Fluttershy come to see Nutmeg. "Or it may have been you moved a little too fast and shocked him a bit." she said slowly reaching out a hand to be met by Appleseed's nose.
"Nice to see you Fluttershy," Big Mac said smiling.
"Hey Mac," Fluttershy said blushing slightly. "Er... Wasn't Applejack suppose to be here as well? I mean it is her horse." she said looking around.
"Oh she doesn't have time today," Apple Bloom said smiling a little. "Before she called you last night she made a bet with Mac and the loser has to do the others chores for a week."
"And that bet was to see if Nutmeg was pregnant or not?" Fluttershy asked shaking her head a smile on her face.
"Yep," Mac said.
"Well lets see how far she is then," Fluttershy said getting down to the floor to be next to Nutmeg.
10 mins later
"Well the good news is she's perfectly fine," Fluttershy said happily, getting up and brushing the straw off herself.
"And the bad news?" Mac asked egging her on.
"She'll be having it in the next few days."
"How is that bad news?" Apple Bloom asked excited.
"Its bad news because when a stallion's mare is nearly ready to give birth to it's foal, it almost never lets anyone near her." Fluttershy said stroking Appleseed who everyone just realized had been watching her the whole time.
"So what do we have to to for my Nutmeg then 'Shy?" Applejack had just entered the barn, to see how it was going.
"Keep her comfortable, keep her warm, make sure she's eating enough, and call me when the time comes." Fluttershy said getting her bag.
"Thanks 'Shy," Applejack said happily hugging her friend in thanks.
"Er... Can we invite you to lunch Fluttershy?" Big Mac asked rubbing the back of his head a little.
"Er... Ok," she replied blushing a bit, hiding behind her hair.
"So I guess that's what your sister meant by 'his Nutmeg' earlier?" Diamond Tiara asked Apple Bloom nodding to Mac and 'Shy.
"Yep," Apple Bloom said. "They've been like this for nearly a whole year and they still haven't had their first date, or their first kiss."
"Now Bloom," Applejack said "You know Mac's slow at things. Give them time and space. They'll get there eventually."
As they left Applejack stayed behind to check on her horse and have a little talk with Appleseed.
"There better be only one foal in there Seed," Applejack said stroking him while looking at Nutmeg.
Appleseed nodded as is to say 'There is'.
"I'm sorry for being so tough," Applejack said tears starting to form in her eyes. "It's just, and I know you wont want to hear this, but we lost Ma when she was having Bloom. I... I just don't want to lose anyone else."
"Hey AJ you coming?" Apple Bloom called.
"Yeah," she called back, then turning to Appleseed again said "Look after her ok." and left the barn.