"So, did it work?"
"Ummm… I don't think so."
"Aw, shoot! I thought this would totally get us our cutie marks!"
"Nnnnn… ugh…"
Big Macintosh groaned tiredly, barely able to even try opening his eyes. Honestly, the workhorse didn't expect to feel this tired, since he barely ever took a nap around this time in the afternoon. Nevertheless, the red stallion took a moment before stretching out his back while lying on the couch, causing the three fillies who were standing nearby to jolt back.
"EEP! He's wakin' up!"
"How are we gonna clean it off now?!"
"Maybe he won't notice."
Mac may have still been too groggy to respond, but he heard enough from his younger sister and her friends to make his ears perk up a bit. He lifted himself up to sit upright on the couch, still keeping his eyes closed. Somehow though, Macintosh couldn't help feeling like something was… off. When his muzzle twitched a little, he felt like his whole face was heavier for some reason; in fact, it kinda reminded him of that mud bath he had when Rarity tried to bring him in for a spa day.
The stallion yawned loudly as he rubbed his eyes with his hooves, and shook his head before finally opening them. Fortunately, nothing was on his hooves when he looked down, but that didn’t change that his face felt weird. And when he looked up, Mac's suspicions only became stronger when he saw Apple Bloom and her two friends, who were all looking at him wide-eyed with their mouths tightly closed.
"Mmmph… Pbbt!" Apple Bloom struggled to keep her lips sealed shut, despite how badly it looked like she wanted to laugh. "Hmmhmm… H-hey, big brother. What's up?"
The yellow filly was only able to ask that one question before closing her muzzle again to hide a snicker. Her friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, looked equally suspicious as they turned their faces away from Big Mac.
"What's goin' on?" asked Mac as he narrowed his eyes on them.
"N-nothin'!" said Apple Bloom quickly before trying to move her gaze to the kitchen behind her. "Mmmmph!"
"Y-yeah!" added Scootaloo in an equally strained tone of voice. "W-we didn't do anything."
That comment wasn't what Big Mac needed to hear. Unfortunately, the stallion knew that he didn’t have much time to think about it when he looked up at the clock on the wall. "What the?!" said Mac as his eyes widened. "It's almost two o'clock!"
Seeing that he only had about an hour before the rodeo competition at three, Macintosh tried to rush over to the bathroom to get ready. However, Sweetie Belle zipped towards the doorway before he could reach it. "Wait! What are you doing?" asked the unicorn filly with a worried tone, despite a smile still cracking at the corners of her mouth.
"Urgh, come on!" groaned Mac as he tried to shuffle past her. "Ah gotta get ready for the rodeo!"
"Wait, that's today?!" asked Apple Bloom with a surprised expression.
"W-wait, Big Mac!" blurted Scootaloo quickly. "You don't need to go in there! You look fine."
"SCOOTS!" shouted Apple Bloom with a shocked stare at her.
Unfortunately, Macintosh already went into the bathroom, despite how much Sweetie Belle tried to get in his way. And as soon as he saw how he looked in the mirror, the workhorse gasped.
Apparently, while he was asleep, Big Macintosh's face was covered in makeup by the three fillies, who were now cracking up outside the room. Heavy streaks of blue and purple mascara were draped around the outside of the stallion's green eyes, which didn't go with his red coat at all. As soon as he blinked, Macintosh noticed that the Cutie Mark Crusaders also applied false eyelashes onto him, which explained why his eyes felt so heavy. On Big Mac's cheeks, heavy applications of pink blush were placed just underneath his freckles. And worst of all, his lips were coated in a deep red lipstick, which was outlined with a hot pink to make it stand out even more.
Big Macintosh stormed out of the bathroom, looking absolutely livid. Of course, due to the makeup he had on, none of the fillies couldn’t stop laughing. "WHAT THE HAY DID YOU GIRLS DO?!"
Pointing their hooves at the stallion while giggling, none of the Cutie Mark Crusaders were able to make a response immediately. Fortunately, Apple Bloom was the first to regain her composure enough to speak. "He he he… Sorry, Mac. We were… just tryin' ta get our cutie marks in stylin'!"
"Yeah!" added Sweetie Belle cheerfully as she wiped some tears from her eyes, "you know, so we can get something similar to Babs Seed."
Big Mac just gritted his teeth in a growl as he turned back to the bathroom, trying his hardest to not get the clippers and try to shave the fillies' heads. Without saying a word, the stallion slammed the bathroom door behind him to try and get the makeup off. While the sounds of scrubbing and water running could be heard inside the bathroom, Apple Bloom's expression turned slightly guilty. "Oh man… Ah wish Ah remembered that the rodeo was today."
"Oh, don't worry about it," said Scootaloo in a more sympathetic tone with a smirk. "It's just makeup! It'll come off easy."
Unfortunately, the orange filly's statement started to sound less true with each passing minute that Big Mac was inside the bathroom. By the time ten minutes went by, Apple Bloom wasn't the only Cutie Mark Crusader who looked concerned. As the three waited with growing worry, it wasn't until fifteen minutes that the workhorse came back out in frantic anger with his face and mane soaked. "WHY AIN'T THIS COMIN' OFF?!?"
The three fillies gasped in shock. Despite hearing nothing but scrubbing from inside the bathroom, the makeup on Macintosh's face was still on clear as day; the mascara, the blush, the lipstick. Heck, even the false eyelashes weren't able to be removed! Sweetie Belle's gaze went towards the bathroom, where she noticed that the used towels that were discarded on the floor had no makeup stains on them at all.
"Whad'ya mean it ain't comin' off?!" shouted Apple Bloom with a horrified look on her face.
Scootaloo turned over to Sweetie Belle. "What kind of makeup did you use?!"
"Hey, don't look at me!" shouted Sweetie back to her. Her horn lit up as she picked up the makeup kit with her aura. "I just got it from Rarity's room. I don't know why…"
As soon as she looked at the labeling on the makeup kit, Sweetie Belle's eyes widened in dread as her pupils shrunk. "… uh oh…"
Of all the things that Big Mac could have heard her say, "Uh-oh" may have been one of the worst. "Whad'ya mean, 'Uh-oh'?" asked the stallion firmly, but with a very noticeable hint of fear in his voice.
Sweetie Belle looked back up at him, her nervous expression only growing worse. "I'm really sorry."
"Sorry about WHAT?!"
Apple Bloom looked over at the makeup kit Sweetie was holding, and threw a hoof over her mouth as she gasped. "You used the twenty four-hour makeup!?"
"WHAT?!?" Macintosh may have not been the kind of stallion to know anything about makeup, but the words "Twenty Four-Hour" did NOT ring well in his mind. "Ya tellin' me that this is stayin' on all day?!"
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" pleaded Sweetie as she stepped back from him with a mortified look on her face. "I had no idea!"
"Wait a minute!" asked Scootaloo as she threw her hoof up and turned to her friends "You mean he has to wear that to the rodeo?"
Mac groaned as he threw his face into his hooves, already knowing what the answer to that question was going to be. Sweetie Belle only responded with a shameful nod when she looked back at Scootaloo. "Y… yeah…"
Scootaloo stayed silent for a couple of seconds, but soon grew a shameful smile before cracking up again.
"Scoot, this ain't funny!" yelled Apple Bloom angrily.
The orange filly had to take a moment to breathe before replying, "How is this not funny?!"
"GAH!" With one last glance back at the clock, Big Mac just kept a furious glare as he barreled out of the house in a frenzy. "Ah'm gonna be late!"
As the workhorse grabbed his saddle and ran off to the event, still dolled up in more makeup than a drag queen, Apple Bloom looked from the doorway before falling on her flank in guilt. "Oh no!" The yellow filly threw her face into her hooves as she tried not to cry. "It's all ma fault! And now ma brother hates me!"
Even though Sweetie Belle felt horrible as well, she put a hoof on her friend's shoulder to try and console her. "Hey, it's okay, Apple Bloom. He doesn't hate you."
"But what are we gonna do?!" cried out Apple Bloom as she sunk her face down even lower. "He's gonna look like a complete goofball!"
As the filly groaned out in frustration, Scootaloo looked between her friends and the doorway before walking over to Apple Bloom. "So, uhh… you wanna go to the rodeo and see what happens?"
Apple Bloom stayed silent for a while, but still managed to give a faint nod while her face was still covered. "… yeah."
"Urgh… come on, what's takin' him so long?!"
Applejack tapped her hoof impatiently as she waited outside the main gates for the Ponyville Rodeo Competition. Looking around, the orange mare wasn't able to see her brother anywhere in sight. Even though she knew that he's been shy about big crowds before, that went away fairly quickly after being a member of that Pony Tones group. And even before that, it's not like the stallion to ever be late for a rodeo; in fact, it's one of the biggest things that he gets excited for.
She looked back inside through the gates, seeing that the crowd was already getting anxious for the show to begin. In the crowds, Applejack smiled when she saw most of the Apple Family in attendance, save for her younger sister. Since this event was hosting ponies from all across Equestria this time, it sort of became an impromptu Apple Family Reunion since Braeburn was supposed to compete as well. But strangely enough, the yellow stallion seemed a bit absent since coming to the show earlier today; apparently, he was wanting to do something big for this, which Applejack was excited to see.
Of course, as soon as she turned back around, Applejack sighed in relief when she was her brother coming towards her. "There you are, Mac! Ya have any idea how long Ah was…"
The mare's train of thought stopped as soon as she got a good look at the red stallion shambling her way. Seeing what was on Macintosh's face, her eyes widened as she grew a baffled expression. "Mac, wha… What the hay are ya wearin?!"
Big Mac winced as he tried to turn his head away, but the makeup he was wearing was still apparent. In fact, with the saddle and other rodeo equipment he had on his back, the workhorse almost looked like a rodeo clown.
Applejack grew a stern look as she narrowed her eyes on him. "Okay, Ah don’t know what ya think yer plannin', but ya better have a good explanation for this!"
Mac just groaned before turning back to Applejack with a disgruntled expression of his own. "Apple Bloom and her friends--"
"Oh, alright," said Applejack quickly as she grew a more relaxed expression. "Got it."
Big Mac wanted to ask how the heck his sister was able to figure out what happened so quickly, but stopped himself when he opened his muzzle. Knowing that the mare was usually quick on a lot of things, he just shrugged before deciding to stay silent.
Getting a good look at him, Applejack tried to stifle a giggle as she shook her head. "Oh, man! Ah can't believe yer gon--"
"Hey there, cuz!"
The two quickly turned over to the source of the Apploosan voice, which they knew could only mean one thing. As Braeburn walked up to them, keeping a smile on his face, he didn’t seem to mind the shocked looks both of them had as he looked at Mac with a surprised expression. "Well, land sakes! I didn’t know YOU were planning ta wear makeup, too!"
Macintosh just stared at his cousin with an equally befuddled look that his sister had. Sure enough, the Apploosan pony kept a nonchalant smile on his face, which looked to be expertly done with makeup. Even though it looked a lot better done than the Cutie Mark Crusaders' attempt on Mac, Braeburn still looked just as ridiculous with all the rodeo gear he had on as well.
"Well, shoot!" said Braebuen cheerfully as he gave a caring nudge to Mac's shoulder, "I guess family thinks alike, huh? And here I was thinkin' I was gonna be the only one ta come out today! But good fer you, Mac!"
Applejack wasn't able to keep looking at either of them, and just turned away as she struggled not to crack up too loudly. Ignoring his sister's muffled snickers, Mac shook his head clear before trying to speak up. "N-NO! Ah… Ah wasn't… It's not like--"
"Oh, you don't have ta be so shy wit' me!" exclaimed Braeburn as he put a hoof around Mac's shoulder and lead him to the signup table. "Family always sticks together, and we're obviously cut from the same cloth, if ya know what I mean," he added with a sly smirk on his ruby-red lips, "so let's just get out there, show them our stuff, and make this the best Ponyville Rodeo Competition ever!"
Due to his growing embarrassment and stunned state, Mac was unable to get a single word in as he was dragged to the signup by his glammed-up cousin. While Applejack watched the two go, still trying not to laugh, she barely noticed the Cutie Mark Crusaders run up to her worriedly.
"Sis!" shouted Apple Bloom frantically as she tried to catch her attention. "Sis, have you seen Mac around? We REALLY messed up, and we need ta--"
"Oh, don't worry about him," said Applejack with a grin as she looked down at her sister. "Believe me, Ah got a feelin' that Mac is gonna be alright."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both looked confused, having no idea what Applejack meant by that statement. Scootaloo, who was the first to see Big Mac, raised a brow as she saw who he was with. "What the? Who's that weird girl Mac is with?"
After the competition, Pinkie Pie had a huge party prepared in celebration over at Sugar Cube Corner. Big Mac, who was still in his makeup, had a stoic look of anger on his face as he sat in his seat, despite the large trophy that was placed beside him. Braeburn, who had a slightly smaller trophy on his own, was barely able to speak between giggles as he stared at him. "Jeeze, Mac! I can’t believe that's the twenty four-hour stuff! Even I didn’t try somethin' like that!"
The yellow stallion shook his head in disbelief before taking a sip of his soda, with his face showing no evidence of the makeup he wore earlier that day. Big Mac turned his head towards Apple Bloom and her friends with a furious glare, making the three pull their seats away from him fearfully.
"Ah, c'mon, Mac," said Applejack sympathetically as she came up to him with a plate of cake. "Don't be so upset about it. Ya still won! In fact, that makeup probably helped ya two!"
Mac just groaned as he rested his face into one of his hooves. Technically speaking, his sister wasn't wrong; even though he and Braeburn did their best throughout the competition, despite the obvious looks they got from their family members and the audience, it was clear that a lot of the other ponies seemed a bit distracted when it was their turn to compete. But still, with a huff of his muzzle, the red stallion just shrugged as he took his cake. "Ye… whatever."
While Big Mac tried to ignore everything that happened and eat his cake alongside his chipper cousin, Apple Bloom still looked guilty as she saw how upset he still looked. Fortunately, Scootaloo bent in towards her to try and cheer her up. "Oh, quit being so sad! Everything worked out, didn’t it? Besides, things could've been worse."
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both looked up at her with matching looks of confusion. "Oh really? How the HAY could things have been worse?!"
Scootaloo just shrugged, taking a look back at Big Mac before replying. "Well… at least we didn’t try to get our cutie marks in diaper changing."
The End.