Staring out the window, Big Mac wondered why the return trip seemed to take so much longer than when he first went to Appaloosa, what was it, 8 months ago now? The scenery on the Appaloosa side of things would have been boring for most ponies, but Big Mac could see the beauty in the wide sweeping desert, occasionally interrupted by rock formations that seemed to touch the sky. Looking up he was reminded of the color of Rainbow's coat. The blue of the sky out here seemed different than the blue skies at home that seemed to match her perfectly.

That's how his Dashie was. She seemed to go everywhere and do everything, so it was easy to find things that made him think of her. Thoughts of regret filled his mind at how things had been left the last time they saw each other.

The treat cart went by and the pony pushing gave him a strange look when he gagged when she mentioned popcorn. He used to enjoy it, but after that Discord fellow had stirred things up in Ponyville with his strange magic, he'd developed a bit of an aversion to it.

Thinking back again to their friendship, Big Mac gave a small smile. Then he remembered Tank and wondered who was taking care of him. Surely Fluttershy would remember? He'd have to ask her when he got home. He knew Rainbow Dash would be very upset if anything happened to her beloved tortoise.

He shuddered at the winter that had been dropped on them because she'd tried to avoid him hibernating. He'd been upset with her for a week and didn't talk to her at all because of all the trouble she'd caused for him with that one. He forgave her when he found her sniffling by the spot where Tank was resting. He'd remembered how he'd felt when he lost his first pet, a barn cat named Missy.

Rainbow had laughed at him when she'd discovered he'd "rescued" that old doll of Twilight's until he told her about how the doll reminded him of that old beat up barn cat he'd loved. She'd wrapped her forelegs and wings around him and apologized for being mean.

It seemed like she was always careful to apologize to him about things. She knew she could be cocky. Another apology had occurred when she'd gotten a bigger ego than usual. They'd had their first fight when he had shown himself to be on Mare-do-well's side, and her pride had been bruised enough that it had taken her two weeks to find him by the pond and say sorry. That was the first time he shared some of his personal barrel of hard apple cider with him.

She forgot she could fly and somehow managed to get herself stranded on a floating log. That had been a fun one to explain to Apple Blossom when they'd come back to the house soaking wet and drunkenly singing a sailing chanty.

It was less fun the next morning when Applejack dumped cold water on him and yelled a lecture at him about being a good example to their little sister.

Granny had given him the silent treatment for 3 days.

It had been when the Flim Flam brother had come to town that he'd really begun to lie to himself about his real feelings.

They got into a whole new barrel of hard cider and had woken up in a mess of hay in the barn. He didn't remember much, but he thought he remembered kissing her at some point. That could have been his imagination. It was quickly evident to him that nothing serious had happened, but it was still awkward. Dashie helped him clean up the hay and they parted and went about their days.

This time, Applejack was so mad that he got 24 hour pass before the lecture.

Granny didn't talk to him until the hens had recovered from some sort of fright he gave them (he was afraid to ask) so this time it was a week of silence.

Then there was the whole escapade with his baby sister and her little friends who were all going crazy over cutie marks.

It was a whole MONTH before Rainbow Dash could look at him without giggling her head off every time she saw him. She also stopped calling him Mac Attack for awhile, instead calling him Schmoopie-poo. And if Miss Cherilee happened to be anywhere near him, loud laughter could be heard echoing through the skies.

He enjoyed hanging out with her again after the Apple family reunion. He loved his family, but reunions could be exhausting. She enjoyed sharing the few leftover he'd saved with her in mind. He loved how much she loved apple things. He also loved how she would bring him other fruity treats. She was a pretty darn good cook and she'd always say that since he had apples covered, it was her responsibility as his best friend to introduce him to other treats.

He'd really enjoyed when she invited him over for pina coladas. Which reminded him, when Dashie was out of the hospital, he'd want to visit her in her home. He'd have to check with Princess Twilight about getting a new charm for walking on clouds.

The first time he'd gone up to her house had been amazing. All the room she had was amazing, but he could see that it made her feel a bit lonely. Conversations that night had been about families, and they talked about their shared pain of having lost parents. Him, Pa and Mama, and for her, her mother. It turned out that her mother had been a reservist for the Wonderbolts, too. Suddenly her determination to join the flying team made a little more sense.

He'd been so proud when she wrote home that she was Cadet Team Leader.