Life in Allspark Wells

Part 19; Little and Big Brothers

Sweeping the floor of the shop front, Apple Bloom looked over her work as she remarked, "There we go." Taking in the sight of the now dust-free floor, she continued, "Big Mac is gonna love how clean this place is." Smiling, the former farm girl said, "Ah can't wait."

Apple Bloom had finished the first week of school following fall break, and she'd managed to regain most of a sense of normalcy. The former farm girl made it through biology class with her new teacher, Shockwave, learning about human history under Dr. Pennywhistle, and even her weekly tap class with Hoofer Steps. All in all, Apple Bloom found that things hadn't just returned to normal, but were now just a little bit better.

At that moment, Apple Bloom was caught off guard by the sound of Sparkplug barking. Hearing this, the former farm girl found herself freezing in fear as she felt a cold chill run throughout her body. As the sound of the small terrier's bark rang out again, Apple Bloom couldn't help but see the sight of a giant black wolf staring at her.

Shaking her head, Apple Bloom turned to see a small black terrier walking up to her and sitting down. Bending down to extend her hand to him, the former farm girl apologized, "Sorry for freezin' up there buddy. Guess Ah'm still uncomfortable with…" As Sparkplug began to whimper, Apple Bloom began to feel her arm tremble as she finished, "…Wolves and dogs."

To her surprise, Sparkplug walked up to her and rested his head on her leg. Apple Bloom smiled as she began to pet the small terrier and remarked, "Guess you're hardly a wolf, aren't ya." The small terrier let out an affectionate bark as he leapt into Apple Bloom's chest, leading the former farm girl to giggle, "Heh. Glad to see you aren't too angry about mah nightmare."

As Apple Bloom played with Sparkplug, the two were distracted by Ironhide's voice calling out, "I take it you finished cleaning everything up?" Standing up, Apple Bloom found her uncle walking up to her. Nodding, the burgundy haired girl smiled as she replied, "Ah did. Just got a little caught off guard by Sparkplug here." Looking down at the highland terrier, she continued, "Guess Ah still get caught off guard hearin' him bark."

Ironhide walked up to his daughter as he reassured her, "I know kid." Patting her on the shoulder, the former sergeant continued, "You're as tough as I was at your age, but that doesn't mean you're invincible." Apple Bloom let out a sigh as she replied, "Thanks uncle Ironhide."

At that moment, Ironhide noticed something off in the corner of his eye. Motioning to something behind her, the family patriarch remarked, "Well, look who's here?" Turning to see what it was, Apple Bloom found herself greeted by a familiar sight.

There, emerging from a parked car, emerged a young man with pale red skin, orange hair, and dressed in a white tee shirt, a bright red jacket, blue jeans, and red and white sneakers.

Allowing herself to give in to her growing excitement, Apple Bloom bolted out of the chop shop and ran up towards her older brother wrapped her arms around him. As she hugged him, the former farm girl exclaimed, "You're here! Ah'm so glad you're here!" Hugging his sister back, Big Mac let out a gentle, "Heh heh. Eeyup."

After several moments, Apple Bloom began to release her big brother, only to find that Big Macintosh not only didn't let go of her, but actually tightened his grip of her. Confused, the former farm girl asked, "Uh, is everythin' alright?"

Finally releasing his younger sister, Big Mac took a deep breath as he replied, "Yeah, Ah'm fine. Ah just…" Pausing for a moment, he replied, "Ironhide filled me in on everythin' that's happened." Sighing, Apple Bloom lamented, "Guess Ah should've figured you'd find out."

As the two siblings took this in, the car door opened again, revealing a pink woman with curly purple hair, and a white dress with blue trimmings. As this woman stood up from the car, Apple Bloom greeted, "Howdy Sugar Belle. Hope you're doin' alright." The pink girl replied, "I'm doing alright. Just glad to finally be here."

While the three chatted, Ironhide and Sparkplug walked up to them as he greeted, "Good to see you again Big Mac. Same to you too Sugar Belle. Hope you had a pleasant drive over." The eldest Apple sibling nodded as he replied, "It was alright. Pretty uneventful." Apple Bloom then asked, "You need a hand with your stuff?" Smiling, Big Macintosh replied, "Eeyup." The former farm girl and her uncle then began to carry their guest's luggage into the chop shop, hoping they could help get them settled in after a long trek.

The Living Room

As Ironhide and Apple Bloom led Big Mac and Sugar Belle into the living room, the elder Apple sibling complimented, "Ah like the kilt. It suits you." The former farm girl happily replied, "Thank you. Sideswipe and Pastel helped me find it." The eldest Apple asked, "Pastel? Don't think Ah've heard that name before."

Setting her brother's suitcase down, Apple Bloom replied, "She's a girl Ah met in homeroom! She's got a great sense of fashion, even if she has a personal preference for black and pink." Hearing this, Big Mac remarked, "Well then, Ah'd like to see her for mahself." The former farm girl immediately lit up before thinking, 'Wait, what about her bein'…..'

Pausing for a moment, Apple Bloom warned, "Just a heads up, Pastel is trans, so just…." She was interrupted when her brother reassured her, "That so? Well, there ain't nothin' wrong with that. She says she's a girl, then she's a girl. End of story." Apple Bloom let out a sigh of relief as she added, "Thanks. She's had a bit of trouble from some jerks for it."

At that moment, Sideswipe entered the living room, clad in her normal attire. Walking up the group, she greeted "'Sup Big Mac? Haven't seen you in a while." The light red boy let out a gentle chuckle as he replied, "Eeyup. Good to see you too Sideswipe." He then walked up to the pale biker and pulled her into a tight hug, one which she happily returned.

Once they finished, Sideswipe asked, "You need a hand with your stuff?" Apple Bloom interrupted with a blunt, "We already brought everythin' in, though Ah guess you could take everythin' up to…." She then asked, "Hey, where are they stayin' anyway?"

Sideswipe immediately replied, "They're staying in my room." She then turned to Big Mac and Sugar Belle as she continued, "I figured you guys would appreciate having a room to yourselves." The pale biker then leant against her sister as she playfully asked, "You don't mind sharing a room again, do you?" Apple Bloom let out a gentle giggle as she replied, "Ah guess not, so long as you take their bags up."

As the two younger girls continued their conversation, Wheeljack entered the living room, a cell phone held up to his ear as he said, "Don't worry… Look…. I just thought…. I know, I got dates mixed up…." When the person on the other end said something, the maverick mechanic sighed as he replied, "Alright, I'll see you in a bit."

Curious, Apple Bloom asked, "Who were you talkin' to?" Wheeljack replied, "Oh, that was my dad. Turns out he's coming here." Hearing this, Ironhide asked, "What? Your dad? Queue?" Nodding, the maverick mechanic replied, "Yeah. I thought he wasn't stopping by again for a few months, but apparently, he's gonna be here in a few hours." He then noticed his other guests as he nonchalantly greeted, "Oh, hey Big Mac and Big Mac's girlfriend."

Before Big Mac could say anything in response to this revelation, Ironhide called out, "Wheeljack!" As her uncle began to chew his friend and co-worker out, Apple Bloom realized, 'Wheeljack…. Oh! Wheelie and Brains!' Turning to her brother, the former farm girl exclaimed, "Big Mac! There's some fellas you gotta meet! Come on!" She then took her brother's hand and began to drag him away, all while Sugar Belle followed after them.

Wheeljack's Workshop

Bringing her brother into Wheeljack's workshop, Apple Bloom began, "So, you remember Wreck-Gar, right?" Catching his breath, Big Mac replied, "Eeyup. He was that robot, right?" As Sugar Belle caught up to them, the former farm girl enthusiastically replied, "Yeah! Long story short, Wheeljack made two more of 'em!" She then turned to the inside of the workshop as she called out, "Hey boys! There's someone I want you to meet!"

After a few moments, the familiar frames of two small robots made their way up to the trio of organics. As Big Mac and Sugar Belle took the sight of two autonomous robotic beings in, Apple Bloom introduced them with, "Big Mac, sugar belle, these are Brains and Wheelie!"

One of the robots walked up to the group and extended his three-fingered hand as he introduced himself, "Hi. I'm Wheelie! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Though both older teens were caught off guard, Sugar belle knelt down as she greeted, "Well, aren't you adorable! My name is sugar Belle." As she shook the small robot's hand, Wheelie continued, "Nice to meet you Sugar Belle."

The other robot made his way up to Big Mac as he introduced himself, "Top o' the mornin' to you boyo, or should Oi say afternoon. Me name's Brains!" The elder Apple sibling replied, "Well howdy there. Mah name is Big Macintosh, but you can call me Big Mac." The small robot replied, "I must say, you sound loike your sister here." Smiling, Big Mac remarked, "Thanks. Guess it runs in the family."

At that moment, Wheeljack entered the workshop as he said, "Alright boys. I want you two presentable for my dad, so it's deep clean time." Wheelie groaned, "Ugh, do we have to? I hate deep cleaning." Walking up to his "brother," Brains reassured him, "Don't worry me boyo. I'll let you go first so you can get it over wit."

As the robots talked amongst themselves, Big Mac turned to Apple Bloom and asked, "Hey Apple Bloom? Can we have a moment alone?" Curious, the former farm girl replied, "Yeah, but is everythin' alright?" The eldest Apple sibling simply stated, "Yeah, but Ah just want little moment between us." Sighing, the former farm girl replied, "Sure thing. How about mah room?"

Apple Bloom's Room

As the two siblings entered her bedroom, Apple Bloom asked, "So, what's goin' on Big Mac?" The former farm girl couldn't help that something wasn't right. 'Ah mean, uncle Ironhide told him about that whole root and berry retreat, so Ah guess he'd be a bit more…'

Apple Bloom was distracted from her train of thought by Big Macintosh pulling her into an impossibly tight hug. The only thing that could catch the former farm girl more off guard was the audible sound of her brother tearing up. Concerned, Apple Bloom asked, "Everythin' alright Big Mac?"

Releasing his sister as he wiped a few tears from his eyes, Big Mac replied, "Ah'm…. Ah'm just so glad you're safe." Taking a deep breath, the eldest Apple sibling continued, "Granny Smith and Ah got the call from Ironhide about what happened with you and that…." Starting to tremble with rage, he continued, "That asshole of a teacher, and Ah just…. Ah wanted to make sure you were alright." He then pulled her into another hug, one which the younger girl was happy to return.

Feeling her own eyes start to water a bit, Apple Bloom replied, "Ah'm alright. At least mostly alright." As Big Mac released his sister, she continued, "For the most part, Ah've been doin' alright. The only problem is…. Whenever Ah hear somethin' like a dog barkin' or even just look at a picture of a wolf Ah…." Freezing as she felt a chill creep over her, Apple Bloom finished, "Ah think Ah'm scared of wolves."

Pulling his sister back into another tight hug, Big Mac reassured her, "Ah'm sorry Apple Bloom. Don't worry, Ah don't think there are any wolves 'round here." Smiling as she wiped a stray tear off her cheek, the former farm girl replied, "Thanks."

At that moment, both siblings heard the sound of an old man's voice scream, "YOU DID IT! YOU MAD BASTARD!" Big Mac leapt into the air as he asked, "Who or what was that?" However, Apple Bloom quickly remembered, 'Ah know that voice.' Turning to her brother, she reassured him, "That's just Wheeljack's dad Queue." She then began to approach her bedroom door as she called out, "Come on!"

The Living Room

As the two siblings entered the living room, they were greeted by the sight of Wheeljack showing off Wheelie and Brains to an old man with gray skin, balding light blue hair, a wooden cane in his hand, and a blue business suit. Inspecting the two small robots as a giddy smile formed across his lips, the old man exclaimed, "Boy, I knew you could do it! You finally made life!" Scratching the back of his neck, Wheeljack nervously replied, "Heh, thanks dad."

Clearing her throat, Apple Bloom greeted, "Ah hope we're not interruptin' anythin'." Turning to see who it was, The old man happily exclaimed, "Ah, you're Apple Bloom! Good to see ya again!" Walking up to the two siblings, he inquired, "And who's this lad here?" Turning to face her brother, the former farm girl introduced, "This is mah brother, Big Macintosh."

Extending his hand, the eldest Apple sibling said, "Howdy. You can call me Big Mac." The old man smiled as he shook his hand and replied, "Good to meet you. Me name's Queue." As the two men shook hands, Queue continued, "I see a wee bit of family resemblance between the two of you." He then pointed to Apple Bloom as he quipped, "I see someone is already getting' ready for that pond hopping tradition of yours." The former farm girl replied, "Ah know. Honestly, this kilt here was just somethin' mah friends and Ah found on a whim."

Big Mac, however, asked, "What's pond hoppin'?" Turning to her brother, Apple Bloom began, "Well, you see…"

Later That Night…

"That's amazin'!" Big Mac exclaimed as Ironhide and Chromia finished their explanation of their family's unique tradition. As Apple Bloom watched her brother's excitement grow, sugar Belle added, "That's so cool! Your family and that other one getting together, it's like twice the family reunion!" The eldest Apple sibling replied, "Heh heh. Eeyup."

Ironhide then added, "Of course, that's not gonna be for a few months. Right now, the closest we're gonna get is you two and Queue." He then continued, "Thankfully, I don't think this weekend should be too busy, so I'm sure you and Apple Bloom can enjoy some time together." Big Mac immediately replied, "Hey, we're your guests. That means we should at least be willin' to pick up some slack around here."

Chromia let out a gentle chuckle as she added, "Well, perhaps you two can help with cleaning up after dinner tonight?" As the two partners turned to each other, Big Mac nodded as he replied, "Ah think we can do that." Apple Bloom spoke up with, "Ah can help too!" The family matriarch replied, "Alright then. Let's get Ratchet and get started."

As Apple Bloom and Chromia departed, Big Mac stood up and made his way towards Ironhide as he asked, "So, how's Apple Bloom doin' since that trip?" Ironhide sighed as he replied, "She's doing ok. Having a little trouble with anythin' dog related." The family patriarch paused for a moment before continuing, "Apparently, it's something called lupophobia."

Sighing to himself, Big Mac lamented, "Ugh. Wish Ah could've been there for her. This wouldn't…" Catching himself, the eldest Apple sibling apologized, "Forgive me. Ah just….." Ironhide interrupted with a gentle, "If she hadn't left the farm?"

Nodding, Big Mac replied, "Yeah. Ah just…." As Sugar Belle walked up to her boyfriend, he continued, "Ah'm just confused." To his surprise, Ironhide lamented, "You and me both." As Big Mac took this in, the former sergeant continued, "The moment I met that hippie teacher, I didn't trust him. But I still let her go on that damn trip." Sighing, he continued, "I started preparing for word that something happened, but when I finally got that phone call from Onslaught, I couldn't help but feel that I kinda let her down."

Sighing to himself, Big Mac replied, "You and me both, eh?"

As both men stared at each other, Ironhide invited, "Come on kid, I got a feeling they're gonna need help." Smiling, Big Mac let out a small chuckle as he replied, "Eeyup." With that, he and Sugar Belle followed Ironhide, anticipating how they'd be useful to help with dinner.

The Garage; The Next Day

Taking a deep breath as she held an electric saw in her hands, Apple Bloom reassured herself, "Come on, you can do this." Staring down at the large, unidentifiable slab of scrap metal, the former farm girl powered up her device and, making sure the protective mask around her face was properly fastened, lowered her tool to the scrap metal.

After a few moments, Apple Bloom powered her device down and moved it out of the way before lifting her mask and inspecting her progress. Just as she intended, the burgundy haired girl had sliced right through the chunk of scrap metal. Letting out a sigh of relief, Apple Bloom remarked, "There we go. Sliced just right."

From behind her, Apple Bloom heard Big Mac remark, "Wow. Never thought Ah'd see you doin' anythin' with somethin' that sharp." Turning around, the former farm girl found her big brother leaning against the garage door frame. Walking up to his sister, the pale red boy continued, "Just as well, it's a good thing uncle Ironhide asked me to keep an eye on you."

Picking up her saw, Apple Bloom replied, "Thanks for doin' this. Ah'd thought that you'd flip a gasket over me usin' somethin' like this." Big Mac let out a gentle chuckle as he replied, "Well, he said he was busy with the smeltin' pools, and Ah wanted to make sure you didn't hurt yourself." As the former farm girl reached for the power switch, she warned, "But you might wanna step back. Don't want you gettin' hit by any stray sparks."

Powering up her saw again, Apple Bloom continued to tear away at the continually shrinking hunk of scrap metal.

Later That Day

As Apple Bloom and Big Mac pushed wheelbarrows of scrap metal towards the smelting pools, the latter complained, "Phewey. Ah still can't believe you do this regularly." The former farm girl wiped the sweat from her brow as she replied, "Ah dunno about that. Ah only really help with stuff like this on the weekend." Her brother quickly quipped, "There's a word for that. Regularly." All Apple Bloom could do was roll her eyes and playfully mutter to herself, "Wiseass."

At that moment, both siblings heard the sound of scrap metal clattering and clanging, followed by the loud crash as a cloud of dust rose up from the scrapyard. Turning to see what it was, Apple Bloom said, "Somethin' must of happened. Come on!" As the two siblings made their way to the scene of the collapse, Apple Bloom called out, "Hello? Anyone here?"

The moment she said this, Wheelie's head popped out of the rubble as he remarked, "Wow, that was more fun than I ever want to have again." Hearing this, Apple Bloom couldn't help but begin to giggle as she asked, "Wheelie? What were you doin'?" The small robot looked downwards as he answered, "Well, I was looking for this…. Uh…." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "I can't remember what it was. Anyway, I tried pulling this beam and I…."

Wheelie tried to raise his arm to point at something, only to realize that his arms, as well as everything else from his neck down, were trapped under the scrap metal that surrounded him. Looking up to Apple Bloom and Big Mac, the small robot could only bluntly state, "…I'm stuck."

Making her way to her friend, Apple Bloom reassured Wheelie, "Don't worry. We'll get you out of there." Turning back to face her brother, she said, "Can you go get Wheeljack? We might need his help." Big Mac nodded as he replied, "Eeyup." He then darted off to get help, leaving Apple Bloom alone with Wheelie.

A few minutes later, and Big Mac had returned with both Wheeljack and Wreck-Gar. As they approached the entombed robot, the maverick mechanic sighed as he asked, "Let me guess, he tried to get something from the top of a scrap pile?" As both Apple Bloom and Wheelie nodded, Wheeljack continued, "Ugh. You just had to go and cause more chaos, didn't you?"

Sighing, Wheelie apologized, "I'm sorry sir. I just wanted to help." Making his way up to the top of the scrap pile, Wheeljack groaned, "It's hard to accept that apology when you keep messing up." Even Wreck-Gar joined in, mockingly muttering, "Stupid boy."

Hearing this, Apple Bloom could only sigh as she thought to herself, 'Oh no. So, they do call him stupid?' She remembered when Wheelie had blown up at Rattrap when he called the small robot stupid, and it had been something of a trying moment for her. But to actually hear him called a "stupid boy" in person made her blood boil.

Before Apple Bloom could act upon her frustration, Big Mac walked up to Wreck-Gar and sternly asked, "Ah know Ah didn't just hear you call Wheelie a "stupid boy," did Ah?" The cycloptic robot crossed his arms as he replied, "Only because he acts before he thinks." For his part, Wheelie lifted his head up in between Big Mac and Wreck-Gar as he defiantly stated, "I don't act without thinking!"

Both Apple Bloom and Wheeljack found themselves shouting, "That's enough!" at the same time. After a quick moment of awkwardness, the maverick mechanic sighed before he said, "Wreck-Gar might be a bit blunt, but you really need to start thinking things through and stop being so impulsive." Apple Bloom then added, "And Wreck-Gar, could you at least stop callin' him a stupid boy? He really doesn't like it."

Rolling his eye, Wreck-Gar grumbled, "Alright, I won't call him a stupid boy, even if that is what he is." Hearing this, Big Mac stomped up to the cycloptic promethean and warned him, "Wheelie's your brother, and you should show him a little more respect."

At that moment, Wreck-Gar shot back, "Well you're certainly one to talk. You left Apple Bloom here in the first place!"

The moment he heard this, Big Mac grabbed Wreck-Gar by his shoulders and shoved him to the ground as he quietly and coldly warned, "You better watch yourself there tin can." As the one-eyed promethean glared at Big Mac, Wheeljack stepped in between the two as he warned, "That will do. Wreck-Gar, you will go back to the workshop." Caught off guard, Wreck-Gar asked, "Me sir? What did I do?" As all eyes fell on the metal man, Wheeljack sternly pointed in the direction of his workshop and ordered, "Now!"

As Wreck-Gar trudged off, Wheeljack turned to Big Mac and apologized, "I'm sorry about him. I don't know what's gotten into him. Must be some sort of robo-puberty or something. Either that or his version of the terrible twos." Shrugging, Big Mac simply replied, "Eh, whatever you say."

Apple Bloom, on the other hand, asked, "You ok there Big Mac?" Letting out a deep sigh, the eldest Apple sibling replied, "Ah dunno. Maybe Wreck-Gar was right about Applejack and Ah… You know…" Nodding the former farm girl continued, "Left me here?" Big Mac sighed as he lamented, "Guess Ah just… Ah dunno. Ah dunno what Ah was thinkin' and…."

At that moment, Big Mac began to tear up again as he said, "And me bringin' you here led to you nearly gettin' killed by those wolves."

Hearing this, Apple Bloom began to feel her eyes water as she replied, "Oh Big Mac." She then leapt onto her brother and pulled him into a massive hug. As Big Mac found himself caught off guard, the former farm girl continued, "Ah'm sorry Ah made you worry about me." She then wiped a tear from her eyes as she added, "Guess Ah still have a habit of findin' trouble, even when Ah'm tryin' to just keep mah head down."

Big Mac found himself letting out a gentle chuckle as he replied, "Heh. No matter what, we Apples always find trouble." Hearing this, Apple Bloom Couldn't help but let out a laugh of her own as she added, "But no matter what, we always find a way out?" All Big Mac could do was reply with a gentle, "Heh heh. Eeyup."

With that, both siblings embrace each other with a tight hug.

As they finished their hug, the two siblings were interrupted by the sound of Wheelie's voice calling out, "Uh, I hate to interrupt but…" When they turned to him, the small robot continued, "I didn't want to sound rude, so I stayed quiet. But now that you've had your moment, can you please help get me out of here? My hand is starting to feel kinda numb." Even Wheeljack couldn't help but add, "Yeah. I… uh… Didn't want to interrupt anything."

Smiling, Apple Bloom replied, "Alright. Let's get you out of there."

The Living Room, Later That Night

Seated across the table from her brother, Apple Bloom looked down at the chess board before her. It was her move, and she was not in a good position; The former farm girl had lost half of her pawns, both of her bishops, and one of her rooks. Big Mac, on the other hand, was doing far better, only missing a knight, a bishop, a rook, and only three pawns. Scratching her chin, Apple Bloom thought to herself, 'Don't go frettin'. It ain't over yet." Giving his sister a smug look, Big Mac gloated, "You givin' up there?" Looking up to her brother, Apple Bloom retorted, "It ain't over 'till it's over."

The burgundy haired girl noticed that her brother's king was almost completely surrounded by other pieces, with the only opening being a diagonal piece. 'Wait a minute.' Apple Bloom thought to herself. Darting her eyes across the board, she noticed she had a rook that was only one move away. Allowing a smirk to form across her lips, Apple Bloom moved her bishop over and placed it diagonally across from her brother's king.

"Checkmate." Apple Bloom confidently stated. Big Mac rolled is eyes as he replied, "You wish." He then began to reach for his king, only to realize that, not only was his king trapped, he did not have any pieces that could even block the rival bishop. Even the one bishop he did have was on a white tile while both his king and Apple Bloom's bishop were on black tiles.

Sighing in resignation, Big Mac replied, "Ah concede. You win." Apple Bloom pumped her fist in the air before extending her hand to her brother as she complimented, "Good game." The elder Apple sibling smiled as he shook his sister's hand as he replied, "Good game."

From their side, both siblings heard Wheelie's voice call out, "That was a good game! Wish Wheeljack would teach me how to play." Turning to face her friend, Apple Bloom found the small robot approaching from the couch as he asked, "Is chess a hard game?" Big Mac replied, "It's not too hard, just gotta know what each piece does."

Walking up to the small robot, Apple Bloom asked, "How you holdin' up from that accident?" Scuffing the floor, Wheelie replied, "Not too bad. Wheeljack replaced my hand, said something about it being too "dented."" Big Mac then asked, "What about your brother Wreck-Gar?" The small robot grumbled as he replied, "Grounded. Wheeljack said he's on latrine duty for the next week."

Hearing Wheelie mention siblings, Apple Bloom turned to Big Mac as she asked, "Hey uh… Big Mac? Can Ah ask somethin'?" Turning to face his little sister, the eldest Apple sibling replied, "Sure thing. What is it?"

"How's Applejack doin'?"

As Big Mac found himself caught off guard, Wheelie asked, "Wait, isn't Applejack your older sister? The one who did the thing to your tooth?" Nodding, Apple Bloom replied, "Yeah. Last time Ah saw her was…" Stopping herself as she began to feel her hand tremble, Big Mac interrupted, "Ah dunno if Ah can say anythin' about it. You know, what with the whole restrainin' order and everythin'…"

"Ah think that's just about her contactin' me." Apple Bloom interrupted. Pausing for a moment, she continued, "And Ah certainly don't wanna go findin' her, Ah just… Wanna know how she's doin'."

Hesitating for a moment, Big Mac replied, "She ain't doin' too well. Last Ah saw her, she was still seein' hallucinations of some fella named Megatron." Taking this information in, Apple Bloom paused for a moment before she replied, "Oh."

Wheelie raised his hand as he asked, "So, you don't talk to your sister?" Turning to the small robot, Apple Bloom replied, "Pretty much. Ah know that it might sound kinda selfish but…" Pausing for a moment as she took a deep breath, the former farm girl replied, "After the fact she wanted to get rid of me followin' the Anon-A-Miss stunt as well as the fact that she was still angry months later…."

Sitting down, Apple Bloom continued, "Guess there's that part of me that kinda wants her to get over herself while another part of me wants to kick her ass." As Big Mac sighed to himself, Wheelie walked up to the former farm girl and, to her surprise, climbed up onto her lap and wrapped his arms around her.

Caught off guard, Apple Bloom asked, "What are you doin'?" looking up to her, Wheelie replied, "I'm hugging my big sister." He then awkwardly paused as he asked, "I mean, I don't know if we're actually "siblings," since Ironhide's your uncle and with Wheeljack being my maker and he's kinda like my dad, that would make me your… cousin?"

Smiling as she let out a chuckle, Apple Bloom couldn't help but hug Wheelie back as she replied, "Nah. You're mah little brother."

As Apple Bloom and Wheelie hugged each other, Big Mac couldn't help but smile as he asked, "So, do you two need a moment alone?" The former farm girl immediately gave her answer when she reached over to her older brother and, to his surprise, pulled him into the hug as she called out, "Get over here!"

At that moment, Sideswipe entered the living room as she said, "Hey guys. Sugar Belle says the bathroom is out of toilet paper. Any of you know where the spare rolls are?" The pale biker immediately found herself pulled into the group hug as she asked, "Uh, did I miss something?" Apple Bloom simply replied, "Just… Havin' a little siblin' moment." Hesitating for a moment, Sideswipe simply decided to shrug and joined in on the group hug.

After a few moments, Sideswipe bluntly continued, "But seriously, she needs tp like… right now." Nodding, Apple Bloom replied, "Ah know where we keep the spare rolls." She then turned to her brother as she added, "Come on. Ah got a feelin' you're the only one she'll accept it from." Big Mac could only reply with a simple, "Heh. Eeyup."

As Apple Bloom and Big Mac departed, "Sideswipe asked, "So, what was going on here?" Wheelie lit up as he began, "Well, it started earlier today as I was trying to find a… Actually, I can't remember what it was, but anyway…." All while Sideswipe rolled her eyes as she mumbled to herself, "What have I gotten myself into?"

Her mild annoyance was simply the natural reaction people usually have when dealing with their younger siblings.