It was 12:43 when Applejack pulled into the driveway of her house. After turning the ignition off, she sat in the seat for a moment as she tried to get her thoughts together. She let out a sigh as she opened the door and got out, the cool night air sending a sweet scent in her nostrils. However, her heart jumped when she saw that light in the living room had turned on.

No doubt that’s Big Mac, she thought to herself. There goes waitin’ ‘til mornin’ ta tell him.

Reluctantly, she made her way into the house with an unsure look on her face. Upon entering, she wasn’t surprised to see Big Macintosh standing in the doorway of the living room with an athletic undershirt on and blue jeans, which he put on before he left his bedroom. The way that he stood there, his arms crossed and a stern look on his face, caused an uncomfortable chill to run down Applejack’s spine, making her shiver ever so slightly.

“Yer back early,” he said softly. “Ya usually come home Sunday night, and much later.”

“Yeah...,” said Applejack as she took off her overcoat and held it in her arms. Guilt-ridden, she couldn’t bring herself to look into his eyes, so she focused her gaze to the ground, her eyes shifting back and forth.

His gaze slowly shifted into a look of worry as he saw the look on his sister’s face. “Is everythin’ alright?”

She opened her mouth to immediately say “yes”, but instead she let out a sigh and hung her head. “Actually, there’s somethin’ we need ta talk ‘bout.”

Slowly, she led him into the living room where the two of them sat next to each other on the couch. Applejack kept her gaze at the floor, her eyes continuing to shift back and forth as she searched her mind for the right words to say.

“Big Mac,” she said softly. “There’s somethin’ ah...ah need to tell ya about...well...about me.”

Instantly, Big Macintosh’s eyes went wide as his heart began pounding in his chest, his thoughts jumping to worst case scenario. “Yer not pregnant, are ya?”

“WHAT? NO!” she shouted, looking up to him with an expression that was a mix of shock and anger. Quickly, she cupped her hands over her mouth as she realized that she had just shouted, forgetting that it was the middle of the night. Convinced that neither Apple Bloom or Granny Smith was awakened from her outburst, she cleared her throat to regain her composure and said in a softer tone, “No, ah’m not.”

He let out a sigh of relief and said, “Oh...sorry ‘bout that, sis. This felt like that kinda setup. What were ya gonna say, then?”

Slowly, she lowered her gaze to the ground again as she let out another sigh. Then, she asked him, “Do ya remember how ah said that...ah was always goin’ outta town ta see some friends?”

“Eeyup,” he said, crossing his arms again.

“Do ya remember how ah said ah was gettin’ money?”

Big Mac nodded. “Ya said that these friends of yers were nice enough to let ya borrow it from time ta time.”

“Well, that’s just it. Ya see...well...” she said as she took off her hat and placed it on her lap. “Ah haven’t been honest with ya and...ah feel that ya need to know the truth.”

Quickly, she took his hand in hers and said, “Before ah tell ya, there’s somethin’ ya hafta promise me.”

Raising an eyebrow, Big Mac asked, “What?”

Her breathing becoming shallow, she said, “Ya hafta promise me that you’ll hear me out first before ya say anything.”

“Alright,” he said. “Ah promise.”

Then, Applejack let out one last sigh before she explained the whole situation to her brother. She told him about the photo shoot, the offer the suited man had made her, and how she had spent the past several months performing at a gentleman’s club outside of town. Applejack also explained why she was doing it in the first place, how she never wanted it to be permanent and that her friends had found out her secret on this very same night. While she spoke, tears began to stream out of the corners of her eyes, which came off as a surprise to her; she didn’t think there were any tears left from her crying before. Apparently, she was wrong.

As she told her story to him, Big Macintosh had a blank look on his face. Despite this, his mind was racing with different kinds of thoughts, ranging from disappointed, enraged, guilty, shocked, and upset. When she finished telling him everything, all he could do was let out a small sigh as he stood to his feet, rubbing the back of his head with both his hands.

Slowly, he began pacing the floor as he tried to comprehend all that he was told. All the while, Applejack looked at the ground with a look of remorse on her face, tears still streaming out of her eyes. Occasionally, she would look up to him, only to see that his back was turned to her.

Several long moments went by before Big Macintosh calmly asked, “So, all this time, you were lyin’ to us...lyin’ to me?”

Closing her eyes and hanging her head, Applejack said softly, “Yes.”

Letting out a sigh, he crossed his arms and said, “AJ, ah honestly don’t know what ta say ta ya.”

“Ah know what ah did was wrong,” she said. “Ah’m so sorry that ah didn’t tell you.”

He lowered his head, shaking it back and forth. After a few more moments, he turned to her, walked over to the couch and sat down next to her. Although there were several feelings and thoughts running through his head, there was a blank expression on his face, making it impossible to read what his predominant thought was. Upon seeing this, Applejack lowered her head as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

Looking her in the eyes, he said, “One thing’s fer sure, ah am very, very disappointed in you. Not only did ya lie ta me ‘bout this, but you were doin’ somethin’ that ah would never imagine you doin’! If Granny or Apple Bloom knew ‘bout this...”

Her face lit up like a light bulb. “Ya can’t tell either of ‘em ‘bout this, Mac! Granny’d have a heart attack if she found out and Apple Bloom’s too young ta understand! Please, promise me ya won’t...”

She was interrupted by Big Mac putting his index finger over her lips. “Ah never said ah was gonna tell ‘em. But that doesn’t excuse that fact that were humiliatin’ yerself by doin’ such a thing.”

He lowered his hand before continuing. “Honestly, ah always knew you were up ta somethin’, but ah would never have guessed it’d be somethin’ like this. Ah know we’re goin’ through some tough times, but...” He let out a sigh. “Ya should’ve just come ta me in the first place. Ya know ah would have helped ya in any way ah could.”

Applejack lowered her head again. “Ah know ah should’ve. Ah was just too ashamed to tell ya ‘bout this. Ah’m really, really sorry, Big Mac. Not only did ah lie ta you and the family, but ah also lied to mah friends as well.”

Tears slowly streamed down her cheeks as she said in a hushed tone, “Ah understand completely if ya never forgive me fer this. Ah don’t know if ah could ever forgive me fer this.”

With nothing left to say, Applejack got up and began walking away. However, she was taken aback when she felt Big Mac’s hand clutch her own, stopping her in her tracks.

“Applejack,” he said, offering a small smile. “Ah may be disappointed, but that doesn’t mean that ah don’t forgive ya.”

“R-Really?” she asked, a small smile forming.

“O’course ah do,” he said. Then, he got up and threw his arms around her, bringing her into an embrace. “Yer mah sister and we stick by each other, no matter what. Ah’m just glad you were honest enough ta tell me the truth.”

She returned the embrace and said in a shaky tone, “Thank you, Big Mac.”

After they released each other, Big Mac said, “Ah promise not ta tell Granny or Apple Bloom ‘bout this under one condition.”

Applejack felt her heart beginning to speed up.

“Ya hafta promise me that you’ll never do this again.”

Smiling, she said, “Ah promise.”

Big Mac let out a sigh. “Well, since ya quit this job, looks like yer gonna hafta find new work.”

“Ah already have. Rarity said there was a job offerin’ at ‘The Boutique’ that singin’ mah song. Not only is it better pay, but it’s...less humiliatin’.”

A moment of silence followed after that, the two of them smiling at one another. Then, Big Mac asked, “How did yer friends take ta this?”

“Almost all of ‘em understood what was goin’ on.”

“Whaddaya mean, ‘almost all of ‘em’?”

“Fluttershy was too upset for me to explain what happened. She cried herself ta sleep in Rarity’s car before ah could tell her.”

Big Mac sighed as he shook his head. “Ya better tell her soon, AJ. If ya don’t, ya know ah will.”

Applejack couldn’t help but smile at this, knowing the current situation between them. “Ah know ya will. Don’t worry, ah’m gonna talk ta her ‘bout this tomorrow.”

Another moment of silence followed.

“Well, we best be gettin’ ta bed,” said Big Mac. “It’s awfully late and ah have work in the mornin’.”

“Okay,” Applejack said softly. Then, she leaned in and planted a small kiss on his cheek and said, “Thank you.”

Patting his hand on her shoulder, he said, “Eeyup.”

With that, the two of them went off to their separate bedrooms to get some well deserved rest. As they made their way up the stairs, only one thought came across Applejack’s mind, causing her to sigh as she entered her bedroom.

One down, one ta go.

The next morning, Applejack and Sunset Shimmer walked down the road towards the most popular hangout spot for the students of Canterlot High. Its real name was, “Cake’s Café”, which was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Cake. However, because the establishment was located on the corner of “Sugar Lane” and “Cube Street”, most of the regular customers liked to call the place “Sugar Cube Corner”.

“Thanks fer comin’ with me, sugar cube,” she said. “Ah really appreciate it. Are ya sure she’s gonna be here?”

“No problem at all,” Sunset said with a smile. “And, yes, she’ll be here. I called her this morning to make sure.”

When the two of them reached Sugar Cube Corner, they looked through the windows to see that Fluttershy was already there, her back facing them. The second she saw her, Applejack’s heart began to race as anxiety began taking over, making her breathing become labored.

“M-Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” said Applejack. “Maybe we should wait until another time.”

“Don’t be a coward,” said Sunset Shimmer as she opened the door. As she did, she had to take a step back to allow a young man who was wearing a black mask on his face exit the building, a stack of cakes in his hands. “Besides, you need to explain all of this to her or she’ll never be able to look at you the same way again.”

Letting out a sigh, Applejack nodded before entering the café. Fortunately, the place wasn’t too crowded, just in case they made a scene, but that didn’t ease Applejack’s anxiety as they approached Fluttershy. Sunset Shimmer walked in front of her and approached Fluttershy, who was sipping on an iced beverage of some kind.

“Hey, Fluttershy,” said Sunset as she sat down across from her. “Thanks for coming.”

“Hi,” said Fluttershy with a smile. However, the moment she saw Applejack sit down next to her, she quickly looked the other way, a few strands of her hair getting in her face.

Offering a light smile, Applejack said softly, “Hi, Fluttershy.”

Her head still turned away from her, she replied with a soft, “Hi.”

They all sat in silence for a few moments, neither of them knowing what to say or who should start talking first. After a few moments, Sunset Shimmer tapped Applejack’s leg under the table with her own to nab her attention. Then, she gestured with her eyes towards Fluttershy, indicating that she needed to speak to her first.

After letting out a small breath, Applejack said, “Fluttershy...ah...ah wanted ta talk ta ya ‘bout last night.”

She didn’t say anything in response. All she did was turn her head ever so slightly, her eyes barely visible through the strands of hair; it was almost like she was trying to hide behind them.

She could feel the guilt beginning to surge throughout her body just by the look in her eyes; the memories of her running out of the club flashing in her mind again. A part of her wanted to walk away and never bring it up again, but Sunset Shimmer was right: she needed to talk to Fluttershy about this, even if that meant risking their friendship forever.

“Fluttershy,” she said again, removing her hat and placing it on the table. “Ah know that sayin’ ‘ah’m sorry’ isn’t gonna take back what ya saw last night, but ya have ta believe me when ah say that ah’m truly and deeply sorry.”

“Why?” asked Fluttershy, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why would you do such a thing?”

It was then that Applejack let out a deep sigh and began telling Fluttershy the whole story, the same story she had explained to everyone. From the financial issues to the offer made by the club owner, Applejack told her everything, even how she never wanted it to be permanent and that she felt terrible about the whole thing. Towards the end of her story, tears began streaming down her cheek once again. Just how much tears were her ducts able to produce before they would run out?

“If ah could take it all back, ah would. If ah can make what you’ve seen be unseen, ah would. Ah never wanted all this ta happen and...and...”

Before she knew it, she cupped her head in her hands as the tears continued to flow. Sniffling, she managed to say, “Ah completely understand if ya never wanna be mah friend anymore after this. Ah just wanted ya to know just how sorry ah am that ya had ta see me like that.”

At this point, Fluttershy had moved her hair out of her eyes, her eyes glossing from her own tears that were beginning to form. Throughout all of this, Sunset Shimmer sat in silence, shifting her eyes from one to the other.

“Ah hope that you’ll forgive me fer this someday, Fluttershy,” Applejack said as she began to get up to leave. Just as she took her hat in her hands, she felt Fluttershy’s hand rest on top of it. She looked over to see that she was looking at her eye-to-eye, tears streaming from her own eyes.

Then, Fluttershy got up and wrapped her arms around Applejack, bringing her into an embrace while resting her head on her shoulder.

“Ah’m sorry, Fluttershy,” said Applejack in a hushed tone. “Ah’m so, so sorry.”

“Oh, Applejack,” said Fluttershy through tears. “I didn’t know you were going through such hard times. You should have told us so we could have helped you.”

“Ah know. Ah didn’t want ta burden any of ya with mah troubles, so ah acted before thinkin’. Ah understand if ya don’t wanna be friends anymore, but can ya ever forgive me for this, Fluttershy?”

“Of course I can forgive you and I do want to stay friends,” she said through tears. “Just...just promise me that...”

“Ah know,” Applejack smiled. “Ah promise that ah’ll never do this again.”

Fluttershy tightened her embrace and said, “You don’t have to worry about burdening us with your troubles, Applejack. We’re your friends and we’ll always be there to help you, no matter how big or how small your troubles are.”

“Ah know and ah realize now that ya’ll coulda helped me all along if ah had just come ta ya in the very beginnin’.”

“What do you mean?”

Applejack told her about the job offering that Rarity told her about, leading to her quit working at the night club anymore. Seeing a small smile come across Fluttershy’s face, Sunset Shimmer couldn’t help but smile as she crossed her arms.

“So, Fluttershy,” said Applejack. “Ah was gonna go to ‘The Boutique’ ta see if ah can get the job. Wanna come along?”

She simply nodded in response.

“Ya wanna come too, Sunset Shimmer?”

“No, that’s okay,” she said with a smile. “I have something to do today anyway. You two go ahead.”

Sunset Shimmer waved the two of them goodbye as they left together, both of them with a smile on their faces. As the two of them left, she couldn’t help but smile and let out a sigh, lightly closing her eyes as she began to think. She began to recollect what Twilight Sparkle had told her: that she would learn more about the magic of friendship through the friends she left her with. After what she experienced over the past few days, and from what Fluttershy had said, Sunset Shimmer felt that she may have learned something about friendship that she never knew before.

No matter what your troubles are, no matter how big or how small, you can always count on a good friend to help, she thought to herself. They’ll always be there to for you, whether it’s by helping you out or simply offering support.

Opening her eyes, she got up, went over to the main counter and ordered herself a beverage to go. When she was outside, she took a sip as a strange idea came across her mind.

This is so strange, she thought as she took another swig of her drink. Why do I feel the need to write this down, like in a diary or something?

She lowered the drink from her mouth as she let the thought dwell in her mind for a few moments. Then, she let out a laugh as she continued walking down the road.

Yeah, right! What am I, a little girl or something? Give me a break!

Author's Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this story! A follow-up will be made to explain more about this story soon.
Until then, thanks for reading!