What a turn out. We got my Dashie, and a Dashing one at that. Then ther’s Fluttershy and Pinkie.

Ah never woulda thunk them an item. Reckon it was a just a bit ago they were just friends, now they’re growin’ up and talkin about all kinds’a adult stuff. Even starting to have, uh, adult relations. Ah’m happy fer ‘em. Maybe ‘Shy’ll come outta her shell some.

Then there’s Muddy and Davenport. They’re the oldest and most mature of our group. Colt cuddlers ‘re always so mature, even when they start younger than Ah am now. Kinda feel bad they ain’t gonna have a little herd and family of their own.

“Earth to AJ? Come in,” Rainbow said waving a hoof in front ‘a me.

“What’s goin’ on?” I asked, all nice like. They were all lookin’ at me like I had crumbs in my fur.

“Darling,” Muddy started talkin’ all sweet to me, “we’ve been talking to you for nearly a minute and you’ve been staring into space, smiling like a lovestruck filly,” I felt myself blush a little and Ah was gonna say somethin’, but he kept goin. “So, have your eye on a new filly to bring into the herd?”

Ah swear he knows just what’a say to get Rainbow goin’. She’s gonna keep this up all night. Ah looked at Muddy and smiled nice, but one ’a them fake one’s that sends a message. This one was ‘thanks’. All he did was grinned mischievously. And that means he’s gonna egg on my little birdie.

“Well, Ah’m here now, so, who’s hankerin’ for an apple tart?”

They got happy and smilin’. I love to see a happy customer. No, wait. I’m not sellin’. This’ my home and these’re my friends. Mah family. “Be right back, don’t go hog tie’n Rainbow ‘til I get back.”

“Hey!” she shouted shootin’ me a look. I just swished my tail and watched her blush as Ah walked into the kitchen. Ah, the sounds of teasing, I love it these nights. Now, where’s that oven mitt?

“Dashing?” I called, then felt a smile tug across mah muzzle as the other’s whispered teases at her. She hushed them harshly, but it didn’t take.

“Yeah, hun?” I giggled inta my hoof. She’s so cute when she’s tryin’ not ta be.

“Whare’d ya put that mitt? Gotta get the goods from the oven.”

“Just reach in, it’s warm, not hot.”

Oh, that mare… Ah swear, she forgets her feathers are heat resistant, my mouth ain’t. “Darlin’,” I started a little firm, “Ah need ‘em cuz I’m not burnin’ my tongue. Not if ya want me to use it later.” I felt my heart beatin’ a little faster, talkin like that with others around. She was in fronta the oven before two shakes of salt lookin at me.

I couldn’t hold my laugh in. She was blushin’ hard! “Sugarplum, yer, purple.” Celestia I love this mare. She’s just so much fun.

“Oh, hush,” she said while I wiped a tear from my eye. She reached inta the oven with her wings; those sexy feathery things that I cuddle into every night. “Here,” she offered ‘em to me.

“Yeah, and ya can bring ‘em to the other room now, miss hot wings.” Oh, she didn’t like that. She’s purple again, must. Not. Laugh. … Failed. I fell over laughing as she stomped into the living room. I got up and stubbed my hoof on a loose nail. “Darn things. Ah’m gonna fix this floor up next week.”

Ah walked back inta the livin’ room and felt so proud. Everypony was eatin’ my goods and lovin’ it. Smiles, chewin’, and not a word said, ‘cept fer ‘mmm’. Ah had ta get a taste with ‘em. I sighed. Picked up a fritter. Raised it to my mouth. Took a bite. And lied. It hurts to do it, but it’s fer the family and farm.

“Ah tell ya, this’ one ‘a the best fritters Ah’ve ever had. Sure do love my apples.”

That’s right, always love ‘em. Always make the sell. Always word it just right to make it sound like a statement, but it’s a question they think ‘bout for days, ‘til they’re slobberin’ like a dog at supper. Buy’n up all the fritters that are the same as when Granny was a filly.

The same recipes fer almost a hundred years, always makin’ it sound like it’s the newest secret recipe every year. Every year the lies get easier.

Rainbow Dash loves ‘em. She loves the lie.

Wait an apple buckin’ second.

Ah stopped chewing and looked at the others and let my smile fall to match what my heart felt. I swallowed and put the fritter down.

They all looked at me. Never had I stopped eatin’ in fronta them like that.

“What’s wrong, Darling?” Muddy asked, spittin’ some crumbs out.

“Dear, if something’s wrong we can help.”

I heard Rainbow flappin’ and land next to me on the floor, her shoulder bumped mine, but she acted like it was nothin’ but a accident. She knows a shoulder bump gets my feels goin where they need to.

She’s takin’ another bite ‘a the lie.

“A-Ah,” I took a deep breath, “Ah lied.”

They all stopped eatin’ and looked at me. One ‘a them looks that’s disbelief and surprise. ‘Cept Pinkie, Ah think she knows. She smiling at me, tellin’ me ta tell ‘em with her eyes.

“Applejack,” Fluttershy said, “you can tell us, we’re your friends and won’t be mad.” Pinkie even gulped her mouthful and gave me a smile of trust and encouragement.

I felt my heart strings bein’ plucked like a banjo and I sniffled. “This ain’t easy ta say, cuz Ah’ve been lyin’ ‘bout it fer so long…”

I heard Rainbow stop chewing next to me. She done gulped the last of it down. Ah think she thinks it’s gonna be bad. Always think’n of herself. No, don’t get distracted. Ya can do this.

“Everypony, I don’t like apples.” I looked at my hooves and waited for the gasps of shock. Maybe for Fluttershy to faint and Rainbow to laugh at me. Instead, I felt her wing over my back, a couple feathers tickled me but I didn’t smile or laugh.

Ah looked up to the others and saw ‘em smilin’ at me.

“Dear, everypony knows that, but it’s so nice to hear you say it, finally.”

I looked at Dav and then around. Even Rainbow was smilin’, like she was understanding me. “Wh-what do you mean, ‘everypony knows’?”

“Hun,” Rainbow started, “no pony can love what they do all the time. I think tonight, as we go on, we should share a secret.”

She was so calm, like she wanted to tell somethin’ big, somethin’ fierce too. They all nodded, then came over and hugged me. I couldn’t help it, what happened next. I sobbed like Apple Bloom when she can’t get her cutie mark. Ah felt free of the weight that was holdin’ me down. And Ah was surrounded by my best friends.

This’ what bein’ a true friend is, bein’ so close, that they’re family.

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