As his surrogate mother was busy preparing herself inside the house for the arrival of her family, Angel Bunny was sitting in his hut nibbling on his carrot dinner contemplating the events he had just witnessed. While he sympathized with Fluttershy’s reluctance to share her life with her family, the rabbit was also disappointed that she was concealing the existence of the best part of her life.

“Oh, mama”, Angel thought to himself, “I love you, but you sure are stupid.” As the white lagomorph continued munching his meal, a familiar reptile floated by his hut. It was Tank, Rainbow’s tortoise companion, sporting his usual goggles and helicopter device. He approached to Angel on foot.

“Um, hey Angel…” Tank nervously began. “I couldn’t help but notice that Fluttershy was moving Mom’s Wonderbolts posters and her pictures and all that stuff into her shed. Umm, is there anything I should know about?”
Angel lowered his head and let out a sigh. While he did have a tendency to be an abrasive jerk, he simply didn’t have the heart to tell Tank the truth. Angel resumed eye contact with the tortoise.

“Well you see, Tank, Mama has her dad and brother coming over in a little bit, and her brother has two colts. Mama just wants to make sure Rainbow’s stuff is kept in good condition, because…well, you know how colts can be, right?” The rabbit gave Tank a nervous smile.

“Uhh, yeah, I guess. Thanks for telling me.” Tank proceeded to fly off into the distance. It was heavily implied that he wasn’t buying Angel’s story. The rabbit simply sulked for a long time.
______________________________________________________________________________

“So you see, Applejack, I am clearly the only pony who is capable of assisting the downtrodden classes. As one of the elements of harmony, I’m sure you can empathize.”

Applejack was currently trapped in another café lunch with a candidate looking for her endorsement. This afternoon, it was Mayor Mare. This had been going on for weeks, and the cowpony knew she soon had to endorse Mare or Filthy Rich so her life could return to normal. The earth pony rubbed her eyes and let out a sigh.

“Um, mayor, Ah don’t know what them ponies who write those stories ‘bout me ‘n mah friends‘re telling ya, but we honestly don’t think about our role as the Elements of Harmony that much. It never really impacts our lives that often. Honestly, Ah fergit what mahne is sometimes. What was it now? Loyalty?” Applejack pondered for a minute, “Umm, yeah, that sounds about right. Loyalty.”

The earth pony let out another sigh, and looked out to the streets of Ponyville. The café had become her second home due to Rich and Mare constantly courting her.

“I wonder what everypony else is doing.” Applejack thought to herself. “Well, speak of the Discord!” Approaching her table was Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity.
Mayor Mare noticed them as well. “Well, if it isn’t Twilight Sparkle and her gallery of compatriots. I can surely expect your vote next month!”

Twilight nodded, albeit in a resigned fashion. The velvet unicorn, like everypony else, was sick of hearing about the election.

“Sure, you bet. Umm mayor, I’m really sorry to interrupt your lunch meeting, but we need to borrow Applejack for a while. It concerns some of our friends.”

“Oh, most certainly, Twilight! As long as you can convince a certain indecisive cowpony that my reelection is imperative to the well-being of Ponyville!” The mayor made a knowing glance to Applejack, who returned a tired grin. The orange earth pony thanked Celestia she was rescued from politics for the first time in weeks, even if it was an apparent problem with her friends.
_______________________________________________________________________

Rarity now had everypony assembled (sans Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash). Given the very personal and intimate nature of Fluttershy’s conundrum, the four ponies and one baby dragon went someplace out of public view. Down the street from Sugarcube Corner was the old, abandoned Golden Horseshoe Tavern. At its height, the dive bar/restaurant served as the hub of Ponyville’s blue collar-y nightlife, serving cheap grub, and plenty of hard cider. In fact, Applejack’s father, Crispin (before his untimely demise) was the best friend and cider supplier to the Horseshoe’s owner, Farrier. Business was great until one fateful day, when Crispin’s heart gave out and he collapsed to his death at Sweet Apple Acres. Nopony else in the Apple family was capable of making the product that their patriarch made, and the Golden Horseshoe suffered as a result. In the financial black, Farrier packed his saddlebags in the dead of night and set out for parts unknown. For years now, his bar had remained standing with no real estate. With Crispin dead, and the Apples unable to produce quality cider consistently in his absence, the demand for a new bar was nonexistent. So now all that stood was a wooden shanty covered with graffiti and broken windows. It was not normal stomping grounds for your average Ponyvillian, making it the ideal location for private conversation in Rarity’s eyes.

As the group approached the alleyway beside the kitchen entrance to the building, Applejack started to gaze up and she became contemplative.

“Gawsh, this sure takes me back.” Applejack said in an almost monotone voice. She was clearly lost in memories. This place was like a second home to Daddy.”

“This public house certainly touched the lives of many ponies. Did I ever tell you girls that my parents met here? My father even proposed to my mother at the bar itself, it’s such a cute story.” Rarity told her friends, blushing. (Unbeknownst to Rarity, she herself had a connection to this establishment. She was conceived in the ladies room when her parents were still dating. Several years later, Sweetie Belle was conceived on the pool table.)

“Ooh, I’ve got one!” Pinkie Pie interjected while bouncing up and down, as she does. “Mrs. Cake told me about how she met Mr. Cake at this place when she was a bartender. Mr. Ferrier and Applejack’s dad even loaned some money to Mr. Cake to help him start up Sugarcube Corner. I’d probably be back at the rock farm if it weren’t for their kindness!” The pink earth pony made a wide grin at Applejack, who was still staring at the old building.

Eventually, the cowpony responded with a light chuckle. “Yeah…there was something about my dad, always willing to help out complete strangers he liked.” She turned to Twilight Sparkle, a smile bestowing her face. “I guess I get that from him.” Twilight gave a knowing glance, thinking back to the time when they had first met, and how despite her cold dismissiveness, the unicorn was still instantly welcomed into the Apple Family inner circle.

Applejack let out a sigh and looked back at the building. “Ya know, there’re a few things from mah fillyhood that really stick in mah mind: Mama teachin’ me ‘n Big Macintosh how to buck apples; watchin’ Granny Smith make Zap Apple jam; and helpin’ Daddy haul barrels full of cider to this ol’ place. Ya know, ah was positive ah was gonna get mah cutie mark in cider makin’, just like mah daddy. Ah would watch him work his formula for the perfect cider and he always made the purest product and Ah was certain that was my destiny….but Ah suppose it wasn’t seein’s how this place’s gone to shambles. And now that recipe for perfect cider died with Daddy. Oh sure, we try to imitate it fer cider season to make it through winter, but ah think everypony who’s had the real deal can tell the difference.

“Your cider is still really yummy, Applejack!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. “I know Rainbow Dash really loves it too, seeing as how sad she gets when she can’t get a mug!” The earth pony then broke into laughter and fell onto the ground.

Just then, Rarity eyes widened and she remembered what her and her friends were there to discuss. “Dear sweet Celestia, I almost forgot! This is about Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash! And here we are going off topic!”

Applejack broke out of her funk and returned to reality. “Now hold on there, girl. What’s all this Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash business about?”

“Yes, tell us.” Twilight said. “I’m curious myself.”

“Is something wrong between them? Did they have a fight?” Spike pondered.

“Oooh Oooh! I know! They wanna get married! I know Ponyville doesn’t do that kind of marriage, but a Pinkie Pie wedding license is bonded under Pinkie Law! That’s the same realm as a Pinkie Promise, and…”

Rarity placed her hoof on Pinkie’s mouth, placing a mild sedative inside so that she could explain the situation without interruption.

“By the way, thanks for making that “Pinkie Pill”, Twilight.” The white unicorn told Celestia’s student, who blushed at the compliment.

“Now then, as we are all aware, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are in a blissful state of courtship. I’m sure we can all agree that it is what’s best for both of them.” Everypony in the conversation proceeded to nod in agreement. The unicorn continued…

“Which makes what I am about to tell you all the more heartbreaking. For you see, Fluttershy’s family is coming to Ponyville tonight and Rainbow Dash is at a seminar in Cloudsdale. Fluttershy was planning on hiding all of Dashie’s belongings in her shed and not telling her family about her relationship.”
“Wait, why would Flutters want to do that?” Pinkie asked, in an uncharacteristically subdued voice, a side effect of Twilight’s drug.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Spike reasoned, “Fluttershy hasn’t told her family she likes mares and she’s afraid to come out.”

Rarity nodded. “Precisely. Obviously, this is something she can’t do on her own. She needs our help. Tomorrow night, we’re all going to Fluttershy’s house for dinner. We’re going to provide emotional support so she can come out comfortably. I don’t want to hear any excuses, because we are all going.”

“Rarity.” Applejack interjected. “Ah don’t mean to pry, but did Fluttershy ask us to help her come out, or did you insist we do?”

The marshmallow unicorn took offense, “I don’t see what difference that makes. This is something Fluttershy needs to do.”

“No, this is something YOU think she needs to do. Sometimes, ponies’d just prefer to keep things a secret, and respecting
the wishes of yer friends is a core Apple Family value. Seems to me like Fluttershy’s life with Rainbow Dash is completely separate from her kinfolk, seeing as how this is the first ah’m hearin’ ‘bout them. So ah’d have to guess that Rainbow aint lookin’ to deep, either. It’s none’ve our business to try and force that to change. ”

“APPLEJACK! How could you say something like that?” Twilight asked. “You should be the last pony on earth who would advocate keeping secrets and living double lives!”

Applejack gave a quizzical look. “Ah am? Which element am Ah, Generosity? Seriously, they so little play into our lives, Ah just forget what mahne is.”

“Regardless.” Rarity interrupted. “There is no way Fluttershy can get out of this. She made a Pinkie Promise that she would come out tomorrow night at dinner.

Pinkie Pie broke from her lethargic state and stood completely stoic and serious. “Nopony shall ever break a Pinkie Promise in the domain of Pinkamina!”

“I should really find an inhibitor that stops her brain from going crazy about Pinkie Promises.” Twilight thought to herself.

“Well, Ah guess if she made a Pinkie Promise.” Applejack conceded, thinking back to the time she made the unfortunate error of breaking a Pinkie Promise.

“Very good, then it’s settled. We shall reconvene tomorrow night at Fluttershy’s for her big coming out!” Rarity proudly proclaimed. “If you all will excuse me, I’m off.” The unicorn proceeded to trot out of the alleyway

“Me too! Lyra and Vinyl wanted to do a jam session!” Pinkie bounced out the alleyway, with Twilight and Spike following behind.

Applejack stayed in the alleyway for a while longer. She wanted to just stand next to the Golden Horseshoe for a few more minutes, basking in all of the memories. After that, she would go home, and try again to crack her dad’s recipe.

Next Chapter: 4. Family Roster Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 7 Minutes