*As with all testimonies, it's best if read slowly and with care.*

Howdy! Applejack here. So ya'll heard about the hoedown I reckon? It was sure was a mighty dandy one! It was as country as the barn is red, darn-tootin. My hubby is one humdinger of a banjo picker alright; he puts those finger thingys of his to some good use. I'm just tickled with glee thinking about him up there smiling at me with those innocent bright blue eyes of his. This family is a humble family, taking pleasure in helping each other. That was him up there, not loving the glory, just the company. But whoo doggie, I must admit I sure do love seeing my sugarcube and my family getting love and respect from everypony; Celestia knows they are my sunshine.

As for the rest of the hoedown, well you can imagine we was enjoying every trottin' second of it together. We're just two peas in a pod out there on the dance floor, laughing and giggling; I am so proud of him! He handles his shy little self so well and kindly around everypony else. Just about everypony in this here town loves his cute little heart, and by golly, there ain't nothing that could make me happier than to see all the ponies loving him for the human he is. Sure as sugar, though, I ain't afraid to admit they ain't ever gonna love him as much as I do. Nope. When he looks at me with that deep care, there ain't a single heart that cherishes another more than my own does him.

I guess that leaves us right where he left off. Whooee, that Pinkie Pie can play those fancy instruments till the cows come home. And till everypony got a busted leg or hoof or something, cause my oh my, you should seen everypony toppling over like an empty water bucket. Truth be told, it was a bushel of fun, and what better place than to have it in our barn. By the time ponies began heading home, my AJ was sleeping like a lamb on the hay. Literally!

"Ah'm gonna have to carry you in, sweetie," I said, standing over him and watching his belly go up and down as he laid on his side so snug. I ain't gonna lie, I was getting pretty plum-tuckered myself. But that was just cause of the same reason he was; I just had too much fun.

"Wallop my withers, coz! He is a delightful creature, that one," said Fiddlesticks, trotting up to me with her fiddle and staring down at my sleeping sweetheart. Well ah'll be. She loves him too. Hearing stuff like this from family is like sugar to my soul. It just melts my heart.

"Aw shucks coz, he sure did love that mean fiddle o' yers," I said, to which she just smiled.

"I think that just means he's a member of the Apple family," she said, before the voice of that rainbow pegasus friend of mine chimed in.

"That... was... the most awesome hoedown ever!" she hollered. "Who would've guessed, of all ponies Pinkie could play something that hot!"

By this time, there was a lot less ponies there as we were kinda wrapping things up at this point. But really, we was still taking in all the good memories we just made as we unwinded.

"Well," I chuckled, "Ah' knew you wouldn't be able to hide it fer long," I said, bumping her in the chest as she appeared right beside us.

"Yea, well... whatever," she replied. That's Rainbow alright.

"Those were some funky tunes, they were. Somethin' tells me they gonna have a full waitin' room over at the hospital tonight," I said, as Rainbow and I checked out some of the aching ponies around us. Most ponies were all smiles though, even with the occasional groan of hurt.

"I better be hittin' the road, coz, it's mighty late. But thank you so much for lettin' us play here! I'm comin' by again soon, like it or not," said Fiddlesticks. I reached my front leg up and gave her a good ol' Apple family hug.

"Thank you so much, Fiddlesticks," I whispered. I think she could tell I meant by that, of course, her appreciation and respect of my husband. I got feelings, same as everypony else, and so does AJ. Both of us got feelings. All we can ask is to continue living everyday with each other, growing in love and friendship. Even though we ultimately only need each other seein' as how we love each other to death, we appreciate every ounce of support from the fam.

Seemed like I had just welcomed her in not a moment before and already she was laughing her way out the barn door.  Funny how we can make good memories with each other seem like no time at all.

"Looks like someone wasn't ready for his first hoedown," said Rainbow, looking down smugly at AJ as my little sister's voice perked up from the other side of my shoulder.

"Ah'll say! Ah' don't think ah' ever seen him so wild and happy," she said, as her cousin Babs walked up beside her. Chiming in untimely from a few feet away was Cherry Fizzy, a young stallion who is right jealous of my husband. He's always had his eye on me in a manner I ain't interested. Not like the true affection that radiates from my hubby's eyes.

"Yea, for someone as soft as he is, maybe," he muttered under his breath. "You better hope you're never in trouble, else he might run away," he chuckled, as he and his buddy Blue Skies walked out.

That's funniest darned thing I ever heard. Did you hear that, Applejack? According to this fella, AJ don't have the back to take care of me. He don't really sweat out here workin' on the farm day in n' day out, carryin' loads and workin' sore for the family while this fella is makin' cherry punch. Ah'd hate to be him if he ever decides to test that. My hubby is the kindest boy in the world. He sure is meek, and he sure is gentle, but boy howdy... he got a protective side in him that they ain't seen. I have. Let me tell you honey, if I'm in danger, AJ ain't so meek and mild. And to tell the truth, I find that to be nothing short of wonderful. Only if his sweetheart, who melts at the very thought of being his sweetheart, is in trouble does he lose his temper. Rainbow, on the other hand, is quite confrontational.

"Hey! You take that back! He may be gentle and sensitive, but he's a lot tougher than you! For saying that, I oughta..."

"Don't worry about him, Rainbow," I said to my loyal friend, who was ready to kick his head in.

To tell you the truth, I actually was chuckling. I really did think it was funny. They hadn't seen him when I was in trouble. It soothes my soul seeing ponies being friendly with him, cause that's all he wants to be with them. But I can't help it if a few young stallions are no fan of my sugarcube. I got him and he's got me, and snuggled together like two peas in a pod, they ain't got nothing on us. And besides, the rest of this here town really does seem to love him, from Cheerilee to the mayor.

"He looks so happy when he sleeps," said Babs in her Manehattan funny-sounding talk.

"You know, I have to admit... he does look the tiniest bit cute when he has his arms and legs tucked in like that, not to mention that outfit," said Rainbow.

"He looks like he's having some sweet dreams," said Babs. I felt my heart tug at that, and I looked long and good at his sleeping face. I hate to admit it, and I feel right spoiled, but the reason I flutter at something like that is cause I know what he dreams about. He dreams about his country princess. He dreams about the one who loves every walloping last bit of him. I ain't one to be seeking love, but when I feel it from him, I can't deny how sweet it feels. And I do adore him with all my heart.

"Ah'm gonna get Granny Smith to take a picture of him like this!" giggled my sister. I thought it was right cute of her.

"Ah' ain't stoppin' ya," I said, as her and Babs trotted off.

"Hey Applejack," said Rainbow, looking around.

"What is it darlin'?" I said.

"Fluttershy never made it here, did she?"

I stopped and thought for a quick second, and no it seems she did not make it after all. That's too bad! She loves these kinds of things. Well, she is kinda shy though ah' guess to be likin' these here hoedowns where there's a bunch o' ponies dancin' and singin'...

"Well phooey, ah' guess she didn't," I said. Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes disappointedly. She cares for her friend, she just wants to her to be a little more social. They go way back as fillies, Rainbow and Fluttershy do. They was way up in the clouds of course, flying around; I ain't never gonna get to see what that's like, but you best believe I can live with that seeing how I got my family here with me. I wouldn't trade nothing, not wings nor horn to stop being the Earth pony I am. I got all I could ever ask for with my family and my sugarcube.

"Well, it's mighty late right about now, but why don't ya head over there t'morrow morning n' see how she's doin'? She's probably just a little nervous about bein' around everypony, same as she's always been," I said, bumping her in the chest some more.

"I know, but she usually comes to these things anyway! She gets over it. Ah horseapples. I'll pop over in the morning, but right now I need my z's. Catch ya later Applejack!"

Just like that, she was outa quicker than a whip. Seemed like my relationships with my friends were only growing, and the memories were flowing in like the wind. I turned my head around and saw a bright-eyed Twilight giving me her friendly look of approval.

"That was an amazingly fun hoedown, Applejack!" she shouted, before she looked around the barn and saw how littered  with hay and confetti it was. "Even if it was a little... wild," she chuckled.

"Aw, thanks Twi. We sure glad ya made it! We'd been brokenhearted had you missed out, we miss ya, Twilight."

She sure looked like she had a good time too, always cherishing her friends. We ain't got a better princess in the entire world if she's up on that throne.

"Always wonderful to see you, Applejack. You really are an absolute joy," she said, bowing her royal head and trotting up to my side, looking down at my snoozing spouse. "You know, I remember when he first came here, and the Princess and I didn't know what to expect with him being a human and all. But to be honest, from the moment I met him, I knew that he was as harmless as a bunny. I always adored the special attachment he had for you from the moment he met you, and I can't say I blame him."

"Awww, shucks Twi... Yer makin' me softer than a kitten on a pillow," I said. Twilight wrapped her wing around for a good ol' Equestria girl hug.

"I am so looking forward to seeing the love you two share grow and prosper to heights the world has never seen," she said, as she pulled her head back and gave me her royal blessing. Her words had a mighty bit of strength in them, especially to me. I looked from her down at my most precious husband, watching him as deeply as I could feel from the depths of my heart as he laid in slumber. Ah' know, Twilight... we have grown. And we have achieved so much together already...

"What a unlikely yet glorious couple you two make... the human and the earth pony."

I couldn't help it. My deepest feelings were stirring inside me like a roaring campfire. Ah' know he ain't no pony, believe me, but ah' wouldn't trade nothing for him. In fact, Twilight, ah' love him so much... and he returns it with a care so pure and strong... that we are gonna... the two of us er' gonna... The truth is, I wanted to tell her right then and there. I was almost speaking to her in my head. But I couldn't. No way no how I'm telling her before I tell him. I may be the element of honesty, but that don't mean I can't be silent.

"Well, I better be getting along," said a giggling Twilight. Snap out of it, Applejack!

"Oh, Twi! Ah'm so sorry."

"It's fine, AJ. Er- Applejack. I understand farmers need their sleep. I know princesses sure do, let me tell you," she said, making for the door.

"Well, please stop by soon, Twilight," I said, catching my breath and laughing with relief.

"Look out, Applejack!" said the voice of my little sis. She and Babs had the camera all ready to go, as the last ponies in the barn, Big Mac and Granny Smith, walked behind them.

"Alright you two, get it while he's good and sleepy 'fore ah' carry him in," I said, as Granny Smith and Big Macintosh started laughing.

"Daggone, that little nose o' his is beggin' to be tickled with hay!" cried Granny Smith, as the rest of us broke out in laughter.

"That would be awful funny, but we'll let him rest. He's gettin' good and embarrassed when he sees how he's goin' the memory book" I said, as Apple Bloom held up our family camera. Something crossed her mind, however, seeing how she dropped it giggling terribly.

"Big Macintosh, go get your little dolly and we'll put it 'n his arms," said my little sis. I'm not even gonna tell you what she meant by that, but you think he's red as it is, you should've seen him when she said this.

"Eenope," he said, trying to sound tough.

"Why don't we all get in this one? It'll be our little family photo. You too, Babs!" I said, to which all of them were right fine with.

"Set the timer there, little filly!" cried Granny Smith.

So setting the camera, we all hopped down and knelt around my sleeping husband and posed for the picture like the happy family we are. I went back behind him, put my chin on his side and showed my pearly whites to the camera as the rest of giggled silly. Flash of light, and just like that, we had one for the memory book we ain't soon gonna forget.

"You need help carrying him in?" asked Babs.

"Oh no, ah' can handle him by mah'self," I said, putting my front leg around him and raising my flank up and getting my head under him so I could lift him up. At first, he was like a limp noodle on my back, his arms and legs both on the ground. It was not the prettiest of sights. "Uh... maybe this ain't gonna work after all," I chuckled as Babs and my little sis started hooting and howling with laughter.

"Just sit him up straight and let him lean on your neck!" said my sis.

"Well ah' suppose that'll work. Come on, honey! Let's get you inside to bed," I said, as I shifted his legs and felt his face on my mane. Aw, you little sleepy head... You just rest your weary heart on me, ah'll look after you. We killed the lights in the barn, and I trotted my way out of the barn into the darkness. My golly, you wouldn't believe how beautiful a little walk from the barn to the house can be when the stars are out. Look at those stars, sugarcube. The night sure is beautiful... but the way I feel about you is a more glorious feeling than if the whole lot of 'em came down and danced around us. My sugarcube and I know that all too well, we used to come out here in secret, lying in the grass till the darkest hour, looking at the stars and sharing each other's feelings, experiences, joys, and pains....  

I trotted up to the house, made my way through the door and up stairs to the bed, and the day was over. With him on my back, I threw the blankets and sheets back and slapped him down gently on the bed as his eyes twitched open for a quick second. He muttered some kinda sleepy gibberish as I chuckled at the sight of his innocence, settling in his new sleeping place.

I walked over the window and gave one last glance at the stars. We sure had a good day today, sugarcube. Ah'm so proud of you! We had so much fun, and we made so many memories... You are my most beloved, sugarcube. I looked back, and sure as the stars twinkle there he was, still sleeping. It is a sweet feeling seeing that which belongs to you safe and sound in your own great care.

By this time, though, I was ready to snuggle in beside him. I threw back the covers and laid myself down beside him. I just needed one more little thing before I went to bed. I turned his cheek over with my hoof and blessed his lips with my own. The human and the Earth pony... ah' quite like the sound o' that. I scooted myself over till I was snug as a bug in a rug up against him, and turned my head back to the open side of the bed, breathing as soundly as a farmer can breath. Ah' never thought ah'd meet someone ah'd be willing to commit myself with on this level, someone ah' respected enough, someone who respected me. But ah' do love you enough, AJ. Ah' love you more n' enough. And ah'm so happy to tell you this, sugarcube. We didn't know if it was possible... But it is... It is possible... and it is happening... The sun is going to rise and bring new life with it...

You see, that's what's been on my mind the last few days. This is what I've wanted to tell him. Our newest adventure is on it's way, and it's the highest form of love and commitment possible between a wife and groom. What I wanted to tell him, what I couldn't tell Twilight before I told him, was that him and me... we're gonna be a ma and pa.