Howdy! Reckon that's as much of introduction as ya'll need! This is Applejack, here, in case ya'll didn't know by now. Did ya'll miss me? Ha, I'm just pullin your leg right about now, my hubby is the real poet. Well daggone, do ya'll really need the roundup? I guess you could say there ain't much complaints over on this side of the barn. Nope, my life is sweeter than sugar right now, even if it does got lots of irons in the fire.

I ain't changed none since I last wrote. I'm still the workin', country, family-lovin' mare I always been. Matter fact, only a few days gone by since I told the story from my horseshoes, though I reckon you may not have been able to read nothing. Another thing that ain't changed is that I - er, sorry- we got a wonderful foal on the way, though still a long way off. Haha, yep! I reckon you read my hubby's own fancy words on his feelings about finding out. Bless his cute little heart, he was so excited and overwhelmed, all he could do was fall into my front legs. That's what I'm for, though, helpin' him out whenever he needs me, cause the Princess know's that's what he be doing for me.

Of course you read about our dandy time at the waterfall. I thought that was a swell place to take him after telling him. I knew he'd love it; I know him better than I know myself. You should seen him out there, so cute with his wet hair and blushing cheeks! We's two peas in a pod, we sure are. Playing with him is more fun than a barrel of monkeys, but he's so kind and trusting; ain't nobody ever trusted me like he did before, save my family. I trust my heart that I ain't never gonna let him down. There ain't nothin' but pure joy coming from those blue eyes of his around me. I wouldn't have it no other way, neither. I sure hope he don't spoil me too much though, cause now we got a foal of our own to look after. I can't wait till the three of us are the closest family there ever was.

After we spent the night there in a tent, the next morning we made our way back home to Ponyville, walking through the Everfree Forest side by side together. I was a little worried for him, and my gears are still turning in my head about him; see, he woke up in the middle of the night breathing harder than a rodeo pony. He had a terrible nightmare, I guess, somethin' about me, and him not bein' able to take care of me. As the element of honesty herself, I can't deny the fuzzy feeling I get that he cares so much about me that his worst nightmare is not being able to do it no longer. But I also know there ain't nothin' that makes me sadder than seeing his cute little self so anxious and upset. I can't allow that, and I never will; that's why I'll always be there to hug him and love him when he needs it.

We'd been laughin' and smilin' the whole way home together, with not the tiniest bit of fret in our step. My sugarcube and I go to better together than a plow goes with a wet field. We'd just turned the corner and comin' onto the last stretch of forest before we reached the open meadows and hills of Ponyville, and there was no frettin' to be found, but there was somethin' deep swimmin' around in those twinklin' blue eyes. His eyes got more love in them then ya'll would ever believe. I reckon he was thinkin' about his nightmare again, and his days of bein' a daddy. He can't hide his feelings from me! Haha, no he sure as hay can't, but that's just how he and me want it. He's gentle, but he's strong. Certainly strong enough to be my foal's pa.

"Sugarcube?" I said, putting extra special care in my tone. We was still walkin' along together, side by side, and he perked his cute head up at the love in my voice, and he turned his gentle eyes toward me with tenderness that I ain't never gonna be able to describe in this fancy writing. "What's wrong? Yer not still thinkin' 'bout that nightmare are ya?"

"No," he said, with a guilty blush and a kindly smile. "Well, maybe a little bit."

"How 'bout ah' make you an apple pie?" His face lit up like a firefly, and I giggled out loud. "Ah' know you, sweetie! Ah' know what you can and cannot resist, now."

He didn't say nothing in response. He just kept smilin' that loving smile of his. He's a meek one alright, but usually he ain't

this quiet around me. I searched his eyes, and I saw a lot love, but a lot of ponderin' as well. As I tried to work my way through those eyes and into his golden heart, and I found myself just smiling back before I thought of somethin' else to say as he turned his head to the ground. I had a feeling I knew what he was thinkin', and honestly, I've thought about it too. Thought about it, but never worried about it, and that's the honest truth.

"Ya know, sugarcube, it's been a little while since we had a, uh... what's the word ah'm looking fer... 'deep' talkin' to each other,"  I said with a slight blush. He turned his head up with an apologizin' look in his face.

"I'm sorry, Applejack."

"Fer what?" I laughed. He managed another smile. "Hey now," I continued, stickin' my hoof to his chest and seriousin' up. "What did ah' tell ya last night, sugarcube?"

"I know, I know," he said, smilin' with his cute blush. "Tell you everything."

"Ah' know yer worried about me, sweetheart. And our foal. But fer Pete's sake, sugarcube, we've been through so much! What could we possibly not get through together? We've shown the whole world, ain't no one gonna get the best o' us fer bein' a human and a pony," I said, rearin' back and gettin' him under my arm and rubbin' his hair. He giggled wildly before I let him go, and his cute laughin' reassured me I'd comforted him, and he walked a little while further before he said somethin'.

"Applejack?" he said, turning his head. "What do you think our foal will look like?"

I paused for a moment, and thought mighty hard to myself. See now, when I mentioned I had a feeling I knew what he was wondering, that was it right there. That and how the ponies would, uh, what's the word... 'receive' our foal. I could see 'em both in his eyes, and I could feel his feelings in my heart. What a special connection we got!

Now those questions do require some thought, and some deep thinkin' indeed do they draw up in one's heart. What does a human/pony foal look like? Well, I don't know at the moment. But I answered my sugarcube as honestly as I could.

"Ya know, sugarcube, ah' don't know the answer to that question," I said, putting my hoof on my chin. "Ah' just know you're his pa, so he has to be the cutest thing there ever was," I said, lookin' him in the eye with an honest smile. His eyes twinkled, and my heart spluttered lickety split.

"Any foal of yours would be the most beautiful foal there ever was," he laughed. He turned his head to the ground, before he started puzzlin' some more. "Do you think the ponies will treat her- or him- well?"

Now he done asked a good question. I had wondered about that myself a little bit. I knew he was concerned about me, and about our foal. But the honest truth is that I ain't so much worried about that. I suppose it'd be real swell if everypony does treat our foal right, and is perfectly well-sittin' with him or her being around. But I ain't so much worried about that, because back home at the farm, he's gonna be fine and dandy.

"Ah'm sure they will treat our foal like any other pony 'round these parts. Same as they treat you. Remember, there's harmony all throughout the land 'cause ponies are friends with each other and with everyone willin' to be our friend!" I said, and you could see joy returning in his eyes as he took in my little words of comfort for him and myself. "We've been through our share o' bumper crop, sugarcube, whether that be evil unicorns or comin' to terms with Ponyville, or each other. Besides, ah' know ain't no one ever gonna be a better father than you are gonna be. Our bushel is gettin' another apple, as Granny Smith likes to say. Back at the farm, his ma and pa are gonna love him to death, and we're gonna be the happiest family there ever was."

I could see in his eyes AJ was delighted more than you could ever hope to dream. He couldn't hide his heart's joy worth a darn, hearin' that from me, of all ponies. What a wonderful way he makes me feel when he feels that way from somethin' I done said. I'm just tellin' the truth, and makin' him feel the way I want to see him always feel. But how sweet does it feel for me to be able to give it to him.

"You feelin' better yet, sugarcube?" I giggled.. He's a shy one, alright, but he's a sweetie. I hoped I could get him a little bit more wigglin' and lively. But I know he had a lot on his mind between me and our foal. Heck, he's a human, and here I am a pony, and here we are expecting! That ain't exactly somethin' he was ever expectin' growin' up.

We looked ahead and saw the light just over yonder, indicating we was right on the edge of the forest. We both stopped at the same time, just standing side by side. The majesty of the forest surrounded us, but it's nothin' compared to the majesty of our love, that country boy and me. I walked over to him and rested myself right on his chest. I needed it as much as him.

"As long as you're with me, I will always be way more than alright," he said, in his gentle voice. He brought his arms to rest snuggly over my mane, as he looked with awe up into the tree tops, and I felt all the love in his heart. "I just... " His eyes wandered and wondered. At the moment, I didn't- still don't- have a clue of what's ahead for the two of us, but I knew- still know- we'll be happy as long as we got each other.

"It's difficult for me to appreciate all this, Applejack. The glory of being with you, and the glory of life. It's even more difficult for me to comprehend how special the foal of yours will be, as you are the most special creature who ever lived, the brightest light that ever shined." He turned his head down at me, and all the puppy love poured fourth from his eyes, and I could barely take it. I'm just a farm mare, and here he is with his poetic words. He was in loverboy mode, alright. "I can't believe the honor you have bestowed upon me, trusting me with something like this. I'm ready to raise this foal with you as what I am. "

And that right there is why he's the only one I ever loved enough to go this far with him. He's the only one that ever respected me this way, and not just after somethin' for hisself. He says I'm pure, and while I certainly feel spoiled to hear such a thing, I'm only as pure as he is. He's got the heart of little foal. Ain't no pony like him.

"It's gonna be alright, sugarcube," I whispered.

"I can't wait, Applejack."

I hugged him tighter than bark on a tree, and the two of us was happier than we could ever imagine as we loved each other with all our hearts right there in the forest.

Just as we made our way through the last bit of trees, there was suddenly out of nowhere a voice that sounded just like my little sis. What's she doin' out here? She ain't been eve's droppin', ah' hope fer her sake! Of course, moments like these between me and AJ are usually interrupted. We ain't never get a moment's peace. Be patient, little one. We'll get our time together.

"Apple Bloom?" I called. AJ looked at me with nothin'. No sign of her anywhere, that little whipper snapper. "C'mon, honey, let's go back to the farm. We gots a little secret to tell 'em!"

AJ smiled and blushed redder than a ripe tomato. AJ took a step forward, and lo and behold, out of the bush came crashin' my little sis. She leaped through and hit AJ right on the chest, knocking him to the ground with a thud.

"Apple Bloom! What in the name of all things cinnamon swi-"

Next thing I knew I was on the ground too! My little sis' friend Scootaloo had come crashing through right beside her, and sure as sugar all four of us was lying on the ground dizzy.

"Howdy sis! Howdy AJ!" cried my sis.

"Ugh. Oh! Sorry Applejack!" said Scootaloo.

"Don't worry 'bout it," I chuckled, a little embarrassed to boot.

Suddenly joining the four of us was Apple Bloom's other best friend, Sweetie Belle. Ya'll remember Rarity, don't ya? Well Sweetie Belle is her little sis. White as snow with a fluffy pink mane. She's the nicest little gal you'll ever meet. Well anyway, she jumped right in between the two of us, looking at us all confused at first; I don't blame her one bit; Apple Bloom was sittin' on AJ, and Scootaloo was still on top of me. Sweetie Belle saw us and got more excited then a sugared up Pinkie Pie.

"Are you guys hugging each other? Can I join?" she squealed, jumping up and down.

"Sorry 'bout that, AJ," said my sis, crawlin' off the top of his chest as AJ sat up and held his head. That poor boy looked mighty dizzy. I hate to say so, but he's cute even when he's dizzy.

"No problem," he said, still a few apples short of a bushel as he got his wind back.

"What is the meanin' o' this?" I snapped at my sis, standing up and brushing myself off.

"Hi AJ!" said Sweetie Belle, running over to my hubby with a big smile. She always been fond 'o him, just like anybody who knows him; I reckon he's also a little treat for her just the same, bein' human and all. AJ shook his head to help his dizzy spell, then smiled at the little filly.

"Hi Sweetie Belle! How are you?" he said, leaning back on his hands as the filly squealed with delight. Aww. Suddenly my sis interrupted and reminded me what was goin' on.

"Ah' could ask you two the same question! What 'er you doin' in the Everfree Forest?" she said. Uh.. this ain't the best time to be tellin' these three ah' don't think... it'd be all over town lickety split. I reckoned we'd tell the family later that day, just the five of us. Boy howdy, I sure lookin' forward it right then.  

Before I could answer, there was another sound in the shrub, and the three crusaders all jumped up as though they were scared silly. Scared, but lovin' every second of it. They were up to something. I realized what they were up to when I saw what was lyin' on the ground in the middle of us all.

"So that's what ya'll 'er up to! Apple Bloom! What did ah' tell you 'bout respectin' Big Macintosh's privacy?" I snapped at my sister. Sittin' on the ground was none other than Big Macintosh's 'smarty pants' doll, somethin' Twilight enchanted a while back. She reckons it never quite wore off, poor fella. He hates that doll, but loves it just the same. He can't help it.

"We were so bored!" cried Scootaloo.

"And we wanted Big Mac to chase us!" squeaked Sweetie Belle.

"But he wouldn't," said my little sis.

"So ya'll stole his smarty pants doll to get him to chase ya, is that it?" I said, narrowin' my eyebrows.

Before they could answer, there was another movement in the shrub, and Big Macintosh's bellowing breathing could be heard just 'round the bend. The three crusaders squeaked, and without no more hesitation, Scootaloo bent herself over and picked up Smarty Pants in her mouth, and the three of 'em took off just like that. My big brother came crashin' through the trees landin' right between me and AJ.

"Eenope!" he said, not even givin' us a passing glance. With a hard breath he galloped after my sister and her friends. My hubby and I stood there in silence, lookin' at each other not knowin' what to make or think of what we just saw. After a moment, we both started laughing together. Whoa nelly, what an adventure my sis has gotten herself into.

I walked over to my sugarcube and held my hoof out for him and helped him up off the ground.

"Ah' reckon we can let Big Macintosh handle that one by hisself," I said, as AJ laughed his sweet laughter. "Now where were we?" I said, bringing him in for a hug before the two of us started our trot back home. "How 'bout we tell the family tonight?"

"I'm ready when your'e ready, Applejack," he assured, as he buried his head on top of me, and all our special feelings we get when we're with each other settled back like the birds return for the spring. All the troubles I ever felt melted away like ice cream on black top havin' him in my forelegs. My sweet AJ. Ah' love you so much. I really do. That special moment was just as special as every other moment with each other. We were just about to share a little kiss when-

"Hi Applejack. Hi AJ. How lovely to see you!" said a soft, friendly, and girly voice, as we withdrew ourselves with surprise. Floating down from the sunlight above was none other than my good friend and fellow-element-of-harmony Fluttershy. She's awful shy, as her name would lead you to thinkin', but she's mighty kind, too. Great with animals, that one. She had a right friendly smile as she landed right in front of us.

"Fluttershy! How ya been girl? We missed ya at the hoedown," I said, winkin' a friendly eye at her, as AJ smiled and waved, causing the shy pegasus to blush. She seemed a little embarrassed havin' to answer for not bein' at the hoedown, but then again, she's always embarrassed.

"Oh, um... Well, I was, um... seeing a friend of mine," she said with a timid beam. I looked at AJ for a right quick second, then back at her.

"Well why didn't you bring her along? We love havin' ponies over," I said, as friendly soundin' as I could. She flinched at my suggestion.

"Um, I think he just wanted to be with me. He's a little uncomfortable sometimes at social events, and he just got back from a long mission," she said. AJ and I stared silently at each her, unable to think of nothin' to say, still holdin' each other, but at a distance, not close up like we was before. "You two are so... cute," she said, with a mighty adorable smile. The two of us blushed somethin' terrible, but we loved it. I absolutely splutter hearin' talk like that, it's like hookin' me up to a love machine and turnin' it on full blast. The feels are almost too much to take, and I can feel AJ's heart is the exact same way.

"Aw shucks, Fluttershy," I said, as I hugged my hubby. He was in a right awkward spot, he was blushing silly, but like I said, he loves it to death, trust me.

"Oh, I almost forgot," continued the yellow pegasus, "Twilight is going to be here again tomorrow night, and she was wondering if, um, you might wanna have a slumber party! It would be at her house, and, um, just the elements of harmony that is," she said, soundin' mighty excited but in a timid manner nonetheless.

My first thoughts were awfully positive; a slumber party with my best friends sounded like a real treat. It'd be just like old times, like before Twilight became a princess, and the six of us did everything together. But then I remembered my best friend, my AJ, and he gets priority. He can sometimes feel, uh... out of place, being the only boy- and uh, non pony- at a slumber party with a bunch of girls. Of course they all love him, and he'll never feel bad as long as ah'm there to comfort him...

"Can AJ come?"

"Of course he can! Both of you are the element of honesty, after all," she said, to which I looked and smiled warmly at AJ.

"Applejack, I don't want to impede you on a night with your friends," he said, looking mighty embarrassed. I could see the longing he had to make me happy in his eyes, and how he didn't want to be no burden.

"Oh it'll be alright with you there, sugarcube, they all love you and enjoy yer company. Not even close to how much ah' love you, but you know what I mean. It'll be fun!"

His eyes eased up a little bit, and it looked as though I was talking him into it. He's such a sweetie either way.

"Oh, um, I maybe wasn't supposed to say this, but um... Rainbow Dash mentioned she thought it'd be great if it was just the girls, you know, just like old times. But I would love for AJ to go, he's so nice," said the pegasus behind her mane, smilin' with red cheeks at my hubby. AJ's ease turned back to embarrassment when he heard Rainbow's preference. Aw shoot.

"Applejack, really it's fine, I know you'd have a great time with them. I don't want to make it awkward for any of your friends and have it reflect on you!"

"Ugh, Rainbow," I snorted, knowin' that she'd prevented me from bringin' my beloved husband. I still wanted him there with me. I have to him in my arms, knowin' he's safe.

"Applejack, I think you'd enjoy a night with your friends. I don't want to rob that from you. I'll be waiting with Winona back at the farm for you," he said, pouring out his love for me through his gaze. I suppose I could manage one night away from him, if it meant meetin' up with the girls. But I was still gonna miss him.

"Ugh, alright, you got yerself a deal, the both of ya," I said, sighing my hoof over my nose.

"Oh! How lovely. Sorry, AJ, I don't mind at all if you go," said the timid Fluttershy. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to be alone with AJ again.

"Come on, sugarcube. See ya tomorrow Fluttershy!" I said enthusiastically to the pegasus, pushing my hubby from behind with my head. I wanted to go back to bein' alone with him so we could get back to havin' a "moment" like we was. I don't know what I am, I guess I'm just a lovesick mare. I adore my hubby, and I want to spend as much time with him as I possibly can, because, my modesty hates to say, I know that's what he wants.

"See ya later, you two!" called the pegasus as we made our way out through the last bit of trees and into the open field.

"Applejack!" laughed AJ, as he dragged his feet along the ground as I pushed him out into the field. "Is this really necessary?" he giggled once more.

"Oh it sure as hay is," I said from behind. It was another gorgeous day in Equestria, same as it always is. Today was infinitely more gorgeous then it ever was, since I had the cutest creature both inside and out at my side and in my heart. I wasn't wastin' no time. We'd been interrupted, and we was gonna have our moment.

"How 'bout a little meadow snugglin'?" I said, as we made our way into the flowers on the hill under the blue sky. AJ's bliss lit up in his eyes at as his cheeks turned red yet again, and he smiled gently at me amidst the flowers. In words a little less sophisticated then his, I thought to myself: Ah' can work the fields and trees all day long, every day out of the year, till my sweat is lost with the dirt on my body, but ah' can't get over how special your golden heart is.