Applejack’s golden mane flowed with the cool autumn breeze in the late hours of the afternoon. In her saddlebag she was carrying flowers and other objects. The cemetery was the place she visited once a week, and whenever she came, Applejack had that empty feeling deep inside her, the feeling she had always felt since she was five. She passed through the field of gravestones, searching left and right for a certain one. With each gravestone that passed her, Applejack tried her best to contain the emotions inside her. She hated coming here. It was always silent and dreary, and the thought of walking among the dead made her physically ill, but she did not want to let them down.
She found it at last, the gravestone she was looking for. It was a medium sized white rectangle with apples imprinted on it. Applejack felt a lump forming in her throat reading the names - Apple Belle and Apple Core, her mother and father.
“Hi ma. Hi pa,” she greeted solemnly. “It’s me… Applejack.” Applejack removed her stetson from her head and sat herself down on the grass. She placed the bouquet of flowers on the ground by the gravestone, then closed her eyes to gather her thoughts. “We… we’ve all been doing fine since… what happened,” she said. “Granny Smith’s been taking good care of us, and we’ve been taking good care of her.”
The leaves were caught up by the wind, flying pass Applejack’s face. That empty feeling inside her became greater. “Me and Big Mac have been the ones running the farm now, and Granny Smith helps out too with the family reunions and all. Last year, we all came together for an unexpectant barn raising. The new one looks nice.”
The cool breeze picked up and made the tree branches move. The clouds above covered most of the blue sky and the sun. “And Apple Bloom’s doing alright. She hasn’t got her cutie-mark yet, but she’s been growing into a mature filly. If only ya’ll could see her now.”
Applejack closed her eyes again, images of precious memories emerging from the blackness. Her lips curled into a small smile, and a light chuckle escaped her. “I remember that one time, Pa, when you were showing me and Big Mac how to buck apples. You and Big Mac got all the apples in your baskets. It was my turn, and some of the apples hit me on my head,” she said with a slight giggle, “and Big Mac said that I discovered gravity.”
She removed her saddlebag and dug inside. “Ma, Pa, I got something for you two. I was cleaning the attic when I found these.” The first item she pulled out was a golden pocket watch with an apple design on it. “Here Pa, your old pocket watch,” she said. “I know how much you used to love this old thing.” Applejack carefully placed it next to the flowers. “And Ma, I found this.” She second item she pulled out was a red and silver harmonica. “You were always one of the best harmonica players I ever heard, Ma.” The harmonica was placed on the other side of the flowers.
“I’ve been doing fine. Me and Granny have been keeping the family together all these years. I never knew how running the farm and taking care of the family was such hard work.” Applejack paused for a moment, thinking of something to say. “But I always kept my head up high, and I have y’all two to thank.”
The air became cooler, and the leaves were picked up by the breeze which were blown across the cemetery. “Ma, Pa... I really wish ya’ll were alive to see how much the family has grown. I wish ya’ll were were alive to see how much I’ve grown,” she said. “I learned a lot over the years. I also formed strong friendships. I bet y’all never knew I would grow up to be the Element of Honesty.”
Applejack was lost in her words. There was so much more she wanted to talk about, but she could not put them together in sentences. The lump was formed once more inside her throat, but Applejack tried her best to force it down. “I’m the Element of Honesty alright. Honest Applejack is what some call me.”
She reached into her saddlebag again and took out a picture frame. The photo was of herself and her friends. “You see those ponies, and that small dragon?” she asked them. “These are my best friends in the whole world. I don’t what I would do without them. We’ve saved Equestria from danger over the years, but that ain’t no big deal.”
The temperature was beginning to drop, and Applejack felt herself shivering. She wanted to spend a few more minutes alone with her parents, no matter how cold it got. “I know how y’all been trying to save money for Apple Bloom so she can go to college soon,” she said to the gravestone. “Me and Big Mac have been putting a little something aside from our profits. It was least we can do.”
Time was running out. The sun was about to disappear behind the horizon soon. The sky was a mixture of pink and purple, along with the early evening stars. Applejack leaned toward the gravestone, not before letting tears flow down her cheek.
“Ma… Pa…” she said through her quiet sobs. “I Just want y’all to know that… I love you, and I miss you so much. I won’t ever forget y’all two.”
“Applejack,” a little voice called from behind. A teary-eyed Applejack turned around and saw Apple Bloom standing a few feet away from her.
“Oh… hi Apple Bloom,” she greeted, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“... Are you talking to Ma and Pa?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Yes. Yes I am.” Apple Bloom drew herself close to her older sister, and sat next to her. She looked at the gravestone, then at the items placed on the ground next to it.
“... Do they miss me?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Yes, they miss you, me, and Big Mac very much,” Applejack answered. “And Apple Bloom, Ma wanted me to tell you how much she is very proud of you.”
“She’s proud of me?”
“You bet she is.” Applejack ambushed her little sister with a loving hug. The two stayed like that for a few minutes before letting go. It was getting dark and cold. “Come on, sugarcube. Let’s go home.”
Applejack and Apple Bloom sat up from the grass and began their trek home. However, Apple Bloom turned her attention back to the gravestone. Since Applejack gave the gravestone gifts, she too wanted to contribute. Apple Bloom removed her pink bow, which made her mane long afterwards, and placed it on the ground with the flowers, the harmonica, and the pocket watch.
“Goodbye Ma, goodbye Pa. I’ll always love you.” Apple Bloom rejoined her older sister and the two exited the cemetery. The light from the stars guided them on their way home. “Applejack,” Apple Bloom said. “Do you think Ma and Pa like it up there?”
“... I think they’re having a great time up there.”
“Do you think we’ll see them again?”
“... Yes. I truly believe we’ll see them again. You have my honest word.”
