Another meeting was being held in the Friendship Castle. Sitting in their thrones, all the six Elements of Harmony chattered wildly, catching up since the last meeting a week ago. Applejack, who was among them, didn't speak. Today was the anniversary of the day Applejack took honesty as the only thing she would do. Twilight cleared her throat, and the others grew silent.
"It's nice to see you all again," said Twilight.
"I agree," said Rarity. "It's been far too long, darlings!"
"It's been two weeks," said Applejack, bitterly. "Not very long." The others stared at her because of the tone she took. Twilight laughed nervously.
"Well, that display aside, Rainbow, how is it with the Wonderbolts?" asked Twilight. Rainbow smiled cockily.
"I'm becoming one of the best Wonderbolts ever. They really have to keep up with me now," said Rainbow. Applejack rolled her eyes.
"You're not near good as them!" shouted Applejack. "You've been with 'em for a month, so there is no way y'all is as good as them." Rainbow's eyes widened. Suddenly, she growled.
"What did you say?!" asked Rainbow, her nose suddenly inches from Applejack's. "Do you know who you're talking to?"
"Yeah," replied Applejack, waving her hoof dismissively. "A bad Wonderbolt." Rainbow growled, ready to pounce. Suddenly, Fluttershy came in between them.
"Girls!" shouted Fluttershy, and she covered her mouth. "Excuse me for being loud. But, stop fighting!" Applejack and Rainbow stared at her apologetically. Fluttershy turned to Applejack. "Is something wrong? You haven't been yourself today."
"Yeah, you were being a party pooper!" exclaimed Pinkie. Twilight nudged her in the arm. "What?"
"Darling, we all noticed you haven't been taking good attitude," said Rarity, walking over to Applejack, putting her hoof on her shoulder. "You can tell us whatever is bothering you." Applejack sighed, her ears laying flat on her head.
"Ah'm sorry, y'all," said Applejack, a tear running down her cheek, as she looked to the ground. "Today, Ah'm being reminded of my mistake, which caused mah parents to die." The others stared.
"You can tell us," said Fluttershy quietly, coming to Applejack, and giving her a hug.
"Ah'll tell ya why Ah'm so honest now," said Applejack. "It all started when..."
"Ma! Pa!" called the small orange filly. "Big Mac's pickin' on me again!"
"No Ah'm not!" protested a big, red colt. A red mare with a straw colored mane came out.
"Will y'all stop fightin'?" asked the mare. "Applejack, are ya lyin' again?"
"N-N-No, Ma," lied Applejack. Ma gave her a disdainful look.
"Ya know ya can't lie to me," said Ma, narrowing her eyes. "Pa! Get the switch." Applejack squeaked.
"No! No, Ma!" cried Applejack. "Please don't get the switch!" A stallion with a yellow coat and an orange mane came out with a stick, long, and a bit dented from previous uses.
"Applejack, why have ya been lyin'?" asked Ma.
"Um," stammered Applejack, unable to answer. Ma suddenly took the switch out of Pa's hooves and landed it on Applejack's rear. Applejack cried out in pain.
"DON'T LIE!" yelled Ma. Another whip. "WE RAISED YA BETTER!" Whap. "Go to your room." Applejack didn't protest. Tears running down her face, she ran. Applejack slammed the door behind her. She jumped onto her bed, and used her covers to hide her. She was in pain. Why did Ma always win? Applejack cried until she fell asleep.
Whatever time passed, Pa came in. He saw the lump on the bed, and shook it. Applejack's face slowly peeked out from under the covers, and she rushed back under after seeing Pa.
"Hey, Applejack," whispered Pa. "I'm sorry about earlier, but why, why did you lie?"
"H-H-He wouldn't... Help me with my chores," explained Applejack.
"Ya could have just told one of us," reminded Pa. "Yer mom doesn't like having to punish you like that, but she needs to."
"O-Okay," replied Applejack.
"How 'bout ya come into town with me and yer Ma?" asked Pa.
"Okay," said Applejack, and she popped out under her covers. She sat up and stretched, and Pa patted her head.
"Come on," urged her Pa. He nudged her from the bed, and they headed back into the living room, where Big Mac and Ma was, holding the baby. They started to head into town. Ma kept glancing guiltily at Applejack, who felt uncomfortable. Big Mac stood opposite of Applejack, obviously still upset with her. Applebloom, still being a tot, laughed wildly, as she rode on Applejack's back. Applejack smiled at Applebloom, envious of her carefree life. What is must have been, having somepony do everything for you, and you could get away with anything. Suddenly, they came face to face with a giant boulder.
"Oh no," muttered Pa, as he put a hoof on the boulder, and tried to push it. Ma came to it and tried, followed by Big Mac. Applejack set Applebloom on the ground, who fell on her back, smiling. The four of them pushed on the boulder, unable to make it budge.
"Ah guess we'll have to go home," sighed Ma. Applejack didn't want to go home, and be upset. So, racking her brain, she looked around, and saw a bridge over a ledge.
"Ah know another way to Ponyville!" exclaimed Applejack. She pointed over to the bridge, and her parents skeptically looked at it.
"Ah don't think that's safe," said Ma.
"Me neither," said Pa.
"It's perfectly safe!" lied Applejack, trying to look as truthful as possible. Ma raised an eyebrow, and exchanged glances with Pa, and they shrugged.
"Let's go," said Pa. Big Mac looked at Applejack in confusion. She smiled sheepishly. Applejack stepped on the bridge, and ignored the drop below her. She started trotting on the bridge, when a rope snapped. Applejack screamed out as the bridge started to drop.
"APPLEJACK!" cried Ma and Pa at the same time. They jumped at Applejack, grabbing her scruff and throwing her to Ma, who threw her onto the land. The other rope snapped, and the bridge went down, with Ma and Pa. Applejack screamed. Big Mac rushed over, and stared down, tears running down his face.
"MA! PA!" wailed Applejack, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her Ma and Pa screamed the whole way down, before all she could hear were the echos, and then nothing. Applejack collapsed on the ground.
"No!" cried Big Mac. "Please, no!" He stood motionless. Applebloom cried a bit, noticing the absence of Ma and Pa.
"Please, Ah'm sorry," pleaded Applejack, calling to her parents, her pleas landing on deaf ears.
"Yer lies caused us to lose our parents!" shouted Big Mac, tears still flowing from his eyes. "Yer lies have caused death to two great ponies."
"Ah know, Ah know!" sobbed Applejack. "Ah swear Ah will never lie again, and that is the truth!" Big Mac gave her a long, skeptical glare, and then turned around, grabbing Applebloom, heading for the farm. Applejack looked down the ravine. Down there was her Ma and Pa, because of her. She would truly, never, ever lie again.
Applejack stared down at the ground, tears running out of her eyes. Her five friends stared in sadness and disbelief, as they processed what they heard.
"Wow," said Rainbow. "I had no idea all of this happened to you." Applejack looked up. Fluttershy's hooves wrapped around her.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," said Fluttershy quietly. Rarity pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.
"Darling, is there anything I can do for you to help?" asked Rarity. She didn't let a tear escape and ruin her makeup.
"No, Rarity," replied Applejack. "All Ah can do is remember, and move on with life." Pinkie's mane fell flat, as she sniffed.
"I can't bear to see one of my friends unhappy," muttered Pinkie, before waterfalls fell from her eyes. Twilight sadly watched Applejack, unable to say a word.
"Pinkie, it's all right," soothed Applejack, giving her a soft smile. "Ah'm happy that all of ya are my friends, and are doing your best to cheer me up. And that's the truth."
