“...an’ that’s more or less it.”

Everypony sat around the large kitchen table, all looking to Applejack as her family's heart-breaking story neared its end. Nary a dry eye was to be seen in the room, from the three contributing Apples, the youngest Apple, the other Elements of Harmony, or the zebra medicine mare. It had taken several hours, three pots of strong coffee, many emotional time-outs, and more than a few big group hugs, but they were finally almost there, and Applejack wasted no time in filling in what happened over the intervening years.

"After that, we just had to... move on, Ah guess. Didn't have time to sit an' grieve: we had a farm to run, an' more importantly, a little filly to raise happy." She smiled down at Apple Bloom, who was sat in her lap, and hugged her again, which the little filly was happy to reciprocate.

“Ah think we managed that, just about.” The emphatic nods from her daughter were all the confirmation she required, so on she went.

"We had to put on a brave face fer Apple Bloom, but by an' by it got easier. We all got... not over it, exactly; more accustomed to it, not havin' Mama an' Daddy around anymore. An' even then, it was a hard heart that couldn't be made happy seein' this darlin' l'il filly tearin' about the place!"

"Applejack! Uh, Ah mean, Moooom!" Everypony giggled as Apple Bloom blushed, all happy for the little piece of light relief, short though it was.

"But o'course me an' Mac… well, we had to stop. Ah think that, after losin’ our parents, that was the hardest change fer the both of us: we couldn't give each other the kind of love an' support that we both wanted or needed, 'cos then we'd have had to explain why Apple Bloom's big brother an' sister were doin' things that brothers an' sisters shouldn't do." Macintosh nodded his agreement with a sad frown, but didn’t add anything further.

“It affected us both differently, an’ how we tried to deal with it was different, but nopony really got used to it, any of it. Ah was just burstin’ to tell her the truth, Ah couldn’t stand livin’ like that, an’ then last night was the straw that broke the camel’s back. After that, well, y’all know the rest.”

The room grew quiet as Applejack finished, and they all sat with their thoughts for a while, mulling everything over. They hadn't insulted Apple Bloom's intelligence by trying to soften any of the sad parts, and so, with the exception of certain more “adult” details, she too had heard the whole thing. With this fuller version of events, she couldn't help feeling guilty at her reaction to her parents' first attempt to explain everything; but now didn't seem the right time to say anything about it, and so she sat in Applejack’s lap and was content to be held for the moment.

Applejack's friends also stayed quiet, not wishing to fill the air with clichéd platitudes instead of something more meaningful. After a short while, though, Rarity sighed, and smiled a sad little smile as she said:

“I do wish you might have said something to me at least, darling. I admit I probably would have lost my head somewhat at first, but I would never have dreamed to speak a word of any secret so personal to one of my friends.” Applejack smiled bashfully back, showing that she understood Rarity meant no reproach.

“Ah know that, Rarity, but y’all gotta understand Ah was kinda seein’ the worst case scenario instead o’somethin’ more realistic.”

“I certainly know what that feels like,” Twilight nodded grimly. “It’s easy in a bad situation to see only the worst that may come, rather than taking the time to think about how other ponies, especially those close to you, would actually react.”

“Hey!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “That sounds like somethin’ y’all might put in one o’them letters to Princess Celestia!” Everypony giggled again, the mood finally lightening somewhat with the young filly’s words.

“You know what, Apple Bloom, I just might!” said Twilight. “In fact, I’ll probably be writing to her about this whole thing, if you all don’t mind. It might be helpful to have her influence in play just to make sure everything goes over smoothly whenever you decide to make the news public. And whenever you do, just remember that we’re all here for you; we won’t let anypony treat you wrongly because of all this.” Her friends all voiced their agreement, and everypony gathered up for another big group hug to seal the deal.

After that, everypony started to leave again. They all had their own things to be getting on with, and the farm needed seeing to as usual, so for now any potential celebrations for finding Apple Bloom again would have to wait. Pinkie Pie initially protested, but was finally placated with the promise of the entire barn as the future party’s venue. All of Applejack’s other friends left with some kind words and promises to see them all soon. This finally left the Apples alone again, and they took the moment’s peace to just sit and enjoy each other’s company before the normal hustle and bustle of farm life inevitably returned.

“Mom? Daddy?” Apple Bloom had been transferred from Applejack’s lap to Big Macintosh’s during the course of the evening, and he smiled down to her kindly.

“What is it, sugarlump?”

“When are we gonna tell ponies everything? What can Ah tell Sweetie Belle an’ Scootaloo?” The two looked at each other, then at Granny Smith, who smiled encouragingly, before simultaneously reaching a decision.

"Tomorrow," Mac announced. "We'll tell 'em all tomorrow."

"Ah'll go an' see Twi after we're done here tonight, talk things over some," said Applejack. "She might be surprised at the short notice, but Ah'm sure she won't mind."

"Eeyup."

And so, with that decided, the day's behind-schedule chores needed seeing to. Granny Smith was left in charge of keeping Apple Bloom entertained whilst Applejack and Macintosh got to work on the applebucking, each selecting an adjacent tree and letting fly with their back hooves.

The time passed neither slowly nor quickly for them both, it simply passed. From the corner of her eye, Applejack watched her... her what, now, anyway? His technique was as impressive as ever, his form and figure were likely the best he had ever achieved, and the tireless vigour with which he worked reminded the mare of his steadfast nature, the rock he had become for them all. She shuddered to think how they would have got by without him.

Macintosh also watched the mare he had alternately called his sister, then his lover, then by necessity his sister once more. He may have been the larger, stronger pony, but she held an inner strength that let her put up with all kinds of hardship and never once falter, always seeming to be the one to keep on pushing and encouraging those around her to never give up.

They thought back to Macintosh’s impulsive kiss the night before, then caught the other looking back at them, and each quickly turned away with a blush.

This is stupid, both thought, actin' like a buncha school foals all of a sudden!

"Mac-"

"AJ-" They stopped, silly grins on both their faces.

"After you, Mac."

"Nnnope. Ladies first, Ah insist."

"This ain't the time for chivalry, Big Macintosh Apple, and y'all know better'n to call me a lady."

"Mama always told me to act like a gentleman, so here Ah am, doin' that. ‘Sides, Ah may know better, but that won't stop me seein' y'all like that anyway.” Applejack blushed again, turning away for a second to consider what to say.

“Mac…” she began again, now looking him determinedly in the eyes. “Can this work again? Ah mean it’s been years since we did anythin’ “coupley” together!”

"Well, Ah had always hoped we might be able to start up again..."

"So did Ah! Ah just... Ah was never sure how we'd do that, y'know? An' then last night y'all go an' kiss me in front of mah friends out of the blue! Just go straight ahead and skip right past any ideas Ah’d had for buildin’ things up again, why dontcha! Rattled mah brains up right good, that did." She wasn't quite sure how to feel about that, whether to be angry or upset, or to start dancing and whooping in delight.

Mac, for his part, just shrugged bashfully.

"Ah figured y'all could probably do with a boost about then. Sure as sugar know Ah did." He grinned at her and she grinned back, before slugging his shoulder lightly.

"Ah guess mah boost juice done helped ya pretty good, huh? Chargin' into a pack o'timberwolves like that, an' beatin' 'em up to boot!"

"Eeyup! Regular super-chargers, yer lips!" They both wildly guffawed for some time, holding onto each other for support, finally helping to release some of the tension they still held inside. Just like that, they had brought back some of the easy silliness from their youth, back from when things were far simpler and the future had always seemed to promise good things.

It took a while, but eventually the two calmed down enough to talk without bursting into giggles at every word. Applejack smiled widely, Macintosh smiled back, and the two hugged tightly, feeling as close to content as they had done in years.

"Alright, Mac, Ah think Ah might be a bit more comfortable about this whole thing takin' off again. Whatta ya say we try again, like before?" He grinned that familiar, easy grin that she had forgotten just how much she loved, and hit her with a curveball.

"Nnnope."

"Buh-wha?!" She had not been expecting that. His smile faded and he suddenly looked serious.

"Ah don't want things to be like they were, Applejack. Ah want things to be like they should, an' that means Ah've gotta do some things that Ah should've done a long time ago, but was never brave enough to do. Now, though, Ah reckon Ah can manage it." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, clearing his throat a few times as he breathed out again, and Applejack waited uneasily for him to explain.

“Ah didn't plan to do this, so Ah don't have any of the accoutrements y'all might expect fer this sorta thing, but here goes: Applejack,” he said, opening his eyes again, and staring into her own. “Ever since Ah was a colt, Ah’ve loved you more than anything else in Equestria. Things ain’t worked out like how Ah’d hoped they would, but now that things are goin’ back on track, Ah want to try an’ make it all right an’ proper. Yer the mother of my foal an’ Ah want us all to be together like we should, from now until… until we go join Mama an’ Pa again. Look, what Ah’m tryin’ to say is…”

Applejack saw, but could not for the life of her believe, as he sat on the ground before her and took one of her hooves, holding it in both his own. She too sank to the ground and brought her other hoof to her mouth, and she found tears begin to leak from the corners of her eyes as he finally formed those words every filly secretly wants to hear.

“Will you marry me?” Her breath caught in her throat and the world froze in that perfect moment. Just before the torrent of emotion building inside her came spilling forth, her mind allowed her a moment of crystal clarity in which to respond:

“O-of course Ah will, ya b-big lug!” After which… suffice it to say that not much applebucking got done that day, but on that day at Sweet Apple Acres, nopony minded.

Author's Note

EDIT: IT'S NOT FINISHED, MORE COMING.

Dear God above, it's... it's finished! :D

I hope that this is a suitable ending for you all, and would like to extend a massive thanks towards all those who have read this and favourited, liked, and commented. All those who have downvoted... bleh! :P

Special thanks goes out to those who have been reading this since its early days, a ridiculously long amount of time ago (over a year! It shouldn't have taken that long!), and have stuck through with me until the end. Folk like Kirakina, ta much buckets! :3

Special mention also goes out to BrownDog77, who helped greatly several months ago by suggesting a path to take the story down when I was stuck for what to do, and without whom The Truth would have never have got this far! Plus he's also written a hilarious Monty Python crossover, so everybody wins.

Alas, this is, as I have said, the end of The Truth. There is no more to come, and in all honesty I'm glad! Whilst I have enjoyed writing this (when I've been able/bothered), I do want to move onto new things. And I soon shall, and shall keep you posted for when that happens! (yay, blog tags!)