//------------------------------//
// The Announcement (June 7th Friday evening) 
// Story: The Obvious Conclusion 
// by Jhoira 
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Applejack grinned as she looked around at her friends and their marefriends. While ideally, Applejack would have liked to split her friends off from their marefriends Rainbow Dash seemed completely unwilling to leave Flitter’s side; the opposite true as well. The normally very independent Flitter hadn't left Rainbow Dash for a moment. And Applejack couldn’t let just Flitter come. So Minuette and Zecora were with them too, but that was ok. Applejack liked them all to varying degrees.

Of the three marefriends, Zecora was actually Applejack’s friend independently of her relationship with Pinkie Pie. Due to just finding out about it Applejack didn't know how the relationship would affect her friendship. Flitter was a nice mare, but she was an odd one. Flitter would sometimes simply walk away in the middle of conversations but besides a few oddities, she was a nice mare. Minuette was a bit more trying at times, then a barrel of laughs at other times.

Applejack looked over to Coco who smiled at her and gave a small nod. Applejack cleared her throat to pause the chatting amongst her friends and smiled widely. "Thank y'all for coming. We're going to announce this later but we wanted to tell you first. Me an' Coco are engaged!"

Applejack smiled at the clapping and group congratulations that all came at once. A few moments later however Applejack noticed that everyone seemed to be happy of course, but none were surprised in the least. Applejack looked over at Coco then Fluttershy with a frown, but both of them shook their heads. Applejack cleared her throat and frowned at her friends. ”Thanks for all the support all but who spilled the beans? I was lookin’ forward to surprising you all.”

There was an awkward silence as Applejack looked around the area. No one said anything for a few moments before Rarity cleared her throat. "I'm sorry darling but I know all the jewelers in town and they mentioned it..."

As Applejack turned her eyes on Rarity, thankfully for everyone another voice interrupted Applejacks intended reprimand. "Yeah, I saw you buying it too, Applejack." Applejack's head whipped around to look at Rainbow Dash now. She was legitimately surprised by two of them stumbling across the information...

"Yeah, Princess Cadence sent me a letter." Applejack turned quickly to look at Twilight then groaned slightly.

"Ugh, my heads starting to hurt from all this looking around..." Applejack smiled when she got a good-natured giggle from her friends, looking, calmly this time, at Pinkie Pie. "And you Pinkie?" Though Applejack had to readjust her sight as she turned to look at actual Pinkie Pie, not Zecora painted like Pinkie Pie.

"It's my special talent to know what all parties are about!" Pinkie Pie chirped up.

That Applejack had to nod in resignation. "So... You all seriously found out our secret independently?" The entire group nodded and Applejack couldn't stop herself from laughing faintly, her reveal was ruined but that was a bit amusing. She shook her head and motioned Coco up. "Well, they ruined mine sugar cube. Care to give yours a try?"

Coco smiled and nodded, taking a few hesitant steps forward as she looked around. Coco blushed a little, she was a bit shy but she was no Fluttershy. She straightened up a bit and took in a deep breath. "In addition to the engagement... We've set a date for  June 30th for the wedding!"

After a few moments of silence, there was an uproar from the entire crowd of their friends. Fluttershy was clapping happily for them. Rainbow Dash was yelling something no one could hear. Rarity was clapping excitedly while smiling widely at Coco. Twilight was simply staring. Pinkie Pie had produced multiple noise makers and was enthusiastically using them, with a more reserved Zecora helping her. Flitter was smiling, though it seemed a bit forced as she clapped for them. Minuette was grinning in a self-satisfied manner as she clapped. Applejack was sure that was just Minuette being Minuette, being cocky and acting like she knew everything. At least, Applejack was pretty sure it was just acting.

The next half an hour went by Applejack in a blur. Everyone congratulating them, Coco and Rarity freaking out about how short a time they had to get the dresses done. Who was going to be involved on what side of the wedding party took up a large portion of the time. Applejack could barely field all the questions thrown at her by her friends. As bad as it made Applejack feel she was glad that Minuette, Flitter, and Zecora stayed back and let her close friends and Coco do most the talking, though she did get personal congratulations from each of the three. 

After all, that was finally done and her friends had departed to finish up the time at the farm in the main party. Applejack let out an exhausted sigh at the end of it, causing Coco to giggle, nuzzling up against her fiancee and saying quietly. "For having such a big family I would have thought you'd have been better at handling so much activity."

Applejack smiled and gave her cute fiancee a kiss on the cheek. "I am but I'm not usually the center of attention for everyone. I'm not great at that sugar cube."

Coco smiled and nodded, looking out at the party as a whole. "Well, I hope you're ready for even worse then, we have another announcement to make."

Applejack groaned as she looked at the large crowd, before turning a fake glare on Coco. "This is your fault, you invited everyone! You are gonna make the announcement this time."

Coco giggled and nodded. "That's fair enough, you look exhausted anyway. I think you'd fall asleep if you tried to." 

Applejack laughed as she turned and started leading the way back to the main party, shaking her head. "It's not that bad sugar cube. I'll make the announcement, I know you don't like public speakin'." Coco smiled and nodded, giving a kiss on the cheek to her fiancee.