//------------------------------//
// Aftermath 
// Story: Applejack's Hat 
// by unknownmercury 
//------------------------------//

Applejack smiled a bit as she brought another plate of apple fritters to the table. The party was in full swing, and all of her little sister's closest friends were there, as well as Applejack's group.

She had found that her relationship with everyone had grown since talking to Ghost Writer. Her friends had been the first ones to give her love, and had expressed their sentiments about her story. Pinkie Pie had thrown a 'Applejack got into the newspaper' party, and she had bonded with her five best friends as she recounted the tale to them. By the end of it, all of them were crying and group hugging her, though Rainbow Dash refused to admit to that first part. "Allergies," she had claimed. Likely story.

She had spoken with Big Macintosh about his feelings on the matter. Strange that nopony had thought to ask him how he felt. Since that talk, he had really come out of his shell, and Mac the Clown was a big hit at Apple Bloom's birthday party this year. Cheerilee was laughing from the corner as her beau sang and danced for the kids.

Meanwhile, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had done their own interview with her, trying to earn their reporter Cutie Marks. Never mind that they had already tried that with Gabby Gums, they were trying to be legitimate this time. It had been a bust in that sense, but they had all seemed to grow from the story. Scootaloo especially had taken to heart that, even if sompeony was gone, they would be with you in your heart.

A small memorial service had been inducted my the mayor, since nopony but the Apple family had been privy to the original two burials. The farm had received many anonymous gifts and donations from ponies who had read the story and felt their hearts go out to the Apples. Business was better than ever, and they had actually branched out to their Manehatten Apple cousins, who had started their own farm, though it had a paid staff on it.

The Oranges, her mother's family, had paid a visit to the farm, wishing to express their gratitude to her for putting her mother in such a positive light. She had firmly denied any reason to be thanked, since she had spoken nothing but the truth. They had gone back to Manehatten and invested in both branches of Sweet Apple Acres.

But the best part of all, in her opinion, was that whenever somepony asked about her hat, she no longer felt a deep sadness and an urge to change the subject. Now she told them "It's a bit of a story, but if you have time and maybe wanna buy a pie, I'll be happy to share it."