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Cloud Blossom2,705 words
Apple Honey2,915 words
All Our Yesterday's3,345 words
Here And Now4,692 words
One For Sorrow3,897 words
Closer Than Most3,197 words
Home, The Long Way Around3,673 words
Epilogue 1,424 words

Epilogue

“Excuse me, Aunt Rarity, could you say that again please?” Cloud Blossom asked, disbelief in her voice.

Rarity took a delicate sip of her cinnamon flavoured tea from the cup held in her magic and carefully set it back on it’s saucer, taking the time to dab at her lips before repeating what she had just told her two nieces. “I said,” Rarity began, looking the two pegasi in the eyes, “Applejack, your mother, my friend, has stage two skin cancer darling. To be specific, basal cell carcinoma.”

“Eeyup, that’s what ah thought y’all said Aunt Rarity.” Apple Honey sat next to her sister, opposite her Aunt Rarity and Momma Fluttershy in the shade of the Zap apple trees, the table between them holding their chosen teas and coffee, the latter of which belonged to the athletic pegasus and remained untouched. “So…what’s that mean?”

“Is…is Momma Jackie going to be alright?” Cloud asked, “She isn’t, you know…going to…is she?” She trailed off, staring at her cooling cup of earl grey tea, not wanting to finish her sentence.

“Is mah Momma gonna die?”

“Apple Honey!” Rarity and Cloud both exclaimed in unison.

“What? Ah’m only askin’ what’s gonna happen now.”

“Girls please.” Fluttershy quietly silenced the three mares around the table. “First of all yes, Applejack has skin cancer. Second it’s not fatal. Your mother is going to make a full recovery from this illness. The doctor’s caught it early in stage two, a simple surgery and a skin graft is all that’s required.” Fluttershy took a sip of her rose tea, giving her daughters a warm smile.

“So that’s why you wrote us to come home Momma?”

Rarity giggled. “You have to admit Cloud Blossom dear it’s not the sort of thing one can put in a letter now is it?”

Fluttershy put her emptied cup on its saucer, and motioned to Rarity for a re-fill, which the unicorn happily obliged with her magic. “Yes it was Cloudy, and while I’m very pleased to see you both here, I must ask; there isn’t going to be any ‘unpleasantness’ between you is there?”

“No Momma.” Apple Honey reached over and hugged her sister tight. “We’ve had a chance to talk, properly ah mean. Ah promise there ain’t gonna be no more hassle.”

“Honey’s right Momma,” Cloud returned the hug as best she could. “We’re alright, really.”

Fluttershy fixed them both with her stare, attempting to discern any lie in her daughter’s faces. Finding none she relaxed with a sigh. “I’m so pleased you both finally came to your senses girls. It’s a shame it took you so long.”

“Well!” Rarity exclaimed, throwing her hooves up. “I’m no Pinkie but I’d say this calls for a celebration. Fluttershy darling may I?”

“Of course you may Rarity. Please can we keep it down though? Applejack does need her rest.”

“Certainly dear.” Rarity lit her horn, and floated a barrel of Sweet Apple cider from the nearby barn over to their table, along with four mugs. Once the mugs were filled with cider Rarity offered a toast. “To family.”

"Y'all wouldn't be startin' without me now would ya?" Applejack's voice carried from the bottom of the Zap Apple orchard.

Fluttershy looked at Rarity; "I thought I said be quiet?"

Rarity looked at Fluttershy; "I was being quiet darling, at least I thought I was..." The white unicorn trailed off under Fluttershy's stern gaze.

"Momma!" Cloud Blossom sprang from her seating pad and flew straight into Applejack's waiting hooves, pulling her mother into a tight hug.

Apple Honey couldn't help but giggle. "Ah wouldn' worry about it Aunt Rarity, y'all know Momma Jackie can hear cider sloshin' a mile away. Remember the time Aunt Rainbow tried helpin' herself to the hard stuff in th' cellar that time?"

"Ah yes. How could anypony forget that?" Rarity and Fluttershy both laughed at the happy memory. In fact the only pony who hadn't been happy was Rainbow Dash, after Applejack had made her work off the amount of cider the weather pony had "borrowed".

"Cloud!" Apple Honey called to her sister, "Loosen up ya grip sis, ah want mah Momma conscious when ah get to hug her after you!"

Cloud Blossom gave up her seating pad to Applejack, who took it with a smile. "Why thank you kindly sugarcube. Rarity, since y'all woke me up, would ya mind bringin' out another seat and a mug, if'n ya please?"

"It would be my pleasure Applejack." Rarity smiled, levitating out another seating pad and a mug as Fluttershy moved her pad next to her wife and gave her a huge squeeze.

"Now, where were y'all before ah so rudely interrupted?"

"Aunt Rarity was making a toast to family Momma." Cloud chirped happily, taking her new seat next to her sister.

"Well," Applejack smiled at her favourite group of mares, "Ah reckon ah can go for that." The farmer lifted her freshly filled mug to the middle of the table. "T' family!"

The other four mares pressed their mugs together, spilling cider over the table. "Family!"

Cloud Blossom turned to her sister and extended her mug to her. "To Sisters."

Apple Honey returned the gesture with a smile. “Sisters.”

"Well now..." Applejack fanned herself with her hat, a broad grin on her muzzle. "There's a sight these old eye's thought they'd never see. Though ah ain't gonna gripe for seein' it, it sure would'a been nice t' see it sooner."

"Momma, are ya gonna die?"

Applejack took a long drink of her cider, and looked her daughter square in the eyes as she answered; "No Honey, ah ain't gonna die. Ah just gotta go t' hospital, have an operation. Ah'll be buckin' these here trees six ways t' Sunday quicker than a rat up a drainpipe before ya know it."

"But what if something goes wrong?"

"It won' Cloud, ah know it won'."

"How can you be so sure Momma?"

Applejack took another drink, considering her answer. "Ah'll tell ya for why. Ah got th' best wife ah could wish t' ask for," The farmer gave Fluttershy a squeeze and a kiss, "Ah got four o' th' best friends in Equestria behind me," Applejack raised her mug to Rarity with a smile. "Ah got you two girls t' hold mah hoof," She nodded to Cloud Blossom and Apple Honey each in turn, "An' ah got ya brother an' sister up there in heaven watchin' over me too. Wi' all these ponies watchin' mah back ah can't not be alright now can ah?"

The moon had just been risen to the night sky, casting its pale light over the apple farm. Two mares sat side by side on the grass under an ancient apple tree, each with a wing draped over the other to ward off the chill, but mainly to hold one sister close to her sibling.

“How long are you staying for?” Cloud asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

“Ah’ll stay for th’ operation, then ah gotta get back t’ Manehatten. Get the Sharks in trainin’ for th’ local games comin’ up soon. How ‘bout you?”

Cloud smiled, thinking of her date tomorrow. “If all goes well with Rosie, I’ll be around more.”

“Oh…‘Rosie’ is it now?” Apple Honey sniggered, “Do ah need t’ give her th’ ‘don’ hurt my sis’ speech?”

“No thank you.” Cloud nuzzled her sister, “Although I appreciate the sentiment.”

Apple Honey looked out over the sleeping farm, bathed in the eerie glow of moonlight. “Funny ain’t it?”

“Hmm? What is?”

Apple Honey rested her head on her sister’s shoulder, “All them years we spent fightin’, hatin’ each other.” Tears ran down the burnt yellow pegasus’ cheek. “Ah’d love to have a few of ‘em back.”

Cloud Blossom felt the tears on her fur, and turned her head to kiss away her sibling’s tears. “Me too sis. Me too.”

Author's Note:

Well there we are. It's been quite a journey but it's come to an end.

I'd like to take this moment to thank Zervon Tora for his helpful advice on Apple Honey's IED. Your insight was and is invaluable my friend.

I want to also thank WildfireRose for the generous use of her OC, and for bouncing ideas with me for future sequels.

Finally thank you to you lovely people who've taken the time to read and like my story and especially to those who've left comments.

I LOVE YOU ALL

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Dusk Melody

Dusk Melody #1 · May 8th, 2015 · · ·

5955883 it's finally completed. enjoy

WildfireRose

WildfireRose #2 · May 9th, 2015 · 1 · ·

I just knew you'd deliver an awesome ending to this. Great job Dusk. I can't begin to thank you for bringing Rosie to life and an excellent job at that. You didn't need to thank me up there, but I do appreciate it I know I'm going to need a ton of help with Wildfire Rose's back story, and you're just the person to guide me. Wonderful story once again!

Crafty Arts

Crafty Arts #3 · May 9th, 2015 · 1 · ·

Well would you look at that, not the ending I was expecting... Awesome! I feel like the end was anti-climactic , but at the same time, it was really sweet and heartwarming, and I think that kinda makes up for slightly-less-than-adequate reason for the suspense of the ending Granted, I imagine skin cancer is awfully terrible, but she ain't dyin'. All together, great story, loved it, and kinda sad to see that it's over Definitely one of my favorite fanfics of all time.

Dusk Melody

Dusk Melody #4 · May 9th, 2015 · · ·

5957017 and who says its over? there is plenty more story to tell. stay tuned for sequels, many sequels will cloud and rose's date be a success? will they live happy ever after? will the manehatten sharks continue to rule the rugby leagues? how will AJ's surgery go?

this story is far from done

Crafty Arts

Crafty Arts #5 · May 9th, 2015 · 1 · ·

5957114 The possible sequels are not THIS story. THEREFORE! my statement still stands correct, for THIS story is over, even if it continues in another story, HA!...

Dusk Melody

Dusk Melody #6 · May 9th, 2015 · 1 · ·

5957124 you make a very good point

Crafty Arts

Crafty Arts #7 · May 9th, 2015 · · ·

5957136 quite

AJ Asui

AJ Asui #8 · Jun 3rd, 2015 · · ·

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! This story was well written and well described amazing job

Dusk Melody

Dusk Melody #9 · Jun 3rd, 2015 · · ·

6051624 thank you my friend, i'm really glad you liked it

AJ Asui

AJ Asui #10 · Jun 3rd, 2015 · · ·

6051634 Yes very much so, it was great

Pinceau

Pinceau #11 · Jul 18th, 2015 · 1 · ·

I just finished both: Accidents and this piece right here. Gosh it was good :D, a few mispelling here and there (sorry I don't remember where), but really I couldn't let go until I finished. Good job. Any sequel that I didn't noticed?^^'

Dusk Melody

Dusk Melody #12 · Jul 18th, 2015 · · ·

6218659 thank you for the very kind comment, there will be a sequel with Wildfire Rose and Cloud Blossom, i just need the time to write it

Pinceau

Pinceau #13 · Jul 18th, 2015 · · ·

6218850 Yes! I'll gladly wait for it

Dusk Melody

Dusk Melody #14 · Jul 30th, 2015 · · ·

6263037
She hasn't got one leg, Cloud Blossom has three legs. She's missing her left hind leg as when she was born in the last chapter of 'Accidents' the umbilical cord was wrapped around her leg in Fluttershy's womb and it atrophied.

GuineaPigGal

GuineaPigGal #15 · Aug 17th, 2015 · 1 · ·

Amazing! I wish the story with me and my sis was like this, sadly it's more of: avoid each other or fight. Lol. Anyways, there should defiantly be a sequel (if there isn't one already). I loved it.