Family Coreby AlesiopdvChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 1The Pie´s rock farm could be described in one word, quiet. Aside from the constant picking of stones, there was barely any sound in the farm. It was dull and quiet, not even the birds making any sound. Most ponies will call this place boring but for the Pies it was rather peaceful, a place away from the hustle of the big cities and where they could actually stop and listen. All the Pies of course but Pinkie Pie. She just couldn´t avoid making noise, either humming a song or just weird sounds to pass the time. It was like she had a musical company behind her every step, every movement she made was responded by a trumpet, a cymbal or even a kazoo. To the ponies of Ponyville this was hardly a surprise and they were used to it, some will even say the town wasn´t the same without Pinkie´s music; so this long weekend where she was away from them Ponyville must have been a very dull town. Pinkie Pie had decided to spend the Holidays with her family. Winter made the rocks slippery and hard to collect and they needed all the help they could get, plus, despite all the fun she had living with the Cakes, Pinkie Pie still missed her family from time to time. The years away from the farm had taken their payment and Pinkie was struggling to get a rock rolling. “Come on rock, cooperate…” she said, trying to push it. “Well, someone here is being a Mr.Uncooperative, isn´t he? We need to work on that attitude, mister!” Pinkie Pie said to the big boulder, who remained mute. “Don't give me that look! Here in the rock farm we have a very strict policy. You either cooperate or you´re out of here!” Pinkie turned around with her arms crossed and waited for a few seconds. “What was that?” The rock said nothing. “Okay now, wasn't that better? Apologies accepted Mr. Now-cooperative! What do you say if we move you over to the left side of the farm, shall we? I´s easy look at me,” Pinkie said and rolled on the snowy grass. Limestone Pie and Marble Pie, Pinkie Pie´s sisters, watched the whole event with blanks expression. They turned around and both raised an eyebrow. “She is talking to the rocks. Again,” Limestone said. “Why are you doing that?” Marble asked Pinkie. “I´m teaching Mr. Rock how to roll. See, I´m rolling and he´s rocking? got it?” Pinkie expected a laugh but her sister merely raised an eyebrow again. “No, why are you moving a founding rock?” Limestone asked. Now it was Pinkie´s turn to raise an eyebrow. Both sisters sighed before Limestone explained, “Founding rocks are placed in one spot to serve as a starting point for a rock seeding. There´s two on every quarter of the farm and they can't be moved.” “Literally,” Marble added, pointing at the fact the stone was too big to be moved. “Oh, I forgot about that.” “Seems sister has forgot about basic rock farming facts,” Marble said to Limestone. “Indeed. Even Loudmouth Slacker learned them in her first day,” Limestone said and they both snickered. “Loudmouth who?” Pinkie Pie asked. “The replacement unicorn father hired last year. We called her Loudmouth Slacker because she never shut her mouth but never finished her work either,” Limestone explained. “We also called her Snorts at Work,” Marble added and they both snickered. Pinkie Pie faked a laugh. She loved her sisters very much but she found her sense of humour was a bit strange. They were not mean at all, they just found fun in things that Pinkie couldn´t understand. “Marble! Limestone! Pinkamena! It is time to polish the grey stones! their mother called from the house. “Oh polish rocks! That sounds like fun!” Pinkie Pie said, bouncing up and down. “You probably should stay for this one, sister,” marble said. “What? Why? I remember how to polish the rocks. It was...well, actually, I remember it wasn´t very fun but now we can do it together, like sisters!” she said, hugging them. “Have you been polishing many rocks in Ponyville, sister?” Limestone asked, her and her sister expression remaining dull the whole time. “Well...no, not really,” Pinkie Pie admitted. “Show us your hooves, sister,” Marble ordered her. Pinkie obeyed and showed the inside of her pink hooves. Both sisters shared a concerned look. “Figures, Soft hooves,” Marble said. “Very soft,” Limestone added. “Is that a bad thing?” “Your hooves should look more like this,” Limestone said and they both raised their hooves, showing them all scratched and sturdy. Pinkie winced, thinking that Rarity will faint at the sight. “You better stay here and rest, sister,” marble said and turned around. “We´ll tell mother you´ll stay and push the secondary rock,” Limestone added, following her sister. “O-okay, thanks Limey, thanks Marby!” “Don´t mention it…” Marble said. “Soft Hooves,” Limestone added and they both snickered again. Pinkie Pie watched them go and stayed under the snow, covering her snout with her scarf. “Thanks Mr. Founding Rock. That´s...very kind of you.” ******* Even in winter, Sweet Apple Acres could be described in one word, warm. Yes, evne with the fields covered in snow and the trees mostly devoid of any leaves, the farm still had that welcoming air and the smell of hot apple pies coming from the house. If Pinkie Pie´s melodies were the sounds of Ponyville, then Sweet Apple Acres and their inhabitants were the heart of the town. Just like the founding rocks in the Pie´s farm, without the Acres there would be no Ponyville since it was the Apples´ farm what set the town in motion. Ponies all over the country came for the delicious apples and their by-products and some decided to stay, eventually building the town that ponies came to love. When winter arrives, Sweet Apple Acres goes to sleep, just like some animals. The farmer got less and less work to do until eventually they just spent the Hearth's Warming Eve merely enjoying a cosy fire and a tasty apple treat. The season was about to end however and soon there will be work to do, so Applejack was roaming the fields, inspecting each of her beloved trees. “Howdy, Mary Lou. Mary Ann. No need to hurry, Billy Jo. Soon you´ll start turning bright and green again and have all shiny red apples to share with all the ponies!” She caressed every tree she passed by, showing the same kindness and tender a mother would to a child. To Applejack, the apples trees were almost like her children. She once heard Princess celestia refer that way to all the ponies in her kingdom and she chuckled. She could understand her. “I know, Big Bert. I miss Bloomberg too but, he´s a good place now. Remember that it´s always sunny at Appleloosa. Or at least, that´s what cuz Braeburn keeps saying,” she chuckled, gently stroking a big, sturdy apple tree. “He says it more like Applelooooosa but yeah, I´m sure it´s bright and sunny over there.” The sudden voice startled her and Applejack looked around, trying to find this invisible pony. She then got hit by something and looked up, finding Pinkie Pie resting in a tree branch. “Pinkie Pie?” “Hi Applejack.” “How long have you been there?” Applejack asked, slightly embarrassed. “A little while.” “So, were you hearing all of that right now? You don't think it's strange I´m talking to the trees, right? “Why would I? Everypony needs somebody to talk to. I brought Mr Turnip to make me company. Say hello, Mr. Turnip,” Pinkie said, leaning down to show a bucket of turnips to Applejack. “Ehh, hello there.” Pinkie returned to the branch and took a bit of a turnip., “Pinkie, when did you came back from your folks´house?” “Just this morning. I just unpacked at the Cakes house,” Pinkie Pie answered in a very montone tone. “That´s a surprise. What happened to the own-welcoming-party-party that you promised when you left?” Applejack chuckled. “I pospone it. I don´t feel like in the mood of celebrating,” Pinkie said, tossing a bitten turnip. “So instead, you decided to spend the morning resting atop of Old Gert here?” “He says it was okay.” “Pinkie Pie, I know you. your answer to everything and I mean everything, it´s to throw a party, either big or small. What´s really bothering you?” Pinkie played a bit with a turnip before she decided to answer. “Thing is...I don´t think my family trust me.” “Pinkie, it´s your family. They love you.” “i know they love me but they don´t think I´m good enough. I tried to help at the farm but they all ignore me and gave me easy tasks, like I couldn't handle the rocks anymore. It´s like when the Cakes didn't want me to take care of the babies, I feel like I was useless. I don't like that.” “I doubt anypony does, Pinks. But maybe you´re looking at it the wrong way. Didn't you leave the rock farm because that wasn´t the life for you?” Applejack said. “I did but, this is different. I want to show my parents and sister that I can too handle all the hard work. I´m a farmer too! If only there was a way to prove them wrong…” “I don't know about that, Pinkie. Besides, you´re right that farm work is hard work. Trust me.” “Maybe I need to find another farm to work in. A candy farm maybe? Do those exist?” “You are not even listening anymore, are you?” “Uh uh, I know! How about we trade places for a few days, Applejack? You take care of the bakery while I work in the farm here!” Pinkie Pie proposed, bouncing atop Old Gert. “I´m not sure,” Applejack said, scratching her neck. “Remember what happened last times we traded jobs? Rarity still can´t be reminded of those dresses I made…” “Yeah, take them away! Take them away! hahaha!” Applejack looked at Pinkie Pie and sighed. Her mane wasn't straight so she wasn´t that depressed but she was certainly hurt, it was a different kind of hurt. It was her pride that was hurting. Applejack knew a thing or two about having a big mouth. She also knew how big her ego could ge tina competition but you could make the case she didn´t had nearly the pride of somepony like Rainbow dash or even Rarity. In all honesty, and Applejack was all about that, she couldn't hold a grudge for too long. She thought about telling Pinkie to talk to some other pony that could help more but then she took another look at Pinkie. She was sad, sadder than Applejack had ever saw her, juggling a turnip with a hoof while holding the bucket with ehr tial, a sight that should be funny but it wasn´t. She needed help right now and Applejack was the only pony around and what kind of pony, especially an Apple pony, leave a friend when she ask for help? “Hey Pinks, tell you what, Winter Wrap- Up is coming up. Each year, right before we clean the farm, we, the whole family, take a journey up country to get some new seeds. Would you like to join us this year?” “Uh, like a road trip?” “It´s sorta like that. We take a cart and took turns to pull it. It may not seem like much but it is hard work. We can even stop by your folks farm in the way back. You in?” “I´m in? Pinkie shouted and jumped down, landing inside the turnip bucket. “Get it?” Applejack laughed at her silly antics and Pinkie Pie laughed too. Maybe they were not family but they were friends and that´s another type of family, fi you think it a certain way. Chapter 2Pinkie Pie had never seen white. Sure, she had seen the color before but she had never seen it in real life. Her father never allowed pegasus to bring snowclouds, not even in Hearth's Warming Eve. They only hired a few rainclouds to get the ground soft enough to carry the biggest rocks during harvest season and the rest of the year, not a single drop of water fall over the Pie´s farm. So now Pinkie Pie was ecstatic that her mother brought her along to a business visit to Ponyville, because it was winter and the town was covered in a beautiful white blanket. Snow covered the roof and balconies, it was spread across the streets, making Pinkie left tiny hoofprints with every step she took. It was the most wonderful sight she had ever seen and Pinkie´s grin couldn't be bigger. She saw a group of fillies and colts playing wiht the snow, making snowponies, building fortress and engaging in a snow fight. Pinkie wanted to play too, her mother have told her to stay still and wait for her to finish talking to the jeweler but she couldn't control the urge to jump and play in the snow. She grabbed a bit of snow and struggled to make it a ball, she wasn´t used to so the result was a bit crude but she was happy, she had made it herself. She looked around and saw a white unicorn filly with a beautiful pink scarf coming her way. Without any warning, Pinkie threw the oddly shaped piece of snow. “Bullseye!” Pinkie chirped and excepted for the other pony to throw a snowball back. “Waaaaa! Mommy!” She didn´t expect that to happen. The filly ran to her mother´s side, crying because her scarf and mane got ruined by the snowball. Pinkie didn´t understood what was going on, a snowball was supposed to make you laugh, not cry. She stretched a hoof, wanting to apologize. “Pinkamena Diane Pie, I told you to stay still!” Pinkie´s mother grabbed her by the hoof and took her away to the carriage where her father was waiting. Pinkie kept her arm stretched, trying to reach the crying filly but she kept moving further and further away. ****** “Uh how do I help, Applejack? Should I sort the apples? The seeds? The beans? Oh you have no beans, but you should have because beans are funny! You know what else is funny? Fleas! Hey, that rhymes! Anyways, they get over you and make you so itchy and ticklish but you can also train them and make them into a circus but never try to make them jump over a ring of fire because then you get smoke all over the house and Mr. and Mrs. Cale get really angry and…” “Pinkie Pie, I know you want to help but can you please just, calm down?” Applejack pleaded to the excited mare that was jumping all over the place. The family was getting the cart ready for the journey and Applejack´s friends had come to the ground to send them goodbye. They were surprised to hear that Pinkie Pie was accompanying them this year. “Hey AJ, are you sure you want to take Pinkie with you? I know she can be lots of fun but she can also be tons of problems…” Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack. “We´re fine Rainbow. I know that Pinkie can be a little too enthusiastic…” Applejack said just as Pinkie was bouncing a barrel over the cart. As in bouncing atop the barrel not bouncing the barrel atop her. “But she means well and besides, we can use the extra help so Granny SMith doesn't have to work so hard.” Speaking of the elder pony, Twilight was helping her come down the house, Spike cleaning the snow that was still in the doorway. “Don´t worry Granny, I got you!” Pinkie shouted and rushed to grab Granny, carrying her all over the cart. “Are you comfortable? Are you cold? You need more blankets? Oh you need your rocker, hang on!” Rainbow looked at Applejack who just scratched her neck, not sure how to back up her words now. “Oh, how come Pinkie can come with you guys and not us?” Scootaloo said. “I don´t know. Applejack insisted in bringing her along. I actually don't want to go this year. I wanted to stay here and help you on the crusade,” Apple Bloom said. “It´s okay. We can continue once you come back;” Sweetie Belle offered. “Yeah, but then it will be the last day of winter. We won´t get another chance to try to get our Cutie Marks in bobsled.” “Ther´s always next year,” Sweetie said. “You wanna keep being a blank flank another year?” Scootaloo retorted and then got into an argument with Sweetie. “Do you have everything you need, darling?” Rarity asked. “I think it´s everything.” “Including all of Pinkie´s musical instruments’” Fluttershy asked. “What?” Fluttershy pointed at the side of the cart where there was ton of trumpets and drums. “When did she… Pinkie Pie, we´re not gonna need any of this!” “It´s okay, Applejack! Only thing I need is my trusty harmonica!” Pinkie tried to pull a other but her lips got frozen into the instrument. “Auh mah foungue! Ah liffle helf?” Rainbow rolled her eyes and along with Fluttershy tried to set Pinkie free while Applejack sighed and put the instruments down. “Darling, I´m with Rainbow on this one. Pinkie can be a delight but she can also be a workload,” Rarity said, placing a hoof on her friend's shoulder. “I know that, Rarity. But…” Applejack was about to tell them about the conversation they had the previous day but decided against them. It´s not like it was a big secret but she felt like that was a moment of weakness for Pinkie Pie and she probably didn't want other ponies to know about it. She remembered when she felt ashamed of losing the Rodeo Competition and ran off because she was terrified of seeing the disappointed faces of her friends and family. She was wrong, of course, and her friends welcomed her with open arms but she could understand what Pinkie was feeling. Maybe it was sympathy because they both came from farmer families, maybe it was an earth pony thing or maybe she had a lot more in common with Pinkie that she wanted to admit; whatever the case was, she wasn't going to spill the beans on that little talk they had. “Something is the matter, Applejack?” “No, I´m okay. Apple Bloom, we´re leaving!” Apple Bloom said goodbye to her friends and rushed to the cart, passing next to Big Mac who was engaging the vehicle to his neck. “Uh uh, Applejack, can I have the first turn?” Pinkie asked, bouncing next to the stallion. “Uh, sure, I guess. Big Mac?” Big Mac simply nodded and handled the handle to the pink pony. “Everypony ready?” Pinkie asked, waiting for all the family members to sit down. “All set…” Applejack and Apple Bloom waved at their friends who waved back. “And…” The ponies looked at each other, wondering why was Pinkie taking her time. “GO!” The cart disappeared in a pink and red blur, all the while a pony was screaming for it to stop. hard to tell if it was Apple Bloom or Big Mac. The other ponies stood there, blinking in disbelief. “They forgot Winona,” Fluttershy said, holding the dog. ***** Pinkie Pie had run for over an hour and yet she seemed to never run out of fuel, judging by the way she kept bouncing and jumping around. The Apples however were not so lively, struggling to get down the cart, Big Mac even throwing up his breakfast to the side. “Is it time to switch places? Is your turn, Applejack? Or is Big Mac´s? Uh, you wanna bucket, Big?” The stallion waved to say no and Applejack helped Apple Bloom got out of the bucket she got stuck when PInkie turned to cart upside down while sliding down a hill. “No Pinkie, we´re going to take a break.” “Is it lunch time? I can make lunch!” Pinkie shouted, jumping over the cart and into the food supplies. “Let´s see. We have apples and apples and more apples. I´m starting to see a theme here.” The two Apple sister sighed, unable to keep up with their friends energy. “Are we in Fillydelphia yet, Applejack? Feels like we travelled across half of Equestria already…” Apple Bloom said, tried despite the fact that she never got the pull the cart this time. “Well, Pinkie did save us a lot of time with that shortcut she took…” Applejack said. “Please, don´t ever talk about the shortcut again…” Apple Bloom shiver while Big Mac got green again. Applejack patted her sister´s head and moved next to the cart. “Granny, you okay there?” Granny Smith stretched her limbs and let go a big yawn. “Are we there yet?” “Granny, did you sleep the entire journey?” Applejack asked. “Just like a baby foal.” “Even when the timberwolves chased us?” Apple Bloom asked. “Uh such imagination, that was probably your big dumb of a brother snoring again,” Granny joked, patting Apple Bloom while Big Mac suppressed another puke. “Well, color me green as an apple and bake me in the oven, I recognize these woods any day! We're half way to Hollow Shades! I haven't visited that foggy old town in ages! What do you say we all make it a visit?” “Uh Granny, we´re supposed to be headed to Fillydelphia,” Applejack said. “There´s plenty of time for sightseeing, youngling; but you should never waste the chance to visit family! Apple Bloom, don´t you want to see cousin Sour Apple?” “I rather not,” Apple Bloom said and when she looked the way Applejack was looking at her added, “I don´t like cousin Sour Apple. She´s...strange.” “I get you. That side of the family is...kind of odd, Granny.” “Nonsense, An Apple is an Apple. Unless is an orange, I guess…” “Or a pickle! Or a cucumber! Or a kumquat! Hey, that reminds me a funny story! Applejack, remember the Chimi-cherry-changa?” Apple Bloom was already covering her ears while Applejack gulped at the idea of Pinkie going into a ramble agian. That never came to be however, because Granny covered the pink pony´s mouth. “Why don't you be a darling and help this old lady settle a camp?” “Are we camping now?” Pinkie asked, her eyes beaming. “I rather be in Hollow Shades by the afternoon, this forest get mighty dark when Celestia puts the sun down, but for the looks of that slacker we´re not going anywhere anytime soon. Look at you, all exhausted after just one pull. Your grandaddy could take us all the way to Neighara Falls and back without breaking a sweat!” Granny said, berating poor Big Mac who was still a little green. “Come on big bro, let´s go get some fresh water and clean you up,” Applejack said. “I´m coming too!” Apple Bloom said, trotting after them. Pinkie Pie and Granny Smith waved them goodbye, both looking a lot lively than the Apple siblings. “And what got into these kids horseshoes to look so tired?” “I don´t know. I had fun when the troll captured us in the cave,” Pinkie said. “Kids and their imaginations,” Granny said, patting Pinkie. ***** “So, Pinkamena Diane Pie…” “Please, don´t call me that, Mrs. Cake! Only my mother calls me by my full name! I´m Pinkie Pie!” Mrs. Cake giggled at the sight of the pouting young mare and said, “Okay then, Pinkie. You can then call me Cup Cake.” “I can't call you that! It would be so confusing! If a client orders cupcake and I yell cupcake you will come out of the kitchen saying yes? and I´ll say no I say Cupcake and you will reply yes? again and then I´ll say no Cupcake, I sai cupcake and then you will ask again yes? and then the client will get really frustrated because he still hasn't got his cupcake!” Mrs. Cake had to blink a few times to process that but when she did she let go a giggle. This kid was hilarious. “Mrs. Cake is fine then. Pinkie Pie, do you have any experience working in a bakery?” “Nope.” “You don´t? Then why did you ask for a job here?” “i love sweets! And treats! And delights! And what´s that fancy word for little snacks you get in galas?” “Hors d´oeuvres.” “No, I´m an earth pony. But I´like to be one, I bet you can do lots of cool stuff if you had a horn! Or imagine if I had wings! maybe even wings and a horn? That would be so crazy!” Mrs. Cake was again confused, it was like this filly couldn't keep a straight thought. But that wasn´t necessarily a bad thing. “Well, Pinkie Pie seems you really want this job,” she said and Pinkie beamed. “I still need to talk to my husband. Maybe we´ll take you a little test before you start working here.” “A test? You need to take a test to become a baker? Should I have brought pen and paper? i saw a Quills and Sofas store in the way here. Do I bring a quill o r a sofa?” Mrs. cake giggled again. “No no, I mean a baking test. Like...how about you make me your favourite meal?” “Can I?” “Sure. The kitchen is all set with all you need.” Pinkie Pie made a squee sound and rushed to the kitchen. Mrs. Cake giggled once more, smiling with the idea that once her husband came back from the maerky he'll get quite a surprise and indeed, Mr. Cake got surprised when he arrived. “I saw the smoke from the street! What happened?” he shouted, coming in. “Oh well, you see…” Mrs. Cake struggled to find an answer, while coughing for all the smoke. “All done, Mrs. Cake! Oh you must be Mr. Cake!” Pinkie said, coming out with a tray on her mouth. “He´s my husband, Carrot Cake.” “I can´t call him that! What if a client comes asking for carrot cake and then I say carrot cake and he comes out…” “Pinkie, honey, what did you make?” Mrs. Cake interrupted her before she went into a rant again. “I made Smoky Rocks!” “Rocks?” Mrs. Cake asked, she and her husband holding the burnt treats that Pinkie offered. “They're not really rocks, silly filly! They´re buns, although a little burnt. I accidentally burnt them the first time I made them but my dad like them a lot, he said they remember him of rocks so I call them Smoky Rocks! Clever, right?” Mr. Cake raised and eyebrow and his wife just shrugged. They decide to give them a try, discovering that despite the burnt exterior, the inside was the sweetest thing they have ever tried. “Kid, this is delicious!” Mr. Cake said, making the filly shine with all her with teeth. “Pinkie Pie…” Mrs. Cake said. “Welcome to Sugarcube Corner.” ***** Applejack helped Apple Bloom grab a bucket full of water and said, “Family, I want to apologize for Pinkie Pi. I know I insisted on bringing her along so, if you want to, we can keep the journey alone and you can take AB and Granny back to town, big bor,” “Applejack, we like Pinkie Pie. Even if she can be a little…” Apple Bloom began. “Bouncy.” Big Mac finished. “We like having her around. We just want the journey to be less…” Apple Bloom bgan. “Dizzy.” Big Mac finished. “Well, I can make no promises about that. But I do promise to make sure we finish this journey. Just like the one a year ago and the one before that. We´re gonna make it together because apples tick together, right?” Applejack said, bringing her siblings for a hug. “Do we really need to go to Hollow Shades? It´s very…” Apple Bloom began. “Creepy,” Big Mac finished. “Let´s just humour Granny for now. A quick visit to the family and then straight to Filly for the seeds. Then back to Ponyville just in time for Winter Wrap-Up. Think you can keep up?” Apple Bloom and Big Mac nodded. “Promise?” Applejack asked. “Promise,” both Apple siblings said and nuzzled their sister. They then saw a huge column of smoke and rushed to the cart, finding Granny and Pinkie sitting next to a fire. “What´s all this?” Applejack asked. “Lunch! I made my specialty, Smoky Rocks!” Pinkie beamed, showing the burnt treats that caused Big Mac to go green again. “They're not real rocks, you dummy apples!” Applejack smiled and took one, convincing her siblings to take them too. They all took a bite and a smile appeared on their faces. “These are delicious, Pinkie!” Applejack said, making Pinkie beam. “They need more salt,” Granny complained.. “Uh Granny, that one is a rock…” Pinkie said, wincing when the elder pony chewed and swallowed the rock with no effort. Chapter 3Hollow Shades was the complete opposite of Ponyville. While the latter was a bright, sunny town filled with the laughter and music of their inhabitants, the former was a dark, gloomy town surrounded by fog and the discreet cough of the peasants. Even the ponies looked different, all sporting bags under their eyes and walking with their heads down. The three Apple siblings sighed a collective sigh, clearly not happy with being there. Pinkie Pie on the other hoof was ecstatic, she felt like she was in a town filled with Cranky Doodles, eager to bring a smile to their faces. “This town is...amazing! I´ve never been here! Uh uh, what's that on the roof? What´s that in that other roof? What´s that thing in that window?” Pinkie asked, bouncing over a gargoyle, another gargoyle and a pony on a window watering her plants. “Calm down Pinks. Hollow Shades is just a normal town. Couple houses, a town hall, nothing much to see,” Applejack said, sounding defeated. “They don't even have a theater,” Apple Bloom said, sounding defeated too. Big Mac simply nodded along. “You shouldn't have come here…” a ragged figure with a raspy voice said, approaching them. Apple Bloom hid behind Applejack while Pinkie looked at the approaching figure with a huge grin. “You shouldn't have come here, younglings. Beware, beware...for you lot are entering PumpkinHoof realm!” The old lady took off her hood, revealing her wrinkled and toothless face. Pinkie Pie let go the biggest scream, jumping at Applejacks arms but by the silly look on her face, it was hard to tell if she was genuinely scared of just playing along. “Cousin Wicked! Always so nice ta see ya!” Granny SMith said, nuzzling the wicked mare. “You bought strangers to our land. Shame on you…” Wicked Apple said. “Same old Wicked. Now, ah want to take a taste of that pumpkin pie of yours,” Granny said, leaving with the other mare. Pinkie Pie jumped off from Applehack and said “I like her!” “She´s right, you know’ You shouldn't have come here…” another voice said from behind them and now it was Apple Bloom´s turn to jump over her sister. “Hi cousin Sour…” Apple Bloom said, jumping off her sister with a blush on her face. “Hi, I´m Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie jumped over to greet the filly who merely nodded and the shifted her attention to Apple Bloom. “Hi cousin Bloom, I´m so happy to see you again…” “Ya...are?” “Of course. I´m so thrilled to see my favourite cousin. Look, I got my Cutie Mark.” “Oh, that´s...great. Is that a pair of rusty horseshoes?” “Cool, right?” Sour Apple finished her sentence with a big grin and Apple Bloom turned white. Pinkie couldn't help a smile when looking at the filly. She was pretty similar to Babs Seed, same height, almost same color, even sporting a bang but hers was longer and she never take it away. Pinkie smile got a little smaller when she realized the pony looked too much like her sisters. Applejack noticed this and decided to move things forward. “Come on y´all, we better move things if we want to spend the night ´ere.” “Spend the night ´ere?” Apple Bloom repeated,, right before she felt a hoof over her shoulder. “This is so great, cousin. Now we can spend all night talking and sharing stories, have you heard the one about the Headless Horse?” Apple Bloom cried for help but Sour was too strong and drag her around. Applejack could only sigh while Pinkie was still smiling. ***** Despite Apple Bloom´s protests, the night was actually quite pleasant. Wicked Apple certainly lived to her name in terms of appearance and attitude but her cooking was exquisite. Pinkie had never tried so many different variations of pumpkin and she loved every one. The town had an inn, hosted by the Apples, and Pinkie found the perfect place for her there. The ponies of Hollow Shades may look sad and gloomy but give them an accordion and a piano and they will sing like any other pony trapped in Pinkie´s spell. Pinkie had honestly one of the happiest day ever but as the night went on, her smile began to fade. It began as a huge, beaming grin but then turned into a soft, pale smile. It faded the more she looked at the Apples, how they talked to each other. She looked at Apple Bloom hiding under Granny smith´s arms when sour´s story got too scary. She looked at Applejack reassuring his brother and invited him a big cup of pumpkin juice. Despite how they acted, the Apples were getting along well with theri cousin from the shady town. They were family, no matter the where or the who, and Pinkie wished she oucl say the same about the Pies. **** “Ah´m not so sure about this, cuz,” Apple Bloom said, speaking inside the dark kitchen. “I suggested climbing off the bedroom window but you said no, cousin,” Sour Apple replied. “Not that! Ah mean going out, alone. At night, alone. Alone.” “Worry not, cousin. Hollow Shades is perfectly safe in the early morning.” “This is the early morning?” Apple Bloom asked, looking outside. She could hardly tell since the town always looked the same. “But it´s at this hour the Headless Horse is said to be seen, trotting near the old bridge,” sour whispered, making Apple Bloom jump. “You seem a little nervous, sure you want to do this?” “Ah´m...ah´m fine. If ya sure ya got yer Cutie Mark near the bridge, then ah guess ah should try too. heh, ah´ll surprise mah friends in Ponyville if ah come back with a Cutie Mark.” “I hope you get a Cutie Mark just like my, cousin. That will bring us closer,” Sour said, leaning over Apple Bloom and making her shiver. They sneak inside the kitchen and hid behind a table, trying to avoid being seen by big MacIntosh who was roaming around finish a few more barrels of pumpkin juice. When he turned their back on them, they trotted off into the distance. **** “There ya are, Pinks. Ah lost sight of ya during breakfast. Or maybe it was dinner, it´s hard to hell in ´ere parts.” Pinkie Pie however didn´t respond, she was staring at the foggy town outside the window. “Pinkie Pie? Are ya alright?” “Oh, hi Applejack. It´s quiet outside, you notice that? I was having so much fun downstair that I didn´t noticed how quiet this town is. It reminds me of my home a little. Not Ponyville, but my home home, the rock farm. Although Ponyville is also my home but it's not the home where I was born, you understand me, right?” “Ah guess…” Applejack did understood but it was mostly how frantic Pinkie was. It seemed she was her usual cheerful self but Applejack could notice the sad, distressed pony from two days ago was still there. “Pinkie Pie, ah don't like seeing you like that. Ya seemed to be having fun ´fore but now…” “But I was having fun! I am! I love being with your family! You´re so funny and close and sing in harmony! Remember the song we did?” “Yes, it was a fine song but Pinkie, why do you look so sad?” Applejack asked, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “I guess...I guess it´s because looking at you and your family, at how close you are. I think I want that for my family too and I know I won't get it. I love my family but my dad only know about work and my sisters make jokes I don´t understand and my mom always calls me by my full name…I just think I'll never get to understand them, the same way they don't understand me.” “Ah dunno about that. They seemed to like that concert you made a few months ago. Remember how ya saved their farm?” “Twilight played a big part on that and still, I don´t think they´re very happy with me living in Ponyville.” “Ya know what´s yer big problem, Pinks?” “I mix up the sugar and the pepper when making Mrs. Cake´s Frosty Chocolate Buns?” “No. Ya always jump to conclusions. Mind ah remidn ay when you accused all three bakers of eating your cake that day?” “You mean when you and the other girls were the guilty ones?” Pinkie said, “Alright, ya got me there. Wait, how did ya know ah did it? Ah didn´t leave a trace!” “Twilight told me you ran to the library two days ago and confessed.” “Heh, yeah that..” Applejack said, scratching her neck at the embarrassing memory. Truth was the guilt was making her lose her mane. “Mah point is that ya keep talking about what you think yer family thinks. How can ya be so sure?” “Maybe I should try...asking them. Maybe I could bring a violin and see if dad wants to practice again? You know, he sued to paly the violin when I was foal? He stopped a long time but he was very good. Uh uh maybe you two could play a duo? Or is it say duet? Maybe it´s dual…” Applejack laughed, happy to see Pinkie rambling again, this time out of her own energy. “We´ll make a stop on their farm on the way back, okay partner?” “Okie-dokie-lokie. And AJ…” Pinkie leaned forward and gave Applejack a big hug. “Thank you.” “Right back ya, kiddo. Now, where are them two rattlesnakes going out?” Pinkie was about to ask why they were rattlensake sint eh town but Appleajkc was looking at the window, at the two little fillies that were going downtown. **** Big Mac got himself another mug of pumpkin juice and finished it in one gulp, letting a bug blurp out with it. He was feeling a little dizzy so he went out for some fresh air. He was a peculiar stallion, able to sustain a full mug of cider but anything with the word juice on it could knock him down. No jokes he once pass out from drinking orange juice, that time her sister and her friends tried to get their marks for a tropical bar. The air was chilling so he put in a coat he found hanging in the door. It was a little big for him which was something even more peculiar that his light weight. He thought he heard some rushing steps behind him, coming from the front door but there was no pony around. He shrugged and walked into the foggy morning, humming a song he got stuck on his head. ***** Apple Bloom had started to regret this idea. In fact, she started regretting when they sneaked out the inn. Scratch that, she started regretting when her cousin told her the story on how she got her Cutie Mark during the dinner/breakfast. Doubles racth that, she started regretting the second Pinkie Pie say “can I take the first turn?” Now she was standing next to a creepy bridged in the middle of a creepy town, surrounded by an even creepy fog and next to the creepiest pony she had ever known. “Croa croa croa!” “What was that?” “Just the sounds of frogs, cousin.” “Oh, that´s right. jsutfrogss.” Apple Bloom didn´t got scared easily. She wasn't afraid to admit that she could get afraid but it did took a lot to scare her. The idea of a basilisk didn´t scared her at all. The actual creature hunting them down to turn them into stone, that was scary. Now it wasn't the story of the headless Horse what scared Apple Bloom. She already had heard the story a dozen times in camps; but there was something about this town. She knew the story was false but in Hollow Shades she was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, a Headless Horse could be around. “Croa Croa Croa!” “What´s that?” “I told you, frogs.” “....” “...croa croa croa.” “Yah´re the one making those sounds!” “Just making ambience,” Sour apple said, shrugging. “Ah, this was a bad idea. Ah should have stayed in home. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are probably getting their Cutie Marks now by accident. Maybe Sweetie is singing a carol por Scootaloo sliding on a sleigh and bam, they got their flanks covered. And ah´m going to miss it for being ´ere.” Apple Bloom fell flat on the bridge, letting her hooves hang from the sides. “You keep talking about those friends of yours,” Sour Apple suddenly said. “Yeah, ah miss them.” “Don´t they tire you off? I would get tired of running around all day with...other fillies.” Apple Bloom got many traits from her sister but she was quicker on one thing and that was picking up signals. Just one look she could tell Sour Apple was looking sad. “Ya okay, cuz?” “I´m sorry cousin, I lied to you there´s no Headless Horse.” “Ah know that. It´s just a story,” Apple Bloom said, trying to sound sure of that. “I just wanted to spend some time with you. I missed the last family reunion for being sick. I bet it was entertaining,” “It was, except the part of the fruit bats and the crashing barn and mah tongue twisting…” “See? you had fun. I have to make out this stories just to get you interested,” Sour said, joining her cousin on hanging on the ledge. “Yah mean all of that was an act? The spooky storeis, the creepy voice, the aniamls sounds?” “No, I like making animal sounds. Hear, hoot hoot.” “Okay, that was very good. But vuz, ya don´ need to tell me scary stories to entertain me. Ah want to spend time with you, that if ya stop being creepy.” “Woof woof!” “Ahahaha, that´s funny! What else can ya do?” “I can do cats. Miauuuu!” “Hahahaha!” “Or cows. Muuuuu” “Hahaha, that´s great!” “Hiiiiiiiii!!” “Uh, that was the best whine ah ever heard. Ya sounded like a scary Windigo.” “That wasn´t me,” Sour APple said. “Cuz, ah told you to stop trying ta scare me.” “Seriously, it wasn´t me.” “HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!” “That was you, right cuz?” Sour Apple didn't answered. She was petrified staring at something behind Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom turned over and saw the figure of a cloaked pony approaching them. A headless pony. **** “Now ah can´t see a darn thing in front o´me! Pinks, can ya use yer Pinkie sense to tell me where the girls went?” Applejack asked. “No can do buckaroo! My Pinkie Sense only tells me of thigns that are going to happen right away, like that barrel you´re about to trip with.” “Yeah, thanks fer that,” Applejack said from the floor. She got up and tried to scrutiny the go but it was too thick. She wished Twilight or Rarity were there to light the path or that she had one of them fancy unicorn horns. “Hey AJ, I was thinkin…” “Yeah Pinks?” “When I met my dad should I bring a tuba or a flute? BEcause I was thinking I should use some wind instruments to accompany his strings.” “Ah don´t know Pinks. Whatever ya think it'll work. Now where was the town square? Ah can't tell a street form the next one…” “Or maybe I should go with drums and ask my sisters to accompany us with a set ot trumpets. I bet they'll like that.” “A-ha,” Applejack said. Where were those girls? was the only thought on her head. “Then again if they're slightly out of tune, the entire harmony willbe disrupt. We should go with an allegro piece, that way dad can keep up. he must be out of practice.” “Okay. Wait, how ya know so much about music?” “I have a friend on the Canterlot Philharmonic!” “Figures,” Applejack said. She actually was used to Pinkie having friends on every city of Equestria. “Applejaaaaaaack!” Applejack coudlrecoignzie that cry anywhere. She stood on her hind legs and crossed her arms, hoping to look intimidating enough. “Now where have ya been, youngling?” Unfortunately, Apple Bloom didn't had time to check if Applejack could match Granny Smith´s harsh tone. She was too busy running away from the headless cloaked pony. The second she noticed him, Applejack also called for a retreat. “Pinkie Pie, move!” “Why?” Pinkie didn't seemed concerned at all. Applejack wasted no time with explanations and grabbed Pinkie by the tail, tossing her over her. “Girls, what's going on in ´ere?” she asked the two fillies. “It´s the headless Horse It´s real!” “Ya kiddin,” Applejack said but the whining supernatural pony behind her seemed convincing enough. “Okay, ah buy it.” “I´m so sorry, cousin. I was just trying to tell you a scary story, I never expected the Horse to be real!” Sour said,. “But ya said ya faced it before! That ya got eyr Cutie Mark scaring him away!” “Ya did? How?” Applejack asked. “I didn't said that I scared him away! I said that I got my mark near the bridge! I was there initiating frogs!” “...seriously?” both Apple sisters asked. “Croa croa?” “Doesn't matter now. We have to return to the inn and secure the doors. Now if only ah could remember where in the hay the inn is!” APplejack said. “I´m so sorry, Apple Bloom,” Sour said. “It´s okay, Sour. Ah´m just glad we´re finally spending time together, as family.” “Uh, is this a family activity? like the wagon ride?” “Pinkie, how can ya ask that? Of course this ain´t about family!” “Then why is Big Mac chasing us?” “BIG MAC?” the three Apples aid and they stopped their trot. They waited until the “Headless Horse” stumbled in front of them. Applejack moved the cloak revleaingin the dizzy face of her older brother. “Big mac, ah told ya to lay off the pumpkin juice. Ya know that stuff get into yer head,” Applejack said. Big Mac response was a high pitched “Eeeeenope!” The absurd of the situation took a little way to settle on but once it did, all mares were laughign out loud. Hollow Shades suddenly looked a lot brighter. Chapter 4Not too far away from Ponyville, going down a hill near the east face of Foal Mountain, there it stood the Pie´s rock farm. Plain, colorless and sober, the Pie´s rock farm was like an empty canvas, so many stories ready to be told but hard to see. Or so it seemed thanks to the soft cover of snow in it. Igneous Rock´s oldest daughter had convinced him to start bringing snow and so, for every Hearth's Warming Eve, the rock farm got covered in a mantle of white. Igneous will always complain later that this slowed down their production work but one can tell a smile creeping out of him every Eve Dinner. Igneous Rock was a stallion of habits, his happiness came through on his work. Picking rocks, piling debris and sorting it to sell; it was there where you could see him at his most honest self. So on the last day of winter, what Ponyville labeled Winter Wrap-Up, when he was shoveling the snow away, that he made no effort to hide his smile. Igneous was so satisfied that when he heard the carriage approaching, he had to make a conscious effort to hide his smile. “Dad! Dad! Daaaaaaaaad!” Pinkie Pie didn´t even waited for Applejack to bring the carriage to the entry. She jumped down and rushed through the rocks, bouncing on the snow, taking the time to make a pony on the snow, before tackling her father. “Pinkamena?” Igneous asked, curious as to why his daughter was back in the farm so soon. “Are you surprised? Did I surprised you? You're surprised! Hey everypony look, dad is surprised!” “Pinkamena…” “Told you I would surprise him! I bet you didn't see me coming, well you saw me coming through the hill but never thought I'll be back so soon after Hearth´s Eve but then I was talking to AJ, that´s my friend Applejack over there, and she said…” “Pinkamena.” “...and then a troll chased us and then we ended up on this town called Shady Hooves or something like that and we met this funny filly she remind me of Marble and Lime for some reason and…” “Pinkamena Diane Pie!” The Apple family stopped on their tracks. They have seen other ponies yell at Pinkie, they have yelled at her from time to time; but this was different, this was the first time they have seen a pony ACTUALLY angry at Pinkie. Or so it seemed. Igneous Rock was obviously a stern father and while Applejack didn't got to knew him well when he visited Ponyville, she figured he had little patience for Pinkie´s antics. That still didn't mean she was going to stand idly while one of her best friends was getting yelled at. “Sorry dad, guess I was rambling again…” Pinkie apologized. Igneous saw Applejack approaching and said, “You brought your friends here.” “Yes, Applejack and her family took me for their trip to get some new seeds like I was telling you.” “You stopped by the merch at Fillydelphia, I see,” he stated, looking at the carriage full of bags. “Quite a stock.” Pinkie nodded just as Applejack approached them. “Hey AJ, dad was just complimenting your stock!” Applejack tilted her hat to Igneous and the stallion responded with a nod. “Uh uh, why don´t you two get together?” “´cuse me?” Applejack asked. “I mean, get together and have a nice farmer chat, compare farmer notes and farmer stories and farmer lullabies and stuff.” “Rock farming and apple farming are two entirely different issues, Pinkamena,” Igneous declared and then added in a softer tone. “No offense, young lady.” “None taken, Mr. Pie. But ah´ll keep mah snout shut near Granny Pie if ah were ya, she might wanna try which product bounces harder on the head.” If Igneous got offended by that comment, his stoic face didn´t show it. “Pinkamena, why are you making this family waste time?” “uh?” “Winter is scheduled to be over the day after tomorrow and you still have a long way up to Ponyville. Those seeds need to be planted in time for the defrosting or they became useless and, if I recall correctly, you had the appointed duty of breaking the frozen lakes. Why are you here goofing around?” Pinkie looked genuinely embarrassed but before she could answer Applejack stepped forward. “Now wait here, mister! Pinkie ain´t making us waste any time, we offered to take her here so she can see her family fer a day. Ah assumed her family will be thrilled to have her, considering she spends most of the year in Ponyville!” “Of course we´re happy to have her here…” Now Igneous did honestly seemed hurt by Applejack´s comment. Applejack herself felt a little embarrassed by her outburst. “Hey dad, look what I bought in Filly!” Pinkie said and she sprout a small fiddle. At the sight of the instrument Igneous´ eyes got a little wider but he said now ord. “I´ve never played a fiddle, well except to make a quick sound gag but this is different, I brought it so I can play a duet with you, a few Hearth´s carols even if the Eve is long gone but still…” This time Pinkie stopped herself noticing her father stern look. Igneus took a good look at his daughter, his friend and the family parking the carriage on the entry. “You can all stay tonight. The colt and the filly can sleep in the living room. Mrs. Apple would stay in your older sister´s room, she is out at Canterlot for the week. You have no problems sharing your old bunk with your friend, right?” “Not a problem, sir,” Applejack said, tilting her hat. Igneous nodded and headed to the entry of the house. “Uh dad, about our duet…” “There´s still plenty of work to do. Tell your friend to help you shovel the snow out of the founding rocks while her relatives unload the carriage.” “...yes, sir.” Applejack patted Pinkie´s back, knowing that any word that she could possibly siad will not cheer her up. Down at the entrance, Apple Bloom shivered, unaccustomed to the weather in a treeless farm. “Brr! It's freezing in here!” “Why don´t ya go help Mr. Rock with the shoveling? That'll get you in the mood, kiddo!” Granny Smith said, not so gently pushing her. “Big Mac, take the old chart behind the house so the snow won´t get on the seeds. Care yo help this big slob, ladies? “Charmed,” Marble and Lime said in unison and they each grabbed one of Big Mac´s arms. The poor stallion couldn't say a word as he was pulled towards the house. ****** Left to the third founding rock, passing the gravel field but not after the quartz garden, there was a special rock. It wasn´t a special rock by its nature, it was a simple, plain rock but it was special to Pinkie Pie and her family. That rock was the last one planted by Granny Pie and it served as a constant reminder of her story and her deeds. Whenever Pinkie was feeling sad or lonely, she went to that rock for the counsil of her grandmother. This time however, it wasn´t working. Applejack approached Pinkie and sat next to her, taking off her hat in sign of respect for the elder Pie. “Granny Pie always had the best stories. And the best songs. And the best jokes. And the best pies.” “Honey, ah bet Twilight would tell ya to tell everything in one sentence,” Applejack said. “Heh, sorry. I just wanted to remember Granny Pie, how she used to sing next to the fireplace while dad played his violin and mom held us in the rocker. I just wanted to remember that because it´s getting harder to do it.” Applejack wanted to say she was sorry, that they could talk Igneous over, that they can still have a family dinner but she couldn't muster the words. There was something she wanted to say, something that she had been holding back since that afternoon at Sweet Apple Acres but every time it seemed she was about to spill the beans, her lips got sealed. “You wanna know what's the funniest thing? Granny´s Cutie Mark was a wagon wheel. Weird, right? But you'll think Granny will have any other Cutie Mark but she had a simple wagon wheel,” Pinkie said. “Ya know how´s the deal with Cutie Marks. Never what you expected them to be,” Applejack responded. “Yeah but Dad has a pickaxe, mother has a set of rocks. Even my sisters all have matching sets. I´m the only odd one!” Pinkie was smiling while saying that but Applejack wasn´t. in fact, she was getting angrier. “I got the bright coat and the fluffy mane that even when I tried to straighten it for the Gala it just wouldn't get down…” Applejack could feel something building up, a heat inside her and was afraid of letting it go. “And of course the Cutie Mark. Three bright balloons. I mean, what do they mean? that I like parties? Yes, of course. But isn´t my talent baking or at least that´s why I like the most. But why don't I have the same marks and interest as my family? I guess I just don´t belong her-AUH!” Pinkie shouted because Applejack hit her with her hat. “Applejack?” “Stop saying that!” “Saying what?” Pinkie was confused and scared, not undestadngin why Appleajck was in teh verge of tears. She figured she had done or said something wrong but didn´t know what. “Stop talking like that! Like ya have no family! Yer the most lucky pony of the world because ya have so many families. There´s this familiere here and the Cakes in Ponyville and...and ya got us! Twilight, Spike, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Rarity and...me. Ya got me, ya got that? Ah wanted to tell ya that since ah find ya moping in the apple field saying ya don't fit in. Well maybe ya don´t fit in here but ya fit with us! Ya just prove it, prove it that ya can be an Apple so don't ever sya that ya don't fit in!” Pinkie Pie was speechless. For the first time she couldn't think o anything to say while Applejack was the one ranting. “I´m sorry…” Was all she could muster to say. “Don´t be. Stop feeling sorry, Pinks. Ya ot a lot going for you, why can´t ya see it?” “I´m sorry, Applejack. No really, I am. I guess sometimes I get so worried wanting to please everypony that I end up missing when I´m hurting them. It already happened before, remember? With the Magic Mirror and all those pinkies that destroyed your barn? Yes, you do remember…” “Heh, ah remember. Sorry ah yelled at you back then, it´s just one Pinkie it´s more than enough for me,” Applejack chuckled and Pinkie managed to smile back. “But Pinkie ya don't need to try so hard, especially not for your family., That´s a lesson ah learned after I screwed up a family reunion.” “Thanks Applejack,” Pinkie said, nuzzling her. “I´ll try not to make you worry again.” “There ya go agian. Thinking always of others,” Applejack said, wiping her tears. “Sorry. It´s just I worry about you sometimes, AJ. You always seem so serious and busy, no wonders with all the things you have to do in a daily basis. I mean, I got your job for just one day and I almost go bonkers with all the bucking apples and plowing the fields and fixing the pipes and the roof and the door…” “Alright I get ya, the farm needs work. But ya know, sometimes ah think ponies don´t get me. Yes, i have lots of work but ah enjoy it. Ah like being in the farm, helping the family. Sometimes ah get the idea that other ponies think ah´m holding back, like mah family is tying me but that´s not it. Ah love mah family, ah want to spend time with them because ah now how it feels when they´re not around anymore.” Pinkie leaned closer to Applejack and said, “I love you, Applejack. You´re my best friend. Along with Fluttershy and Rainbow and Rarity and Twilight and Spike and Gummy, can´t forget about Gummy! And you too Rockie, you were my first pet and my very very first best friend!” Applejack laughed at the scene of Pinkie nuzzling a rock She drew Pinkie closer to her again and said: “Ah love you too, Pinkie.” **** “Now, hit the rock in precisely a forty five degree angle…” Apple Bloom had a little trouble lifting the pickaxe but her hit was perfect. Igneus made an approving nod but added “good” at the end. that was something she barely did for his daughters, he reserved that praise to what he considered the most exceptional of works. “Your grandchildren is doing an excellent work. My husband is impressed,” Cloudy Quartz said to Granny Smith. “Maybe she has a future in the rock farm.” “Nah, that little apple is going to join the orchard. Just like her sister and mother ´fore her.” “You never know. children can surprise you.” “Ah take ya talk about your little bouncy sunshine?” Cloudy Quartz said nothing and kept making dinner. “Yes sir, that kid is something special alright!” Cloudy murmured something on the lines of “All my daughters are special,” but Granny didn't notice. “She dragged us all over Equestria and back just to take us here and in the way, she managed to make spring that old geez of Wicked. Yes that kid could make a chair jump like a rodeo bull. She is something special.” Cloudy made no effort of hiding her smile and Granny faked not noticing it. “Granny! Granny! Look what ah found!” Apple Bloom bursted in, carrying a shiny quartz. “Oh, that´ll made a good replacement denture.” “Granny!” Granny laughed of her own silly joke while Apple Bloom pouted. “Think Scootaloo and Sweetie will like it? Ah bet they´re going to love it. maybe we could go search for them in the mountains near the dam. We´ll be Cutie Mark Crusaders Rock Farmers!” “Now ah don't wanna ya anywhere near Diamond Dog´s territory!” “But Granny…” “No buts, young lady!” Granny Smith took Apple Bloom away to scold her some more while Igneous walked in. “You´re smiling,” Cloud said to him. “Kid did a good job.” “That's not it. You´re happy, happy they brought Pinkamena back.” “Of course I´m happy my daughter is here.” “I can tell. Can she?” ***** That night, the Apples and Pie/Rock family spend the last night of winter together, enjoying the last couple of hours of the snow cloud. Tomorrow, the Pies will finish packing the winter and the Apples will return to Ponyville, arriving just in time for the town wrapping. But that´s for latr for tonight, the families were enjoying each other. Apple Bloom hugged her quartz rock like it was a pet, proud of her accomplishment. The Pies offered Granny the old rocker and she was quite comfortable on it. Marble and Limestone found a much better place leaning over Big Mac. The stallion looked at his sister asking for help but she just shrugged. Applejack herself was sitting in the floor, leaning next to Pinkie Pie who was back to her cheerful self, humming a carol to herself but everypony was enjoying it. Igneous Rock got up and moved next to the chimney, taking a case out. The Pie children had a collective gasp while Cloudy smiled. Igneous took out his old violin and started playing. A slow, melancholic piece, an old Eve melody. The Pies regained their smiles at the sight. Pinkie looked at Applejack who nodded and then she got up and took out the fiddle, joining her father. With her now the melody changed to something more cheerful, slightly faster but still homely. The Apples began to relax, Big Mac finding himself comfortable with the two sisters leaning on him. Applejack got up and took her own fiddle from her saddlebags, she joined them and began playing. Now it was like having an orchestra playing the Hearth´s Carol, the harmonies were perfect and the feeling was obvious. This was a home and this was one big family together, Apples and Pies, one perfect blend of crispy crust and amazing apples.
Chapter 1The Pie´s rock farm could be described in one word, quiet. Aside from the constant picking of stones, there was barely any sound in the farm. It was dull and quiet, not even the birds making any sound. Most ponies will call this place boring but for the Pies it was rather peaceful, a place away from the hustle of the big cities and where they could actually stop and listen. All the Pies of course but Pinkie Pie. She just couldn´t avoid making noise, either humming a song or just weird sounds to pass the time. It was like she had a musical company behind her every step, every movement she made was responded by a trumpet, a cymbal or even a kazoo. To the ponies of Ponyville this was hardly a surprise and they were used to it, some will even say the town wasn´t the same without Pinkie´s music; so this long weekend where she was away from them Ponyville must have been a very dull town. Pinkie Pie had decided to spend the Holidays with her family. Winter made the rocks slippery and hard to collect and they needed all the help they could get, plus, despite all the fun she had living with the Cakes, Pinkie Pie still missed her family from time to time. The years away from the farm had taken their payment and Pinkie was struggling to get a rock rolling. “Come on rock, cooperate…” she said, trying to push it. “Well, someone here is being a Mr.Uncooperative, isn´t he? We need to work on that attitude, mister!” Pinkie Pie said to the big boulder, who remained mute. “Don't give me that look! Here in the rock farm we have a very strict policy. You either cooperate or you´re out of here!” Pinkie turned around with her arms crossed and waited for a few seconds. “What was that?” The rock said nothing. “Okay now, wasn't that better? Apologies accepted Mr. Now-cooperative! What do you say if we move you over to the left side of the farm, shall we? I´s easy look at me,” Pinkie said and rolled on the snowy grass. Limestone Pie and Marble Pie, Pinkie Pie´s sisters, watched the whole event with blanks expression. They turned around and both raised an eyebrow. “She is talking to the rocks. Again,” Limestone said. “Why are you doing that?” Marble asked Pinkie. “I´m teaching Mr. Rock how to roll. See, I´m rolling and he´s rocking? got it?” Pinkie expected a laugh but her sister merely raised an eyebrow again. “No, why are you moving a founding rock?” Limestone asked. Now it was Pinkie´s turn to raise an eyebrow. Both sisters sighed before Limestone explained, “Founding rocks are placed in one spot to serve as a starting point for a rock seeding. There´s two on every quarter of the farm and they can't be moved.” “Literally,” Marble added, pointing at the fact the stone was too big to be moved. “Oh, I forgot about that.” “Seems sister has forgot about basic rock farming facts,” Marble said to Limestone. “Indeed. Even Loudmouth Slacker learned them in her first day,” Limestone said and they both snickered. “Loudmouth who?” Pinkie Pie asked. “The replacement unicorn father hired last year. We called her Loudmouth Slacker because she never shut her mouth but never finished her work either,” Limestone explained. “We also called her Snorts at Work,” Marble added and they both snickered. Pinkie Pie faked a laugh. She loved her sisters very much but she found her sense of humour was a bit strange. They were not mean at all, they just found fun in things that Pinkie couldn´t understand. “Marble! Limestone! Pinkamena! It is time to polish the grey stones! their mother called from the house. “Oh polish rocks! That sounds like fun!” Pinkie Pie said, bouncing up and down. “You probably should stay for this one, sister,” marble said. “What? Why? I remember how to polish the rocks. It was...well, actually, I remember it wasn´t very fun but now we can do it together, like sisters!” she said, hugging them. “Have you been polishing many rocks in Ponyville, sister?” Limestone asked, her and her sister expression remaining dull the whole time. “Well...no, not really,” Pinkie Pie admitted. “Show us your hooves, sister,” Marble ordered her. Pinkie obeyed and showed the inside of her pink hooves. Both sisters shared a concerned look. “Figures, Soft hooves,” Marble said. “Very soft,” Limestone added. “Is that a bad thing?” “Your hooves should look more like this,” Limestone said and they both raised their hooves, showing them all scratched and sturdy. Pinkie winced, thinking that Rarity will faint at the sight. “You better stay here and rest, sister,” marble said and turned around. “We´ll tell mother you´ll stay and push the secondary rock,” Limestone added, following her sister. “O-okay, thanks Limey, thanks Marby!” “Don´t mention it…” Marble said. “Soft Hooves,” Limestone added and they both snickered again. Pinkie Pie watched them go and stayed under the snow, covering her snout with her scarf. “Thanks Mr. Founding Rock. That´s...very kind of you.” ******* Even in winter, Sweet Apple Acres could be described in one word, warm. Yes, evne with the fields covered in snow and the trees mostly devoid of any leaves, the farm still had that welcoming air and the smell of hot apple pies coming from the house. If Pinkie Pie´s melodies were the sounds of Ponyville, then Sweet Apple Acres and their inhabitants were the heart of the town. Just like the founding rocks in the Pie´s farm, without the Acres there would be no Ponyville since it was the Apples´ farm what set the town in motion. Ponies all over the country came for the delicious apples and their by-products and some decided to stay, eventually building the town that ponies came to love. When winter arrives, Sweet Apple Acres goes to sleep, just like some animals. The farmer got less and less work to do until eventually they just spent the Hearth's Warming Eve merely enjoying a cosy fire and a tasty apple treat. The season was about to end however and soon there will be work to do, so Applejack was roaming the fields, inspecting each of her beloved trees. “Howdy, Mary Lou. Mary Ann. No need to hurry, Billy Jo. Soon you´ll start turning bright and green again and have all shiny red apples to share with all the ponies!” She caressed every tree she passed by, showing the same kindness and tender a mother would to a child. To Applejack, the apples trees were almost like her children. She once heard Princess celestia refer that way to all the ponies in her kingdom and she chuckled. She could understand her. “I know, Big Bert. I miss Bloomberg too but, he´s a good place now. Remember that it´s always sunny at Appleloosa. Or at least, that´s what cuz Braeburn keeps saying,” she chuckled, gently stroking a big, sturdy apple tree. “He says it more like Applelooooosa but yeah, I´m sure it´s bright and sunny over there.” The sudden voice startled her and Applejack looked around, trying to find this invisible pony. She then got hit by something and looked up, finding Pinkie Pie resting in a tree branch. “Pinkie Pie?” “Hi Applejack.” “How long have you been there?” Applejack asked, slightly embarrassed. “A little while.” “So, were you hearing all of that right now? You don't think it's strange I´m talking to the trees, right? “Why would I? Everypony needs somebody to talk to. I brought Mr Turnip to make me company. Say hello, Mr. Turnip,” Pinkie said, leaning down to show a bucket of turnips to Applejack. “Ehh, hello there.” Pinkie returned to the branch and took a bit of a turnip., “Pinkie, when did you came back from your folks´house?” “Just this morning. I just unpacked at the Cakes house,” Pinkie Pie answered in a very montone tone. “That´s a surprise. What happened to the own-welcoming-party-party that you promised when you left?” Applejack chuckled. “I pospone it. I don´t feel like in the mood of celebrating,” Pinkie said, tossing a bitten turnip. “So instead, you decided to spend the morning resting atop of Old Gert here?” “He says it was okay.” “Pinkie Pie, I know you. your answer to everything and I mean everything, it´s to throw a party, either big or small. What´s really bothering you?” Pinkie played a bit with a turnip before she decided to answer. “Thing is...I don´t think my family trust me.” “Pinkie, it´s your family. They love you.” “i know they love me but they don´t think I´m good enough. I tried to help at the farm but they all ignore me and gave me easy tasks, like I couldn't handle the rocks anymore. It´s like when the Cakes didn't want me to take care of the babies, I feel like I was useless. I don't like that.” “I doubt anypony does, Pinks. But maybe you´re looking at it the wrong way. Didn't you leave the rock farm because that wasn´t the life for you?” Applejack said. “I did but, this is different. I want to show my parents and sister that I can too handle all the hard work. I´m a farmer too! If only there was a way to prove them wrong…” “I don't know about that, Pinkie. Besides, you´re right that farm work is hard work. Trust me.” “Maybe I need to find another farm to work in. A candy farm maybe? Do those exist?” “You are not even listening anymore, are you?” “Uh uh, I know! How about we trade places for a few days, Applejack? You take care of the bakery while I work in the farm here!” Pinkie Pie proposed, bouncing atop Old Gert. “I´m not sure,” Applejack said, scratching her neck. “Remember what happened last times we traded jobs? Rarity still can´t be reminded of those dresses I made…” “Yeah, take them away! Take them away! hahaha!” Applejack looked at Pinkie Pie and sighed. Her mane wasn't straight so she wasn´t that depressed but she was certainly hurt, it was a different kind of hurt. It was her pride that was hurting. Applejack knew a thing or two about having a big mouth. She also knew how big her ego could ge tina competition but you could make the case she didn´t had nearly the pride of somepony like Rainbow dash or even Rarity. In all honesty, and Applejack was all about that, she couldn't hold a grudge for too long. She thought about telling Pinkie to talk to some other pony that could help more but then she took another look at Pinkie. She was sad, sadder than Applejack had ever saw her, juggling a turnip with a hoof while holding the bucket with ehr tial, a sight that should be funny but it wasn´t. She needed help right now and Applejack was the only pony around and what kind of pony, especially an Apple pony, leave a friend when she ask for help? “Hey Pinks, tell you what, Winter Wrap- Up is coming up. Each year, right before we clean the farm, we, the whole family, take a journey up country to get some new seeds. Would you like to join us this year?” “Uh, like a road trip?” “It´s sorta like that. We take a cart and took turns to pull it. It may not seem like much but it is hard work. We can even stop by your folks farm in the way back. You in?” “I´m in? Pinkie shouted and jumped down, landing inside the turnip bucket. “Get it?” Applejack laughed at her silly antics and Pinkie Pie laughed too. Maybe they were not family but they were friends and that´s another type of family, fi you think it a certain way.
Chapter 2Pinkie Pie had never seen white. Sure, she had seen the color before but she had never seen it in real life. Her father never allowed pegasus to bring snowclouds, not even in Hearth's Warming Eve. They only hired a few rainclouds to get the ground soft enough to carry the biggest rocks during harvest season and the rest of the year, not a single drop of water fall over the Pie´s farm. So now Pinkie Pie was ecstatic that her mother brought her along to a business visit to Ponyville, because it was winter and the town was covered in a beautiful white blanket. Snow covered the roof and balconies, it was spread across the streets, making Pinkie left tiny hoofprints with every step she took. It was the most wonderful sight she had ever seen and Pinkie´s grin couldn't be bigger. She saw a group of fillies and colts playing wiht the snow, making snowponies, building fortress and engaging in a snow fight. Pinkie wanted to play too, her mother have told her to stay still and wait for her to finish talking to the jeweler but she couldn't control the urge to jump and play in the snow. She grabbed a bit of snow and struggled to make it a ball, she wasn´t used to so the result was a bit crude but she was happy, she had made it herself. She looked around and saw a white unicorn filly with a beautiful pink scarf coming her way. Without any warning, Pinkie threw the oddly shaped piece of snow. “Bullseye!” Pinkie chirped and excepted for the other pony to throw a snowball back. “Waaaaa! Mommy!” She didn´t expect that to happen. The filly ran to her mother´s side, crying because her scarf and mane got ruined by the snowball. Pinkie didn´t understood what was going on, a snowball was supposed to make you laugh, not cry. She stretched a hoof, wanting to apologize. “Pinkamena Diane Pie, I told you to stay still!” Pinkie´s mother grabbed her by the hoof and took her away to the carriage where her father was waiting. Pinkie kept her arm stretched, trying to reach the crying filly but she kept moving further and further away. ****** “Uh how do I help, Applejack? Should I sort the apples? The seeds? The beans? Oh you have no beans, but you should have because beans are funny! You know what else is funny? Fleas! Hey, that rhymes! Anyways, they get over you and make you so itchy and ticklish but you can also train them and make them into a circus but never try to make them jump over a ring of fire because then you get smoke all over the house and Mr. and Mrs. Cale get really angry and…” “Pinkie Pie, I know you want to help but can you please just, calm down?” Applejack pleaded to the excited mare that was jumping all over the place. The family was getting the cart ready for the journey and Applejack´s friends had come to the ground to send them goodbye. They were surprised to hear that Pinkie Pie was accompanying them this year. “Hey AJ, are you sure you want to take Pinkie with you? I know she can be lots of fun but she can also be tons of problems…” Rainbow Dash whispered to Applejack. “We´re fine Rainbow. I know that Pinkie can be a little too enthusiastic…” Applejack said just as Pinkie was bouncing a barrel over the cart. As in bouncing atop the barrel not bouncing the barrel atop her. “But she means well and besides, we can use the extra help so Granny SMith doesn't have to work so hard.” Speaking of the elder pony, Twilight was helping her come down the house, Spike cleaning the snow that was still in the doorway. “Don´t worry Granny, I got you!” Pinkie shouted and rushed to grab Granny, carrying her all over the cart. “Are you comfortable? Are you cold? You need more blankets? Oh you need your rocker, hang on!” Rainbow looked at Applejack who just scratched her neck, not sure how to back up her words now. “Oh, how come Pinkie can come with you guys and not us?” Scootaloo said. “I don´t know. Applejack insisted in bringing her along. I actually don't want to go this year. I wanted to stay here and help you on the crusade,” Apple Bloom said. “It´s okay. We can continue once you come back;” Sweetie Belle offered. “Yeah, but then it will be the last day of winter. We won´t get another chance to try to get our Cutie Marks in bobsled.” “Ther´s always next year,” Sweetie said. “You wanna keep being a blank flank another year?” Scootaloo retorted and then got into an argument with Sweetie. “Do you have everything you need, darling?” Rarity asked. “I think it´s everything.” “Including all of Pinkie´s musical instruments’” Fluttershy asked. “What?” Fluttershy pointed at the side of the cart where there was ton of trumpets and drums. “When did she… Pinkie Pie, we´re not gonna need any of this!” “It´s okay, Applejack! Only thing I need is my trusty harmonica!” Pinkie tried to pull a other but her lips got frozen into the instrument. “Auh mah foungue! Ah liffle helf?” Rainbow rolled her eyes and along with Fluttershy tried to set Pinkie free while Applejack sighed and put the instruments down. “Darling, I´m with Rainbow on this one. Pinkie can be a delight but she can also be a workload,” Rarity said, placing a hoof on her friend's shoulder. “I know that, Rarity. But…” Applejack was about to tell them about the conversation they had the previous day but decided against them. It´s not like it was a big secret but she felt like that was a moment of weakness for Pinkie Pie and she probably didn't want other ponies to know about it. She remembered when she felt ashamed of losing the Rodeo Competition and ran off because she was terrified of seeing the disappointed faces of her friends and family. She was wrong, of course, and her friends welcomed her with open arms but she could understand what Pinkie was feeling. Maybe it was sympathy because they both came from farmer families, maybe it was an earth pony thing or maybe she had a lot more in common with Pinkie that she wanted to admit; whatever the case was, she wasn't going to spill the beans on that little talk they had. “Something is the matter, Applejack?” “No, I´m okay. Apple Bloom, we´re leaving!” Apple Bloom said goodbye to her friends and rushed to the cart, passing next to Big Mac who was engaging the vehicle to his neck. “Uh uh, Applejack, can I have the first turn?” Pinkie asked, bouncing next to the stallion. “Uh, sure, I guess. Big Mac?” Big Mac simply nodded and handled the handle to the pink pony. “Everypony ready?” Pinkie asked, waiting for all the family members to sit down. “All set…” Applejack and Apple Bloom waved at their friends who waved back. “And…” The ponies looked at each other, wondering why was Pinkie taking her time. “GO!” The cart disappeared in a pink and red blur, all the while a pony was screaming for it to stop. hard to tell if it was Apple Bloom or Big Mac. The other ponies stood there, blinking in disbelief. “They forgot Winona,” Fluttershy said, holding the dog. ***** Pinkie Pie had run for over an hour and yet she seemed to never run out of fuel, judging by the way she kept bouncing and jumping around. The Apples however were not so lively, struggling to get down the cart, Big Mac even throwing up his breakfast to the side. “Is it time to switch places? Is your turn, Applejack? Or is Big Mac´s? Uh, you wanna bucket, Big?” The stallion waved to say no and Applejack helped Apple Bloom got out of the bucket she got stuck when PInkie turned to cart upside down while sliding down a hill. “No Pinkie, we´re going to take a break.” “Is it lunch time? I can make lunch!” Pinkie shouted, jumping over the cart and into the food supplies. “Let´s see. We have apples and apples and more apples. I´m starting to see a theme here.” The two Apple sister sighed, unable to keep up with their friends energy. “Are we in Fillydelphia yet, Applejack? Feels like we travelled across half of Equestria already…” Apple Bloom said, tried despite the fact that she never got the pull the cart this time. “Well, Pinkie did save us a lot of time with that shortcut she took…” Applejack said. “Please, don´t ever talk about the shortcut again…” Apple Bloom shiver while Big Mac got green again. Applejack patted her sister´s head and moved next to the cart. “Granny, you okay there?” Granny Smith stretched her limbs and let go a big yawn. “Are we there yet?” “Granny, did you sleep the entire journey?” Applejack asked. “Just like a baby foal.” “Even when the timberwolves chased us?” Apple Bloom asked. “Uh such imagination, that was probably your big dumb of a brother snoring again,” Granny joked, patting Apple Bloom while Big Mac suppressed another puke. “Well, color me green as an apple and bake me in the oven, I recognize these woods any day! We're half way to Hollow Shades! I haven't visited that foggy old town in ages! What do you say we all make it a visit?” “Uh Granny, we´re supposed to be headed to Fillydelphia,” Applejack said. “There´s plenty of time for sightseeing, youngling; but you should never waste the chance to visit family! Apple Bloom, don´t you want to see cousin Sour Apple?” “I rather not,” Apple Bloom said and when she looked the way Applejack was looking at her added, “I don´t like cousin Sour Apple. She´s...strange.” “I get you. That side of the family is...kind of odd, Granny.” “Nonsense, An Apple is an Apple. Unless is an orange, I guess…” “Or a pickle! Or a cucumber! Or a kumquat! Hey, that reminds me a funny story! Applejack, remember the Chimi-cherry-changa?” Apple Bloom was already covering her ears while Applejack gulped at the idea of Pinkie going into a ramble agian. That never came to be however, because Granny covered the pink pony´s mouth. “Why don't you be a darling and help this old lady settle a camp?” “Are we camping now?” Pinkie asked, her eyes beaming. “I rather be in Hollow Shades by the afternoon, this forest get mighty dark when Celestia puts the sun down, but for the looks of that slacker we´re not going anywhere anytime soon. Look at you, all exhausted after just one pull. Your grandaddy could take us all the way to Neighara Falls and back without breaking a sweat!” Granny said, berating poor Big Mac who was still a little green. “Come on big bro, let´s go get some fresh water and clean you up,” Applejack said. “I´m coming too!” Apple Bloom said, trotting after them. Pinkie Pie and Granny Smith waved them goodbye, both looking a lot lively than the Apple siblings. “And what got into these kids horseshoes to look so tired?” “I don´t know. I had fun when the troll captured us in the cave,” Pinkie said. “Kids and their imaginations,” Granny said, patting Pinkie. ***** “So, Pinkamena Diane Pie…” “Please, don´t call me that, Mrs. Cake! Only my mother calls me by my full name! I´m Pinkie Pie!” Mrs. Cake giggled at the sight of the pouting young mare and said, “Okay then, Pinkie. You can then call me Cup Cake.” “I can't call you that! It would be so confusing! If a client orders cupcake and I yell cupcake you will come out of the kitchen saying yes? and I´ll say no I say Cupcake and you will reply yes? again and then I´ll say no Cupcake, I sai cupcake and then you will ask again yes? and then the client will get really frustrated because he still hasn't got his cupcake!” Mrs. Cake had to blink a few times to process that but when she did she let go a giggle. This kid was hilarious. “Mrs. Cake is fine then. Pinkie Pie, do you have any experience working in a bakery?” “Nope.” “You don´t? Then why did you ask for a job here?” “i love sweets! And treats! And delights! And what´s that fancy word for little snacks you get in galas?” “Hors d´oeuvres.” “No, I´m an earth pony. But I´like to be one, I bet you can do lots of cool stuff if you had a horn! Or imagine if I had wings! maybe even wings and a horn? That would be so crazy!” Mrs. Cake was again confused, it was like this filly couldn't keep a straight thought. But that wasn´t necessarily a bad thing. “Well, Pinkie Pie seems you really want this job,” she said and Pinkie beamed. “I still need to talk to my husband. Maybe we´ll take you a little test before you start working here.” “A test? You need to take a test to become a baker? Should I have brought pen and paper? i saw a Quills and Sofas store in the way here. Do I bring a quill o r a sofa?” Mrs. cake giggled again. “No no, I mean a baking test. Like...how about you make me your favourite meal?” “Can I?” “Sure. The kitchen is all set with all you need.” Pinkie Pie made a squee sound and rushed to the kitchen. Mrs. Cake giggled once more, smiling with the idea that once her husband came back from the maerky he'll get quite a surprise and indeed, Mr. Cake got surprised when he arrived. “I saw the smoke from the street! What happened?” he shouted, coming in. “Oh well, you see…” Mrs. Cake struggled to find an answer, while coughing for all the smoke. “All done, Mrs. Cake! Oh you must be Mr. Cake!” Pinkie said, coming out with a tray on her mouth. “He´s my husband, Carrot Cake.” “I can´t call him that! What if a client comes asking for carrot cake and then I say carrot cake and he comes out…” “Pinkie, honey, what did you make?” Mrs. Cake interrupted her before she went into a rant again. “I made Smoky Rocks!” “Rocks?” Mrs. Cake asked, she and her husband holding the burnt treats that Pinkie offered. “They're not really rocks, silly filly! They´re buns, although a little burnt. I accidentally burnt them the first time I made them but my dad like them a lot, he said they remember him of rocks so I call them Smoky Rocks! Clever, right?” Mr. Cake raised and eyebrow and his wife just shrugged. They decide to give them a try, discovering that despite the burnt exterior, the inside was the sweetest thing they have ever tried. “Kid, this is delicious!” Mr. Cake said, making the filly shine with all her with teeth. “Pinkie Pie…” Mrs. Cake said. “Welcome to Sugarcube Corner.” ***** Applejack helped Apple Bloom grab a bucket full of water and said, “Family, I want to apologize for Pinkie Pi. I know I insisted on bringing her along so, if you want to, we can keep the journey alone and you can take AB and Granny back to town, big bor,” “Applejack, we like Pinkie Pie. Even if she can be a little…” Apple Bloom began. “Bouncy.” Big Mac finished. “We like having her around. We just want the journey to be less…” Apple Bloom bgan. “Dizzy.” Big Mac finished. “Well, I can make no promises about that. But I do promise to make sure we finish this journey. Just like the one a year ago and the one before that. We´re gonna make it together because apples tick together, right?” Applejack said, bringing her siblings for a hug. “Do we really need to go to Hollow Shades? It´s very…” Apple Bloom began. “Creepy,” Big Mac finished. “Let´s just humour Granny for now. A quick visit to the family and then straight to Filly for the seeds. Then back to Ponyville just in time for Winter Wrap-Up. Think you can keep up?” Apple Bloom and Big Mac nodded. “Promise?” Applejack asked. “Promise,” both Apple siblings said and nuzzled their sister. They then saw a huge column of smoke and rushed to the cart, finding Granny and Pinkie sitting next to a fire. “What´s all this?” Applejack asked. “Lunch! I made my specialty, Smoky Rocks!” Pinkie beamed, showing the burnt treats that caused Big Mac to go green again. “They're not real rocks, you dummy apples!” Applejack smiled and took one, convincing her siblings to take them too. They all took a bite and a smile appeared on their faces. “These are delicious, Pinkie!” Applejack said, making Pinkie beam. “They need more salt,” Granny complained.. “Uh Granny, that one is a rock…” Pinkie said, wincing when the elder pony chewed and swallowed the rock with no effort.
Chapter 3Hollow Shades was the complete opposite of Ponyville. While the latter was a bright, sunny town filled with the laughter and music of their inhabitants, the former was a dark, gloomy town surrounded by fog and the discreet cough of the peasants. Even the ponies looked different, all sporting bags under their eyes and walking with their heads down. The three Apple siblings sighed a collective sigh, clearly not happy with being there. Pinkie Pie on the other hoof was ecstatic, she felt like she was in a town filled with Cranky Doodles, eager to bring a smile to their faces. “This town is...amazing! I´ve never been here! Uh uh, what's that on the roof? What´s that in that other roof? What´s that thing in that window?” Pinkie asked, bouncing over a gargoyle, another gargoyle and a pony on a window watering her plants. “Calm down Pinks. Hollow Shades is just a normal town. Couple houses, a town hall, nothing much to see,” Applejack said, sounding defeated. “They don't even have a theater,” Apple Bloom said, sounding defeated too. Big Mac simply nodded along. “You shouldn't have come here…” a ragged figure with a raspy voice said, approaching them. Apple Bloom hid behind Applejack while Pinkie looked at the approaching figure with a huge grin. “You shouldn't have come here, younglings. Beware, beware...for you lot are entering PumpkinHoof realm!” The old lady took off her hood, revealing her wrinkled and toothless face. Pinkie Pie let go the biggest scream, jumping at Applejacks arms but by the silly look on her face, it was hard to tell if she was genuinely scared of just playing along. “Cousin Wicked! Always so nice ta see ya!” Granny SMith said, nuzzling the wicked mare. “You bought strangers to our land. Shame on you…” Wicked Apple said. “Same old Wicked. Now, ah want to take a taste of that pumpkin pie of yours,” Granny said, leaving with the other mare. Pinkie Pie jumped off from Applehack and said “I like her!” “She´s right, you know’ You shouldn't have come here…” another voice said from behind them and now it was Apple Bloom´s turn to jump over her sister. “Hi cousin Sour…” Apple Bloom said, jumping off her sister with a blush on her face. “Hi, I´m Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie jumped over to greet the filly who merely nodded and the shifted her attention to Apple Bloom. “Hi cousin Bloom, I´m so happy to see you again…” “Ya...are?” “Of course. I´m so thrilled to see my favourite cousin. Look, I got my Cutie Mark.” “Oh, that´s...great. Is that a pair of rusty horseshoes?” “Cool, right?” Sour Apple finished her sentence with a big grin and Apple Bloom turned white. Pinkie couldn't help a smile when looking at the filly. She was pretty similar to Babs Seed, same height, almost same color, even sporting a bang but hers was longer and she never take it away. Pinkie smile got a little smaller when she realized the pony looked too much like her sisters. Applejack noticed this and decided to move things forward. “Come on y´all, we better move things if we want to spend the night ´ere.” “Spend the night ´ere?” Apple Bloom repeated,, right before she felt a hoof over her shoulder. “This is so great, cousin. Now we can spend all night talking and sharing stories, have you heard the one about the Headless Horse?” Apple Bloom cried for help but Sour was too strong and drag her around. Applejack could only sigh while Pinkie was still smiling. ***** Despite Apple Bloom´s protests, the night was actually quite pleasant. Wicked Apple certainly lived to her name in terms of appearance and attitude but her cooking was exquisite. Pinkie had never tried so many different variations of pumpkin and she loved every one. The town had an inn, hosted by the Apples, and Pinkie found the perfect place for her there. The ponies of Hollow Shades may look sad and gloomy but give them an accordion and a piano and they will sing like any other pony trapped in Pinkie´s spell. Pinkie had honestly one of the happiest day ever but as the night went on, her smile began to fade. It began as a huge, beaming grin but then turned into a soft, pale smile. It faded the more she looked at the Apples, how they talked to each other. She looked at Apple Bloom hiding under Granny smith´s arms when sour´s story got too scary. She looked at Applejack reassuring his brother and invited him a big cup of pumpkin juice. Despite how they acted, the Apples were getting along well with theri cousin from the shady town. They were family, no matter the where or the who, and Pinkie wished she oucl say the same about the Pies. **** “Ah´m not so sure about this, cuz,” Apple Bloom said, speaking inside the dark kitchen. “I suggested climbing off the bedroom window but you said no, cousin,” Sour Apple replied. “Not that! Ah mean going out, alone. At night, alone. Alone.” “Worry not, cousin. Hollow Shades is perfectly safe in the early morning.” “This is the early morning?” Apple Bloom asked, looking outside. She could hardly tell since the town always looked the same. “But it´s at this hour the Headless Horse is said to be seen, trotting near the old bridge,” sour whispered, making Apple Bloom jump. “You seem a little nervous, sure you want to do this?” “Ah´m...ah´m fine. If ya sure ya got yer Cutie Mark near the bridge, then ah guess ah should try too. heh, ah´ll surprise mah friends in Ponyville if ah come back with a Cutie Mark.” “I hope you get a Cutie Mark just like my, cousin. That will bring us closer,” Sour said, leaning over Apple Bloom and making her shiver. They sneak inside the kitchen and hid behind a table, trying to avoid being seen by big MacIntosh who was roaming around finish a few more barrels of pumpkin juice. When he turned their back on them, they trotted off into the distance. **** “There ya are, Pinks. Ah lost sight of ya during breakfast. Or maybe it was dinner, it´s hard to hell in ´ere parts.” Pinkie Pie however didn´t respond, she was staring at the foggy town outside the window. “Pinkie Pie? Are ya alright?” “Oh, hi Applejack. It´s quiet outside, you notice that? I was having so much fun downstair that I didn´t noticed how quiet this town is. It reminds me of my home a little. Not Ponyville, but my home home, the rock farm. Although Ponyville is also my home but it's not the home where I was born, you understand me, right?” “Ah guess…” Applejack did understood but it was mostly how frantic Pinkie was. It seemed she was her usual cheerful self but Applejack could notice the sad, distressed pony from two days ago was still there. “Pinkie Pie, ah don't like seeing you like that. Ya seemed to be having fun ´fore but now…” “But I was having fun! I am! I love being with your family! You´re so funny and close and sing in harmony! Remember the song we did?” “Yes, it was a fine song but Pinkie, why do you look so sad?” Applejack asked, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “I guess...I guess it´s because looking at you and your family, at how close you are. I think I want that for my family too and I know I won't get it. I love my family but my dad only know about work and my sisters make jokes I don´t understand and my mom always calls me by my full name…I just think I'll never get to understand them, the same way they don't understand me.” “Ah dunno about that. They seemed to like that concert you made a few months ago. Remember how ya saved their farm?” “Twilight played a big part on that and still, I don´t think they´re very happy with me living in Ponyville.” “Ya know what´s yer big problem, Pinks?” “I mix up the sugar and the pepper when making Mrs. Cake´s Frosty Chocolate Buns?” “No. Ya always jump to conclusions. Mind ah remidn ay when you accused all three bakers of eating your cake that day?” “You mean when you and the other girls were the guilty ones?” Pinkie said, “Alright, ya got me there. Wait, how did ya know ah did it? Ah didn´t leave a trace!” “Twilight told me you ran to the library two days ago and confessed.” “Heh, yeah that..” Applejack said, scratching her neck at the embarrassing memory. Truth was the guilt was making her lose her mane. “Mah point is that ya keep talking about what you think yer family thinks. How can ya be so sure?” “Maybe I should try...asking them. Maybe I could bring a violin and see if dad wants to practice again? You know, he sued to paly the violin when I was foal? He stopped a long time but he was very good. Uh uh maybe you two could play a duo? Or is it say duet? Maybe it´s dual…” Applejack laughed, happy to see Pinkie rambling again, this time out of her own energy. “We´ll make a stop on their farm on the way back, okay partner?” “Okie-dokie-lokie. And AJ…” Pinkie leaned forward and gave Applejack a big hug. “Thank you.” “Right back ya, kiddo. Now, where are them two rattlesnakes going out?” Pinkie was about to ask why they were rattlensake sint eh town but Appleajkc was looking at the window, at the two little fillies that were going downtown. **** Big Mac got himself another mug of pumpkin juice and finished it in one gulp, letting a bug blurp out with it. He was feeling a little dizzy so he went out for some fresh air. He was a peculiar stallion, able to sustain a full mug of cider but anything with the word juice on it could knock him down. No jokes he once pass out from drinking orange juice, that time her sister and her friends tried to get their marks for a tropical bar. The air was chilling so he put in a coat he found hanging in the door. It was a little big for him which was something even more peculiar that his light weight. He thought he heard some rushing steps behind him, coming from the front door but there was no pony around. He shrugged and walked into the foggy morning, humming a song he got stuck on his head. ***** Apple Bloom had started to regret this idea. In fact, she started regretting when they sneaked out the inn. Scratch that, she started regretting when her cousin told her the story on how she got her Cutie Mark during the dinner/breakfast. Doubles racth that, she started regretting the second Pinkie Pie say “can I take the first turn?” Now she was standing next to a creepy bridged in the middle of a creepy town, surrounded by an even creepy fog and next to the creepiest pony she had ever known. “Croa croa croa!” “What was that?” “Just the sounds of frogs, cousin.” “Oh, that´s right. jsutfrogss.” Apple Bloom didn´t got scared easily. She wasn't afraid to admit that she could get afraid but it did took a lot to scare her. The idea of a basilisk didn´t scared her at all. The actual creature hunting them down to turn them into stone, that was scary. Now it wasn't the story of the headless Horse what scared Apple Bloom. She already had heard the story a dozen times in camps; but there was something about this town. She knew the story was false but in Hollow Shades she was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, a Headless Horse could be around. “Croa Croa Croa!” “What´s that?” “I told you, frogs.” “....” “...croa croa croa.” “Yah´re the one making those sounds!” “Just making ambience,” Sour apple said, shrugging. “Ah, this was a bad idea. Ah should have stayed in home. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are probably getting their Cutie Marks now by accident. Maybe Sweetie is singing a carol por Scootaloo sliding on a sleigh and bam, they got their flanks covered. And ah´m going to miss it for being ´ere.” Apple Bloom fell flat on the bridge, letting her hooves hang from the sides. “You keep talking about those friends of yours,” Sour Apple suddenly said. “Yeah, ah miss them.” “Don´t they tire you off? I would get tired of running around all day with...other fillies.” Apple Bloom got many traits from her sister but she was quicker on one thing and that was picking up signals. Just one look she could tell Sour Apple was looking sad. “Ya okay, cuz?” “I´m sorry cousin, I lied to you there´s no Headless Horse.” “Ah know that. It´s just a story,” Apple Bloom said, trying to sound sure of that. “I just wanted to spend some time with you. I missed the last family reunion for being sick. I bet it was entertaining,” “It was, except the part of the fruit bats and the crashing barn and mah tongue twisting…” “See? you had fun. I have to make out this stories just to get you interested,” Sour said, joining her cousin on hanging on the ledge. “Yah mean all of that was an act? The spooky storeis, the creepy voice, the aniamls sounds?” “No, I like making animal sounds. Hear, hoot hoot.” “Okay, that was very good. But vuz, ya don´ need to tell me scary stories to entertain me. Ah want to spend time with you, that if ya stop being creepy.” “Woof woof!” “Ahahaha, that´s funny! What else can ya do?” “I can do cats. Miauuuu!” “Hahahaha!” “Or cows. Muuuuu” “Hahaha, that´s great!” “Hiiiiiiiii!!” “Uh, that was the best whine ah ever heard. Ya sounded like a scary Windigo.” “That wasn´t me,” Sour APple said. “Cuz, ah told you to stop trying ta scare me.” “Seriously, it wasn´t me.” “HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!” “That was you, right cuz?” Sour Apple didn't answered. She was petrified staring at something behind Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom turned over and saw the figure of a cloaked pony approaching them. A headless pony. **** “Now ah can´t see a darn thing in front o´me! Pinks, can ya use yer Pinkie sense to tell me where the girls went?” Applejack asked. “No can do buckaroo! My Pinkie Sense only tells me of thigns that are going to happen right away, like that barrel you´re about to trip with.” “Yeah, thanks fer that,” Applejack said from the floor. She got up and tried to scrutiny the go but it was too thick. She wished Twilight or Rarity were there to light the path or that she had one of them fancy unicorn horns. “Hey AJ, I was thinkin…” “Yeah Pinks?” “When I met my dad should I bring a tuba or a flute? BEcause I was thinking I should use some wind instruments to accompany his strings.” “Ah don´t know Pinks. Whatever ya think it'll work. Now where was the town square? Ah can't tell a street form the next one…” “Or maybe I should go with drums and ask my sisters to accompany us with a set ot trumpets. I bet they'll like that.” “A-ha,” Applejack said. Where were those girls? was the only thought on her head. “Then again if they're slightly out of tune, the entire harmony willbe disrupt. We should go with an allegro piece, that way dad can keep up. he must be out of practice.” “Okay. Wait, how ya know so much about music?” “I have a friend on the Canterlot Philharmonic!” “Figures,” Applejack said. She actually was used to Pinkie having friends on every city of Equestria. “Applejaaaaaaack!” Applejack coudlrecoignzie that cry anywhere. She stood on her hind legs and crossed her arms, hoping to look intimidating enough. “Now where have ya been, youngling?” Unfortunately, Apple Bloom didn't had time to check if Applejack could match Granny Smith´s harsh tone. She was too busy running away from the headless cloaked pony. The second she noticed him, Applejack also called for a retreat. “Pinkie Pie, move!” “Why?” Pinkie didn't seemed concerned at all. Applejack wasted no time with explanations and grabbed Pinkie by the tail, tossing her over her. “Girls, what's going on in ´ere?” she asked the two fillies. “It´s the headless Horse It´s real!” “Ya kiddin,” Applejack said but the whining supernatural pony behind her seemed convincing enough. “Okay, ah buy it.” “I´m so sorry, cousin. I was just trying to tell you a scary story, I never expected the Horse to be real!” Sour said,. “But ya said ya faced it before! That ya got eyr Cutie Mark scaring him away!” “Ya did? How?” Applejack asked. “I didn't said that I scared him away! I said that I got my mark near the bridge! I was there initiating frogs!” “...seriously?” both Apple sisters asked. “Croa croa?” “Doesn't matter now. We have to return to the inn and secure the doors. Now if only ah could remember where in the hay the inn is!” APplejack said. “I´m so sorry, Apple Bloom,” Sour said. “It´s okay, Sour. Ah´m just glad we´re finally spending time together, as family.” “Uh, is this a family activity? like the wagon ride?” “Pinkie, how can ya ask that? Of course this ain´t about family!” “Then why is Big Mac chasing us?” “BIG MAC?” the three Apples aid and they stopped their trot. They waited until the “Headless Horse” stumbled in front of them. Applejack moved the cloak revleaingin the dizzy face of her older brother. “Big mac, ah told ya to lay off the pumpkin juice. Ya know that stuff get into yer head,” Applejack said. Big Mac response was a high pitched “Eeeeenope!” The absurd of the situation took a little way to settle on but once it did, all mares were laughign out loud. Hollow Shades suddenly looked a lot brighter.
Chapter 4Not too far away from Ponyville, going down a hill near the east face of Foal Mountain, there it stood the Pie´s rock farm. Plain, colorless and sober, the Pie´s rock farm was like an empty canvas, so many stories ready to be told but hard to see. Or so it seemed thanks to the soft cover of snow in it. Igneous Rock´s oldest daughter had convinced him to start bringing snow and so, for every Hearth's Warming Eve, the rock farm got covered in a mantle of white. Igneous will always complain later that this slowed down their production work but one can tell a smile creeping out of him every Eve Dinner. Igneous Rock was a stallion of habits, his happiness came through on his work. Picking rocks, piling debris and sorting it to sell; it was there where you could see him at his most honest self. So on the last day of winter, what Ponyville labeled Winter Wrap-Up, when he was shoveling the snow away, that he made no effort to hide his smile. Igneous was so satisfied that when he heard the carriage approaching, he had to make a conscious effort to hide his smile. “Dad! Dad! Daaaaaaaaad!” Pinkie Pie didn´t even waited for Applejack to bring the carriage to the entry. She jumped down and rushed through the rocks, bouncing on the snow, taking the time to make a pony on the snow, before tackling her father. “Pinkamena?” Igneous asked, curious as to why his daughter was back in the farm so soon. “Are you surprised? Did I surprised you? You're surprised! Hey everypony look, dad is surprised!” “Pinkamena…” “Told you I would surprise him! I bet you didn't see me coming, well you saw me coming through the hill but never thought I'll be back so soon after Hearth´s Eve but then I was talking to AJ, that´s my friend Applejack over there, and she said…” “Pinkamena.” “...and then a troll chased us and then we ended up on this town called Shady Hooves or something like that and we met this funny filly she remind me of Marble and Lime for some reason and…” “Pinkamena Diane Pie!” The Apple family stopped on their tracks. They have seen other ponies yell at Pinkie, they have yelled at her from time to time; but this was different, this was the first time they have seen a pony ACTUALLY angry at Pinkie. Or so it seemed. Igneous Rock was obviously a stern father and while Applejack didn't got to knew him well when he visited Ponyville, she figured he had little patience for Pinkie´s antics. That still didn't mean she was going to stand idly while one of her best friends was getting yelled at. “Sorry dad, guess I was rambling again…” Pinkie apologized. Igneous saw Applejack approaching and said, “You brought your friends here.” “Yes, Applejack and her family took me for their trip to get some new seeds like I was telling you.” “You stopped by the merch at Fillydelphia, I see,” he stated, looking at the carriage full of bags. “Quite a stock.” Pinkie nodded just as Applejack approached them. “Hey AJ, dad was just complimenting your stock!” Applejack tilted her hat to Igneous and the stallion responded with a nod. “Uh uh, why don´t you two get together?” “´cuse me?” Applejack asked. “I mean, get together and have a nice farmer chat, compare farmer notes and farmer stories and farmer lullabies and stuff.” “Rock farming and apple farming are two entirely different issues, Pinkamena,” Igneous declared and then added in a softer tone. “No offense, young lady.” “None taken, Mr. Pie. But ah´ll keep mah snout shut near Granny Pie if ah were ya, she might wanna try which product bounces harder on the head.” If Igneous got offended by that comment, his stoic face didn´t show it. “Pinkamena, why are you making this family waste time?” “uh?” “Winter is scheduled to be over the day after tomorrow and you still have a long way up to Ponyville. Those seeds need to be planted in time for the defrosting or they became useless and, if I recall correctly, you had the appointed duty of breaking the frozen lakes. Why are you here goofing around?” Pinkie looked genuinely embarrassed but before she could answer Applejack stepped forward. “Now wait here, mister! Pinkie ain´t making us waste any time, we offered to take her here so she can see her family fer a day. Ah assumed her family will be thrilled to have her, considering she spends most of the year in Ponyville!” “Of course we´re happy to have her here…” Now Igneous did honestly seemed hurt by Applejack´s comment. Applejack herself felt a little embarrassed by her outburst. “Hey dad, look what I bought in Filly!” Pinkie said and she sprout a small fiddle. At the sight of the instrument Igneous´ eyes got a little wider but he said now ord. “I´ve never played a fiddle, well except to make a quick sound gag but this is different, I brought it so I can play a duet with you, a few Hearth´s carols even if the Eve is long gone but still…” This time Pinkie stopped herself noticing her father stern look. Igneus took a good look at his daughter, his friend and the family parking the carriage on the entry. “You can all stay tonight. The colt and the filly can sleep in the living room. Mrs. Apple would stay in your older sister´s room, she is out at Canterlot for the week. You have no problems sharing your old bunk with your friend, right?” “Not a problem, sir,” Applejack said, tilting her hat. Igneous nodded and headed to the entry of the house. “Uh dad, about our duet…” “There´s still plenty of work to do. Tell your friend to help you shovel the snow out of the founding rocks while her relatives unload the carriage.” “...yes, sir.” Applejack patted Pinkie´s back, knowing that any word that she could possibly siad will not cheer her up. Down at the entrance, Apple Bloom shivered, unaccustomed to the weather in a treeless farm. “Brr! It's freezing in here!” “Why don´t ya go help Mr. Rock with the shoveling? That'll get you in the mood, kiddo!” Granny Smith said, not so gently pushing her. “Big Mac, take the old chart behind the house so the snow won´t get on the seeds. Care yo help this big slob, ladies? “Charmed,” Marble and Lime said in unison and they each grabbed one of Big Mac´s arms. The poor stallion couldn't say a word as he was pulled towards the house. ****** Left to the third founding rock, passing the gravel field but not after the quartz garden, there was a special rock. It wasn´t a special rock by its nature, it was a simple, plain rock but it was special to Pinkie Pie and her family. That rock was the last one planted by Granny Pie and it served as a constant reminder of her story and her deeds. Whenever Pinkie was feeling sad or lonely, she went to that rock for the counsil of her grandmother. This time however, it wasn´t working. Applejack approached Pinkie and sat next to her, taking off her hat in sign of respect for the elder Pie. “Granny Pie always had the best stories. And the best songs. And the best jokes. And the best pies.” “Honey, ah bet Twilight would tell ya to tell everything in one sentence,” Applejack said. “Heh, sorry. I just wanted to remember Granny Pie, how she used to sing next to the fireplace while dad played his violin and mom held us in the rocker. I just wanted to remember that because it´s getting harder to do it.” Applejack wanted to say she was sorry, that they could talk Igneous over, that they can still have a family dinner but she couldn't muster the words. There was something she wanted to say, something that she had been holding back since that afternoon at Sweet Apple Acres but every time it seemed she was about to spill the beans, her lips got sealed. “You wanna know what's the funniest thing? Granny´s Cutie Mark was a wagon wheel. Weird, right? But you'll think Granny will have any other Cutie Mark but she had a simple wagon wheel,” Pinkie said. “Ya know how´s the deal with Cutie Marks. Never what you expected them to be,” Applejack responded. “Yeah but Dad has a pickaxe, mother has a set of rocks. Even my sisters all have matching sets. I´m the only odd one!” Pinkie was smiling while saying that but Applejack wasn´t. in fact, she was getting angrier. “I got the bright coat and the fluffy mane that even when I tried to straighten it for the Gala it just wouldn't get down…” Applejack could feel something building up, a heat inside her and was afraid of letting it go. “And of course the Cutie Mark. Three bright balloons. I mean, what do they mean? that I like parties? Yes, of course. But isn´t my talent baking or at least that´s why I like the most. But why don't I have the same marks and interest as my family? I guess I just don´t belong her-AUH!” Pinkie shouted because Applejack hit her with her hat. “Applejack?” “Stop saying that!” “Saying what?” Pinkie was confused and scared, not undestadngin why Appleajck was in teh verge of tears. She figured she had done or said something wrong but didn´t know what. “Stop talking like that! Like ya have no family! Yer the most lucky pony of the world because ya have so many families. There´s this familiere here and the Cakes in Ponyville and...and ya got us! Twilight, Spike, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Rarity and...me. Ya got me, ya got that? Ah wanted to tell ya that since ah find ya moping in the apple field saying ya don't fit in. Well maybe ya don´t fit in here but ya fit with us! Ya just prove it, prove it that ya can be an Apple so don't ever sya that ya don't fit in!” Pinkie Pie was speechless. For the first time she couldn't think o anything to say while Applejack was the one ranting. “I´m sorry…” Was all she could muster to say. “Don´t be. Stop feeling sorry, Pinks. Ya ot a lot going for you, why can´t ya see it?” “I´m sorry, Applejack. No really, I am. I guess sometimes I get so worried wanting to please everypony that I end up missing when I´m hurting them. It already happened before, remember? With the Magic Mirror and all those pinkies that destroyed your barn? Yes, you do remember…” “Heh, ah remember. Sorry ah yelled at you back then, it´s just one Pinkie it´s more than enough for me,” Applejack chuckled and Pinkie managed to smile back. “But Pinkie ya don't need to try so hard, especially not for your family., That´s a lesson ah learned after I screwed up a family reunion.” “Thanks Applejack,” Pinkie said, nuzzling her. “I´ll try not to make you worry again.” “There ya go agian. Thinking always of others,” Applejack said, wiping her tears. “Sorry. It´s just I worry about you sometimes, AJ. You always seem so serious and busy, no wonders with all the things you have to do in a daily basis. I mean, I got your job for just one day and I almost go bonkers with all the bucking apples and plowing the fields and fixing the pipes and the roof and the door…” “Alright I get ya, the farm needs work. But ya know, sometimes ah think ponies don´t get me. Yes, i have lots of work but ah enjoy it. Ah like being in the farm, helping the family. Sometimes ah get the idea that other ponies think ah´m holding back, like mah family is tying me but that´s not it. Ah love mah family, ah want to spend time with them because ah now how it feels when they´re not around anymore.” Pinkie leaned closer to Applejack and said, “I love you, Applejack. You´re my best friend. Along with Fluttershy and Rainbow and Rarity and Twilight and Spike and Gummy, can´t forget about Gummy! And you too Rockie, you were my first pet and my very very first best friend!” Applejack laughed at the scene of Pinkie nuzzling a rock She drew Pinkie closer to her again and said: “Ah love you too, Pinkie.” **** “Now, hit the rock in precisely a forty five degree angle…” Apple Bloom had a little trouble lifting the pickaxe but her hit was perfect. Igneus made an approving nod but added “good” at the end. that was something she barely did for his daughters, he reserved that praise to what he considered the most exceptional of works. “Your grandchildren is doing an excellent work. My husband is impressed,” Cloudy Quartz said to Granny Smith. “Maybe she has a future in the rock farm.” “Nah, that little apple is going to join the orchard. Just like her sister and mother ´fore her.” “You never know. children can surprise you.” “Ah take ya talk about your little bouncy sunshine?” Cloudy Quartz said nothing and kept making dinner. “Yes sir, that kid is something special alright!” Cloudy murmured something on the lines of “All my daughters are special,” but Granny didn't notice. “She dragged us all over Equestria and back just to take us here and in the way, she managed to make spring that old geez of Wicked. Yes that kid could make a chair jump like a rodeo bull. She is something special.” Cloudy made no effort of hiding her smile and Granny faked not noticing it. “Granny! Granny! Look what ah found!” Apple Bloom bursted in, carrying a shiny quartz. “Oh, that´ll made a good replacement denture.” “Granny!” Granny laughed of her own silly joke while Apple Bloom pouted. “Think Scootaloo and Sweetie will like it? Ah bet they´re going to love it. maybe we could go search for them in the mountains near the dam. We´ll be Cutie Mark Crusaders Rock Farmers!” “Now ah don't wanna ya anywhere near Diamond Dog´s territory!” “But Granny…” “No buts, young lady!” Granny Smith took Apple Bloom away to scold her some more while Igneous walked in. “You´re smiling,” Cloud said to him. “Kid did a good job.” “That's not it. You´re happy, happy they brought Pinkamena back.” “Of course I´m happy my daughter is here.” “I can tell. Can she?” ***** That night, the Apples and Pie/Rock family spend the last night of winter together, enjoying the last couple of hours of the snow cloud. Tomorrow, the Pies will finish packing the winter and the Apples will return to Ponyville, arriving just in time for the town wrapping. But that´s for latr for tonight, the families were enjoying each other. Apple Bloom hugged her quartz rock like it was a pet, proud of her accomplishment. The Pies offered Granny the old rocker and she was quite comfortable on it. Marble and Limestone found a much better place leaning over Big Mac. The stallion looked at his sister asking for help but she just shrugged. Applejack herself was sitting in the floor, leaning next to Pinkie Pie who was back to her cheerful self, humming a carol to herself but everypony was enjoying it. Igneous Rock got up and moved next to the chimney, taking a case out. The Pie children had a collective gasp while Cloudy smiled. Igneous took out his old violin and started playing. A slow, melancholic piece, an old Eve melody. The Pies regained their smiles at the sight. Pinkie looked at Applejack who nodded and then she got up and took out the fiddle, joining her father. With her now the melody changed to something more cheerful, slightly faster but still homely. The Apples began to relax, Big Mac finding himself comfortable with the two sisters leaning on him. Applejack got up and took her own fiddle from her saddlebags, she joined them and began playing. Now it was like having an orchestra playing the Hearth´s Carol, the harmonies were perfect and the feeling was obvious. This was a home and this was one big family together, Apples and Pies, one perfect blend of crispy crust and amazing apples.
