Pinkie bounced up and down as she waited for Applejack at the top of station platform. Her mind rushed with anticipation. When would the train get here? When would they arrive at the farm? What would they find in the book? Would they find the book? What if it said they weren't related? These questions, among others far less relevant, echoed throughout her head. Applejack approached from the station steps. Upon reaching the top, she let go of the small suitcase she carried to free her mouth.

"All set, Pinkie Pie?" asked Applejack. Pinkie broke free from the questions and cartwheeled her way over to her.

"Yoouu, betcha!" she responded, finishing with an Olympic worthy landing. She showed Applejack to the nearby bench where she was keeping her own suitcase and the two sat down together. They waited only a minute or so before the train sped its way into the station, letting out a high pitch whir as it quickly decelerated to a stop. The intercom system kicked in.

"All departing for East Nowheres, the train is in the station. All departing for East Nowheres, the train is in the station."

Pinkie clapped her hooves excitedly.

"That's us! That's us!" she exclaimed. Applejack responded with a content smile and boarded alongside her friend. Finding an empty pair of seats didn't take long. In fact, nearly the entire train was empty, save for a few plain-looking earth ponies and the ticket-checker. They presented their tickets and sat at opposite ends of a table in pair of window seats. There, they both stared out the window as the train left the platform. They continued to stare at the passing scenery in silence, a strange occurrence, Applejack noted, for Pinkie Pie. Applejack turned to face her friend.

"You okay, Pinkie?" she questioned. Pinkie kept her gaze fixated on the window.

"I haven't visited home in years," she spoke, seemingly to herself. "I keep telling myself I'll visit, but I keep forgetting, or putting it off. Last time I was even near that house was when we dropped Maud off. I'm... I'm not sure I deserve to go back. Not after all this time..."

Pinkie's hair deflated like a poorly constructed balloon. Applejack shifted her gaze awkwardly about, trying to come up with a way to comfort her. Nothing good came.

"Uh..." started Applejack, hoping to find the answer in improvisation. "Well, um... H-How'd that cake turn out yesterday?"

"Good..." Pinkie sighed. "It came out great... The Cakes said it looked delicious... And that they hoped I'd have a good trip... And that I'd enjoy seeing my old house again... And..."

Pinkie's voice descended into a quiet series of mumbles. Applejack searched again, and returned with a gaze resolute.

"Pinkie Pie!" Applejack slammed her hoof atop the table between them, catching Pinkie off guard. Taking on a decisive tone, Applejack continued. "You, are an Apple. You are a part of my family. And, under no circumstances, should my family ever be afraid to return home."

Pinkie Pie raised her head slightly with a small, forced smile. Applejack put her hoof under Pinkie's chin and propped it up so that they were staring eye-to-eye.

"You deserve this, Pinkie Pie," she stated. She removed her hoof from beneath Pinkie's chin and placed it reassuringly on her shoulder. Pinkie's smile remained small, but grew genuine.

"Thanks, Applejack," said Pinkie. The two embraced in a light hug across the table. Though Pinkie felt reassured, she couldn't stop asking herself the same question over and over again: Do I deserve this? Well, that and Did I forget to pack my cucumber sandwich? She checked inside her suitcase. Nope! she thought, and took an enormous bite of the cucumber-y goodness.

The train rode on for some miles before finally arriving at their stop. The afternoon had given way to an early sunset upon their arrival. Pinkie's energy levels had risen to their usual, soaring selves thanks to her mid-ride food binge. Applejack had grown a bit sleepy after sitting in one place for such a long period of time, but stretching her hooves out off the train managed to revitalize her somewhat. She placed her suitcase down on the dirt laden platform.

"So, what direction are we headin'?" asked Applejack. Pinkie pivoted her head upwards and sniffed madly into the open air.

"That way!" Pinkie declared, extending a hoof towards the eastern path. "Race ya there!"

Snatching up her suitcase in her mouth, Pinkie took off down the path. Applejack forgot her fatigue and, after grabbing her own suitcase, dashed after her. About fifteen miles down the road the race's victor was decided.

"I WIN!" Pinkie declared, throwing her arms up as she crossed the imaginary finish line. Applejack trotted up from behind her, sweat rolling down her face.

"Shoulda, eaten, some apples, 'fore we left," she said, breathing heavily. The two stood between two canyon walls just outside the expansive brown emptiness of the farm. Pinkie bounced in.

"OH! Applejack!" she cried as she leaped to and fro. "Look at this! This is the pebble lil' Limestone and I found together when we were fillies! And this! This well is where Marble first discovered that she loved fishing! You know, since she had to fish me out after I fell in. And these steps! It was on these steps that Maud announced that she wanted to study abroad for her Rocktorate! Boy, did that throw mom and dad for a loop! And here, here on this porch..."

Pinkie stopped just before the top step, with Applejack climbing up to her from the bottom.

"This is where I watched my first sunset, in my dad's arms, with Maud huddled next to me and mom leaning in over his shoulder. It was one of the most gorgeous things I'd ever seen. All the orange and yellow and pink, strewn across all the clouds in the sky..."

Pinkie looked back to the horizon, but the sun had already lowered itself from view. The frown returned to her face as she solemnly sat down on the top step. Having just reached the top, Applejack looked back to the horizon as well. She sat down beside Pinkie.

"Well, the sunset may be outta sight," Applejack began. "But I think the clouds still got plenty of color in 'em. All those oranges and yellows and pinks."

She turned her head to Pinkie Pie.

"Especially pink," she added. The small, genuine smile returned, and Pinkie quickly bounced back into top gear.

"Now I have to show you around inside!" Pinkie exuberated. "I got waayy more wonderfully sad memories in there!"

Author's Note

*Exuberated = Exuberance + Stated; Pinkie's main form of communicating

Also, I called the location "East Nowheres" because I have no idea where the farm actually is. I picked East because Rambling Rock Ridge is in that direction, so it seemed a safe bet.