Applejack's family spent every holiday together as one big family. All the food, planning, and decorating, they all helped out. This particular Hearths Warming Eve was going to be even more special than before.
Applejack hummed a cheerful tune as she set the table for the big feast they prepared for that night. It wasn't halfway ready, but just to have everything neat and tidy, she put the silverware out anyway. A bell was heard as the farmhouse door was swung open and a gust of cold air blew into the house. Applejack shivered. "Hey, Big Mac. How'd it go?" Applejack peaked her head out and around at her brother. "Great. She said yes." Big Mac spoke in his low normal voice. AJ walked over to him and patted his back. "Well, ah'll be. Mah hopeless romantic brother got a special somepony before me. Awe shucks." Big Mac's face flushed a bright pink and he chuckled giddily as he walked away slowly into the living room in front of the warm and crackling fire. Applebloom burst through the door soon after. "Applejack!!" AJ whipped her head around, her eyes wide. "Applebloom?! What's wrong!? Are ya hurt!?" Applebloom scoffed. "Phfft. Naw. I just didn't get mah cutie mark...again..." Applejack sighed. "It'll come soon enough, don't you fret none. Go run along with your brother. Applebloom ran over to Big Mac and cuddled up to his side, feeling the warmth he emitted. Her older brother put a strong hoof over her back as they watched the fire crackle and pop with heat. Granny rocked back and forth on her battered rockingyour email And chair, the light forming a shadow on her pale green skin. "Uh...Buh...huh..Soups on...." The old mare mumbled in her slumber, making the three grandfoals chuckle in amusement. Soon, a loud knock was heard at the door. "Y'all invite anypony else?" The two other apples shook their heads. AJ shrugged and opened the door to see a cold, shivering, and crying Rainbow Dash at the door. "Dash!? What's wrong? C'mon in." AJ hurried to grab a blanket or two for her freezing friend. She draped them over her back and sat her in front of the fire and closed the door quickly. "Now sugarcube, tell me what's the matter." Rainbow refused to speak. Applejack sighed. "Playin' hard to get, eh? How 'bout some warm cider to get ya warmed up, Dash?" The cyan Pegasus nodded slowly, wiping her tear stained cheeks with a hoof. Applejack poured some cider, hoofing it to Dash. As the spectra colored maned Pegasus usually did, she sniffed the smell of the cider. The smell wafted up into her nostrils, filling them with sweet apples and spice. Her wings unfolded and she took a small sip. She exhaled out her muzzle and put the mug down to cool. "Well, I have a problem..." Dash finally began. "I have no one to celebrate with. Mom and Dad being Wonderbolts. Fluttershy and Pinks with the Cakes. Twi with her fam. Rarity, the same thing. Spike is with Twi. And you with your family. Your loving and not forgetful family..." She hung her head and sniffles, wafting the sent of the cider again. She lapped at the drink and Applejack hugged her. "Y'all can stay with us. Yer an Apple for tonight." AJ let go of her best friend. "An Apple....me. An Apple...." Rainbow hugged AJ. "Thank you. This is the best Hearths Warming Eve gift ever, Applejack. A family."
Applejack helped Rainbow put up her own stocking and everything that night before they listened to Granny rant on and on about how she only got coal or sticks in her stocking. Rainbow and AJ usually just laughed at the stories and had a good time. "Dash?" Rainbow looked at her friend. "Yeah AJ?" "Yer welcome to be an Apple whenever ya want." Applejack nuzzled her friend as she smiled warmly. Rainbow blushed a very light pink and smiled back. "I will. It's great being an Apple. I get to have a great family, you are the best of them all AJ, and to have a normal and loving family. Not like my parents." AJ leaned against Dash, trying to comfort her. "Tell me 'bout it." Rainbow exhaled deeply, her body heaving as she breathed and her wings expanding. "Well, ever since they became Wonderbolts, they missed my birthday, holidays, and even their own anniversary. It's real sad to see that I have such a careless and unsupportive family. When I look at your family, they care, they're supportive, and you joke around with each other. I don't do that with mine..." Dash had a point. 'Well, ah'll be. Mah hopeless romantic brother got a special somepony before me.' AJ remembered what she had joked around with Big Mac about. 'Applebloom?! What's wrong!? You hurt!?' She also remembered when she cared about Applebloom, and she still does. 'It'll come soon enough, don't you fret none.' She then remembered how supportive she was to her sister too. "Dash...ah wish ah could make it up to ya..." She hung her head and sighed. "Rainbow, yer like family to me. You're there for me, you cheer me on. Yeah we have our fights, but we're still friends. Even though your family's hearts aren't pure, that doesn't mean the same for yours. Yer different than them. Yer better." The cyan pegasus smiled through tears. "I love you too Applejack." She grabbed the orange earth Pony in a warm embrace, the two soon drifting to sleep. Dash had a smile on her face with tear stains. Happy tear stains.
