Friendship Express, south Equestria
December 26th

For most ponies, the southern regions of Equestria had little to offer that came across as appealing. A mishmash of jungle, rock and desert with Appleloosa as the only major settlement, it wasn't much of a surprise that most trains going down this far tended to have few passengers. Today though, Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie had caught the train out of Ponyville and were heading in that very direction, ready to take on their latest and greatest challenge together. Track down a pair of rogue unicorns in the San Palomino and alert those who could bring them down. Today though, they had one last chance to enjoy themselves a little before the journey began.

"Have I said it yet, I'm not sure if I've said it yet. I'm gonna say it again just in case, happy Hearth's Warming!" Pinkie gushed, looking as energetic as ever despite having been up since the crack of dawn. Apple Bloom chuckled as she watched, this was at least the fourth time Pinkie had said it but seeing her happy like this was worth the repetition. They were the only passengers on board and they were making the most of it to have a mini party.

"Happy Hearth's Warming to you too, though you couldn't have saved a few presents for the train?"

"Well I couldn't take too many into the desert with me, where would I store all the charms then?"

"In your mane, at our destination, under a random sand dune on the way?" The two of them looked at each other for a moment before breaking down laughing.

"Maybe if it wasn't so serious, I want to be sure I'll have them if we need them. We've got these for now." Pinkie replied once she had her mirth under control, taking a present out from under her seat and handing it to Apple Bloom.

Apple Bloom blushed slightly as she took it and opened it up, giving a soft gasp at the contents. It was nothing spectacular, just a simple metal water canteen. As she picked it up and looked at it closer, she could see it had an engraving in the middle, just one word. Pinkiebloom. She blushed softly at the sight and rolled it in her hooves slightly, getting a feel for the best place to maintain a grip. Her smile only grew when she found the best place to hold it let her look at the word every time.

"I got that specially made, figured that you'd like something special about us, working together, taking down evil." Pinkie commented, clearly enjoying the sight of her friend so happy at the gift.

"It's beautiful...Just like..." Apple Bloom blushed and stopped herself from finishing the sentence, mentally kicking herself for saying that in front of Pinkie.

"It's ok," Pinkie replied, rubbing the back of her neck and smiling softly. "You made how you feel about me super clear and I really like the attention. I just haven't had time to think about it with all the hyper craziness going on so I didn't get to decide what result is best for us yet."

"Okay, I understand." Apple Bloom hoped she hadn't sounded too disappointed when she said that. It was mostly because she still didn't have a straight answer, though on the plus side, it was giving her more time to prepare in the increasingly likely event of rejection.

Managing to shrug it off for now, she pushed her present for Pinkie over. The box was equally simple but Pinkie quickly opened it up and took it's contents out, smiling softly at her present. It was a scarf, each side made with a different material and weave. One side was more like a traditional scarf, coloured pink and white. The other was much thinner, made of what seemed to be a shimmering, icy blue thread. As strange as it looked, Pinkie's eyes lit up somewhat at the sight of it.

"This is some of Rarity's work, isn't it?"

"Yep, a working concept piece," Apple Bloom grinned at how well it was being taken. "That blue side is embedded with temperature magic, helps the scarf adjust to something comfortable. Plus you could probably use it to protect against sand out there."

"Fantastic! I couldn't find a good sand guard in ponyville, since the only sand there is, you know, the sandpit at the schoolhouse. This is going to be perfect though, I just hope you've got some face protection of your own, neither of us want anything to happen to you."

Apple Bloom smiled softly and turned to her last present, the one Applejack had given her. She slowly opened it up and almost dropped it in surprise immeadietly. Inside was a neckerchief, a simple featureless design and sky blue in colour, anypony else would likely dismiss it as a sizeable cloth patch. What set it apart for her was a mix of déjà vu upon seeing it and the small note left on top.

Dad left this to us, I know you'll treat it well. AJ

She slowly lifted it out, doing her best not to tear up at the sight. She'd only had photos to remember them by, but she recognised her father wearing it in several of them, the fact Applejack was trusting her with it meant more than she could put into words. Pinkie smiled softly at the sight as Apple Bloom carefully made sure it was laid out correctly before starting to put it on. After a few moments of struggling with her hooves, Pinkie reached out and helped her to tie it up.

"Thanks, how'd you think it looks?"

"It suits you," Pinkie commented, giving a soft smile at the sight. Apple Bloom blushed slightly and smiled back, the two of them holding the moment before the sound of train brakes made them both instinctively steady themselves. "Oooh, this is our stop!"

"It is?" Apple Bloom looked out the window and did a double take, recognising where they were. Rock farm Station. It made sense they they were getting off here, the rock farm was near the edge of the desert, they could pick up some last supplies here and they would be well received since it was owned by Pinkie's sister, Limestone Pie.

The two of them gathered their things and waited for the train to come to a stop before getting up and disembarking. Surprisingly, it wasn't quite as cold as it had been further north, with only a light layer of snow on the ground. It didn't help the barren look of the rocky area though, the train station was the only sign of civilization in sight. One other pony was on the platform, a bluish grey earth mare with light grey mane, piercing lime green eyes and a black jumpsuit that left her body covered. Pinkie caught sight of her and instantly broke out in a beaming smile.

"Hi, Limestone Pie! Hi hi!" She half-shouted, making the other pony jump slightly before cracking a small grin once she recognised them.

"Well well well, look who finally showed their face around here," Limestone chuckled in her rough voice before putting her hoof out, Pinkie immediately coming over and hoofbumping her. "Good to see you, little sister. Happy Hearth's Warming. I see you brought your marefriend along as well."

"I wish." Apple Bloom muttered to herself, blushing furiously and looking away in embarrassment. Pinkie simply giggled at the comment.

"Of course not, just regular friend slash possible cousin. You remember Apple Bloom, right?"

"Oh yeah, nice to see you again, Apple Bloom. So what brings you this way?" Limestone finished as she offloaded some boxes from the train, basic supplies for the farm.

"Oh, well, me and Bloomie have a lead on this super exciting case that could help a lot of ponies. The trail heads into the desert so we were planning to use the rock farm as a starting point for our super important adventure!" Pinkie explained, grinning eagerly.

"Huh...And here I hoped you were coming to put aside your parties and work with us. At least say you're going to say hi to everypony." Limestone eyed them up as she said it, as if she wanted to make a comment but was holding back on it. Pinkie simply nodded as if she hadn't noticed.

"Of course I was going to see everypony. How are they?"

"Well, Maud is...Still Maud," Limestone hefted the boxes onto her back and set off on the path, Pinkie walked with with her, Apple Bloom following. "Ma and Pa are starting to ease into their retirement and...Well, I can't say it in front of her, in case it goes to her head, but I'm impressed with how Marble's growing into her potential."

"I'm guessing it helps if she's allowed to talk a bit." Apple Bloom joked, getting a glare from Limestone in return.

The three of them crested a hill and looked over at the rock farm. While it had lacked the level of business needed to expand, the farm had done well enough over the years to give it a slightly more professional look. As they headed into the boundary another pony became visible moving several rocks, another earth pony mare. She was a toned grey with a trimmed purple mane, turquoise eyes and a dull blue jumpsuit. Pinkie's eyes lit up at the sight and rushed ahead of the others fast enough to almost leave her gear behind.

"Maud!" Pinkie called, running up and hugging her other older sister. Apple Bloom chuckled as she and Limestone moved to catch up.

"Pinkie Pie, it's really good to see you." Maud said in her usual flat monotone as Pinkie released the hug on her. Even with her current position as one of Equestria's leading geologists, Maud Pie was living proof that some things would never really change.

"Yep, and she brought company." Limestone commented as she finally caught up with her siblings. Apple Bloom followed her up a moment later and gave Maud a quick wave. Though she simply responded with a slow blink, as soon as the others looked away she cracked the faintest of smiles for a moment.

"So, is Marble Pie around?" Pinkie asked, looking round eagerly. Limestone nodded and walked over to the quarry edge nearby, sticking her head over the cliff.

"Hey sis! Get up here, we got visitors!" She yelled out, waiting for a minute before looking to the pathway out as another pony made her way up, hauling a cartful of crystals. Another earth pony, she was light grey with a darker grey long, striped mane, violet eyes and a bright red jumpsuit.

"Woah...Marble Pie?" Pinkie commented before trotting over and hugging her. Marble jumped slightly before recognising her twin sister and hugging Pinkie in return.

"Oh, hi, I wasn't expecting to see you." Marble replied, her voice soft but slightly raspy.

"Nopony expects the teamup of Pinkie and Bloomie!" Pinkie declared before managing to relax again. "So, what's been happening with you all?"

"Come inside and we'll catch up." Limestone grinned, leading everypony toward the house.

"I've been asked to conduct a survey of the Canterlot mountain, I can hardly wait." Maud commented to response to the question. Apple Bloom couldn't help but smile at the sight of them all getting along so well, half wishing she could stay a little longer.

Maybe another day, they still had work to do.

The afternoon sun was starting to hang low as Apple Bloom and Pinkie Pie prepared to set out again. Limestone had been willing to give them a few supplies they hadn't been able to pick up in Ponyville and made sure they could come back anytime they needed to. The farewells were all but complete and the five of them were staring off toward the desert, as if trying to break the tension.

"Try not to die out there, I like seeing you around." Limestone finally said, smirking slightly.

"Errm...Yeah, stay safe." Marble added.

"Clean your hooves often, the rocks that make up Palomino sand get caught in fur easily." Maud finished.

"Okey dokey lokey! I'll make sure to keep you all in the loooop about how we do." Pinkie replied, grinning eagerly at the prospect.

"And I, err, I'll make sure Pinkie stays safe out there. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Apple Bloom did the motions and held it for a moment, showing she was taking this extra seriously.

Pinkie chuckled slightly before nodding to her companion and leading the two of them off toward the desert, waving back to the Pie sisters one last time. There was no telling how long they would be out here, just the two of them against whatever was hiding out in the barren sands. Not that it mattered at this moment, they were loaded up and ready to begin their mission in earnest. It was time to go unicorn hunting...Something about that felt off to Apple Bloom though, like she was getting into something way over her head...Like she wasn't going to succeed.

Author's Note

Hope you're all still enjoying it as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Thanks for continuing to stop by, I appreciate every one of you!