It was clear winter night and within the location of Sweet Apple Acres, and its motherly monarch Applejack was just finishing up the last touches on the family barn. Since she and her kin were decorating it for the annual Elements of Harmony gathering on Hearts warmth eve. That was when the Elements of Harmony would reunite for the night of celebration and family. She couldn’t wait to see how her friends have change thanks to motherhood. She herself had also been blessed with the beauty of motherhood, a fact that even she couldn’t believe. Especially, when considering her past of being all work and few play. She only helped out other ponies when she was needed and occasionally did contests just to prove her strength and worth to bring in more costumers into the Apple family buying.
Yet, it all changed one drunken night that she was truly ashamed of…however the result was worth it. She had a son who she named Autumn, the season he was born in. He cherished him like Winnoia, Celestia rest her soul, would to a bone. She loved and nurtured him with the aid of her own family. Big Macintosh, her beloved brother, has more or less left the family farm to assist in the growing Apple orchard in Appleosa. That left her and Apple Bloom alone, and that was just a few months after Autumn was born.
Luckily, Apple Bloom was there and was able to work things out, but she felt bad for her sister. She once again had to sacrifice Apple Bloom own personal dreams for her family. Applejack didn’t want that for her little sister, as she wanted her to live her own life. So she decided to hire some help in order to help lessen the workload so Apple Bloom could have a life of her own. Luckily before he left, Big Mac had Carmel, their usual volunteer pony, was finally able to move in all his stuff and help out around the house. Leaving only the apple bucking to Applejack, after a few more months when young Autumn was able to take in his own drinking bottles.
A few members of the family, among them was Bab Seed, a former blank flank filly like Apple Bloom who also got her own cutie mark, came to Applejack’s aid and decided to help her out. Babs Seed then became the biggest help of all and decided to move to the family farm when the rest of the relatives left and would take over most of the family Apple bucking during the day while Applejack was at the market selling their products.
Still, it moments like these that made parts of her life worth living as long as her family was care and provided from her hard work.
That was why she was happy to be having this gathering to see her friends after such a long time. A majority of them were with fillys of their own. She often sees Spike and Rarity’s kin together with Fluttershy’s little one and Pinkie’s boy, Custard, when they come to by the stand with their “Aunt Babs” or “Aunt Bloom” along with Autumn after school.
She often sees Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy when they come by or when she needs to see them to look after Autumn for a spill. However, her meetings with Rarity and Spike are a few and between given their own living area and she had some fears of losing Autumn if he wasn’t in the care of her Auntie Rarity, who did most of his clothing wear.
She rarely sees Twilight unless it’s important or when she visits once every month to see how they were all doing.
However, out of all her friends, she didn’t know what became of Rainbow Dash. One day she was here, then the next she left a note telling them that she left with Scootaloo and her pet Tank to explore the world and even beyond, whatever that meant. She did try to keep in touch with all of them at first, but after around the fourth letter she just stopped and Scootaloo kept them up to date from time to time. Only Twilight knew where she was and she did say that she would try to notify Dash of the gathering to see if she would stop by. It would be nice to see her old friend again, since she kept ducking out on them each year.
Still, the family barn looked better than ever, thanks to the aid of Babs and Big Mac, who came home a few days earlier with his own wife, a bit of cute mare that he met in Appleossa. She was a nice one and made her brother happy, and that was more than she could ever asked for. Granny Smith would have liked her, she passed away a few days after Autumn was born, and that was when the changes started.
Still, she had no time to dwell on the past, as now she had to focus on the present. With the last decoration in place, she had the barn looking good.
“Wow mamma, you did a good job,” stated the voice of her young son Autumn. She turned around and looked at him. He had her hair and her eyes, but he also had his father’s “unique” abilities. After that drunken night with that unicorn, she was weary of her son’s own untapped magical potential. She never had to experience magic before, outside her friends, and she was hoping Twilight would devote some of her spare time to help train the little one when he becomes of age.
She was scared.
She loved her son with all her heart and soul, but was scared for both herself and her son. She didn’t know what to do when it was time. She was hoping this year was the year that Twilight would help her out.
Still, she loved her son and she replied to him in a smile, “Ya ready for the big party my leafy?”
“Mom, don’t call me that,” he replied softly.
She went up and hugged her little one, as she knew within her heart that was going to be one of the best Heart Warmth Eve gathering ever, just like last year.
The snow was falling all around Ponyville and it was creating a winter wonderland. For the ponies living there, this was an awe-inspiring sight to behold. However, for one pony it was just business as usual for her and her family.
Pinkamena Diane Pie, known to her friends, as Pinkie Pie, was in a fast run along side her only son with her hair flowing down upon as the wind blew it to the side.
Her Husband was slowly tugging his way to catch up with her and their son, who was super excited to be ready for Applejack annual gathering of the Elements for Hearts Warmth Eve. She knew that he was very much like her in her younger years instead of her later ones, and for that she was glad to raise him right.
Her son, Custard, was to be the true cream of a doughnut crops, and the true bright spot in her mother’s eyes. Her son was the biological product of herself and her husband.
Her husband was once a prodigal knowledge student of the legendary Doughnut Joe and Pinkie did meet him in her younger years. Just before it all went bad for her and the friends.
Dashie…her thoughts were often on her wayward best pony friend. Though estranged from them all, Dashie did try to keep in touch with her, Fluttershy and Twilight. She was there when Custard was born and she was the third to hold him too. Yet, she left just as soon as she gave him back. Something about savaging the boarder between two worlds and something and that she would try to keep in touch. Still, her trips were frequent as the business of owning a store was. That was what her and her husband set up with the aid of the Cakes and Doughnut Joe himself, and some minor assistance from Twilight and the others, she became the party queen of the land. After the Cakes decided to expand their empire and let her run her own business.
Pie Party Supply, that was the name of her store, and her creations for party flavors along various baked good assistance from the Cakes, she was the premiere party pony store for all party needs.
Her business was booming so much that she had to hire a temporary assistance to help her out, and just like her friends Twilight and Spike, she turned to someone within her family. In her younger years, before all this went down, with the aid of her friends, she was able to reconcile with her estranged family who she later learned had another child, a young boy that they named after their father, Clyde. Blinkie along with Clyde were able to help her out from time to time, but Blinkie made her own living with her bomb supply shop in Appleosa. She only comes for visits on occasion.
The entire family was supposed to return back to the rock farm a few days after Hearts Warmth day so that her mother and Inkie could see little Custard. Their father died a while back and while the pain was still fresh, Pinkamena tried to keep a smile on her son face and remind them both of the good times they held with grandpa Clyde.
Someday were difficult than others, but if there was one thing that her father did taught her, it was the true value of handmade craftsmanship, by your own hooves. That was clearly one of the reasons why she went into business for herself and her family, it was so that other ponies could enjoy the hard work she put into any party favor.
She brought just several packets along with the dessert food for the party. She could see barn in a distance and her son speeding towards it.With one final push of energy, she ran like the blur she was beating her son by a few seconds.
“I win again,” she said.
“Aw mamma,” said little Custard.
“Don’t you worry my little one, you get there someday,” she said with a smile.
They decided to wait for Custard’s father who dragged along with the rest of the baked goods.
“Explain to me again, why I bring in the goods while the two of you have your fun?” he asked.
“Because sweetie,” stated Pinkie Pie, “You do have stronger muscules than we do. Besides, somepony got to keep an eye on our son. You know how he gets when he runs off without anypony behind him….”
“Okay, okay,” the Husband said “However, you two got to help me unload this stuff.’
“Gotcha daddy,” said Custard as they entered the already decorated barn.
“Wow wee, Aj sure did a nice job with the palce,” Pinkie cried, “Maybe it was a mistake to bring in some extra party supply to the party.”
“Well Ah wouldn’t want to say that to the party pony of Ponyville,” stated a familiar voice, as Applejack appeared in front of them.
“AJ, how are you?” said Pinkie Pie as she gave her old friend a soft hug.
“Just fine sugarcube,” AJ said as she hugged Custard who was bouncing up and down he was let go.
“Let’s just get ya’ll settled in,” stated Applejack as she was lending Pinkie’s Husband with the party flavors and creamy treats for the party.
“Are we the first to arrive?” asked Pinkie’s Husband.
“Yep,” stated Applejack, “My guess is that Shy and her kin will come in soon. Along with Spike and Rarity and the girls. Twilight may stop in with them.”
“And what of Dashie, Applejack?” asked Pinkie, “Don’t you think she’ll stop by this time?”
Not noticing her old friend wincing at their former friend name. Pinkie knew that Applejack and Rainbow Dash had a bit of a fallen out the last time they met. She was hoping that time would let her stubbornness die down.
“Let’s just get these here decorations up,” Applejack said after a minute or two.
With a sigh, Pinkie followed her friend behind.
