//------------------------------//
// All Good Things 
// Story: Appledashery Vol. Two 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

The next day...

Steam blew high into the air.

A train whistle sounded off against the Canterlot mountains, signaling that a departure was imminent.

Applejack trotted out of the side door of a supply train car.  She had just assisted a worker or two with stowing away her wagon and wares inside.  As she shuffled up the length of the Canterlot train station, her gaze fell on the platform beneath her.  The mare's ears tickled with the sounds of ponies, friends, and loved ones exchanging sweet good-bye's.

She heard a flighty giggle.

Applejack looked up.  She spotted two mares standing beside the first line of passenger cars.  One of them smiled, reached over a pile of suitcase, and hugged the other.  The two ponies nuzzled, exchanged a few tears, and then kissed passionately.

Applejack bit her lip.  She felt an itch in her scalp... and she tugged her hat tighter around her head—

"Oh!  There you are!"  Twilight Velvet's voice called across the depot.  "Applejack!  Miss Applejack?!"

Applejack cleared her throat.  She turned about-face, pivoting to face the source of the voice with a bright smile.  "Now where are my manners?!"  She trotted towards where her friends were saying good-bye to Twilight's parents.  "I swear, one of these days I'm gonna take a vacation without my apple wagon... but then I plum wouldn't know what to do with myself!"  She did a little curtsey before the group.  "A thousand pardons, ma'am."

"Oh, it's quite alright!"  Twilight Velvet smiled.  "I sure hope you got plenty of business taken care of during your stay in Canterlot!"

"Oh, I... uh..."  Applejack coughed and smiled through her freckles.  "I certainly feel as though my life's been enriched good and plenty over th-this weekend."

"Well, that's good."  Night Light winked.  "Very good indeed."  He turned to smile at his daughter.  "Twilight, we should do this more often.  You know your bedroom is going nowhere."

"Thanks, Dad, but... uh..."  Twilight blushed slightly. "...my 'bedroom' is back in Ponyville."

"And so's my bed!"  Spike exclaimed, gleefully seated on the young unicorn's backside.  "Although... uh..."  He toyed with his claws.  "...maybe you two could come over and share with us the recipe for your magnificent Crystal Omelette?"

"Ugh.  Spike..."

"Haha!"  Night Light grinned.  "If we did that, we'd run out of excuses to have you and Twilight over!"

"Come on, Dad..."  Sniffling slightly, Twilight leaned in to nuzzle both her parents at once.  "You know it's not about that."

"Oh Twilight..."  Her mother sighed, snuggling the unicorn close.  "It just hasn't been the same since you and Shining Armor moved out."

"Well, we'll make sure your darling daughter never forgets to make regular visits!" Rarity said, standing closer.  "She does get lost in her books from time to time, after all, but now that she's got friends we'll make sure she doesn't get too distracted."

"Woohoo!  Way to go, Twilight!"  Pinkie Pie grinned.  "Now you get to be nagged back home as well as here in Canterlot!"

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhh..."  Twilight Sparkle blushed furiously.  She leaned back from her parents' embrace.  "On that note..."

"Yes, I suppose you really do have to be going," Twilight Velvet said.  "It's been such a splendid time."

"We welcome any of you back whenever you like!"  Night Light smiled.  "Seriously.  Our home is your home."

"Heeheehee..."  Fluttershy's cheeks warmed.  "That is so very nice of you.  We'll remember this weekend fondly."

"Say... uh..."  Applejack looked all around, smiling in the moment.  "Where's Rainbow Dash?"

"Hmmm?"  Fluttershy looked over.  "Oh.  She's on board the train."

Applejack blinked, her smile fading.  "She is?"

"Yes.  She's so very tired, the poor thing."

"Oh..."  Applejack glanced down at the floor.  "I... I guess that makes sense..."

"...?"  Fluttershy raised a curious eyebrow.  She opened her muzzle to say something—

—which was precisely when the train whistle blew for one last time.

"All aboard!" an old conductor hollered.

"Well, time to go!"  Rarity trotted on board first.  "So long, everypony!  It's been extra marvelous!"

"So very nice to see you!"  Fluttershy waved, flying into a passenger car.

"Bye Mom!"  Twilight trotted in.  "Bye Dad!"

"Ta-ta to your ta-ta's!"  Pinkie giggled with each hop.  "Heeheehee!"

Applejack was the last to shuffle on board.  Secluded by her sighs, she found a spot in the back of a passenger car... and sat facing the southern window.  She saw mountains and rivers and valleys as the train picked up and moved downhill.

She didn't see much color.