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// Mini Chapter 1: Hearth's Warming Funeral 
// Story: The Everlasting Hope 
// by Plasmadon 
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Mini Chapter 1: Hearth’s Warming Funeral

WARNING! Third person POV switch imminent!

Applejack was having a good day. It was Hearth’s Warming Eve, and she and her friends had taken time off their respective jobs to play in the snow together. Of course, things took a relative turn for the worse when she realized the unicorns were seriously good at throwing snowballs, and she soon ended up in a pile of snow next to Pinkie Pie. Laughing and clawing her way out, she jumped on top of the pile. 
After that, they had hot cocoa and Pinkie’s famous cookies in Sugarcube Corner. While they were content waiting out the flurries of snow in the warm bakery, something felt… off about the day. She couldn’t place her hoof on it. In the end, she guessed she must have been too used to working all day.
The rest of the day was spent in total fun. Pinkie zoomed off when she realized she still hadn’t set up a Hearth’s Warming Eve party. After that, you could only signify her presence as a pinkish blur leaving various tracks in the snow.
Applejack, along with Pinkie, had the task of making the various treats and goodies for the party. Of course, this took up a lot of time. By the time everypony was done and the party was set up, it was late evening. As the girls and the CMC headed back home to prepare themselves, a faint strumming was heard from inside the Everfree. 
A very familiar, sad strumming.
Concerned, Twilight led them on a faint trail deep into the woods. As they passed poisonous plants and strange creatures that made them shiver, the strums became ever louder. Finally, they reached a clearing. Andrew was sitting against a tree, words barely passing his lips.
“-Dear agony, just let go of me,
I’ve suffered slowly, is this the way it’s gotta be?
Dear agony.”
His voice, though melodious as ever, was broken and hollow. No light shone in his defeated eyes, and his mane was dull and flat against his coat. What he was staring at, though, they could not identify. As they reached closer, Andrew flicked a sad glance in their direction before resuming his song. It was mournfully sad, and by the end, everypony save Andrew had tears in their eyes.
“Hey, gals,” he said. His voice cracked. Twilight, Scootaloo and Applejack trotted over and placed hooves on his shoulder.
“What’s wrong, sugarcube?” AJ asked with a kind smile. Andrew responded with a weak chuckle.
“I’m in the middle of the most dangerous forest in Equestria with my guitar, and I’m playing sad songs. Whatever would make you think something was wrong?” everyone chuckled. He nodded towards the three strange objects in the middle of the clearing. The group crowded around to see what had made Andrew lose his cheer.
The objects were made of polished marble. Each was about two and a half feet deep. The two on the ends were long, maybe six feet, while the one in the middle was only half that.
“Graves,” Andrew said from behind them. AJ’s blood ran cold, and she shivered.
“Ya mean…” she trailed off. He nodded.
“My family.” Everypony backed away from the coffins. Fluttershy and Applebloom even looked scared, like touching them was bad luck. Andrew sighed and trotted up to them, strapping his guitar to his back as he used his magic to open the lids. Three human figures stared up, unseeing. The physicians had managed to fix Andrew’s family’s heads up quite nicely. You would assume only that they were sleeping, if not for the broken and unseeing eyes. He pointed to the smallest one, a young girl.
“That was Sarah. I figure you all would’ve liked her. She was creative, adventurous, and the most annoying part of all, she had spunk that would rival RD’s.” the group laughed, with the exception of Scootaloo and Rainbow herself. “Now that I think about, you remind me of Sarah, Scoots. The difference is that you’re a pegasus.” I rubbed her head and she smiled contentedly. Andrew circled about to the next coffin. A young man was looking up to them. He was, under other circumstances, particularly handsome, with close-cut black hair and the remnants of a beard.
“My father, Lucas. You guys definitely would’ve loved him. He was sarcastic, funny, and always cheerful in that half-annoying, half-infectious Pinkie way. I remember more about him than any of my other family. That’s probably because we got into the most trouble together.” He laughed in spite of himself, then continued. “He was always the leader when it came to group activities. That was one of the things about him: he would do things just right at the right time. Over time, it became an unofficial rule around town that whenever someone was planning a trip, organizing a sport, hell, even starting a riot, Dad would be in charge.” Finally, Zed trotted over to a young woman. She had golden brown ringlets and wore a simple black gown.
“My mother, Gwen. She was the active one of the family. Whatever it was, unless it involved violence, she was always part of it. She left a lot, though. Business trips took her all over the country. As such, I never got to see much of her. When she was home, she would take Sarah and I on the most extraordinary adventures. We got stuck on the St. Louis Arch one time, when a kid with black hair jumped off and plunged straight into a lake. Something about a killer Chihuahua or something. it was quite a laugh, now that I think about it.”
AJ trotted up and laid a hoof on his shoulder again. “Why didn’t ya tell us ‘bout this before?” she asked softly.
“Because, it was a secret that only I keep. Every year, I spend this day at my family’s graves, playing my guitar in the hopes that I’ll attract their attention from wherever they are. It seems like this time, I got an answer.”
“Really? What was it?” Twilight asked, cocking her head to one side. Andrew looked up, a single tear in his eye and the bright golden glow back.
“It was you guys.”
Everyone “Awwwww’ed” and group hugged. After squirming out, Andrew’s horn glowed gold once more. A long, low wall of polished marble appeared at the heads of the coffins. As they watched, flowing script etched in gold twisted its way across the surface.
“Here lie the last humans to enter Equestria: Lucas Christopher Gillen, Gwendolyn Marie Gillen, and Sarah Riley Gillen. Though their souls are long gone, they still exist in body and memory, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Andrew headed back to the Acres after that, not participating in the Hearth’s Warming Eve party. The other girls had a fun time, though Applejack still couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Rarity noticed right away.
“Oh, Applejack darling. Whatever is the matter?” she asked. The cowpony looked around for a moment, then pulled Rarity off to one side.
“Ya promise ya won’t tell nopony?” she asked quietly. Rarity nodded. AJ gave her a stern look.
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Rarity sighed. AJ squirmed a little.
“Well, it’s about… a stallion.” She immediately stuffed her hoof in Rarity’s mouth to keep her from squealing.
“Oh, this is marvelous!” Rarity softly exclaimed. “Who is he? Is he handsome? Does he have manners? Where does he come from? Oh, dear, you must tell me everything!” by this point, Rarity was no longer able to control her own hooves, and they went flailing wildly into the air. AJ dragged her even further away from the party before answering.
“Well… it’s Andrew.”
Rarity squealed again, though this time it was not stopped. 
“Well, you certainly did pick the right pony to fall for. He’s so handsome. I mean, those gorgeous liquid gold eyes. That beautiful ebony mane. And he’s so fit.” Rarity rambled on for several more minutes, making Applejack queasier by the second. By the time Rarity stopped, she felt like she’d be sick.
“Oh, what’s wrong, my dear?” Rarity asked.
“Ah’m worried!” AJ squeaked, finally admitting her fears. “What if he doesn’t like me back? What if he’s just using me? What if he gets sent back to Earth?” It was AJ’s turn to rant now. Rarity patiently waited for her to calm down before speaking.
“Well, how far have you gotten in your relationship?” she asked. AJ looked shyly at her hooves.
“Well, we’ve already… kissed…” she said tentatively. Rarity looked as though she would explode with excitement.
“Then you’re doing everything right, Applejack!” she nearly shouted. AJ tried as hard as she could to calm Rarity. Once the unicorn was again stable, she continued.
“Ah’m still terrified. What if ah mess up in front of him? What if he loses interest in me? What if-” Rarity shoved her hoof in AJ’s mouth to keep her from hyperventilating.
“Applejack, it’s obvious he already likes you for who you are. I mean, he’s seen you often enough out in the orchard, where you get all dirty and sweaty, and he hasn’t run away yet!”
“Yeah, but in all fairness, Rare, he’s in the exact same condition. Although,” she admitted, “He don’t look half bad when he’s tuckered out. Ah mean, the way the sweat just rolls off his coat.” AJ went into another trance. Rarity had to actually slap her to snap her out of it.
“Now Applejack, I want you to go home, find him and confess your feelings.” AJ began to protest, but Rarity wouldn’t have any of it. “No buts. Now, go. You don’t want him to have fallen asleep.” 
Applejack got home that night to find a small gift wrapped up on the rug. She took a look at the tag.

“From Andrew
To AJ
Happy Hearth’s Warming. Hope you like it”

Confused, Applejack opened the box. Inside was a stunning fire opal, carved and faceted into the shape of an apple. Surrounding it was an intricately twisting pattern of golden vines, nestling the gem in place. A fine gold chain held the pendant up. Applejack stared at it for a while before finally snapping out of her trance. She smiled and put it on, tucking the chain behind her mane. She walked over to a slightly snoring Andrew, leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. His face cleared, and a soft smile was visible on his features. AJ silently thanked him one more time before heading to bed.