Big Macintosh flipped the switch, turning on the winch on his pickup truck. Applejack’s smaller sedan slowly trundled up the ditch, back onto the road.
The sun was shining, and the fifteen centimeters of snow had already melted in some places.
"This is Wallflower Blush. She'll be joining us for Hearth’s Warming Eve dinner tonight."
"Howdy, Miss. Where d'you want this stuff?" Big Macintosh motioned toward an unidentifiable pile of equipment in the back of the truck.
"Wh-what? Applejack, what is all this?"
"Our old grow lights. Been sittin' in the barn for two years. Hydroponics in the winter is great for a hobby, but we're runnin' a business. Just ain't profitable, so we thought you might like it."
Wallflower almost, but at the last minute resisted, hugging Applejack. "Thank you... so much. We can move it inside after the car is back up."
Brimming with confidence, Wallflower resolved then that she would install the lights over winter break, and start new seeds before the next year started. If her parents cared, they could ask her to remove them. But likely, they wouldn't even be home until springtime, when it would be safe to move the plants outside.
They finished up with the car and grow system, and the three were on their way to Hearth’s Warming Eve, with Big Macintosh in his truck, and Applejack in her car with Wallflower Blush.
"Y'all have a knack for slipping through the cracks, Wallflower. Even without the memory stone. Make sure you get noticed, when you wanna. You've got friends. We're here to help. Use that help."
Giddy with her newly found outgoingness, Wallflower had a sudden idea regarding that help. It was the kind of thing she would normally only do with the memory stone already in hand. But here she was, free of magical effect, and the words were already halfway out her mouth.
"Y'know Sunsest Shimmer?"
"Yeah?"
"Is she single?"