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// 28: What We Have [Sad] [Slice of Life] 
// Story: Thirty Minutes Shy 
// by Esle Ynopemos 
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((Prompt: We may not have wings, and we may not have horns—but we’ll show you just what earth ponies do have!))

There were feasts, and there were Hearth's Warming feasts. And then there were Hearth's Warming feasts at Sweet Apple Acres.

The previous year, the traditional Apple family feast had been delayed on account of Applejack's invitation to participate in the play in Canterlot. This year, they seemed determined to make up for that. The table creaked under the weight of all the food piled on top of it. Every imaginable recipe for apples was represented—there were apple turnovers, and apple fritters, and apple salads, and apple pot pies... somepony had even figured a way to make apple gravy, which was much tastier than it might sound, drizzled over the top of steamed potatoes.

Gathered around the table to enjoy the diverse array of apples was a diverse array of Apples. It wasn't quite a whole family reunion, but it was close, as Apples from as far away as Baltimare and Vanhoover filled every available seat. The farmhouse had run out of chairs to set out, so many ponies sat on overturned baskets or wooden stumps. All of them laughed merrily, shared stories and sang.

Hearth's Warming at Sweet Apple Acres was all about family, and there was lots of family to go around.

Applejack pushed herself away from the table as she heard a knock at the front door. “Wonder who that is?” she wondered aloud. “Maybe Uncle Julius changed his mind and came after all?”

“If it is, ask him if he brought his harmonica,” said a cousin in a wide-brimmed hat. “We could get a real song started in here!”

Applejack grinned and trotted around the corner to the door. She grasped the handle in her teeth and pulled. Her eyebrows raised as she saw the shivering form outside. “Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy tugged on her scarf, pulling it tight against the wind. Her ears perked at the sound of laughter within the farmhouse. “H-hello, Applejack. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?” 

The chorus of a carol rang from the dining room. It sounded like everypony was joining in. “We were just havin' dinner,” Applejack said.

“Oh, I'm sorry!” Fluttershy's ears sank. “Of course you're having dinner, it's Hearth's Warming! I'm sorry, I'll come back tomorrow.” She turned around, squinting as she faced into the wind.

“Hang on just a second,” Applejack said.

Fluttershy paused.

“What are you doin' out here, Fluttershy?” Snow began to drift inside the doorway, but Applejack held the door open. “How come you ain't celebratin' with your family?”

Fluttershy continued facing outward into the wintery fields. “I... most of my animal friends are hibernating,” she said.

Applejack's eyes narrowed. “That ain't what I asked. Where's your folks, Fluttershy?”

The pegasus was silent for a long while. Slowly, her head sank. “I... don't know.” An orange hoof found its way to her back, drawing a short sob from her. “I haven't spoken with them since... since I came to Ponyville.”

Applejack's eyes widened. “That long? Sugar, what happened?”

Fluttershy shook her head. “Nothing. It's normal, for us.” She raised her wings briefly, then dropped them again. “When you leave the nest, you just... don't go back.” She shrugged, and took another step away from the door. “I'm sorry, Applejack. I shouldn't dump this on you. I'll see you tomorrow.” She spread her wings.

Applejack stepped out onto the icy porch and wrapped her forelegs around her. “That ain't no way to do things,” she said, hugging her friend tight. “C'mon inside, hon. Get yourself a hot meal an' sing with us.”

“I can't,” Fluttershy said. “It's just for your family. I can't intrude.”

Applejack pulled her towards the door. “Nuh-uh. Tonight, hon, you're an Apple.”