"C'mon Spike, we just need some apples to finish off the brew." Twilight tells her baby dragon friend as they leave their library house behind. It is a fair trot to Sweet Apple Acres and on the way they bump into Rarity, Ponyville's fashionista.
"Hello Twilight. Where are you headed?" she asks happily.
"To see Applejack." Twilight answers vaguely.
"Twilight's doing an experiment Zecora told her about!" Spike explains, then Twilight shoots him a look for telling all the passerby about what should say between the two of them.
"May I join you in your trip? Applebloom needs a new bow." Rarity does not hesitate before trotting bouncily alongside them, her saddlebags filled with luxury materials.
They reach the sumptuous scent that hangs around Sweet Apple Acres and head to the Cutie Mark Crusader's clubhouse. One by one, curious filly heads pop around the door to see who's there.
"Sis!" cries Sweetie Belle, cantering over to Rarity.
"Thank Celestia," Scootaloo mutters, leading Rarity to the clubhouse. "Apple Bloom's bow is more her best friend than me. She's been all mopey-wopey!"
"Sweetie Belle, would you happen to know where Applejack is?" Twilight asks the filly.
"She's in the barn with Pinkie Pie." Sweetie answers before skipping up to join her friends.
Sure enough, Pinkie and Applejack are inside the barn. "Howdy Twi, whatcha think?" Applejack says proudly.
The entire barn seems brighter. The hay on the floor is evenly spread, dotted with golden glitter. Tables of food line the sides, colourful balloons attatched, streamers hang from every crack and crevice in the barn. Spike stares up, and says, "Great job you guys, the barn looks fantastic!"
Twilight turns to her pals. "Spike's right, but... Why are you throwing a party?"
Applejack grins her brilliant grin. "Mah best friend's comin' back home."
Pinkie, Twilight and Applejack stroll across Ponyville, Spike carrying a wicker basket full of orange envelopes. Ocassionally Applejack takes one in her mouth and tosses it to somepony's doorstep.
"Her name's Golden Wonder, we were friends since Apple Bloom was jus' a diddy baby." the orange mare explains, before tossing an envelope at Lyra's house.
"There was Rocket, who was a teeny baby, and Large Fries, who's the same age as Big Macintosh. Not forgettin' old Maris Piper, who was as close to Granny Smith as I was to Golden." she carefully places an invitation at Berry Punch's door. "They were good at their job. Potato farmin' run in the family. They were so good, in fact, that they could afford to move to Canterlot..." she sighs sadly, then, after placing another invite, adds happily, "guess they liked Canterlot no more than me!"
As the sun rises the next day, ponies from across Ponyville are waking. After some final touches (Like Berry's punch) everypony settles down in the barn, hiding and waiting for their guests.
There's a soft trotting, getting louder. "AJ?" calls an oh so familliar voice. Applejack resists the powerful desire to leap up and throw her forelegs around her best friend that was taken from her.
Another voice speaks up, an old mare's. "Try the barn, Fries."
They purposely left the large doors open a crack, and as Fries pushes it open with his strong neck, it is as if somepony set off an erruption of cheering. "SURPRISE!"
Applejack gallops from the group of ponies and heads straight for the honey-coloured mare in her signature hat. "Applejack!" she cries, leaping forward to greet her. They hug with such force they nearly fall over, laughing and crying and talking all at once.
Big Mac trots over to his colthood friend, who greets him calmly.
"Big Mac."
"Large Fries."
They stare into eachother's eyes for a moment, before Fries bursts out laughing. "Who are we kidding? I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too." Big Mac says, feeling after all this time shying away from everypony, he can completely be himself around the cream coloured stallion he shared so many memories with. They hug and begin talking about all sorts of things.
Rocket, the little red colt, canters up to Apple Bloom (who is wearing a beautiful orange bow adorned with many gems) and smiles at her.
"Hey, Apple Bloom!"
"Howdy, Rocket, it's nice to finally meet the baby Granny Smith said I loved so much." she replies.
"I don't remember much either, except that one time when you painted a picture of me... You have quite the talent there." Rocket says, his cheeks turning a slightly deeper red. Apple Bloom grins, "maybe I could try that to get mah Cutie Mark-" She claps a hoof over her mouth, realising she'd made a fool of herself but outright saying she had no cutie mark. Rocket responds to this my turning to the side so she can see his flank. Blank as a piece of paper. Apple Bloom stares, then says, "You too? I though the three of us where the only ones without them..."
"'Us Three'?" echoes Rocket.
"Oh, I mean me mah mates, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. We started a club, to try everything we can to get our cutie marks!" Apple Bloom explains excitedly. An idea dawns on her face. "You wanna meet them? Maybe you can join the crusaders!"
Rocket and Apple Bloom race off into the crowd to find the two fillies.
As the ponies file out, Applejack is too distracted to tell them all goodbye, because she's chatting away to Golden Wonder like there's no tomorrow. Even Twilight, Pinkie and Applejack's other 3 best friends have to see themselves out. Eventually only the Apple Family and Potato Family are left. The night is approaching but their conversations are still coming thick and fast. When Applejack asks the question that had been tugging on her mind all night. Of course she was very glad to have her friends back, but "Why made the Potato family move back home?" she wonders.
A sudden hush fills the room as Fries and Maris Piper all stop talking and turn to see what Golden Wonder is going to say.
"Uhh, well..." she stutters.
CRASH!
Rocket and Scootaloo's helmet-topped heads appear in the left wall of the barn, sending planks of wood splattering into the room. Scootaloo spits out some splinters then turns to Rocket, who is grinning. "Let's do it again!"
Scootaloo looks down to see Applejack. "I like this kid, he knows the meaning of fun!" she tells the room, before the two young ponies yank their heads free and land safely on the ground outside. As the sound of Scootaloo's scooter wheels rolls away, Golden Wonder calls after her brother, "You be careful, Rocket!"