Many years after Angel Kisses (Season Five of FiM)...
Years ran by like professional marathon runners; one second they're over here, next second they're over there. Life seems to be a race in itself. You are born, the years run to the finish line, however fast they may be is a mystery, just like no one knows for sure which runner will win the marathon. But she didn't mind.
Her hooves hit the soft gravel as she clipped-clopped to the village. Step by step, trot by trot she went. The sun was high, and the cool autumn winds made today the more likeable. This kind of day were the kinds the farmhorse enjoyed. Not too cold, not too hot. Nice enough to stay outdoors all day without breaking a sweat. She smiled softly.
"Hey, Applejack!" A familiar young voice called out. The orange mare turned her head to see Sweetie Belle sitting outside the Carousel Boutique. The little unicorn waved.
Applejack stopped and walked towards her. "Good mornin', Sweetie Belle."
Belle looked at both sides of the orange mare. "Um... Where's Apple Bloom?"
"Oh, she couldn't come today. She's back at home, asleep. It's purty early, ain't it? She's usually in bed 'till nine on weekends." Applejack chuckled. "I've oughta wake 'er up earlier, though. She's gonna have mornin' chores before she knows it."
Sweetie Belle put on a sheepish smile. "Well, ok. Hey, when you get back, can you tell her I said hi?"
"Of course, sugarcube." Applejack smiled. "Though, I'm might busy today. I might not get home 'til after supper time."
Then the front door to the boutique opened. Rarity walked out in a long red dress with sparkly yellow and orange leaves around the collar. Along the trim were orange acorns, making it look fit for autumn.
Applejack starred at her, her facial expression confused. "Rarity? What are ya' wearin'?"
She only smiled. "Why, I am wearing my latest creation! Decked with the traditional fall leaves and the beautiful stitching to complete! Long and flowy, yet small and comfortable! What other dress could be best for this season? Ooh, that means I can start making dresses for the next big upcoming holiday- Hearthswarming!"
Applejack squinted. "Ya' do know Thanksgivin's up next, right? We just did the runnin' of the leaves two weeks ago."
Rarity chuckled. "Silly, pony! You do know that a Thanksgiving dress would be ugly, basic, and unsuccessful in the fashion business? And, after all, Thanksgiving isn't even that big of a holiday, is it? Besides, what's the difference between this autumn dress and a Thanksgiving dress? I can't dress up like a Pilgrim."
"What's a Pilgrim?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"After the three tribes came together and chose Princesses Celestia and Luna to rule over them, they began calling themselves 'Pilgrims' because they came through a hard pilgrimage of ice and snow. Princess Celestia acted as our protector, while Princess Luna acted as a mother to us." Applejack explained.
"Yes, and they wore the most ugly of clothes! Plain brown jackets, plain brown horseshoes, an occasion red ribbon in a mare's mane... a faded ribbon, at that." Rarity added, "If that's what Thanksgiving dress looks like, I'm not wearing it. After all, this is just as autumn-ish... I just cannot bring myself to create that."
"But, Rares... Anything you make would be great. Being your friend, I assure you of that. So why skip it?"
"Aww, A.J.- I'm glad you like my dresses, but everypony loves fall, and afterwards, there's winter! And besides, a Pilgrim dress would be atrocious. I don' t know how they could stand to wear that! After all, the ponies of the modern day... They love Hearthswarming, not turkey and hoofball-"
"It's not about that!" Applejack snapped, "The Pilgrims were thankful for what they had. Rarity, don't you know what Thanksgivin' is all about?"
"Of course, darling. Spending time with family, seeing turkey decorations everywhere, eating a lot of food with our families, going to Canterlot to see the holiday parade, my personal favorite..." The unicorn glanced over at her friend.
Applejack sighed. "Well... Ah'm on my way to the village, ah'm gettin' food for our feast. I'll see ya' later, Rares."
"Alright, darling. Goodbye! And happy fall!"
Sweetie Belle raised her hoof and waved it quickly. "Yeah, and early Merry Hearthswarming, Applejack!"
The earth pony sighed again. "Happy Thanksgivin' to ya'll, too." She said as she walked off. Don't worry about it, she told herself, that's just how they are. Ah know Rarity, she loves being fancy.
She galloped further into Ponyville when a familiar pink pony popped up beside her. "Hiya, A.J.! How are you doin'?!" Pinkie Pie asked as she bounced.
"Ah'm doin' fine, how about you, Pinkie?" Applejack forced a smile.
"I'm doing great!" The pony squealed, "In fact, I just helped Mr. and Mrs. Cake bake cookies for the upcoming holiday! I got to do it all by myself, they were super busy with their little cakies! But it's ok, I know that foals are a hoof-full and that they always need care but sometimes I wonder why littler ponies are so time consuming, but of course, if it wasn't for that then I wouldn't have gotten to do the cookies myself!" She smiled wide.
"That's... Great?" Applejack asked, unsure of what to really say.
"I know! Hey, ya wanna holiday cookie? I baked it all by myse-"
Applejack stopped walking and put a hoof up, telling the pink mare to be quiet. "Sure, Pinkie."
"Yay! Normally the Cakes do orders like these, big holiday things. I made some to spare for my friends! The others went to somepony in Canterlot. Anyways, here you go A.J.!" Pinkie shook her head, causing her curly mane to wiggle rapidly. One by one cookies flew out. Pinkie grabbed one and hoofed it to the farmhorse.
Applejack smiled, then stopped. The treat Pinkie held in her hoof wasn't for the upcoming holiday.
Being the pony she was, Applejack took the cookie. Holding it, she asked, "Pinkie... I thought you said that you made cookies for the next holiday."
Pinkie looked at her, confused. "Um... Yeah, I did."
"This is for Hearthswarmin'... What about Thanksgivin'?"
"Oh! Well, I haven't made those yet. Nopony wants 'em. All the orders are like the one you're holding right now."
Applejack looked down at her hoof. The small sugar cookie coated in white frosting had a thin design of blue on it- Pinkie had used frosting to draw a single snowflake.
"It's mighty fine, Pinkie. But, it just isn't time yet. Why don't ya' make some Thanksgivin' cookies and see who buys them?"
"I don't know... The Cakes haven't made Thanksgiving cookies in years. I don't want them to go out of business. We've got to keep up!"
"Oh... Well, ok then." Applejack sighed. Looking back at the treat in her hoof, she said, "It does look rather delicious." Smiling, she ate it.
"You like it?" Pinkie watched her friend eat, her eyes wide as she observed.
"Mmhmm. It's very tasty." Applejack smiled, swallowing the treat.
"Yay! Glad ya' like it! Hey, there's Twilight!," Pinkie pointed behind Applejack, "Lemme give her a Hearthswarming cookie, too! See ya around!" Pinkie Pie leaped away.
Applejack chuckled. "It's ok," she told herself, "Pinkie doesn't want to go out of business. After all, it isn't her bakery anyways."
Applejack felt at tap on her right shoulder. Turning right, she looked behind her. Feeling a left tap on her shoulder, she clenched her teeth together. Rainbow Dash landed in front of her, giggling. "Ha! You always fall for that! You look so funny when looking for me when I'm not there!"
"Dash, ah ain't in the mood today." Applejack said, sighing.
Rainbow stopped laughing. "What do you mean, A.J.?"
"Nothin', really. Ah'm just makin' my way down to the village to get some food for mah' family's feast on Thanksgivin'."
Dash tilted her head. "Uhm... Dontcha live on a farm?"
"Yeah, but Thanksgivin's somethin' special, see. Ya can't treat it like any other holiday, or at least I'm not."
Rainbow Dash's eyes brightened. "Speaking of holidays, guess where I'm a-headed?"
"Uhm... Oh, Cloudsdale! That's where yer' family is. Ain't you spending time with your kin during Thanksgivin'?"
Rainbow smiled. "That's a pretty cool idea, I guess. But naw, that'll be during Hearthswarming-" She smiled widely, "I'm going to buy more outdoor lights for my house!"
"That's... It?" Applejack asked, a feeling of lost excitement in her voice. She sounded... Dull. Bored. Sad...
"Totally! I'm definitely going to win the 'Best Hearthswarming Designed And Decorated In Lights, Snowflakes, Holly, Poinsettas, And Other Wintery-Holiday Stuff Home In Ponyville Contest'!" Dash smiled proudly, crossing her front legs as she hovered in the air in front of Applejack.
"What now?"
"Eh, I dunno- ask Cheese Sandwich. Pinkie told me he had that idea and I should spread the word."
"Ya' mean, words?"
Dash chuckled. "It does have a pretty long name! Either way, I'll be sure to win. Then, when my family comes down for Hearthswarming, I'll show 'em my blue ribbon!"
"Well... I hope you have fun. But you ain't doin' anything for Thanksgivin'?" The earth pony mare asked the cyan pegasus.
Rainbow put her hoof to her chin. "You act like I'm never thankful for anything. Let's see... Besides the usual eating stuff... Hmm... Well, Spike and I are playing hoofball."
"Hi, Rainbow Dash!" Spike, as if on cue, ran up to the multi-colored haired pony.
"Hey there, lil' drake!" Dash smiled back.
Twilight and Pinkie walked up to them as well.
"Spike, wanna come shopping with me? Then we can talk more about hoofball while I get my supplies!"
Spike nodded at this. "Sure, Rainb-" stopping himself, he turned to Twilight. "Um... Can I go?"
The alicorn nodded with a smile. "Of course."
"Yay! Thanks, Twi!" With that, he and the pegasus darted off.
Pinkie gasped. "Oh hey, forgot to give Rainbow a cookie! Get back here!" She ran off after them.
Twilight Sparkle chuckled, and then stopped moments after when she noticed Applejack was looking at the ground, a blank expression on her freckle covered face.
"What's wrong, Applejack?" The purple alicorn asked, "You seem upset."
The workhorse looked up at her friend. "Oh, it's nothin'..." She sighed.
Twilight smiled. "I don't think so. I, the Princess of Friendship, is here to help you-- no matter how big or small your problem is."
Applejack smiled back. "Thanks, hon. But... It ain't a friendship problem. I... I don't know why nopony ever celebrates Thankgivin'."
"What? Where'd you hear that? Everypony celebrates it-"
"Ah mean, why don't they celebrate it right?"
"Hmm?"
"Twilight... Why don't ponies celebrate Thanksgivin' like they're supposed to? Why... Why does everypony just care about parades, hoofball an' eatin', and before its even here, ever'pony's runnin' off to celebrate Hearthswarmin' instead?"
"Oh, Applejack... Look, ponies are just excited because... Thanksgiving seems boring to them. See, there's more Hearthswarming movies, Hearthswarming merchandise, a lot more things happen on Hearthswarming... We have family time and a feast as well during the winter holiday. Ponies just see it as a bonus because it's a lot more fun for them. Besides, they're just following society. All that it is, is commercial anyways."
"But... Why? How's it more fun?"
"Ponies like presents and candy, I don't know. Just, don't overthink it, ok? It's a happy holiday for ponies to see each other, to exchange gifts, and to make memories. Like I told you, it's mostly just a commercial holiday." Twilight smiled softly, trying to help her friend feel better.
"Well... Fine. But I think Thanksgivin's not celebrated right." With that, Applejack trotted into town.
~~~
As she stood in line at her first vendor, Applejack saw Fluttershy trotting towards her. Her face was happy, her smile wide. Her blue eyes brightened up the area around her. "Howdy, sugarcube. Ya' look glad 'bout somethin'."
Fluttershy stopped, nodding. "Of course I am. I feel that Angel will finally appreciate what I will get him this year."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Applejack asked, unsure of what she meant.
"Last year, I thought Angel was into cooking, because he was always wearing that chef's hat. But he doesn't like it now, he prefers my cooking. So, this year I bought him a series of books! He loves my book club, so I figured I'd get him some of his own. Twilight helped me with the idea." She smiled.
Applejack chuckled. "I can tell. So, you exchange presents on Thanksgivin'?"
"What? No..." Fluttershy's voice got quiet. "A-am I supposed to...?"
The earth pony chuckled again. "No, ah ain't heard of it. I was wonderin' why yer givin' him, or at least purchasin' 'em, a gift now."
"For Hearthswarming. I always buy my friends their presents early."
"What about Thanksgiving? Do you do anything for that?"
Fluttershy tilted her head. "Well, my brother comes down to eat with me, and then he flies back to his house. But this year, I'm going to see him."
Applejack sighed of relief. Finally, somepony did something that was normal for Thanksgiving. "That's purty nice."
"Mmhmm. He always goes to watch the Thanksgiving Parade in Canterlot afterwards, but it's too noisy, so I come back and cuddle with my animals."
"So... You just see your brother?"
"Yes. Then sometimes we eat. We don't have a big feast or anything."
What does she mean? Thanksgiving is known for its food nowadays, Applejack thought. Shaking her head, she decided to not interrogate her pegasus friend. "Well... Ok." Applejack looked at the small line ahead of her, which consisted of two ponies. The first one made their transaction and trotted away, leaving the pony in front of her to buy something.
"You look busy, and my hooves are full, too. I have to go home to my animals before they get too hungry. Nice talking to you, Applejack." Fluttershy flew off.
"Nice talkin' to ya, too..."
~~~
Applejack trotted inside. She had been out all day, and the sun was setting. Granny Smith sat in her rocking chair asleep, saliva hanging from her mouth. Big Macintosh quietly walked in from another room.
"Is Apple Bloom asleep?" She whispered.
"Eeyup."
"Alright. I'll put these groceries away and then I'll hit the hay myself. Ya' goin' to sleep?"
"Eeyup."
"Ok. G'night, Mac."
"Eeyup."
Applejack quietly put away the expensive food she bought. Using most of the farm's money on food was not a usual thing for her, since they didn't have a lot of money anyways. Her granny needed hip surgery, and the roof on the barn needed fixing since last year. But to her, Thanksgiving was the best holiday, no matter how basic it might seem to others.
Turning the kitchen light off, she made her way to the living room. She sat on the sofa beside her grandmother, who was in deep sleep already. Looking up at the walls she saw pictures of her family. One picture was of two ponies she barely knew but greatly missed.
"Ah'm glad ya raised me like y'all two did. Others might not know that in the back of my mind, and when I'm alone, that Hearthswarmin' is a sad holiday for me. No gifts or presents can ever bring you two back, but on Thanksgivin', ah get to feel y'all again. Its like yer here with me, as if you never left... I know y'all ran your marathon of life. And... Ah'm thankful for y'all, even if yer not here with me now." With that, she went to bed.