I sat on a cloud over Ponyville with Rainbow on my left and Fluttershy on my right. I could feel the excitement radiating of Rainbow but Fluttershy just smiled as we looked at the events before us unfolding. It has been three days since we returned to Ponyville after spending a day in Canterlot explaining what happened on the train to the Princesses. Sky has settled in quite quickly and is even thinking about staying. Trixie is staying at Twilight's house but Sky has chosen to stay with Fluttershy which kind of surprised a lot of us.

I squint at the large floating city coming into view. “So that's Cloudsdale?” I ask Rainbow and Fluttershy.

“Yeah, It floats around Equestria making rain clouds or snow depending on when and where they are needed. It's kind of awesome!” Rainbow says almost unable to contain herself.

“It's been awhile since I've seen home.” Fluttershy adds. “Though with Clousdale's arrival it means the winter snow is coming.” Fluttershy puts a hoof on my leg. “Now you can have your first winter here in Equestria.”

I smile. “I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited by this, I always loved winter back home and now I get to spend it here with you.”

Fluttershy gives me a broad smile and Rainbow dances on her hooves. The three of us continue to watch the Pegasi move the clouds into position above Ponyville, though we are forced to take our group to ground level when two Pegasi tell us our cloud must be removed as it wasn't a snow cloud.

I feel something land on my face as the Pegasi from Cloudsdale start kicking the snow clouds. I reach up and wipe a piece of snow from my cheek, a smile broadens on my face. I turn my gaze back to the sky as more and more Pegasi start to kick the clouds and the snow then really starts to fall. In a matter of minutes the sky was awash with white snow which was getting thicker on ground. I also noticed it was getting colder out.

“I think we can safely say that winter has come.” I say looking down to grin at my sisters.

“Yeah, I guess now it's just Hearths Warming Eve to come and that's the year over with.” Rainbow says. “I think this year we should do something special for you John.”

“Me?” I ask.

“Yeah! It is your first Hearth Warming in Equestria, duh!”

I chuckle. “I think Applejack has that part covered. She told me yesterday that several members of the apple family are coming to stay in Ponyville for Hearths Warming. The truth be told I'm a little scared by it.”

Rainbow let's out a laugh. “You!? You're scared!?” Rainbow laughs again.

“Yeah, you don't understand Rainbow. Two of the family members are the other elders of the apple family. If they don't like me or reject me then the families traditions state that Applejack can't marry me. So In laymen terms our future is dependent on me not fucking this up.” I reply.

“Oh,” Rainbow says. “I never thought of that, sorry John.”

I shrug. “I need to show them that I can be a good husband for Applejack and that I'm strong enough to protect her.” I turn when I sense a familiar presence behind me. “Hey apple of my eye.” I grin when I see Applejack roll her eyes.

“Ah thought ah would find ya here. Ah came to tell ya that the first apple's are arriving.”

“Already? Hearths Warming isn't for three weeks.” I state.

“Ah know but the one's arriving first are my cousins Apple Fitter and Apple Pie, they seem to want to see ya before the elders get here. Ah bet they just want to see the stallion who was brave enough to take my innocence.”

I grin. “Oh I will tell them exactly how I did that with all the details intact.”

Applejack shoots me a glare. “Ya wouldn't dare!”

“Oh I would.”

Applejack leaps for me but I hold up a hand and stop her in mid air. I laugh as Applejack struggles in the air before giving up.

“Ah hate it when ya use magic.”

“Yeah but I love the faces you pull when I do.” I lower hand and Applejack gently drops to the ground. “I guess we better go see you cousins then.” I turn to Rainbow and Fluttershy. “sorry girls but family awaits, I guess I'll see you two later?”

“Oh yes, wouldn't miss it.” Fluttershy replies.

“I'll be there.” Rainbow salutes.

I give them both smiles and walk off with Applejack by my side. Halfway to the train station I had that feeling that Applejack was glaring at me.

“Yes dearest?” I ask, looking down and batting my eyelashes.

Applejack chuckles. “Ah just wondered what that was about tonight?”

“Oh that. Rainbow and Fluttershy are helping me with something and no before you ask I'm not telling you what that is.” I hear Applejack huff as we enter the train station. I look around but spot no train. “I thought you said they were arriving?”

“They are, the train should be along any minute now.” Applejack says sitting down.

I shrug and sit down next to Applejack, I feel Applejack lean into me.

“Applejack, I know I might say this time and again but I'm not going to let you down over the next three weeks. I will strive to prove that I'm good enough to be your husband.”

Applejack sighs. “John, ah don't care what the elders say. Ah'm going to marry ya no matter what. Yer my stallion and no old wrinkly is going to stop that.”

I chuckle and put my right arm around Applejack's shoulders. “You always no what to say don't you.” I follow up my statement by kissing Applejack's left ear.

Applejack and I sit on the platform for another few minutes before the trains whistle shrills out, we both look up the track before standing up.

I brush off my clothes. “This is it then, the first of many to arrive.” I say to no one.

“Don't worry, my cousins ain't against ya. They actually wrote to me stating it was about time ah found a stallion, even if it wasn't a pony.”

“Well that's one blessing I guess.” I say as the train comes to a halt at the station. I wait with Applejack until the doors open. I took my que from Applejack on which ponies were her cousins when she ran and tackled two mares just getting off the train. The three mares all roll on the floor and laugh as they play fight.

“Apple Fritter! Apple Pie! It's nice to see ya again!” Applejack says with glee.

“Sure is nice to see ya again cuz, been too long!” One of the mares replies.

I take the time to get a good look at the mare. She was slightly smaller than Applejack with a green mane and light yellow fur, her eyes were the same as Applejacks.

“Apple Pie! How's the husband?” Applejack asks the other mare as they all get up on the floor.

“He's fine, though he was worried that I was coming here alone.” The mare gives me a slight glance. “I think it was a personal thing.”

I take a look at the other mare and noticed she had a dark yellow also mustard coat with a mane the same colour as the first mare, her eyes were gold in colour. I also noticed she didn't have the country twang in her accent like Applejack or the first mare. I straighten up as Applejack and her cousins approach me. I see the first mare grin at me.

“Wow cuz! Ain't he something. Ah take it this is the new stallion in yer life?”

Applejack nods. “Yeah, girls this is John. This is my stallion ah'm going to marry.”

The first mare steps forward and lifts up her hoof for me to shake. “Nice to finally meet ya John, names Apple Fritter. Cousin Applejack's been writing a lot about ya.”

“None of it bad I hope?” I chuckle letting her hoof go.

Apple Fritter shakes her head. “Nah, but if any of it's true, ah'm gonna have fun this trip.” Apple Fritter gives me a grin that bordered on predatory.

I turn my attention to the second mare and hold out my hand, though she just seemed to stare at it before hesitantly putting her hoof in it.

I smile. “You must be Apple Pie then?”

“Y-Yes.” Apple Pie replies but doesn't say any more.

“OK then...should we get home? You ladies have any bags?”

Apple Fritter gestures behind her at the four large suitcases. “Just those.”

I nod. “You girls head off, I got these.” I raise my hand and float the suitcases up with ease. I laugh slightly when I see both of Applejack's cousins go slack jawed. I rub the back of my neck. “I guess Applejack didn't tell you about my magic?”

“Uh...Applejack did mention ya had magic but not the fact you could use it, like a unicorn ah mean.” Apple Fritter says. “Though I can see why she wants to rut you every chance she gets.”

I look to Applejack and could see her blushing. “What do you mean by that?” I ask.

Apple Fritter giggles. “Apple mares are attracted to strength, ah don't know why but we find it sexy. Ya commander have it in both magical and physical terms, cuz Applejack must be going out of her mind when ya use both in front of her.”

“Ya have no idea...” Applejack mumbles.

I chuckle. “It's not that bad, we just take out our frustrations when we get our time alone.”

“Ya mean ya rut like animals?” Apple Fritter says with a smirk.

I shrug. “Eh, more or less.” I laugh when Applejack tries to hide her shame. I place my hand on Applejacks head and give her ears a scratch, I smile when she leans into my hand.

Apple Fritter continues to ask me questions as we head for Sweet Apple acres, I however notice Apple Pie was avoiding asking me anything even going as far as ignoring me completely. I was brought out of my own thoughts when Apple Fritter asked Apple Pie a question that was on my mind.

“Hey Apple Pie, why ain't ya speaking to John, ya got to have questions of yer own to ask?”

Apple Pie looks away. “I-I...”

I stop and put down the suitcases. I place my hands on my hips and turn to face Apple Pie.

“I would like the answer to that question to. I've noticed Apple Pie that you have been avoiding me since we left the station, you were even hesitant when I held out my hand for you to shake. It leads me to realise it's one of two things either somepony or somebody told you something about me that was bad or you have been told something about my time in the Griffon Colonies.”

Apple Pie sat on her haunches and rubbed her right leg, she bit her bottom lip before looking up to me. She stared at my face for several seconds before sighing.

“It's both actually.” Apple Pie looks up to my face. “My husband told me about you.”

“Hard Heart?” Apple Pie states.

“Yeah, he was in the Griffon Colonies.”

“He was?” I ask.

“You see John, Hard Heart is a Griffon.” Apple Pie looks to me for my reaction.

I look at Apple Pie for several seconds before I pick up the suitcases again. “Oh.” I say continuing toward Sweet Apple Acres.

Apple Pie keeps staring at John as he walks away up the road. Apple Pie turns her head to look at Applejack and Apple Fritter.

“Was it something I said?”

Applejack walks up to Apple Pie and places a foreleg over her back. “John hasn't gotten over the whole Griffon Colonies incident yet. Don't ya worry, just give him some space and he will be fine.”

“Are you sure? I don't want to avoid him all Hearts Warming.” Apple Pie says turning her head back to look at Johns disappearing form. “I don't want to hate him but the things my husband said...”

“Ah know ya have to believe yer husband but ah know John has done some bad things in the Colonies, he told me he has.” Applejack sighs. “But he hasn't told me everything that happened, ah guess he's just waiting for the right moment.”

“Anyway ah think he's got a nice butt cuz.” Apple Fritter says walking off to follow John.

Applejack and Apple Pie stare at Apple Fritter as she walks off, Applejack chuckles.

“She's not wrong.”

Applejack leaves Apple Pie with her mouth hanging open. “Wait!? What!?”

I stride into the farm house and walk straight towards the guest room, I place the suitcases on the two single beds. I stare at Apple Pie's suitcase for several seconds before I turn around and head for mine and Applejack's room. I close the door and stand stock still on the other side, a few flashbacks of the Griffon Colonies crosses my mind but I shake my head to clear it.

“Her husband just had to be a Griffon....” I let out a sigh. I stand from the door when I hear a soft knock from the other side, a knock that was too quiet for Applejack. I open the door and see Apple Pie giving me a smile, I gesture for her to come in and she nods. I watch Apple Pie as she walks passed me and sits in the centre of the room, I close the door and head for the bed taking a seat.

“John, I'm sorry about earlier. I just didn't know how to react to you and I felt...afraid a little.” Apple Pie confesses. “Truth is John, I don't want to be afraid of you. I want to be your friend and in the future a happy member in the same family.” Apple Pie sighs before she looks up to me with her eyes tearing up. “The things my husband said...are they true?”

I drag my hands down my face, unable to find the words to say. I give her a serious look before I simply reply.

“Yes.”