The day of Hearth’s Warming Eve. One of the most happiest holidays celebrated by everypony in Ponyville and Equestria.

It celebrates the friendship and love that is shared in between us all, and it’s thanks to those two things that we all live in harmony with one another. However, it wasn’t like this thousands of years ago before Celestia and Luna took the throne.

There was once strong hatred between the Earth, Pegasi, and Unicorn tribes that plunged the land into a severe blizzard which caused even more tension between the three tribes. Eventually this caused the leaders of each of the tribes to be frozen solid and forever trapped in their bitterness towards each other by the spectral Windigos.

By good fortune through, their assistants expressed no hate for one another. Instead, they expressed the first sign of friendship. With that, the Fire of Friendship was created to disperse the Windigos and thaw out the land, and their commanders. From then on, the tribes were united together and lived together peacefully.

How do I know this you ask? Well I performed in a play with my friends in the town of Canterlot. I portrayed the assistant Smart Cookie to the earth pony tribe leader, Chancellor Puddinghead.

Forgive me for not properly introducing myself.

The name’s Applejack.

I’m an earth pony who resides and works at Sweet Apple Acres on the outskirts of Ponyville. I’m also the bearer of the Element of Harmony, Honesty.

My five other friends bear the remaining five elements, Kindness, Laughter, Loyalty, Generosity, and the most powerful one of them all, Magic which is beared by Twilight Sparkle who has reached alicorn status.

Every once in a while, we like to call her ‘princess’ or ‘yer majesty’ just to give her a hard time, but she knows we’re just having fun with her.

Together with our elements, we have saved Equestria from abominations that threatened harmony, and our friendship. I say that because their have been a few situations that almost broke us up, especially with that varmint Discord.

Despite these obstacles, me and my friends prevailed!

Back on the subject of Hearth's Warming.

I feel so blessed to be granted with such great friends to celebrate it with. Not only do we celebrate the birth of friendship, but we also give each other gifts to thank each other for support and how much care they show. Also it’s a time for families to get together as well.

Family.

It’s always that word that gets me down every year. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family with all my heart. They’re one of my most valued treasures that I hold dear. The problem is that there's a couple of things missing from our family photo, even though its mighty huge. It would be difficult to spot anything missing which is why I’ll tell you.

It’s Ma and Pa.

When I first heard the news of their untimely death in a carriage accident from Granny and Mac when I was a young filly, I first denied it because it didn’t seem true at all. There’s no way they could be gone forever.

When I found out they weren't lying to me, I galloped to my room, locked the door behind me so no pony would get in, and then I jumped on my bed to soak my pillow with tears and mucus as I wept helplessly. It wasn’t fair that they were gone! It just wasn’t fair! It was the day of Hearth’s Warming when they died, and that they were coming home using that carriage which took their lives! I know Granny and Mac were broken by this unfortunate event, but I was completely shattered like a glass hitting a hard surface at high velocity. It wasn’t fair to Apple Bloom either because she hardly got to know them. She was only a few weeks old.

When I finally calmed down after what seemed to be hours to me, I pulled my face away from my spoiled pillow and trotted over to the mirror in my room.

When I saw my reflection, I looked like a total mess.

My eyes were bloodshot red and had a few crusty tears beneath them. My mane was messy and unkempt like I just stuck a hoof in an electrical outlet, and a few strands of slightly dry mucus hung from the nostrils of my muzzle.

When I finished cleaning myself up, I unlocked the door to my room and opened it. I was surprised to find Granny and Mac standing outside my room with worried expressions on both of their faces. I don’t know how long they’ve been standing there but strangely it didn’t bother me. I knew that they were there to check up on me even after I heartlessly locked them out.

After I reassured them that I was okay now, they both trotted over to me and hugged me close with their hoofs wrapped behind my back. I hugged them back and then started crying again, but not as bad as before.

Shortly, all three of us were weeping into one another. It showed that we were all sharing the same grief on this supposed-to-be-happy holiday. Soon we were interrupted by Apple Bloom’s cries from her crib.

We all came into her room to comfort her. It was hard to tell if she was feeling the heartache we were experiencing, or that she was just doing was helpless foals do best. Either way, we all gave her the love and attention she needed.

So here I am now, a full grown mare living the best life anypony could ask for. I just wish Ma and Pa could be here to see it. I’m aware they're watching me from above and smiling at the progress I’ve made in my life. I know they’re proud of me, but I still wish that they were here so I can talk, feel, and hug them. It would be wonderful if they got to meet my friends as well. I know that they would get along perfectly.

I woke up as the rays of faint sunlight passed over my eyes. Since it was too cold for the roosters, everypony on the farm relied on Celestia’s sun to wake them up.

I combed and tied my mane up in its usual ponytail before placing my brown Stetson hat on my head. Apparently it belonged to Pa which is why its my most prized possession, and my reminder of him.

I then grabbed a quick bite to eat before I wrapped a scarf around my neck and placed my four hoofs unto my snow boots.

Just because it was Hearth's Warming Eve doesn’t mean that chores needed to be done. The snow in the apple trees wasn’t going to buck itself off you know.

As I worked on clearing the trees of heavy snow, I was thinking about the fun my friends were having. I felt happy for them, but it sort of made me feel just awful. The worst part being is that they were all away.

Rainbow and Fluttershy traveled to Cloudsdale to meet with their relatives while Twilight and Rarity went to Canterlot for their own vacation. Twilight of course was visiting her parents their while Rarity was there to attend a Hearth's Warming Eve ball.

Pinkie visited her parents and three sisters at their old rock farm to throw a party as usual. Thanks to Pinkie, the Pie’s were no longer a depressed and gloomy bunch like they once were.

My friends however did ask if I was going to be alright since I would be left here alone in Ponyville with Granny, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom.

I regretfully told them that I would be okay because the family and farm needed me, and that they didn’t have to worry about me either so they could easily enjoy themselves.

I wished I could’ve thought of my answer more so I would have told them no, but I really didn’t want them to change their plans for me, or even cancel them. I was no selfless pony.

As time drew on, I was slightly growing more and more depressed and frustrated at myself for not being completely honest with my friends. That sounds kind of odd coming from the Element of Honesty to say that sort of thing. I mean what’s the point of being an honest pony if you can’t be honest with yourself? My mood for the holiday wasn't getting much better either.

When I reached the last tree, I bucked it as hard as I could just to drain out some of my frustration. The tree luckily didn’t crack, but unfortunately it had a lot of snow piled up on it.

I screamed as an avalanche of heavy snow cascaded down and buried me completely in a large lump.

A second later I popped my head up and stared down at myself. I was buried up to my neck in a cold blanket of frozen raindrops.

I looked silly and pathetic like this. I stared at the sky and began talking to it as tears started welling up in my eyes.

“Why did ya have ta leave us like this Ma and Pa? Why did you go when it was the day when we were all supposed ta get together and spend the holidays laughing and exchanging gifts and love? It’s so darn cruel!”

I know I shouldn’t be angry at my parents because it wasn’t their fault. If anyone was to blame, it was Death itself, but my heart was racing and my head was pounding that I wasn’t thinking straight.

“Why did you do this to me, Granny, Mac, and Apple Bloom who hardly got to know ya? She was a foal for Celestia’s sake! Don’t ya know that’s too young to remember who yer own parents are? You abandoned her when she was too young to know anything about the world around her! What good comes out of that huh?!”

Receiving no response, I managed to pop out my two fore-hoofs from the snow and used them to cover up my eyes as I sobbed openly. I haven’t cried like this in years.

After about which I’m guessing forty-five seconds, I heard a familiar female voice ask, “Applejack, are you alright?”

I looked up from my hooves to gazed into the concerned face of one of my friends, Twilight Sparkle!

“Twilight, what are you doin’ here? Ah thought you were in Canterlot visitin’ yer folks,” I said as I wiped my eyes dry. I was surprised to see her here.

“I was going to last night, but I felt bad for leaving you here after you said you were going to be fine. We all did,” Twilight explained.

“We?” I asked.

I then looked behind her and noticed that my other friends were with her wearing the exact same expression.

I couldn’t help but form a small smile on my muzzle.

“Well golly girls, it’s mighty nice of ya ta do that fer me, but ya really didn’t half to,” I said with a small blush.

“Why wouldn’t we? Celebrating Hearth’s Warming Eve wouldn’t be as much fun without you around AJ. We can’t just leave you hangin’” Rainbow said shrugging her fore-hooves as she levitated by her flapping wings. “What kind of friends would we be then?”

“What about yer plans though? Surely Rare here would’ve loved ta go to that ball in Canterlot,” I said looking at Rarity.

“And run into that uncouth royal brat Blueblood? Forget about it,” Rarity said shivering at the idea. “I’d rather be with you girls instead.”

“But what about the rest of you meeting yer family members?” I asked curiously.

“Pinkie decided to invite all our parents and relatives to Ponyville, and have a party at Sugarcube Corner. Thankfully they all agreed to come; right Pinkie?” Twilight said turning to the party pony.

“Yes in deedily!” Pinkie replied enthusiastically with a wide and toothy smile. “It wouldn’t be a party through without you.”

“So ya mean you changed yer plans for this year so we can spend Hearth’s Warming together?” I asked with now happy tears of joy starting to flood my eyes.

“If that was alright with you,” Fluttershy said at a barely audible tone.

“Of course it’s alright with me. You guys are the best friends anypony like me could ask for,” I said with the stream of tears beginning to flow down my cheeks and stinging in the frozen air.

“I’m pretty sure we’re more than that darling,” Rarity said.

I raised a brow in confusion.

“Whad’ya mean by that Rare?”

“Well...you...see...we,” Rarity stuttered as if she was trying to find the correct sentence.

“What she’s trying to say Applejack is that we all know that you lost your parents on the day of Hearth's Warming Eve, and that you were completely devastated by your loss. All of us knew that you would not be alright when this holiday arrived. We felt it was better if you spent Hearth’s Warming with us,” Twilight explained.

“But what’s the point of Rare sayin’ that you guys are more than jus’ ma friends?” I asked wanting to know where this was going.

“Friends can be your family as well Applejack,” Twilight said with a soothing smile. “That’s the point.”

I was about to say something else, but nothing came out. I was completely speechless. I never knew that friends could be like family members to you. It didn’t seem logical, but I knew Twilight and the others were right. My friends were very trustworthy so I should never doubt anything they tell me.

After processing what I’ve just been told, I smiled and hugged Twilight sobbing happily.

“Thank you Twi. Thank you all fer comin’ back fer me. Ah don’t know what could’ve become of me if y’all weren’t here fer today,” I choked.

Twilight gently wrapped her wings over my back and hugged me back with them.

“It’s what friends do,” Twilight said and nuzzled my neck like I did with hers.

Soon we were all hugging one another which warmed us all in the freezing weather. When our hug broke, Twilight then said, “Why don’t you bring your other family members too if they don’t have any other plans. I’m sure we can find someway to transport your grandmother into town so she doesn’t have to face this weather.”

I thought for a moment and couldn’t help chuckle.

“Ah think that would be wonderful. Ah’m sure they’ll be grateful for yer offer.”

“Well what are you waiting for? Go and tell them already! I’m eager to get this party going already!” Pinkie said bouncing excitedly none stop.

“We’ll wait for you right here,” Twilight reassured.

“Are ya sure ya don’t want any hot apple cider first? Y’all must be freezin’,” I offered.

Twilight thought.

“That actually sounds like a better idea. Why not?” Twilight said smiling. The others agreed.

We all laughed and talked while we all trotted back to the farmhouse to escape the cold weather. I have never felt this happy on Hearth's Warming Eve at all. I’ve always been so miserable on this occasion because my family at the farm is so small now that Hearth's Warming just wasn’t as fun or happy as it used to be. But now that I learned that friendship is part of family, my perspective on life has gotten way better.

Surely it would still be great if my parents were alive, but I know that they would want this for me.

Not only is friendship magical, it’s family as well.

Author's Notes:

* I got inspiration for this story by remembering how small my own family is. My parents are divorced and both of my grandparents passed away, and my relatives live far away. Another source is when I used to watch the movie Jack Frost (the Michael Keaton one to be specific, yet they didn't return as snowponies). Anyway I know how it feels to celebrate a momentous holiday without the people who are close to you.