She placed the large angel pony on top of the tree and then climbed back down the ladder while she blissfully hummed an old Hearth carol to herself. As Applejack put the ladder in her mouth to carry it back in to the basement, she noticed the stockings above the roaring fireplace and remembered the box of sugarcubes she planned to put in her sister's stocking. She had already placed her gifts for Granny Smith and her older brother Big Macintosh in their respective stockings at a time when they weren't present, but earlier when she had brought down her gift for Apple Bloom's stocking, she had been in the room playing in front of the fireplace, and wanting to surprise her, she hid the sugarcubes in the tree. The sun had begun to set over Equestria that was freshly covered in blanket of snow, deep and crisp, and even more was on the way.

Reaching her hoof into the tree fetching her sister's present, she trotted it over and gleefully dropped it from her mouth into the stocking. In her heart, Applejack delighted at the thought of her sister looking in her stocking the next morning and finding a sweet treat that was courtesy of her big sister. 'Happy Hearth's Warmin' Apple Bloom! Nopony ever had a better little sis,' she thought to herself. Next to the early summer apple-bucking season, this was the young farmer's favorite time of year. She treasured the ancient holiday's traditions faithfully observed throughout the generations before her; the decorating of a pine tree, the hanging of wreaths and mistletoes, the abundance of bells and lights blinking bright red and green, and the singing of jolly hymns among some of her favorites. But most of all, Applejack found joy in the spirit of friendship and giving that brought her family together even more intimately after a long year of hard work on the farm.

After filling her sister's stocking, Applejack turned her attention to what else she might be able to do help with the holiday preparations. Seeing that the fire was in need of more fuel, she added another pair of wooden logs to keep it strong. Ah' wonder how Granny Smith's comin' with the hot apple cider? Eager to help her elderly grandmother, she started to make her way towards the kitchen when she heard the voice of Apple Bloom herself from somewhere in the house.

"Applejack!" called the young filly, who, unbeknownst to her sister, was hiding under a couch in the opposite room. "Ya promised!"

Applejack sighed. She knew well what her sister was referring to.

"Ah' know, ah' know... ah' also said after we finish our chores," said the orange mare.

"Ah' did finish mah' chores! And Granny Smith says the hot cider is almost done," the filly refuted.

This was met with another sigh from her older sister, though not because Applejack did not enjoy what Apple Bloom was requesting; it was just that she did not want to engage in such behavior before the other family members had finished their work in case they could be helping. Applejack's sigh was followed by a gentle smile as her sister's innocence and excitement appeased her heart.

"Alright, lemme just check in with Granny real quick," she shrugged, continuing her walk towards the kitchen. Applejack inhaled a deep breath through the nose as she approached it, taking in the sweet smell of cinnamon mixed with apple cider; Granny Smith's famous hot cider recipe, made with the finest apples they had stored for winter. Applejack entered the kitchen and called out to her grandmother from the doorway, who was at the stove.

"Howdy Granny! How's the cider comin'?"

Granny Smith, who, though feeble in her elderly physique, has only increased in excitability and amiable silliness with her growing older, looked back at her granddaughter winked. Though slowed just a little bit in her mind as a result of her age, she was always aware of her granddaughter's pure intentions and understood her concerns. She was incredibly fond of the young mare and her sister, whom she had raised herself.

"Thank you, Applejack, but yer Granny has it covered. Ah'd be breakfast fer the goat the day ah' make a bad batch of hot cider without no pony's help," she said, switching her gaze back to the pot on the stove.

"You sure?" said Applejack, affectionately with a smile.

"Ah'm sure, dagnabbit. Now go play with yer sister 'fore ah' keep talkin'," she said, adding a slice of orange peel to the cider.

The elder granddaughter grinned and tipped her hat and chuckled off to the living room. She is always delighted to help her family in any way she can, but she was interiorly quite happy that Granny Smith had dismissed her so that she could grant her promise to her little sister.

"Alright, Apple Bloom, ah'm comin'!" she yelled gleefully to the entire house when she reached the living room.

Without wasting time, she immediately began overturning pillows and looking behind furniture for any sign of her little sister. She thought to herself some spots where Apple Bloom had hid in the past. Alright, where are ya, ya little whipper snapper? Are ya hidin' somewhere new, or someplace old? As Applejack hunted around the living room, Apple Bloom giggled uncontrollably and her heart beat rapidly as she laid hidden under the couch in the front room.

Apple Bloom was just like most other foals her age; in general she desired to act older and would love to be able to grow up faster. But certain playful activities young Apple Bloom could not resist, and her favorite game of all was played with either Applejack or their big brother Big Macintosh, and she called it "monster." To Applejack, it was just another opportunity to bond with her beloved little sister, to whose care she was especially committed after the passing of their parents. To Apple Bloom, who had looked up to her big sister all her life, it was simply an irresistibly exciting activity that provided intensely fun scares.

Moving to the front room, Applejack began to look around for any clues as to give away her little sister's hiding spot, as Apple Bloom covered her mouth with her hoof under the couch, frozen in joyful fear upon hearing her big sister looking for her in the room she was in. To Applejack's delight, she noticed the rug next to a large wicker basket was slightly folded over at the corner, indicating activity near it. Ha, got ya! she thought to herself as she began to excitedly approach the basket.

"Ha!" she screamed, as she opened the lid to the basket expecting to find her terrified sister. But when no one was there, she began to look around in bewilderment.

"Hmm," she hummed aloud, when she noticed underneath the couch a brief swish of what appeared to be a red tail. With all her excitement returned, Applejack walked slowly over to towards the back of the couch. "Well, ah' guess Apple Bloom ain't hidin' 'round these parts," she said in overacting fashion with a mischievous beam not visible to her sister.

"Hehehe," giggled Apple Bloom, as she triumphantly thought to herself she had bested her sister.

Suddenly, without any warning, to her horror she felt something clamp down on her tail, which had once again strayed from out under the couch. Apple Bloom shrieked with glee as Applejack pulled her out from under the couch by her tail.

"Gotcha!" she screamed as she spit out her sister's tale.

As Apple Bloom giggled wildly and struggled frantically to run away, her sister playfully grabbed her and tickled her awfully, as Apple Bloom howled with laughter and futilely attempted to free herself. It wasn't long before both of them were laughing merrily, as the little filly's happiness in turn tickled her sister's heart. Applejack finally released her sister, who ran away hastily, still crying with laughter. Applejack laid on the ground and closed her eyes as she panted heavily and regained her energy. Despite it's struggle to keep up with her activities, her heart was deeply content, because she loved her little sister, and energy spent for her sake was always worth it.

"Again, again!" cried the little filly as she galloped back, prompting her older sister to chuckle.

"Good gravy, Apple Bloom!" she panted, as she began to sit up.

"Sorry sis, ah' guess seein' how Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are with their families too," she said, calming down and helping her sister up, "that kinda just leaves you to play with."

"How much energy ya think ah' got, girl?" said Applejack, lowering her eyebrows sternly at her sister. Apple Bloom frowned in disappointment for a just moment before her older sister smiled her and laughed. "Ah' got plenty of energy," she said with a lighthearted laugh, and her little sister's face lit up with glee. "Just gimme a minute's rest. Why don't ya make sure Granny Smith's still doin' fine," she continued.

"Got it sis," she said, as her elder sibling watched her hop off towards the kitchen.

"Hey, Apple Bloom," called her sister, "ain't you forgettin' somethin'?" Applejack said with a gentle beam, sitting back and raising her right hoof out from her body.

Apple Bloom pranced forward into her sister's open arm and the two embraced each other tenderly. After a long hug, the little one once again set out on a gallop towards the kitchen.

"Love ya Applejack!" she exclaimed.

The older of the two looked on with tremendous affection as she hopped away. She was overjoyed at the chance to spend this night with her little sister. It was especially important to her to bond with Apple Bloom given the absence of their parents, and in many ways Applejack felt a strong desire and need to make up for that. Love you too, little sis, she thought to herself. She took a deep breath and sighed happily, quickly remembering exactly why she loved Hearth's Warming Eve so much.

Shortly after her sister's departure to the kitchen to check on Granny Smith, Applejack's gaze was drawn with awe to the sky outside the window near the festive holiday tree, where she watched the sun hang on crimson clouds and die away. It wasn't long before the moon was shining brightly in the night sky, with a sea of stars twinkling around it. She took a moment to observe the front side of her family's farm and it's rolling hills, covered with powdery snow that was sparkling in the moonlight. She looked with delight through the darkness at all of the decorative wreaths that lined their white picket fence and bright lights that her friend, Princess Twilight, had given her. She and her family's efforts had made for a beautiful sight, and her heart was overflowing with joy and good will.

It was at that moment that Applejack's eyes narrowed as something unexpected caught her attention; just beyond their picket fence, below a row of spidery trees, was a dark speck. Curiosity fired up inside her as she watched intently the dark figure that roamed just on the other side of her land. She looked on with her face pressed up against glass, when she made out the distant figure was in the shape of a pony, a fully grown one.

"Apple Bloom, c'mere!" she loudly called to the kitchen, not looking away from the figure and her fascination in full throttle.

Apple Bloom came running from the kitchen through the hallway and back to the front room where her sister was, her eyes wide and eager to see what prompted such an urgent tone in her sister's voice.

"What is it sis?"

"Look! Do you see that?" she pointed breathlessly, as the filly brought herself to the window and pressed her face against the glass alongside her sister. The outline took a few steps to her right and emerged from the shadow of night, the moonlight briefly shining to reveal a ragged stallion.

"There, do you see him?" cried Applejack.

Rarely had they seen the world this way, asleep under a cover lit of white, asleep under the glistening full moon. Their eyes narrowed further at the stallion, a somber, hapless figure who seemed to be bending his head low over the snow and picking up twigs and sticks with his mouth and placing them on his back. His clothing was puzzlingly thin to combat the cruel frost, and his mane and tail appeared unkept as he once again strayed from the moonlight and back into the shadows.

Applejack suddenly felt a combination of great wonder and pity waking within her. In her heart she had a guess what was before them, but she had to see what her sister made of him.

"There, did ya see him?" she asked.

"Yes, yes!" the filly answered.

"And?" pressed the mare, turning her head back and fourth between her sister and the stallion, "is he from Ponyville? Do we know him?"

"Oh no, sis," said the filly, frowning, shivering as she saw him, "none of us would be out there!" she shuttered, as Applejack's heart sank. "Out in the freezin' cold! Heaven only knows what creatures be lurkin' out there this time o' night."

Applejack looked on with a wide eyes and a heavy heart. Her emotions and good feelings took a plunge as she realized her suspicions had been confirmed. What they had before them just beyond their farm, was a poor stallion, collecting wood for a fire. Realizing this, it saddened her to then hear her sister's innocent voice while they observed this.

"Ah' think ah' heard some of the ponies talkin' bout him before. He lives back over yonder, a good way, near the Everfree Forest. He ain't got no home, that's what they say."

Apple Bloom said nothing, and removed herself from the window and began to slowly walk away, back towards the kitchen. Applejack remained, crushed, watching the stallion with deep sensitivity and profound sympathy as he disappeared into the night. She thought about many things, all which reflected one thing for certain; she felt bad for the him, the poor, nameless stallion whom she had witnessed with her little sister collecting wood for a fire in the bitter cold.

Ain't no one should be alone and cold on Hearth's Warming Eve, without a family, or friends... she thought to herself. She wondered to herself what it would be like to spend this special night outside, in his situation, without the company or good food she was about to share with her family. Applejack knew that her and her family had long been considered at the bottom of the social status in Ponyville. Her life filled with hard work just to make enough to keep the farm, while ponies around her enjoyed the luxury of not having to work excessively to sustain their lifestyles. But she suddenly felt like the richest and most spoiled mare in Equestria.

She took a long, deep sigh... very different from the sigh she had taken just a few minutes earlier. She finally stopped staring into the darkness that stretched out over the land beyond her farm, placing her back to the window, and letting herself sink all the way down to the floor. She went from being full of joy and bliss to wondering if she could even enjoy this Hearth's Warming Eve, as she would now be thinking about the poor stallion she had seen with her sister for the rest of the night and likely beyond.

But concern for the poor stallion was not the only thing that now troubled Applejack's heart. She was also deeply concerned with her most beloved little sister, who had perhaps for the first time in her young life seen bitter poverty. Apple Bloom was only a filly, but before long, she would be a mare. With a wave of sadness, she knew she was going to have make something of this so that it would benefit her sister's upbringing somehow and contribute to her positive development. At that moment, Applejack felt the burden of a parent faced with a difficult moment in the life and raising of their own child. She also wondered if there was anything she could do, anything at all, for the poor stallion, who had already disappeared from the property and into the night. Her love for her sister and her concern for the lowly stallion churned her heart.

Applejack turned her head back towards the window, her eyes pointed upward towards the stars, and with a glowing heart, addressed those whom she had never given up hope on. Ma... Pa... what should ah' do? She's just a filly, and she ain't never seen nothin' like this... she's gonna remember this, and ah' don't know how to handle it. Help me, please... show me what to do...

Suffering deep anxiety, she stood there for a moment in inner silence, not taking her eyes off the stars. She was waiting for an answer. A hunch of some kind. She waited and stared for a long while, close to weeping tears, when she remembered something from her early foalhood, from even before Apple Bloom was born. It was with her father, a time when she was watching him with wide eyes as he demonstrated how to till the land for her. He smiled at her, and gave her a farmer's tip.

"These seeds I'm sowing here are appleseeds. With these we reap all the apples you see inside, little one." Applejack, who at the time was far younger than Apple Bloom was now, recalled her excitement at hearing this, when he smiled back and added a further lesson, one of the most important the (then) young filly ever learned. "But we Apples sow seeds of kindness, and we reap friendship."

Suddenly, at the moment, in nearly an instant, the country mare had a complete epiphany, as the words of her father echoed throughout her ears again and again. She had always taken his words to heart, and it was so that she now wondered how she hadn't come to this conclusion immediately. She knew what to do now. Not only what to do about her little sister, but the poor stallion also. In only a moment, she began to experience a complete change of heart; instead of feeling unbearable sadness and worry, as she previously had, the warmth that sprung forward from inside her before was beginning to return, only now it may have been stronger as she was feeling giddy with compassion. Ah' need to show mah' sis what it means to sow kindness.

Turning her eyes upward to the stars, a smile came across her freckled face.

"Thanks Pa."

Applejack hurried over to the kitchen with a spring in her step. She rejoiced. Indeed, she rejoiced that the humble peasant, foraging in the snow, could very well have been Apple Bloom's saving moment. She entered the kitchen with an attention-commanding entrance, confident with a bright beam, much to Granny Smith and her sister's surprise. Big Macintosh now stood there as well.

"Granny Smith? Is the cider ready?" she asked with urgent excitement, when she noticed Apple Bloom was about to take a sip of the first cup of hot cider. "Save that cider, sis! Granny, get that fancy thermos thingy Rarity got me last year out o' the closet. Apple Bloom, go up to mah' room and get the big saddle bag outa the closet."

Both the elderly mare and the young filly continued their stares of confusion as Applejack went over to the counter where all the freshly baked food was placed.

"What now?" said Apple Bloom.

"Go up to mah' room and get mah' biggest saddle bag. Stop by yer room and get yers too," she said breathlessly as she took a large apple pie and swiftly wrapped it in foil.

"What's this for?" said her dumbfounded sister. Applejack turned around and pointed her upstairs.

"You'll find out in a minute, but for right now, just get up there and get what ah' asked ya to get, an' grab some warm clothes," she said, as she turned around and told at her sister. Though the command was absolute, her demeanor was giddy, her smile benevolent. Without further questioning, Apple Bloom began to scuttle away to the stairs while Applejack continued to wrap some of their finest apple delights in foil (there had been a great mass of food, and far from taking most of it, she got enough for a little over three people) and Granny Smith stared in silent bewilderment at her older and busy granddaughter.

"Uh..." said the green mare, looking at her granddaughter from top to bottom while she worked. Applejack took a quick break from her toil to look her grandmother in the eye.

"Granny Smith," panted Applejack. Her eyes pleaded with every inch of her life, yet they gently reassuring her grandmother. "Ya gotta trust me on this one. Apple Bloom and ah' got somethin' we need to take care of. We'll be back, either late tonight or early tomorrow. Ah'll keep her safe, ah' promise."

The gray-haired mare, whose experience and age trumped all others in Ponyville, did not know what the young mare was planning. She was taken back and quite worried by her declaration, but looking into her granddaughter's eyes, she saw the same uncommon generosity and honesty she had always seen, only now with a deep yearning that desperately needed satisfaction. Granny Smith hardly understood what was going on, but she sensed it's importance, and above all, she trusted her granddaughter.

After a brief moment of silence, Granny Smith smiled at her precious Applejack. They embraced each other tightly, and the both of them lamented that the fact they might not see each other until morning.

Without missing a beat, Applejack returned to her energetic workings, immediately pouring a large amount of hot cider into the thermos, would which ensure it's warmth until they reached their destination. As she capped the lid on the delectable treasure, her little sister returned from upstairs, dressed in a scarf and thick wool sweater, carrying with both her and her sister's empty saddle bags.

"Hurry sis!" cried Applejack excitedly, as she began stuffing her sister's smaller saddle bag and her own full of apple pie, apple fritters, and other tasty treats courtesy of the household. Apple Bloom, who had previously been oblivious to her sister's plans, began to slightly comprehend what perhaps her and her older sister were about to do.

"Where 'er we doin' Applejack?" she said as she trailed quickly behind the eager mare as she galloped across the house to fetch a red wool sweater of her own and winter hat.

"Ah'm showin' you what it means to be a member of the Apple family," she said with a loving smile at her sister.

Apple Bloom once hurried behind her sister back down the stairs, where upon getting to the bottom her sister trotted over the fireplace, where she began handing her logs of firewood. She had her little sister place them on her back and tie them to her back, wrapping the twine under her belly. The little filly at last realized what she and her sister were doing. In her youthful innocence, the mission did not have the implications and importance that it did to her sister, and she even thought for a moment that this would cut into her playing time, and silently fretted at the thought of the cold.

Though throughout her life, especially without the presence of her parents, Apple Bloom desperately needed someone to look up to. Someone who not only could teach her how to live the pony way, but also someone whom she could observe and mimic. That pony was Applejack, who not only taught her sister, but also practiced her teachings, living honestly, and Apple Bloom was eager to follow her big sister, whom she loved. As eager as Apple Bloom was to follow her big sister, Applejack was just as eager to show her and be the big sister she needed.

Without hesitation, Applejack opened the front door and stepped out onto the snow-covered porch, saddle bags full of food and drink at her side and heavy pine logs on her back, though the load was not heavy to she who had one of the strongest backs in Equestria to go along with perhaps the strongest heart. Wasting no time, she started a gallop through the darkness and snow down the path leading to the front of the farm, as her little sister trekked behind with a lighter load.

The wind chill on Applejack's face was frigid and harsh, and she knew it would only get worse as their journey went on until their destination, but that did not deter her; indeed, it only further motivated her sympathetic heart to deliver a blessing to the poor stallion they had seen searching for firewood on this cold Hearth's Warming Eve. And reaching the stallion's tracks, forth went the two sisters together into the night. Forth they went together, the big sister leading the way through the rude wind's wild lament, on the Eve of Hearth's Warming.

The night pressed on and the two siblings along with it, and eventually the stars and the moon became dimmed from a layer of clouds, eventually fading from sight altogether. Applejack stepped boldly through the snow, her head pointed downward to avoid the chill, all the while carrying a load of wood on her back and food in her saddle bag. Behind her, Apple Bloom bravely struggled under the weight of her own load of food.

The younger of the two watched her sister in front of her and followed her as best as she could. Applejack had never told her where they were going, but it was obvious to her, and she admired her sister's desire a Hearth's Warming blessing to the stallion, although she found it a bit radical.

"Applejack?" asked the soft voice of the filly from behind, as she too struggled against the weather. Applejack kept walking, but turned her head back towards her sister as she walked. "Ah' think it's great we're takin' this poor fella some food, but do ya think we could do it on a night other than Hearth's Warming Eve, and when it ain't so cold?"

The filly was expecting her sister, whom she could see was battling the bitter night air, to agree with her. But Applejack instead smiled at her sister with care, which in turn warmed Apple Bloom's spirit, as she came up beside her sister had slowed down to walk beside her.

"Apple Bloom," remarked her sister, as she briefly closed her eyes through the wind, before turning back to her sister with a deep look, "one day you'll understand, it's 'cause o' those things that we need to be doin' this right now."

The little one stared with wonder at the one whom she looked up to, her role model; she did not, at that moment, understand why it was "because of those things" that they must do this for the poor stallion. But she felt content at her sister's encouraging words and gestures, and knew that no matter what happened, she would protect her.

Apple Bloom turned her head up to the trees and hills they hiked through when a snow flake fell right before her face. Looking into the infinite expanse above, she saw snow flakes descending like concourses of angels winging their way down to watch over them, and lead them safely along.

Applejack, on the other hand, watched her sister's expression as it looked up at the sky with awe. Normally, the two of them were quite verbally communicant with one another, sharing with each other what was on their mind. She was proud of her little sister, who although having not spoken much, had never questioned their task or complained only once thus far. She felt bad for having to put her sister through the bitter cold, as she only desired her sister's happiness, but she knew that this quest, though simple in nature, was extremely important for her development. She wanted to show her sister what true kindness and concern for other ponies was, especially the poverty-stricken, that true form of which she had only just been exposed to for the first time in her young life.

And so the two of them marched onward, side by side, though cold and tired, basking in the warmth of the other's company.

As the time went by, the night air grew colder. The soft blanket of snow that at first enticed little Apple Bloom now threatened to ensnare her. Her small stature was so that her belly was actually skimming the surface of the snow. As she once again fell behind her sister, with every step, the icy surface surface enveloped her hooves and turned them into ice. When she could no longer feel them, and fatigue from carrying the food began to overtake her, she pled to her sister for rest and relief.

"Applejack!" she called, her very soul weary. "Ah' need a break, Applejack. Ah' can't go no more."

Applejack answered her tenderly, as one walking the same path herself. She noticed a large pine tree just to the side of the stallion's tracks, where beneath was a small but sheltered bed of pine needles. She trekked over to the tree and allowed Apple Bloom to walk in before her. The little filly stumbled weakly onto the trees' floor that was devoid of snow and fell to her stomach, exhausted from their journey. She wondered how Applejack could keep going through this hellacious weather for the sake of a complete stranger. She wondered why her sister would put her through something like this. She was weak, tired, and freezing.

At that moment, she turned her head around, and saw her sister, the storm raging behind her, checking the area before she came in. The mare's green eyes looked around carefully, and the little one saw that she too was physically exhausted and worn down, yet there was a kind of determination in her eyes stronger than she had ever seen, and yet not an ounce of regret.

After looking around, she came to lay beside her little sister in silence, and sheltering her from the storm, she placed her under the warmth of the front part of her belly, wrapping in her front legs and resting her chin on her. Immediately the heat from Applejack's body began comfort and restored her sister. The mare had rarely felt a love this strong for her sister, and the love that sprung forth from her heart seemed to pour life into little Apple Bloom, who began to embrace her sister.

"Ah' promised ah'd take care you," she whispered.

The filly knew at that moment that her sister truly did love her. She took care of her like she was her own. But she still didn't fully understand why they had to do this. She began to reflect on what she just experienced. That was so exhaustin'. Ah' feel so bad fer that poor stallion... how ah'd feel if someone went through that for me, why ah' wouldn't believe less ah' saw it.

At that moment, she began to appreciate not only why her sister insisted on going to him this night, but she also began to understand why Applejack had brought her with her. So she could see what true kindness was. True kindness was what her sister was doing, suffering for the good of this stallion, but Applejack was too modest to point that out. Apple Bloom had to see it for herself. At that moment, the little one wrapped her front legs around her older sibling and hugged her. She spoke whispered weakly in her young, child's voice, but is was what she said that surprised her older sister.

"We're almost there, Applejack. Can't stop now."

Applejack's eyes widened with awe at her little sister before a most tender smile came across her face. She closed her eyes fought her drained strength and the weight of wood on her back to stand up, before reaching her hoof down to help her sister up. The two of them stood up and exited the shelter of the tree, out into the fierce winds and deep snow, and continued together once more.

The rest of the way, Apple Bloom had difficulty taking her eyes off her sister, who fought the wind and cold so bravely just to deliver some relief to a poor pony she had only just observed earlier that night. It was becoming as if the weather itself was doing all it could to prevent them from reaching him, using it all it had into enticing them to give up on their journey. Applejack, however, was determined to deliver him food, drink, and winter fuel, for the moment she'd seen him in his lowly state, her heart was moved with compassion for him, and up to that point it had served her well in finding the strength to carry on through the night, even when her body desired so strongly to rest.

The filly observed her older sister in front of her fighting with everything she had to advance through the night. It wasn't long before her own body was freezing up again, weakening her will to continue. But when she saw Applejack, who was also bent on providing a worthy example for her sister, she found somehow found the strength to carry on, for she looked up to her sister and loved her with all of her heart, and desired nothing more than to be like her.

As Applejack's limbs began to numb and seemingly drained of all energy while the wind blasted it's deathly cold air in her face, she closed her eyes and pictured the her, the stallion, and Apple Bloom, all around sitting around fire enjoying their family's apple treats, whilst they grew in friendship and love in the spirit of Hearth's Warming Eve. When Apple Bloom next looked up at her sister, who's love and determination glowed amidst the sea of darkness, she could almost swear she saw a light emanating above her sister's head.

"Come on, Applejack! Come on!" the mare cried out to herself, as she closed her eyes and thought about her sister, the poor stallion, and her parents. She refused to let any of them down, and her heart's compassion fought back against the cold.

It was the height of the storm's rage, and Apple Bloom, who was already deeply inspired by her big sister's courage, saw her sister's hoofprints, and began to step in them herself, bringing her hoofs right her sister's prints. It wasn't long before she was marching enthusiastically behind her big sister. With each step in her sister's footprints, her hooves began to warm, and the warmth rose within her, and gave her strength. When Applejack opened her weary eyes, her head turned backward to escape the wind, she saw her sister prancing behind her, and filled with rapture at her sister's commitment and compassion, she turned her head back into the storm and lifted her legs just enough to move forward.

It was at that moment that the edge of the dark forest came into view, and just up yonder from where they were, they could see a dim orange light, a fire, sitting right at the edge of the forest. The two sisters had reached the poor stallion at last. Apple Bloom came up beside her sister, and the two of them walked the final part of the journey side by side with smiles. Through their journey, they had showed the unbreakable will and bond of the Apple family and its members. With love in their hearts, they walked the last steps until the fire was in plain sight, and they beheld a small shelter which the stallion had constructed.

Now the stallion, who had been watching his dimming fire and staying as close as he could to stay warm, could hardly believe his eyes when he looked up. Emerging from the darkness was what appeared to be two figures moving slowly towards him. Upon seeing the two figures, one tall and one small, his heart rate jumped and interest sprung. How could there be two ponies in this far out this late at a night, one very young? On a night like this and the cruel weather, no less? And most puzzling of all, on Hearth's Warming Eve? He ran out towards them a few steps and waved his hoof in the air, calling them over to take shelter from the storm.

"Here! Here!" he called.

He watched them with concern as they approached him, and he watched with tremendous bewilderment when he saw it was a young, exhausted but beautiful orange earth pony with a blonde mane and what appeared to be her little sister, a yellow filly with a red mane and bow. Not only that, but they each carried something, the mare with something on her back. He went to help them into his small shelter, which was composed of an overhead blanket stretched across twigs and sticks, but to his utter amazement they looked him with expressions of joy though they were tired, as though they knew him personally.

"Howdy partner," said the mare, in her sweet voice, with a country accent the stallion was not used to. "My name's Applejack. This here's mah' sister Apple Bloom," she said, pointing to her sister.

Apple Bloom smiled warmly at him, and though he was confused, he couldn't help but smile and feel fuzzy on the inside at the sight of this adorable young filly looking at him this way. The two sisters saw that he was roughly a middle-aged stallion with a grayish-blue coat and a white mane and tail, both unkept and messy as they were before. His eyes were blue, and he wore a thin, torn sweater, nothing like what Applejack or her sister were wearing. His expression and appearance was overall worn down from his poverty, but nonetheless caring and thoughtful.

"What are you doing out in the storm?" he asked.

Applejack smiled at him, and setting down the saddle bags, he could not believe that she had firewood on her back. She took out the thermos while her sister began to take out the food. Instead of consuming it themselves, they offered it to him, as though that's what they had in mind all along. The stallion could not believe what was going on, and he stared at them with tears in his eyes.

"We saw you from our window, sugarcube. Would you like some cider?" said Applejack.

"Yeah! And some apple pie, apple fritter, apple bumpkins, and anything else ya like in here," said the eager little filly.

The stallion stared at them in disbelief, and his mouth curdled into a smile as he wept. He could not believe that a mare and filly had come this far through the storm just to provide him with some food and company. He ran forward and hugged the mare and filly, who in turn hugged him back. Only after a long hug did he remove himself, for he had just made two friends that he loved dearly on this Hearth's Warming Eve.

"Ah' know why we came out here when we did, AJ," said Apple Bloom, who jumped up into her sister's arms, and the two rested their heads on each other.

Applejack looked up at the stars and smiled, her soul rejoicing with her sister's as they shared the best Hearth's Warming Eve they ever had. The little one discovered that the stallion was no different from any other pony, not inferior because of his poverty. Her sister had shown her that there was perhaps no greater virtue than kindness, and she translated the journey's deeper meaning into her life moving forward. For that night, they stayed up singing songs and laughing with the poor stallion, who's holiday they'd made, bringing true joy to a gentle heart that was in desperate need of it. They talked and talked and offered him to come by their farm whenever he liked, which he did. He became a family friend, and eventually was able to move into a home. Only after the two sisters, Applejack and Apple Bloom, returned to Sweet Apple Acres the next morning together, with smiles and the strongest sisterly love there ever was.

Author's Notes:

Happy Hearth's Warming! Don't be afraid of leaving me a comment or personal message :p