The two ponies walked in silence. The wind picked up as they left the shelter of the surrounding buildings, and made their way through the orchard. It swirled around the leaves on the ground, ruffling hair and drying tears. With Celestia’s sun now below the hills in the distance, the sky took on a deep red glow, providing the ponies with just enough light to guide them the the front porch of the Apple’s home. Hesitating momentarily, the cyan mare turned to face her friend.

“Listen AJ, I really appreciate this, but I don’t wanna be a bother or anyth-”

“Now listen, Dash.” Applejack interrupted, giving Dash a stern look. “You ain’t gonna be a bother at all. You’re perfectly welcome here, and we’re more than happy to have you. Ah know we may not have been born into the same house, but sometimes that just don’t matter. Just because ya ain’t kin don’t mean ya aren’t family, and you’re just as much a part of my family as anyone in there, Rainbow Dash.”

For the first time all day, Rainbow Dash gave a genuine smile. Taking advantage of the change in mood Applejack opened the front door and shoved her friend inside. Cheerfully following behind her, Applejack greeted the rest of her family with a smile.

“I’m back y’all! And look who decided to join us fer dinner!”

Rainbow Dash felt the warm air wash over her like a blanket, banishing the cold from outside and warming her to the bone. The festive cackling of the fire in the hearth protected the room from the cold night outside, and cast its bright orange glow around the room. Wonderful smells of apples and cinnamon assaulted Dash’s nose, making her mouth water as her mind filled with all the possible things that might be cooking. Taking a break from their feverish working, all the ponies in the room turned to greet the two with beaming smiles.

“Yay! Rainbow Dash is gonna have dinner with us!” Applebloom loudly cheered as she bounced all around the room, smiling from ear to ear.

“Well, ain’t that lovely.” Granny Smith said with a smile. “Always good ta have another friendly face at the table. Ain’t that right, Big Mac?”

“Eeyup!” Answered the red stallion.

As everyone gathered around the dinner table, Applejack brought in a chair next to her own for her friend. Sitting down, Rainbow Dash was met with a feast of apple themed foods. The spread that lay before her looked delicious, and smelled heavenly. As they dug in, the smile that had remained on Rainbow Dash’s face grew wider and wider. Basking in the warmth of the fire and the company of friends, she soon forgot all the troubles that had plagued her earlier. Before long, hours had passed. Hours that she spent talking and laughing with the Apples.She remembered that she was not alone, and she knew that with her friends around she never really would be. As the night passed, Rainbow Dash found herself feeling more at home than she had in a very long time.

The following morning found Rainbow Dash standing on the front porch of the Apple house. She gazed across the apple orchard, skeletal but for a few straggling leaves who had yet to let go. Celestia’s sun once again was beginning its daily trek through the sky, and cast its loving rays of warmth upon Equestria. The pegasus found the cold bracing as usual, but it did not bother her as it had yesterday. Yesterday she did not have a home, or a family. She was alone in the world, to fend for herself and to bear her burdens. Now, however, she had a home and a a family. This wasn’t a new development, but it had taken the kindness of her friend to remind her. Soon, and without a word, Applejack joined her on the porch. For the second time ever, the cyan pegasus began to shed tears in front of another pony. But these tears were not bitter or painful. They were tears of happiness. A smile formed on Dash’s face, as she quietly whispered to her friend, “Thank you.”