Author's Notes:

BOOK 1: PART 1: LOYALTY

Shadow rolled out of the bed. It was early, but later than the two days before. Shadow stepped out of his room to a quiet house. He moved down the hall to Early Blossom's and Cherry Tart's room. He knocked softly on the door.

“Come,” Cherry Tart groaned.

Shadow slipped inside.

“Shadow...” Early Blossom said.

“Its getting late. Sun has been up an hour.”

Early Blossom was the first to sit up. “Well… I guess we need to join it.”

Cherry tart finally sat up. Early Blossom gave her a quick peck on the cheek, in front of Shadow. None of them batted an eye at the gesture.

“Come on, lets get the others up,” Shadow said.

The smell of breakfast being made greeted them as they left the room. That was not there when Shadow had walked down the hall. It turned out it was all of the parents. And they were enjoying their morning, talking quietly about their young ones and not so young ones.

“How long have you been up?” Cherry Tart yawned.

“For a while now,” Lance said.

“We got up on time, the rest of you are late,” Red smiled.

None of the stallions were actually cooking. They were just staying out of the way of their wives and drinking tea.

“Well we are up now,” Early Blossom said as she rubbed her eye.

“I don't feel like waking the others quite yet,” Cherry Tart groaned.

“By lunch the rest of the cherries will be in. With all of us working on sorting and stemming, it will be a relaxing evening before we begin canning and jamming tomorrow,” Red stated.

Shadow, Early Blossom and Cherry Tart were served breakfast. The others had already eaten. Cherry Tart went to wake up everypony else when Grandma Cherry Tart came into the kitchen.

“Those boys are fast asleep still. Stallions rise first,” She said with disapproval. Her mood immediately improved with breakfast in front of her. “Now you were raised right. Up early and making breakfast.”

The upstairs became noisy as the others were getting in the way of each other.

“It is nice to have a large house and hear it filled with ponies and laughter,” Grandma Cherry Tart sighed. “An awfully big house for you two, let alone anypony.”

She was silenced as the others came in to get breakfast.

The harvest was in sooner than expected and lunch was a ways off; so they all relaxed a bit. Lance began setting up the obstacle course for Shadow. He was silently chuckling to himself as he walked away. It was a rather mean obstacle course he had planned. It would test Shadow beyond his limits.

“Dad isn't going to be nice,” Dream Catcher warned

“I know,” Shadow said, obviously a bit worried. “Even when he first started, he pushed my limits. I failed a lot early on.”

“But you haven't failed in a while,” Dream Catcher shot back.

“But dad hasn't fully set up a course for me in a long time,” Shadow bounced back.

“Well, we all are looking forward to it, even if you fail. I know I am,” Red said.

“Back in the good old days,” Grandma Cherry Tart began, “Anypony with talent would put on a show. It was a fun way to finish the harvest before canning and jamming. You will do fine youngin.”

Shadow smiled. Their enthusiasm and support made a huge difference in his outlook.

It didn't take to long before Lance came back. “Ready Shadow?”

“Now or never,” Shadow said, his face set in concentration.

They all went over to the course. Lance had even set up a siting area with perfect view of the course. Shadow's jaw dropped. This was not going to be fun. It would require such precision to navigate the course, and only had three definitive break points.

He thought back to what Sky Breaker had said. “Speed, Power and Agility,” and that “Power is based in form, not strength.”

There were long jumps, vaults, side walls and every platform was short. He would have to always be moving, leaping, rolling and flipping to complete this course. There would be little time to plan anything, he would have to react and only stay one step ahead of himself. There was little to see ahead of him.

“Ready Shadow Flare?” Lanced asked him again.

“Never better than now,” Shadow smiled.

“I want to remind everyone,” Lance announced. “This is a no wings obstacle course.”

Shadow took his spot on the starting cloud. The bottom level was all clouds with only a few small hurdles before the wall came where he would have to vault off to the next level. He took off, gaining speed but conserving his energy. The hurdles were so low his stride was more than enough to clear them without a second thought.

He vaulted off the wall, just barely seeing that the next thing was a duck. He pulled his rear into his chest and pushed off the wall with his forelegs. He slid backwards on his stomach under the obstacle and immediately back flipped over the next hurdle. As he landed he twisted so he could do a front flip over the next hurdle and roll under the next low hang.

Coming out of the roll he had two strides before he had to vault over three hurdles that were over a drop. As he got to the end of the jump, he rolled to set himself up to vault off the wall. He landed the vault on his forelegs in a hoofstand. He took a second to set up for the next step. It was a low hurdle right against a very short ledge.

Shadow gingerly rolled his stomach over the low hurdle. His hind hooves were barely on the hoof wide edge, and a long jump was behind him. The jump also had a ceiling, forcing him to go low and long. A very difficult maneuver. He dung his hind hooves into the side of the edge as he turned to face the jump. With all the power and determination he had in him, Shadow sent himself flying across the jump. He spun sideways in the middle so his rear hooves would connected with the next platform.

He landed the jump and immediately did a back twist so he landed in the same spot, but facing the rest of the level of the course. That was the second rest of the three he would get. It wasn't a difficult ending to the level, just a few narrow clouds across a wide chasm. It just took the right rhythm.

The vault off the next wall was the toughest he had ever faced. He had to jump high enough to grab monkey bars. They were also set up with rungs extremely far apart. He landed, griping the first one with his front hooves. This was the third and final rest, and it was not much of one. Hanging took its toll.

He began to swing back and fourth, using his abs to drive each swing. Form, meant power. From there he let go, almost floating between the bars. His rear hooves caught and curled around the next bar. Shadow let the momentum take him as he continued to swing in the flips across the six bars.

From the last swig he was immediately at the next wall to vault up to the final level of the course. There was no platform to land on, rather he had to land on an angled cloud. The center was a long gap that ran almost all the way to the end. Alternating on either side of the gap were platforms.

Shadow didn't miss a beat as he skipped back and fourth. Each platform had a stepper angle until the last six were perfectly straight. He drove his hind hooves into the sixty degree angled platform under him and he bounded back and fourth along the tops of each of the perpendicular walls. Each time he lost height. The last one he almost didn't make the platform.

His strong abdominal muscles pulled him into a handstand so he could bend over in a bridge spanning the last hurdle before he had to jump over a hurdle higher that he had ever jumped. His legs were aching and he was out of breath. But there was no stopping. He wasn't even thinking, just reacting to the next obstacle.

Like so many other milestones, the last jump felt like the world slowed as he reached for the stars. He slid his forelegs over the hurdle, then bent his head over and brought his hind quarters straight up into a mid air hoofstand. And mid air it was. He had failed to catch the ending of the course. He had to drop the entire height before handling the final two obstacles: A small hurdle and then a small duck to jump a few feet up to the ending platform.

It was entirely possible his father had adjusted the course's end once he started. Shadow adjusted himself in mid fall so his back was to the finish. He was falling fast. He rolled on the landing to dissipate the energy from the fall and slipped right over the hurdle and fell into a sideways roll under last duck. Out of the sideways role he transitioned to jump up to the finish platform. Shadow didn't just jump. He jumped high and lazily did a front flipped to land on all four hooves.

Shadow's heart was beating so fast and loud, he couldn't hear the cheers from the others. His whole body was on fire from the great feats he had just accomplished. There wasn't a moment to stop and think the entire time. Just reaction after reaction.

Of course, he was actually thinking and planning his next move, but it was at such a fast paced, subconscious level it almost wasn't a real thought. Thinking stopped you as you evaluated the next move. What he had just done was so second natured to him. It was something few could do in history. And probably none in the entire Enclave could do.

It was his father who brought him back to reality as he hugged Shadow. “Well done son. Well done. I gave it my all, and there is no way to top what you just did. Purely second nature. You learned well. I am happy I fostered the obstacle courses with you from the beginning.”

“Thanks Dad. I am glad you did too. I can't even believe what I just did,” Shadow smiled back. “I know you changed the end of the course. You had to. I wouldn't have missed that.”

“Good catch, but like I expected, you responded perfectly,” Lance said beaming.

“I hurt, all of me,” Shadow said. Both of them just grinned at each other for a few seconds until the others pulled Shadow away to answer questions and praise him.

“Not even in the good old days did we have anypony as talented as you!” Grandma Cherry Tart said when the noise had quieted down. “And no wings! Just perfect!”

Dream Catcher had been attached to him in an eternal hug as soon as Shadow had gotten off the finish platform. And she was not letting go anytime soon.

Even Lunar softened and said, “I have to admit, you impressed me Shadow. I never knew my little brother had that talent.”

Lunch was served early, and it never had felt as good as it did today. Shadow drank tons of water. He needed it all. His body ached and would for the next few days.

Grandma Cherry Tart mixed up some herbs and spices from the garden to ease Shadow's sore muscles. “There deary. That always helped me after an extra long and hard day's work.”

“Shadow Flare looks stronger, more like a good farming Stallion,” Red stated during lunch.

“Thanks, Father Red,” Shadow smiled.

“Father Red was my Father, just Red,” Red replied.

“His name was actually Father Red,” Yellow chuckled. “No joke.”

Shadow sighed and fell on his back. “I hurt all over. I am not going to be a fast sorter today.”

Everypony laughed.

“Don't worry Shadow,” Cherry Tart said. “Lots of hooves means it gets done faster than you would think.”

Sorting did move faster than Shadow expected. It was relaxing and fun. They talked about all sorts of things. Diamond Dawn was actually fun to talk to, since she was no longer aggressively flirting with Shadow. She was very impressed with his feats today and actually was interested in him, for him. The first filly to be interested in Shadow. Dream Catcher didn't say a word. It was all good in her eyes, for now and only because Diamond Dawn's priorities were straight.

About mid afternoon, Dream Catcher, over at the foal bucket where they were still destemming the cherries, shot a bad cherry at Shadow. He caught it out of the corner of his eye and leaned to the side. His wing was curved and ready. The cherry rolled intact from the top to the bottom where he launched it right back her with a flip of a single feather.

Unfortunately, Dream Catcher was prepared and dodged it. The cherry slammed into the back of the head of Lunar Harvest. She just sat there in shock, cherry juice soaking into her mane and back of her neck, with her mouth opened slightly. It was Buck who began to laugh first.

“It's NOT funny Buck!” She yelled.

“Actually it is,” He laughed back. “You didn't see all that happened behind you before it came flying at your head.”

“Relax Lunar,” Spice Cake said.

It was Spice Cake, Buck, Lunar Harvest and Rift at the bucket sorting. “It was an accident.”

A cherry slammed into Buck and Spice Cake's head.

“Darn it Shadow!” Dream Catcher said, cherry dripping down her face. “No fair. You can fire off multiple cherries with your agile wings.”

“Ha!” Shadow gloated. “Sorry Spice and Buck. Had to make sure she got hit. Dream can dodge.”

Buck began to laugh as he wiped the cherry from his face. “I saw.” He said. “I guess I better begin my own stash of bad cherries.”

“I'm actually surprised that its been this calm,” Cherry Tart said. “Sorting Cherries...” She never finished. Red had hit her square in the face.

“Been waiting all day to do that,” Red grinned. “Nothing better to do with bad cherries than strategically pelt each other with them. Its usually basket against basket.”

“Ah, now I get who you guys are sitting like you are,” Shadow said. “Your bucket has tactical advantage over everypony else's.”

“Just don't get out of hand and make me get up and break it up!” Grandma Cherry Tart said.

They all laughed heartedly. It was a fun relaxing afternoon of sorting, stemming and strategically flinging. No one was spared by the end of the day, and everything was ready for the next day.

They all had to quickly shower to clean up. The married couples doubled up to conserve water. Shadow had taken the brunt of the assaults. He was the best at dodging and returning fire, so they made sure he was hit as many times as possible.

Dinner was the most relaxed it had been. Shadow really began to see Cherry Tart as a sister, like Early Blossom. He would really enjoy living here. It would mean hard work taking care of the new farm. He had never shied away from hard labor. That was life on a farm. No matter who you were and what you could do, you worked hard. It was finding your place that was not always easy.

At bed time, Shadow met them at their room, before Early Blossom and Cherry Tart came in. When they closed the door, Shadow spoke up. “If I don't join up, I would enjoy living here. And if I do, then I will enjoy my time here.”

“Yeah, you will be a great edition to the farm, no matter how long you are here,” Early Blossom said.

“After that show today, I think the Enclave would be much better off having you than us,” Cherry Tart smiled in the candlelight.

“Thanks you two.”

They split for bed before a day of canning.

“Shadow,” Cherry Tart called as Shadow entered the kitchen. “I heard you pop and crack inside your room as I walked by. Are you okay?”

Shadow turned his head side to side, the cracking was extremely loud. It accentuated everything perfectly.

“Yeah. I just need to loosen up a bit.”

Shadow sat down with the others to eat.

“This is the first year we will have cherries in the Market,” Lance said. “The Market will be in seven weeks, if you want to join us all.”

“Wish we could, but our Market is the same time,” Red said.

“Makes sense,” Lance replied.

“I can't wait for the Market,” Rain Jubilee said. “Rumor has it that several apple farms are coming to El Nino to trade. Apples in the pantry is an amazing treat!”

Market day was also a day to get supplies and sell their pantry food to the city folks, who also wanted to diversify their food supplies. Enclave redistribution system ensured that nopony went hungry by evenly distributing the food ponies would need to survive, but plenty did what they could to bring in fresh choices.

“I wonder how much the other farming districts are taxed?” Red said. “Sixty percent leaves more than enough for us, but I always wonder.”

“I never thought about it,” Lance said. “Turnips are not the most popular around here. Its mostly the travelers who come to buy less farmed items, like turnips.”

“Next year, we should exchange stocks. Turnips would sell fast.”

“It would flood your daughter's cherry monopoly, and water down her prices,” Lance stated. “Obviously a bad idea. However, I think bringing turnips to your Market is a profitable idea. You said there are a lot of carrot farmers near you. We could use fresher carrots.”

“Much better idea,” Red nodded.

“Alright! Everypony assemble!” Grandma Cherry Tart ordered.

The canning and jamming processes was her specialty. She led it as if they were soldiers in her army attacking the enemy cherry forces. And she was having fun.

“For the newcomers,” She started. “All the cherries have to be washed, pitted and then dried outside. Wings will be used for drying. We will rotate out dryers. Then we will take three quarters of the cherries, of each color, and can them to preserve them. The last quarter we will mash up and make jam. You know, with plenty left over fresh because nothing beats fresh cherries. We brought plenty of supplies to can and jam, and Cherry Tart and Early Blossom have a remarkable stock already.”

“Taxation is split. Fifty percent of the cans will go to taxation, ten percent of the jams will go to taxation. Jam is more valuable than Cherries. You have to work the system. Jam takes three times the cherries than what goes in the cans. The Enclave only counts total number of cans. We get to select what we give them, so long as it totals sixty percent, ish.”

With that, they began to work. It was a lot more work than the day before. Shadow made an excellent dryer. He had the wing endurance and blew the widest pattern, far beyond the others.

Grandma Cherry Tart, Cherry Tart, and Yellow selected what cherries were to be jammed. Jam was only as good as the worst cherry in it. They taught Rain Jubilee and Golden Harvest the ropes as well. Of course, they chose the best of the lot for the cans they were keeping. The less desirable cherries went to be taxed. Less desirable was relative with such a high quality harvest.

They had a unique and quiet system to distinguish what was taxed and what was saved. The jars were sealed with red wax for the tax, and black for the cans they were keeping. They also put a wax stamp on the jars to identify the farm it came from. Cherry Tart's family had brought a special sealed for the new farm. It was the Homestead's seal, but slightly different to show it came from their western farm.

“Jams look good to the Enclave,” Yellow said. “They are smart enough recognize their value. It makes it easier to put the taxation in our favor. It means they do not have to have ponies work to make cherry jam for their shelves. Cherry Tart knows how to work the system. They are otherwise dumb when it comes to cherries.”

“We do something similar with the turnips,” Rain Jubilee said. “There are no differences, except size. We tag them in groups of fives, and five to a sack. The smaller ones to the tax, we keep the larger ones, with just enough large ones spread out so nopony questions anything.”

“I think all farms do what they can to work the tax in their favor,” Rift said as he was on break from drying. “We do the same on our farm. We leave a little of the chafe on our wheat that we give to the tax. It gets weighed in our favor.”

“My family bags the parsnips like the turnips,” Buck said. “I agree with Rift. All farms do what they can to survive better and keep the best food in their Pantries. But none of us would hurt the Pegasus Race by keeping food from them.” With that, Buck switched places with Shadow.

Grandma Cherry Tart had to force Shadow out of rotation because he was just trucking without realizing it. And at a better pace than the others could keep up.

“You worked too hard yesterday, and your bones sound like mine! Time to quit before it gets worse and you look like me at your age! Although I do look remarkably well for my age.”

The others were all outside drying the last of the cherries when Grandma Cherry Tart spoke up to Yellow, Rain Jubilee, Golden Harvest and Cherry Tart.

“That Shadow, he has grown up a lot these few days. I reckon also the last few weeks. He looks weak, but he is stronger than any stallion I have known. He reminds me of my father. Small, hard working and stubborn. When he set his mind to something, it was set in stone. No matter how long it took. They don't make em like Shadow there often. He is going to make a big difference in the world.”

“I know my son is special,” Rain Jubilee sighed. “But Lance and I have no idea what or where he should go. He doesn't belong at the farm, even with Cherry and Blossom.”

“He will find his way Rain,” Yellow assured her.

“Agreed. Shadow is like a brother to me,” Cherry Tart added. “But he is going to go places other than the farm. As much as Blossom and I would love him to be here.”

“You always need a stallion at a farm,” Grandma Cherry Tart bluntly stated.

“Grandma!” Cherry Tart had rosy cheeks.

“Oh hush,” Grandma Cherry Tart waved her off. “You made your choice. So long as you two stick together, that is all that matters to me. Same as your parents. Heck, I said the same thing to both of your brothers at the alter. Before they said their vows and tied the knot.”

“You two have tied the knot right?” Yellow questioned.

“Yes mom,” Cherry Tart groaned. “We did, in El Nino.”

“You know,” Rain Jubilee ventured. “Early Blossom has always been elusive to how you two met. I gave up trying to get it out of her.”

“Well, there is not much to tell. I had left the farm, at everypony’s approval, with the best cherry pits and headed west. Just trying to find somepony to settle down with. Or at least start a farm on my own. Early Blossom just happened to be in the right place and right time to show me to El Nino. I was close to your farm, so obviously, way off my mark.”

“I remember that night she didn't come home,” Rain Jubilee replied. “She zipped in said she was going to show a traveler to town. When she got back later the next day, all she said was she got them to El Nino, and they paid for her dinner and room for the night.”

“Well, I paid for her dinner. As for the room, she stayed with me. We had already hit it off on the way to El Nino and at dinner.”

“And then a few days later we had to send somepony to El Nino for a supplies run,” Rain Jubilee said connecting the dots.

“We knew somepony was coming back and was going to be spending the night. One thing led to another and we decided to start a farm out on the outskirts together. Your farm is crowded as it is. It all happened really fast. But those few days apart were not lacking in that special spark for both of us.”

“That is really fast,” Yellow agreed.

They were all hearing this for the first time.

“We actually got married after she got the supplies for you. Shopping first. Then I began to get the farm in order while she went home,” Cherry Tart explained. “It took a few days for paperwork and then the building team was a whole other ordeal. I was only at the farm a little over a week before she came. The barn was built by the surrounding families, who welcomed me as a new farmer. Before Early Blossom came and then they had no idea what to do.”

“So mom, you finally got a straight answer,” Early Blossom said coming in. “Well?”

Rain Jubilee took a second to answer. “It was fast and sudden for everypony, but you two look to be doing fine together. And I think Grandma Cherry Tart is right. So long as you stick together, you have our approval. Same approval as we have for Buck, and probably Rift here. He asked Lance a few days back. We are just waiting for him to ask Spice.”

The conversation immediately switched to Rift proposing to Spice. Especially details about the ceremony. Things were done quite differently between families.

“Shadow! Take a break!” Grandma Cherry Tart suddenly yelled out. Shadow transitioned out with Lance. “That stallion. I don't know a single mare who deserves him. Whoever he will find, it will be a very special mare.”

The canning and jamming was done, but Cherry Tart's family was not leaving until the morning. Everypony else decided to spend the night as well. It was a rare chance to have the families together and they decided it was not just for the best, but the most fun. A tough harvest always meant they deserved some fun.

They were all lounging in the family room, chatting back and forth.

“Shadow,” Buck called. “You really out did us all today drying. No hoof for farming, but you are way more useful than you look and the community gives you credit for.”

Shadow smiled sheepishly. “Thanks Buck. That means a lot.”

“Head up, chest out,” Cherry Tart ordered. “I told you to buck up and be more confident. You look bigger and make a more handsome stallion that way too.”

The room erupted in agreement. “We may not have always recognized it as best as we should have,” Lance admitted. “But you really have a special place in our family and on the farm. The community is missing out on how helpful you can be.”

Red followed up. “Make sure the community adds Flare to your name. You deserve to take your name back, and reserve Shadow for only those close to you.”

“Well, in that case,” Shadow began, “I definitely want all of you to call me Shadow. Family gets that right.”

Lex, Lighting Storm and Dream Catcher was asleep on the floor. Diamond Dawn was almost asleep and leaning her head on his shoulder. Shadow had no problem with her leaning against him, he had sat next to her.

“Now Red,” Grandma Cherry Tart as she began to reiterate some of her earlier talk with the mares.

Shadow drifted off to sleep, his head on Diamond Dawn's, for a while. The candles were low when they finally went to bed. Most single ponies had fallen asleep.

“Oh, sorry,” Diamond Dawn blushed when they were woken up.

“Ha, my head was on your's Diamond Dawn,” Shadow yawned. “No worries.”

“Just call me Diamond,” Diamond Dawn yawned back.

“Thanks Diamond,” Shadow murmured.

They all headed their respective ways to bed.

“Tart, I can't believe my mom got you to tell her how we happened,” Early Blossom sniffed.

“Bad time,” Shadow said from right behind them. “Now I need to know.”

Early Blossom put her head in her hooves out of frustration.

“I'm sorry,” Cherry Tart whispered. “Grandma started it all. Talking about Shadow, and then about commitment, and then I was backed into a corner by all of them.”

Cherry Tart grabbed Shadow and pulled him into their room before continuing.

“I kept it short and without much detail,” Cherry Tart grinned. “But I think Shadow deserves to know it all, don't you Early?”

Early Blossom also smiled and nodded her head. “Definitely. After all, he calls you Tart, and he knows you call me Early. He gets all the special details.”

“Not what I was going for,” Shadow gulped. “Besides, I thought the idea was to not terrorize siblings.”

“This isn't terrorizing you, yet.” Cherry Tart asserted. “We could really terrorize you if we wanted to.”

“Yeah,” Blossom teased. “We could start having fun.”

Shadow plopped onto their bed on his back. “Lets get this started.”

They blew the candles out and began. At the end, all Shadow had to say was, “Wow.”

“When you know, you know,” Early Blossom giggled.

“Its not like we were looking for each other. It just, happens sometimes,” Cherry Tart said. “Grandma always told me that. She never told anypony else that. She also said that its a commitment. Approval is made by the commitment. If that fails, it all falls to disapproval, every moment. Nothing is spared.”

“I think you fell asleep Shadow,” Early Blossom yawned. “But I know she said it tonight about you.”

“She did in the kitchen,” Cherry Tart confirmed. “Its how this all got started.”

“And this is how I get started to going to sleep,” Shadow said quietly leaving their room.

In the morning, while all of them were getting ready to leave, Grandma Cheery Tart pulled Shadow aside. They stepped out of the house away from all the noise. “You are a special stallion Shadow Flare.”

She faced him and put her old front hooves on Shadow's shoulders. “I know you have heard me say it a few times, but listen to your heart. You will know her when you meet her. She will be a mare you don't have to work to understand, and one who feels exactly like you. I bet neither of you will have dated anypony else. I have seen it few times over my life. You are more special than every other pony I have met.”

“When you meet, it will move fast. Approval is earned by commitment. Commit and hold and the approval will come. Never let that commitment leave your mind. And make sure it never leaves her mind. You are going to do well. You are going to make a huge difference in the world. I have no idea what, but your type doesn't come alone often. Whoever you will find, she will be a very special mare.”

“Thank you Grandma,” Shadow hugged her. “And you can rest assured it will be a mare.”

“I always share the approval and commitment talk to all new couples, but I don't tell just anypony about finding the one, mind you. Only those who are above the norm, like Cherry Tart. She proved that early on and it is why she was the one we sent out to found this farm.”

They joined the others finish getting everything together.

“Thank you all, for coming and helping with our first harvest!” Cherry Tart said bringing out a round of applause. “I know you all have farms to get back to. Some are definitely closer than others, but either way, thank you for your sacrifice. And safe travels, from our farm, to yours.”

Goodbyes were said on all sides. Family was discovered these past few days. And lasting relationships were made.

“Before everyone heads their way,” Rift spoke up. “We combined two families, around Early Blossom and Cherry Tart's farm. Well, I want to make that even more.” He turned to Spice Cake, “Spice Cake, would you give me the honor of marrying me?”

“YES!” Spice Cake exclaimed, throwing herself at him

“Now you two,” Grandma Cherry Tart said beginning her lesson about approval and commitment. It was only after Grandma Cherry Tart had finished and asked them both a lot of questions that she nodded her head and they were all off.

Shadow turn to his sister. “Blossom, Tart, I am going to head home and gather my things. I will be back soon to help you two straighten up.”

“Alright Shadow,” Early Blossom replied. “See you soon.”

As Shadow was leaving his family, his mother kissed him on the cheek and his father wished him well. Dream Catcher was hugging him the entire time.

“I will miss you. But go live your life, like you should be,” Dream Catcher sniffed.

Shadow kissed Dream Catcher goodbye. Lunar Harvest said goodbye, an unexpected surprise, and Buck wished him well also. Spice was off at Rift's home, breaking the news to his parents.

“We all are going out separate ways,” Shadow stated. He was unsure as to what else to say.

“Its good and natural,” Lance encouraged. “But we are still family.”

“And that is why I will be back for the Harvest in four weeks.”

By the time Shadow got back to Cherry Tart and Early Blossom, they had everything in order and were just lounging in the family room. Dinner was the left over tarts from lunch.

“Wow, it seems so empty,” Shadow marveled.

They agreed with Shadow.

Early Blossom kissed Cherry Tart on the cheek. “Has to be worse for you Tart. I have Shadow and my family close by.”

“Early, I walked away from my family. In a good way. I left to take our legacy to a new place. Besides, they are not all gone. Grandma gave me a copy of the Homestead book to leave with this farm.”

“Wow,” Early Blossom blinked. “That is special.”

“Well,” Cherry Tart hesitated, “Technically this is a Homestead, not a farm. When I acquired this place, my seeds and the copy of my heritage made it classified as a Homestead. We have four times as much land as the other farms. I have not had time to show most of it to you.”

“Awesome,” Shadow piped up. “I don't know of a Homestead being established anywhere in this district since the great war. And that is what Grandma Tart meant by you being special.”

“I am shocked,” Early Blossom stammered. “Why didn't you tell me before?”

“Well, I decided to wait until after the first harvest, because it was already a daunting task getting this all started with what we had. Four times bigger? You and I can't sustain that yet. Our trees are only a year old. They grew fast and yielded well, but its stretching it right now.”

“And it's okay to grow into the land. I didn't know how the community would be about it. Tomorrow I will show both of you the land. I need to survey it all again and make sure the tree markers are growing strong.”

“So,” Shadow suggested. “Outcast Homestead, not Outcast Farm.”

They all laughed. Shadow enjoyed the different feeling. It was nice to be away from his parents. Living with his sister wasn't weird. It was a piece of home. Besides, it would probably not be long before he headed out. It was a lot to take in and he had not had the time over the past week to process all the changes.

“Not tomorrow since we will be surveying, but the next day, I will head into El Nino to talk to Sky Breaker,” Shadow declared. “Need anything?”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Early Blossom affirmed.

“Thanks Shadow, but I think we are good,” Cherry Tart thought. “Besides, Market is only a few more weeks away.”

“Well then, I am heading to bed,” Shadow yawned.

“You know you are set up close to our room,” Cherry Tart insinuated, a mischievous look on her face.

“And you don't know how loud she can get,” Early Blossom joined in, the same look on her face.

Shadow rolled his eyes. “And you are called Early by Tart for a reason. I know.”

They smiled and Shadow went off to bed.

Early Blossom laid her head onto Cherry Tart's head. “I like the house with somepony else in it.”

“I know Early. It is nice. Shadow is wonderful and fun.”

“I am going to miss him.”

“Yeah. There is no way he won't be accepted by the Enclave.”

“He is the piece that was missing from this house since we started here. He will always have a place here.”

“Absolutely. Always.”

“Now lets go to bed. I am too tired to do anything but sleep.”

“You are not the only one. I can’t believe I am not cracking and popping like Shadow.”