Celestia's sun was trending downwards by the time Rainbow Dash flew in to Sweet Apple Acres. It didn't matter how many years she had been flying, the feeling of the high winds flowing over her body was as intoxicating as ever. Passing over a new stretch of farmland that had yet to see any sprouts she saw Big Mac working the plow, on the other end of the field though Rainbow saw another pony she didn't recognize.

“Huh, guess Applejack got found that extra help she was looking for,” Rainbow said to herself as she adjusted her wings, slowing her velocity and dropping altitude as the farmhouse came into sight. “Now where the hay is... ah, there you are,” having spotted the farmpony herself Rainbow picked up speed again and soared over to her friend's side.

Applejack smiled as the cyan pegasus pulled to a hovering stop in front of her. “Howdy Rainbow, what can ah do ya for?”

“Uh, you asked me to stop by?” Rainbow said with a questioning smirk.

The orange earth mare blinked a few times, visibly searching her mind before planting a hoof on her face. “Ah, darnit, tha's righ', sorry 'bout that Dashie, ah've been real busy what with tha' new land ta plow.”

Rainbow dropped to the ground with a shrug, “hey, no big, gotta break in the newbie too huh?” she replied, giving Applejack a friendly hoof bump.

Applejack's face colored lightly before she coughed and shook her head, “heh, actually ah lucked out, tha' one didn't need a lick'a trainin', already knows farmin' as well as me'r Mac ah reckon.”

“Wow, luck is right,” Rainbow said with a wry grin, “so what was it you wanted me to swing by for? I'm losing valuable napping time y'know.”

“Well tha's just it, ah think we might actually get the whole darn field plowed ahead'a schedule,” Applejack explained. The one part of farming that the farmpony could expect her flighty friend to catch onto instantly was the weather bit of it.

“Oh, seriously? Guessing you wanna see if I can get you some early rain huh?” Rainbow asked, mildly impressed.

“If ya'll can do it then mah family might be able ta turn a profit on that land in record time,” Applejack explained hopefully. She looked so hopeful in fact that Rainbow couldn't help but agree.

“Well you can count on me Applejack!” she exclaimed, puffing her chest out. “I know I saw a report somewhere about some wild rainclouds floating over the Everfree.”

“Woah there sugarcube, ah don't want ya'll in danger fer a few drop's o' rain y'hear?” Applejack replied, concern painting her features at the word 'Everfree'.

“Eh, don't worry about it, I've got this,” Dash answered dismissively. “Tell ya what, I'll double check that report and bring them in two days, sound good?”

Whenever Dash talked shop it was straight and to the point, unlike every other conversation which inevitably steered onto flying or the Wonderbolts. Or both, as was more often the case. Applejack nodded her cautious assent though, she trusted Rainbow to be careful. For all of the rainbow-maned pegasus's bluster she really was one of the most competent weatherponies in Equestria.

“Alright then, thank ya Rainbow Dash, ah really owe ya one,” Applejack said, truly grateful for all the good fortunate she'd come across.

“Nah, what're friends for?” said Dash freely, “anyway, you can pay it back at the bar.”

Applejack laughed as Rainbow lifted off again, “Ah'll do that, fer sure, thanks again sugar,” the two friends clacked their hooves together again in farewell. With that Rainbow took off for her next appointment. Most likely with a soft cloud for some quality nap time.

After watching her friend vanish into the sky Applejack sighed and turned back to her work. She had been pruning and maintaining a particularly troublesome grove, but with that done she decided to check up on Zorin. The walk across the acres took about twenty minutes but when she eventually reached the edge of the field the oddest sound struck her ears.

Singing.

Even more amazing, from where she could pick out Zorin's charcoal coat among the field, it was clear that the mare's work for the day was already done and then some. She appeared to be nonchalantly plodding along, pulling the plow as though it were nothing. Sitting on top of the plow, however, was a tiny filly.

“Consarnit Applebloom,” Applejack muttered under her breath as she began to move towards them. Then the wind changed and she could hear their words.

“Nein nein, it iz; 'gib mir deine hand, deine weiße hand' dai-nah... vai-za.”

“What the hay is a hand?” came Appleblooms tiny voice, saying the word like 'Hohnd'.

“It meanz hoof,” was the reply.

“Oh, well why not jus' say hoof?”

“It iz a different langvage, now, from zhe top.”

Zorin's strong basso voice harmonized with Applebloom's childish soprano rather well as they began.

Heute wollen wir ein liedlein singen,

Trinken wollen wir den kühlen wein.

Und die Gläser sollen dazu klingen,

Denn es muß, es muß geschieden sein!

As they moved into the refrain Applejack could only stop and listen. In the short time she had known her knew farmhoof she had never once imagined the mare could sing. This was clearly a song from her homeland and it had such a sound of camaraderie to it. It was almost enchanting and, although she couldn't understand it, the music got her blood moving quickly.

Gib' mir deine hand, deine weiß hand,

Leb' wohl mein Schatz!

Leb' wohl, mein Schatz, Leb' wohl.

Lebe wohl,

Denn wir fahren, denn wir fahren,

Denn wir fahren, gegen Engeland,

Engeland!

Applebloom followed admirably considering the foreign nature of the song. In fact, Applejack was pretty sure she wouldn't have managed it as well. It was clear the two had been working on those verses for some time. Applejack stomped her hooves a few times in applause which which got the attention of the two performers. Applebloom grinned widely but Zorin look almost mortified that someone had seen them. It was the very first time Applejack had seen the stout mare display any kind of abashment at anything.

“Applebloom, what did ah tell ya 'bout botherin' the help?” Applejack chided her sister as she hopped down from the plow.

“It vas fine Applejack, your zister vas just curious,” Zorin said in the small filly's defense.

Applejack shook her head though, “it ain't about bein' fine'r not,” replying to Zorin before turning back to her youngest sibling, “it's about doin' what'cher told.”

“Ah'm sorry Applejack, ah just wanted ta meet'er,” her face was so downcast that Applejack couldn't help rolling her eyes. Her sister knew exactly how adorable she was and was milking it for all it was worth.

“It's fine sugarcube, jus' do as yer told next time,” Applejack replied, knowing full well that would never happen. Returning her gaze to Zorin, who had finally stopped moving, she said, “thank ya kindly fer all yer help Zorin, an' fer entertainin' this little terror here.”

“Nein, it vas my pleasure, she is qvite clever, zhis vone,” Zorin answered with a shrug, “she reminds me of Irma.”

“Who?” Applejack asked, curious. Zorin had become silent though and she was staring off into nothing, her face had gone slightly pale as she subjugated the rising tide of emotion.

“N-nein, just... my zister,” an indescribable shadow had crossed over Zorin's face that discouraged Applejack from asking any more, though she sorely wanted to.

“Oh, ok well, ya'll're actually more'n done fer the day,” Applejack said, changing the subject. Zorin nodded her assent and began unbuckling the plow harness. “A-actually, ah was jus' wonderin' if ya'll would like to stick around fer supper.”

This made Zorin look up in surprise, “I could not impose, you already provided a meal for lunch...”

Applejack shook her head at that though, “No way, tha's part'o the deal when somepony is workin' for me, lunch is on me,” she explained. “But ya'll actually got a lot more done than I thought so, ah'd be honored if ya'll would stay as mah guest.”

Zorin was almost becoming tired of the sheer good will these ponies seemed prone to, still, she could not turn down her employers gratitude. At the very least in her own country such a thing would have been seen as similar to spitting on a proffered hand.

“Ja, then I shall, danke,” Zorin finally replied after a moment of hesitation.

“Perfect, 'cause ah might've already sent a note ta Sweet Cup that ya'll'd be stayin' the night,” Applejack admitted in an embarrassed tone.

“Zhe night? Nein, I am zorry Applejack but zhat is far too much,” Zorin was now beginning to feel insulted. She had vowed that she would take no more charity and this was stepping beyond the bounds of simple gratitude.

Seeing Zorin's growing ill mood Applejack began waving her hoof, “A-ah didn't mean... it's just tha' if we're gonna finish this field, then tomorrow we'll need to start with the dawn.” Zorin's glare didn't abate though and Applejack felt almost cowed by it. She was clearly no soft hoof when it came to intimidation. “Look, ah know how ya feel, ah didn't mean ta imply ya'll couldn't make yer own way. If ya'd like, ya'll can pay me rent for the room, ah'll just charge ya Sweet's normal rate.”

That did the trick and, at least for the time being, Zorin's glare abated but the bitterness of her reaction didn't fade quite so quickly. “Zhat vould be... satisfactory,” she responded after mulling it over.

Applebloom hopped back over to Zorin and smiled, “Don't worry too much mizz Zorin, mah sister can be a little dense sometimes.”

Applejack was about to chew the precocious little filly out yet again when she was interrupted by Zorin's harsh barking laugh. “Ha! Sie vielleicht richtig sein! I vill zit next to you, I zhink, at supper. If zhat is permissable?” she directed the last words to Applejack who was wearing an expression of blatant relief.

“Ya,that'd be just fine,” she replied, for once glad of her young sisters mouth.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Supper was a sumptuous affair, corn on the cob, both scalloped and mashed potatoes, and a hearty vegetable stew. Granny Smith had joined them, despite her age she was a deft hoof in the kitchen stemming from decades of dedicated practice. Zorin stared at the spread with undisguised wonder.

“Unglaublich, do you eat like zhis every night?” she asked Applejack as they sat down.

Applejack shrugged, “Fer the most part, though Granny cooked some extra since I told'er ya'll'd be joinin' us, why?”

Zorin fiddled with the odd utensils to buy herself some time to think, in the end however she settled on the truth. “My family vas... very poor, zhere vere zome nights ve had nothing to eat at all.” She explained in a low voice so only Applejack could hear her.

“O-oh... ah had no idea tha'... uh,” try as she might Applejack couldn't find any words to speak. Even when times were at their worst there had always been food on the table. Maybe not always as much but nopony ever went to bed with an empty belly. “Well, that ain't the case no more,” Applejack finally mustered, “ya'll're here and yer gonna eat ta yer hearts content.”

“Ja, danke schön,” Zorin said quietly.

“So then, miss Blitz,” Granny Smith cut in with her wavering voice. “Ah hear ya'll're Germane, and a farmer to boot, is that right?”

Zorin nodded politely as she spooned herself some stew, “Ja, my family vas all farmers, for over a hundred years.”

Granny let out a low whistle, “Well, that makes yer family 'bout as old as ours, may ah ask why ya'll left the farm?”

Applejack flinched a little but didn't say anything, she knew how Zorin felt about speaking of her past. Zorin answered, though, saying: “Zhat is... complicated... zhe short of it is; zhere is no more farm.” That much was true at least, soon after Zorin had 'left', the Great War had begun. The ensuing carnage and trench warfare had torn her family's little plot of land to shreds.

“Well, ah'm sorry ta hear that, Celestia knows we've been in some tough spots ourselves,” Granny sympathized with Zorin, she knew firsthoof how hard keeping a farm could be. “Durn near lost the farm a few times.”

Zorin nodded and dinner became a more somber affair for a while after that. At least until Applebloom piped up, saying “So mizz Zorin taught me a song!” which made Zorin laugh softly into her stew.

“Zhat I did, your grand daughter picked up zhe language qvite quickly,” Zorin admitted, Granny practically beamed. They were then treated to Applebloom stumbling over the words, with Zorin occasionally helping or correcting her pronunciation until she got it right. At the end the family, Zorin included, was clapping their hooves together in applause and the youngest daughter was grinning broadly.

“So wha's tha' song about?” Applejack asked after Applebloom had finished and everypony had stopped clapping. Zorin pondered over how to explain it. She couldn't very well tell everypony that it was a song about war. Chances were they would've noticed if another country had taken up arms.

Eventually Zorin settled on, “It'z a soldier's farevell song, 'leb wohl mein schatz', in ze refrain, means 'good-bye my darling' in your langvage.”

“Ah thought it might be somethin' like that, it had that kinda sound to it,” Applejack replied as she dug into another helping of potatoes. Zorin was actually a bit surprised, since this new world seemed so achingly peaceful. The idea that they were familiar with war was a little gratifying.

“So, enough about the past, what're ya'll plannin' on doin now that yer here?” Applejack asked once she'd swallowed.

For all of its simplicity, that hadn't been one of the questions that Zorin had been prepared to answer. The truth of the matter was that she had no idea. She was in a strange land with no allies, she didn't know the history or even the layout of the world. She was little better than a newborn in terms of common knowledge in this place. Yet, somehow, Zorin found herself unable to lie about it. Perhaps it was because this scene was so familiar to her. A table with food and family, laughter and songs. It was something from a memory of a dream.

“I do not know...” Zorin said softly, as she put away the last of her meal. “I have been vandering for zo long that I no longer know vhere I am destined for.”

“Well, if tha's the case then feel free to stick around Ponyville as long as ya please,” Applejack said with a smile filled with genuine warmth. “This farm always needs steady hands, especially with the new land.” Before Zorin could protest at what seemed like another act of charity Applejack held up a hoof. “Now hear me out. To be honest, this farm is jus' gettin' too darn big for me'n Mac ta keep runnin'. Every season ah'm havin' ta hire more an' more farmhooves just to get by. It'd be nuthin' but good business sense ta hire somepony on permanently. Especially if it's somepony tha' can handle a plow without cuttin' off a darn leg.”

Zorin nodded, no matter how she looked at it Applejack had a point. She had seen the size of the farm and if this table consisted of the entire family then they must be at their wits end. “Zhen... for now at least... I vill verk for you, but I do not know how vell I vill fit in to zhis town.”

“If Big Mac can fit in, then you can,” Applejack responded dryly.

“Eeyup.”

Zorin smiled as she helped then pick up the dishes and pack up the leftovers. “Danke,” came her soft reply. After business was concluded they finished dinner amongst much more light-hearted conversation. Once the cleanup was finished Applejack nodded to Zorin to follow her.

“Yer room'll be upstairs, tha' alrigh' with you?” she asked, gesturing to the stairwell.

“Ja...” she answered as she followed her new host to the second level. “A-applejack, I do not zuppose you have a bath?”

The farmpony blushed, “consarnit, ah'm a fool, ah didn't even think... 'course ya'll can take a bath, Mac uses the downstairs one but us girls got one ta ourselves.”

Zorin let out a sigh of relief, a part of her had worried that they lacked that particular feature of indoor plumbing. Having lived with that before, she had no desire to return to it. “Zhat vould be wundarbar, danke.”

After being shown her room Zorin immediately made for the bathroom. After running the water scalding hot until the bath was full she tossed in a bar of soap and tentatively slipped in. Immediately her muscles went slack and she let out a sigh of pure pleasure. “Zhis... I have missed zhis...” she muttered as she relaxed in the hot water. For a few moments she simply luxuriated. During her endless days as a soldier such amenities were non-existent. Not that she required them as a vampire unless it was to clean the gore off of herself. The simple mortal pleasure of soaking in a hot bath was something that, even during the wars, she had found herself missing on occasion though.

“Perhaps zhis vill not be zo bad after all,” Zorin said as she sunk her head beneath the water.

Deep in the Everfree a darkness awoke. It slithered across the floor of the forest, a formless shadow. Where it touched, the plants wilted and the animals died. Their life extinguished by the hungry thing that only now began it's slow progress. It looked like nothing so much as a moving patch of illimitable darkness.

But darkness did not hunger, and the hunger of this nameless thing had no end.