Applejack surveyed the crystalline hall within Twilight's castle, where her friends, along with Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and half of Ponyville, had gathered to celebrate.  The Pillars had returned from their year-long sojourn to travel the world and learn more about their place within it, and everypony was eager to catch up.

With one notable exception.  Applejack frowned to herself, then quietly took Sonambula aside.  “Where’s Rockhoof gotten himself to?  I’ve got something Twilight and I cooked up I want him to try out.”

Sonambula’s normally gentle smile faltered.  “He has, ah, spent a lot of time keeping his own company over the past few moons.  He was very close with the ponies of the Mighty Helm, and seeing his old village in– well, in its current state…”  She sighed.  “It was difficult for him.”

“I can only imagine.”  Applejack scratched at the crystal floor with a hoof, then looked up with a determined glint in her eye.  “But I have something that might help.”





Applejack found Rockhoof just outside as he sat along the side of the road, idly scuffing geometric patterns – no, runes, as Twilight had called them during their research – into the dirt.

“Hey there, big guy.”  She ambled over to him, carrying a mug in her forehoof.

“Ah, Applejack.”  He heaved himself to his hooves.  “How goes the celebration?”

“A might bit empty without you in there taking up space.”  Applejack grinned at him, then softened her expression.  “I hear tell you’ve been keeping to yourself for a while now.  Wanna talk about it?”

“I would rather not.”  Rockhoof stared at the runes in the dirt.  “I will just say it is difficult to enjoy the company of friends, when all you think of is friends who can no longer be with you.”

Applejack simply nodded, and the two of them stood in silence in the pleasantly cool autumn breeze.  She considered the design of the runes, and thought they were pretty, in a simple kind of way.

At length, Rockhoof sighed.  “Sonambula’s village is thriving today, and Meadowbrook’s people endure.  The Cloudsdale pegasi still have a fine military tradition in the Wonderbolts, and Mistmane still has her village’s lovely garden.  Even Starswirl still has his prize pupils.”  He frowned, and his voice lowered.  “Yet nothing remains of my village, of my culture, but an archeological dig site.  It seems the volcano won, in the end.”

Applejack hung her head.  “I’m sorry, Rockhoof.”

“Mmm.  Me too.”

After a reflective minute, Applejack said, “Well, before I leave you be, Twilight and I made you a little somethin’.”  She held out the mug.

“Oh?”  He took the mug in his own massive hoof, and his eyes widened as the smell of it hit his nose.  “It cannot be.”  He took an experimental sip, and his eyes shone with moisture in the starlight.

Applejack winced.  “N-now, it might taste a little funny – I doubt they used apple blossom honey back in the day, but Twilight said elderflower– whoa!”

Rockhoof scooped her up in a bone-crushing hug.  “It tastes like home, little one.”  He set her down, then laughed and drained the mug in a single hearty swig.  “Ah.  Is there more?”

Applejack grinned.  “Yup!  Made a whole barrel, ‘specially for you!”

“I am well pleased!”  Rockhoof grinned back.  “It is good for a first run.  With some work, it could replace this land’s obsession with cider!”

Applejack jaw fell open.  “Whoa now, no need for–”

“Ha, I kid.”  Rockhoof tipped back Applejack’s hat and tousled her mane with a heavy hoof.  “Come, let us share with Flash Magnus – he is almost as fond of mead as me!”

“Heh, well, best get it to him before Rainbow Dash finds out about it, or he’s liable to not get any!”

They shared a laugh, then returned to the light and life of the gathering hall.