Ponyville had seen much during the years since Twilight Sparkle came to live there. It seemed the village had become a hub of sorts for anything Equestria related. Before it had been just a little out of the way hamlet, now it held its own school of Friendship.

The school itself was still ongoing. Its headmare Starlight Glimmer ran it with care and the utmost responsibility. After it had been bequeathed to her by her teacher, Twilight Sparkle, she would most certainly operate it the very same as Equestria's new ruler had done. That was another thing Ponyville was known for: the rise of their latest princess. Twilight had started out as a simple visitor, rose to the title of princess, and now was in charge of all of Equestria. Every day was a new experience for the town, and it seemed it would only get better.

There wasn't a single unhappy pony or creature in town. Well, save for one.

Within Ponyville there was a pond. It wasn't too expansive, but it was large enough that different animals could propagate. Ducks seemed to love the pond, taking their ducklings to the water. Every creature had its first steps. For birds, it was the gift of flight. Anything with wings would take to the air just like a duck to water.

The pond itself remained still, but within moments, the surface was disrupted as a series of ripples passed through, just as the stone danced upon it. It was a tiny pebble, but with enough force, it could command the water to move. It skipped along before falling into the depths. A second one was almost thrown until a family of ducks swam their way through the water. The mother duck led her ducklings along. Though the only pony who could get into the mind of an animal was Fluttershy, the presence of the waterfowls prevented another stone from being skipped. It was picked up for sure, but it was dropped just the same, yet it wasn't a hoof that held it.

Lacking the proper digits, Earth Ponies nor Pegasi could really pick up a stone, at least not without some difficulty, and Unicorns could simply levitate it with their magic. But for the solitary figure by the pond, it was easy for him because he had the digits. Instead of a hoof, a yellow claw let the stone fall, watching as it landed lifelessly on the ground. Attached to the claw was a young avian creature. Its head resembled that of an eagle with white feathers, a particular fringe of them hanging off of his head akin to a hairstyle. A pair of tiny wings lay upon his back, but the body itself was that of a lion, complete with a feline tail.

This was a griffon, a griffon of about eight years of age. With his features described, there was one detail left unspoken: the rainbow colors of his fringe. It was dyed long ago by his choice. It was all to honor someone he held in high regard. The griffon's name was Gale Force Wind. From the sound of his name, it would probably best befit a pony, but to one raised by ponies, it worked.

Young Gale watched as the mother duck led her ducklings along, quacking while the little ones chattered and followed dutifully. Gale would have smiled at the sight, but he couldn't muster one. He could tell the mother was loving and would protect her children. After all, she laid their eggs and hatched them, like any good mother would.

Sighing, Gale briskly rose and walked off, kicking the stone off into some nearby bushes. As he walked, he held his head down but made certain to keep his line of sight open so he wouldn't bump into anypony. A collage of colored legs dotted the streets of Ponyville, but Gale was careful. He didn't need to see that much, for he had lived here his entire life and knew the way like the back of his claw. His line of sight drifted upward as he reached a door, pushing it open and causing the bell to ring.

"Well if it isn't Gale," A voice greeted.

Gale gazed up and forced a grin upon his feathered face, "Hey Mr. Cake."

"The usual?" The pony baker asked.

Scanning the various treats behind the glass barrier, Gale's claw pointed towards a particular treat. It looked like a rectangular piece of chocolate, but on each in, right in the middle was a tiny dot of white gooey goodness.

"One Chocolate Marshmallow Delight, coming right up!" Mr. Cake went to work, picking out the best for one of his best customers, and packaging it for the utmost enjoyment.

Gale fished out the correct change and deposited it on the counter. His eyes poured into the bag containing his snack. A soft trickle of drool dribbled down his beak, prompting him to wipe it.

"I swear, you're my best customer when it comes to these. If it weren't for you, I'd take it off the menu," Mr. Cake jokingly laughed.

"Then I guess it's a good thing I love these," Gale said as he licked his beak.

"Thank goodness for you and your sweet tooth, must get it from your mother," Mr. Cake added.

Gale's grin faded, but he made certain not to show it, "Yeah...my mom."

Swiftly taking his leave, Gale hurried to the nearest bench and sat himself down. In a flash, he opened up the bag and took the Delight in his claw. Without so much as a grace, Gale tore into it, the chocolate and marshmallow staining his beak and coating his claws. Mr. Cake was right, he did have a sweet tooth, probably the biggest in Ponyville; though Pinkie Pie would be a major contender. Whichever the case, Gale loved his sweets, and Chocolate Marshmallow Delights were his favorites. He remembered the first time he tried one. He had been really little, about four years old. He saw it in the window and begged his 'mother' to buy him one. She did so and the minute he took his first bite, he had fallen in love. In no time at all, he finished his dessert and licked his claws until not a trace remained upon them on his beak. A swift burp exited him and he balled up the bag and tossed it into the trashcan like a basketball.

"Still got it," Gale cockily remarked with pride.

Athleticism was something Gale prided himself on. There was no one better in the air or at sports than him. At least among his peers. Though he was taught not to be too prideful, he couldn't help but show off sometimes. The cheers from the crowds, he couldn't help it. Whenever he heard them, he felt his heart soar high. He had felt that sensation as he soared above the clouds. It was intoxicating. Memories of his first flight played before him. The struggle with each failure, the encouragement that kept him going, and the unbridled joy as he managed to breach the cloud line and perform all of the tricks he could only dream of. Now the dreams were a reality.

"Mommy, this way!"

Gale's attention turned to his left. Trotting along the road was a mother pony and her child. The young foal laughed playfully as his mother went after him.

"Come back here you!" his mother's words were cheerful and light, which was only answered by her son's delight.

Thinking back, Gale saw himself in that child's hooves, just for a brief moment. He ran about, young and carefree, all the while one ran behind him, hoping to catch him, one with a rainbow mane.

Once more a frown crossed Gale's face, and he got up from the bench in a huff. With each step he took, Gale furiously swung his tail. Inside a feeling burned. It was a feeling he had felt on occasion in his life, and that feeling was anger. Yet, as he stomped, he found his anger slowly going out, and all that was left was a frown.

A dark cloud floated along the path leading to Sweet Apple Acres. This was a metaphor. In reality, the dark cloud was a rainbow-maned pegasus. Everyone in Ponyville, in all of Equestria, knew her name. That name, was Rainbow Dash, the holder of the Element of Loyalty, a member of the illustrious Wonderbolts, and a close personal friend of Princess Twilight Sparkle. With that going for her, Rainbow Dash should have considered herself one of the coolest ponies in Equestria. Not to say she didn't already think that, but those titles and ranks alone simply told her she was awesome.

But, she didn't feel that way at the present. In fact, she felt downright miserable.

If she wasn't too reluctant to get wet, she would have brought a storm cloud from above to literally rain on her parade. It would at least accompany the foul mood that filled her very being. So much was she filled with pain, that she ignored her surroundings. She had been down the path to Sweet Apple Acres so many times she memorized it by heart. Usually, she would fly down there, but she lacked the energy or the drive to do so; that's how downtrodden she was.

She didn't even look up as she knocked on the door. Hoofsteps sounded out as whoever was on the other side was about to answer the door. Opening with a creak, Rainbow Dash noticed that the hoofsteps sounded tiny.

"Ms. Rainbow Dash?" a young voice spoke.

Raising her head, Rainbow Dash noticed a young filly, one with a scarlet coat and a blue mane. Imprinted upon her flank was a thistle.

"Oh...hey Thistle Weed, is...Applejack home?" Rainbow Dash hesitantly asked.

"I do apologize Ms. Rainbow Dash, but Ms. Applejack is currently taking a nap, and is in no condition to answer visitors," Thistle Weed answered, "If you want, I can leave a message for you and she can get back to you later."

Rainbow Dash just blinked at the professional attitude the young filly was presenting. Even after accepting Thistle Weed as a new addition to the Apple family, she still wasn't used to how the filly carried herself.

"Rainbow Dash! Now what a fancy surprise!" Applejack's boisterous voice called through towards the front door.

The orange-coated mare entered the room, still wearing her trademark hat, but around her neck, she wore Granny Smith's shawl. Granny Smith had passed away not too long ago, so Applejack wore it to remember her grandmother. But that wasn't the only new addition to the country mare, for it was the size of her belly that drew ponies in.

"Ms. Applejack! You shouldn't be up and about in your condition!"Thistle Weed declared.

"Now, now, Thistle, Ah may have a bun in the oven, but Ah ain't bedridden," Applejack lightly chastised.

Thistle composed herself and straightened her mane, "Very well, I understand, I'm sorry."

"It's okay sugar cube," Applejack chuckled, "now why don't you go get your pa?"

"As you wish," Thistle trotted neatly out the door and into the apple fields.

"That stepdaughter of mine, she's quite a girl," Applejack laughed.

Rainbow Dash never thought she would hear the words 'stepdaughter' and 'mine' coming from Applejack's mouth, in the same sentence no less, but stepdaughter was accurate. Sometime after Big Macintosh and Sugarbelle's wedding, the pair had set off to start their own orchard. Applejack and Apple Bloom had given their eldest sibling their blessing, but that left a void in the labor done on their farm. So, being in charge, Applejack put out an ad and it was answered by a rather stocky-looking stallion by the name of Burly Hill.

Burly fit his name, but his attitude was something to be desired. He wasn't a bad pony, but he had certain...addictions and habits that kept him from being the worker Applejack needed. It wasn't without sympathy, however. Burly had lost his wife some years ago and left him with a daughter to raise. The loss of his beloved had taken its toll on him, and his daughter Thistle Weed had taken up the role of adult in their household. His accepting a job at Sweet Apple Acres was an act of desperation, one that Applejack grew to regret, as his addictions kept him from being a reliable worker.

Yet, Applejack wasn't one to just simply abandon someone in need. Granted, she wasn't the element of loyalty, but she knew the concept of friendship and understanding, and could see that Burly was a soul in pain. That, and his daughter couldn't think entirely ill of her father.

The story of Applejack and Burly was a tale for another time, but the short version: Applejack helped Burly get over the pain of losing his wife, got him off his addictions, and eventually they fell in love and married. Within short order, Applejack had gained a husband and a stepdaughter, and not only that but now Applejack and Burly were being blessed with a foal of their own.

"Oh!" Applejack let out a grunt of pain, wincing as he put a hoof on her belly.

"You alright?" Rainbow Dash asked with concern.

As her face relaxed, Applejack chuckled and patted her belly, "Don't worry about me, the young un is right on cue."

Applejack grabbed an apple from the bowl of fruit on the table and quickly scarfed it down, "Mmmmm, wasn't that good?" Applejack said as she continued to pat her belly, "Ah swear, this young un has the appetite of a whole herd of stallions!"

Rainbow Dash grinned, for she could tell motherhood would suit Applejack. Her friend always seemed to have a maternal air about her, and now she was soon to experience it firsthand.

"So what brings ya'll around here?" Applejack asked.

Once she was asked this, Rainbow Dash's frown returned to her face, "I just...needed to talk."

Applejack's smile faded as she sensed the listlessness within her friend's voice, "Sure, sugar cube."

The pregnant mare seated herself while Rainbow Dash did the same. Rainbow Dash sat there for a few moments before letting out a breath.

"I...told Gale...the truth," was all Rainbow Dash stated.

Giving two blinks, Applejack responded with, "And?"

"Turns out, he figured out he was adopted," Rainbow Dash replied.

Silence cut through the air before Applejack stepped through the hole it made, "You're honestly surprised he knew?"

"Well, I just figured he would be shocked or something," Rainbow Dash admitted, "like, maybe he would go hide up in a tree, and I would have to get him down...I dunno...something like that!"

"Gale's a smart kid, so I ain't surprised he figured it out on his own," replied Applejack.

Rainbow Dash raised her hood to strike a point, but put it back down quickly, "Yeah, you're right, but still, things haven't been the same since I told him."

"Oh?"

"He doesn't look at me the same way, he just seems so sad and he won't tell me why," Rainbow Dash's body slumped in the chair as she clearly was giving off a sign she was depressed.

"Ah wouldn't worry, he's probably just feeling weird since it's out in the open now," Applejack assured.

"Yeah but…" Suddenly, Rainbow Dash let out a tiny laugh, "you want to know something funny? I always thought Gilda would come back for him."

Applejack said nothing and allowed her friend to speak.

"Ever since Gilda and I made this deal, I told myself it would be for a little while, and I kept counting down the days when she'd come back," Rainbow Dash looked away from Applejack, her face growing into a long glance of wanting, "but you know? Now, I'm hoping that never happens. I know it probably sounds selfish, but...I don't want to lose him."

More silence followed, at least until Rainbow Dash felt Applejack's hoof upon her shoulder.

"Listen, Dash, Gilda may have been the one who laid his egg, but you're the one who raised him, you're the only Ma he's ever known," Rainbow Dash looked slightly towards Applejack, "Trust me, that boy loves you, mark my words, he's going to bounce back, ya just gotta show him how much you love him."

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash perked up, "That's it! Oh thanks, Applejack you're the best!"

With that immediate burst of energy, Rainbow Dash grabbed her friend in a hug, then zipped out the door.

Standing there dumbfounded, Applejack asked, "What did Ah just do?"

A sudden kick from the foal in her womb seemed to ask the same question.