It was a cool Fall evening, and though the sun still hung low in the sky, its warmth had long since faded. Wind blew on and off like cold whips of ice. The fresh smell of fruit lingered in the air surrounding Sweet Apple Acres. It was apple harvesting season, and the low temperature had started to drive away the critters that would typically make the farm feel so lively. Now, the rustle of leaves and an occasional bird's call was all that could be heard.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Off in the far corner of the orchard, the rhythmic sound of hooves against wood could be heard.

A young, dark blue-grey pegasus mare with a brilliant turquoise mane and ruby-red eyes was bucking at one of the seemingly endless apple trees scattered across the farm. Beads of sweat fell down her face as she continued to kick aimlessly at the sturdy tree.

"Come on... Only a little more..." she grunted.

A moment later, a large gust of wind blew by, causing her to lose her balance and nearly knocking her to her flank. Dazed, she looked up with tired eyes to find a bright blue pegasus with a rainbow mane staring back at her with a smug grin spread across her face: Rainbow Dash.

"Woah! Don't go stumbling over your own hooves there Blue!" Rainbow Dash joked, "Time to pack it in for the day! Applejack's got some amazingly awesome apple soup cooking up for dinner! I know it's your favorite! And I may, or may not, have been the one to suggest it."

Rainbow waited for an excited response, but when it didn't come, she spoke up again. "Hey, are you doing okay?"

"Yeah... It's just, there's only a few more trees left on this side of the orchard. I think I'm gonna finish up with those before I call it quits."

"Alright," Rainbow said, worry present in her voice, "But don't work yourself too hard, I wouldn't want you hurting yourself. And when you're ready, I hope you're excited for the best soup you've ever had!"

With that, Rainbow flew away towards the brightly lit farmhouse that she now called home. Rainbow had initially moved in with Applejack claiming that it was to lower their living costs, since it was much cheaper to live in one home. But everypony knew it was more than that. The tender way they looked at each other made it crystal clear.

With Rainbow Dash gone, BlueMoon was left standing alone in the darkening orchard. She had been living here at Sweet Apple Acres for a number of years now, and though she wasn't built for it, farm life had become a routine for her. The Apple family had decided to take in the young pegasus after she had lost her parents, which was something that Applejack, unfortunately, could relate to. Losing them felt as though she had lost her guiding light. BlueMoon had looked up to her parents so deeply. Without them, she felt lost, which was only accentuated by the fact that she was yet to earn her cutie mark! Fillies half her age had already found their purpose, and yet BlueMoon, a grown mare, was still without hers.

These thoughts echoed in her mind as she stared aimlessly into the tree-covered fields. In truth, it wasn't the remaining trees that kept BlueMoon from retreating for the night. She just wanted to be alone with her thoughts.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash's positivity felt like they were squeezing a lemon into her open wounds, which reminded her of her shortcomings. Maybe it was their stories of grandeur from when they were her age, saving all of Equestria with their friends. Maybe it was the failed attempts of the Cutie Mark Crusaders trying to help find her purpose. Maybe it was the way ponies looked at her as she walked down the street. Whatever it was, nopony could fill the hopeless void that ate at her heart. A void that seemed to grow deeper with every passing day. Who was she?

BlueMoon had finally finished bucking down the last of the apples on her side of the orchard. She hadn't realized just how tired she was until now. It felt as though her limbs would fall off if she didn't consciously hold them together. She hoped Applejack's soup was still warm; it really was her favorite. As she gazed up into the sky, the moon having just begun to rise, she took a deep breath, put on a smile, and started the short journey to the farmhouse.

She arrived at the building that seemed all too familiar to her now. It stretched up two whole stories and was colored in bright red paint. The wood veneer was chipped from years of ware, and she could spot the dent she made near the west entrance when she had accidentally pushed a wheelbarrow into it months prior. A glamorous warm yellow light poured out from the numerous windows decorating the building. Even so, she didn't expect anypony to be awake.

With a groan, she pushed open the heavy wooden door, which felt like a boulder after the long day's work. She trudged through the brightly lit hallway and made her way to the kitchen. BlueMoon knew the Apples were a farm family through and through, but it still surprised her just how country their home felt. Exposed wood beams, checkered patterns on every carpet, striped wallpaper in every corner. Not that she minded though, it gave off a warm, cozy feeling she hadn't found anywhere else.

As she entered the kitchen, BlueMoon was shocked to see Applejack and Rainbow Dash still waiting at the dinner table. Three clean empty bowls sat there atop a hoof-made tablecloth, with spoons neatly placed beside them.

"Took ya long enough!" Applejack teased, "Don't worry, we ain't started eatin' yet. We thought we'd wait for ya, seeing as this is your special day and all!"

"You... You didn't have to wait for me. And what do you mean my 'special day'?" BlueMoon raised an eyebrow, confused by the sentiment.

"Pffffft! Don't tell me you don't know what day it is?" Rainbow spouted.

"Don't ya remember? It's your familiversary!" Applejack cheered, "Sorry we didn't do a heap this year sugarcube. We had planned to do more, honest."

BlueMoon was so tired, she had completely forgotten. Instead of celebrating her birthday each year, they decided to celebrate the day she started living with the Apple family, which was dubbed her 'familiversary'.

"I know it's just us tonight. Wish everypony else could have made it, but Big Mac said he's a mite tuckered from helpin' Sugar Belle down at the bakery all day, Apple Bloom's stuck on a late-night mission with the rest of the CMC, and granny's in bed with that cold, you know-"

"No, no. It's okay Applejack, really." She interrupted, "Honestly, I'm glad it's just you guys tonight." BlueMoon tried to sound enthusiastic, but her mental and physical exhaustion was making it hard to feel anything at all. "Sorry I forgot about my familiversary, I've just been feeling- I don't know... It's fine. Never mind."

BlueMoon dropped limply onto her chair and nearly flopped headfirst into her bowl. Rainbow Dash and Applejack gave each other a concerned glance. BlueMoon's depressive state had slowly been building over the last couple of months, but it had become irrefutably noticeable in recent weeks. Still, she chose not to say anything. She didn't feel like it was anypony else's responsibility to bear. Not that they could do anything to help her anyways.

The warmth in the air had begun to fade. "I told you something's been up with her!" Rainbow whispered to Applejack, "I'm gonna go get some soup."

Rainbow stood up from her chair and made her way to the stovetop, where the apple soup was still simmering away. Its pops and boils were the only noise to break the now deafening silence.

At the same time, Applejack looked up at BlueMoon with soft eyes, seemingly searching deep within her for emotions she had not yet expressed. "Look sugarcube... I get it if you don't want to share, but it's plain as day that something ain't been sittin' right with you."

BlueMoon stared aimlessly into her bowl, as if trying to find the words that she wasn't able to muster. She couldn't meet Applejack's gaze.

"You know we're here for you if somethin' is wrong. And I think I speak for the both of us when I say we'll do anything we can to fix it"

Rainbow dash flapped her way back to the table, a large pot of soup between her hooves. She began to fill everyone's bowls with steamy peach colored liquid. BlueMoon still hadn't said a word. She felt as though it was pointless to even try.

"C'mon, you can tell us!" Rainbow pressed, "What's your problem? Have you been flying slower than usual lately? Did your hoof get hurt while applebucking? Oh, oh! Do you have a secret distaste for apples? Maybe-"

"It's me!" BlueMoon fiercely interjected, "The problem... The problem is me..."

Silently, she stood up from the table and shuffled her way towards the creaky old staircase that led to the second floor. "Thank you for the soup, but I'm not hungry right now."

As BlueMoon walked up the stairs towards her bedroom, Applejack shot an angry glare at Rainbow Dash. BlueMoon could hear their muffled bickering as she made her way into her room and closed the door. It was dark, and her bed felt cold to the touch. The blankets which she began to wrap herself in gave little shelter to the thoughts that ran rampant through her mind. Who was she? She didn't know. If there ever was an answer to that question, she thought, it must have disappeared along with her parents, and a burden was all that remained.