Giving Thanks For Loved Ones [Anonymous]

[neighfeni]

[The last few days have been interesting, to say the least, but this morning, when Ponyville awoke to find itself normal once more, sans a few ponies, it seemed, everyone (and we do mean everyone) would find small baskets at their doors. There's no sign of who might have left them, beyond a personalized note to each that was hoof-typed. Inside the baskets? Treats and goodies: cookies, candies, foods...if the mysterious benefactor knew preferences, those were there. In each instance, there's also a hoof-made scarf for the coming cold, in a variety of colors, all with cutie marks sewn in (if those weren't present, flowers or designs were instead).

For a select few, there are more personalized baskets, and those get to meet the mystery mare later in the day:]

To Ako: Ako's favorite donuts, cherries and mango pieces dipped in chocolate, cupcakes, some music related items, and a gold double-eighth note charm.
To Applejack: Cookies, Nephenee's own apple cider, lots of tasty foods, a voucher for hangout and lunch, Neph's treat, and a charm of an apple.
To Arcee: Lots of fishes, a nice kitty sweater, cookies, and a motorcycle charm.
To Bertie: Bitter candies, some of her shortbread cookies he likes so much, a nice blue tie, and a bee charm.
To Cadence: Teas, cookies, and a winged heart charm.
To Cirno: All her favorite goodies, some school supplies, things for her room, and a snowflake charm.
To Coco: Fashion books, flowers, cookies, and a needle and thread charm. She also get's Kreutzer's bow charm, and a small Kreutzer plushie.
To Dante: Fresh, chocolate-dipped strawberries, voucher for pizza and booze outing, and a charm of his dual pistols.
To Fluttershy (OU): Animal supplies, knitting books and supplies, some cookies, and a butterfly charm.
To Gwen: TEAS, some beauty supplies, and a boxing glove charm .
To Lethe: Fishies, whatever treats Lethe might like, stuff for her room in the upcoming house, and a bell charm.
To MayTwi: Teas, books, chocolates, coupons for hugs, and a star charm, like the stars in her Mark.
To Minato: Coffees, food prep items from Neighpon, some weapon care supplies, stuff for the house, and an engraved charm of the Fool card.
To Patchy: Teas, cookies, BOOKS, and a book charm with her sigil engraved on it.
To Rainbow Dash (AU): Cookies, Daring Do books, and stuff for the new house, along with a charm of her cutie mark .
To Virgil: Teas, books, cookies, and a charm of his sword.
To Yayoi: Pony science texts, teas and noshings from Neighpon, and a charm shaped like a plesiosaur.

All charms come along with a lance charm.

~~~

Before they meet up for their run, Morgan's going to find that there's a knocking on his window...
Yes. His window. On the third floor.
Not many here that can do that, so he can probably guess who it is.

~~~

[To one other...well, it requires some more work, and a visual:

The scroll opens, but no one is to be seen. Rather, you can see for miles outside of Ponyville, atop this hill, and she shifts the scroll to show a basket of goodies. Cookies, chocolates, books on many subjects, and a note.

Dear Cálice,

Today is a day for giving thanks, and I've given all the folks I'm thankful for baskets. But I realized you need one too, so here's a basket to show I care about you too. No matter what you've done, I believe everypony needs a friend, and I want to be one to you.

Please enjoy these, especially the books. I know how much you enjoy knowledge.

Love,
A friend

She's not dumb enough to sign it and risk putting her friends and family in danger, but she still wants to give Cálice something...who knows, maybe it'll make a difference to the alicorn.]

Comments

[action]

[neighfeni]

Ah'm kinda used to runnin' 'round doin' lots of stuff. Ah was the 'breadwinner' for my family for several years, when Ah was younger, so jus' got into the habit.

[She grabs the baskets for the Apples, setting each down in a row.]

There's yours, an' Granny Smith's, an' Applebloom's, an' Big Mac's...[Pretty soon she's named off all the Apples.]...an' Ako's an' Josh's, Captain Marvelous', an' Miss Luna's, too! Ah wanna give them theirs, though.

[action]

[appletastic]

[She smiled fondly. Wow, that was a lot for one pony to undertake.]

So I'm guessing you've got a lot of road to run today. I won't tie you up.

Re: [action]

[neighfeni]

[Like AJ knows nothing of undertaking a lot!]

Aw naw, Ah got most of my runnin' done; this is one of my last stops, so Ah figure Ah can take some time. 'Sides, we've both been busy preparin' for the harvest, we should talk a spell.

Oh! [Remembering part of the present, Neph fishes out a small box, and opens it. Inside, there are two small metal apple charms, along with a lance one.]

One of the apples is yours, an' so is the lance.

[action]

[appletastic]

[They're so pretty. Applejack pauses to admire them, already figuring out where to put it.]

This is...what they call a friendship charm, right?

[action]

[neighfeni]

Yup, both of 'em. You're the apple, Ah'm the lance. [We think she can figure that out, Nephenee.] Ah keep the other apple, an' it's a way to be connected, even if we ain't near each other. It's important to remember we have friends, even more lately, an' Ah'm right blessed to have ya as one.

[action]

[appletastic]

Same to you, Neph. I'll never forget the wonderful friends I've got. And if there's one good thing to come of all this mess...it's meeting new folk like you.

[And surprising herself, she launches forward to give Nephenee a hug.]