When Aurora stepped off the train with her suitcase, she spotted Rarity waiting on the platform at a glance.
Besides Rarity, there were two other ponies Aurora recognized: Applejack and Fluttershy.
It had been a long time since they last met, and they had grown from the little beans they were back then into long-legged, adolescent beans.
Forgive Aurora for not finding a better adjective, but she felt this one was quite fitting.
Oh, except for Fluttershy.
Because Fluttershy was the same age as Aurora, her physique was a bit larger than her other two friends.
Also, it is worth mentioning that Applejack had not yet obtained her "signature item," which was that cowboy hat; instead, she wore two small, cute pigtails. However, Aurora would not fail to recognize her this time.
When Aurora had just gotten off the train, Rarity had already seen her, just as she had the first time they met at school.
After all, in all of Ponyville... no, it could even be said that in all of Equestria, there wasn't another pony as special as Aurora.
Rarity couldn't put this feeling into words, but that was just how she felt.
Aurora was now more mature than when they first met; her appearance fit her temperament more and more, even adding a hint of imperceptible melancholy.
The most important thing was those glasses.
How good must this pony's taste be to think of getting such a pair of glasses for herself?
"What a charming pony!"
The moment their eyes met, Rarity trotted over.
She originally wanted to give her long-lost friend a warm hug, but halfway through, she felt it didn't fit a lady's etiquette, so she changed it to a hoofshake.
"Flying Light! darling! I am so happy to see you again!"
"Me too, Rarity. It's been so long, and it feels like there have been such big changes."
Aurora didn't mind that much; after bumping hooves with Rarity, she gave her a hug, using her actions to tell her not to worry too much about etiquette that kept ponies at a distance.
"When I heard you were moving to Ponyville, I thought you were joking! After all, this is just a small town..."
"Don't say that, Rarity. I don't think this place is worse than anywhere else."
When Rarity and Aurora had finished their pleasantries, Applejack and Fluttershy also came over.
"Hey, long time no see, Aurora! I don't know if you remember me? We chatted for a while on the train once; I had just come back from Manhattan."
Applejack smiled shyly, introducing herself to Aurora.
The last time they met, Applejack was only thinking about getting home and completely forgot to ask the three ponies' names. It was only after she became friends with Rarity that Rarity told her.
"Of course I remember. Your name is Applejack, right? You said you'd treat us to apple juice back then. I wonder if that still counts?"
"Of course it counts! It's just not the season for apple juice yet; it'll be a few more months. When the time comes, I'll definitely save a barrel of juice, write 'Aurora' on it, and let you drink to your heart's content!"
Applejack's boldness was full of the simplicity of a country girl, making the listener feel a warmth from the inside out.
"Thank you! But I only need one glass; my appetite isn't that big. It's better to leave the rest for other ponies."
Aurora knew how popular and sought-after the apple juice from Sweet Apple Acres was. Even someone as fast as Rainbow Dash couldn't get it several times in a row, only able to sadly stuff dirt soaked in apple juice into her mouth to get a taste.
She was a pony who became a victim even earlier than Princess Cadance. (What)
"Fluttershy, long time no see."
"Ah... long time no see, Aurora."
Fluttershy was as shy as ever; when greeting her, she couldn't help but hide her face under her hair.
However, upon knowing that Aurora still remembered her, she showed obvious happiness; they all saw the corners of Fluttershy's mouth sneakily smile.
Because Aurora had kept in touch with Rarity through letters over the years, Aurora had told Rarity about Applejack and Fluttershy. So for the three of them, it was Aurora who had fostered their friendship.
After all, after returning from Ponyville that time, some unpleasant trouble had occurred, to the point that for a while afterward, the three of them had almost forgotten their adventure in Ponyville.
If Aurora hadn't seen Rarity's address in her notebook, it probably would have truly been forgotten in the corners of her memory.
"I remember last time you came with your two other good friends. Is it just you this time?"
Applejack asked, still thinking about treating the three of them to apple juice.
"Yes. Because the three of us have different study plans... Maybe later, when Twilight is free, I can invite her to come to Ponyville for a while."
Knowing that Applejack had just mentioned it unintentionally, Aurora just smiled and brushed the topic aside.
"By the way, Rarity, you said you were going to introduce me to a new friend today, but I only see 'old friends' I haven't seen in years here."
"Then you'll just have to wait and see, darling."
Understanding Aurora's joking, provocative words, Rarity, amused, went along with her.
"I say let's not just stand here chatting; we can't let our honored guest get too tired."
"Let me help you with your luggage!"
Applejack let her know and then steadily carried Aurora's suitcase on her back. It didn't have the weight she expected; it was incredibly light, and she couldn't feel any items colliding inside, as if it were an empty suitcase.
"Is this all the stuff? It doesn't feel like you're moving house?"
"Most of my things were moved to the house I rented in advance; this suitcase only contains some of my more important items."
Because there were precious glass items and wooden artworks in the box, it was stuffed with a lot of shock-absorbing padding, which made the suitcase feel like an empty one to the hooves.
"I see. Don't worry, I will be as careful as if I were holding a glass of apple juice filled to the brim."
Applejack promised Aurora, then carried the suitcase and walked ahead. At the same time, Fluttershy followed gently beside Applejack, slightly behind, her gaze occasionally falling on the suitcase.
"With friends as thoughtful as you, I feel like coming to Ponyville is just like coming home."
"Ha! Of course, darling! We will make you feel the warmth of home here!"
Rarity proudly tossed her mane. Although she occasionally envied the more prosperous and elegant life in the big city, the unique friendship and warmth of Ponyville was always the sense of belonging she was most proud of in her heart.
And she was also happy that her friend from the big city could also feel the uniqueness of this place.
"But is there any activity you've prepared that you haven't told me about?"
Aurora asked out of the blue.
From the moment Applejack took the initiative to carry the luggage and walk in front, Aurora felt that they were deliberately guiding her to follow them.
"Could it be a welcome party I don't know about?"
Applejack, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped; the suitcase on her back wobbled for a moment, and was quickly steadied by Fluttershy.
"Rarity, did you let it slip in the letter? Don't forget you took a 'Pinkie Promise'!"
"Oh! Applejack, I would never do something so tasteless!"
Rarity and Applejack glared at each other, then turned their heads away in dissatisfaction.
'Wow, and a Pinkie Promise—now I can be sure who is throwing the party.'
Aurora elegantly covered her mouth with her hoof, suppressing a mischievous smile.
Perhaps the "new friend" Rarity wanted to introduce to her was Pinkie Pie.
But Rarity probably didn't know that she and Pinkie Pie were also "old acquaintances"; if it weren't for her, she wouldn't have the glasses she was wearing now.
"Um... you two, I don't think this is the time to argue."
Caught in the middle of the two long-legged beans, Fluttershy nervously and softly tried to mediate.
Although the voice was almost inaudible, Fluttershy was after all older than them, and with the advantage of her larger size, she couldn't be ignored by the two little ones.
"Sorry, should I not have said anything just now?"
Aurora interjected, although she actually had no remorse for saying the wrong thing.
Seeing the ponies looking flustered, she found it quite interesting; she was really quite wicked.
Fluttershy looked at Aurora, who was still smiling even at this moment, and felt that she was a bit scary.
"Of course not! darling, we just didn't expect you to be so sharp."
Rarity laughed awkwardly; she really hadn't expected that they had only just walked out of the station, and yet the main character of the upcoming secret party had already seen through everything.
Now she could only pray that Pinkie Pie's party would be enough to surprise Aurora.
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