when she grows up, she moves away from Sweet Apple Acres, roaming from city to city, taking on various jobs, whether they’re apple themed or not. Applejack objected loudly to this, thinking that family needs to stick together, but Applebloom stated firmly that “all birds need to leave the nest at some point, AJ.” and then she gathers her things and disappears, not being spotted again until 4 years later by Twilight Sparkle. Applejack realizes that even though her place was there on the farm, helping Granny and Big McIntosh, Applebloom’s place wasn’t. she needed to be free and choose her own path. Applebloom and AJ send each other letters and trinkets from Ponyville and whatever town Applebloom is in at the time, each slowly growing their collection of Sister Gifts.