Twilight Sparkle lay in her bed, looking in vain out her window at the Equestrian moon. Even if she cared to admire its lunar luminescence, she wouldn't have been able to see through the flood of tears that blinded her bloodshot eyes.
For a full week now, Twilight hadn't been herself. She didn't want to read, she didn't want to organize her home, and she didn't want to attend any of Pinkie Pie's parties. She didn't want to do anything, really. She just felt empty, like there was a hole in her heart that she couldn't mend with any magic. The Element of Magic had practically given up on life. Spike was worried about her; Only an hour before, Twilight lashed out at him with a book and struck him in the head with it. This was immediately followed by a deluge of tears, sobs, and apologies. Spike had only asked her what had her so down, and Twilight just snapped. Spike wasn't mad at her; She was his best friend, and he really wanted her to try and make her happy, but Applejack told him that Twilight just needed her space. The only justification she gave for saying so was "Sometimes, a girl just knows."
Twilight felt Applejack nudge at her mane on the bed beside her. Softly, she said, "Twi', are you awake?"
"No... Not really," Twilight whispered, holding back tears. She didn't know what to say to her. Applejack had offered to stay with her tonight to try and comfort her, but Twilight felt sorry for her honest friend. She hadn't really opened up to her at all, and it lead to a lot of awkward silences, but Applejack didn't mind. She recalled something that Granny Smith told her when she was just a filly: "Sadness is like a cold, wet blanket. Not everypony is strong enough to lift it off of themselves on their own, and sometimes not even a close friend can get it off of you... But it's always easier to bear when somepony wants to slide under that blanket with you to keep you warm." Applejack held back tears of her own... That was so long ago, but it meant so much to her. She loved Granny Smith with all of her big, warm heart.
"Twi'... I don't wanna push you or nothin', but is there somethin' yer not tellin' me?" Twilight turned in bed to face Applejack, but didn't make eye contact with her. "I... I really don't know what's wrong, Applejack. I've just been so... So... I just can't. I... I-" With that, Twilight completely broke down and began sobbing like a blithering idiot. Applejack wrapped her forelegs around her and cooed softly. "Now, Twi', you just let it all out. It's gonna be okay. I'm right here..." Twilight buried her face in Applejack's chest and continued her sobbing. "Gosh, she really does need a friend right now," Applejack thought. "I'm glad I can be here for her... She's a wreck."
"Applejack, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorr-" She was cut off again by another fit of crying. Applejack held her tighter, stroking her mane with her hoof.
"Sugar cube, come now, ya got nothin' to feel sorry for. It's alright. Just cry, Twi', you'll feel better, I know ya will." Oh, did she cry. After several minutes, Twilight got to the point where she wasn't done crying, but she couldn't quite talk yet, either. "Appleja- Applejack, I- I-"
"Shh, Twi', it's okay... Don't worry your perty little head. I'm not goin' nowhere." She kept on her spree of sobs and chokes until she was able to breathe somewhat regularly. Applejack continued stroking her mane, hoping the poor thing would feel better after fifteen minutes of straight bawling. Twilight looked up at her. "Applejack, just... Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you, I really don't."
"Twilight, girl, I could say the same about you. Ponyville's always been my home, but it just wasn't right before you came along, y'know?" Applejack looked back into the unicorn's painfully bloodshot eyes, and Twilight returned her gaze. For a long time, neither of them spoke. Mares who understood each other often had no need for words, and the loving look each received from the other said more than enough.
Twilight buried her face in Applejack's chest once more and held her tight. "Applejack?"
"Yeah, Twi'?"
"I was so... Alone... In Canterlot. It was a nice place to be sure, but I didn't have any real friends. I love you all equally... But don't tell anypony I said this... Can you keep a secret?" Applejack stroked Twilight's mane once more and hummed softly to herself, making Twilight feel silly for thinking she needed to ask. "I'd never tell a soul, sugar cube." Tears of raw love and thanks rolled down Twilight's cheeks as she looked up at Applejack.
"We disagree on a few things, what with me reading as much as I do, but I always felt really close to you. Ever since you saved my life in the Everfree Forest, I've trusted you. When you told me to let go, you looked so sure of yourself, and I just... Applejack, that meant so much to me, and you're my best friend, and I-" Again, Twilight buried her face in Applejack's chest and began to cry once more. Applejack joined in this time, sobbing as tears streamed from her big, green eyes and over her freckles.
It could have been minutes or even an hour after they finished crying that Twilight finally spoke. "Applejack... I think I know why I've been so upset."
"Why, hon?"
"I... It's really silly, and I feel really dumb for making such a fuss about it..."
"Twi', I don't care if you had a pebble in the boots that you never wear. Out with it, girl!"
"Please don't be mad at me, Applejack..." Applejack looked at her with a smile of pure love and understanding on her face.
Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath. "Do you remember the time that I couldn't find something to write to Princess Celestia about, and I got all worked up and tried to cause problems to solve?"
Applejack chuckled and began stroking Twilight's mane again. "Yeah, I do... That was a bit strange... But what of it?"
Twilight giggled like a filly. "Well... When I tried to stir up Applebloom and friends, I gave Smarty Pants to them for them to fight over, and eventually everypony in Ponyville fought over him... And Big Macintosh ran off with him. I miss Smarty Pants... I really do." Twilight thought Applejack was crying again, but realized that she was roaring with laughter. Twilight was hurt; She knew it was silly of her to get so upset over a toy, but it was so rude of her to laugh at her after their time together tonight. Twilight's eyes filled with silent tears once again as she turned away. She didn't want to look at Applejack.
Applejack's giggling ceased. "Aw, shucks, sugar cube, I'm not laughing at you! I'm laughing at that big softy, Big Mac! I've seen him sleeping with that old thing almost every night! He's a big fella, but he sure is a little colt inside." Applejack wrapped her arms around Twilight from behind, resting her chin on the unicorn's neck. "Twi', I didn't meet to hurt your feelings, you know I didn't..." Twilight didn't answer. "Twi', please don't be mad, I'm sorry!" Still, Twilight didn't respond. Trying to comfort her once again, Applejack began massaging Twilight's shoulders with her forehooves. After a minute or so, she started quaking a bit under her hooves.
"Gosh, Twi'! Am I hurtin' you? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" This time it was Applejack who was interrupted; Interrupted by Twilight's adorable giggle. Twilight turned to look at Applejack. "Really? He likes it?" Twilight asked.
"Sugar cube, that's the only thing Big Mac has that he gives one pony's flank about! He loves the thing!"
Twilight thought for a moment. "So... He really is happy with it?"
"Sure as apples in the orchard, you silly filly." Applejack pulled her close, and Twilight returned the embrace.
"Then I'm happy, too."
Twilight couldn't help but chuckle as she imagined the big guy huddled up with Smarty Pants on an open bail of hay. In her head, she wrote her letter to Celestia for the next day:
"Dear Princess Celestia,
Today I learned one of the finer points of friendship. It's easy to get worked up over the little things, and it's even easier to misplace the things you hold dear in your heart... The things that make you happy... But there's no joy like quite like bringing warmth to the heart of somepony else with a simple gift.
Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."
Twilight held her friend tighter, and Applejack did the same. "Applejack?"
"Yeah, Twi'?"
A single tear came from Twilight's eye. "I love you."
Applejack wiped away Twilight's tear and shed one of her own. "I love you, too, sugar cube."
Applejack and Twilight Sparkle fell to sleep on her warm bed, each mare's heart glowing even warmer...
...with the magic of friendship.
