Could an Apple reach the Stars?

Chapters

Part 2: Pain, Stubborn Friends and Regret
Part 3: What is Right
Epilogue: Until...
Part 1: The Break

Part 2: Pain, Stubborn Friends and Regret

It was time. In few minutes, surely, the Royal Chariot would come to take Princess Twilight to Canterlot where she had to attend the Hearth’s Warming Eve performance, among other things. To be honest, she didn’t want to go. The only thing the alicorn wanted to do was to stay in bed under the sheets and hug her pillow while she cried. Applejack had left her three days ago and she couldn’t stop thinking about it. She simply couldn’t get it out of her mind. Why? Easy. She still loved the cowpony.

Regardless of her feelings, her responsible nature prevented Twi from ignoring her duties. She couldn’t let anypony down, especially Celestia and Luna, who trusted her to review the last details of the function. So, she had packed her bags the night before, planning to stay in Canterlot two or three days. Maybe it would be good for her to spend some time out of Ponyville. Alone, because, despite all his protests, she told Spike to remain in the library.

“Twilight, I don’t think this is a good idea.” He said for fifteenth time in that morning. The Element of Magic sighed, shaking her head. “I already told you, Spike. I’m not going to change my mind. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna asked me to review the Hearth’s Warming Eve play and I’ll not going to letting their down. I’ll be fine, ok?” She answered, only to face a worried (and a little upset) baby dragon. “Don’t give me that crap, Twi! You’re not fine.”

“Spike!” Twi replied with surprise. “You know I don’t let you talk like that!”

“Then you don’t try to lie to me.” Spike said with a worried tone, lowering his head. “You have been crying and making graphics, schedules and notes to try to figure out what happened for three days, Twilight…”

The alicorn looked at him before dropping her ears and wings. “I’m sorry, Spike. I haven’t been fair with you and it’s not your fault.” She hugged the dragon tightly and he returned the embrace.

“I know, I know. That’s the reason why I don’t want to leave you alone.” He muttered.

“No, Spike. I need to be alone for a while or, at least, I need to keep you away from my problems. Don’t worry, ok? I can always talk to Celestia or Luna if I need to.”

“I guess you’re right.” Spike sighed. “But I still don’t like it.”

“I know.” Twilight kissed the dragon’s forehead softly. “But we need it. Both of us.”

He nodded reluctantly before he released the embrace. Just in time, because the door of Golden Oaks library opened to let in a pink bouncing pony with a scarf and boots, who launched herself against the alicorn, embracing her too tightly, almost leaving her without breath.

“Hi, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, without noticing the depressed mood of the princess.

“H-Hi, Pinkie.” She answered, trying to free herself from the hug before she choked. Fortunately, the earth pony let her go, smiling, while her other friends arrived, except Applejack. She didn’t come and Twi thought that it was for the best. If they met then, who knew what could happen.

“Easy, darling.” Rarity said to Pinkie, levitating her cape to a side and smiling. “Twilight is only visiting Canterlot for two days, there is no need to be so effusive.” The baker sighed.

“I know that, silly filly. But without all my friends in town, it always get bored.”

Fluttershy came in last and Rainbow Dash shut the door behind her before looking at the pink party pony and shook her head. “Seriously, Pinkie. You are so random.”

None of her friends seemed to notice the bags under Twilight’s eyes, or her forced smile. She really hoped that they didn’t, because she wasn’t ready to explain the situation. To achieve that, the princess had to act like everything was right. “Girls, I’m glad that you came to say goodbye, but it really wasn’t necessary.” Twilight grinned with effort. “It’s really cold outside.”

“Oh. It’s not a problem, Twilight.” Fluttershy replied with her characteristic lower tone of voice and Dash supported her. “Exactly! There’s no way that winter stuff could stop us from coming here to see our friends before they go to Canterlot. Besides, you’ll be doing boring princess stuff, so what’s better to cheer you up now?”

Despite her mood, Twilight chuckled a little for Rainbow’s words. “Rainbow Dash, contain your tongue.” The fashionista said to the cyan pegasus, looking to her face. “You can’t call Twilight’s duties as a princess ‘boring’. It is serious, darling. Besides, she will go to ensure that the most important Hearth’s Warming Eve performance of all Equestria. That is a task to be proud of.”

The daredevil rolled her eyes without replying or groaning at Rarity’s words. Curious, but Fluttershy was looking at her alicorn friend and talked to her before somepony could tell anything about it. “Twilight, are you alright? I-It seems like you didn’t sleep well.” Spike, quickly, decided to intercede with an excuse. “She had a bad night with her wings again.”

Number one assistant forever, eh? Sparkle thought. “Yes. I couldn’t find the right position for my sleep.” She confirmed the Spike’s lie. Neither of the two liked to lie their friends, but it was for the best in that moment. “Oh. Sorry about that.” The shy pegasus replied. “Maybe you need to drink some hot milk and cupcakes before go to bed!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Or cocoa. Or chocolate! No! Chocolate with cream! That will help you to sleep well for sure!” All the rest shook their heads, choosing to not say a word. After all, Pinkie Pie was only being Pinkie Pie.

“Hey, Twi.” Rainbow spoke. “You packed a lot of bags for two days, didn’t you? Is the princess business making you act like Rares and take a lot of unnecessary things?“ Rarity stared at Dash, furrowing her brow while the other ignored her and grinned. Pinkie chuckled a little, transmitting it to Twilight. “Anyway, girls.” The still librarian started to talk. “I want to ask you for a favor. To be honest, I will be more than two days in Canterlot. Maybe a week or two. That’s why I have plenty of luggage. So, could you help Spike with the library and keep an eye on him?”

“Uhm. Isn’t Spike going with you?” Fluttershy was confused after hearing that. “No. I don’t want to bother him and I’ll try to relax a little.” The alicorn replied, knowing that maybe her words would surprise her friends. After all, she didn’t relax. Not often, at least. “Well, I’m more busy in winter than it seems. But I can try.” Rainbow Dash explained while she scratched her nape and the others agreed to help too. When Twilight thought that the conversation was over, the pink earth pony spoke again with her inimitable cheerful attitude.

“Where is Applejack? She would want to say goodbye to you, too, and we need to talk with her for the turns in the library.” She grinned from ear to ear. Twilight, in change, froze in her place, swallowing hard, trying to say something, but the words didn’t come out. Her ears and wings dropped down, while the baby dragon stood silent, with a sad expression in his face and avoiding the eyes of the mares, sliding seconds after to the kitchen. Obviously, they noticed that something was wrong. “T-Twilight?” The yellow pegasus was the first to talk. “Is-Is every- everything alright? You seem-Well, you seem sad.” Fluttershy said, looking sideways to the alicorn. She fake smiled, shaking her head. “No, I’m fine, really.” However, her cracked tone betrayed her and everypony looked at her with worried expressions. Even Rainbow Dash landed softly, so Twilight took her eyes away, trying to keep the facade. “What happened, darling?” Rarity asked with delicately, moving closer to her friend. “Is Applejack alright?”

For an instant, Twilight thought to lie to them, for two reasons. The first was that she didn’t feel ready to tell what happened. The other was that she didn’t want the others to be mad at Applejack. Maybe she didn’t understand yet why AJ did what she did, but that didn’t change the fact that, deep inside her, Twi still loved her and she wanted to keep the cowpony away for problems. However, she knew that her friends were worried and a lie wouldn’t stop them.

There was no choice.

“We broke up.” Twilight muttered almost without voice. The general gasp was instantaneous, following with a surprise yell from the rainbow maned pegasus, jumping in the air. “What!!? Why!? You both were happy when the six of us hanged out together! What the heck-?” A white hoof cut off the words of Rainbow by sticking in her mouth. “Dash, stop. You are not helping with that attitude, darling.” Rarity pointed and that was true. Looking to the alicorn was enough to know that she felt really, really bad. She was on the verge of tears, her head, ears and wings dropped down. Pinkie and Fluttershy’s ears flattened and they didn’t waste a second and embraced their friend, trying to cheer her up.

The cyan pegasus groaned but shut her mouth, lowering her head and landing again. Rarity made a point, screaming isn’t going to make things better. After she saw that Dash was quiet, the fashionista moved closer to her sad friend and asked softly. “Would you tell us what happened, my dear? Maybe we could help. All of us,” she looked at her other friends, with a little glare to the daredevil to make sure she stayed calm, “will understand if you don’t, so don’t feel pressured.” Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie nodded, the pink one’s mane less puffy that usual.

“No.” Twilight mumbled, making an effort to not sob.”I hav-I have to tell you sooner or later. But I need all of you to promise me that you won’t be upset. Any of you.” The alicorn looked to her friends in the eye, one for one, with her own wet. “Please.” She pleaded. The four friends looked between them before they nodded and did the Pinkie Promise’s moves. The former Element of Magic sighed and then she started to talk. “We had a date three days ago… but we didn’t go anywhere. A-Applejack simply said that we need to talk. Then, she said-” She swallowed hard. “She said me that we have to break up.” The yellow pegasus had the most sad expression between her friends and it was her who asked with a low and worried tone. “Bu-but why? Did Applejack give you… a reason? I-if you want to-to tell us, of course.”

“That’s the worst part.” The Princess replied, a single tear running down her cheek. “I asked her what was wrong, if I made some mistake, but her only answer was that it wasn’t my fault. I insisted to know what happened, and then she said that she didn’t love me. After our dates and all she didn’t love me.”

“What!?” Rainbow snapped. “What bunch of crap is that?”

Rarity glanced again at the daredevil, but Twilight continued to speak before Rarity could say anything.

“It took me a little while, but in the end I figured out that something was wrong. All of us know how bad Applejack lies and I noticed the typical signals. However, after I pressured her… She looked me in the face a-and told me that we were done.” By the end, Twilight was was crying, her head practically hanging to the ground. “She left me wi-without a real explanation.” Twi added, her voice broken.

“This whole thing doesn’t make any sense!” Again, Dash exclaimed, only because she was the only one that could speak. “Less coming for Applejack! She must be cra-yep!” That time, the fashionista opted to use her magic to grip Rainbow’s tail and bring her down. “Rainbow Dash, please, sit down, be quiet and shut up. You aren’t useful right now.” Rarity’s voice had a cold tone, not letting the cyan pegasus answer. Right after that, Pinkie Pie tried to say something but, for once, she was speechless. The same for Fluttershy, who embraced again strongly her alicorn friend, and Rarity joined them. “Twilight, darling… Do you need anything from us? Do you… I don’t know. Do you want anyone of us to speak with her?” The white unicorn suggested.

“No.” Twilight shook her head slowly. “You don’t d-do nothing. I’ll be fine, ok?” The other girls knew that it was a lie, but they didn’t insist. Besides, they made a group hug around the alicorn, showing their support while waiting the arrival of her carriage.

After said goodbye to Twilight, the four mares were still shocked from the news. The most affected, at least on the outside, was Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie decided to stay at the library to help Spike, before she was to babysit the Cake’s children. The others went to their respective houses… or, at least, in that way it seemed. Rarity soon noticed that Rainbow Dash’s cloud house was in the opposite direction in which the pegasus was going.

“Dashie, where are you going?” The fashionista asked, taking advantage of the fact that they were completely alone. And yes, she called her ‘Dashie’. “Where do you think? To Sweet Apple Acres.” She replied. “And don’t call me that outside.” She added with a groan. “Do you want everypony know about us so soon?”

“You called me Rares before in the library, didn’t you?” Rarity arched an eyebrow. “So you are not the most appropriate pony to talk about it. Besides, that’s not the point. You promised not to do anything impulsive and go to Sweet Apple Acres is, precisely, impulsive.”

“Say what you want. I will go talk to Applejack. And you can’t stop me. End of story.” Rainbow stopped in the air and faced Rarity.

“Rainbow Dash! For once in your life, sit down and think!” Rarity glared at the daredevil, relaxing after a few seconds. “Twilight told us that we shouldn’t intervene.”

“I-I know, ok? But-” The candidate for Wonderbolts replied.

“Then you have to stop and do what our friend asked us to do. Besides, you always say that you’re not sappy and romantic, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah, I say that.” Dash rolled her eyes. “And it’s damn true.” She pointed Rarity with a hoof. “But that doesn’t change that all this thing is crap. Seriously, can you believe what Twi told us about the break-up? It’s doesn’t make any bucking sense!” She threw her hooves to the air. “Applejack could never do something like that! All of us saw the two together, no?” The purple maned unicorn nodded. “Then, tell me, Rares, since you’re the romantic expert, did you see them sad with each other? Or did you see them real happy?”

“Well...” Rarity rubbed her hoof on her chin, thinking about it, to finally answer. “Fine, you have made a point. But Twilight-”

“Forget Twilight! Somepony has to talk with Applejack and kick her flank if it’s necessary.” Rainbow said, thinking a moment, scrubbing her head. “You know what? Maybe I’ll kick her flank anyway.”

Rarity sighed. “No, no, you don’t go. Not alone. I will go with you. ‘Somepony’ has to keep you calm before you do something inappropriate. Or featherbrained.”

“Eh!” Dash exclaimed. “You aren’t the smartest pony either, remember?” The pegasus raised in the air and started to mocking her friend. “Look upon me Equestria! For I am RARITY!”

Rarity blushed. “You have to take out that, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Sometimes it’s funny to see you blush.” Rainbow Dash grinned, lowering and nuzzling Rarity. “And to remember you that day.”

The fashionista looked at her, saying. “Sometimes, Rainbow, you are an idiot.” She smiled. “A lovely idiot.”

“I prefer the term ‘awesome’.” Dash chuckled.

“I know.” Her marefriend replied, kissing the pegasus in the cheek.

“C’mon, let’s go.” Rainbow said before they made their way to the cowpony’s farm.

Definitely, that was the three worst days of her life, Applejack didn’t have a doubt. The last nights she woken up in the middle of the night more than once. In her dreams, she saw time after time Twilight crying for her fault. The only good thing was that it was winter and she didn’t had real work, because if that was the case, she could be a walking disaster. Applejack was trying her best to hide her feelings.

However, her best wasn’t enough.

“Yer not sleeping well, child.” Granny Smith looked to AJ, both of them in the kitchen washing the dishes.

Applejack swallowed hard, avoiding the eyes of the old mare. “No, Ah’m fine, Granny.” She said.

“Don’t ya dare lie to me, Applejack.” The head of the family glared her. “Ya look bad and ya know it. Now, yer’ gonna tell me what the hoof happen by yerself’ or yer’ gonna make me ask?” The orange pony looked worried to her. She knew very, very well that Granny Smith wouldn’t accept an excuse. No, she wouldn’t stop until she obtained a clear answer. After all, Applejack’s stubbornness, surely, ran in the family. So, she didn’t have any real option. “It-It’s co-complicated, Granny.”

“Well, it’s winter, so we have plenty of time.” Her tone was cracked, like always, but also didn’t offer escape. Applejack sighed and she started to talk without looking to Smith. “Ah-Ah’ve only been have a hard time. Ah had to do something for the best of a friend. Something th-that it is painful for the both of us. But it’s the right thing.”

The older mare kept silent for a few minutes, while the two were finishing the wash. When Granny Smith finally spoke, Applejack didn’t expect it, so she gave a little bounce in her place. “Yer’ sure it’s the right thing? Don’t sounds to meh like that it’s painful, child.” The orange cowpony dropped down her ears and lowered her head, muttering. “Yeah. It is, Granny. Ah’m sure.” The old mare didn’t say anything else and AJ, after drying her hooves, said. “Ah’m gonna check the barn.” Granny Smith nodded, thinking that her grandchild was hiding something. However, she was wise and she knew that the better option was to wait until she told her the whole story. Besides, she needed to take a nap.

After she put on her boots and scarf, Applejack left the house in the direction of the barn. It was cold outside but it wasn’t snowing and the ground was barely covered in white, so the way to the barn wasn’t too uncomfortable. The bad thing was that it gave her, again, time to think. The conversation with Granny Smith repeated in her mind over and over. She must have in mind before that her grandmother would notice her sadness. Nevermind, it didn’t matter. She had a job to do in that moment.

“Applejack!” A voice called for her; a voice that came from a mare that she knew very well.

A featherbrain rainbow maned pegasus. Curiously, with her walked a white unicorn designer. AJ felt her stomach shrink, suspecting that it wasn’t a grateful visit. Do they know already? Horseapples, Ah hope not. It’s too soon for me to deal with them, dammit. She thought, looking at her friends. “Heya’, girls. Whatcha doing?” Rarity smiled, getting closer to the earth pony and saying “Hello, Applejack. I am fine, thanks for-”

“No facade, Rarity.” Rainbow Dash interrupted her, getting face to face with Applejack. “Are you gonna tell us what the buck is happening?” The fashionista put a forehoof on her face, shaking her head before the absolute lack of tact by the pegasus. Applejack blinked twice in reaction. “Beg your pardon?”

“You hear me perfectly, so don’t try to run away and spill it out.” The cyan pony insisted.

“Rainbow Dash, Ah don’t have any idea of what ya’ talking about, so, if ya’ excuse me, ah have work to do.” AJ replied, going towards the barn. But the pegasus landed in front of her, with challenging attitude. “Oh, no, you aren’t getting out of this.” The cowpony furrowed her brow and she looked angry to the daredevil. “Dash, step out of my way. This is not the day to push me, ya got me?”

“Enough!” Rarity yelled, before she stepped between the two athletic mares. “Dash, don’t say anything else. To be impulsive and aggressive is not the way to solve this.” Rarity gave to Dash a fierce glaring that made her gulped. “Understood?” Reluctantly, the Wonderbolts’ fan nodded. The white pony looked softly to her farmer friend. “Sorry for that, Applejack. However, we had come here to talk with you privately, as friends. Could we do it in the barn, please? I’m starting to get a chill out here.” Applejack calmed down, not before she looked daggers to Rainbow Dash one more time, and she nodded with a sigh. The pegasus had a point. She couldn’t avoid that much time.

The three mares entered in the barn without saying a word. Once inside, Rarity realised not only that AJ’s ears were dropped down, but also the bags under her eyes. Therefore, after sitting in the ground and checking that Rainbow did the same, she started to talk with her best tone to the orange pony, who had turned her back to theirs.

“I apologise for coming so sudden, darling.” The dress designer explained to her friend. “But you didn’t come to say goodbye to Twilight, so we got worried and-”

“Twilight told you, didn’t ya’?” Applejack muttered suddenly, looking to the floor. Rarity and Rainbow Dash exchanged looks. “Dash wasn’t subtle at all before, like always, so it’s clear that Ah hit the spot.” She added.

“Well, then, we go straight to the point.” Rainbow said, crossing her forelegs, waiting for the explanation. “There’s nothing to tell, Rainbow. Ah suppose that Twi told you the whole story, Ah’m right? Good, ‘cause that’s all.” After the cowpony’s reply, the cyan mare was about to jump again. Fortunately, her marefriend stopped her with a move of a foreleg. “Applejack, my dear. We’ve known you for a long time. I can hardly believe that you were capable of telling Twilight something as rude as ‘We’re done.’ Please, could you tell us what happened?”

Applejack hid her face behind her Stetson. They were persistent, but she couldn’t tell them the truth. It should be her secret forever. “Nothing happened. Ah had a crush on Twi, but it passed away. So, Ah left her for the best of us.” She said, still not looking at her friends. “That’s the biggest load of bullshit I ever heard!” Rainbow claimed to the sky, hitting the ground with a forehoof. “AJ, you lie so bad that Discord will be Captain of the Royal Guard before we’re foolish enough to believe one of your lies.”

“Buck off, Dash. It’s not your damn business.” Applejack groaned, grinding her teeth, her patience running out. “Dash, what have I told you before? Leave this to me, please.” Rarity reminded the rainbow maned mare, who huffed and looked away. Then, the white pony turned her attention back to Applejack. “Darling, you must admit that our impulsive friend made a point. You don’t know how to lie and right now, you are lying. I am pretty sure that you still love Twilight, because I see how happy the two of you are together and something like that doesn’t change from one day to the next. However, I am also sure that you have a powerful reason to do what you did. What we want to know that reason, Applejack, so we can understand it.”

Damn you, Rarity. AJ thought, biting her lower lip. She should keep in mind that the former Element of Generosity was very observant when romance was involved. Consarn it, she was the first in the town to know that Lyra and BonBon were together and neither of them told her. Obviously, she would notice that there was something wrong with Applejack’s actions. “I have nothing to explain, girls. So stop asking.” Applejack answered with a mumble and a weak tone.

The problem was that Twilight didn’t give up. “Please, don’t be stubborn, Applejack. Even Twilight knew that something happened, but nopony knows what. That’s why we are here, against Sparkle desires to not talk to you, because we are worried. For both of you.” She took a breath before she spoke again, with a little change of strategy. “She looked bad, you know?”

With that revelation, Applejack frozen and she felt her mouth dry. Her body shook with an unpleasant feeling, while she closed her eyes with force in an attempt to holding back the tears. It wasn’t the moment to falter. “She will be fine in time. Ah’m sure. She is strong, ya’ know.” AJ tried to sound firm but she failed miserably and the others could see it.

“Ok, we tried your way, Rarity, now it’s my turn.” Dash, with her short patience running out, put herself in front of her farmer friend for a confrontation. “This stops right now, Applejack. What.Is.Happening?”

The orange pony got angry, pushing back the cyan one. “Leave me alone, featherbrain, or Ah’ll buck those rainbow colors out of you! Ah did what Ah did for a good reason, understood? So shut your mouth before Ah do.”

The dress designer, watching that things went in the wrong way, took a step to her friends, ready to stop Rainbow before it got worse. “Darlings, please-”

The pegasus cut her off again, leaving her in shock for a second. “Don’t say anything, Rarity, this stubborn pony was about to tell us everything even if I had to kick her in her fat ass. Good reason, you said? Which reason could be that to hurt a one of your best friends? Most importantly, to hurt the pony you love!”

Applejack grinded her teeth, ready to punch RD in her stupid face. “It’s none of your damn business!”

“You left her without explanation!” Dash yelled. “So, the moment you lied, you made it my business!”

“Rainbow Dash, get out of my barn right now or Ah make you leave without your teeth!”

“Try it!” She was prepared to fight, leaving Rarity very worried. If they started a fight, she wasn’t sure that she could stop them. “But I won’t leave until you spit out the truth!”

“Ah’m not warning you anymore!” AJ’s body was tense, showing that she was about to explode. Rainbow’s too, so it would begin at any moment. At least, that was Rarity thought. But then, Dash did something that nopony expected: She launched herself to the air, passing just above Applejack. For a second, neither Rarity nor Applejack realised, but, when they did, it was like Tartarus unleashed on Equestria. “DAMN YOU, RAINBOW DASH!” Her scream made the whole barn shook. “Yer dead, ya hear me!? Dead! Give me mah hat, now!”

“You want your hat?” Dash grinned, ten feet in the air, playing with the Stetson between her hooves. “OK, I’ll give it back when you tell us the whole story. You have my word.”

“Ah said now!” At that point, the earth pony was enraged, her face red and breathing in rapid gasps, and Rarity was scared, with her ears down, while her marefriend insisted “Then, answer us. Why did you leave Twilight? Remember that I won’t accept anoth-”

“‘Cause she will be unhappy if she stays with me!!!” Applejack finally snapped, her eyes starting to wet. Her friends looked her with surprise. “Yer’ happy now, dumbass? Give me the hat!” Dash landed softly in front of AJ, giving back the Stetson to her with caution. The orange mare took it from her hooves instantly and hide her face behind it, while Rarity asked with disbelief. “But… Applejack, I don’t understand. Why do you think something like that? You’re the last pony that could make anypony unhappy.” Rainbow nodded in agreement. Her friend sighed, shaking her head. “Ya’ two really don’t get it.” She stated, starting to let her tears flew. “Besides that she is a princess and Ah’m a farmer, which neither of us give a crap, she-she is immortal now.”

The daredevil blinked. “That’s it? That’s all? You left her because she is an alicorn? That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard!” Rarity gave a pull on Rainbow’s tail with her magic, looking at her. “Don’t start again, Rainbow Dash.” Then she turned to AJ, putting a hoof in her shoulder, trying to comfort and calm her down. “Darling, please… Can you explain it better?” The cowpony still hid her face behind the hat, but at least she replied. “Ah know that Twilight enjoys each date we have. Ah know she loves me back. That’s the problem. She will be happy, sure. And then, what? What will happen to her when Ah’m gone? Did you think about it?” The other mares looked at each other. “Well, I admit that I didn’t, but...” Dash rubbed her neck.

“So, you left her because you are worried that, when you passed away, she will suffer. Am I right?” Rarity got closer to her friend, looking her sideways. Applejack nodded, now sobbing. Her white friend smiled, hugging her tightly. “Darling, you love her so much that you are willing to sacrifice for her. That’s is so romantic.” Rarity let her go and looked at her. “However, are you really sure?” She put a hoof under AJ’s chin to look her eye to eye. “I mean, she is sad right now and she doesn’t know why you did it. Besides, I know that you have the best of intentions towards her, but, even being the romantic mare that I am, I think that you are supposing a little too much.”

Applejack shook her head, cleaning the tears in her cheeks. “No, Ah don’t think… Well… She will live forever, dammit. Ah know what it means to lose somepony very important to ya and Ah don’t want Twilight to suffer that for eternity.”

“Didn’t you think that she could remember you with a smile on her face?” Rarity suggested. “If you keep your decision, the unhappy one will be you, Applejack. You know it very well, judging your mood.”

“It doesn’t matter, Rarity.” She sentenced, looking to the ground. “Ah will do anything for Twilight, even if it kills me…”

Rainbow groaned. “Aaah, come on Applejack, the drama queen is Rarity, not you.” Rarity looked out of the corner of her eye to her marefriend. “What you have to do is to live your life with Twilight like there’s no tomorrow. Heck, go wild if it’s necessary!”

“I can’t do it, RD.” Applejack replied, with her ears stuck to her skull. “The first time I saw Twilight crying, Ah felt like somepony stabbed me in the chest. The idea of her doing that for my death in the future makes me sick.”

Rarity shook her head, grinning with tenderness. “Applejack, you are supposing again. If the two of you really love each other, then make it a love to remember, as Rainbow said in a… least romantic way.” The pegasus shrugged her shoulders, looking away.

“Rarity, no offense, but this isn’t one of your sappy romance novels.” The blonde maned pony pointed.

However, Rarity had already a reply prepared. “I am very aware of that, darling.” She grinned. “That doesn’t change facts. It is a fact that you love her and you are happy with her. I saw the two of you together, remember? I know that the bonds between you are strong, stronger than anything I ever see. But you won’t change your decision, as stubborn as you are, no offense, with only these words, won’t you?”

“Rarity, please…” Applejack pleaded, but the fashionista kept talking.

“Let me tell you a story. My mother told me when I was a filly, younger than Sweetie Belle. According to the story, long time ago, two ponies, I don’t remember their races, fell in love. However, it was in a darkest time and multiple dangers devastated the land. Regardless of that, they promised to each other that, no matter what would happen, they will love each other forever. A love that bonds not their bodies, but their souls, until the end of time. Therefore, when the two confronted their deaths, they were happy, because they knew that they would meet again when they rebirth. And, eventually, they did it. Over and over again, while the centuries passed away.” Rarity paused. “Mother told me that it was an old legend. Her grandmother told to her when she was a filly, about my age. She said that it was the reason for why she loves romantic novels. I guess that the same happened to me.” Rarity chuckled. Applejack tilted her head, confused, and Rainbow shifted her tail, without understand what was trying to do her marefriend.

“Err… Rarity, exactly, what are you trying to say?” The cowpony wanted to know.

“It’s quite simple, my dear. Real love can last forever. Yes, maybe Twilight will miss you, but, isn’t it worth the effort? You would give her the happiest years of her life and, in the end, that’s what matters, Applejack.” She grinned to her. “Who knows? Perhaps you could reunite with her in another life.”

“You… You can’t seriously think that the story is true, Rarity.” Applejack muttered, looking to her friend in the eye.

She grinned, with another reply already in her mouth. “Need I remind you, darling, that the six of us were destined to be friends before we all met thanks to a lovely, lovely rainbow?” While Rarity spoke, she sneaked a look to the mare responsible of that rainbow, who blushed and looked away. “Not mentioning, of course, the menaces and mysteries we saw in the last years. Is it so strange the legend I told you?”

AJ was lost for words, lowering her head seconds later. “Ah can’t hope that something like that would happen…”

“Indeed. Although there is something that you can do.” Rarity said firmly. “Go after Twilight and enjoy your life together, no matter what, before you fade, crying alone in your farm and regretting your decision.” Applejack swallowed hard, feeling the tears come back to her eyes. “But… I’ll grow older…” The designer shook her head. “I don’t believe that something like that will disturb our librarian. You know I am right.” Dash nodded, putting a hoof in the earth pony’s shoulder. “Come on. We aren’t here to argue with you, but to help two of our best friends.”

“Ah-She maybe is upset with me… Ah really messed up.” Fear tinged Applejack’s voice.

“Don’t worry, AJ, I’m sure that you’ll get back together.” Rainbow cheered her up. Then she rolled her eyes, thinking in something. “You know what? You will go after here right now. We’ll take you to the last train to Canterlot, let’s go.”

The impulsive proposal surprised the two other mares. “W… What?” The cowpony stammered. “Now? But she should be already in Canterlot and… And my family…”

A cyan hoof cut her speech. “No excuses! You will go to the house, grab anything you need, say goodbye to everyone and move, you got me? ‘Cause if you don’t, then I will definitely kick you like nopony before!” The pegasus shouted.

AJ blinked several times before she nodded. “Fi... Fine. On my way. Follow me, you better wait for me inside the house.” Her friends did what she said and, ten minutes later, they cantered towards Ponyville’s Station.

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“Girls…” Applejack spoke, rubbing a foreleg with another. She was a little nervous, next to the train. “A-Ah’m sorry if Ah’ was rude with ya’. And… Thank ya’. For making me realise mah mistake.”

The two mares smiled and Rarity said softly. “You’re welcome, darling.” Rainbow Dash’s grin took a mischievous turn. “Now, go after Twi and kiss her until her egghead brain will spin without stop.” That words made AJ blush and Rarity hit the pegasus in the shoulder. The three hugged each other before the orange mare stepped in the train. A little while later, Rarity and her marefriend left the station, with the train going away from Ponyville.

“Rainbow Dash, I’m going to say this only once.” Rarity said suddenly, the two mares walking through the town towards Carousel Boutique, the streets empty at that hour. “Don’t you ever provoke anypony, especially our friends, and almost get into a fight with him or her. Do I make myself clear?”

The daredevil looked to her, arching an eyebrow. “Whoa, you really worry about me, Rares.” She said with a smirk.

“I’m not kidding, Dash.” The white mare replied, clearly irritated. “What you did, pushing AJ in the barn, was dumb and dangerous. If you two started to fight, what did you think that I could do?” She ended her argument with a genuinely worried tone.

At the sight of that, the pegasus felt guilty and reached out a wing to pull Rarity closer to her. “Ok, gotcha’. I won’t do it again. I promise.” Dash told her lover with a sweet tone. Straightaway, she recovered her normal attitude. “But you have to admit that my plan worked perfectly.”

“Excuse me?” Rarity looked to her with incredulity, arching an eyebrow. “Your ‘plan’ was only as impulsive as always and got Applejack so angry that I feared that she would hit you. You can’t call that a ‘plan’.”

The cyan mare grinned. “Well, it worked, no? Then it’s fine!” Rainbow chuckled. “I thought that you liked that side of me, Rares. Thanks to it we’re together, remember?”

Rarity couldn’t prevent the laughter. “Yes, yes, I remember you confessing to me in stutters, blushing like a filly. It took me almost three minutes to understand what you were trying to say.”

The pegasus’ face turned crimson, looking away. “Th-that’s not true!”

Her marefriend grinned mischievously, nibbling her ear next. “You’re adorable when you act like that.” She said to poke her.

“Shut… Shut up.” The other replied, following her way with Rarity smiling to her side.

After a few minutes, Rainbow Dash broke the silence. “Rares, tell me… That story you told before tou AJ… It’s true? I mean… Did your mother really tell you that?”

The designer looked to her. “Yes, she did. Why you ask, Dashie?”

“‘Cause I thought that you made up to convince Applejack.” The pegasus answered.

“Oh… No, I only remembered then and I believed that it was good to tell to her.” Rarity said, before she grinned. “But I must confess that I lied a little.” Rainbow blinked and the white coated mare explained. “I do remember the races of the two lovers. They were a pegasus and…” She looked to her marefriend with shiny eyes. “A unicorn.”

Dash turned red again, dropping her ears. “But it’s only a legend.” She mentioned.

“Said the mare who can perform an old pegasus legend by herself.” Rarity winked like only she knew it.

The pegasus did her best to maintain composure, muttering to Rarity while she looked her at the eye. “Always the sappy one, eh?”

Her marefriend smiled. “And you love it.”

When the two mares were reaching her destination, Rarity suddenly said. “You know? I had been thinking… Maybe we must tell the others. About us, I mean. After all, we were together for five months now. We’ll even get to spend Hearth’s Warming Eve together.”

Dash shook her wings a little nervous. “Yeah… Perhaps you are right. You had been waiting all this time ‘cause I asked you to.” Already at the door of Rarity’s shop, the pegasus looked at her. “How about… when AJ and Twi came back from Canterlot?”

The purple maned pony smiled and while she get inside, she answered. “Wonderful idea, my little Dashie.”

Rainbow Dash grinned and followed her before the door closed behind them.

Part 3: What is Right

Work. That was what Twilight Sparkle needed to not think about Applejack and the end of their relationship. Keep her mind busy with anything. To supervise a play was perfect, at least initially.

The problem was that the play brought to her memories about the time that she and her friends were the leading roles in the very same play. So, although she was trying to focus, it was very difficult to do.

“Ten sacks of artificial snow? Check.” The newest alicorn made a mark in the parchment levitating in front of her. She was walking , forcing herself to kept her face buried in it. “Set? Mmm…” She rose her head a second to look over all the set parts. They seemed fine, so she lowered her head again. “Check. What’s next on the list?” So distracted she was, that she didn’t see the couple of ponies who were giving the last details to the play’s dresses, still in the mobile hangers. And then, disaster happened. Twilight crashed into them, causing that one of them fell over the dresses. But the real shock was the noise. A tore noise that frozen the whole room.

“Ough, you could watch your steps, can’t you?” The one on the ground, a young stallion with a dark blue coat and a red mane, said with an angry look. However, that expression disappeared as soon as he recognized at who he was talking. “Your Highness! I… I’m sorry, I didn’t…” Twilight shook her head, rubbing her forehead and cutting off the stallion. “No, no, calm down. It’s my fault, after all. And please, don’t call me that.” Between the other pony (a pink pegasus mare) and the Princess helped the stallion to stand up, looking afterwards the damage to the dresses, very obvious after the noise. It was worse than initially all thought. One of the jackets for the background ponies had a frayed sleeve at the height of the shoulder. Nothing serious.

Then they saw the cape of Princess Platinum almost torn in half. If Rarity had been there, Sparkle could bet and won that her exact words were: ‘This is the.Worst.Possible.Thing.’

She would be right.

“Oh, sweet Celestia!” The pegasus exclaimed. “This is horrible! Quick, we must fix this!”

Twilight swallowed hard. “I… I’m sorry. Please, let me help…” Twilight said softly, full of guilty feelings, but the others shook their heads. “Don’t worry, Princess. We got this. It will be difficult… but we’ll have it ready just in time!” She nodded as reply, nervous. She needed fresh air, in that very moment, so she trotted outside as fast as she could without causing more problems. Once outside, she sighed, her head and ears down and a sad look in her face.

“Maybe Spike was right.” She muttered to nopony. “This doesn’t look like a good idea right now…”

“It’s everything alright, dear Twilight?” A very well known voice surprised her, raising up her head to look at owner’s voice. “Pri.. Princess Celestia?” The alabaster alicorn smiled warmfully. “I remember that I told you before, that you didn’t have to call me that anymore.” Twilight blushed slightly. “I’m sorry. It’s the custom.” She apologised, while the Princess of the Sun looked at her with a wise eye. “You want to talk?” The young alicorn looked away. “No… I’m fine. I… I only messed up a pair of dresses for being distracted.” She confessed. Her mentor raised an eyebrow, worried at that moment. She knew very well that something like that was very unusual coming from Twilight.

“Come with me, Twilight.” Celestia requested with her characteristic warm tone. Twi shook her wings, as a signal of her tension. “But I should end the review of the play.” She excused.

“Nevertheless,” the older mare replied, looking sideways to her, “It can wait, my little pony. Please, follow me.” With that said, Tia began to walk and the former unicorn followed her in silence, her head bowed, unable to refuse. The Princess of Magic had the intuition that her former teacher would not let the evasiveness trick her. Surely she wouldn’t pressure her to know what happened to Twilight, but she knew that the Solar Princess knew that something was bothering her.

Their hoofsteps took the alicorns to the Royal Gardens. Normally, they were a beautiful place but in winter, they were simply marvelous. A layer of snow covered every tree, fountain, plant, etc, showing a sight that few ponies ever saw. Celestia moved closer to a stone bench, using her magic to clean the snow and warm the seat for them before she sat, inviting Twilight to do the same with a subtle move of her wing. The younger pony obeyed, yet not looking at the Solar Princess. Her head was down and she was rubbing her forelegs with a mixture of nervousness and cold. On her side, Tia was looking at the gardens with a soft smile but she was attentive to Sparkle. For that, when she realized that the purple maned pony was freezing, she did what she she did countless times before. She wrapped a wing over her without saying a word and pull the younger mare to her, an intimate gesture between them since the alabaster alicorn took in Twi as her personal student that not only comforted when it was cold, but also when she needed emotional relief.

Twilight Sparkle was absolutely sure that the Princess of the Sun didn’t do that only to warm her.

“Tell me, little Twilight.” Celestia broke the silence some minutes later. “Besides the problem with the dresses you mentioned before, is everything alright?” She looked to Twi with her warm smile.

“Yes, Pri-Celestia.” The younger Princess replied, keeping her head down as well as her ears. “Everything is fine.”

The larger pony nodded. “I see. I was a little worried because I saw the bags under your eyes, but if you said that you are fine...” The smile grew up a little while she reached closer to Twilight. The former unicorn shrank a little, knowing that she couldn’t conceal what happened to someone as important to her as Celestia. After several seconds, she sighed, burying her face between her forelegs. Her former teacher was not only the most wise pony alive but also a friend. It was for the best to tell her the story. In addition, she promised Spike to talk with her or her sister Luna if she felt bad.

“It’s… It’s complicated. Even I don’t really know what happened.” Sparkle said with a weak tone. Princess Celestia didn’t say nothing, a signal that she was paying total attention to her, so Twilight started to explain. “It’s about… It’s about Applejack. She… She left me three days ago… Because she didn’t love me anymore.”

Normally, it was very difficult to make the longest ruler of Equestria show a surprised face. Yet, in that moment, she showed one. Even she knew that something like that didn’t sound suitable to Applejack. “I’m so sorry to hear that, Twilight.” She said with her most comforting tone. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.” The young alicorn muttered. “I don’t understand why she did it. I noticed that she was hiding something, because she is a bad liar. But, when I tried to pressure her to find out what was, she cut me off.” The worst part was coming and Celestia could feel how hard was for her friend. “She said… ‘We’re done’.” The Solar Princess pulled her closer to her with the wing as Twilight began to sob. “I-I don’t know what I have done, what mistake I made…” She said as the other mare shook her head.

“Twilight, I’ve known you since you were a little filly. I don’t think that you could ever hurt her or do something wrong, so don’t blame yourself.”

For the first time since the two started to talk. Twilight looked to her mentor, ears totally dropped down and tears running down her cheeks. “Then, why? AJ told me that it wasn’t my fault, so I don’t understand why she left me. If it isn’t my fault, how is it possible that this is happening?” Twilight said, hiding her face against the soft fur of Tia, who was doing her best to cheer her up.

“You still love her.” Celestia stated, knowing that it was the pure truth. It wasn’t necessary to be Princess Cadance to see it. Twi nodded against her fur and the older mare talked again. “Did you try to talk with her since then, Twilight?”

“N-No. I-I couldn’t. I wasn’t capable of doing so.” The librarian confessed, looking at her.

Tia raised a hoof to clean the tears on Twilight’s cheeks. “Maybe it is what you have to do, my little pony.” She spoke with an affectionate look in her eyes. “You know Applejack better than I but I think that, being the former Element of Honesty, she must have a strong reason to act in that way. You didn’t see any signal that made you think that she stopped loving you or she was angry at you, am I correct?”

The ex-unicorn nodded. “Yes, Princess. I had been thinking over and over again and I didn’t find anything. I even made some schedules at home about the matter.”

Celestia contained a little chuckle. No matter what happened, Twilight was always Twilight. “Then, my dear Princess, I suggest you to talk with Applejack when you get back to Ponyville. To talk with her, not pressure her. However, first, you need to calm down a little and trust your friends here. Tonight after the play, you, Lulu and I will dine together and we will stay the night together. Before you answer, I warn you.” The large alicorn said with a soft smile. “I won’t take a ‘no’ as an answer.”

Twilight looked to the Princess with no more tears in her eyes. She knew and understood what Celestia was trying to do for her. And, like Spike said this same morning, she wasn’t fine.

“It will be my pleasure, Celestia.”

Never before in her life had Applejack wanted that a train went faster than ever. What’s more, she was scared, not only for the fact that made her leave Twilight but also for the thought of the alicorn’s mood. What would happen if she was mad at her? The earth pony couldn’t blame her because it was her fault. Maybe she screwed up everything and there was no turning back. However, AJ was a fighter. She didn’t give up even in the worst situations. She knew that she made a big mistake and she was ready to do anything to fix it.

During the entire trip, Applejack moved in her seat, groaned… In essence, she did everything that showed her nervous mood to everypony that could see her. Fortunately, there wasn’t many ponies in the whole train, very normal in that time of the year.

When the train finally reached Canterlot, the sun had been set by Princess Celestia a few hours ago. As soon as the train stopped, the cowpony left it as if all of Tartarus was after her, so much anxiety she had. She didn’t want to waste any second to find the Princess of Magic. Her feelings were very clear in that moment and she couldn’t feel more guilt for making her suffer. Applejack would be always punishing herself for doing that. The sound of her hooves as AJ ran through the streets of Canterlot towards the castle were very loud, something that didn’t matter to her if the whole freakin’ city got mad at her for the noise. After almost ten minutes of non-stop running, the muscles in her legs began to protest, her lungs started to burn but the orange pony ignored all of them and pushed herself to continue. Ah can’t stop. Not now. Even if a break one of mah legs, Ah must continue.

Five minutes later, she arrived at the entry of the castle, stopping in front of the two Royal Guards (a young unicorn stallion with black coat and brown mane and a silver maned pegasus with a yellow coat) that protect it, who looked at each other raising an eyebrow with a puzzled expression. They didn’t say a word, waiting until the rapid gasps of the mare slowed down. “Er… Excuse us, miss. May we help you?” The older one asked with an educated tone. AJ raised a foreleg to ask for a moment to recover her breath. “Ah-Mah name is-is Applejack. I came to see Princess Twilight.”

The young stallion coughed a little, saying. “Miss, do you have a meeting?” Before the earth pony could answer, the veteran glared at her comrade. “Rookie, you don’t read newspapers, don’t you? A former Element of Harmony and close friend of the Princess doesn’t need a meeting. Never. Understood?” After finishing, he looked at Applejack. “You can pass although I’m afraid that Princess Twilight is attending the Hearth’s Warming Eve play. Perhaps it’s near to the end but anyway you will have to wait for her.” The mare nodded and thanked the guards before going through the entry.

Seconds later, the silence between the two stallions was broken. “Corporal, is it really fine to let her in?” The unicorn asked cautiously to her superior. “Rookie, trust me. You don’t ever mess with the Princess’ friends. You will be in very, very big trouble. And not only with the Princess.” The pegasus replied, looking sideways the younger guard. He gulped, nodding softly. The first thing a Royal Guard learned was to trust every piece of advice a veteran gave to him.

The second, never piss off a Princess. For your own good.

Meanwhile she was sitting in her box seat and watching the play, Twilight sighed low, closing her eyes for a moment. After she spent a few minutes more in the Royal Gardens with Celestia, the young alicorn returned to the theater to finish her duties, trying to be more careful. When everything was ready, she went to her seat in company of her mentor and Princess Luna. But instead of enjoying the play, Sparkle found herself buried in memories about the time she and her friends were the principal actors of the play. To be more specific, memories of her and Applejack during that marvelous day. That made her recall other memories of the two together so, at the end, she was more making an effort to not break down in public than looking to the stage. A fact that didn’t fall out the cracks of the dark blue alicorn and of course Tia, but neither of them said anything.

The applause made her snap out of her daydreaming, shaking her head a little to see that the entire cast of the play was on the stage, greeting everypony in the audience. It was obvious that the play was over and Twilight started to applaud mechanically, making a fake smile.

When the actors abandoned the stage and the spectators began to leave, Luna stood up. “As charming as ever, I must say.” Since that Nightmare Night two years ago, the Princess of the Night had made a lot of progress with the modern use of language and she almost didn’t use the Royal Canterlot Voice. “Shall we go to our chambers, sister?” She asked to Celestia with a soft smile.

“Wait a moment, Lulu. Before the three of us will go to enjoy this night, I believe that Twilight will want to go first to the dressing rooms to talk with the actors and the rest of the workers for such wonderful play. Am I right?”

The mare in question, distracted by her thoughts again, didn’t react after a few seconds shaking her head and wings. “Eh? I’m sorry, what did you say?”

The Moon Princess blinked and looked to the young alicorn with a worried expression, which it was understandable because she didn’t know anything about what happened earlier between her sister and the Princess of Magic. “Tia said that you maybe want to see the play’s staff before we go… Are you fine, Twilight? You look… How it is say? Ah, I remember now. You look a little zoned out.”

Before the purple maned pony could answer, probably with a poor excuse, Celestia’s wisdom made her go one step ahead the two younger alicorns. “I suggest that we talk later, dear sister. Our dinner maybe is almost ready and we can’t entertain us more than it is necessary. Don’t you agree?” Her younger sister nodded before Tia also stood up and said to her former student. “We will wait for you, if you wish.”

Twilight looked at the siblings out of the corner of her eye, thinking for a moment. The play didn’t really cheer up her mood. Instead, it almost ruined everything that her mentor did before and she supposed that entering the dressing rooms wouldn’t help either. “No…” Twi said softly while she got up from her seat. “We can go now. I will send my greetings later to all of them.” Luna raised an eyebrow, her concern for her fellow Princess returning. However, she didn’t say a word and the three alicorns left their box seat to step in a hallway with the intention to go to Celestia’s chambers.

Neither of them expected to see there a nearly tired Applejack waiting outside.

Sparkle froze in her place, her mouth dried suddenly and her ears dropped down at the very moment she saw AJ. What was doing she there? And why she looked like she had been running? She looked sideways to Celestia thinking that maybe it was her deed, but she seemed as surprised as her. Well, she didn’t change her expression a bit although Twi knew her very well and she can see a little change in her eyes. So, that means… Did-Did she come by herself?

On her behalf, Applejack didn’t expect the sudden apparition of the Princesses either. Nor the three of them, at least. She stood there two seconds before she reacted and bowed down very nervous. “So-so-sorry, Princesses!” Applejack stuttered being incapable of looking at them, especially at Twilight. Her fear was in that moment stronger than before which wasn’t belonging of her. “I didn’t know that you all were here…”

Once again, Luna was surprised for what was happening in there between Twilight and Applejack, looking from one to the other with discretion. “Please, Applejack, you don’t have to apologise or bow to us.” Celestia said with her maternal tone and AJ did what the Solar Princess asked but she didn’t look to Twilight yet. “Twilight, Luna and I must go. We will meet you later, if you need us.” The white alicorn said to her former student, grinning to her with confidence and grazing her sister with a wing covertly, who was getting more confused. This is your chance, little Twilight. Tia thought while she started to walk with the Moon Princess before the young alicorn or the earth pony could reply.

“Sis, what was that?” Luna asked when they were out of sight. “What happen between them?”

“Love, my dear Lulu. The old, complicated and heartwarming love.” The older alicorn answered with a mysterious grin in her face leaving Luna with a puzzled expression.

For five or six minutes, neither Applejack or Twilight said anything or looked to the other, with a tense and uncomfortable silence reigning in the hallway. Both knew that they couldn’t stay like that much longer so finally the orange mare made the first move and started to talk with a lot of effort. “He-Heya, Twi…” She rubbed one foreleg with the other, a very well-known signal of concern.

The former Element of Magic sighed, looking to the floor. “What are you doing here, AJ?”

There was clear pain in her voice that Applejack noticed. “Can we talk in another place?” She pleaded slightly, looking sideways to the Princess. “Please…”

Sparkle agreed that it was best to go to a more private place, so she nodded and begun to guide herself and the blonde mare to the place which she knew for sure that nopony at that day and that hour could be.

The Royal Library.

As soon as they stepped in, the young Princess went directly to the pillows in the center of the room to try to make herself comfortable with no real success. Applejack sat in front of her, trying to keep calm and stay focus but she only got more scared. “Nopony will disturb us here.” Twilight spoke, shaking her wings a little and her mouth was still dry. “So, what do you want, Applejack? I thought that you don’t want to see me. And it’s very surprising to see you in Canterlot, far away from your family in this holidays.”

“Ye-Yeah…” AJ replied with weak voice. “But Ah spoke to them and they understood. Ah-Ah needed t-to see you…” She encouraged herself to look Twilight in the eye. Dammit. Ah’m shaking like a filly. The orange pony thought before continue. “Ah’m… Ah’m sorry, Twilight.”

“Sorry?” The alicorn looked to her with a hurt expression. “Sorry for what, Applejack? Sorry for leaving me without an explanation? Sorry for causing me more pain than anypony before?” Each question was another stab in AJ’s chest, who couldn’t bear the Princess’ look. In fact, Twi had her eyes wet. “Didn’t I deserve a reason, at least?” She asked, her ears dropped down and her lower lip shaking while the earth pony bit her own, hiding her face behind her hat.

“Yer right, Twi and Ah’m sorry, Ah swear. Ah had been stupid, very stupid. But Ah was afraid…”

The librarian raised an eyebrow. “Applejack. Please, look at me.” She approached her friend closer. “Afraid of what?”

“Afra-Afraid of mah own fears…” Applejack confessed with her eyes wet. “Afraid of make ya miserable forever...”

Twi looked her confused. “But why? I don’t understand…”

The earth pony lowered her head slowly, muttering. “Yer the smartest pony Ah ever met and sometimes ya don’t get it…” When she looked the alicorn again, she was crying in silence. “Twilight… Yer immortal. Ya’ll live forever. But Ah wo-won’t…” The tears were running down her cheeks and right after fell to the floor. “The last thing Ah want, Twi, is that ya suffer for me. Ah don’t deserve it… That’s why… Ah chose to end our relationship… Even if it meant that ya will hate me.” Twilight felt her heart turn over after hearing that. “Applejack… You could talk with me before making that decision yourself…” The cowpony shut her eyes. “Ah know! Ah’m so stupid… But Ah really love ya, Twilight and Ah’ll do anything for your happiness...” She took off the Stetson off her head and fixed her ears to her skull. “Now Ah screwed up everything and yer angry…It’s normal, Ah gave ya enough reasons…” She stopped talking when a hoof was placed over her mouth. Surprised, she followed it with her teary eyes up to to it’s owner, who spoke...

“Applejack…” Her tone was very soft, as was her expression. “I’m not angry at you. What’s more, I’m a little flattered for what you were willing to do for me. But my life, eternal or not, would be so miserable without you at my side.” She moved her hoof from Applejack’s lips, smiling. “I love you, AJ, and I always will.”

Applejack shook in her place, swallowing but finding herself with no saliva in her mouth. “That’s what Ah’m most worried, Twi.” She muttered. “Ah’ll grow older and die but ya’ll always be the most beautiful mare in Equestria. Ah’ll leave you alone with only yer memories about us. That’s no fair, sugarcube.” While she spoke, the tears returned to her eyes as she fought to not let them fall. “Ya don’t deserve so much pain…”

Princess Twilight looked at her for a moment saying nothing, taking afterwards a step forward to Applejack, with a resolute look in her eyes. Before AJ could react, she found herself with Twi’s lips, that were much thinner and sweeter in contrast to hers. Her eyes opened in surprise at the time she felt like electricity running through her body. That was the first kiss between them and she hadn’t expected at all.

The alicorn was also the one who broke the kiss seconds later, looking to the orange pony with an emotional expression. “AJ, I prefer without a shadow of a doubt remembering for all eternity the marvelous time we spent together than being without your love one single second.” It was obvious that the emotions were high on Twilight, because she was on the verge of tears. “Don’t worry about the future. It’s so, so far away. We have to enjoy the present, my love…”

Her marefriend started to shake in happiness and then she embraced the princess, muttering. “Ah don’t know what ah did to deserve you, sugarcube.”

Sparkle returned the embrace crying with joy. “I guess that I could say the same.” They separated a little to look at each other eyes and that time it was Applejack who made a move to kiss the librarian. A real kiss, full of the love that they shared. Few minutes had passed when the two finally broke it with a happy grin.

“Do you want to stay with me tonight, AJ?”

“More than anything, sugarcube.”

Later that night, Twilight Sparkle was sitting in her chambers’ balcony, looking at Luna’s beautiful night with an indelible smile. Soon Applejack joined her, giving her a nuzzle in her neck. “Yer thinkin’, Twi?”

Her marefriend looked her sideways. “Nothing serious… Only thinking about how I could give my thanks to Rarity and Rainbow Dash for talking to you besides what I said to them. Well… Except for when Dash was pushing you.” She chuckled a little.

“Yeah… She really can get on mah nerves.” AJ admitted with a grin before looking at the sky as the alicorn.

For a moment, there was nothing more than the two mares together, the stars and the moon. “Ya know, sugarcube? When she was trying to convince me, Rarity told me an old legend… At least, she said that it was a legend.”

The princess raised an eyebrow when looked to her. “A legend? What legend?”

The cowpony accommodated next to Sparkle. “Well… A legend about two ponies that, after promising eternal love to each other, always met again when they revived.”

The former unicorn seemed surprised. “She told you that story? No way!”

“Eh?” Applejack blinked with a puzzled expression. “Ya knew it?”

The librarian nodded with a bigger smile. “Of course. There is a copy of the original book in the Royal Library. It’s called ‘Loving Souls’” She blushed a little, dropping her ears, when she confessed. “It was… The first love story I readed.”

The blonde maned pony leaned her head. “Ya too believe in that?”

Twilight shrank her shoulders. “Who could say that it isn’t a real story? Or based on one.” When she saw her marefriend looked at her confused. “I know, I’m always look for facts, but since I came to Ponyville I saw many things that I thought weren’t possible. Our friendship is a good proof that destiny exists in some way. So, why couldn’t it be possible that two souls are united through time? I confess that I will be more than pleased if that could happen to us.” The alicorn said, looking to her partner with shining eyes.

AJ grinned and poked fun a little on the princess. “Ya spend too much time with a certain fashionista…” Sparkle stuck out her tongue as response, laughing softly next.

After that, Twilight rested her head onto Applejack’s shoulder and put her wing over her marefriend, whispering, “I will always love you, Applejack Apple.”

AJ smiled tenderly, muttering in her ear. “Me too, Twilight Sparkle. Me too’.”

Epilogue: Until...

Princess Twilight Sparkle was smiling with wistfulness while she looked from the balcony that morning. She wasn’t sad, only lost in her most loved memories, a fact that didn’t escape to the eyes who knew her well.

“Thinking about her again, little Twilight?” She turned her head to see Celestia smiling at her. “A little.” The younger alicorn confessed. “I was remembering that particular day.”

The Princess of the Sun didn’t need to ask. She knew very well about what day her former student was talking. “How long ago? One hundred and eighty years?” She supposed but Twi corrected her. “One hundred and eighty three years, exactly. Quite some time…”

“Indeed. But you don’t have to be sad, Twilight.” Celestia said warmly.

“I’m not.” Sparkle replied, smiling at her. “We made a promise. Now it’s only a matter of time.”

Her mentor grinned. “I think that you are right, my friend.” She turned around, saying. “I don’t entertain you more, Twilight. You will go to supervise the last details of the play later, I suppose?”

The Princess of Magic nodded. “In fact, I will go right now. See you later, Celestia.”

Twilight walked to the dressing rooms prepared for the traditional Hearth’s Warming Eve play, ready to make her role. But she wasn’t here only for that.

Among the principals and the staff, there was somepony who had been putting on the Smart Cookie’s ropes. It was a mare with a short black mane and a dull yellow coat. But that didn’t matter. The most relevant things to Twi were two.

One was her eyes, like emeralds.

The other was her cutie mark. A big red apple with one purple star in the center.

She noticed that the princess was looking at her and she returned the gaze with a shy smile. Twilight smiled too, very happy. She knew that the wait was finally over and in her mind were echoing the last words of her wife.

“Until we’ll meet again, sugarcube.”

Part 1: The Break

If there was something about winters that Applejack hated, it was that she didn’t have work to do. On the farm or anywhere else. Ok, it wasn’t that winter was boring, because there was fun with the girls or her family. The real problem was that when she had a lot of free time without distractions, she started to think. Her thoughts that particular winter always ended up on the same point, or more precisely, the same pony.

Twi… Ah’m sorry. Princess Twilight Sparkle.

It had been a long time since the cowpony admitted that she liked Twilight. She remembered the first time she saw her perfectly. Her first impression was Another city pony. Cute, but a city pony. Yeah, she invited her to the meal in the farm with all the Apple clan, but deep inside she thought that as a city pony they wouldn’t have any in common.

It wasn’t till much later that she realized what a mistake that was.

Day after day, adventure after adventure, AJ discovered that she and that ‘city pony’ had more things in common that anypony would think at first sight. Though they could not find common ground in terms of learning, both always strived to be better every day, be it physically or mentally, for herself and her friends. Everyday was a new lesson for them, whether it was Applejack teaching Twilight about the farm, or Twi teaching AJ about the world beyond.

Applejack only truly learned to open her heart to the truth after she recovered her memories and spirit that Discord took for her and her friends. The draconi… dracunoc…whatever, separated them and turned her and the others into horrible opposites of their true selves. Twilight was the first to regain herself to save her friends and all of Equestria. Applejack later thought that her getting her memories back first was a little strange, because Sweet Apple Acres was far from Ponyville. Later Twilight told her that she brought her back first because she was worried that she would lose the one closest to her. In that moment that they shared moment that their memories, Applejack realized she had found the one who would be with her forever. She realized that she loved Twilight Sparkle.

That was the moment in which AJ understood how important Sparkle was for her.

Time passed, and little by little the orange pony found her passions towards Twilight increasing. She would spend all night thinking of her. Realizing that her heart was louder than her brain, she confessed. It was a clumsy tumble of words that turned into a shout, leaving her friend in shock for a few seconds before she answered that she need to think about it.

Applejack waited for a response. Days passed and she was afraid her love wasn’t reciprocated. After four agonizing days, she finally agreed.

They went slowly with the relationship. Maybe too slow. After twenty one dates, they didn’t exchange more than nuzzles. However, the feelings grew between them and Applejack knew that they were moving in the right direction.

Until the day in which Twilight became a Princess.

At the beginning, Applejack didn’t think that anything was going to change, but eventually, the truth hit her. If Twilight was an alicorn, she also was immortal. That was a big change. The ‘princess’ thing didn’t really bother her. Ok, at the beginning, when the incident with the Tree of Harmony, she and the others were worried about Twilight’s security, but only at the beginning. The immortality, on the other hoof, was different.

A droopy-eared Applejack sat in her kitchen looking out the window, burdened by these thoughts. She hadn't slept, and she had even snapped at Apple Bloom that morning during breakfast. Finally she forced herself to make a bitter decision, though it wasn't the one she wanted to make.

Tartarus. She hated that decision more than anything.

“Doesn’t matter”, she muttered to nopony, “Ah have to do it.. for her.”

Applejack would do anything for the ponies she loved. Anything.

Twilight was finishing some reports in her library after a few hours reading books about Equestrian politics and laws. Despite the fact that ‘normal ponies might consider such things to be extremely boring, the alicorn was happy. And, no, for Celestia’s sake, it wasn’t the book she was happy about. She wasn’t that big of an egghead.

No, Twilight was happy because she was going to see Applejack later.

She had to admit it. When AJ first asked her out on a date, Twilight couldn’t have been more surprised. Not only did she not think she would end up having a special somepony, but she never thought that special somepony would be a mare. For that reason, she had to ask the cowpony for some time to think about it first. Fortunately, Applejack had expected that and agreed at that moment.

The next days might have been of the craziest in Twilight’s life. They didn’t compared to the ‘Smarty Pants' incident, or the desperate week after she received a visit from ‘Future Twilight’, but she didn’t relax until she had come to a conclusion.

Which conclusion? The conclusion that Applejack was strong, loyal, honorable, mature and rational. She was always there for her friends and everypony. She was the kind of pony in you can trust blindly. Twilight knew very well that AJ could be stubborn sometimes, but also that she was the best option to be in charge of anything. Physically speaking, Applejack was the strongest pony in Ponyville for sure. After a lot of thinking, Twilight had to admit that her mane and her coat matched perfectly. Not only that, she had a very athletic body, near to perfection, with well-toned muscles. And her eyes… They were like emeralds, so beautiful and intense. Twilight realized all these things before she even stopped to consider the most relevant question of all. Would dating another mare be a problem? What would their friends and family say? That was the question she kept asking herself. But, finally, she made a choice.

It was worth it to try.

Twilight hadn’t regretted her decision at all. Each date was fun, sweet and happy. Or, in a word, perfect. The same was true when they spent time with the girls. After Applejack and she told the others that they were dating, all of their friends congratulated them and seemed happy for them.

It was true that things were a little more complicated now that Twilight was a princess, but it was nothing they couldn’t handle. I mean, seriously, they had saved Equestria more than once, how could being Royalty be any more of a problem?

Her life couldn’t have been better at that moment.

“Spike!” Twilight called her number one assistant with a smile on her face, trotting to the lower floor. The baby dragon showed his face through the kitchen’s door, where he was cleaning, and answered. “Yes, Twilight?”

“I’m going out. Take care of the library, ok? You can take a break from cleaning for a while.” Twi hugged Spike for a second. “I won’t be out late.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Spike protested, “just go have fun with Applejack.”

Twilight grinned and kissed the dragon on the forehead before leaving the library.

That afternoon promised to be a very happy one.

Applejack sighed for the eleventh time since she arrived at the hill. It was cold out there, after all, Hearth’s Warming Eve was in four days, but that didn’t bother or worry her. No, she was very, very worried about what she was about to d. It would surely be the most difficult and painful thing that she ever done, but it was for the best. It was for her. No matter if the cowpony can’t live the rest of her days without crying night after night, she couldn’t let Twilight suffer.

Well, yah gonna make her suffer in a while... The thought crossed her mind, making Applejack feel dirty. This is th’ right thing to do. At least it wasn’t snowing. The sky was covered with grey clouds, but it wasn’t going to snow that day. Besides, there was enough snow on the ground. With another sigh, Applejack sat right there, waiting for Twilight. It wasn’t that the alicorn came late, it was that AJ came sooner, like every other date before. But, unlike the others, the reason wasn’t to enjoy more time with the princess, it was to end it quickly.

Lucky her, Twi, with the cape made by Rarity some time ago was coming just in time. Like always. To worsen the situation, she was grinning cheerfully.

Sweet Celestia… Don’t smile like that, Twilight. Applejack pleaded to nopony, trying to not look the alicorn. Not today.

“Hi, Applejack!” Twilight greeted her friend with a nuzzle. “Had you been waiting for very long?”

“No, Twi. Ya never make me wait.” AJ answered, trying to keep calm. She hadn’t any idea about how was she tell that to Twilight, and her chipper attitude certainly didn’t help. Definitely, it went to be a lot worse that Applejack thought.

“I know, I know.” Twilight laughed a little. “So, which is the plan for the afternoon?”

Now or never, Applejack. Ya gotta do it.

“There is… no plan, really.” The earth pony replied, feeling her mouth very dry. “Ah-No. We need to talk.” Twilight blinked in confusion. “Applejack, are you alright?”

No. Ah’m not alright. Ah feel like trash right now… Applejack thought but didn’t tell Twilight. “Yeah, Ah’m fine.” AJ lied. “Look, Twi… Ah’ve been thinking ‘bout us… Since we started dating, we had fun and everything seemed fine, but...”

At that point, the alicorn’s expression changed from happiness to worry, her ears dropped down. Under the cape, her wings shook slightly for a second, a sign of extreme worry. “But…?” Twilight whispered and the earth pony diverted her gaze.

In that moment, seeing Twilight like that, Applejack doubted. She was going to hurt the alicorn if she continued with her decision, and that was the last thing the cowpony wanted to ever do. But, if she didn’t… She could live forever sad and depressed remembering me. AJ had that thought in her mind for the last weeks. That was the reason she made her decision, which she must follow until the end, no matter the consequences.

“We… we have to break up.” Applejack stated, but she didn’t look to the alicorn. There it is. Ah said it. There ain’t no takin’ it back now.

Twilight gasped in disbelief. Her mind took 5 or 6 seconds to process the sentence. I-It can’t be… The purple alicorn thought, with pain starting to grow in her chest. “Wha-what did you say, Applejack?” She asked, waiting and praying that she didn’t hear right.

Applejack sighed, really hoping that she wouldn’t have to repeat those painful words. “Ah said… that we have to break up.” She repeated with a lower tone. “Bu-but why?” Twi muttered, with her ears totally flat, shaking with the first signs of panic. This effect was especially notable in her wings, still under the cape.

Why…? What the heck do Ah tell her now? That was the weakest part of AJ’s plan. She had to answer, but regardless of how she would look to everypony else, she didn’t want to make Twilight feel guilty. There was no way in Tartarus she wanted to do that. “Su-sugarcube… Things have changed…”

“If-if I did something wrong…” Twilight interrupted.

“No!” Applejack quickly answered. “No, ya didn’t. It’s not yer fault, Twi.”

“Then, why? What happened? I don’t understand-” Oh, Celestia… AJ thought. Twilight was on the verge of tears. The earth pony didn’t have to look at her to know it, just by hearing her voice she could tell that.

“It.. it’s complicated… But Ah swear to ya. It’s not yer fault, Twilight…” the orange pony said, with her ears stuck to her skull, as low as her mood.

“In that case, explain to me, please.” the alicorn begged, making her best to not cry. A battle she was losing.

“I-I was mistaken” That was a bad excuse, but was the best she could make after days thinking about it. “Ah-ah mean. Wh-when Ah asked ya for a date it was ‘cause Ah had a big crush in ya. But after the dates… It was fun, really, Twi, no doubt.” The worst part was coming. “But Ah realise that Ah didn’t love you. Not really.” Her entire body trembled and she swallowed hard while she lowered her head, trying to hide her face behind her Stetson. “Ah’m very sorry, Twilight… If ya want to blame me, Ah-Ah will understand it.”

Twilight Sparkle was in shock. She opened her mouth trying to say something, but no words came out. Tears flew down her cheeks without control, as she was unable to contain it anymore. Why was this happening to her? To them? “A-Applejack. Re-really if-if I did. If I make any mistake o-or if I-I can d-do anything to fix this.” AJ nodded. “Sorry, Twi. Trust me. Ah feel really bad about all this. The la-last thing Ah want is-is to hurt you, sugarcube. But if we-” Don’ look at her now, AJ. If ya do ya won’t be able to finish. “If we continue with this ya will suffer in the end. More than now.”

“Applejack…” Twilight started to say between sobbings. In that moment, something clicked in the princess’ mind.

AJ hadn’t looked at her at any moment.

“You’re lying.” The alicorn said with strength. Her eyes stared at the cowpony at she got closer to her.

Applejack froze in her place. Her hooves shook, and not from the cold snow on the ground. Dammit, Twi. You and yer pretty genius brain. She thought, swallowing again. “Ah’m not lying, Tw-” she tried to answer, but Sparkle cut her words.

“You don’t know how to lie. Should I remind you about the incident with Discord? Everypony knows you’re the worst liar in Ponyvi-No, in all of Equestria. Are you gonna tell me that all the fun, all the feelings, all the good moments we spent together on our dates were false?” She stopped to cry and started to got angry.

“W-well, no, Twilight, but...” Applejack replied, but her tone didn’t look firm.

“Applejack, maybe I don’t know much about relationships, but I know you very well, better than any of our friends. On our dates, you were happy, happier that I’ve ever see you. So-” She hit the ground with a hoof. “What’s really going on here?”

Applejack looked away, very nervous in that moment. “Nothing more than Ah already said.” she muttered.

“Yeah? Then, why won’t you look at me? Something this important should be said face to face.” Twilight accused. Applejack understood that. If she wanted her plan to work, she couldn’t leave the things half done. Using all her will, like she never had before, she looked Twilight in the eye and spoke.

“We’re done, Twilight Sparkle.”

Now was Twilight who froze in her place, her lips making a thin line. She turned pale and her eyes dampened before she nodded. “I un-understand, Applejack Apple. Take care.” Applejack looked at her while she turned back and moved away. One part of her was screaming, wishing to run after her and hug her with all her strength to never lose her. But she stayed there without moving, until Twilight disappeared in the distance. Then she allowed herself to break and she sobbed, letting all her tears drop from her nose. “Please. Forgive me, Twi. Forgive me.”

Spike was eating some gems, sitting in the middle of the library and killing the time. Just as he was about to put a beautiful sapphire in his mouth, the door opened and Twilight came in, her head and ears dropped down. “Twilight?” Spike said, raising an eyebrow and looking the clock. “You’re home early. Did you have fun with AJ?”

The alicorn put away her cape without raising her head. Even her wings were down. “I don’t want to talk about it, Spike.” She replied softly.

The baby dragon noticed that something was wrong. “Twilight? What happened?” He asked with caution, but Twilight snapped.

“I said that I don’t want to talk about it!” She yelled at Spike, looking him angry. He took a step away, surprised and scared, making Twilight react. “S-Spike. I’m sorry, I didn’t want to-to...” She couldn’t take anymore and fell on the floor crying, her face buried in her forelegs. The dragon, shocked, ran to her and embraced her, very worried. The moment that she felt the embrace, the alicorn buried her face in his small chest, making him wonder what had happened out there with Applejack? He didn’t know, but he knew now wasn’t the best moment to ask again. She was in a bad mood. She was in clearly pain and Spike had to be there for her. For his best friend. For his sister.

“Do you… do you want a cup of cocoa?” The dragon asked once Twilight was too tired to cry anymore. The alicorn nodded weakly without saying a word, still asking herself why Applejack would leave her.

She didn’t have an answer.