The TwiJack Project

At last, the day had been won. With the reawakening of the Elements of Harmony, Nightmare Moon was excised from Princess Luna, who returned to her rightful place on the throne alongside Celestia.

There was much rejoicing, and as was in Ponyville, when there was cause for celebration, Pinkie Pie worked her magic.

Her exuberant, exhausting, party-hardy magic.

By the time Celestia and Luna departed for home, the entirety of Ponyville was rendered utterly worn out from the day of festivities, with most of the town’s denizens stumbling off toward their homes. However, Twilight Sparkle remained up and ready.

She had a lot of moving ahead of her, after all.

“Twiliiiiiiight,” Spike bemoaned through a yawn. “I’m so tired. Can we please wait until tomorrow to do this?”

“Spike,” Twilight admonished, double-checking her clipboard. “Do you honestly expect me to go to sleep without having made sure all of the books in this library have been shelved under the proper system? For goodness’ sake, who knows how long these poor things have been organized simply by alphabetical title? It’s savagery.” After putting down the clipboard, she hovered over a marker and one of the of boxes of books that had been taken off the shelves.

“And these will be our Reference section, for now. I need to write to the princess tomorrow and see if we can have my old encyclopedias shipped over here ASAP. The fact that this library doesn’t even have a complete, leatherbound record of patents throughout Equestrian history is almost sickening.” She lifted the box over to her assistant, smiling. “Spike, be a sport, and–”

Spike rolled his tired eyes as he sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I gotcha.” He cracked his fingers before attempting to lift the heavy box, grunting and digging his feet into the floorboards as his efforts proved fruitless. The young drake collapsed to the floor in a puffing, sweaty mess. “Uh... Twilight?”

Twilight giggled. “Okay, I give in. I’ll handle the rest of this. You can go on to bed.”

Spike beamed as he leaped from the floor. “Really?! Thanks, Twilight.” As he scampered for the stairs, he turned around. “You sure you got this? After everything you’ve been through the past few days, you’re not even a little tired?”

“Are you kidding?” Twilight proceeded to lift all the stacked books, floating them to various shelves. “This has been the most exciting time of my life! I not only rescued a princess and rediscover a lost magic, but... I’ve actually made friends.” She giggled at the prospect. “I can’t believe that’s something I would say about myself. Not even a friend I made through Shining like Cadance was. I, Twilight Sparkle, have made my own friends. And I love it!”

Spike gave a warm smile. “Well, that’s the spirit, Twilight. It’s good you finally came to your senses about this sort of thing.” As he ascended the stairs backwards, he gave a bow. “And with that, this strapping lad who was right all along shall bid you a good–”

There came a knock at the door.

Twilight smiled as she looked to Spike. “Could you?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled as he returned downstairs. Twilight refocused her attention on the task of shelving, not paying attention to who was at the door at this hour.

“Hey, Twilight,” Spike poked at Twilight, causing her to drop several books on the floor, much to her annoyance.

She turned with a glare. “Really, Spike?”

“It’s uh... whatsherface, Applejack, that’s it. She’s wondering if she can come inside.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Applejack? Yes. Yes of course she can come in.”

Spike looked to the doorway and motioned her to come in, and sure enough, there stood Twilight’s new friend, sporting an inviting grin.

“Howdya do, Twilight?” Applejack tipped her stetson.

Twilight grinned as she stepped forward. “Oh, uh, fine, Applejack. What brings you here?” She reached out a hoof, but was thrown off when Applejack pulled her into a friendly hug. “Oh!” She stifled a giggle. “I guess you’re really happy to see me,” she chuckled before reciprocating the hug.

“Aw, shucks. I’m always happy to see a good friend," AJ relplied, giving Twilight a warm pat on the back. "Just came to see that you 'n Spike're nice 'n settled." Her hoof seemed to linger on her back, not seeming to want to stop rubbing.

Twilight blushed as she let go. "That's really sweet of you, Applejack. I must say, aside from Pinkie Pie, you've been just the most welcoming pony I've met. I really appreciate it."

"Ain't nothin' to it," Applejack relplied as she shook her head. "Not too often we get some excitement in these parts, and dagnabbit if you ain't a big ball o'excitement."

Twilight turned and tried to refocus on her task at her hoof. "Oh, please. I'm honestly pretty ordinary... boring, really." She lifted the fallen books and proceeded reshelving.

"You kiddin'?" Applejack trotted next to Twilight as she worked, standing only inches away. "I was just walkin' Fluttershy home, and she couldn't stop talkin' 'bout Spike. Gotta say, it's the giddiest I've ever seen that girl."

Twilight snorted as she rolled her eyes. “So the fact that a baby dragon–not I, mind you, but my dragon–lives in this town, that somehow makes me interesting?”

“I reckon that’s quite a conversation starter.” Applejack nudged at Twilight’s shoulder. “I mean, shoot, we’re talkin’ ‘bout it, right now.”

Twilight had trouble concealing her mirth. “You’re just the most straightforward pony, aren’t you?”

Applejack gave a meek smile. “I reckon that’s just how I was raised.”

The books that had been picked up had all been moved to their proper shelves. Twilight sighed as she wiped away a bead of sweat from her brow and smiled to her new friend. “Well, let me just say, you were raised right.”

The blush on Applejack’s face was immediate. “Aw shucks, you’re too much, Twi.” She looked away. “It ain’t nothin’.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Nothing? Applejack, you practically saved my life. It was your heartfelt honesty that encouraged me to let go of you at that rockslide.” She grinned while placing a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder, causing the two to make eye contact.

“There’s just this... sincerity to you. I’ve just met you and the girls, but already, I’ve found so much to admire.”

Applejack couldn’t help but snort as she blushed yet again, placing her hooves on Twilight’s shoulders. “Well heck, look at you. Dang if we hadn’t even known each other two days, and already, you’re sayin’ all this sweet talk. If we wanna talk about sincere ponies, let’s talk about you for a sec.”

Twilight shook her head as she turned to check the still unmarked boxes of books. “That’s different. I have to realize that I have such sentiments inside of me, but you? You just seem to... ooze sincerity.” When she reached the boxes, she inspected the contents and hovered the marker over for proper labeling. “Aaand, that’s Science Fiction and Pulp.” Twilight felt a twinge of fatigue as she stretched out her forelegs and let out a yawn.

Scratching her mane, she continued, “I guess I can decide the shelves for these tomorrow.” Another yawn came. “Ugh, now I have to move these boxes to the closet.”

“Say no more,” Applejack interjected, briskly trotting over to Twilight and her boxes.

Twilight rapidly shook her head. “No, no, no, Applejack, I couldn’t, please, it’s really–”

“Ain’t a big deal in the slightest,” she replied with a confident grin.

Twilight beamed. “Look at you, Applejack. You’re sincere, helpful, you have a really great accent–”

“Accent,” Applejack interrupted, giving a snort. “Now what the hay does that gotta do with anythin’?”

“I’m not sure,” Twilight giggled. “I just think it’s nice, okay? Maybe it’s because I never get to hear it back in Canterlot.”

“Heh. Well, I guess you can get used to it, then.” Applejack took a short breath, and with but a stamp to the ground, both boxes of books jumped up into the air, sending a shockwave that tingled the bottom of Twilight’s hooves. With an arch of her back, Applejack effortlessly caught both boxes and trotted over to the closet door.

“Ooh, and you’re incredibly strong, too,” Twilight continued, giving her friend a round of applause while opening the closet door as Applejack approached. As she stepped away from the door, Twilight also made a subconscious mental note of the way Applejack’s hind legs flexed just from trotting. This was clearly a mare who got results.

“Honestly, with such impressive credentials, I’d swear you’d be cocky like Rainbow Dash.”

Applejack tossed the boxes into the closet as she scoffed. “Hoo-nelly, that’d be somethin’. Truth be told, Twi, I always thought that Dash was the flakiest mare this side of Equestria. Imagine two of us runnin’ around.” She laughed, shaking her head and trotting back to Twilight. “But naw, I try not to show off, honestly.”

“Well, maybe you should show off every now and then. Applejack, I must say, I’ve never met a pony with as much to offer others be so... humble about it. You really don’t give yourself enough credit.”

Applejack grinned, shaking her head. “Look at you. You’re a student of the princess, and ya just saved all o’Equestria, and yet, you’re still heapin’ praise on lil’ ol’ me. Seems to me like if anypony’s gotta learn how to be a little cocky every now ‘n again, it’s you.”

“Pfft.” Was Twilight’s initial reaction. “Applejack, I couldn’t have saved anypony had it not been for you girls. It was because you all of you that I learned the secret behind the elements of harmony and the magic of friendship. Please don’t pretend like I was the only reason we succeeded.”

Applejack sighed. “Alright then. I won’t do that... but I’ll tell ya this much, Twi. I may be a friendly pony, but I can’t honestly say I was friends with those girls before ya showed up.”

Twilight’s head tilted ever-so slightly.

“Heh, it’s true. I mean, I knew these girls, and we were friendly ‘n whatnot. But ever since you’ve shown up and shown us how we’re connected, this is the first time I can say sure as sugar that y’all are my friends.” Applejack brought brought Twilight in for another hug and whispered, “Thanks for that, Twi.”

Twilight gulped as she pulled away and gave a nervous smile. “I’m really going to love getting to know you girls. This is the best change in life I could ever ask for, just...” she sighed. “Thank you.”

Applejack tipped her stetson. “Ain’t nothin’ to it.”

“No!” Twilight stamped her hoof. “There you go, again! For goodness’ sake, Applejack, be just a little bit cocky, I beg of you.” Twilight’s yelling descended into incredulous giggling.

Applejack shook her head. “Well, how ‘bout this? I start bein’ cocky when you act a little cocky, yourself?”

“Never,” she laughed.

With a smug grin, Applejack replied, “Well, shoot. I guess you’re outta luck, then.”

Twilight blew a raspberry, causing Applejack to simply giggle.

“Well, this has been a load o’fun, Twi, but I best be gettin’ back home. Got a lotta buckin’ to do in the mornin’.”

“Oh, of course.” Twilight walked toward the door, opening it for Applejack. “I really appreciate your hospitality, Applejack. Let’s not let this be the only time we have a talk like this.”

“Couldn’t have said it better, myself. Just remember, Sweet Apple Acres is a welcoming place, anytime.” Applejack proclaimed, as she trotted out the door. As she stepped outside, she turned to the doorway to give Twilight one more hug. “Have a good night, Twi. Welcome to Ponyville.”

Twilight eagerly returned the hug, lightly nuzzling her friend. “Thank you, Applejack. Thank you for being my friend.”

She could feel Applejack’s cheekbone from her grin as she replied, “My pleasure, Twi. My pleasure.”

The two said their final goodbyes as Twilight waved off Applejack into the darkness of Ponyville before looking up at the sky and smiling at the blanket of night. Luna’s first moon in a thousand years shone over the town with a sense of renewal: a feeling that there was but a bright future ahead for herself and her new friends.

Or perhaps, Twilight was just being overly sentimental from sleep deprivation, that was indeed a possibility. Either way, Twilight realized she needed to get some sleep.

As she trotted up the stairs and into her room, all Twilight could think about was Applejack. If she was any indication, Twilight knew she was going to have the best friends a pony could ask for.

Still, something seemed different with Applejack, but Twilight couldn’t put her hoof on it. For some odd reason, there had been several stray observations made about Applejack that she had yet to make about her other friends.

Why did Twilight compliment Applejack’s accent? It wasn’t like it was an accomplishment on Applejack’s part.

Still though, Twilight couldn’t deny it was nice to hear it.

It was also nice to see Applejack, to be around her. Really, for Twilight, it was nice to just think about her as she was drifting to sleep.

Yeah. Applejack’s gonna be a... very good friend. At last, Twilight finally slept.