Pinkie Pie’s party eventually spread outside of Sugarcube Corner into the the town square. Twilight contented herself to pony-watching at a nearby bench, smiling at the site of Pinkie and Rainbow Dash tearing it up with the rest of the town as the music blared throughout every street corner while fireworks went off in the distant sky. With the misfortune that was Gilda gone from memory, it seemed the minds of everyone at the party were clear and carefree.

Well... almost everyone.

Twilight had these nagging thoughts that bothered her to no end in the back of her mind. It had been a week since she had seen Applejack... and she’d be lying if she said that was an accident.

Nothing more had come from that night at the picnic table than some rounds of heavy kissing, but such an event had never been more confusing for Twilight. Was that what alcohol did to her when a pony she thought was attractive was around? Celestia knows what would have happened if Twilight had found this out about herself back in Canterlot after a grueling exam. What if she had stumbled into that really nice-looking colt from the Royal Guard ROTC she used to glance at every now and again? Twilight shuddered at the thought. She wouldn't have been able to show her face around Canterlot again!

However, it wasn’t some stranger from school or a high-ranking aristocrat... it was Applejack, and Applejack seemed to like it.... she seemed to like it while drunk.

Twilight groaned internally at the mess she had made. There was no way in Equestria that Applejack had thought a thing of what had a happened. If Twilight were to ask her about it, there's no doubt she would shrug it off and call it a one time thing.

That's not to say Applejack was a bad pony or anything, but... there just wasn't any possibility of anything serious coming out of that.

Twilight, in resolve, took a breath. All that was left to do was put what happened behind her and continue to be a good friend, and after a while, she could look at Applejack the same way she looked at all of her fr—

“Well, howdy, Twi. Crazy party, huh?” Applejack chuckled as she found a spot on the bench next to Twilight, whose heart immediately began palpitating. She never got any luck, did she?

Twilight gulped, forcing a grin. “Heh. Yeah, it certainly is, um... I haven’t seen you around—” She immediately clamped her mouth shut, reprimanding herself. Bad, bad move, Twilight.

“Well, I’ll be danged if you ain’t right,” Applejack beamed. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, I must say.” She took a sip from the cup she was holding, and held it up to Twilight’s face. “Care for a drink?”

Twilight’s felt her cheeks heat up as eye twitched at the memory. “Uh...”

Applejack merely giggled. “It’s just punch, sugar. I ain’t some kinda lush or nothin’.”

Twilight gulped, relieved it wasn’t something that would make her act a fool... okay she might spill it all over herself, but her levitation wasn't that clumsy when she was nervous.

She smacked her lips after taking a refreshing sip. "It's good..." Twilight smirked. "It's just not quite like Applejack."

Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, not quite. That’s some good stuff.”

Twilight nodded, twisting her mouth slightly before blurting, “I never thought you had a problem with alcohol.”

Applejack stared back at Twilight as she stammered before Applejack placed a hoof on her mouth.

And it was at that moment that Twilight couldn’t help but notice just how gentle, yet firm, her hoof was. Dear Luna, she was intoxicating.

Applejack smirked. “Heh. Most ponies ‘round here wouldn’t be surprised if I did. I am my daddy’s daughter.”

Twilight’s insides cringed. She didn’t want to ask, but... “So,” she gulped. “W-was he...”

Applejack sighed. “Yeah, yeah. He was a good stallion, but we all got our weaknesses. His weakness consumed him, and it took him from us a bit before Apple Bloom was born. Wasn’t too long ‘fore Momma went, too.”

“I’m... so sorry, Applejack,” Twilight whispered, putting a hoof on Applejack’s shoulder.

Applejack steeled herself. “Don’t be. It happens to all of us, and frankly, all it did was make me stronger than I would’ve been.”

Twilight sighed, scooting in closer to give her a warm hug and forgetting her previous nerves. “...I’m still sorry,” she whispered. “A-and I guess I don’t really have anything else to say, but... I wish I did. A solution or something.”

“Heh,” AJ replied, moving in to nuzzle Twilight. “You’re a good pony to talk to about this kinda thing, Twi. I know ya wanna help any way ya can, but... sometimes, it’s nice to just have a pony in your corner, ya know?”

Twilight smiled against Applejack’s neck. “I can always be that,” she whispered.

Applejack sighed, which Twilight felt and leaned back as a result. “What’re we doin’, Twi?”

“...I don’t know, to be honest. What are we doing? What are we?”

Twilight felt the grip of Applejack’s hooves on her own. She gulped, looking up and see the most straightforward expression she had ever seen in a pony’s eyes.

“I won’t sugarcoat it, Twi. I... I like ya.” A wry smile came on her lips. “See, I said it and I ain’t even drunk. I must say, I thought you were nice ‘n pretty when ya came around, but that night at the picnic table, ya got me mighty smitten. Whatever ya wanna do with that is up to ya, but... I would never lie to ya or string you along.”

Twilight’s gulped as she breathed rapidly through her nose. Ultimately, she breathed a heavy sigh and gripped Applejack’s hooves tighter. “I know you’re not lying...” she smiled. “You ooze sincerity, after all.”

Applejack snorted. “How’s that for runin’ a moment?”

“Oh, I did not!” Twilight giggled while waving a hoof.

“Yeah, I reckon ya did,” Applejack chuckled. Twilight was then taken off guard when Applejack leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. “...I still like ya, though.”

As much as Twilight couldn’t deny how much she was enjoying it, she still moved away from Applejack. “I’m sorry, I’m just... confused.”

Applejack sighed. “Believe me, Twi, I don’t blame ya, but...” she beamed. “My folks raised me right, and they’d tell me to court a girl proper. I like ya, and... well, can I treat ya to a picnic, sometime?”

Twilight looked away, trying to figure out a coherent response. “I... I don’t know.”

Applejack looked crestfallen as she cleared her throat. “Uh... beg your pardon?”

“I’m sorry, Applejack, it’s just...” she gulped again. “I’ve never really had a group of friends before, let alone a relationship. Believe me, I like you a whole lot as well, I just... I still don’t know how to be a truly good friend yet, and I’m worried I’d ruin my first relationship by my own naivete.”

“Twi, I–”

“I didn’t say no,” Twilight blurted. “I just... need some time to figure things out. Give me... I don’t know, a little while to decide if I’m willing to take the jump.” She blinked looking for some moticum of understanding from Applejack.

She certainly looked disappointed, that was for sure. Applejack sighed and closed her eyes. “I getcha.” A smile came on her face as her eyes opened. “Twi, you take all the time in the world. Far be it from me to push ya into something you’re not ready for, and whatever choice ya make, I’ll still be here and still your friend.”

Twilight’s heart lurched as she grinned ear to ear, jumping to tackle Applejack in a hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I knew you would understand, and I really hate to make things complicated, but–”

Applejack gently rubbed Twilight’s back. “Don’t worry your mind, Twi. You’re a good friend, and that’s the most important thing.”

“And your friendship is the most important thing to me, too,” Twilight returned, backing from the hug with a grin still on her face. “Come on,” she proclaimed as jumped off the bench and pointed to the still-raging party. “We shouldn’t save all the fun for Pinkie and Dash, now should we?”

Applejack grinned, adjusting her stetson with a determined cock of the brow. “Heck naw. Let’s tear it up, girl!”

The two galloped together into the procession, throwing caution to the wind as they danced and cavorted with their friends late into the night. Twilight felt nothing that night but jubilation, her mind, for the moment, clear and carefree. Although she had many questions to answer about herself and Applejack... her friend’s encouraging words assured her whatever would happen wouldn’t matter in the end.

Applejack would always be there.

Author's Note

Yep, I'm an evil sonofabitch. Deal widdit.