Chasing Applejack

“Hello, my student…” Celestia says quietly, addressing her longtime student the same way despite her newly attained status. “You seem quite under the weather.”

The white alicorn approaches her bedside, holding a glass of water in her magic aura. “I’d like to have a long chat,” Celestia says while placing the glass on Twilight’s drawer, the glass landing with a soft plump. “It’s about a certain somepony who just exited here.”

Twilight’s eyes widen. “You mean, Applejack?”

Celestia nods. “Yes.” The ruler sits her rump on the floor, looking down at her student in her bed. “I’ve wanted to address some things that I heard…”

Oh no…

“...about your behavior in relation to that mare.”

...this is going to be bad.

The now panicked student pops off her pillow and says frantically, “I don’t know what you’re talking ab- hnggg...”

“Twilight!” Celestia says softly yells. The mare of concern holds her head with her hoof, groaning at the sudden return of the migraine. “Lay down, you’ll hurt yourself if you do any sudden movements.”

Twilight sighs and plops her head back down on the soft, plump pillows. “I’m not having,” Twilight begins to say before a sudden cough causes her to stop.

“Yes, you are,” Celestia says sternly. “You know, you’re very easy to read, Twilight.”

Twilight looks away, her muzzle scrunching up and her forehooves crossing over each other.

“No, I’m not…” Twilight whines.

“Twilight.” Celestia says. Twilight looks up at her as Celestia continues, “I’ve been your mentor and I’m now your counterpart. I’ve seen you since you were a little filly. I think I’d know how easy you are to read…”

That is true, but you don’t know how much I love Applejack...

Twilight shyly looks away, a blush beginning to form on her cheeks, the red tint considerably close to the color of a red rose.

Celestia sighs, preparing herself for a speech.

“I know you are thinking about her a lot lately…”

Applejack…

“The guards told me about your behavior in the castle…”

...I need you to…

“...and in the marketplace…”

...save me right now.

“Twilight, are you even listening?”

“Huh?” Twilight asks, returning to reality after hearing her name being called.

“Guess not,” Celestia says softly. “Look,” she moves closer to the bedside and puts her right forehoof under Twilight’s muzzle, cupping it gently. “...you have two options that I will present to you.”

“Huh?” Twilight asks, her eyebrow raising.

Celestia shakes her head. “This is for your own good, my faithful student.”

Guess I have no choice...

Twilight sighs and says, “Okay, what are my options?”

Celestia replies, her eyes glued to her student’s. “You can talk to Cadence about this, or you go straight to Applejack and tell her how you feel.”

“WHAT?” Twilight shouts. “But, h—”

Celestia shoves the hoof that was cupping Twilight’s muzzle in front of it, causing Twilight’s words to go unanswered. “No questions, just an answer is what I need.”

Twilight sighs and lightly taps Celestia’s hoof. Celestia nods and removes her hoof from Twilight’s muzzle, moving away from the bedside and leaning back on the wall.

Am I ready to face her yet?

No, I should talk to Cadance.

Even though I want to face her and tell her that I love her, I need to think this through...

“Well…” Twilight begins. “I should talk to Cadance…”

“That would be wise of you, Twilight,” Celestia says nonchalantly. “After all, she is the Princess of Love.”

True…

“But I think I could tell her about my feelings…”

Celestia raises an eyebrow. “Could?” she asks inquisitively. “Are you sure about that?”

Is she accusing me of being unsure about my feelings?

Why is she doubting me?

A chord somewhere inside of Twilight snaps, her emotions suddenly making their appearance. “Well then, Celestia, what would you do in my situation?” Twilight snaps as she pops off her pillow and glares at Celestia. “You wouldn’t happen to know everything about this, would you?”

Celestia recoils back, moving away from the bed for a moment. “Twilight…”

“How could you say that I’m unsure about my own feelings towards somepony!” Twilight angrily says, leaning forward towards Celestia while giving her the biggest death stare that even Fluttershy would be impressed with.

“Twilight…”

“It’s not like everyday, you have somepony coming up to you and shouting at the top of their lungs…”

“Twilight!”

“I LOVE YOU!” Twilight shouts on the top of her lungs, her face as red as can be.

“Huh? Twi’? Princess?”

Oh no…

The two mares turn to the doorway to see a wide-eyed slack jawed Applejack, who was once holding a glass of water in her teeth.

The orange cowpony looks at the two mares, who were both blushing intensely at her.

The silence was unbearable.

Applejack…

Celestia simply looks over at Twilight, motioning with her hoof at Applejack.

Twilight looks over at Celestia’s hoof and nods.

But she was too late.

The sound of glass shattering penetrates the two mare’s eardrums…

...and the farmer appears no longer, the sounds of hoofsteps rapidly leaving the area…