The start of a long night

Rainbow Dash flew away as fast as she could back to her cloud house bursting through the door and up to her room, landing on her bed she covered herself with her blanket and let her mixed emotions out with a combination of crying loudly and angrily punching her pillow.

Damn it, what the flock were you doing?  I can't believe you did that, and in front of EVERY PONY.  No one in Equestria will let me live this down for the rest of my life, I'll be a laughing stock in Cloudsdale and I can't show my face to my friends ever again.  Only Applejack *might** forgive me but this could mean the end of the Elements of Harmony.  Flocking idiot, you bucked up so hard this time...*

    Twilight helped Applejack to her hooves.  Applejack wobbled but stood strong after a moment then looked around at the various faces looking at her as she chuckled.  "Well, I reckon y'all would find out about me someday.  But Rainbow Dash ain't like me she just was worried is all.  We're all friends and act close sometimes, so don't cha pay her no mind; I'm the fillyfooler in our posse."

    "Applejack," Twilight said placing a hoof on Applejacks back, "C'mon Applejack, what they think doesn't matter.  Let's go back to the library, okay?"

    "So, this is how the town finds out about you, huh?  I thought it'd be some other way and never with Rainbow Dash," Twilight laughed as she kissed Applejack on the cheek.  The library had never felt more uncomfortable for Applejack in all her years.  The dim lighting that was cast from the lantern upstairs from Twilights reading lanterns and one small candle on a reading desk which was almost burnt down to the base.

    "Twi, I dunno what happened back there but Rainbow Dash wasn't outta line, truth is I started somethin’ with her not more than a hour ago and she was still caught up in the moment I guess," Applejack said looking at the floor in partial shame.

    "AJ, what you do with your life and love isn't in my control.  If it were up to me we'd still be together and I certainly wouldn't have done that to you in the middle of dozens of our friends and neighbors," Twilight said absentmindedly, "I guess this is what happens though, I just hope I never go through that," Twilight giggled as Applejack frowned at her.

    "Now Sugarcube, ya know I didn't end us because of some petty reason.  You're always with a book in your face and- Oh no Sugarplum how's yer nose?" she asked suddenly looking closely at Twilights nose which had stopped bleeding but had a few good scratches and was slightly swollen. How didn't I notice her nose until just now?  Because I'm so distracted with all this Rainbow Dash stuff is why. she thought.

    "I'm fine and don't change the subject.  Now stay there.  Seated.  We have a couple things to talk about.  First, how long have you two been and Item? Second, why didn't you tell me?  I thought you promised honesty and open communication.  Third... is she better than me?"  Twilight asked her questions as she paced in front of Applejack nervously waiting for an answer.

    With a snort Applejack laughed. "Sugarplum we ain't done anything.  Tonight wasn't even a date, I just went there fer dinner and then I put on a few of my classic moves-"

    "Did you do that thing with your knee!?"

    "Well," Applejack said rubbing the back of her neck she looked at Twilight and nodded silently.

    "Fine, you're a big mare and can do what you like, what else were you going to say?"  Twilight said with a scowl before relaxing her demeanor, "I'm sorry.  I'm just hurt right now from my throbbing nose," she crossed her eyes and looked at it as best she could eliciting a giggle from Applejack.

    "Well after that we were gonna go to her room but then she saw the smoke and we left.  Honest Sugarplum we didn't get that far yet."

    "Yet?  So you're already planning on...  Well," Twilight sighed and sat in front of Applejack placing a hoof on Applejacks chest.

    "Ya know you're as cute as ever when you're jealous.  But you and me are over and there ain't nothin that's gonna change that 'cept time.  If I want Rainbow Dash or any other mare in Equestria it's my choice."

    "Applejack seriously, can you not be that way for once.  Ever since you left I feel like you've been flirting with every mare you can just to spite me.  I know you were upset with my obsession over my books and studies but I told you my duties to princess Celestia were paramount in my life,"  Twilight lit her horn and called over a scroll and unfurled it.  Listed on it were dozens of books with a sticker of Princess Celestia by most of them and check marks in red by the uncompleted ones.  The smiled for different reasons.

    "And I always loved that about you Twi but you never gave me the time I needed," Applejack said in her most compassionate and motherly voice as she touched Twilight's hoof on her chest and pulled it away. "You knew what you were gettin’ into and even though we did adventurin', you gave me more attention savin' my bacon than when you was tryin to fry it."

    "I know and I'm not mad at you or Rainbow Dash.  I just am jealous I guess.  You are an adult mare and you can make your own choices.  I'm just not totally over you yet.  It's been eighty four days six hours and 32 minutes since you walked out that door and out of my love life.  But, you know you were my first.  Just promise me one thing before you go to Rainbow Dash?"

    "Okay let's hear it."

    "You won't do number 19.  I want that to be just ours."

    "Number 19?  Which one is that again?"

    "The one I asked for every night you'd sneak in here and we'd go to the basement to that beat up old mattress and-"

    "Okay, okay.  I remember and I don't think I can do that with any other pony for as long as I live, plus Rainbow Dash ain't a unicorn so you know it ain't gonna work the same," she said with a giggle.

    "Yeah I  guess my horn did play a pretty big role in that one but, that applied to all your future lovers.  Number 19 is ours."

    "Okay, I promise I will save that one for us Sugarcube.  Now, I've gotta date to check up on.   You know same as me she ain't as tough as she acts.  I bet she's crying and punchin' somethin as we speak," with a peck on Twilights cheek Applejack left the library for the balloon.

    "I miss you so much AJ," Twilight whispered as the door shut and the light flickered with the change in air flow.  Twilight got up and with her head hung low she walked back up her stairs and laid upon her bed pushing the books away from her with her legs as she used her magic to fluff her pillow.  Laying her head on it she let her emotions flow as she sobbed silently into her pillow over the recent events.