By the Apple Tree

A warm breeze gently ruffled Twilight Sparkle's moderate sapphire blue mane, entwining a few stray strands of the moderate purple and brilliant rose streaks. Under the cool shade of an apple tree, she fluffed her pale, light greyish mulberry wings around the thick trunk and leaned into them. Her moderate violet eyes flickered over to a book and she speedily levitated it to the level of her chest with her light brilliant raspberry magic. Flipping the front cover open, the Alicorn began to leisurely leaf through the yellow pages.

Though being a princess was often thought of as a nice and easy path of life to walk, in truth, it was quite the opposite; a few days ago, Twilight had discovered Spike belching up a hurricane of paper - all he could do was pass her a scroll. It explained she was being sent all of the paperwork which Celestia had been holding off for some time. Apparently, she took this course of action so that Twilight had time to adjust to the shock of change, and not add to the stress she was already working through. Since she had proven that she had fully adapted, it was the best time for her to start.

However, Celestia's plan possessed a flaw. Either she had not thought ahead when making the arrangements, or she was actually organizing another one of her 'jokes'. Twilight liked the thought of neither because the latter meant she was violently pulling at her leg so hard it could practically be ripped off, and the former implies that she was stupid. The flaw was how much she had to do. Mountain upon mountain of vast stacks of paper congested her bedroom so much she could barely move!

After many sleepless nights, Twilight finally finished and as soon as Spike had mailed it off via his fire breath, she feebly clambered into bed. For a whole twenty-four hours she was completely unconscious, except for when she was woken by Spike at meal times, but she was immediately knocked out afterwards before her head even hit the pillow.

Earlier that morning, Twilight had risen to only want to escape the crystal confides of the Friendship Castle and read. Subsequently to breakfast, she flew to the most peaceful place she could think of: the farthest edge of Sweet Apple Acres from Ponyville. The only ponies that ever travelled there were the Apples themselves, but even then a hoof was hardly ever set on the grounds.

Twilight contently sighed. It felt so good to just plunge into relaxation for once. The twittering and tweeting of the singing birds was a beautiful melody; the warm hug of the air conveyed a wonderful sensation over and throughout her body; the green grass was a soft pillow that tenderly tickled her legs and back; a lovely aroma of various flowers and apples filled her nostrils with their heavenly sent. Each little detail added up to create the perfectly peaceful atmosphere.

Suddenly, the 'thud, thud, thud' of hoofsteps prised Twilight out of her ideal heaven. Automatically, her ears swivelled in the direction of the sound and she looked up from the book, craning her neck around the tree trunk. An orange dot quickly grew in size. As it got closer, it revealed that is was an Earth Pony, with a golden straw mane and tail that glowed under the kiss of the sunlight, vivid emerald green eyes that appeared to sparkle and white freckles dotted across her cheeks, called Applejack.

Instinctively, Twilight opened her mouth to speak but halted when Applejack muttered something, with her southern twang. "Its quieter than a Rattlesnake nappin' after winin' a rodeo." She paused and jerked her head from left to right. "I'd rightly say nopony is here." Continuing to observe Applejack, Twilight contemplated if she should inform her friend of her presence.

Fiddling with the buckle, Applejack jounced her hips and her saddlebags fell to the ground. Unhitching the red apple shaped button, she flipped open the flaps and buried her forelegs inside of both fabric containers. Rummaging through the various objects with a loud clatter, she fished out paper, a pencil and a guitar.

Curiosity piqued, Twilight wore an expression of interest as she marked off her page and closed the book. The preference started to heavily slant to a particular side as she pondered over one last thing. Perhaps she would just stay silent. After all, she wanted to know what Applejack was up to. If she intervened, then she might stop what she was occupying herself with and stubbornly refuse to confess. Tugging her head out of the clouds, Twilight returned her attention to the mare in front of her.

Slinging the guitar strap around her neck, Applejack bit onto the pencil and held the paper to her chest. She trotted over to the tree, that Twilight was hiding behind, and dropped to her haunches. Sweeping a hoof along the brim of her Stetson, she hooked it onto her toe and lowered it to the ground. Spitting out the pencil, she placed the paper next to her Stetson and skimmed through the scrawl of lead, that stained the surface, whilst muttering to herself. She tuned the guitar with one forehoof and ran the other over the strings. Twilight could tell she was satisfied when a soft smile played out on her lips. Leaning back, onto the tree trunk, she crossed her blacklegs.

Expectedly, a tune began to play as Applejack strummed the guitar, but it was not the one Twilight through she would play. The sweet refrain of Applejack's acoustic guitar spoke a musical language to her soul.  The strings' sound had a hypnotic soothing quality that made Twilight almost loose herself to the melody. What shocked her most was when Applejack began to sing.

"By the apple tree,

Stood you and me.

Turnin' my head, beauty - I saw some.

Flowerin' feelings blossom.

By the apple tree,

Stood you and me.

As time goes on, you grow even more valuable than a gem,

Like an apple on its stem.

By the apple tree,

Stood you and me.

As close as you seem,

Your are as distant that has ever been.

By the apple tree,

Alone, stood me.

Oh, Twilight, will you stand by my side again,

So my love will not fa-a-a-a-ain?"

Scrunching up her muzzle, Applejack shook her head. "Now, that thing just ain't right! Maybe its that there last verse puttin' it off?" She snorted, her ears folding back. "Why does this have to be so darn hard?!"

Panicking, Twilight tore her gaze from Applejack. Holding a forehoof to her chest, she could feel her heart hammering in her chest, and her blood pulsating through her veins. Had she heard it right? Did the country mare really feel this way? Why was she so shocked? Like Fluttershy, many other instances in her life had had big shocks. Surely she should be used to them - but then again, the timid, pegasus mare could be startled by the smallest of things. Though this was not the smallest of things. It was actually something massive, and Twilight knew it.

Wildly, images flashed through her mind, refusing to show anything rational. How would she approach this? Fly away from Equestria forever? Lock herself in her castle? Or even completely seal herself in her castle, make it sprout wings and fly her away and to the moon, never to be seen again?

Everything surrounding her became a blurred haze, eminently difficult to focus on. Twilight's magic rapidly began to abate. No matter how much power she charged through her horn, the aurora of her magical grasp dimmed. Unable to define anything, her magic dissipated. The book rapidly plummeted downwards, and collided with the grass ground with a loud, audible thump.

"Who's there?" Applejack's voice exclaimed, a hint of annoyance in her tone. "You'd better show yourself, or you'll regret it! This here is private property!" Twilight gulped and forced noodle-y legs to support her bodyweight as she shakily rose to her hooves. Then it was. She just knew it was. It was the day she feared would never come. In all of her life, she had not ever been this nervous. If she revealed herself, she would more than likely be accused of spying. What kind of pony spies on their friend. None that Twilight knew of. Properly because there was none. Not even when it was minutes before she took the entrance exam to get into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns rivalled that moment - the moment one of her friends would leave her.

But Twilight knew she was not able to avoid what was going to happen next. Anticipation driving her fears beyond their limits, she took a trembly step forwards.

The moment she moved away from the tree, Applejack's jaw dropped, her eyes shrunk to the size of pinpricks and her ears dropped flat against her mane. Her posture appeared to weaken and her mouth moved, though no sound was spoken until she desperately stuttered. "T-Twilight?"

Twilight wiped the beads of sweat dribbling from her brow, as she struggled to keep eye contact with the mare before her. "...Y-yes?"

Rubbing one of her forelegs, Applejack questioned. "S-so... how long have you been 'round these parts?"

She was going to have to admit. There was defiantly no way out of it know. Instinctively, Twilight's wings opened slightly, tensing up and preparing to propel her into being airborne. Internally, she cursed (though she was grateful for her ability of flight, the appendages that made that possible had their advantages, disadvantages and annoyances), her embarrassment, like a plant, growing bigger. Willing up a small amount of confidence, though lacking in size it was not lacking in power, she answered with a faltering voice. "Oh... about half an hour... maybe longer."

With a mortified expression, Applejack asked. "You heard..." She trailed off, not being able to finish her sentence - though Twilight knew what she was asking, and she also knew that it was not a question; it was a statement.

Twilight nodded.

Applejack’s blush seared through her cheeks and for a minute Twilight could tell she thought her face was on fire. She suddenly felt awkward, demure, and coy; the country mare even went as far as to attempt to hide her rosy features behind her hoof. The blonde haired mare looked to know that Twilight's single eyes were looking at her. Extending the other foreleg, she balanced on her two back hooves as she scoured the ground in what Twilight presumed what was her Stetson. It was cute.

Wait, what?

Not having time to think, Twilight shoved the thought away when Applejack mumbled something, her voice completely desolate of confidence. "You think that I'm some darn fool don't you?" She paused, swallowing. "As foolish as a cockerel boastin' 'bout its mighty call, but when it preforms it gives nothin' but a darn mouse squeak. Go on! Mock my why don't you? After all, I'm just some darn stupid pony who ain't mighty enough for 'her royal higness'!" Tears brimmed out of her eyes, and she pointed a hoof at Twilight. "I can tell you think that because of the look you're given me!"

Twilight gawked at the mare in front of her. Everything she thought she was going to experience had not happened. The only thing that did occur were the feelings, but it was not her who felt them. It was another pony. A pony she held so dear, in her heart. A pony that she never wanted to get hurt. A pony, who was amongst the few, that meant the world to her. It made her feel guilty: One second passed; Two seconds passed; Three seconds passed. The guilt was eating and pestering her. A fire burned in her mind and throat. Remorse hit her like a sledgehammer. She could feel daggers aiming at her from within.

Doing the one and only thing she could do, Twilight walked up to Applejack slowly and pulled her closer to herself, wrapping her forelegs around her. The embrace was warm, and her forelegs strongly wrapped around Applejack's body, in a protective manner. "Yes, Applejack. You are a foolish pony." Twilight whispered into Applejack's ear. "A foolish pony to even think that I would mock you. A foolish pony to think that your own feelings don't matter, when they do. Especially to me."

Leaning backwards, Applejack gave Twilight as small smile. "You're right Twi'." She frowned. "But I still feel darn foolish."

Hooking her hoof under her chin, Twilight directed Applejack's gaze to her own. "You will. That's only natural, and there isn't anything I can say or do to stop that. Just remember, ninety-nine point nine percent of the time, in my eyes, you are not a foolish pony."

"It's not that Twi'. It's..." Applejack's blush returned. "It's how I feel 'bout you."

Rubbing the back of her neck, Twilight gave Applejack a cheesy grin. "Well, I've never thought that way about you before, A.J." A light crimson blush  of own burned her cheeks. "Though, know that I do think about it..." She looked into those vivid emerald eyes. "I kind of like the idea and feeling of it. So-o-o-o-o..."

"What you proposing' Twi?"

"How about this?" Twilight motioned with her forehooves as she spoke. "We try one date. On one hoof, it works out then we go on a few more and see where it goes from there. On the other hoof, it doesn't work, so we go back to being best friends. What do you think?"

"Are you askin' me out, Twi'?" Applejack grinned, devilishly.

Crossing her forelegs, Twilight pouted as Applejack giggled at her blushing. "Well... I suppose I am."

"Twi'?"

"Yes, A.J.?"

"You should really see you face when your blush - you're just so darn cute."

"A.J.?"

"Yes Twi'?"

"S-shut up."