By the Apple Tree

"Where you takin' me Twi'?" Applejack interrogated.

Twilight gided the blindfolded mare forwards by hooking her forehoof around the outstretched foreleg. "You'll just have to wait and see!" She giggled, swatting away the sly, oncoming hoof as it reached for the cherry cloth.

Applejack playfully pouted. "Do I have to?"

"Yes!" Twilight simpered. As they neared a turn in their path, she eased the pull to the side and both of them continued walking in a somewhat straight line.

"Why?" Applejack, though blinded, flashed Twilight a devious grin.

"Because it'll ruin the surprise!" Twilight exclaimed, swinging her hips and bouncing her flank against Applejack's flank. "Do you ever stop asking questions?"

"What 'bout you?" Applejack teased.

Twilight gasped, pretending to be offended. "I only you asked the one time! Unlike you." She paused, replaying the previous few second through her mind. "Four times! Four whole times! Four!"

"There ain't nothing like askin' a few questions, know is there?" Applejack elbowed Twilight, offseting her balance, which was quickly steadied by a few adjustments.

"Five!"

"Oh, quit it will you Twi?" Applejack laughed.

"Six! And no,--" She placed the other forehoof on her chest, keeping her upright position by powerfully fluttering her wings. "--'I shalt not, espcially to thee, fairest Applejack!" Twilight declared, imitating Old Equs.

"Well, can I just ask one more darn question?"

"You just did!" Twilight deadpaned, dropping back to the ground with a light thud. As her forehoof made contact with the dirt road, a cloud of dust formed, rising and slowly billowing while dancing through the air. Coughing, spluttering and wearing as tears began to brim from her eyes, Twilight warned. "Don't mind the dust A.J." Her ears fell backwards, flat against her mane at the sound of Applejack chocking as well, and she sheepishly smiled. "My bad. Sorry."

"It ain't nothin', Twi'." Applejack croacked. "Just an accident. Don't worry 'bout it."

"Alright..." Twilight trailed off. The sudden silence bothered her, so she rummaged through her thoughts and plucked out something she wanted to know. "So, what did you actually what to ask me?"

"So know you want me to ask a question?" Applejack retorted, smiling coyly.

"Just ask the question." Twilight rolled her eyes, but retained her small smirk none the less.

"Alright, alright. Applejack paused. "You sure?"

"Yes."

"Your sure you're sure?"

"Yes!"

"Your sure you're sure you're sure?"

"Yes!"

Chortling, Applejack asked. "How much long with it take?"

Studying Applejack's goofy grin, Twilight's smirk grew. The country mare expected her to get irritated, didn't she? Well, she was defiantly not getting that satisfaction. "Oh well, I'm not completely sure because, you see..." She tried to explain, slowing down their pace until the movement of their legs completely petered out. "We're here."

"If that's the case, then can I remove that darn here blindfold?" Applejack asked, having felt Twilight remove her touch, and she pointed to the cloth draped over her face and securely tied.

"Well, yes..." Twilight said, a slight edge to her tone. "But, may I do the honours?"

"Sure you can sugar cube." Applejack replied.

Charging her horn with magic, the cloth was enveloped in a glowing, sparkly aurora. With surmountable ease, it unlaced the knot and floated it off Applejack's face.  Light noticed her vulnerability and attacked her, blinding her with a sudden, harsh flash of brightness. Shielding her eyes with one of her forelegs, Applejack surveyed the area once they had adjusted: She stood in a clearing in her orchard. In the centre, a white-and-red-chequered blanket lay in the grass. On top of it, a basket lay with its flaps mysteriously closed.

"A picnic?" Applejack swung her head around, and speculated Twilight.

Nodding, Twilight motioned with her hooves. "Um... would you like to sit down?"

"Uh... sure." Applejack looked back to the opening, and began to trot forwards, and Twilight hastily followed close behind. Stepping onto the blanket, both of them dropped to their haunches. Breaking the awkward silence, Applejack asked, directing her gaze back to the Alicorn mare. "So... long did this take to plan?"

"Not long, really." Twilight fibbed, not wanting to distress Applejack with how long she sat on her throne for just planning. Suddenly her expression became panicky. "Though, it's not like I only spend ten minutes on it because that would be careless. I mean, what kind of friend would do that. None that I know of. So there's--"

Applejack shoved a forehoof in Twilight's mouth, raising an eye brow but smirking nonetheless. "Twi' there's no need to go off on one of your rants." She giggled having felt Twilight huff onto her hoof. "Or be a total stress case 'bout nothin'. I defiantly know it's darn sure as heck ain't like you to not plan somethin'."

Flushing a bright crimson and hastily avoiding the notice that she had been blushing a lot recently, heat travelled to the tips of Twilight's ears and she sheepishly smiled. "Uh... sorry?"

"No apology needed." Applejack's gaze flickered from Twilight's face to the basket and licked her lips, only able to guess its contents. "Now, can we move on to the food 'cause I'm famished?!"

Embarrassment fading away, as if it had never existed, Twilight willed open one of the flaps. "Oh... uh... sure." Each item glowing in her bright aurora, she pulled out a vase with a bouquet of apple-blossoms, two plates and various types of food. Placing the vase in the centre of the blanket, there was a plate set down in front of both ponies and the food organized in a practical way. "I mixed up our likes of certain types of food. Though, to be honest, there was not a massive difference. Surprisingly, I never noticed that before."

Applejack's forehooves were a blur as she reached for a large quantity of each type of food. Shoving a bite sized apple fritter into her gob, she attempted to speak, flecks of food flying everywhere. "Whsh thck?"

Pausing the action of raising the daisy sandwich in mid-sequence, Twilight playfully jabbed Applejack in the ribs. "Ew! A.J! That's disgusting! Were you never told to chew with your mouth closed, and not talk when your mouth if full?"

Gulping down the mouthful, Applejack crammed two fritters into her mouth. "Nope!" She shook her head.

"Well then, I shall tell you." Twilight announced, a ring of light-hearted authority present in her tone. "From here on out, I expect you to chew with your mouth closed, and not talk when your mouth is full."

Tapping a forehoof to her chin, Applejack gazed into the sky with her emerald eyes as her mouth straightened, in thought. She stuffed her gob with three more fritters. "Nah."

"How do you do that?!" Twilight asked, flabbergast.

"Do what?" Applejack countered.

"Put so much food into your mouth at once." Twilight expanded, continuing with her food when her stomach permitted an irritated growl.

"Well, I just grabbed this here food, raise it to my lips, open my mouth and push it in." Applejack explained, thumping her chest as she released a loud belch.

Lobbing a cloth at Applejack's face, Twilight stuck out her tongue. "Seriously! Now I know why Rarity, out of all of the six of us, finds your manners the most disgusting!"

"What manners?"

"Exactly!"

Pulling the cloth off her face, Applejack shook her head. Looking to Twilight, who was assorting a small refill of food onto her plate, then at her food, of which smelled absolutely delicious, the cogs in her mind began to form. Gathering even more food onto the already overflowing plate, much to Twilight's astonishment, Applejack rubbed her forehooves together.

She face planted her food.

"Oh, for Celestia's sake, Applejack!" Twilight cried, witnessing her friends actions. She observed as the country Earth Pony gradually lifted her face from the mountain of mush. Dripping from her features were an assortment of pastry, fruit and juicy fluids.

Licking around her cheeks, Applejack ebbed her tongue towards the nourishment she could reach, which was microscopic when compared with the full percentage that painted her face and even mane. Innocently, she smiled at Twilight. "This sure is as darn tasty as heck, Twi'."

Huffing at Applejack's ignorance, Twilight levitated the cloth from her orange hooves to her messy face. Slapping it on, she wiped along Applejack's features, much to her dismay. She bit her top lip, holding back laughter. She oh-so wanted to keep a serious face and teach the apple farmer a lesson. Even if she was doing as a joke. "Seriously?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Twilight gently whipped Applejack with the cloth, causing the country mare to pout in return. "Yes, seriously." She folded her forelegs, and raked her brain for a different topic. Different topic... Different topic... hmm. Aha! "So, how'd you cook this here food, anyway."

Surprised by the unexpected sudden change in topic, Twilight brushed it off with a shrug. Satisfied with the cleanliness of her date's face, she dropped into the basket. Crossing her forelegs, she began to explain. "Well, I had Spike help me. You know I'm not much of a cook, so I didn't want to risk burning anything - especially when I wasn't cooking something because that always seems to appear more burnt than the food that's actually been in the oven. I mean, how does that even work?!" Twilight threw her hooves into the air, complete bafflment dominating her features.

"Well then, next time I see Spike, I'll be sure to tell the little dragon what a talented little cook he is." Applejack commented, gesturing to the food. "Anyway, why's you go about plannin' this date when it was me who had the feel in' in the first place?"

Passing Applejack a confused expression, Twilight swallowed her food and pointed to herself. "Because technically I was the one who asked you."

Applejack shook her head. "That's only 'cause you over heard me singin' that song. If you hadn't had heard that song then, I would've planned this here date. And 'cause it was me with the feelin', why did you put in all the effort?" She question, adding quickly. "Not that I have anythin' wrong with it."

Twilight giggled anxiously. "Well, because I viewed it as me having asked, it made me want to plan. One thing lead to another and so on and so fourth..." She trailed off, rubbing the tips of her hooves together, drawing tiny, invisible circles.

Applejack raised her forehooves in defence. "Okay, okay. I here you. You could've told me though."

"That'd ruin the surprise!"

"Your starting' to sound like Pinkie Pie when you keep sayin' that." Applejack continued. "It would've saved me a heck a lot of time with all of the nervous visions and breakdowns I had about the date when I was plannin' it. Well, when I thought I was planning' it."

Jaw dropping, Twilight gasped. "Oh A.J., I so sorry! I can do more than imagine how you felt."

"Why's that?"

Squirming, Twilight massaged the bridge of her noise when the unpleasant memory flashed to the front of her mind. She cringed. "Let's just say, I struggled as well." Twilight stopped speaking, and resumed her meal. The both ate in a silence that completely lacked awkwardness; it was peaceful and they both enjoyed it. After a while, Twilight cleared her plate, and Applejack concluded helping herself to massive, mountain-like refills. Wiping at the crumbs on the edges of her mouth, Twilight looked to Applejack. "Are you full?"

"Not quite like a pig havin' eaten ten tons o' slop, neither am I as skinny as a hawk in an Appleloosa ranch house." Applejack uttered, her countryisms naturally kicking in. Twilight attempted to make sense of what was said to her, but Applejack persisted in her explanation. "Basically, I could eat a little more."

An array of plates swirled into the air, floating about like water lilies gracefully bobbing on the surface of a gentle and calm current. Illuminated by a sparkly, glowing cloud, they cast a tinge of magenta on the surrounding stationeries and beings. The basket flap assumed a role in the display, and lifted open. One by one, each of the plates danced out of view and the light eventually dimmed before disappearing.

"If that's the case, would you like some dessert?" Twilight asked. After receiving an eager nod from Applejack, a white-cloth-wrapped parcel emerged from the other side of the basket as the opposite flap was opened. A sweet aroma instantly became present, though mild, it was one the apple farmer knew all to well. He mouth watered at the idea, and the desire to devour the delectable nutriment whilst saviour its amazing flavour only grew stronger as it was slowly unwrapped and the smell became more powerful. Licking her lips, Applejack was suddenly interrupted from her reverie by the sound of Twilight's voice. "So what do you think?"

The slice of heaven was placed onto the ground and slid towards Applejack by an iris purple coloured hoof. The pastry was perfectly golden, absolutely no burns. The surface did not so much as have a scratch, only the embroidery of four fleur-de-lises in the centre and immaculately drawn swirls, that displayed no difference on any area, adorned the circumference. It out shone the silver container it was presented in. What did she think? She though it was one of the most astounding pie she had ever seen!

Applejack could not make any sound. When her brain made the order to say something, her tongue and voice box refused to co-operate. The only part of her features that followed what it was told to do, was her jaw and it only bothered to do half of it. All it did was hang open.

To her dismay, Twilight's expression morphed into hurt and disappointment. Her ears folded back, flat against her mane and she muttered. "So, I take it that..." She sighed. "...don't like it?" She was a fool to think that Applejack would be impressed by it.

"No!"

Twilight jolted to attention, started by the unexpected out burst.

"What I mean is..." Applejack briskly formulated what she was going to say, nervously rubbing her neck. "What I meant to say was that, "No, I do like it." She explained. "In fact, Twi', that sure is as heck one of the darn best pie I ever have seen. For a start, that smell!" She patted her stomach and made a pleasant 'mmm'-ing noise. "I cannot place words for how good it smells!"

Ears flicking all the way up, a grin grew on Twilight's face. Her prise sweltered to bursting point and she flared her wings in cheer as her forehooves shot into the air. "You have absolutely no idea how good that makes me feel!" She gushed.

"Oh, I'm sure I do, sugar cube." Applejack chuckled. "I'm sure I do."

"Would you like a slice?" Twilight leaned forwards, her forehooves forming grooves in the blanket and earth from the amount of pressure she exerted onto her forelegs.

"What would happen if I said 'no'?" Applejack wickedly smiled.

A grin of Twilight's own grew on her features as a nefarious look manifested. She raised one of her eyebrows and rested her head in her forehooves as she lent on her foreknees, all the while giving Applejack a half lidded stare. "You'd have one very peeved princess." She whispered, relishing in the shock it brought to Applejack's face.

"Oh no!" Applejack flailed her forehooves above her head in mock fear. "It would be be the end of everything as we know it!"

Rolling her eyes while giggling, Twilight recharged her horn with magic. Once again, one of the basket flaps opened. A knife drifted through the aperture, slicing through the air as it spiralled towards the pie. It stopped. A beam of light struck the metal blade, but was deflected by no more than a mere swish. Thinner beams of light cascaded through the air, swaying from surface to surface as Twilight commandeered it towards the pie.

The blade's tip abutted the pie's lid, and Twilight winced, as if she was in pain, when it furrowed through the delicate pastry. Once the blade's tip reached the pie's base, like a lever, it advanced down, cutting a long, straight line from the centre to the circumference. Juice spilled out, cause both mare's to lick their lips. Resurfacing, the blade repeated the process three more times.

Putting the knife away, Twilight's eyes flickered back to the country mare's face. "Would you like a slice?" She repeated.

"You sure as heck know I do!" Applejack nodded, flashing the Alicorn a grin.

The two remaining plates were brought to the pie. Twilight, ever so carefully slow, elevated each piece out of the silver container, one at a time, and placed them onto the plates. Sliding Applejack's plate towards her, she slid the plate to herself, with her magic. "Here you go." She passed along a fork, behind the slice of pie.

"Thanks." Applejack said. Twilight watched her date break of a large piece of the pie, scoop it onto the fork and raise it towards her lips. Opening her mouth, wide, Applejack snatched it out of the fork's possession and claimed it for her own with a quick snap of her jaw. Retrieving the fork from the inside of her gob, like the sun, her face instantly lit up. Twilight could have sworn that all of the near by shadows disappeared, retreating from the merciless light. "Twi'..., this... pie... is... amazing!" She exclaimed between mouthfuls, moaning in utter bliss.

Witnessing Applejack's delight, Twilight made a start on her own slice. "Thanks." She mumbled, feeling heat rise from her chin, all the way to the tips of her ears.

"Who made this?" Applejack asked. "Was it Spike? Why, is it is, the next time I see that little --"

"No it wasn't Spike." Twilight hid behind her forehooves, peaking through a small gap. "it was me."

A loud clatter graced Twilight's ears, when Applejack dropped her fork and it made violent contact with the plate. Her mouth hung open, moving although no sound came out. Finally, the flabbergast mare managed to choke out. "You made this?" She pointed to the remains of her slice of pie. When Twilight nodded, she repeated herself. "You made this?" As she said 'you' she pointed at the Alicorn, trying to hide behind her wings, and as she said 'this' she pointed at her slice of apple pie. "How?"

"With a lot of trial and error." Twilight said, surprising even herself at how flat her tone was. Her ears perked up at another unexpected noise. She followed them to see Applejack slowly clapping her forehooves together. Knocking the orange forehooves out of motion with her own iris purple colour forehoof, Twilight announced. "Please don't do that A.J." She smiled sheepishly.

"Uh... Okay." Applejack said, her tone confused. She picked her fork up. "So, what do you been by 'with a lot of trial and error'?"

Swallowing her mouthful, Twilight explained. "Well, since I can't normally cook much, the amount of times I burnt the test pies was..." She paused to count in her head. "I don't know because I kind of... lost count. You see, partly due to Spike having cooked the other foods, I felt as if I had just dumped everything on him and, also, because I wanted to have a nice desert while I had this random urge to bake something. I gathered all of the cook books I could find, read them from cover to cover, before starting my first attempt. That pie end had a miserable life, fortunately it was short lived. After many attempt, Spike said I had made a good pie, but I wanted it to be perfect. So I kept on backing, until I ended up with this." She gestured towards her slice of pie. "And that's what I meant when I said 'with a lot of trial and error'."

Applejack's eyes went wide. "Well, your effort defiantly not waisted."

Twilight bashfully kneaded her left forehoof with her right forehoof and quietly murmured. "I also had a little help..." She trailed off.

"Who from?" Applejack pressed for more information, her tone full of curiosity.

"Um... Applebloom."

"Applebloom?!" Applejack screeched, her forehooves fully outstretched and her back legs crouched as she stood and all of them. She stared at Twilight intently, making the Alicorn squirm, not blinking and not moving. "H-how? W-why?"

"When I was backing the pie, Spike complained that he hardly had anyone to talk to because I was to intent on my creation and Starlight was out with Trixie. It made me feel guilty, I suggested that he invite someone over. That kept him busy for a small amount of time, then he came back to the castle with Applebloom. After the filly had been there for a while, she found me in the kitchen, asking for a drink. Then she noticed my many--" Twilight grimaced. "--failed attempts. Offering to help, I accepted. Surprisingly, though I guess it shouldn't have been considering she's apart of the Apple family, she was really talented. With her help my attempts where less...," She tapped her chin in though. "Uh... miserable?"

"I didn't know that filly was such a darn good as heck of a teacher!" Swinging one of her forehooves, Applejack cheered proudly.

Twilight swallowed around a lump in her unusually dry throat. Why was Applejack not bothered? Chugging down some water, she hesitantly asked. "So your not bothered about her showing me your family recipe?"

"Why am I not bothered?" Applejack sounded almost offended. "Your one of my best friends for Celestia's sake. It's not like your gonna go and sell it to the rest of Equestria, now are you?"

"No."

"Then there you go!"

The sun shone down on the hill, of which, under the shade of one of the many apple trees, Twilight lay on her back. With both of her forehoof acting as a pillow for her head to rest on, her wings splayed out as she soaked up the warmth. Positioned next to her was Applejack, who folded her forelegs and crossed her back legs. They both gazed to the bright blue sky, watching as the clouds lazily drifted along.

Applejack pointed upwards, her eyes flashing with a sudden delight. "That one there looks like an apple."

"Hm?" Twilight asked, her noise deep within the pages of a book. "That's good."

Revolving her head around, to look at the mare next to her, Applejack pursed her lips in annoyance and her ears flattened out in annoyance. "Did you even hear what I just said?"

"That's wonderful."

"I knew it!" Applejack accused, now pointing her forehoof at Twilight. "Your not listening to me!"

"How delightful." Twilight automatically mono-toned, deeply entranced in the contents of her book. "Hey A.J, did you know that there isn't actually any shape in the clouds when we look at them? It's called 'Pareidolia', and--" Two orange hooves wrapped around the front and back cover, snapped it shut and snatched it out of Twilight's grasp, her magic fizzling away. "Hey!" She yelled. "A.J.! Give that back!"

Already at the bottom of the hill, Applejack stuck out her tongue whilst smirking, clutching the book to her chest. "Come and get it, why don't you?"

Instantly, Twilight sprang to all four of her hooves. Revving up her legs and focusing her mind to scour through the knowledge she had collected,  from books, for running techniques, she began her pursuit on Applejack. As she quickly galloped, the rhythmic clopping of her hooves on the ground and her deep breaths for oxygen played through the air as she accelerated down the steep hill, carefully not misplacing any of her hooves so she would not topple over.

At first, she was easily able to maintain her speed: the wind whipping at her flailing mane and tail, whilst caterwauling in her ears, fed the adrenaline rush that surged throughout her body; her technique, though not flying, allowed her to be aerodynamic and, when her hooves threw her body forwards, to use her power to maximum efficiency.

Soon, her calm breaths gradually became heavily heaving gasps as her muscles started to ache due to overuse and a lack of oxygen. Her galloping pace slowed more and more before it became a hasty trot. Then, all of a sudden, her legs stopped, very almost going to buckle under her bodyweight. Applejack became an ever shrinking orange dot on the horizon - she was just to fast!

Sighing in defeat, Twilight dropped to the ground. For the first time in her life, she willingly wanted to give up. Her hooves ached, her biceps ached, her thighs ached - all of the joints connected to her legs ached. Practically her whole body ached. With her each haggard breath, the tightness in her chest deceased. With each passion second, Applejack got further and further away (Had she not noticed Twilight's lack of running?), the more her mind delved deeper and deeper into thought.

Realisation walloped Twilight across her cheek so hard she felt the sting. Though it only acted once, it was firm, precise and gave the message. Inspiration was fresh and pure, like the first day of spring. Clambering to her hooves with a sudden found strength, Twilight did nothing to fight back at the rapidly growing grin.

She was going to get her book back.

Bending her forelegs, Twilight bowed in a battled-like stance as if she was a perilous predator planning their pounce in its pregnable prey. Flaring her wings to their full extending, with great power, she thumped the air, stealing all of the force there was available to her wingspan and muscle.

Twilight was a bullet as she propelled herself into the sky, driving herself further beyond her limits with each and every flap. To be seen like this, she knew Rainbow Dash would be proud. Partly due to seeing her friend do so well, and the other part would be to her flying lessons paying of. It would do well for the pegasus's ego, but not anypony else.

At a speed Twilight though she could only dream of, the orange dot, of Applejack's appearing to be tiny being, enlarged. Outstretching her foreleg, from being tucked under her chest, she adjusted her posture into a dive-like way and angled her wings in mid flap, allowing herself to glide down through the air.

Twilight was a missile, drawing closer and closer to the ground with each passing second. Once she reached a certain distant from the ground, she pulled up and formed a quarter circle, flying straight through the air again. Applejack was directly beneath her, galloping and naturally able to contain her speed.

As soon as Twilight's shadow passed over head, she glanced upwards. "No fair!" She called.

Smirking, Twilight shook her head. "Not really," She retorted. "You have the advantage of running while I have flight. It seems fair to me."

"You sound like Rainbow when you say that!" Applejack remarked.

"No I don't."

"Yes I do."

"Why's that then?" Applejack asked, pressing her lips together to prevent her own smirk forming, probably thinking she had Twilight outdone with her question. Twilight mentally chuckled - oh how wrong she was.

"Well," Twilight quickly scanned the sky, as to make she did not crashing in to something. She gasped at what she saw and a slight panic spread through her system. "A.J., watch out for the waterhole!" She cried.

Vigorously shaking her head, Applejack stuck her tongue out. "Know, I ain't fallin' for the that trick!" To prove her point, forced herself faster, her panting finally visible, all the while, not taking her sight off Twilight.

"But A.J--"

"Now, now, Twi'" Applejack wiggled a forehoof, stumbling violently and when placing it back into motion.

Grunting, Twilight creased her brow and crossed her foreleg. If Applejack was not going to let her speed, then she certainly was not less unfair about her tactics. Angling her wings, she descended backing in a dive. A little closer and her magic would be able to reach. Unexpectedly, Twilight's wings faltered, and she was sent, hurtling into Applejack. Upon impact, both mares had air pushed out of their lungs with an auditable "Oof!", which adapted into hysterical screams when they plummeted downwards.

Splash!

Mildly cold water seeped into Twilight's fur, stealing the heat from her body. Her main was soaked, the drops drip, drip, driping onto her face, bunching together to run into her eyes and leap of her chin.

Splat!

"Ouch! Ouch! It stings!" Applejack complained, her features showing ambivalence as physical pain mixed in with shock. Treading water, she made herself remain buoyant.

Twilight raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hold back a burst of laughter.

"What's so funny?" Applejack asked.

"Oh A.J!" Twilight choked out, between laughs. "I thought that you, of all ponies, would know how to properly landing in water when falling... er diving from afar!" She explained, and then pointed at Applejack. "Oh, and that noise it made when you made impact with the water! Though it surely sounded painful, they way you belly-flopped onto the water was just priceless!" She looked to Applejack; the mane had her ear pressed, flats against her main, the tips pointing respectively to the side of the head they were on, but the most dominated part was who she glared at Twilight in a way she had never seen from the country mare before. "What?"

Spinning herself around, so that her back was so Twilight, mystically (much to Twilight's amazement and wonder), Applejack reared up in the water. As if she was bucking a stubborn apple tree, she rammed her back legs through the water. The mystery of what she was doing shrivelled up, and Twilight's jaw dropped as realisation slapped her across the face (again, much to her chagrin).

A massive wave, humongous and powerful, was heading her way. She needed to move, but her muscles refused to comply - she was frozen stiff. Three; Twilight closed her eyes. Two; through her noise, she took in a deep breath. One; water impelled into her face, forcing her to hurtle backwards. It went up her noise, and she even swallowed large quantities. "Blah!" Twilight spat, a rapidly waterfall slaying from her mouth. She frowned and pursed her lips.

"Beat that!" Applejack gleefully exclaimed, thrusting a forehoof into the air.

Twilight charged her horn, and it became encased in a powerfully glowing cloud sparkly magic. The surface of the water, in several areas around Twilight, began to violently ripple. Droplets of water combusted in the air, forming a series of small, floating water-balls. In a circle, she spanned them around her. She grinned at Applejack, devilish. "Oh, I will."

Again, Applejack and Twilight sat under the shade of the apple tree. This time, both of them gazed into the sky, so close together, they were nearly touching.

Twilight turned her head to look at the mare next to her. "A.J.?"

"Yes, Twi'?"

Swallowing, Twilight continued. "So... what do you think of today?''

"Shouldn't I be the one to ask you that?'' Applejack smiled, coyly.

"Just answer the question!''

"Alright, alright!" Applejack raised her forehooves in defence. "I had fun.'' She admitted. "Though, I'm gonna guess it wasn't exactly part of you plan, now, was it?"

Twilight shook her head. "Far from it.'' She confirmed. "I still enjoyed myself, though.''

"If that's the case, then...'' Applejack paused, a crimson blush glowing on her cheeks as she nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "Would you like t-to do it again?''

For a short while, silence braced the air as Twilight mused over the question. Tapping her chin, a smile slowly formed. She nodded. "Yes, A.J." She said, her tone melodic and like velvet. "I would.''

Neither if them said anything further. Twilight draiped one of her wings over Applejack's back as they both turned their attention back to the sky; it was sunset. Twilight watched with an unwavering gaze, as a fiery red orb of light slowly sank beneath the horizon, and threads of light lingered in the sky, mingling with the rolling clouds, dyeing the heavens first orange, then red, then dark blue, until all that was left of the sunset was a chalky mauve, and then that melted away in turn as stygian darkness took over the sky. Sequin-silver stars like the glowing embers of a dying fire winked down at her, illuminating the atramentous curtain of sky, and then suddenly the clouds parted, and sue found vederle looking at a lustrous, argent disc casting brilliant rays of moonlight onto the dark grounds.

Though it was the end of the day, it was only the begging her.