Crepusculum

The next morning, Twilight woke up as early as possible, her hooves moving before her eyes were fully open. In only a few minutes of brushing her mane into its signature style and adding a dash of eyeliner on her luscious eyelashes, she was out the door and running in the early dawn towards the first stallion she could think of- Big Macintosh.

Her hooves barely touched the ground as she sprinted across town to the Apple Family's gigantic farm, every second that went by giving her shivers. Every second that she lost meant less time to show off, after all.

She went by way of Rarity's glamorous boutique, barely pausing to scan the shop. Just as she appeared she was gone in a flash of lavender and pink, already down the road and heading up one of two hills before getting to her destination.

Just as she left, a dizzy purple dragon, wet with sweat and other various liquids, wobbled out of Rarity's door on trembling legs and fell into the soft grass. A white unicorn, as dashing as always, poked her head out with a devilish grin.

"Now how was that, Spikey-Wikey?" she asked. "Was it what you wanted?"

"Everything I wanted," he lifted his head with a similar smile, "and more." It flopped back into the grass with a hollow thump, and Rarity cawed in delight.

Twilight neared the crest of the last hill, the light of dawn still not fully reaching her eyes. She tripped on a small stone at the very top, and with a shrill cry fell down the hill.

"Curse-you-depth-perception!" She wailed as the end of the hill neared and she made no sign of slowing down.

The unicorn landed conveniently on a mattress atop a cart (Applebloom's "rowdy" night with the Cutie Mark Crusaders broke her other one), was catapulted into an idle apple cart, and rolled out of said apple cart as it tipped over and spilled all of its contents onto the dirt.

"Be careful, this is made from the strongest springs in Equestria!" the pony pulling the cart, a handsome orange unicorn, snapped. "Somepony could get real hurt if they jumped on it."

"Sorry, I was-" Twilight was running towards the barn's entrance before she could finish her sentence. She knocked loudly a few times before a drowsy red head popped out.

"Good day to you, Big Mac!" Twilight said.

"Are ya sure it's mornin' yet?" he answered with a lull in his words. Twilight noticed his mane was randomly tossed about his head and neck, some parts obstructing his eyes.

"Eeyup." Twilight responded with a smile. "So, do you have any plans for tonight?"

"Nope."

Twilight felt her heart skip a beat, but she kept a calm composure. "How does a bed at my place sound? I have my socks all ready, just for you..."

"Nope, Twi."

Her mouth hung wide open, tongue lolling out. "Really? Why ever not?" How could her plan go so wrong?

His eyes went in opposite directions, and he began to stagger. "We all know 'bout your lil-" The stallion fell like a stone and went back to sleep, snoring all the while.

After a few moments Applejack appeared from behind the door, smelling strongly of Applejack Daniels and her mane a mess. Her eyes were glazed but disapproving.

"We all know what ya did, Twi." she began. "And ah can't say I'm too happy."

"Whatever did I do?"

"Well, Pinkie came by late last night and told us ya started playin' with yourself and got really into it and that she had to break it up before ya got yourself hurt. Then she gave us some strange-smellin' cupcakes and ah can't remember the rest." She yawned. "Seriously Twi, ya stick your own hoof up your you-know-where and expect 'do it' with mah brother the very next day? Twilight, I'm mighty disappointed in you."

"Pinkie told you this?" She felt her fur turn a bright shade of crimson. "Oh, when I find that pony she won't be telling anypony about that again!"

"She also said she was tellin' the entire town by dawn, if that helps."

Twilight nearly gagged on her own spit. "B-but she didn't tell anypony outside of Ponyville, right?"

"'Course not. Pinkie's not that cold-hearted."

Twilight began to hatch a cynical plan that could possibly blow up in her face. A grin emerged and she spoke.

"You're going on a business trip next week, arn't you, Applejack?"

"Eeyup. Canterlot, Appleoosa, Las Pegasus... You name it, I'm goin' there to showcase our Apple Cider recipe." She raised an eyebrow. "Special reason?"

"What if I... Paid you not to tell anypony about yesterday night?"

"What's the payment?" Applejack yawned again.

"You, me, Pinkie Pie's secret storage room in Sugarcube Corner. I'll bring my socks."

"Really?" She didn't sound convinced. "Really, Twi? Ya think you can offer me sex in exchange for not embarrassing ya all over Equestria?"

"Maybe..." Twilight lowered her gaze, thinking she lost this battle and preparing to change her name.

"I'll take it, then." Applejack's smile was devious and her teeth were stained badly. "How's Friday sound?"

"Sure."

They spit in their hooves (To Applejack's happiness and Twilight Sparkle's instant regret) and shook vigorously before parting their separate ways, and to wait for Friday.