Sparkling Apples

"Thanks a ton for all your help Twilight," Applejack says after giving one of the numerous apple trees in Sweet Apple Acres a hard buck as the apple fall from the tree and then into the baskets surrounding the base of the tree.

“No problem Applejack. The least I could do is lend a helping hoof to a friend,” Twilight replies, using her magic to pull some apples from a nearby tree gently before placing them in several baskets below. “I hear this is one of the best crops of apples you’ve had in a while, correct?”

"Sure as sugar is. Our last few crops haven't been nearly as good, but this one should be," Applejack says as she takes off her hat and wipes her forehead, her blond mane plastered to her forehead from the sweat.

“I heard. I know one of those times was due to a drought, correct?”

"Yeah, the Pegasi didn't schedule a big 'nough downpour that year," She replies and then tosses her hat back onto her head and smiles at Twilight. "Lucky ya' decided ta help out. Big Mac's back in Applelossa helpin' Braeburn with their orchard.”

“Definitely. Don’t want you going all loopy like that one time,” Twilight giggles softly, remembering how disoriented and stubborn AJ was, thinking she could harvest ALL of Sweet Apple Acres by herself while Big Mac was injured.

"Ah remember that and ah still can't believe how foolish ah was," Applejack replies and hides her face behind her hat while holding it with her foreleg.

Twilight uses her magic to lift her friend’s hat back on top of her head, placing a hoof on her cheek. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Applejack. We all make mistakes. We also learn from them and try not to make those same mistakes again.”

"Ah guess that's true..." Applejack replies and gives her friend a smile.

The purple Alicorn grins. “Come on, let’s get these apples back to the barn before sunset. I think we made very good progress today.”

"Agreed. Let's go," She says as she turns toward some of the apple bins and grips the rope handle with her teeth and pulls it toward the cart that she had brought out with them.

Twilight uses her magic to strap herself into her own cart and pulls it along side AJ, the sun at their backs as the make their way back through the large property to the barn.

—

"That was a great day of work," Applejack replies as she unhitches herself from the cart and wipes her brow with a huff. "Again Twilight, ah can't thank ya enough for the help.”

“No problem AJ. You ever need assistance, I’m more than willing to help you out. I’d hate to see a friend struggle with their chores, especially you since you have a tall order to fill and a tradition to continue,” Twilight grins, unhitching herself from the cart as well with her magic.

Applejack smiles and then yawns a little, arching her back a little to stretch out her back. "Ah think Ah'm gonna turn in for the night.”

“I think I better head back too. Don’t want to be walking into the castle at Celestia knows what time and become confused on where my bedroom is,” Twilight chuckles softly.

"Of course," Applejack replies softly and then gives Twilight a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Ah hope ya find your way home ok.”

“I… I hope so too…” she blushes softly, not expecting the soft kiss. Not knowing what to say or how to react next, “See you later AJ!” escapes Twilight’s lips before trotting away into the sunset, into the orchard, heading onto the road to lead her towards her castle.

As Applejack watches Twilight walk back to her castle, she smiles a little, a blush on her cheeks as she watches the mare she'd just kiss, trot away into the sunset, wondering if there was a future in store for them.