Sparkling Apples

“Why did Applejack suddenly kiss me on the cheek the other day? Was she trying to indicate something?” Twilight asks herself, pacing back and forth in her castle, thinking about the events that occurred when she was finished helping her friend out with some apple bucking. She had gone through nearly every equation she could think of and could not come up with a viable solution why AJ kissed her. She just had to know why. Being curious, the Alicorn princess begins to make her way towards Sweet Apple Acres and hopefully getting an answer to her question.

—

Meanwhile back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack bucks another tree hard with her back hooves and lets out a low grunt from the impact. "Got so much ta do.”

A few moments later, a faint call reaches AJ’s ears, trying to figure out who was calling her from the orchard. “AJ! Applejack!” it calls out to her.

"Who could that be?" Applejack asks as she wipes her brow with the back of her hoof and then starts her trek back to the barn. During her walk, Applejack's thoughts turn to the kiss she had given Twilight the few days ago. 'Could that have been me saying something? Na, don't think like that Applejack…’

“Applejack! AJ? You here?” the voice calls out again for her, the voice becoming clearer to the earth pony.

"Is that really Twilight?" Applejack asks to herself as she notices her pace quicken as she speeds up into a slow trot.

Several anxious moments pass by before the earth pony confirms her suspicions, it WAS Twilight’s voice calling out for her. What could she want?

"Twilight? What are you doing here?" Applejack asks as she trots up to her friend and offers a little smile.

“Oh, there you are AJ!” the purple Alicorn replies to her friend. “I… came by to ask you a question…”

"What... do you need ta ask me Twilight?" Applejack asks gently.

“Well, remember a few days ago when I helped you buck some of the trees in the orchard?”

"Of course Ah remember," Applejack replies softly.

“You see, this question has been in my mind for the past few days and I wanted to know…” Twilight blushes softly, her heart racing as the words were coming to mind to speak. “W-Why did you kiss me at the end of the day?”

"Ah..." Applejack begins slowly unable to respond right away. "Ah guess it's 'cause... Ah just wanted ta thank ya for helpin' me.”

“R-Really? Because I ran every equation I could think of and calculated the probability of each logical answer, but I couldn’t get a reasonable answer.”

"Maybe... ya just are lookin' into things to much," Applejack replies softly and looks away with a blush on her face.

“Y-Yeah… maybe. I tend to do that sometimes…” Twilight replies nervously with a blush on her face. “A-Anyway, can I ask you something else? F-Feel free to say no if you want to.”

"Of course. Please ask away," Applejack says with a smile and looks down at the ground then back up into her eyes.

“W-Well, if… if you want to, would you um… be interested with… I don’t know like… going on a date or… something with me?” Twilight asks, immediately getting a deep blush on her face.

Applejack blushes as well from Twilight's question and then nods. "Ah'd like to give it a shot.”

“W-What? Y-You said yes?!” the Alicorn acts surprised, surprised that one of her friends would go on a date with her, let alone anypony for considering how long she spends studying in the library.

"Yes Twilight," She says and then walks up to her friend and then places a hoof on her cheek. "I said yes.”

“I… I uh… don’t know what to say honestly… Nopony has wanted to go on a date with me before… well considering what I do most of my time…” Twilight says blushing again.

"It's alright Twilight... Ah just want to see if we could work well as a couple.”

Twilight chuckles and looks into Applejack’s eyes for a few silent moments before speaking. “S-So uh… w-when do you wanna… go out? Tomorrow or something like that?”

"Next week maybe? Ah got some work to do the rest of this week.”

“S-Sure AJ. Y-You have anyplace in mind?”

"Ah was thinkin' maybe the Hay Burger place in town?”

“Okay. That’s a… good start. I could use a… a uh, good hay burger honestly,” Twilight grins and licks her lips.

Applejack smiles and then giggles a little. "So it's a date?”

“Y-Yeah… I guess. I mean uh… yeah it is. So… should I pick you up or you pick me up or… something?”

"Ah could just meet you there. Ah mean that it's not far from either of our homes.”

“Sure. That works also.”

"Sounds good," Applejack says and then gives her a warm and gentle smile.

Twilight returns the hug and nuzzles her softly.

Applejack nuzzles her back before stepping back. "So... want to help me a little here?”

“Uh… sure. I’ve got nothing else better to do, so why not,” Twilight replies, laughing nervously.

"Thanks Twilight, Ah appreciate the help.”

“You’re welcome AJ. Lead the way then into the fields.”

"Come with me then," Applejack says with a smile and then leads Twilight out toward the vast orchard.

Twilight follows her into the field to help her out, excited for their date a week from now, wondering what will happen between them.