It was time.
Twilight had been anticipating the day for months. She was nervous, and then calm, and at that very moment she felt nothing. As she entered the kitchen, Starlight had already begun eating her breakfast and reading the newspaper. “Morning, Twilight.”
“Good morning, Starlight.”
“How’d you sleep?”
Twilight shrugged, and picked a stray hair out of her mane. “Eh. As well as usual.” She put a few pancakes on a plate and sat down. “You?”
Starlight frowned. “Fine. Have you read the news lately?”
Twilight tried to remember. “I don’t think so. What’s happening?”
“Well...nothing major. Apparently the Sweet Apple Acre trees are suffering from a blight. Applejack says there isn’t gonna be enough apples for cider this season.”
“Oh no!”
Starlight added, “Or much else.”
Twilight sighed. “Ugh. That’s just terrible. And with all the rain, too? Are the Apples going to have enough bits this year?”
“I don’t know. I mean...I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
“I wish there was something I could do to help.” Twilight and Starlight sat in silence.
“You know...you’ve been wanting to...y’know, for a while. Maybe you could-”
“Oh my Celestia!” Twilight stood, knocking the table. Starlight’s eyes widened as her coffee flew from her mug.
“Twilight-”
“I need to get ready! I...Starlight, what do I need to do?”
Starlight grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.”
Twilight frowned as she looked upon herself in the mirror. “Starlight, I don’t know if this is...right.”
Starlight had helped the Princess tie her hair into a tight ponytail, one so tight it was already giving Twilight a headache. She was dressed from head to toe in glitter. Starlight had even chosen bright, golden heels to top it all off.
Spike tried to stifle his laughter with his hand. “No Twilight, it looks...it looks…”
Before Twilight could further press, “How does it look?” Spike and Starlight exploded with laughter. Twilight frowned. “Hilarious.”
After shaking off the rest of the glitter, Twilight faced her friends. “I know that Applejack would be happy seeing me as me. Not me trying too hard to be Rarity. Or...ugh. I just don’t know. What am I going to say? What is she going to want to talk about? What if I say something rude, like about the apple bli-”
Starlight rested a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “You shouldn’t worry so much. Applejack is going to be so happy to see you, she won’t care what you say.”
Twilight straightened her shoulders. She kept her pace quick, as she wanted to waste no more time. Besides, if she kept walking, there would be no reason to think any further. She listened to the rain thud on her umbrella.
Don’t think. Just do.
When Twilight reached the door to the Apple family’s barn-house, she swiftly knocked. Twilight bit her tongue as she waited. She glanced around, and unfortunately saw nopony working (or really, somepony to focus on).
And then the door swung open, Applejack standing behind it. AJ had a wide grin stretched on her face. “Howdy, Twilight!”
“Hey, Applejack!” Twilight smiled, some butterflies leaving her stomach. How could you forget? It’s just your friend Applejack.
“Come on inside.” The mare swung the door backward, outstretching a hoof towards the home.
“Thanks.” Twilight stepped inside. She relaxed her shoulders.
“Well, what can I do ya for?” asked Applejack, walking towards the living room and gesturing for Twilight to follow.
“Actually, I came to see if I can help you.” Twilight sat on the green couch next to her friend.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “With what?”
Twilight shrugged. “Uh, I don’t know. I thought you would be kinda...swamped with trying to figure out what to do in blight season.”
Applejack laughed. Twilight didn’t feel embarrassed for some reason. It was like...Applejack’s laugh had changed to a softer, more sincere laugh. “Oh, Twilight. We Apples have suffered from dozens o’ blights. Ya don’t have to worry.”
Twilight frowned. "O-Oh. Right. I guess you'd know best."
Applejack shook her head. "Nah. Granny always knows best."
Twilight turned to look at AJ. "Who told you that?" she asked, smiling.
"Granny." The mares laughed.
Then, after a brief moment of silence, Applejack asked, "Well, I reckon I shouldn't let ya out inta that rain for a good while. Care for some cider, sugarcube?"
Twilight waved away the question. "Oh, no. Save the cider for Rainbow."
Applejack raised an eyebrow. She then walked into the kitchen, and soon returned with hot chocolate as a replacement.
"Thank you, Applejack." Twilight looked out the window as she took a long sip. "You know, I figured that you'd be kind of...down. With the blight happening, and having to be stuck inside..." The Princess' voice drifted away as she watched the rain pour.
Applejack frowned. "I ain't just some work pony. I like the indoors just as much as I like workin' the fields."
Twilight shook her head. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. Sorry."
A side of AJ's mouth lifted. "It's alright, sugarcube. I know ya like stayin' in and readin' and whatnot."
Twilight nodded. "Applejack, can I ask you something?"
Applejack pondered it for a moment, and then nodded. "Shoot."
Twilight bit her tongue, and then knew she could hold in the question no longer. "Would you like to...go to dinner, sometime?"
Applejack's brows furrowed. She opened her mouth to respond, and then slammed it shut. "I...er..."
Twilight cringed. "I'm sorry. Was it rude? Too soon?"
Applejack laughed, nervously. "No. No, just...Why me, if ya don't mind me askin'?"
Twilight scratched her neck. "I...You are a very intelligent, strong, beautiful mare. I just...I like you. I dunno, I thought..."
"That I liked ya too?"
Twilight blushed. "No! No. Haha..."
Applejack continued to frown. "Are you sure it's not cause I'm just a simple farmpony? It'd be easier to ask me then ask...Pinkie or Rarity, huh?"
Pinkie? Rarity? Celestia, what did I do wrong? "Applejack, no...You are everything but simple-"
"Twi...You're a Princess. Ya can't go around askin' farmponies like me to go out with ya. Especially when you know that Rainbow..."
Applejack stared into Twilight's eyes. Rainbow what? Oh Celestia... Tears welled in Twilight's eyes. "Applejack. You are my friend. I didn't mean to offend you. Please, forgive me..."
When Applejack slowly shook her head, Twilight began to cry. "I don't understand!"
"Is this some sorta prank? I didn't know you were into mares, Twi."
Twilight sobbed. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to. I didn't mean to. I've never been with a mare before. I thought-"
"Thought what?"
Twilight sighed, wiped her tears, and walked back into the rain.
Twilight lay in her bed. The covers were pulled to her chin. All of her tears had dried hours ago. Now, with her bloodshot eyes, she stared at the ceiling.
Spike sat next to her. "...I can't believe she'd say anything like that."
Starlight paced around the room, as she had been doing in the hours since Twilight came home, and she refused to leave her alone. "I know! It sounds nothing like her."
Twilight said nothing.
Spike fell back onto the mattress. "Why did she get so upset about Rainbow?"
Starlight stopped pacing. "Oh, Celestia."
Twilight sat up. "What?"
Starlight rushed to Twilight's side. "Once, Rainbow Dash asked Applejack to go out. When they were young. The whole thing was an elaborate prank set up by her and Pinkie. Applejack was humiliated at this fancy restaurant...Rarity was there too, I think. Applejack never wanted to date a mare again."
Twilight and Spike frowned. Spike asked, "You knew this...But Twilight didn't?"
Starlight bit her lip. "Well...Remember when I turned them all into zombies that one time?" They nodded. "Yeah...I heard about it from Applejack. She doesn't know that I know." Starlight pulled her hoof over her face, signaling her zipping her lips together. "You didn't hear it from me."
Twilight fell back into her pillow. She asked the ceiling, "So...She is into mares? Or...Was?"
Starlight nodded. "She was into you."
Twilight jumped, her wings expanding and knocking into Spike. "Twilight-"
"Spike, she likes me! Or...Did." Twilight raised an eyebrow to me. "Why'd she go out with Dash?"
Starlight shrugged. "Well, obviously she wasn't into you then, since you hadn't moved to Ponyville. I dunno...Maybe she was desperate."
"I can't believe it." Twilight stared at the wall. "I can't believe it."
"Why do you think I was pushing you to ask her out?" asked Starlight.
Spike crossed his arms over his chest. "I wouldn't call it pushing."
Twilight leaped out of bed. "I need to see her again. To apologize...To...Ugh, but I can't say I heard it from you. Oh well. I'll find a way!"
Twilight walked up to the orange mare at the market. Delicately, she tapped her on the shoulder. "Applejack?"
Applejack turned around and smiled. "Hello, Twilight."
Twilight bit her lip, then sighed, and then asked, "I need to apologize."
Applejack cocked her head, so Twilight continued: "Starlight told me about what happened with Rainbow Dash. Please, don't be angry with her...I just...That was totally inappropriate of me. It's inappropriate of me to know. I'm so sorry."
Applejack said nothing. "You told her when she...brainwashed you. Y'know."
Applejack smiled and nodded. "I knew."
"You did?"
"We were conscious the whole time, y'know. I...I need to apologize too."
Twilight shook her head, but Applejack said, "I overreacted. I should never just assume that you...Or, anypony, would just hurt me like that again. I just didn't understand."
"Understand?"
Applejack and Twilight looked into each other's eyes. "Why would a gorgeous, smart Princess ever want to love me?"
Twilight smiled and sighed with relief. Before she could answer, Applejack leaned in and kissed her. Though it was short, Twilight enjoyed each second.
"I understand now." Twilight leaned in for another kiss.
