"...And tha closest restroom is just down tha hall, first door on tha left, alright?" Applejack pointed with a hoof. "If'n ya wanna freshen up uh little before breakfast."

"Sure," Starlight was more preoccupied with moving her belongings into one of the drawers than she was with our host, but she managed to answer the orange mare anyway. "Thanks, Applejack."

"Think nothin' of it. Ah'll show ya ta yer room now, Twilight. If ya'd like," the earth pony turned to me. The room that she'd provided my friend with was spacious and quaint. It was a far cry from our quarters in the Crystal Empire, but it was nice nonetheless.

Just like the rest of the place.

There were a lot of decorations here, too. Almost all apple, of course. Things like the curtains, the pillows, and even the lamps had variations of the fruit printed on them. Some were even molded in their specific shape. There wasn't any carpeting, -- just like the rest of the mansion -- but the soft floor was just as welcoming to the hoof as if it were covered with something soft. The bed was...

...

Big enough for two?

...

Come on, Twilight! Don't be such a wimp! What's the worst that can happen!?

"Is it okay if... if I stay in this room?" I covered my mouth with a hoof. "With Starlight, I mean?"

The look of unabashed astonishment that came to the lilac mare's face was exactly what I had been aiming for. Applejack simply smirked, looking my way with an expression that said she understood completely. It was a bold move, I was well aware of that. I also knew I would get nowhere fast with a mare like Starlight if I wasn't willing to take a few risks.

"That's uh... that's fine," Applejack chuckled, looking back and forth between us. "If it's alright with Starlight, of course."

The lilac unicorn rolled her eyes, none too pleased with me or the predicament she was suddenly thrust into.

"It's completely fine with me," she huffed. "But what are you going to say to Sun?" She had that same indifferent look as before, but her eyes were hurling daggers my way.

OH! Right...

I deflated instantly.

...

How could I have forgotten?

My head fell. Starlight went beck to putting her things away. Applejack nervously scratched at her cheek with a hoof, clearly a little uncomfortable.

"Ah... don't think three of ya'll'll be able ta squeeze in here. Unfortunately," she forced a chuckle.

"Right... That's okay then," I kept my head low, more than a little ashamed of myself for letting my best friend slip my mind.

...

"C'mon, Twilight," Applejack smiled, wrapping a foreleg around my neck. "Ah'll show ya yer digs."

"I'm finished," Starlight said, drawing our gazes.

"Alright," Applejack nodded. "Ah'm assumin' ya wanna come with, then?"

"I do," Starlight nodded, keeping a measured expression on her face.

"Then let's get uh move on!" The earth pony and I walked forward, but I kept my eyes on the lilac mare. She silently mouthed "nice try" before grinning and following closely behind us.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"So... yer all set?" Applejack asked. She was standing right next to me at the entrance of the room. Starlight was already inside, lounging on the bed like she owned the place.

The room I'd been given was right next to Starlight's, thankfully. When we'd approached the door the earth pony had given me a sly wink.

This guest room was similar to the first and there wasn't a thing to complain about. In fact, I was grateful she'd given me this one in particular.

"This is perfect, Applejack. Thank you," I tried to hide the glee I was feeling.

"Great! Ah'm gonna head back and help mah Ma," she playfully nudged me with her elbow. "Ah'll be back ta get y'all in uh few minutes."

"Sounds good," Starlight stretched, getting more comfortable as her horn flared to life. She fluffed some of the pillows, moving a few more under her head.

"Alright then," Applejack grinned before getting really close to me. "If'n y'all wanna fool around uh bit just keep the noise ta uh minimum and lock the door, alright?" she whispered. "Wouldn't want mah little sis walkin' in on ya."

My eyes bugged out as a fiery red blush came to my cheeks.

"You gals have fuuuun!" The orange mare chuckled mischievously as she closed the door behind herself, leaving Starlight and I alone.

...

"So now Aj thinks we're an item? Greeeeat." Starlight shook her head, not pleased by the development.

"How did you...?"

Her horn.

She hadn't been using just telekinesis.

"Eavesdropping?" I walked over to the nightstand, placing my saddlebags on it. "I didn't take you for that type of mare." I forced myself in next to her on the bed, in spite of her resistance to scoot over.

...

"You're being awfully brave," she turned her body towards me, leaning her head on her hoof. "Why the sudden change?"

"Changing the subject?" I asked. I was lying on my back, staring up at the ceiling. I didn't have the self-control I'd like to look her in the eye this close. Not yet.

"Well... when a mare tells me she loves me and is doing her best to get into my..." she laughed, looking at the situation we were in. "room, I think I have a right to know what she's planning."

...

"Fair enough," I shrugged. She said nothing.

It's just because...

...

"I just want to be close to you, Starlight."

My eyes widened. I hadn't meant to say it out loud.

...

She sighed, laying on her back and staring up as well.

...

"Why did you do it, Twilight? I just wanted to protect you and Sun. That's all I wanted to do."

...

I was completely blindsided by her sudden honesty. I had not foreseen lying in bed with her for the first time being like this.

But this... this is better.

It was much more intimate than any physical contact could possibly be. She wanted to open up to me. She wanted me to open up to her. This was my chance. I'd be a fool not to take it.

"You're... scary, Starlight... in more ways than one," I admitted reluctantly. "Honestly... you terrify me."

...

"...Why?"

...

"Ever since I started training under Princess Luna as her apprentice, I've always thought I was the strongest unicorn in all of Equestria," I began. "I'd seen the limits of Sunset's ability. Or at least, what I'd thought were her limits. She... she was never near my level. Not even close."

"Do you still feel that way?" she asked.

"Obviously not," I huffed. "I... might be able to take her, but she's clearly not as weak as I thought."

...

"I just wanted to know," she stated plainly. "Go ahead."

"Anyway... since you showed up, I've..."

...

I didn't want to say it. I didn't want to tell her in particular.

"You realized just how weak you are."

I winced.

...

"Y-yeah."

...

"Here's what I dont understand, Twilight..." I said nothing, looking her way. "Even if you are weaker than me and Sun, is that such a bad thing... if we're all friends? Why do you care so much?"

"I..."

...

When she put it like that... It didn't sound too bad.

...

But...

I looked back up at the ceiling.

"I knew you could do it," I hugged myself tightly with my forelegs.

"Hm?"

"You can protect us. Sunset and I," I clarified. "You're strong enough to. That..." I turned away from her. "I hate it." I heard her turn to look at me. "I'm jealous of that, Starlight. I want to be able to protect you. Sunset, too. I attacked you because I knew I couldn't beat you if it was a fair fight."

...

That wasn't all.

I had to keep going.

"You've made me realize so many things about myself. What I want. Why I have to be stronger. Where I want to be..." I turned to face her. I instantly got lost in her beautiful violet eyes. I definitely wasn't ready for it, but I pressed on. "Who I want to be there with." I smiled, though the chuckle she let out convinced me it was an awkward one.

"You're such a goober, Twilight," she shook her head, looking back up at the ceiling. I did the same. "So you did it to make sure you'd beat me?" she snickered. "Honestly, I can't hold that against you."

"You can't!?"

"Well... I did set those traps for the princesses in my town," she shrugged, her delight still apparent. "I'm not the cleanest fighter myself. I just don't understand why you didn't trust me."

"Would you have trusted you?" I blurted my thoughts out on accident.

...

"That..." she lifted a hoof to her chin. "That's actually a really good point."

I nearly fell off the bed, but she caught me with a telekinetic spell. She gently laid me down on the mattress next to herself, closer than I was before. She even wrapped a foreleg around me, sending a surge of endorphins flooding through my body.

She smells SO good...

I couldn't help but stare at her. Her gaze was still north.

"You... you don't feel anything for Sun, Twilight?" she asked, the look of confusion on her face bewildering. "You've been with her for a lot longer than me. And when it comes to power... she's no slouch herself."

...

That was all true. But they still weren't the same. Starlight had changed things for me, not Sunset.

"Of course I do," I snuggled into her. She didn't move or try to push me away. "I love Sunset, too. It's just... in a different way."

"And what way is that?" she faced me again.

...

"Sunset is..."

...

What is she to me?

...

I had to think about it for a lot longer than just a few seconds, but the perfect answer came to me.

"Sunset is like Cadance, just... the same age as me," I kept my eyes up.

...

"So like your sister..." Starlight didn't sound happy or sad about that. She took a deep breath. "I don't love you, Twilight. And I still don't forgive you for what you did."

I already knew that. It was far too soon.

"I know, Starlight." I didn't know what else to say.

...

"Lucky for you, that doesn't mean I can't ever love you," she rubbed my shoulder gently. She'd adapted, that much was obvious. "But it's gonna take a whole lot more than just loving me to make me feel anything other than contempt for you."

"Is that why you're letting me lay on your shoulder like this?" I asked, nuzzling my head into her. "So I can work towards it?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she chuckled. "I'm expecting some professional grade sucking up, Twilight Sparkle," she nuzzled her head into the top of mine. "Don't let me down a second time."

"Mmmmm..." I closed my eyes, relishing the moment. "If you let me this close more often, you might get much more than just sucking up, Starlight."

...

"I'm gonna hold you to that."

"I won't disappoint you."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A quick succession of taps at the door roused me from my light slumber. Waking up still held by her was a relief. I wouldn't have been surprised at all if it had just been a wonderful dream.

Starlight and I hadn't been lying together for long, but it was just way too comfortable. With her scent surrounding me, it was like we were resting in a field of the most fragrant lilacs. I hadn't been so content since... I couldn't recall a time. Not even Princess Luna had ever made me feel such a way.

"Yes?" I called out once my eyes were fully opened.

"Are y'all uh... decent?" Applejack's voice came from the other side of the door. I looked up at Starlight. It was evident she'd just woken up as well. She smiled down at me, nodding. We both sat to our haunches, staying next to each other on the bed.

"We are," I chuckled. "You can come in, Applejack."

"Alrighty," she cautiously cracked the door open, peeking inside. "Okay," she let out a relieved breath before opening the door fully and walking in with a grin. "Soup's on. Y'all good ta go?"

"I could eat," Starlight hopped off the bed.

"Me, too," I nodded, following her lead.

"Then let's go!" Applejack led the way, walking out the door. "Y'all're gonna love Ma's cookin'! Trust me!"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Delicious as always, Hun!" Bright sighed in contentment, rubbing his belly. "Ah couldn't eat another bite if ah tried."

"Thanks, Hunny Bun!" Pear smiled before turning and looking at Starlight and I. "How bout you, girls? Was everything alright?"

She looked genuinely concerned, as if our opinions mattered more than her family members'. Considering Starlight was still enthusiastically chewing on a piece of pie, I don't think she had anything to worry about. The lilac mare was so preoccupied with her meal that she merely grunted in response to the question.

"Ah think she likes it," Apple Bloom giggled. The rest of us joined her.

"It was all fantastic, Buttercup," I grinned. "Thank you for it and for the lodgings," I looked around at the dining room. "Your home is absolutely beautiful. I never would've guessed it could be so..."

"Big?" Macintosh chuckled.

"Yeah," I blushed, a little ashamed. Applejack must've understood because she spoke up rather quickly.

"It didn't happen overnight," she took a sip of her juice. "Ma and Pa built some of it decades ago together with mah granny. Granny Smith."

My eyes widened. Even Starlight had stopped eating.

"You builf ALL of fis!?" the lilac unicorn's mouth was filled to the brim.

"We sure did," Applejack stated proudly. "Over time, we added more and more. And now..." she looked around. "Ah s'pose it is somethin', ain't it?"

Starlight swallowed the pie in her mouth.

"I'll say," she looked around. "I thought you guys were just loaded. Doing it all by yourselves? That's way more impressive."

'We're perty well off," Bright chuckled. "If ah do say so mahself. Fer ponies, apples'll always be in high demand," he stood to his hooves, his son following suit. "Our farm is one of the biggest producers in all of Equestria. Long as we keep workin' hard, that won't change any time soon."

"Heading back out already, Hun?" Pear stood as well, moving a few of the dirty plates onto her barrel.

"If'n ya don't need any help cleanin' up?" he smiled. "Still got lots of work ta do."

"Bloom'll help me, right, AB?" the matriarch headed to the kitchen with the dishes on her back.

"Always, Ma!" the little filly was already following behind her, carrying her own smaller stack of plates.

"Great! Ready to go, Mac?" Bright asked his son.

"Whenever you are, Pa!" came the prompt reply from the red earth pony. As the pair moved to leave Bright spoke up.

"We'll be seein' tha three of ya'll later today, right, Aj?"

"Sure will, Pop," the orange mare answered. "Just gotta do some stuff with tha girls in town and then we'll be back... with another mare."

"Another one?" Bright lit up. "If she's half as perty as these two, ah'm not sure what Mac is gonna do with himself."

"Alright. Time fer us ta go, Dad." His son immediately shoved guffawing father out the door. "Sorry bout that, girls."

Applejack laughed.

I chuckled too, shaking my head.

Starlight was working on a fritter.

...

"Anythin' we can do ta help?" Applejack asked once her glee had died down.

"Just finish up, Aj" her mother said as she entered the room to take more dirty dishes. "You do enough round here when you've got the time. Go have some fun with your friends," she left the room once again.

"Alright then! I will! Thanks,M-"

In a flash of sunlight Sunset was standing right next to Starlight and I.

"SUNSET!?" Applejack nearly fell off of her chair.

The golden mare grinned.

"So... What did I miss?"

Author's Note