Twilight.

Twilight mutters, groggy and annoyed.

Wake up, Twilight...

No, no I'm fine, thank you.

Twilight Sparkle.

It's too bright out to wake up.

Wake up, my Twilight.

Waking up is stupid.

Perhaps.

Perhaps?

That word jolts her into consciousness. Twilight's eyes shoot open and she sits up, looking around.

Her room is empty. Morning light is beating down on her through the window. Spike is snoring quietly in his basket.

That was Luna's voice in my ear.

I thought that was a dream. Wasn't it?

She's not here, after all...

Twilight scans around her room one last time, ears perked up and alert. No Luna. Her surge of adrenaline from waking up starts to wear off, and the awful, awful feeling of being awake starts to replace it.

She groans and drags herself out of bed.

Ugh, I slept in my clothes? What was I thinking?

She feels exhausted, like she hasn't slept at all. The letter from last night – Luna's reply – is sitting on the floor, and Twilight quickly sweeps it up and hides it away in a drawer. She undresses with all the grace of a prisoner being strip-searched and starts to go about a morning routine mechanically, with no joy whatsoever.

Put saddle away.

Put earrings away.

Realize one earring is on the floor somewhere.

Find earring.

Put earrings away.

Brush teeth.

Wash face.

About halfway through she realizes her head is pounding with throbbing pain.

How do I feel so hungover?! I didn't drink anything.

She sighs as she towels off. Her brain is slowly, grudgingly gearing up to full capacity. She quickly brushes her mane and tail and makes her way downstairs, leaving Spike to his sleep. It's early, and she doesn't feel like talking to anyone.

Boil water.

Make coffee.

The smell alone invigorates her, and she sighs again, this time in anticipation.

At least I can make my own coffee. Making terrible instant coffee counts as cooking, right?

She drops onto a floor cushion in the library's kitchen and sips at a mug of awful coffee, loving every second of it.

Thoughts start to form.

What was I dreaming about?

Luna, obviously. She can't remember anything else. In her mind she was awake at night one moment and then awake in the morning the next.

I wasn't dreaming?

Then what? I wasn't just hearing Luna's voice in my head, was I?

Maybe she was really talking to you.

That's silly. Isn't it? Can she do that? Is she even awake now?

She probably just went to bed.

Twilight looks around cautiously, expecting Luna to appear at any moment. That feeling of being watched, so intense that night under the moon, has been plaguing her at random times.

It's her! Who else would it be?

That's silly. You're being silly. Even if Luna could do that, she wouldn't.

Why would she be watching me?

Twilight dismisses the entire train of thought, finishing her coffee in one last gulp. There are other things to do.

She writes a note for Spike and quietly leaves the library.

It's hot out. The walk out to Sweet Apple Acres seems like nothing when she's walking with her friends, talking about whatever. But alone?

She's sweating by the time she gets there. It still feels like spring just started to Twilight, but apparently the weather disagrees. She stops and rests for a second once the farmhouse is in view. Her head darts around unconsciously and she realizes that she's looking for a puddle or pond or anything to drink from. She gags a little at the thought of actually drinking some muddy standing water, thirst notwithstanding.

The fresh air and sunlight have cleared her head. Unfortunately, the heat and the walking have kept her from thinking too much. She has no plan in mind for the conversation about to happen.

In the distance, a large red pony walks out the front door of the farmhouse. The sun is already high in the sky. He's probably been working for hours. Her breath has long since caught up to her. She starts walking again.

By the time she gets closer, Mac is making his way back from the hay barn. He's obviously seen her coming. He's waiting right by the front porch, chewing on a long blade of grass. She wonders how his face does that – he's not really smiling, but it feels like he is.

"Mornin', Twilight," he drawls out.

"Hi." She sits down in front of him, wiping sweat from her face with a foreleg.

"So... which one are you here to see?"

That idea hadn't even occurred to her. She glances towards the farmhouse and instantly feels silly. She had half-expected Braeburn to be staring back at her out a window.

I don't think he wants to talk to me.

"Your sister," she says.

"Weeeeeell..." Mac shifts the grass around in his mouth. "I believe lil' Apple Bloom is playin' somewheres in the orchard with her friends."

"Mac." Twilight narrows her eyes.

Mac just chuckles. "She's plowin'. Follow me."

He leads her around the farmhouse to one of the vegetable fields. A breeze surges up, and Twilight sighs loudly.

"Mighty hot today," Mac says as they walk. "Fer bein' so early in the year, that is."

"Mmhmm." Twilight nods. She's walking right behind Mac, and her eyes wander on their own over his thick legs and rump, and the short, straw-like swatch of his tail. Long tails are the only nod to modesty that most ponies bother with, but Big Mac's tail leaves little to the imagination. Twilight's eyes linger and then start to slide down...

Stop, that is so rude! God, I never used to be this bad. Is this just how I am now?

She shakes her head and tries to look anywhere but at the big red workhorse. They're walking through a freshly-plowed field now, and Twilight's hooves sink with each step into the dark, rich soil. Applejack is pulling a plow just ahead of them, trying to finish off the field.

"Trying" being the operative word there. Applejack looks awful. She's pale and bedraggled, and she's straining at the plow like it weighs hundreds of pounds. She's scowling and grunting as she pulls, but her hooves slide through the dirt more than the plow moves.

"Sis?" Mac says as they draw nearer.

"I done told ya not to interrupt –" Applejack barks as she turns to them, but freezes when she sees Twilight. Her face jumps instantly from annoyed to embarrassed. "Oh. Hey."

"Hi," Twilight says, stopping near her friend. "Do you have a minute?"

"Uhhh..." Applejack looks at the dirt. "Well... Ah dunno. I gotta get these fields plowed an' planted, lickety split." Applejack's voice is harsh, like her throat is full of gravel.

"I got it for a while, AJ," Mac says.

"Yer suppose to be doin' the east field!" Applejack says.

"I got it covered. Both of 'em," he says.

Applejack sighs. "Alright then. Seein' as she walked out all this way, I'll let this one slide." She shucks her collar off, dropping it into the dirt. "But don't do too much o' my side. I'll be back in a minute, workin' hard."

Big Mac snorts loudly. "If by workin' hard, you mean sneakin' off into the bushes every few minutes to dry heave fer a while," he says.

Applejack gives him a look so nasty that Twilight winces in its wake.

Big Mac is unfazed. "Go on now," he says, sounding almost bored. Applejack looks like she's about to say something, but thinks better of it and turns to Twilight.

"C'mon, Twilight." Applejack nods her head towards the orchard. "Let's take a walk."

Applejack leads her out of the field and through a wild patch of weeds and rocks, dry and dusty in the sun. Her friend walks with heavy hooves, almost dragging them through the dirt, and her posture is slumped and tired.

Very strange for Applejack.

She must really feel awful.

Not that I don't feel kind of awful, too.

The sun is pulling her headache back from the depths of her skull, and she's relieved when they reach the edge of the orchard. Everything is better the instant they walk under the cool shade of the trees, rows upon rows of them forming an unbroken canopy of leaves.

They walk silently. The trees are covered in bright, waxy, newborn leaves. Birds sing in the distance. The breeze makes a shifting, dappled show of light breaking through the canopy. Everything around them is cool and calm and beautiful. Peaceful.

Did AJ plan this? This is perfect.

"So..." Twilight says after a few moments of walking.

"Save it," Applejack says. "I got a place in mind we can sit for a spell. Just up ahead."

They keep walking. Twilight swears she can faintly hear Scootaloo's voice in the distance, echoing off the trees. It fades away, and the silence between them starts to get to Twilight.

"I just wanted to say sorry. First of all," she spits out.

Applejack snorts loudly, giving a weak smile. "Jeez, Twilight. I know."

"You know?"

"If I gotta hear you say sorry one more time, I'll... I dunno, just can it for now. Gimme a second to clear my head, here."

Twilight rolls her eyes.

Alright, alright...

They keep walking, tracing a meandering path through the rows of trunks. Suddenly, Applejack pauses, her eyes bugging out a little. She dashes over to the nearest tree and leans a foreleg against it, bowing her head to the ground.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asks.

Applejack waves her away, breathing heavily. Her chest heaves and she makes a disgusting gagging noise.

"Oh! Oh... um..." Twilight walks nearer to her, thinking she should at least hold her friend's mane back.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Applejack growls.

Right, of course you are... she must hate me seeing her like this.

Twilight turns around, trying to let Applejack keep at least some shred of dignity. She waits for what feels like a long time. Twilight tries to focus on how pretty the orchard is, but she can hear Applejack panting and gagging behind her. She's tensed up, waiting for the awful sound of vomiting. It doesn't come.

"Alright," Applejack's voice comes from behind her.

Twilight turns to see Applejack standing upright again, sweating. She's fanning herself with her hat.

"I got this. Let's go." She replaces her hat and pushes on. Twilight follows.

Before long they come to a break in the canopy. It's a stream, winding its way through the orchard. The water is calm and silent – without looking closely, one would think there wasn't a current at all. Applejack hangs her hat on the knob of a nearby tree and canters right up to the bank, dipping her snout greedily into the stream. She loudly laps up water for a few seconds, then plunges her whole head in.

"Ahhhh!" Applejack pulls her head up and shakes like a dog. She turns to Twilight. "You ain't thirsty?"

Twilight sits down in the shade of the trees. The water is clear enough to see the mud and branches below, and clumps of leaves and foam line the banks.

"No, I'm fine," Twilight says, feeling dry cracks in her mouth.

"Suit yerself." Applejack walks over to her and sits down nearby, facing Twilight. Applejack examines the plants around them, looking like she's deep in thought. Then she sniffs at a particularly thick clump of grass and bites it, tearing a green hunk off. She closes her eyes and sighs as she chews.

"You eat grass off the ground?" Twilight says.

"Course I do. You don't?" Applejack says through a full mouth.

"Isn't that kind of dirty?"

Applejack just shrugs and bites another hunk of grass.

Eww... that's... well... huh.

Twilight sits while Applejack grazes a little while longer. Slowly, her friend looks less pale, more alive and alert. It's strange to see her without her hat on, stranger still with her wet mane hanging low around her face. Twilight is struck again by how pretty she is. She looks away just as Applejack finally talks.

"Alright." She clears her throat. "I'm sorry."

"Wha?" Twilight gasps.

"Yeah, yeah..." Applejack holds a hoof up. "For some things. Not for others. Lemme explain."

Twilight raises an eyebrow but doesn't move. Applejack sighs and collects her thoughts.

"Alright, let's start at the beginning. My cousin," she says. Twilight looks away momentarily.

"I don't know if I should be tellin' you what I'm about to. But..." Applejack frowns at the ground, then looks back to Twilight. "Before he moved out to Appleloosa, he was datin' this girl for... I dunno, must've been at least a year or two. They were all starry-eyed fer each other, sayin' they were gonna get married an' all that nonsense."

"He mentioned her once," Twilight speaks up.

"Yeah, I thought he might. Thing is, he'd been dreamin' of the frontier all his life. And then he gets the chance to move out and get in on the foundin' of Appleloosa. He was excited fit to bust his britches."

"But?" Twilight says.

"But his girl... she hated the idea of leavin' home. Granted, I understand. I don't think I ever could do the same." Applejack casts a longing gaze back in the direction of the farmhouse. "So Braeburn asked her to go with him, and she couldn't just buck up and let 'im have it straight. She gave him yes an' then no and then yes, all hemmin' and hawin', and they had some crazy scrapes. We was hearin' about it for months. Every time I seen him back then, he was all tore up."

Twilight nods, thinking of the night before. She has a good idea what that looked like.

"An' you gotta understand, Twilight, this was everything to him. He loved her somethin' fierce, but this was his life's dream. After a while, she asked him to stay and give up the whole thing. For her. He came and talked to me an' Mac about it, and we told him it wasn't gonna work. Well, I said that, anyway. Mac was more equivocatin' like. But Braeburn said he could never just drop her."

Applejack pauses, examining another clump of grass.

"So what happened?" Twilight says.

"She dumped him. Right as he was about to give in and forget all about Appleloosa."

Twilight's mouth hangs open.

"Mind you, I think she finally did him a kindness with that one. But he was just broke. Just... broke. I never met the mare, but I ain't her biggest fan, if you catch my drift. If she was gonna do that all along, she shoulda done it in the first place."

"You don't think she planned to do that? I mean, I'm sure it was hard for her, too."

Applejack frowns a little. "I thought you might be the one to see her side of it," she says. Twilight frowns back.

"You're right though." Applejack's face softens. She furrows her brow. "This love stuff is funny business. Ponies are always talkin' like it's the simplest thing in the world, but it might just be the farthest from it."

"You can say that again." Twilight sighs.

"Anyways..." Applejack continues. "Maybe it ain't exactly fair of me. But I couldn't help thinkin' it was rotten, the way she did Braeburn. Somethin' like that, you gotta be straight up with it. Take a stand, whichever way."

"Yeah, I... that makes sense," Twilight says.

"So... now you and Braeburn do your little thing. And I..." Applejack falters. Twilight holds back, letting Applejack come around to it. They lock eyes.

"I know you didn't mean to hurt him. I know it was just kind of a misunderstandin'. And I know you feel awful about it," Applejack says. "But I couldn't stand seein' him get played around again, and I just kinda held on to it. An' that really ain't fair. I'm sorry. And don't you dare say yer sorry, you said it enough."

Twilight smiles. Her chest feels warm, like a cozy little fire is raging in her heart. "I wasn't expecting this to go so well. I mean, I hoped, but..."

"Yeah, well..." Applejack rubs the back of her neck. "Me an' Mac talked this over a bit. And Dash stopped by last night, too. And I really did make a bit of an ass of myself."

Twilight lets out an amused snort. "You weren't the only one," she says.

"Well I was surely the instigatin' party. Thanks, by the way. For keepin' me from doin' something silly." Applejack looks bashful for once.

"Anytime. As long as I don't have to physically restrain you again." Twilight giggles.

"Hmph. Physical? I don't think magic mumbo jumbo counts." Applejack smiles

"Embarrassed that an egghead like me reigned you in?" Twilight says.

"Yeah, whatever, bonehead... don't go gettin' too amused like yet, I got more to say."

Twilight's smile fades. Another pause sits between them as Applejack collects her thoughts. Twilight knows what's coming. "Luna?"

Applejack nods. "I still don't think you should be lettin' her mess with you like this. It ain't right," she says.

"She's not messing with me," Twilight says.

Twilight must have looked sterner than she realized – Applejack halts her next sentence and gives a resigned sigh.

"You really love her?" Applejack says.

Twilight opens her mouth to speak but just nods back, weaker than she meant to.

"And you trust her?" Applejack says.

"You really think she doesn't love me?" Twilight says.

"From where I'm standin', it doesn't look good."

"I admit it's a little... unorthodox," Twilight says.

Applejack shakes her head. "It just about killed me seein' Braeburn get jerked around. I don't know if I could handle seein' you go through somethin' like that."

I'm going through it right now. Just tell her.

No, she's wrong. Everything's fine.

Letter.

Ugh, stop it. Deal with that later.

"Twilight?" Applejack says.

"Huh?"

Applejack is looking at her with the utmost sympathy. "It's your business, I know. I'm just worried, is all. I'm sorry it came out all angry like, but I am. I don't want her hurtin' you," Applejack says.

Twilight smiles. Luna would never hurt her.

Letter.

Stop being silly. Don't make Applejack worried.

"I appreciate that, AJ. I really do. But I know Luna cares about me."

"Yeah, she might. Doesn't mean you won't end up out in the cold on this one."

"If that happens, it'll be nopony's fault but my own," Twilight says, suddenly a little annoyed.

Applejack snorts again. "Maybe so. But if she does hurt you, I'll... why I'll find her and... I don't know, do somethin' mean, I suppose."

Twilight bursts out laughing, a loud, tension-relieving spill of mirth. She had very clearly pictured Applejack giving Princess Luna a stern talking-to. Applejack smirks back at her.

"You just be careful, y'hear? That way I don't have to dirty my hooves up beatin' on royalty." Applejack stands up, brushing dirt off herself.

Tell her about the letter.

Don't! I haven't even figured out what that all means. Save it. Read it again without being exhausted.

"Hey." Applejack's voice breaks her out of her thoughts. Twilight is still sitting, and she looks up at Applejack as the orange mare walks over and nuzzles the side of her face. Twilight blushes a little.

"I might think what yer doin' is dumb..." Applejack says. Twilight frowns a little. Applejack rests a hoof on her shoulder. "But you are my friend. If all goes well, and I hope it does, I really do, I'll be the first to congratulate you. If it don't, I won't say 'I told you so' or any nonsense. I'll come find you wherever you're cryin' and offer my shoulder."

Twilight doesn't know right away how to respond, but she feels warm all over and a smile creeps onto her lips. Applejack pulls her up on to her hooves.

"Now c'mon. I don't know about you, but I could use a quick swim," Applejack says.

Applejack pulls the ties out of her mane and tail with her teeth and drops them on the ground. She shakes her hair out into a wild mess and trots quickly into the water, not missing a beat. Twilight watches from the bank but doesn't move.

So... that's it? She isn't mad at me anymore?

It looks that way. She watches her friend swim around in a little circle, smiling the whole time. Twilight sighs in relief. It's fixed.

Of course it is. This is Applejack, after all. The most dependable of ponies.

Applejack dives under and shoots back up, gasping and shaking water out of her mane. She looks around and sees Twilight staring at her from the shore.

"C'mon, Twi! It's nice and cool," Applejack yells.

Twilight looks at the slime and leaves floating on the water along the edges.

Well, I'm not going to trot through that.

She looks around for a cleaner entrance and finds none. She walks slowly up to edge of the stream and dips the tip of a hoof in. When she pulls it back there is a smear of green algae stuck to it.

"Bleh..." Twilight sticks her tongue out.

"You been hangin' out with Rarity too much, girl. It's plenty clean out here." Applejack chuckles, dog paddling through clear water.

Twilight feels sweaty and gross, definitely. The water further out is tantalizing. But the barrier between them is off-putting.

Maybe she's right... oh, to hay with it...

Twilight tenses up, wiggling her rump as her hind legs find purchase. She coils back and takes a mighty leap, splashing into the water about a foot out. She lands directly in a patch of green slime.

"Ack!" Twilight flails and splashes about, stumbling further out into the water. She spits as she feels water landing in her mouth, then her stomach lurches as her hooves find nothing beneath them. Her head falls under, and she resurfaces instantly, gasping and choking. Applejack is laughing at her.

"Jeez, Twilight. You alright?" she says, smiling.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Twilight says, grimacing.

"Take it easy. Yer out in the clean part now," Applejack says, floating lazily on her back.

Twilight takes a deep breath, her panic fading. Her hooves find the stream bed and sink into soft, squishy mud. It feels good, like one of the spa's treatments, and she stomps her hooves quickly like a little foal, grinning. The water is shockingly cold at first but after a few seconds it's just perfect. Twilight sighs loudly.

"I come out here all the time," Applejack says, pausing to lap up some of the water she's floating in. "Nothin' like a quick dip after a long day. Or a hard night."

Twilight watches her friend float, her mane and tail fanning out into the water. She remembers how thirsty she is and inspects the water around her.

Well... it looks clean enough out here.

She dips her muzzle and sips, feeling instant relief. It's crisp and just a little sweet. She drinks more, lapping up water like ponies used to do, ages ago. Something about it just feels right. And then a splash of water smacks her in the face.

"Well lookit you." Applejack splashes more water at her. "A regular country mare, ain't you?"

Twilight smiles and splashes back with a surge of magic, upsetting Applejack's floating. Applejack spins and plops her hooves into the mud, smiling wickedly. They splash water back and forth, giggling like fillies. After a while of mindless fun, Twilight lifts a ball of water in a glow of magic and releases it right over Applejack, raining water down on her.

"Alright, aright. You got the fancy magic and stuff, I know." Applejack wades back towards the shore, smiling and lashing her tail at Twilight as she rises out of the water. Twilight follows. When she reaches the detritus at the edge she pushes it aside with a surge of her horn.

Why didn't I think of that before?

They clamber up the bank and back to the shade of the orchard. Applejack immediately drops and starts rolling around in the grass, snorting and nickering. Twilight just cocks an eyebrow at her.

"What are you doing?" she says.

"Rollin' in the grass. What does it look like?" Applejack says. She stops rolling and looks at Twilight. "You never just roll in the grass?"

"What, like on purpose?" Twilight says.

"Yeah."

"...No. I always see Pinkie Pie doing that, but I kind of thought that was one of her things."

"Pfft. Unicorns." Applejack rolls her eyes and goes back to rubbing her coat in the grass and dirt.

Pfft?! Unicorns?! We'll see about that...

Twilight flops down onto her back. The grass tickles her coat, and the grainy dirt scratches against her pretty pleasantly. She shifts and rolls, and after a few moments of feeling stupid she has to admit that it feels good. She sighs and nickers a little herself, stopping on her back. Her legs wiggle in the air as she rubs her back on a small root. It's pressing delightfully on a sore spot next to her spine, and she moans a little as the tension works itself out.

"See? Ain't it nice?" Applejack stops rolling and rests on her side, watching Twilight.

"...Yes. It is, actually." Twilight flops onto her side as well, facing Applejack.

Applejack sniffs through the grass around her head and eats some more. Twilight's stomach growls. There's a thick tuft of grass right by her snout, and it smells amazing. She runs her nose through it.

What are you doing? It hasn't even been washed. Other ponies have probably stepped all over it.

Something voiceless inside her urges her to eat it. She watches Applejack for a moment longer. It feels right. It feels natural. It feels like it would be wrong to leave Applejack doing it alone.

Let us break bread together...

Twilight gets an adventurous thrill and clamps her teeth around the grass. She tears it off in her mouth and chews thoughtfully. For being relatively tasteless, it's very satisfying.

They graze together silently for a few minutes. An odd feeling of complete contentment slowly washes over Twilight. Her worries about Luna seem distant, irrelevant. She watches Applejack, her golden mane tangled and spread out. Twilight can't think of a time she's looked so... she searches for words. Naked seems appropriate, but then again they're almost always naked. Whatever it is, she's achingly beautiful.

Until you notice the dirt in her mane.

"This is really nice," Twilight says.

"Simple livin'," Applejack says.

"But we got dirty again rolling around like that."

"Eh. That's what baths are for." Applejack shrugs.

"AJ, there's twigs and stuff in your mane."

"So?"

"How about I brush it for you?" Twilight says. She wants desperately to see that mane in its full potential glory.

"Brush it? What for?"

"Pfft. Earth ponies." Twilight rolls her eyes.

"Fine, fine. Go crazy." Applejack sits up. "But only 'cuz it's you. You let Rarity get word o' this and I'll never brush it again, just on principle."

"That would be a shame." Twilight giggles and focuses her magic, picturing the brush resting on her desk back at the library. In a small flash it is floating in front of her. Applejack's eyes go wide.

"Well I'll be. You really are amazin' sometimes, Twi."

"Thanks." Twilight blushes as she scoots closer to Applejack. "For everything. I don't think I could ever be as good a friend as you've been to me."

Applejack snorts out a sarcastic laugh. "Big words from a girl that was cussed out by yours truly last night."

"I mean it." Twilight takes some of AJ's mane in a magic hold and starts brushing. It's smooth and fine, like corn silk. It feels lovely. She searches out the twigs and bits of leaves tangled up in the beautiful hair and brushes them out, sticking her tongue out to the side a little. Applejack grunts as she does so, obviously too proud to acknowledge pain any further.

"You said before that you've never dated anyone," Twilight says.

"Yeah, I did," Applejack says, more than a little wistfully. "So?"

"I don't know, I'm just surprised. You're really pretty." Twilight holds a tress of blonde mane in her hooves, steadying it for the brush. "Nopony's ever asked you out?"

"Shucks, Twilight." Twilight can't see her face but she's positive that AJ is blushing a little, and it makes her smile.

"I s'ppose I haven't exactly made myself too available." Applejack taps a foreleg on the ground, thinking. "Should probably do somethin' about that at some point."

"Not even when you were younger?" Twilight says.

Applejack snorts loudly. "I did kiss a colt once."

"Really?" Twilight stops brushing. "Do I know him?"

Applejack chuckles. "Actually, you do. Guess you could say we both know him."

Twilight goes down the very short list of stallions she knows and comes up with nothing. "What do you mean?"

"It was Braeburn, you dummy," Applejack says, glaring over her shoulder. Twilight almost drops her brush.

"But he's your... eww!" Twilight says.

"Hold up now, listen..." Applejack shrinks down, pawing at the back of her neck with a hoof.

"You kissed your... eww! What did he do?"

"He told me I had cooties and ran away."

"Oh?" Twilight perks up.

"We was just little foals. I didn't know what I was doin'. But that's all the sugar I've ever got, sad to say."

"Oh." Twilight breathes a sigh of relief. Instantly, Applejack turns and punches her softly on the chest.

"An' if you EVER tell anypony about that, I'll..."

"Don't worry! Safe with me." Twilight grins. Applejack nods and turns around, letting Twilight get back to work. Twilight dives back into Applejack's mane with unrestrained gusto, running her hooves through the hair.

"It's just hard to believe. I would think guys would be falling all over you," Twilight says. Applejack flicks her tail and gives Twilight a smoky look over her shoulder.

"Now I'd swear you sound like you're anglin' to get into my flanks, Twilight."

This time Twilight does drop the brush.

"Uh... well... I mean, I know you don't..." She blushes and stammers.

I wasn't... was I?

Applejack watches her mumble and gives her a long, confused look.

"I was just kiddin', Twi," she says.

"Right! Right. Joking. Haha." Twilight picks up the brush and just holds it above Applejack's mane. Applejack raises an eyebrow.

"Don't tell me you really were?" she says.

"Of course not," Twilight says very loudly. "You aren't into girls."

"What if I was? You know, one o' those hypotheticals. Would you ask me out?" Applejack says.

No way... no way, no way!

Twilight feels those familiar butterflies in her chest. This is crazy. Okay, okay... play it cool. Don't assume anything. Just see where this goes. What would Rarity do? No, no... what would Rainbow Dash do?

She looks Applejack right in those fiery green eyes.

What's the honest answer?

"Sure I would. You're lovely," Twilight says.

Applejack leans back a bit, raising her eyebrows high.

"Whoa. Really?" she says.

Twilight folds her ears back, then wonders why she should be nervous. This is all just hypothetical, after all. A mental exercise. Academic.

"Yes. I would," Twilight says.

"What about Luna?" Applejack says.

Right, that... I really am terrible, aren't I?

Well, she did ask you to go sleep with other ponies.

"I don't think she would mind," Twilight says. Somehow, acting completely independently, one of her hooves slides up onto Applejack's shoulder and rests there.

"Hold on now!" Applejack jolts at the touch and leans away, sliding out from Twilight's hoof. "Sorry, sorry... I, uh... didn't mean to tease you or nothin'. I was honestly just curious."

"Oh," Twilight says, yanking her arm back. Her chest butterflies die mid-flight and plummet down into her stomach.

I guess it really was academic.

That's fine. That's fine. Everything's fine.

"Umm..." Applejack's cheeks turn a pale shade of red and she pointedly looks at the trees around them. "My fault. I didn't think you... I don't know. I'm bad at this."

"Really? You could've fooled me," Twilight says with the tiniest sharp edge in her voice.

"Sorry." Applejack looks mortified, a rare sight for Twilight. "Not that you aren't a great gal. And mighty purdy, to boot. But I'm pretty sure my cellar door don't swing that way."

"Right." Twilight calms down. "Well, that's too bad." She waggles her eyebrows.

"Wow!" Applejack slaps her shoulder. "Ain't you just a saucy little fox. Boy, if somepony told me a year ago you'd be breakin' hearts and givin' it to mares, I woulda called 'em crazy fer sure."

Something about this sentence reminds Twilight to be embarrassed about what just happened. She had wanted Applejack, maybe more than she even realized. She folds her forelegs under her body and looks away, feeling deeply ashamed for some reason.

This is getting totally out of hoof. What's happening to me?

"If it makes you feel any better..." Applejack touches Twilight's foreleg. "This ain't the first time I've had this conversation."

Twilight's eyes practically bug out.

"Yup." Applejack looks up at the leaves all around them. "Back when Rainbow Dash moved here, boy, she... well, she was after me, that's for sure. 'Cept I didn't see it at first. I even played into it a bit. I mean, I thought she was just goofin' around. And then one day she came out with it. I did not know how to handle that. Awkward as all get out."

"Wow." Twilight's embarrassment is forgotten.

"Yup. I felt pretty bad at first, but it worked out. You know we're best gals now. Heck, if I ever did go over to your side, I'd pretty much have to let her have first shot at me."

Twilight snickers. "I didn't know I was edging in on Dash's territory," she says.

"Ha!" Applejack chuckles loudly. "I like to think you've been edgin' in on my girl, you hussy." She winks.

Twilight gives her a playful shove and they both laugh, ending in a mutual sigh.

"It's a thin line sometimes. Between love and friends," Applejack says, suddenly very serious. "I think, anyway."

"Well, for what it's worth, I know I love you girls," Twilight says. "Whatever else might happen."

"Right back at ya, Twi." Applejack stands up and gives her a quick hug. She goes to retrieve her hat and starts looking around in the grass for her hair ties.

"Sorry. About before. When I..." Twilight starts to say.

Wait... what exactly am I sorry for this time?

"I guess that was a little sneaky of me. Offering to brush your mane." Twilight blushes again.

"Yeah, well..." Applejack finds her ties and starts fixing her tail with her hooves. "Don't worry about it. I guess it's nice to know somepony out there wants a piece of me."

"You've never thought about giving it a shot? You and Dash, I mean," Twilight says.

Applejack uses her teeth to tie off her mane, looking thoughtful all the while.

"I have. Sort of. I don't know, I love her to bits and all. If she was a guy, I'd be up in that right away." She finds her hat and sticks it back on her still-messy mane. "But I just can't get worked up over mares. I think about doin' it with stallions, and that gets me goin', no question. It's a shame, really. Be mighty convenient if I could just do it with Rainbow Dash."

Yes, she is pretty convenient. Helped me out. Kind of.

What an awful thought. That kind of thought is what got me in trouble with Braeburn.

But Dash wanted it that way.

Did she? It certainly seemed like it. Maybe she thinks of me as... convenient.

"What? Somethin' I said?" Applejack gives her a concerned look.

"No, no. Just thinking." Twilight stands up, brushing dirt and grass off her coat.

"Mmm. Anyways, I used to think that. But with recent events, I s'pose I'd have to give you a shot, too. I hear you're quite the lay." Applejack grins at her.

Who, me? Twilight Sparkle?! Twilight Sparkle is good in bed?!

Twilight's feelings flip completely as the rest of the sentence sinks in.

Wait a minute, who talked? Well it couldn't have been Braeburn...

"...Rainbow Dash." Twilight scowls.

"Would not shut up about it." Applejack rolls her eyes.

Twilight has no idea how to feel about that. It's starting to worry her how often that's been happening.

"I wouldn't worry too much. She blabbed to me and Pinkie, but I don't think she'll go tellin' anypony else," Applejack says.

That line brings something up from the back of Twilight's head.

"Um, I know this isn't my business... at all. But," Twilight falters. "Did Braeburn come back alone last night?" she spits out. Applejack gives her a long, curious look before answering.

"Honestly, I don't know. An' I ain't about to ask him, even if I could. He hopped on the first train out this mornin'."

"Oh." Twilight sinks her head.

"You know somethin' I don't?"

"I heard Pinkie was going after him last night."

"Oh!" Applejack's eyes go wide for a second, obviously picturing the possibilities there. She shakes her head. "Well that's between them two. Not somethin' I'm gonna think about too hard right now. And neither should you."

"Agreed." Twilight nods.

"Speakin' of... seein' as he ain't around, and we're back on civil terms and all. You should stay for lunch. Feels like it's been a while since we had you over to the farmhouse."

"That sounds nice," Twilight says. They set off through the orchard again. Twilight feels light as a cloud, all her tiredness and headaches gone.

Whatever just happened, it was good.

Even if Applejack didn't want to do anything...

Maybe so. But that's fine, she thinks. It really is. They walk together through acres of sweet apple trees. Applejack is at her side, and somehow it doesn't feel awkward at all.

This is impossible.

She's sitting at her desk, tapping a quill on the paper in front of her. There's just one line written in bold.

THE NEW PLAN

It's the only thing she's put on the paper for some time.

She sighs and looks out the window for the hundredth time. The moon hangs low in the sky, only recently risen. It's shrunken down to a sliver of a crescent, barely noticeable. The night is all the darker.

She taps her quill faster on the paper in front of her.

Maybe Applejack really was right.

But then why go through all this?

She's read the letter several times over, with a much clearer head than the previous night. Unfortunately, it's just as discouraging as it was before. There was no hidden layer of meaning she missed in her haste, she's fairly certain.

Luna wants me to have a relationship with someone else.

She wants me to love someone else.

I can't! Even if I did somehow, I still want Luna.

I would just end up hurting them.

Maybe she wants to wait until my relationship ends on its own?

That's crazy. How can I go into a relationship hoping it fails? Waiting for it to end? It wouldn't work.

Then what am I going to do?

"Ugh!" Twilight grunts and drops the quill, resting her chin on the desk. "What am I going to do?" she whines.

Don't you love her? Wouldn't you do anything for her?

Apparently not. She hadn't realized before what this little assignment of hers meant, exactly. Now it's all too clear. In order to get Luna, Twilight will have to break another heart. On purpose.

This can't be right. I'm just misunderstanding her. There has to be another way.

Twilight sighs.

I'll just write back asking for more specific instructions. In person, maybe.

She grins, wondering how much Luna could teach her, pony to pony. The room suddenly feels very warm.

Yes, great. Go ahead. Sexual fantasies are the solution to every problem, you dirty filly.

Well why not? It's not like I was getting anywhere anyway. I've been sitting here since it was still light out and...

That's funny, the room's all bright again. Where is that coming from?

"My most faithful student."

"Aah!" Twilight jumps and turns around to see the Princess, the other Princess, standing in her bedroom.

"P-Princess Celestia?!" Twilight is too shocked to bow or move or anything. Celestia is standing across from her, regal and radiant as always, shining with her own divine light. She drowns the room in color, her prismatic mane shimmering.

"Twilight." She smiles down at her. "I'm sorry to startle you."

"Oh it's... it's fine! It's fine." Twilight fights hard to contain her trembling and a ridiculous, fan-girl grin.

"It's so much easier to sneak out of the palace by just teleporting. I hope you can understand."

"Of course! Of course it is. I understand. Completely." Twilight nods frantically.

"It's been so long since we last spoke. I've missed you." Celestia sits down with a motherly smile. Twilight's heart just about stops.

"I... I've missed you, too," she stammers out. Her hooves feel glued to the floor for a moment, and then something snaps and she's rushing over to her mentor. The goddess towers over her, and Twilight nuzzles into her chest. Celestia nuzzles her back, her ever-moving mane sending tingles through Twilight's skin where it brushes against her. The moment lasts forever and no time at all, and the warmth lingers after Celestia pulls away. Twilight looks up into her large, shining eyes.

"Sit." Celestia nods towards Twilight's bed. Twilight climbs up obediently and sits. With the Princess resting on the floor still, their eyes are almost level. A weird, uncomfortable dread creeps over Twilight when she tries to look the Princess straight in the eye, so she nervously glances around instead.

"Unfortunately, I can't stay long. But I wanted to check on you," Celestia says.

"...Check on me?" Twilight says.

Celestia glances around the room, like she hasn't heard Twilight. "Where is Spike?" she asks.

"Oh. He's downstairs. In his room, probably," Twilight says.

"His room?" Celestia raises a perfect eyebrow.

"He has his own."

"Does he now?" Celestia smirks just a bit playfully. "I hope you two are still getting along."

"Oh gosh, nothing like that!" Twilight forces a fake laugh. "He's just... getting a little grown up, I guess."

Celestia smiles knowingly at her. "I'm glad to hear it. I can't wait to see what a fine young dragon he turns out to be." Celestia turns away, looking out the window. Longingly? There's something a little sad in her eyes, and Twilight is about to ask her about it when the goddess speaks again.

"I used to say the same thing about you, you know." She turns back to Twilight and it's almost like trying to stare at the sun. "It saddens me sometimes that I don't have you in Canterlot with me, but I'm so proud of you."

Twilight feels a ridiculous blush creep over her. "...Thank you?" she says. The Princess gives a short giggle, like heavenly music.

"Oh, Twilight. You've come so far. And made so many friends. And you still get uncomfortable when you're complimented. Between you and me, that's probably a good thing."

Well, I get uncomfortable when YOU compliment me, anyway.

Twilight forces a smile for the Princess.

"My sister and I have been talking about you quite a bit, you know," Celestia says.

Twilight's heart threatens to leap up into her throat. "Di... uh... you have?" she says.

"Indeed. She's taken quite an interest in you. And I hear you've taken quite an interest in her."

Twilight's mouth hangs open, frozen in horror.

"And now I hear you've even started dating ponies?" Celestia gives her a look that Twilight can't even begin to comprehend through her nervousness. She fidgets in place.

"Uh... yes, actually. I have." Twilight shrinks away from her mentor. "Is that okay?"

"Ha! Twilight..." The Princess shakes her head, smiling. "It's marvelous. I'm so happy for you. How is it going?"

"How's it going?" Twilight asks.

Celestia just nods at her, waiting.

"Well... it's going..."

Twilight was about to say well, but her mouth feels like sandpaper.

How much does she know? How much does she want to know?

Obviously she knows what Luna knows. How could I have thought otherwise? Just talk to her. Maybe she can help.

"It's more complicated than I thought it would be. I have so many questions. I feel so lost right now. I just don't know what to do," Twilight pours out without thinking, sounding more forlorn than she meant to. Celestia sighs loudly and puts a gold-shod hoof on Twilight's withers. The touch calms her instantly, fills her with inner peace.

"Love is wonderful. But it can be troublesome sometimes, can't it?"

Twilight just nods glumly.

"Tell me all about it. I would love to help, if I can."

The regal hoof leaves Twilight's back, but the feeling of peace lingers. She takes a deep breath.

"Well... I've only dated a little so far. Nothing too serious. Most of it was with my friends, actually."

"Your friends?" Celestia cocks an eyebrow again.

Oh no, that's weird, isn't it?

"Ah! Umm... yes... with – is that okay?" Twilight shrinks again. Celestia gives her a look, and this time Twilight knows it's an amused look. That beautiful hoof pats her back again.

"Are you embarrassed because you've been dating your friends, or because your friends are mares?" Celestia asks.

"...the second one?" Twilight squeaks out.

"That's strange. I would be more concerned about the former."

"Really?" Twilight says.

Celestia nods at her very seriously. "The purest love is wherever you find it, Twilight. If you find it with a mare, then so be it. It might not be considered fashionable at the moment. But when you've lived as long as I have, that seems rather silly. I would fully support your choice of mate, whoever it may be."

"Oh," Twilight says.

"But dating your friends can be more delicate. True, friendship can blossom into love. But if it doesn't work out... well, love can be troublesome. Can't it?"

Twilight's smile fades, and she nods in understanding.

"I'll just say that I advise caution in the matter. It's generally safer to look outside your circle of friends."

"I tried that." Twilight heaves a heavy sigh. "I really messed it up, too."

"How so?" Celestia asks, concern in her voice.

Twilight looks at her, again feeling strange for not having to look up. It hits her again, how long it's been since she last spoke with the Princess. Celestia is waiting for Twilight, just sitting there, somehow being graceful even when she's just sitting still.

"Well..." Twilight begins, but has trouble getting going.

Just tell her.

Twilight looks into those shimmering eyes and feels strong, feels loved, feels whole and at peace and worthy. It's how she always feels when the Princess takes an interest in her insignificant problems. She steels herself with newfound resolve, and speaks.

Twilight tells her everything. A shortened version, naturally, without any naughty details, but she tells her. She had meant to only talk about Braeburn, but it just pours out of her, starting with Luna appearing on her balcony and going right up to her most recent dilemma.

The Princess sits quietly, patiently listening. She nods at just the right moments. She lays a comforting hoof on Twilight whenever the purple unicorn starts to tear up. She gives a hushed gasp when Twilight describes her fight with Applejack. She smiles warmly when Twilight tells of their making-up that very morning.

"...and that just about brings us up to now," Twilight finishes. Self-conscious unease hangs over her, waiting for Celestia's response.

"My, Twilight," Celestia says. "You've had quite the spring this year."

Twilight looks down at her bedsheets. "I'm sorry," she mutters.

"Sorry?" Celestia says.

"I've made mistakes. I hurt someone. I hurt my friends. And I didn't tell you about... about me and your sister. I'm sorry."

Twilight feels Celestia's hoof touch the side of her face and her chin lifts on its own. Celestia is a picture of generous sympathy.

"You've done nothing wrong, my student."

"I haven't?"

"No. You meant no harm. True, you made mistakes. But I think you've learned much. And that is what's important."

"I..." Twilight chokes and turns away, blinking moisture out of her eyes. "What do I do now?"

"What does your heart tell you to do?"

Twilight snorts sarcastically.

"My stupid heart keeps contradicting itself. And my brain isn't much better."

"And what is the contradiction?" Celestia says, recalling her teacher-like tone from many hours of tutoring Twilight.

"Your sister wants me to do something I can't do," Twilight says instantly.

"Then don't do it," Celestia says.

"But then we can't..." Twilight catches herself. "Then she won't accept me as her suitor."

"Is that really so bad? It sounds like you have a wealth of choices." Celestia smirks.

"But... but I love her," Twilight says quietly. Celestia says nothing, but her eyes urge Twilight to go on. "She seems like everything I could ever want. She's perfect. Like..."

Like you?

Twilight had almost said it, and she flashes back to her most embarrassing fantasy, one she's blocked out ever since. She cringes inside. It feels like she's just seen her own parents rutting.

"No one is perfect, Twilight. Even myself and my sister," Celestia says dispassionately, seemingly oblivious to Twilight's thoughts. "Have you spent much time with Luna?"

"Well... no..." Twilight pointedly looks away, more uncomfortable than ever. "But ever since the solstice it just feels right. Meant to be. My heart tells me she's the one."

"And that's what you think love is? Destined perfection?" Celestia says.

"Isn't that what true love is?" Twilight asks desperately. Celestia takes a long and patient pause before answering.

"It is, and it isn't. Love is complex, Twilight."

Twilight frowns.

I knew she would say something like that. Why can't anypony just give me a straight answer?!

"Does your sister feel anything like that for me?" she blurts out, finally giving voice to the question that's been slowly driving her mad. Celestia just looks at her for a long moment, and again Twilight can't even come close to reading her face.

"I wouldn't presume to speak for her," Celestia finally says. Twilight is just starting to turn that over in her head when a third voice makes her jump in place.

"Nor should you, sister."

They both turn their heads. A dark blue alicorn melts out of the shadows in the corner of Twilight's bedroom, walking slowly towards them. Twilight gasps at the sight of her.

"Luna?" Twilight can't believe her eyes. Luna is... different. She's not wearing a crown or horseshoes or anything. And she's smaller. She looks to be about Twilight's size, her combination of wings and horn the only immediate giveaway that she isn't a normal pony. Her face looks younger somehow, and that mystical presence, the overwhelming sense of magic that seemed to follow her everywhere before, is gone.

"Good evening, sister." Celestia bows slightly. "How pleasant of you to join us."

"Good evening, Celly," Luna says nonchalantly. Twilight's jaw drops.

...Celly?!

Luna stops walking and examines one of her own hooves as if it were the most boring thing in the world.

"Is it not a little past your bedtime?" she says, looking down her snout at Celestia. Celestia narrows her eyes just slightly, and her ever-present warm smile looks strained at the edges.

"Indeed it is. But I don't mind staying up for our student. I know you understand," Celestia says.

OUR student?!

Twilight looks back and forth between the monarchs, feeling very small.

"She really is something special, is she not?" Luna says, just barely glancing in Twilight's direction.

"I'm glad you think so. You owe her much, after all," Celestia says.

Luna responds with a curt glare. "That being the case, you wouldn't begrudge us some privacy? You've had her all to yourself for so long."

"Of course." Celestia bows again. She turns to Twilight. "I'll leave you two alone," she says.

"You don't have to. I mean... I don't mind..." Twilight says.

"I think it's for the best," Celestia says. They both glance at Luna, who is making a show of not watching.

"I'll write more. I promise," Twilight says.

"Don't trouble yourself. I'll always be here for you." Celestia nuzzles Twilight's face, and the warmth is overwhelming. As she starts to pull back, she pauses, their muzzles almost touching, and darts her eyes towards her sister.

"Caution, Twilight," she whispers. "Trust your heart, and your head."

"Huh?" Twilight feels her face make a stupid, confused expression against her will. It seems to amuse Celestia greatly. The Solar Princess smiles deeply, then turns to her sister.

"I shall see you at sunrise?" she says.

"As always." Luna rolls her eyes.

"Then I bid you both goodnight," Celestia says, closing her eyes. Her horn glows, and the room is filled with sunlight, forcing Twilight's eyes shut. When she opens them again, Celestia is gone. The room is dark, still, and cold.

"Ugh, I thought she'd never leave," Luna says, flaring her wings out. She seems more relaxed, and she trots up to Twilight's bed, sitting where Celestia just was. "Now it's just you and me."

"Wha..." Twilight pauses, trying to parse out what she just witnessed. "...Luna?"

"Yes?"

"If you don't mind me asking... are you and your sister... getting along?" Twilight asks.

"Of course we are. What a silly question." Luna smirks at her. Twilight, feeling courageous, gives her a patented look of Twilight Sparkle skepticism.

"I know it might look strange," Luna says. "Do not let it worry you. We have our little tiffs from time to time. It is important, actually."

"Important?"

"Indeed. We have to air our differences occasionally, or things just build up. And build up. And then we might do things we regret." Luna looks away, a shadow of sadness crossing her features. It passes quickly. "You understand."

Boy, do I ever.

Even without all the recent unpleasantness, her friends taught her that lesson long ago. But her curiosity about the sisters pulls her thoughts away.

"So you two are fighting now?" Twilight asks, feeling a bit rude but unable to help herself.

"A little. She does not exactly approve of this mission I've given you, you know."

Panic floods Twilight's senses. She shoots up onto her rump, scooting back on the bed.

"What?! She doesn't... what?!" Twilight says.

"Oh, relax." Luna gets up and begins pacing around Twilight's room, examining various things with a look of profound disinterest. "She will not come between us."

"She won't..." Twilight shakes her head in disbelief, still trying to absorb the first part.

"I've made sure of it. I pointed out to her that you are a grown mare and you need to make your own decisions. She agreed."

Twilight is frozen on her bed, mouth hanging open, hair standing on end.

This is really, really starting to get out of hoof.

"I went on to state that you need to learn about love at some point, and that you would find no better teacher than me." Luna walks slowly past Twilight, sticking one wing out so the feathers caress Twilight's side as she passes. The touch is hypnotic, mesmerizing, and Twilight melts down onto the bed. Stars glimmer in her mind. Luna snaps her wing away and Twilight shakes her head, feeling more calm.

"She might not agree with my methods..." Luna begins poking around Twilight's nightstand, carefully examining everything she finds. "But she is hardly one to talk. As I said, she will not come between us."

Twilight watches Luna going through her things and finds it hard to focus on the Princess' words. If it was any other pony pawing through her things like this, she would be pretty upset. She feels a little uneasy still, but her crazy longing for the alicorn before her is starting to eclipse all other emotions.

"At any rate." Luna walks slowly away, past the door to the balcony where this all began. She glances over her shoulder at Twilight. "It is good to see you again. You are looking lovely tonight."

Twilight tries to speak, thinking something appropriately suave will come out. Instead, she's horrified to hear a weak, nervous laugh squeak out from her lips. Luna giggles and goes back to examining the room. She somehow manages to look bored while doing so with an intensity that mystifies Twilight. It reminds her of Rarity's temperamental pet cat. After a few moments, Twilight feels like she can speak without embarrassing herself.

"You look different. You look almost normal," she says.

Luna turns and raises an eyebrow at her, daring her to expand on that.

"I mean... you're beautiful. Just different. I don't understand," Twilight adds.

"Everything is cycles, Twilight. It is nature's way."

Luna turns away and lowers her head, examining the bottom shelf of a large bookcase across the room. Her rump sticks up in the air, pointed straight at Twilight, and her tail flicks around, almost invitingly. Twilight forgets whatever conversation they were having. She can't help but stare and crane her neck forward, unconsciously desperate to catch a glimpse of temptation.

It's like she's doing it on purpose... ugh, I can almost see her! What am I doing?

Luna obliviously keeps perusing the spines of books before her. Her rump bobs in the air. Twilight leans closer, catching just a tantalizing glimpse here and there as that beautiful tail weaves around.

Stop it, stop it, sit down this is so rude! Oh, but she's RIGHT there!

Luna turns her head and catches Twilight with her eyes in the honeypot, so to speak. Twilight's breath rushes out of her and she blushes the hardest she ever has in her life.

"See anything you like?" Luna raises her eyebrows.

Oh god! She was doing it on purpose!

Twilight looks away, mortified. Luna's playful tittering draws her eyes back up.

"Why so shy? I know of your desire for me. You need not hide it." Luna walks closer to Twilight's bed, stalking towards her with a gleam in her eyes. Twilight's whole body prickles up with a sexual thrill at the mere sight of it. But even as her breath picks up, something tears at the back of her mind.

"Luna?" she says.

Luna stops walking, paused in the middle of the room. "Yes?"

"Do you love me?" Twilight asks.

"Of course, Twilight. I love all my subjects," Luna says, mockingly adopting Celestia's tone.

"That's not what I meant." Twilight scowls at her.

"I know."

Twilight sees her start to move, and then somehow Luna is sitting next to her on the bed, her wings pressing into Twilight's sides. Twilight gasps at the sudden presence and cringes away out of instinct.

Is she that fast or... magic or... what just happened?

"Relax, my Twilight." Luna rests a wing over Twilight's back and she melts into it, leaning against the strangely normal-sized alicorn. "You ask me of love. Let us talk, then."

Twilight can't find any words for a moment, she's lost in the feeling of Luna's embrace. She's imagined it countless times, and it's actually happening, here and now. She can feel Luna's warm body and perfect coat against herself. But it's not perfection – the question she just asked hangs heavy in her mind. Luna speaks again before she can repeat it.

"Last we spoke, you confessed a crush. A new word, for me. I do so like it. But when exactly did this crush become love?" Luna says.

Twilight's body tells her that the bed has dropped out from under her, the whole world is gone and she's falling. Her eyes say different, that she's trapped here in some kind of nightmare, her dreams just out of reach.

She's right.

When... when did that happen?

What's happening? What... what is... no!

This is true, dammit! This is the truest thing I've ever felt! I didn't do all that just for a silly crush, that would be stupid! This is love!

"Luna, I do love you," Twilight blurts out, turning to the Princess. Luna pulls her wing away.

"I am flattered, Twilight."

Twilight moves her mouth but nothing comes out. She's frozen, trying not to let time move forward. Luna sighs.

"Twilight, listen..."

"But... you..." Twilight stammers, feeling tears burning in her eyes. "All of this... for you!"

"Listen."

Thousands of years of regal authority, summed up in one voice. Twilight obeys without choice, shutting her mouth.

"I may have many lovers," Luna says. "But my love does not come easily. I see great potential in you, Twilight. You are a lovely mare, and I have great affection for you. I would gladly take you as a mate. But I do not declare love lightly. It must be proven over time."

Twilight's mind races to figure out if this is good or bad. As usual with Luna, she only comes up with questions.

"This is why I gave you your task. I want you to understand, before you commit. You read my last letter?" Luna says.

"Uh-huh." Twilight nods, feeling like she's been scolded.

"It's important to me that you do this. Only then will I accept you."

"Only then?" Twilight gulps.

"Indeed." Luna nods at her. "But you have done well so far. I expect this shouldn't be a problem for you."

Shouldn't be a problem? Is she insane?!

"Luna... I don't think I can do it."

"Oh?"

"How am I supposed to have a relationship without hurting someone?" Twilight says.

"Simple. Most relationships run their course naturally. I can wait. I'm not going anywhere."

Twilight balks at this.

This isn't working. Why doesn't she see what I'm trying to say?

"I don't know if I have enough room in my heart for you and somepony else," Twilight says.

Luna snorts mockingly.

"Yet you have room for your friends, do you not? Your little dragon? Your parents? My sister?"

Twilight chews on her lip, considering this.

"Just forget about me for a while," Luna says. "Put it aside."

How?

"I can't. I won't," Twilight says, suddenly very determined. She glares at Luna, trying to show resolve. Luna stares at her for a long time, then sighs, shaking her head.

"I was afraid of this," she says. "And I had such hopes for you, too."

Luna stands up and hops lightly off the bed. Twilight watches her in dumb shock. This wasn't how it played out in her head at all. This is supposed to be the part where Luna realizes how much Twilight loves her and finally accepts her.

"I'm sorry. I cannot make exceptions. Even for you," Luna says.

"There's no other way?" Twilight pleads.

Luna sternly shakes her head. "Perhaps in the future you'll be more ready. Even if not, you should still try to find love. For yourself, if nothing else." Luna backs away from the bed slowly.

Is she leaving? No, no, no, wait!

Twilight panics and pounces off the bed clumsily, stumbling in front of Luna.

"That's it? That's all? It's over?" Twilight says, still waiting for the final twist.

"I'm afraid so. Please believe me when I say I never wanted to hurt you." Luna backs away farther, edging towards a dark corner of the room.

"Don't go! I can try! I'll do it!" Twilight dives in front of Luna, begging her, all caution forgotten. Luna averts her eyes, like the sight of Twilight pains her.

"In your desperation, you shame yourself. Like many before you. I'm so sorry, Twilight."

Luna takes one last step back, reaching the shadows. She fades into them instantly, melting away from all sight.

"Wait!" Twilight almost screams. She dashes forward into the corner and slams her face into the wall painfully. There's nothing there. She gets up and looks around the room frantically. She runs to each corner and patch of darkness like a trapped animal, not thinking. She is alone.

She bursts through the doors to the balcony and stops outside, looking up. The moon is a tiny, silver crescent, barely visible. The sky is dark – even the stars seem far away, dim somehow. Her breathing is ragged, choking.

What just happened?

She's gone. She's gone. It's over.

What... just... happened?!

Twilight tries to replay the conversation in her head and cringes at every moment of it. Her chest aches, and she falls onto her rump, eyes fixed on nothing at all.

"Ow," she says out loud.

She's gone. It's over. I lost her.

Twilight doesn't even think to cry. She just sits there, staring into space.

She doesn't love me.

"Ow," she whimpers.

This must be that heartbreak thing I've been hearing so much about.

She flops down onto the wooden planks of the balcony and rolls onto her side, her mind blank. Every time thoughts start to come back, it hurts. She shuts them out. She feels numb.

That's the word. Numb. Twilight Sparkle, checking out. Done.

Numb, she thinks.

...

She breathes in. She breathes out.

...

Numb.