Author's Notes:

This was initially a 9K word chapter but I've split it into 2. The second half - "Eight Days A Week" will be published shortly... (before the end of the week)
There is sex in this chapter but it's not graphic.

Twilight was vaguely aware that the sun had risen some time ago, she’d felt it on her right shoulder. Her back was to the window and she lay back to back with Applejack. Until now she’d been the one sleeping closest to the window. Applejack now lay on the side of the bed closest to the large oval window and was turned toward it. Twilight couldn’t figure out how she slept with the sun in her face.

Unless Applejack wasn’t asleep... Unless she was lying there thinking about the night before.

“…when I think,

Of things we did,

It makes me wanna cry…”

She couldn’t get The Hoofbeatles song “The Night Before” out of her head.

To Twilight, the night had always been simply that time between days. It was for studying, reading, making lists, sleeping and waiting for the next day. She knew the grounding of days; they were familiar territory, a time to get things done, to make sure that those things on her lists were accomplished. It was an orderly time and that order, received its rights by virtue of the social order. The rules of order held sway over the day and thusly daytime had the both the obligation and pre-eminent right to hold not only itself, but the night accountable to it.

As she lay there, Twilight found herself asking why things were the way they were. She'd spent so much time ingesting information for the purpose of knowledge and application that she'd never really stopped to consider the big questions with answers that were unknowable. Pondering them could provide great insights into who you were. Thoughts occurred to her and she found herself, for the first time asking why things that seemed so wonderful and right after the sun had set, could seem wrong and foreign when it rose. Even shameful... “The cold light of day” was an overused hackneyed phrase found in cheap novels, but there was a truth to it.

Did the day after have any right to judge the night before? The day was full of obligations to behave as others expected. Choices and decisions made in daylight hours reflected the expectations of society. Was that really more valid? What about the wants and needs of each individual? How were they to know who they really were if they spent their lives answering only to society’s expectations of them? The night rarely judged the day and when it did, it was with understanding.

It was day now and the night seemed so long ago and she worried. Was Applejack regretting what had happened? What they had done? Was she laying there trying to find the words to tell Twilight that it had all been a mistake? That she’d gotten caught up in the moment? The knot in her stomach tightened like a fist.

Then she remembered something else.

The two of them had passed out after making love, all tension and built up desire had been released and it left them spent. While Twilight slept, Applejack had gotten up and gone down the stairs to the bathroom. She’d gotten a towel and run it under warm water, then come back upstairs with it and a thick soft dry towel.

She sat down next to Twilight and gently cleaned her, lovingly wiping down her coat inside of her legs, and her thighs. Twilight woke up in a bit of a haze, wondering if she was dreaming.

“It’s ok sweetie, you just go back to sleep. I just wanted to… love you,” and she leaned over and gave Twilight a little kiss. It was something Twilight would remember the rest of her life.

But it had still been dark out…still night.

Despite the sun, she rolled over on to her back toward the window. She kept her eyes closed as she felt the sun on the right side of her face, warming it. It didn’t feel very strong or bright and so she dozed a little. The sun should have been brighter…was there some kind of shade? She opened her eyes and saw Applejack, laying there on her side, her head propped on her hoof, just looking at Twilight. The sun, behind her, shone around the edges of Applejack’s mane and it looked like a golden halo.

I can’t believe I never noticed how incredibly beautiful she was until last week.

“Twilight?”

She’s regretting last night, I know it.

“Um-hmm?”

Oh please don’t say it was a mistake…

“I-I think I need to tell you something”

“Oh, okay…” The knot tightened a turn.

“Well, since we’re so close and all, I wanted to tell you first…”

What the…?

“I don’t exactly know how to say this. But there’s this pony, see? And, well, I think I kinda fell in in love with her…”

“Oh, really?” Twilight smiled, blinking at the golden halo of light. She felt pure joy spread out from her chest and wash away the tension. She felt the fist in her stomach unclench; the strands of the knot unravel by way of Applejack’s words dissolving it. The relief made her giddy, and bought to mind the sensations she’d experienced after a cup of vintage Hard Cider from the Apple Family’s private stock.

Twilight thought she knew the depths of her love for Applejack, but the coy, playful, sensual side that had begun to emerge in the blonde pony the night before bought out emotions and feelings that left Twilight questioning what she really knew about life, about herself and Applejack, and about love. She was discovering more about the heart of her friend, her passion and her sweet playfulness. The realization was not only applied to Applejack, it bought out a side of herself she had no idea was there.

“Did you say her? A MARE?! You’ve fallen in love with a mare?!” Twilight’s eyes flew open in shock, then she rubbed her chin, thinking about it. “Well I don’t know about that..,” she raised an eyebrow, “Is she nice?”

“Hmm, I reckon she is, though we didn’t have much time for talk.” Applejack smiled as she spoke

“Huh?” Twilight was genuinely perplexed.

“Nope, she got right down to business.” she leaned toward Twilight and looked around as if somepony might be listening “…calls herself the Lavender Lover.” Applejack said, then drew back, again looking around suspiciously.

Twilight blushed and giggled.

“The Lavender Lover eh? I’d love to meet her sometime. She sounds like a dashing, romantic figure from a torrid love story. Is that a fair description? Would you say she’s a Lavender Lover?”

Applejack replied without hesitation or secrecy. “Nope, if you ask me she’s more of a Purple Pervert!”

Twilight did a head bounce and blinked her eyes.

“Purple Pervert?!! Well I suppose if she were so perverted then a chaste pony such as yourself would have certainly resisted her advances and run far away and not engaged in any of her perversions…” Twilight said as she raised her eyebrows and smirked. “That is what you did, right?”

“I was going to, but then…” Applejack raised her forelegs high above her head, as though she were Flankenstein’s monster, and pointed her hooves down at Twilight. “…she cast her evil horny spell on me! OoooooOOOoooo,” Applejack made her eyes go all googley. Then she let her arms drop and relaxed, and sitting back on her haunches and with a sigh reflected, “Cain’t say I recollect much after that.”

The melodrama continued and she looked deeply into Twilight's lavender eyes. “It was all a blur. She forced me to say all sorts of horrible things. And the depraved things she did to me, not to mention the depraved things she made me do to her!” The blonde pony clapped her hooves to her eyes “Oh it’s just too awful to think about…”

“Oh you poor thing! What are you going to do?!!”

Applejack dropped her hooves from her eyes. She really did look upset.

Then her face transformed into that horny grin.

“Well shucks! Find her and see if I can get her to do it again!!”

WUMPF! Twilight let her have it with a pillow – but on the foreleg, making sure she avoided her head, and was careful not to hit her too hard. Applejack went all googley eyed again and pretended to faint onto the bed in a swoon.

“So? Do you love her?”

Applejack sighed and nodded.

“How bad is it?” Twilight tried to sound serious.

“Very bad.Very very bad. I’m plum crazy about her. Imagine how bad it could possibly be and then add a suitcase full of bad.”

“Oh my, that sounds awful,” replied Twilight with no small amount of melodrama.

“Well it is... Except for the kissing...” Applejack looked off into the distance with a dreamy expression. “She’s a great kisser. And she’s beautiful. And very loving…”

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm” Applejack smiled and nodded.

“I imagine that’s because you’re so loveable.”

Twilight nuzzled Applejack under her ear, eliciting a giggle. They looked at each other for a moment and kissed. It was gentle and warm, and the night’s confessions, silliness and subsequent passion even in this cold light of day, stood firm in both their hearts as a very special night of trust and love. The morning had nothing to say, no power to detract or weaken the bond they had forged in the night, when hearts were bolder and words truer.

Applejack flopped back on the pillow and pulled the bedclothes up to the top of her chest. She shifted her shoulders back and forth slightly, settling in for a little more sleep. Twilight watched this with joy. She felt a rush of gratitude at being the pony lucky enough to share both Applejack's heart and bed. Adding to the sweetness of the moment was the feeling of relief that continued to rise within her. It was incredible; no dread in the periphery, no hint of worry threading its way through the beauty and calm of the morning’s stillness.

She lay the side of her head down on the pillow and snuggled in herself, giving AJ a little nuzzle under her left ear. The blonde pony’s eyes stayed closed but she smiled, gave out a little giggle and cocked her head a little to the left in response.

What a way to start a morning!

Twilight closed her eyes, happy and content. Applejack turned on her side and faced her. Twilight glanced at her and felt her face break into an involuntary smile.

Applejack leaned forward and kissed the bridge of her nose. The kiss was returned along with a quick kiss to each eyelid, tickling her blonde eyelashes. Applejack smiled and opened her eyes a little, then quickly kissed Twilight on the lips. Though their minds were still partially asleep, their bodies were another matter.

The kissing started turning passionate and the mood more romantic. words of love were spontaneous and sincere. Caresses were slow at first, teasing out the desires. Arousal began to emerge from the sleepy bodies and the dreamy ways of the morning passed into sensual softness.

There were little moans and sighs between kisses. Sleepy, half opened eyes remained, never fully opening, the lids moving sensuously, first conveying young desire, then gratitude for aching needs met and love given. Twilight shifted to allow her wings to become erect. Deep pulses in the pectoral muscles that matched her heartbeat caused them to flex sensuously under her lavender coat. Applejack watched and found it more erotic than she thought possible. Under the shifting bed covers, hooves searched for those places first explored last night. Each watched the other grow more and more aroused, their desires eagerly feeding off the building energy and pleasure they saw in the rising pink color in their cheeks and now clear intent eyes.

What Twilight and Applejack had begun to learn about each others bodies the night before they recalled and now sought to use in pleasing each other. They tried to build the others excitement slowly, savoring each touch, becoming intently aware of physical sensations as different parts of their bodies met, caressed, massaged, brushed and kissed, but their young bodies refused to wait, eager for release.

They remained face to face throughout, with occasional kisses and looks of intimacy and understanding. Soon motions became faster, as did breathing, shortening to rapid pants and gasps. Twilight was barely able to hold back as she looked into those beautiful green eyes and saw mounting desire there.

Applejack found herself not paying as much attention to the pleasure Twilight was bringing physically to her, rather she found her arousal was feeding off the alternating carnal hunger in her lavender eyes followed by the instant gratitude and pleasure she saw there as she tenderly caressed her.

Their panting grew louder, taking on a husky tone, mixing with little cries and moans that sounded almost desperate. With words and nods and embarrassed little smiles they shared the what felt good and what felt better. Soon there were only partial words, spoken between gasps and small, slightly frantic nods to show how close they were to climax. Little involuntary spasms in their stomachs and hips made their bodies thrust and jerk, and with each was an accompanying groan or sigh.. These increased in frequency and intensity as their excitement grew. Soon it was only "Uh-huh, uh-huh..." building in tone.

As they approached climax, Applejack leaned forward to touch foreheads and the alicorn lowered her head to do the same. Inadvertently Twilight touched her softly glowing horn to Applejack’s forehead. Suddenly each was inside the other, the desperate, physical pleasure each sought was known to them both in a moment of intimacy so profound that they almost pulled apart, but neither did.

In the next moment they climaxed, their mouths crying out in unison, their trembling bodies stiffening, going taut, a pure physical pleasure radiating from between their hips out to their entire beings. Twilight’s wings were fully out now and trembling. It was a feeling of melting into each other; of becoming one at that moment and it took them over the top into the pure whiteness and silence of the most physically and emotionally intense sensation either had ever experienced as they shared a single, powerful orgasm.

Finally it began to subside and as they slowed their caresses, the world gradually returned to focus. Twilight’s wings retracted, though they continued to pulse with the beating of her heart.

The experience was intensely personal, every inner emotional defense was breached, every hidden desire present in that moment was known to the other. Suddenly they felt themselves flooded with conflicting feelings of profound closeness mixed with a sense of violation. For these two young ponies it was almost too much to bear.

They lay there, panting hard, trying to catch their breath looking everywhere but at each other. When they finally did, it was with eyes full of shame and fear. They embraced and held on to each other tightly. Twilight suddenly knew that Applejack was crying and despite her best efforts to be brave and comfort her, she broke down as well.

Just as a bright flash leaves a temporary image on the retina, this experience left behind an emotional imprint which reduced the two young ponies to sobs. They comforted one another with words of re-assurance and love. They stayed like that until finally they were able to separate and look at each other.

“I-I didn’t know that would happen, I’m so sorry…” Twilight said, choking on a sob..

“I know, I know, just hold me Twilight, please,… just..hold me,” pleaded Applejack, unable to stop the tears.

Twilight had very rarely, if ever, heard Applejack ask for help of any kind. To hear those words, pulled at her heart and she held her love as tightly as she could. In that moment Twilight discovered one reason that she loved Applejack. Despite all her fierce independence and stubbornness, Applejack needed Twilight in a way that no pony ever had or ever would. Since that first day in Ponyville, as their friendship had grown, Applejack had learned that she could trust Twilight utterly. It was never spoken, and now it would never have to be. To Twilight it was the greatest gift anypony could give her, most of all Applejack. To have her utter trust was an honor beyond royalty or being some kind of special gifted pony or anything else.

She knew that she needed Applejack and that Applejack had always been there. She needed her in all things, from her opinion on what to bring to a picnic, to dealing with life and death decisions that affected hundreds of pony’s lives; from re-assuring Twilight that she could handle the next test, to now being her love and her lover. She pulled her closer.

“It’s okay it's okay,” she whispered, “For as long as you want me Applejack,I’ll be here to hold you, just ask,”

Applejack, her head tucked into the nape of Twilight’s neck and nodded.

Finally they pulled apart and sat up, looking at each other, sniffing and wiping their eyes. Peace and calmness filled them now and they held hooves.

“I don’t know what that was,” Twilight said, “I’ve read books about unicorn sex, even alicorn sex, you know while you were recovering, but there was no mention of anything like that.”

“I don’t reckon there’s a lot in any books about a mare earth pony making love to an Alicorn…”

“No, I suppose not.” Twilight gave a little sniff and smiled weakly. With another glow from her horn, tissues appeared and the two blew their noses.

“I am so damn sick of crying! It feels like I haven’t gone an hour since you were hurt without the water works starting up.” Twilight’s voice changed to one of mild annoyance

“Come on, Twi, you’ve been through a lot…”

“I won’t argue with you there…” They both smiled.

Neither spoke. There was something between them that would be asked or would not be asked. They both knew the nature and the future of their relationship rested on it. The moment would soon pass. The room was very quiet.

“Applejack?”

“Yes?”

Twilight waited until the blonde pony was looking her in the eyes.

“Would you ever do that again?”

Applejack glanced away, “I-I don’t know Twilight. It was so much feeling, so personal, such a confusing mix of everything and, it, well, it felt like desperation. It was like being caught doing, you know, doing...something you shouldn’t, only worse. I don’t reckon I want to share those things with anypony. There were parts of what we never tell each other, that maybe we never even tell ourselves.” She reached up and touched Twilight's cheek “But you were there, with me and it was so full of love, so much love that I don’t know… I don’t reckon I’ll ever think of you the same way, or me either. It’s just so much to go through.”

Twilight looked down and gave a small nod.

“I know, I understand” Twilight’s voice was strained and tight as she fought back the tears. Applejack reached over and put her hoof under Twilight’s chin. She raised it up and looked into the sad, tear-filled lavender eyes.

“But if you asked me to Twilight, I would.”

Twilight was overcome by the words and Applejack took her in her arms and held her, rocking her slowly. After Twilight had quieted, Applejack spoke again “Just as long as it’s not this afternoon…”

They laughed a little, sighed, and lay back down on the bed holding each other. The room was quiet for a while.

“Although, Ms Sparkle, that ain’t to say there wasn’t a good part to it, I mean there was a really good part…”

“Yeahhhh…”Twilight spoke as if in a very pleasurable daydream, “I was just thinking about that too…” she said with a sigh.

“That was just amazing! I think my mane stood straight out!”

Twilight laughed at that. “Talk about intense!” exclaimed Twilight “I didn’t want to say anything about it because of the other thing.” Twilight sighed. “But, WOW, I’m still trembling and, you know, like…,” she blushed, “…pulsing.”

“I reckon the emotional part was one thing, but the physical part was pretty special. To actually share something so wonderful that felt so good but was so personal, with somepony you really love….”

“That’s why I asked you about, you know, maybe doing it again sometime,” Twilight said, leaning forward and giving the blonde pony a little nuzzle. “Sharing that with you… I can’t imagine how making love could ever be any better.” Twilight looked at Applejack. “To me making love is special, something you share with somepony you love, but ironically when you get to the most pleasurable part, you are kind of alone. Your experience, that intense pleasure, is only known to you, you kind of go off into your own world. But I was aware of your orgasm with me, it was like we were one pony. And at first there was that fear but then I got that sense, of-of you letting go…”

“…completely trusting you to let go too,” said Applejack, finishing the sentence. “That moment when everything went white and silent would have been a little scary if you hadn’t been there with me.” Applejack said, nuzzling Twilight back, “but oh, did that ever feel good!” Twilight looked back at her, rolled her eyes and nodded.

“You were so cute when you woke up earlier, saying all those things. I think I know the answer to my question, even if you never told me, you’ve shown me,” Twilight smiled at her.

At first Applejack gave her a quizzical look but then her face became still. She looked back into Twilight’s eyes with a look so pure and so deep that no matter what Applejack said to her now it would never come close to what Twilight saw there. She felt foolish for even asking to hear the words.

Applejack spoke quietly “I love you Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight just kept looking into her eyes.

“I can see that.” Twilight said and leaned forward, giving her a kiss. Applejack returned the kiss and after a moment leaned back and smiled. Then she paused, took a deep breath and gave Twilight a very sweet and shy smile and without looking away, she spoke.

“Twilight Sparkle, I am thoroughly, madly, totally, utterly, completely, undeniably, happily, obviously, passionately, emotionally, madly….”

“…you already said madly…”

“…I know, shut up... physically, entirely, whole-heartedly, passionately…”

Twilight started laughing “…you said that too, you’re clearly running out of adverbs…” Twilight was laughing harder now, tears spilling from her eyes

“…yes I am quite aware of that – quiet!...head over hooves now and forever in love with you.”

“Me too...” Twilight said.

“WHAT?! ‘Me too’? What in tarnation was that? ‘Me too?” I go on for hours telling you..."

"Minutes"

"What?"

"Minutes, actually seconds at best. You couldn't have been telling me how much you loved me for more than 10 or 15 seconds."

"I'm sorry! Next time I'll carry a stopwatch! "

"See that you do…”

WHUPH! Applejack hit Twilight with a pillow. Twilight did her version of the googley eyes. Applejack laughed.

“Easy there sweetie, my head is still woozy from our little lovemaking session. Are you back to normal already?” Twilight looked at her and blinked her eyes as if trying to clear her mind.

“Hay no! I’m still buzzing”

“I don’t think it’s safe for me to stand up yet…” Twilight said

Applejack laughed

“I’m serious!” Twilight whined…

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