Author's Notes:

This is really a "slice of life" chapter. I cannot believe how hard it was to write. I've been working intensely on other upcoming chapters that move a lot faster. I don't know why this was such a tough chapter, but that's just how it is sometimes. . I re-wrote it several times before I got to one I was really happy with. Hope it's not too much randy banter...

The image "Let it Snow" is by DeviantArt artist foxesgoquack. I Love it. I had to use it. For me it's what their relationship is all about.

Twilight’s mind drifted down the stream, tumbling over stones, curving through sluice-ways, turning gradually in eddies. It was empty and quiet as it watched the leaves and heard the soft slow sounds of breath, drawing and exhaling.

She found herself on the road to the castle. She and her new friends were unknowingly headed toward a fierce showdown with Nightmare Moon...

There had been a moment…on a mountain…on the way there.

Twilight turned her head to the right and looked at the peaceful face of the honey orange pony lying asleep next to her. She reached over and stroked the beautiful mane.

I wonder if you’ve thought about that moment since then. As I think about it now I wonder if I saw what I thought I saw. It was a split second of utter terror… it seemed as though the mountainside around us was breaking apart.

Twilight closed her eyes, remembering those awful moments.

I was so damn scared. I remember kicking my legs and hanging over the edge. And you were safe, hanging part way up the hill with your teeth securely clamped to a root. You looked down and the moment you saw me you let go and slid down the mountainside to me. You grabbed hold of my hooves and held on tight, keeping me from going over the edge.

That cliff’s edge was so hard and sharp. I remember it scratched and gouged my stomach, digging into my ribs, and I clung to your hooves for my life. Then you told me to let go. I remember thinking “Are you fucking crazy? You’re hauling me up or we’re going over together, sister!” But I don’t think I said quite those words, I was a little more polite. But you promised me. “Let go and you’ll be safe…”

Then for a moment, there was that change on your face, that look deep in your eyes that I’d never seen from any pony before, but somehow I knew. In that brief moment I know I saw your love for me that was not just a friend’s love but another kind of love, and then I knew it was okay to let go. So I closed my eyes and did.

We never talked about it and I never let myself think about it, though I remember now, as I watched you gracefully bound down the mountainside after Rainbow and Fluttershy had caught me, as you knew they would, and carried me down, I felt so much relief, so much joy. I felt something stirring inside me, something different. I wanted to call out but I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to ask you more about what had happened up there between us but things started happening so fast and suddenly I realized that it would be the worst thing to do. It wasn’t the right time I decided; there would be time later for us to talk.

But then I began to doubt it and wonder if I was wrong about it. I was afraid of what it might do to our young friendship. Then there was all that head and heart spinning stuff with Luna when she was Nightmare Moon and with the Elements of Harmony we bought her back to us.

So I slowly put it away, though I have to admit that there were a couple of times that you were in my fantasies. Well, maybe more than a couple, but I forced myself to think about stallions, and colts. After all, I wasn’t like that.…

I’d done a pretty good job of burying it, pretending that it was a look of worry in your eyes that day, that you afraid that we both might die.

But earlier this morning, during that incredible moment, I saw it again, saw it and felt it from you. The excitement was building and we were looking into each others eyes and I touched you with my horn just as the orgasm began. I opened my eyes and looked into yours and there it was, an incredible love. Then everything went white…

She continued looking at the peaceful, beautiful, slumbering face of Applejack, her friend and lover. They had made love and it had been incredible. It had more intimate than she thought anything could ever be and it had left her at that balance point. Neither needing nor wanting, and this beautiful, incredible pony had bought her here, set her mind and soul in this river and let it flow over the stone and through the sluice-ways, along with her own.

The radiator hissed out steam and the pipes clanked.

“Hey there blondie…” Twilight said softly.

“Mmm-hm?”

“I hate to say it but we need to think about the thought of getting up.”

“Why?” there was a slight whine to Applejack’s voice.

“Apple Bloom? Sleepover? You’ve been talking about how much you’re looking forward to it since I suggested it.”

Applejack opened her eyes and turned her head toward Twilight and smiled.

“Uh-huh, well a certain purple pervert got me all discombobulated and my priorities got a might jumbled, princess!” Applejack’s tone feigned annoyance but Twilight knew she was kidding. AJ grinned and raised an eyebrow as she stretched and propped herself up on her elbows.

“My little sister…” the whine had been replaced with wistfulness and she closed her eyes, letting the images of the little light green filly appear behind her eyelids. Twilight watched the smile spread across her face.

Now the lavender pony rolled over to her right, toward Applejack and nuzzled the crook of her elbow. The blonde pony’s large green eyes were still closed, and though her mind was filled with thoughts of Apple Bloom, a giggle escaped her. Twilight’s head rested next to Applejack’s arm and she let her eyes close and shifted, pulling the blankets up over her shoulder. Despite what she’d just said she felt an intensely perverse desire to contradict herself. She’d announce what they were supposed to do, what they should do and she would convince them both to deliberately ignore it. There was plenty of time to get up…

The blanket settled and the heavy, warm air drifted past Twilight's face. It was redolent of their musk. She could smell Applejack’s excitement from earlier, could smell her sweat and sex, as well as her own. And she could smell Applejack’s body, her coat and her skin. Suddenly she wanted her again, she thought about the mound between her legs, about how she tasted and the sounds she made during sex and how it was all tied to her passion and love. She the felt desire rising, despite that morning’s intense love making that had ended only a short nap ago. She thought about sliding her head under the covers and kissing her way down, as she’d done last night. Her hips twisted and she slid her leg over Applejack’s, letting her pubic mound press against the blonde pony’s thigh.

Applejack’s eyes opened slightly and the corners of her mouth curled up in a smile, but she didn’t look down, just stared straight ahead. “Oh my little pony girl…are you flirting with me?”

“Mmm-hmm” Twilight affirmed

“I thought I was getting some kind of subtle hint. Well I had been thinkin about Applebloom until you did that. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I am kinda interested. I thought we’d both had enough, but wow, I gotta admit Twilight Sparkle, you've got my motor humming. Now I have a choice, I can lay back and we can start kissing…”

Applejack deliberately flexed the muscle in her leg as she moved her hip and Twilight, feeling the movement wrapped her hoof around Applejack’s lower leg and pressed herself up harder against her thigh.

“Mmmmmm,” the young lavender pony moaned at the sensation. She looked up into the green eyes seductively, seeking a decision on the matter,

“…mmm?” Twilight’s eyelids closed slightly and the corners of her mouth curled up into a smile.

“Twi, you can say more with one sound than most ponies can say with a dictionary in one hoof and a thesaurus in the other...”

They both laughed. “…and you know I love you too pony girl,” continued Applejack, “and I cain’t begin to tell you how much I want you, but we really do have to get going. We’ll find some time later, somehow…”

She looked down at Twilight, who looked back with eyes that initially begged for a different answer but then reflected a realization that she needed to support her Applejack. They looked at each other for a moment then spoke simultaneously-

“Why don’t you tell me something about Spike”

“Did I ever tell you about Owlicious and Spike?”

The two ponies laughed and disentangled themselves. Applejack stood, yawned and began her stretching routine. She was strong and supple. She arched her back and then carefully and slowly stretched out her legs. They were taut, solid and firm but there were no bulging muscles, just sensuous long curves. Twilight watched the muscles shifting smoothly under her coat. All thoughts of the little purple dragon vanished as her mind went to… and then she noticed Applejack looking first at her and down at her own legs.

“This ain’t helping, is it?”

“What? Huh? No…I was uh, just thinking how the strength is returning to your leg.

“A’course you were,” said the blonde pony with a wink. She turned around at looked out the window and gaped.

“Twilight honey?” she said, frozen in place, “I’m guessing y’all haven’t looked out the window yet have you.”

“No… I think it’s your turn today,” she said with mock seriousness. “Why?”

“Well we had a little bit of snow, and we weren’t the only ones gettin’ busy.”

Twilight walked to the window and stood beside Applejack. She was awestruck by what she saw. “Okaaay – you get the new crown as the queen of understatement. Wow.”

By her estimate, almost 3 feet of snow had fallen on the hamlet of Ponyville and the surrounding countryside. With the sun still rising, the soft undulation of the snow’s surface resulted in shadows that bought to Twilight’s mind an image of white frozen rolling swells on the ocean, like the one’s she and Shining Armor had sailed on many summers ago. At first, the sea and her stomach had not gotten along, but she’d succumbed to the lure of the air and the noiseless way of the boat as it made its way swiftly through the water. Finally she was able to get used to the motion and found the whole experience addictive. She turned to Applejack with excitement.

“How’d you like to go sailing this summer? My brother can teach us. It’s wonderful.”

“Sure...wait- where they hay did that come from? Are we looking out the same window? What do you see?”

“I see things that make me think of things that I want to do with you.” She nuzzled the blonde pony behind her ear.

Applejack smiled and paused thoughtfully before speaking.

“I just love you so much…”

Twilight smiled and nuzzled her again before heading downstairs to make tea.. Applejack had learned that with certain things, Twilight was very methodical to the point of ritualistic and when engaged in one of those activities, such as making morning tea, it was best not to disturb her. This morning, however, the blonde pony was feeling impatient.

“Why don’t you just use magic to make tea?” She asked as she joined Twilight next to the stove.

“Because you put the tea in first and then you bring the pot to a boil.” She turned and smiled, you have to learn these things if you’re going to bring me breakfast in bed.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh…”

Twilight continued, “The amount of time it takes for the water to boil is the perfect amount of time to make the tea. I can never quite time it right with magic. Besides, using magic to do everything, especially things that you don’t need magic to do, I don’t know… it’s too easy. It takes the personal touch out of it, and when you get up some cold morning to make it for us, you’ll know exactly how.” She leaned over and gave Applejack a kiss on the cheek. Besides, I like to use magic when nothing else will do…”

Applejack listened and glanced down for a moment before looking up into the deep lavender eyes. She leaned over and gently nuzzled the nape of Twilight’s neck and spoke softly into her ear. “Like with the spheres…”

Twilight returned the affectionate caresses with her muzzle as the two ponies silently shared a moment in the quiet of the morning.

Out in the bright day one of the Pegusi called to another.

“Hey, why don’t you look in the closet for a warm vest to wear? It looks cold out there.”

“Sure thing.” Applejack began to look through the outfits. She pulled out a gown that was stunning.

“Woah! That is beautiful! Where did you get it?”

“Oh that’s the outfit that Rarity designed for me for the Galloping Gala. Isn’t it amazing? She is so talented and so generous…”

Twilight suddenly paused and her smile faded. She sat, her ears folded back, and looked at the ground.

“You okay babe?”

“It- it’s been over a week since I’ve seen her and Spike…all of a sudden I miss them terribly, especially Spike, he’s with me all the time.”

“Oh honey!” Applejack went to her side, “don’t look like that. I know you must miss them sumthin’ fierce. I know that wherever they are they’re thinking about you and missing you just as bad. I’ll bet that little dragon is having a great time though, what with Rarity. She surely is a pretty one, not the best looking of the 6 of us mind you.” She smiled at Twilight making her blush through her tears. “…and it sounds like her heart is even prettier than she is. And little Spike, well he’s with the pony of his dreams right?” Applejack stroked Twilight's mane as she sat there, with her head down and her ears still back. She looked up, her eyes filled with tears, and nodded.

“…and I’m sure she’s keeping him busy with lots of things to do,” AJ went on, “Think of all the wonderful experiences he’s having that he’ll tell us all about when he comes home. Just imagine being on the big couch in front of the fire – All of us are there and you and Spike are sitting together. He is going on and on about all the great things he did and saw, all the famous pony’s he met. Rarity is telling you what an incredible help he was and how he was the hit of all the parties. Sounds like he’s a lampshade on the head kind of a guy. Am I right?”

Twilight was sitting there with her eyes closed imagining all the things Applejack described. She laughed when she remembered the first crazy party in Ponyville on the eve of the Summer Sun celebration. Sure enough, there was Spike with a lampshade on his head. Twilight sniffed and started to chuckle. She could hear the little dragon’s voice in her head as she imagined him regaling them all with his recollections of the adventures he and Rarity had shared. She started to smile, then let out a little laugh at the thought of the inevitable differences in his versions of events and adventures when compared with Rarity’s. Suddenly everything was wonderful again, all the guilt vanished and its weight with it. All with the right words from her love. She opened her eyes and looked up at Applejack. Her eyes welled with tears again and she opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t.

“I know sweetie…” the blonde pony said quietly, “I love you too. Feeling a little happier?” she stood beside Twilight and put her foreleg around her.

Twilight nodded and rested her head against the beautiful orange coat and listened to her heart.

“I imagine you’ll have a thing or two to tell him when he gets home too…”

Twilight's eyes flew open at the thought and she looked straight up at Applejack with exaggerated worry. They stared at each other for a moment and then burst out laughing.

“Won't that be an interesting conversation?" Twilight said with a smile.wiping her eyes with the back of her hooves. "Thanks sweeite, it just suddenly hit me, you know?. Spike is like my shadow. With everything that’s happened between us I really haven’t given him much thought. I guess I feel kind of guilty about it, and you’re right, he probably is having a really great time.”

She looked up at Applejack smiling.

“You knew just what to say to make me feel better, how do you know my heart so well?

“How couldn’t I?”

The two ponies nuzzled and shared a kiss. It was interrupted by the whistle of the tea kettle.

“AJ, would you get those two mugs up there?”

Applejack reached up and bought them down. When she went to turn them around she noticed they had something on them. She glanced over at Twilight who was biting her lip, then she looked back at the mugs. There was an image on the side of the cup. Applejack recognized it as one she had thrown away in the trash. It was the two of them cuddled up together, asleep on the green couch in the reading room.

When Twilight had found it days ago, crumpled up and thrown in the garbage, she'd grown extremely upset at what she thought that could mean. She'd started to run up to the loft to wake Applejack until she saw that she'd been drawn without wings. She smiled, knowing that's why it was in the trash. She sat on the stairs and just looked at it, careful not to let her tears land on the paper. Using magic she'd meticulously returned the picture to pristine condition, then made the mugs with the image on the side. It had taken her 20 minutes of intense, exhausting concentration, but when she finished, the images were truly permanent.

Applejack looked up from the image, her green eyes full of shame. “But you don’t have any wings, I-I forgot to put them on you.” Applejack bowed her head. “I don’t know why.”

“Is that all you see when you look at this?” Twilight’s voice was soft.

Applejack lifted her head slightly and looked up “No”

“Did you look at the back, silly?” Twilight asked.

Applejack turned a mug around and read what was written there. In Twilight’s beautiful cursive handwriting were the words

“Where my heart will always be safe.”

Applejack, visibly moved, put the mug down and walked over to Twilight, her head still slightly bowed, and gently nuzzled the side of her face with her own.

The bright morning sun illuminated the steam as Twilight poured the tea into the mugs and added honey. She went to the fridge, got out the little pitcher of milk and poured some into each mug. Applejack just watched her go about the little ritual, clearly loving every minute.

Twilight was aware of it but said nothing. Her only acknowledgement was an involuntary unceasing smile.

Twilight turned toward the fireplace and bowed her head. Her horn glowed and the wood stacked there caught fire and the two ponies settled into the large down sofa in front of it, sipped their tea and shared a muffin.

“I reckon I’d like to take a shower before we head out to get Apple Bloom,” Applejack said as she placed her empty mug on the table.

“Good idea. You know AJ, we’ll conserve water if we shower together…”

Applejack rolled her eyes and smiled. “Don’t you ever stop?!”

“I had no intention of any more romancing, but have you ever had somepony scrub your back in the shower? I do it all the time in the shower with my magic, but I’ll bet you don’t……..what?”

“Twiliiiiiight…” her voice rose in pitch at the end.

“What?!” The lavender pony struggled to suppress a smile “WHAT??!! Stop raising that damn eyebrow!”

“Then stop trying to start something!”

“I’m NOT!” Twilight insisted. She glared at the implacable green eyes. She let out a cute growl “You’d better watch it. I will shave that eyebrow off and cut your vocabulary in half!”

Applejack burst out laughing. “You are such a bad liar Twilight. You should see your eyes! Now do you want to shower before me or after me?”

“I don’t care. Whatever…” she turned away

“Are you angry?”

“No, I’m fine. Just go take your shower.”

“You are angry”

“I am not angry!”

“I’m sorry Twi, I didn’t mean to upset you. Are you okay?” she nuzzled the lavender pony’s cheek.

“Yeah, I guess so…”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure…”

“Okay. I’m only going to go into the shower for a minute and, you know, rinse off.”

“Okay”

After a quick shower Applejack stepped out of the tub and reached for a towel. She began to wipe down her coat when Twilight walked in.

“Let me do that for you AJ”

“Oh, thanks...”

Twilight’s horn began to glow and a sudden blast of warm air blew past the two ponies. Applejack was totally dry.

“Wow! That was amazing!”

“Just wanted you to see that I can make you dry too..."

Applejack laughed, went over and kissed Twilight on her forehead. "How did I ever live without you?”

Twilight smiled and shivered as the sensation from the kiss sent a pleasurable tingle down her back.

"Hey AJ?"

“Yeah?”

“Was that our first fight?”

“I reckon it was.”

“Did we make up?” Twilight put as much innocence into her voice as she thought she could get away with.

Applejack just looked at her. “You want make up sex, don’t you” Applejack deadpanned, then rolled her eyes.

Twilight’s eyebrows went up and she nodded vigorously. “It was in one of my books…” and suddenly she stopped and blushed.

“Uh-huh?” was Applejack’s reply right before erupting in laughter. Finally she recovered “Did you just say that to make me laugh?”

Twilight smiled and nodded.

“Are you lyin’ again?”

Twilight kept smiling and nodding even as her honey blonde love leaned in and kissed her deeply.

--------------------------------------------------------------

They opened the door and the bright sunlight streamed in from off to their right. The outside air was still and crisp and the two of them stood there, playing with their breath, exhaling through their noses and mouths and laughing.

“So we’re going to meet Apple Bloom at the school? How do you know it’ll be open?” asked Applejack as she put on a wool vest.

“Well, when there is any kind of emergency like this, lot of ponies who would otherwise help, have to stay at home to take care of their little ones. Miss Cherilee told the town that she would open the school so that they could leave their filly’s and colts there if they wanted to and she would have snacks and activities for them. A lot of parents volunteered to help her out. It’s worked out pretty well so far.”

“That’s a great idea. It’s nice to know we have such a smart teacher.”

“Well she is smart, but it wasn’t her idea.”

“Really? Who thought of it?”

“Well, it was one of the Mane Six”

“I’ll bet it was the one with the lavender eyes”

“You’d lose that bet, blondie – it was the one with the incredible green eyes”

“REALLY?! I thought of that?!”

“eYup, and it was brilliant!”

“Thanks sweetie, I guess I’m pretty smart after all.”

“You know it AJ, and you know what else?” Twilight was squinting

“We’ll need sunglasses?”

“eYup. I think I have some Ray-Barn’s upstairs, hang on.”

Twilight stepped back into the library and spreading her wings gracefully flew up to the turn near the top of the stairway and walked up the last few steps into the living room. Moments later she was back, A large area outside the library entrance had been shoveled clear,. Twilight, wearing her sunglasses stepped jauntily out onto surprising hard snow and using magic, closed the door behind her. At first she didn't see her blonde friend, then noticed she was standing off to her left in a relatively clear area where the snow came to just above her hooves. Twilight produced another pair of sunglasses and levitated them onto the blonde pony.

“Lookin’ a might cool there Twi.”

“You don’t look so hot yourself AJ”

The blonde pony reached up, pulled the sunglasses down the bridge of her nose slightly and peered over them. “Does that pass for humor where y’all come from?”

“Oh you got the joke! You must feel mighty proud of yourself. Hope it wasn’t too taxing on your brain. I’ll take it easy with you the rest of the day just in case.”

“Ohhh Sparkle you are so on thin ice!” she laughed

“Been there befoooooooo---”

Twilight’s answer covered most of the notes on the scale. She, was, in fact standing on a very large but very thin sheet of ice that had coated the immense brown stone slab just outside the library door. Her legs began to slip and slide frantically and her sunglasses flew off. Applejack bit down hard on her lip to keep from laughing but it was a struggle.

Twilight finally regained control, barely, and stood there frozen; her enormous lavender eyes panic stricken. Then suddenly her legs were once again everywhere as she flailed madly trying to keep from hitting the ice.

After several false stops, Twilight got her trembling legs to stop flailing and stay still. Applejack regarded her with a quizzical scowl and cocked her head, doubtful that the position Twilight was standing in was physically possible.

“Don’t - touch - me - or - I - will - fall” Twilight spoke slowly and clearly as if she were instructing somepony how to defuse a bomb.

Applejack, still fighting to keep from laughing was overcome with pure love for the wonderful lavender pony standing rigidly before her, silently pleading with her eyes for help.

“Come on honey, you can do it, just walk forward very slowly. Don’t think about anything, just come to me.”

“WoaOhhHH!” Twilight tried and flailed. She managed to regain her footing without falling.

“Yur thinkin too much sweetie, you just need to clear your mind and walk.”

“Oh Applejack I can’t! I should just-” As Twilight started to speak, Applejack leaned forward, turned her head slightly to the right, parted her lips and stayed about 6 inches from Twilight’s mouth. Twilight focused on her green eyes and carefully stepped forward. When she was close enough, Applejack tenderly kissed her. Twilight’s eyelids drooped and the two of them kissed several more times. Suddenly there was a flash and Applejack found herself in the same spot, but had been rotated 180 degrees with Twilight, still in front of her and still kissing her, but over on the cleared area with her. Applejack leaned back, very surprised at being teleported. Meanwhile Twilight’s eyes went from droopy to dreamy and her mouth went into a smile.

“Wha-what did you do? How did you do that?” Applejack was stunned.

“Hmmm?” Twilight’s face remained a dreamy smile “Oh that? I just teleported us. It got me off the ice, right?” Twilight’s eyes shifted from love-dreamy to curious-dreamy “How about that?” she mused softly “I can transport both of us at the same time while kissing. I didn’t know that was possible…” her eyes returned to love-dreamy “I guess your kiss cleared my mind and my fear. I forgot everything…”

Now that she was on safe footing Twilight sat right down in the snow, oblivious to the cold.

Back in her love-dreamy state she smiled “What would you have done to get me off the ice if I’d fallen on my butt? How would you have tempted me then?”

“If you behave like a good little princess, I’ll show you later…”

“Oh, wow…” The lavender eyes opened wide and she smiled. Her eyes began to open wider as she realized that the temperature differential of the ground upon which she sat when compared to her hindquarters was not insignificant. This time the “OH! WOW!” was a bit more demonstrative.

To say she levitated would be an overstatement, though not much of one.

A shake or two of Twilight’s hindquarters later to shake off the snow and the two of them were off, walking down the narrow path from the library to the main road. Twilight walked in the lead with Applejack close behind. Twilight turned her head slightly and called back.

“How’s your leg feel honey? Are you okay? I don’t want you to overdo it your first time out.”

“Oh I’m feeling swell, sweet cheeks.”

Twilight stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at the cute blonde pony who was leering at her haunches with a silly grin.

“WHAT did you call me?!”

“Would you prefer honeybuns?” How about sugarbutt-?

“Are you making a crack about my butt?”

“eYup. If we don’t get my sister and get to that diner soon I might just take a bite. It looks pretty sweet.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot.” Twilight’s voice was casual.

“Excuse me?! I better not hear any other pony sayin that to you. That little butt belongs to me now. You got that?”

“Yes ma’am!” Twilight turned with a little smile on her face and trotted along with a little extra sway in her shoulders and hips.

Now this is a weird feeling! To be physically desired! I feel…uh…oh no! I think I feel sexy!! Now that is silly but it kind of feels good. To know that there is somepony out there that wants me like that. I never really thought about it. It’s really nice. After an afternoon at the spa with Rarity I always feel pampered and glamorous and I thought I felt kind of sexy because my hooves were polished, my coat and mane were shiny and clean. I smelled nice and felt good. I thought that’s what it meant to be sexy, but I sure was wrong. To be desired… wow. I feel hot!

Twilight giggled, raised her chin and continued to trot along with the sway in her butt and little smirk on her face.

“I was wondering Twi – why didn’t you just transport yourself off the ice back there? Did you get too panicked?”

“I thought I was. Maybe I was, when I saw your face and looked into your eyes all I wanted was to kiss you and I forgot about everything else. At that moment you were the only thing on my mind and kissing you was all I wanted to do. I just let my feelings take their course. I had no idea I could transport both of us while lost in your kiss. I think that’s pretty rare, though I haven’t read much about magic and sex.”

“Oh? Shucks…” Applejack said with a small pout.

“Well I mean I have read a little, you know, as part of my studies…”

“Oh yeah, well I reckon you would.” Applejack commented.

The path had been shoveled wider at this point so Applejack was able to walk side by side with Twilight on her right. Twilight continued talking.

“Actually, you know, now that I think about it, I have read more than a little, I actually have this book that must have accidentally shipped with the last order I placed for the library. I’ve skimmed through it, but just briefly. I meant to return it- I just haven’t had the chance.”

“Uh-huh…”

“That damn left eyebrow of yours is raised, isn’t it?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well I think I’ve said just about enough on this particular subject.”

“Okay.” Applejack said matter-of-factly, her tone pretty much putting an end to what Twilight hoped was the beginning of a very promising discussion.

The scowl on Twilight’s face looked as though it was carved in stone.

The minutes slowly ticked by.

“So…” the blonde pony finally asked, with more than a hint of humor in her voice, “…any good kinky mare-mare stuff in there? You know, good hot wet sticky nasty magical perversions that I would be more than willing to try out with you kind of stuff?”

Twilight’s expression instantly brightened and she stopped walking. She turned to AJ with a smile but her eyes flashed open wide and her jaw fell when she saw the horny expression on Applejack’s face.

“Uh, I suppose…”

“Good!” replied Applejack, “So we have a brand new book to break in.”

“Did I say it was brand new? I mean it’s not all that new”

Applejack looked at her with her eyebrow cocked-

“It’s tucked under your mattress isn’t it?”

Twilight eyes looked everywhere but at Applejack

“Uhh, it might be”

“It’s pretty heavily used I’ll bet.”

“Well now that you mention it…”

Applejack interrupted “…and the pages - dog eared?”

Twilight thought and squinted as she answered “Maybe a little”

“…and the upper right corners of the pages – stained from the pages being turned by wet sticky hooves?”

Twilight blushed furiously before blurting out

“Uhh - It came that way!”

And then slowly closed her eyes at her choice of words, while she waited for Applejack to deliver the coup-de-gras, which she did…

“The book or you?”

Twilight jutted her jaw out, scowled and rolled her eyes.

The path from the library wound around before finally intersecting with the main road. They stopped at the first intersection with the main thoroughfare. There were quite a few ponies walking back and forth, some were pulling sleds.

Suddenly a familiar gray pony turned the corner toward them. She was delighted to see Twilight then saw her companion.

“Hey Twi-APPLEJACK!!” Derpy’s eyes flew open as she saw the blonde pony standing tall and strong. She trotted over to them and gave Applejack a hug. “How are you feeling Applejack? You look very good. I was just coming over to the library to visit you and to see how you were.”

Applejack squinted briefly and thought for a moment. “Derpy, right? Derpy Hooves?”

“Yay Applejack! Woohoo! That’s me alright! You remembered! You are getting better Applejack. How is your leg? Is it healing okay?

“It’s healing just fine. I don’t think I got a chance to thank you for going to get the doctor after I was hurt, and then flying out to the farm to let my family know. Thank you very very much,” and she gave Derpy another hug.

“No problem Applejack I always love to help my friends, or anypony, but especially my friends! Hi there Twilight! It’s so great to see you so happy again! I hated to see you so upset before, when Applejack was hurt, but now you sure do look happier than ever!”

“Thanks sweeite, I sure am,” Twilight answered with a smile, “...and what Applejack said goes double for me. You were a hero that day.” Twilight gave her a strong hug and felt it returned.

“So where are you two going, anyway?” asked the grey pony.

“To the school to get Applebloom, and then we’re off to the diner,” Twilight answered.

“I just saw her over there! She’s with Scootaloo and Miss Cherilee. I think I saw some of the other colts and filly’s are there too. If it’s okay can I come by the library later too?”

“That would be great!”

“Maybe we can we play sardines? I love that game!”

“What’s sardines?” Applejack asked.

Twilight shrugged.

“Well it’s the same as “hide and go seek” but instead of everypony hiding and one pony seeking, one pony hides and every other pony seeks. When you find the pony that’s hiding, you hide with them. Like if they’re in a closet and you find them, you get into the closet with them and hide”

Twilight and Applejack quickly glanced at each other, each with a small smile and a raised eyebrow. They spoke as one.

“Sardines it is!!”

“Yay sardines!” called Derpy

“Yay Sardines!” echoed two other ponies.

“You do have to do me a favor though Derpy,”

“Sure Twilight, anything.”

“I have a new muffin recipe and I need someone with a highly developed muffin palate to assist me with adjusting the ingredients – like the blueberry to strawberry ratio, that sort of thing. I can never seem to get that quite right. First I add too many strawberries and then try to fix it with blueberries. It gets out of control pretty fast.”

“That sounds pretty fancy, it must be expensive. I’m pretty sure I don’t have one of those. Does it use electricity? I’m not supposed to play with electricity until Rainbow Dash says it’s okay. She’s afraid I’ll blow up half of Ponyville, so if it runs on electricity I’m sure I don’t have one.”

Twilight cocked her head and raised her eyebrow.

“Have one what?”

“A highly developed muffin palate. By the way, what does it do?”

Twilight started laughing “Derpy, you are too funny! A palate is your sense of taste, it’s your tongue and when I say it’s highly developed, I mean that it’s an expert at telling whether or not a muffin is merely good or really great.”

“Then I do have one and I didn’t even know it! Did you know I’m the judge at the muffin bake off every year?”

“You mean The Derpy Hooves Muffin Bakeoff? You should be the judge, it’s named after you.”

“Really?!! I thought that was just a co-incidence.” Derpy spoke with utter sincerity.

Twilight just looked at her for several moments and then spoke

“You may be right, but in any case - muffins tonight!”

The three ponies looked at each other.

“Yay muffins!”

“Y’all want to come to the diner with us?” asked Applejack

“No thank you Applejack. I have to stop by Dr. Stables office with a package, but I will see you later at the library.”

“Sure thing pardner,” Applejack said, and they bumped hooves. Derpy went trotting off with a big smile on her face.

“Well ain’t this just the best place in the world to live!” Applejack said with a smile. She nuzzled Twilight who backed up the path and ducked her head down so she couldn’t be seen.

“Sweetie? I hate it as much as you but I think we need to check our affections while we’re out here. It’s going to be hard, I know. I want to gallop up and down every path in Ponyville telling everypony that we’re in love, but I think we’ll have to find a way to break it to them slowly.”

“I reckon you’re right, but it ain’t gonna be easy.” Applejack grinned and went to nuzzle Twilight but remembered and stopped. Twilight picked up on it and smiled.

They entered the intersection, turned right and trotted toward the school

“Quills and Sofa’s? Kind of a strange combo, don’t you think?” asked Applejack,

“You know now that you mention it, it is. I never really thought about it before.”

Getting to the school was very slow going. Most of the ponies upon seeing Applejack stopped and expressed their utter joy at how well she looked. This kept creating traffic jams on the path. She tried to be gracious about it but after a while it began to wear on her.

The school was about halfway between the library and Sweet Apple Acres and as they crossed over a bridge they stopped and looked down at the water and the ice that lined the edge of the stream.

“I reckon I know what it feels like to be a Hoofbeatle. All these strange ponies coming up to me and being so friendly an all. It’s wearing me out. I just want to lay down and sleep”

“I know sweet-uh-AJ. You’lI feel better after we have something to eat. I told you, you’re a very important part of Ponyville. Ponies here love you. Hey – I think I see a familiar red bow over there…”

Applebloom was pacing back and forth in front of the school house impatiently. She was too short to see over the yard high snow so she had to wait and watch as ponies emerged from the path.

Suddenly she spotted the two ponies she was waiting for turn the corner. She spun around to her teacher who was standing back at the school door.

“They’re here! They’re here!” Applebloom ran out to her sister’s waiting arms and the two of them hugged. Twilight walked up to the school teacher.

“Hi Cherilee. What crazy weather. Have you ever seen snow like this?”

“Hi Twilight, no I can’t say that I have. How is Applejack doing? When Big Mac was here earlier to drop off Applebloom he said she was doing well and from what I can see, it was an understatement.”

Twilight glanced over at Applejack who was laughing and playing with her little sister and she smiled. “She’s doing really well, her memory loss is still acute, but she’s doing well in every other way.”

“I’m so glad to hear that! She is one terrific pony. So, just as we planned I opened the school house this morning for any ponies that needed a place to watch their colts and fillies while they went to help with the shoveling efforts.”

“We ran into Derpy on the way here. She told us that Scootaloo was here. I don’t see her.”

“I think she went with Pip and his family. She knows that you three have a special night planned and didn’t want to interfere. She sure is sweet.”

“I know, she loves her friends so much. Have you seen how nimble she’s gotten on that scooter?!! It’s amazing. You know after the running of the leaves a few years ago I had that idea to have a little Ponyville Games.”

“I remember that! I thought it was a great idea. We have to get together and talk about it. Just you, me, Mac and AJ, otherwise it’ll get all crazy. We’ll get Rainbow involved after we get the initial plan together. I’ll bet…”

She went on but Twilight’s mind went off on a different tangent. She had an image of Cherilee lounging in Mac’s arms on the big sofa in front of the huge fireplace at the farm and she and Applejack cuddled up on the overstuffed loveseat. They’d all be sipping hot cider and coming up with great ideas for the games. She thought about them maybe being sisters-in-law one day. She looked up at Cherilee with a big smile.

“…so what do you think?” Cherilee looked at Twilight with a big smile, awaiting her answer.

If I’m going to stay with AJ, I’d better start learning to be truthful.

“I think you and Mac and AJ and I should have hot cider in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace at the farm and discuss this.”

“Twilight Sparkle, I love the way you think! You are a genius!”

“It takes one to know one.”

It was met with a hoof bump.

Applejack came over and nodded. “Miss Cherilee?”

“Hi Applejack. Wow! You look fabulous! Your coat is glistening, your eyes are bright, you look so happy! Twilight,” She turned towards the alicorn “If I come over and stay with you can you do whatever you did to AJ here to me? I’d love to look this good.” She laughed.

“I’m sure she could ma’am,” said Applejack, “but be prepared. It’s quite a workout, but in the end it sure is worth it.”

Twilight had to look away, amazed that Applejack could say that and keep a straight face. She had to bite down hard on her lip to keep from laughing out loud.

“Do you remember me, I mean am I at all familiar- Oh I’m sorry, I’m being rude.”

“Aw don’t worry Cherilee. It’s been happening all the way over here. Everypony’s been asking me that. I cain’t say as I remember you, but I knew you had to be Cherilee.”

The teacher was puzzled. “Really? How?”

“Well my brother said that if I wanted to find you I should look for the prettiest pony in town.”

Cherilee blushed and looked over Applejack’s shoulder at Twilight. “Don’t you mean the second prettiest pony?!”

Twilight and Applejack looked at each other in a minor panic. Cherilee went on, “You’re little sister there is the prettiest pony in Ponyville.”

The two ponies let out a sigh of relief before turning and looking at Applebloom who had made a snowball and was whipping it at Diamond Tiara. Diamond Tiara ducked and the snowball went flying.

“Well you certainly won’t be getting your cutie mark for throwing snowballs!” taunted the little magenta filly.

“Or for making them. Did you see that thing Diamond? It was barely round!” Silver Spoon added.

“Oh yeah? Well I’d like to see you try to make one and throw it!” yelled Applebloom.

“I don’t have to. My butler will do it for me! Randolph! Make me a snowball. NOW!”

“Very good Miss” he answered dutifully and the old but spry fellow picked up a hoof full of snow and began to pack it together.

“Make sure it’s perfectly round. Understand?!”

“Yes m’am. Of course.”

“And when you’re done,” the little pony sneered “throw it at Applebloom”

The butler looked up at the little lime colored pony with unease. Unsure of what to do, he continued to smooth the snowball in his hooves.

“Hurry up! What is taking you so long?!”

“Hey Apple Bloom!” her sister called “See if you can hit my cutie mark with a snowball”

“You sure AJ?”

“eYup”

“Okay…” Apple Bloom said uncertainly. She scooped up a hoof full and shaped it nice and round.

“Atta girl! Now throw it as hard as you can.”

“I don’t want to hurt you AJ!”

“Don’t worry, you won’t. I promise, just as long as you throw it nice and hard”

Twilight and Cherilee looked at each other, puzzled and then at Applejack who just winked at them. Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon and Randolf were as befuddled as the others.

Apple Bloom wound up and let fly. The snowball sailed to the left of its intended target toward Applejacks tail and it looked like it was going to miss her completely but at the last minute, the blonde pony whipped her tail up and snapped the snowball with it, eliciting a loud CRACK. The snowball instantly changed direction and picked up an amazing amount of speed. It headed toward Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoons, but sailed between them, hitting the evergreen sapling that they were standing on either side of. The snowball exploded, sending snow all over the two of them. The sapling then let fall the snow on its branches, all over Apple Bloom’s two classmates. They immediately voiced their displeasure.

“Yee-hah! Apple Bloom called out. Hey Diamond - Do you still want your butler to hit me with that snowball?

“Never mind Randolf, it’s a waste of snow, anyway!” Diamond Tiara grumbled. She stormed into the school with her butler and her friend.

“Time to eat, AJ?”

"Time to eat TS?"

“Time to eat AB?”

"Let's eat!"