“An apple for your thoughts,” Applejack whispered to her marefriend. Melody sat across from her and stared out of the window of the train. Her eyes darted back and forth with each tree that they passed. She seemed deep in thought as she was jostled slightly by the motion of the train.

As the woman registered that she had been spoken to, Melody looked over to Applejack and refolded her legs, one over the other. To Applejack, it looked slightly uncomfortable and something a pony couldn’t pull off. For the human, it seemed like one fluid motion, something she had to be used to. The hem of her yellow summer dress had lifted shortly with the motion of shifting her legs, but crossed as they had been, Applejack hadn’t been able to take a peek, not that she had really tried. She had to commend Rarity on being able to create such a teasing piece of clothing for a species she had known only for a few days. She knew what was under the dress, but here she was, hoping to get a glimpse.

The eyes of the woman landed on the lavender unicorn next to her, who had her muzzle hidden in a book. Star Swirls’ Theorems: A Compendium was the title. The book was ancient, the cover damaged at several spots and looked like the ink had long started to fade.

Melody’s gaze had something melancholy about it. It wasn’t like she would start crying at any moment, but it was difficult to describe. For the first time, Applejack found it difficult to read her marefriend. Then Melody answered her question with one of her own.

“Hey, Twilight, what are you reading?” Melody asked, shifting in her seat.

For a moment, it didn’t seem Twilight had registered Melody’s question, but after turning a page, she actually looked up to them, a rare act since they had boarded the train to Canterlot. “I’m rereading Star Swirls’ theorems. After what happened two days ago with Princess Celestia…” She trailed off, her eyes seemingly focused on something that wasn’t present in the room. After a moment, she shook her head, her ears briefly folding against her head. “It wasn’t one of my proudest moments, and I feel like I disappointed her. She taught me all of this.” Twilight pointed at the book with a hoof. “This book she gifted me when I had my first lesson in magic theory with her. She said it once belonged to a former student of hers, but she left it behind. The notes she left in here helped me a lot when I was younger. I wish I could have met her. Whoever she was must have been a genius. Some of the notes she added to theories were confirmed just a few years ago.”

“Why can’t you?” Melody asked. “I mean, the book doesn’t look that old. Maybe she’s enjoying her retirement somewhere in peace.”

“Well, the first problem would be that I don’t even know her name,” Twilight answered with a sigh. “I tried to ask the princess about her, but she got really sad. She just told me that her former student left after they had a huge fight and that it was unlikely for her to ever return.”

“Yeah, that sounds sad,” Applejack agreed. “Must have been kind of a big argument then.”

“I can’t even imagine what they could have argued about.” Twilight looked at the book again. “I mean, I can’t even imagine Princess Celestia actually getting mad. I got scolded by her just once, well, twice now.”

“What was the other time about?” Applejack was curious. Twilight was usually a very straight-laced pony and wouldn’t even consider breaking any rules. At least if she wasn’t driven to a state of panic because she was visited by her future self, that was. She had to know what had gotten Twilight riled up enough to risk getting scolded from the princess.

“That’s um…” the mare looked to Melody and then back to Applejack, “embarrassing, actually. I tried to sneak into the forbidden section at the School for Gifted Unicorns.” Well, why was Applejack not surprised?

“Wanted to learn some dark magic?” Melody asked with a grin on her face.

“What!” Twilight shot up in her seat. “No! It’s not that kind of forbidden section. That's just the place where they keep the books only meant for adult eyes.”

“So… Sex spells and stuff?” Melody asked, which made Twilight’s face turn as red as Big Macintosh’s coat. “Kinky. Did they catch you before or after you learned something?” Twilight’s blush was more than enough of an answer. “Well, come on. What kind of spell did you learn?” Twilight mumbled something. “You can’t start to tell such an interest story and stop at the best moment. Tell us. We’re your friends. We won’t judge you. Much.”

“A teat enlargement spell,” Twilight mumbled again, this time loud enough for Applejack and Melody to catch.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the train rushing towards Canterlot every passing second. “So, huge teats are a thing?” Melody asked, looking down at her chest. “Why didn’t anyone tell me that?”

“It’s more of a Manehatten thing. You should see the local Playcolt,” Applejack answered and, by the glint in Melody’s eyes, noticed her mistake a moment too late.

Applejack had seen Canterlot more often than she could count by now. There had been trips with her folks when she was younger, one visit with her aunt and uncle, and several business trips had led her to the capital of Equestria. Not to mention the events of the last two years. She also knew that Melody had been here only once, when she had applied for welfare. Everypony could see that the denizens of Canterlot weren’t used to her. The so-called nobility seemed to forget their manners as many of them stared, pointed, and whispered while they left the train.

Applejack didn’t like it one bit. So fine, there was a being they had never seen before, but that wasn’t a reason to be unfriendly. It wasn’t like she was wearing a dark cape and only green glowing eyes were visible. She also hadn’t come out of the Everfree.

“This place reminds me so much of London.” The human didn’t seem to notice or care. It was hard to tell with her sometimes. She stretched while Twilight levitated their luggage out behind her. “So full of life, old buildings that are nice to look at, and the gentle aura of history. I could spend the whole weekend just drawing the city.”

“It is amazing, isn’t it?” Twilight chimed in. “While Canterlot isn’t the oldest city in Equestria, it certainly has some of the most amazing sights to see. There is the fountain of wisdom in the centre of the market square. It pays homage to Shimmer Glimmer, the unicorn who basically invented jewellery. Before the formerly were only used as spell gems but she worked them into earrings, torcs, and other pieces. When Canterlot was first built, it was called the jewel of Equestria because of her. Then there’s the national library. An earth pony noble named Ink Print was a collector of books, as they were very rare in the Early Age. That’s what the three hundred years after the foundation of Equestria are called, by the way,” Twilight added as they headed for the exit of the train station. “He built his mansion entirely around his hobby. His son, Quick Wit, made it into a library after his death and charged an entry fee. Still, it was the first time that such a large collection was available for everypony. In the two hundred and ninth year of the Early Era, Princess Celestia bought the entire estate with everything in it for a still unknown number of bits from Quick Wit and made the entry free for every citizen. His family is still around today and rumours say that they still live off that money nearly eight hundred years later. Then there’s—”

“We get it, Twilight,” Applejack interrupted. “If we want to take a tour of the city, we’ll ask you and avoid the tourist trap tours. Could we please drop this off at the castle first?” She shook her back where her heavy saddleback chafed. She had carried far heavier loads, but it was still very uncomfortable. Still, a pony had to take some things with her for a weekend trip. Following advice from Rarity, there was even a dress in there, next to a spare hat, some hygiene products, an apple tree sapling for Apple family emergencies, and some apples. Only two dozen though. Then Apple Bloom had insisted that Applejack take her school history book with her to ask Princess Celestia to sign it so that she had something for show and tell next week. Then there were two of Granny’s pies, and last but not least, the only thing she originally had actually intended to take with her: the book about arboriculture she had been reading. All this made her saddlebags ‘ready to blow’, as Pinkie Pie would say.

“Yes, of course. I have to get to my parent’s place… any… way. Shining!” Both Applejack and Melody jumped at Twilight’s sudden outcry. The unicorn rushed past them both towards a snowy stallion, who had turned at Twilight’s call. The rather lanky mare next to him looked their way as well, but before Applejack could get a better look at her, Twilight and the stallion obviously named Shining blocked her view. “What are you doing here, B.B.B.F.F.?” Twilight asked and pulled the unicorn stallion into a hug.

‘Must be family,’ Applejack thought. After all, she knew a family hug when she saw one.

“Twily!” the stallion answered and returned the hug. He had a smooth, deep voice, but there was a hint of something in it, something she couldn’t place. “I could ask you the same. What are you doing here?”

“No, I asked first,” she instantly retorted.

“Well, he’s on a date with me,” a new voice joined the conversation, and the pony that had been behind the unicorns stepped next to them. Twilight’s head turned to her, and her eyes widened. “Hello, little lady bug.”

“Cadance!” And there she went again. Twilight jumped at the pink mare and hugged her as well. Two large wings were splayed outwards as Cadance balanced herself, and with the horn on her head, there was only one conclusion left. There in front of Applejack was the mysterious third Princess of Equestria, the Princess of Love, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. She returned Twilight’s hug.

Applejack nearly jumped again when Melody whispered into her ear, “Should we bow?”

The farmer looked back at the display that was unfurling in the middle of the street just beyond the exit of the train station. Other ponies looked on as the princess and unicorn hugged and giggled like fillies high on sugar. She shook her head no.

“Sunshine, sunshine…” Twilight and Cadance began to sing as they danced on the spot. “Ladybugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake.” And with the last part, they wiggled their rumps at each other.

“And to think, she was embarrassed at telling us about a teat enlargement spell,” Melody muttered before letting out a giggle herself. Applejack couldn’t resist and joined in.

“So what are you guys doing here?” Twilight asked again, looking from the stallion to the alicorn.

“W-Well,” the stallion stammered. “Like Cadance said, w-we are…” He looked over to Cadance with a look every mare knew. It was a stallion out of his wits.

“Like I said, Twilight, your brother and I are on a date,” Cadance said with a slight smile and placed a wing on Shining’s back.

A squee could be heard, the universal sound of a very excited pony. It only could have come from Twilight, because she was shaking like Pinkie when she had one of her predictions. “Oh, this is so great! How long have you two been together? How many dates have you had? Do our parents know?” she asked rapidly, not waiting to get an answer.

“Oh, this isn’t a normal date Twilight.” Cadance puffed out her chest. “This is a very special one because it is our first as—” The stallion next to her coughed and shook his head as Cadance looked over. “Why not?” Shining answered with a slicing motion across his neck with his hoof. “Oh well, tonight then.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Why don’t you introduce us to your friends then?” Twilight looked back at them and seemed to realize that she had indeed come to Canterlot with company. Applejack imagined that it didn’t help that both of them were waving at the trio.

“Oh. Cadance, Shining,” she began and pointed at her friends as they came up to the group. “This is Applejack, and she’s Melody. They are both friends from Ponyville.”

“Hi,” both of them said at the same time.

“We came here to… unwind. Well, Melody and I did. We sort of both had a few eventful days, and when Princess Celestia invited her to Canterlot, we jumped at the opportunity to spend the weekend here. I wanted to visit our parents, and Applejack…”

“Wanted to spend time with her marefriend,” Cadance finished for her. “Believe me, I understand completely. It’s nice to meet you both.” The pretty pink princess extended a hoof. Melody shook first, then Applejack. “My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess of Love, but friends call me Cadance.”

“Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard,” the stallion said, following his marefriend’s example.

“So, what’s taking place tonight?” Twilight asked, visibly curious.

“Oh, just a little party.” Cadance winked. “You are invited of course, all of you. Your parents will come as well, Twilight.” Applejack looked over to Melody, who had a huge grin on her face. “Why don’t you join us for tea and we can talk a little more? I’m especially curious about your story, Melody.”

“Well, if that isn’t the nicest way someone ever asked ‘What are you?’, I don’t know what is. But sure thing, princess. You and Twilight also seem to have a lot of catching up to do.” Applejack meanwhile was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that Twilight had a brother and had never told them. Also, he was hot, something she had never really thought about a stallion before, even though she had dated a few. It unnerved her.

Melody's influence on events was rather low until now. She just didn't interact with the mane6 much. But now that she does, things go a different way. One of this ways is that Twilight makes a trip with her to Canterlot she normally wouldn't.
A little spoiler; only two chapters left of the third person view over Applejacks shoulder. I'm working on chapter 14 as I release this.

Thanks to JBL for editing this chapter.