prompt: “Let's run away together.”
ship: Twilight Sparkle & Applejack

 by: neverwantedtodance

 

Applejack could never have predicted her life would turn out like this.

When she was younger, and she got her Cutie Mark, she always thought she’d be living a simple life until the day she died, doing what she loved and working hard. Maybe raising a family with a mare by her side. For a while, she had her happy future all planned out, a straight continuous road, because that was all she could open her eyes to. For a while, the mare in that picture flickered into Rainbow Dash. Then to Fluttershy. But in the end, those images both died out. To her, specifics didn’t really matter. Nothing was ever going to change.

And now, here she was, lying in the bed of a princess, in a crystal castle.

She chuckled to herself. Even she couldn’t believe it sometimes.

“Is something amusing?” a sleepy voice muttered beside her.

She smiled. “Nah, it’s fine, Twi. I didn’t mean to wake ya. Go back to sleep,” she said.

Normally, Twilight would comply and snuggle back down again - she was sued to Applejack’s occasional restless nights - but tonight, she rose, trotting over to the window.

In the years since they met, she had grown taller, so she was no just smaller than Cadence. Taller than Applejack - and with those wings, she truly radiated power. Not power in the way Applejack had - not brawn and muscle and willpower, but intelligence and the command of royalty that a pony like Applejack just couldn’t possess.

“Do you ever want to change things?” Twilight spoke, suddenly, staring out into the night sky. “I mean, to go back to the beginning. Maybe see what you could’ve done differently …” she trailed off.

Applejack sighed. “So, it’s one of those nights, hey?” she said, trying to keep the mood light. “What’s bugging you, sugarcube?”

Twilight stared up at the stars. “Nothing really … I was just thinking about how this isn’t the life I ever expected I’d have. I never thought I’d be a princess. Sometimes I just want to drop everything. Is that so bad? I just want to get away.”

“I never thought I’d end up like this either, to be honest,” said Applejack, “but, y’know, I never feel the need to run away. You wanna know why?”

Twilight turned to face her, nodding her head.

Applejack smiled at her softly. “Because when I need to get away, I have you to ground me.”

Twilight smirked. “That’s sappy.”

Applejack chuckled. “Shuddup. You’ll be crying tears of joy soon. Now get back to bed before your side gets cold.”

Twilight followed her request, snuggling in next to Applejack. “You always know just want to say to make me tired again.,” she said with a yawn.

“I ain’t sure if that’s an insult or a compliment.”

Twilight kissed her squarely on the mouth, a smile slipping through as she felt Applejack respond.

“Does that answer your question?” she said after pulling away.

“It sure did.”