One minute after she had picked it up, Twilight let out a light sigh and put her sandwich back down on the picnic blanket, unmolested for the moment. Applejack glance up and raised an eyebrow. “What is it sugarcube?”

The purple unicorn rubbed her hoof against the checkered blanket and tucked her lips in. “Does it ever feel like I don’t do much anymore?”

Applejack let out a small chuckle. “I wouldn’t worry about that. You spend plenty of your time on your princess duties. That should be more then enough.”

Twilight laid onto her side and looked at the sky. “It would be if I was sent much more than a few papers a day for it. Instead I find my days filled with reading novels, hanging out with all of you, and when I’m really desperate… cleaning.”

Applejack looked at her friend through half closed eyes and shook her head. “I would take it as a blessing for you to be able to have so much freetime. Though, if you really need something, why don’t you start up one of your weird science thingies?”

“Research projects, and you don’t think I’ve tried?” Twilight took a small bite of her sandwich and chewed slightly before tucking it to the side. “I just can’t find anything of interest, not after the whole thing with Pinkie.”

A small chuckle escaped the farmhorse. “I guess I can’t blame you there.” She took a small sip of her cider before grinning. “I’ve got something for you.”

Twilight’s ears perked up and she tilted her head slightly, still on her back. “Oh?”

“Well, if you have so much free time,” Applejack stood and stretched out, “you could spend a few days and figure out what a real work ethic looks like. Learn how we farmers can go twelve hours, never relaxing, never slowing, and all the while just pounding away at our targets.”

Poomph!

Applejack glanced back and giggled. “Well, I’m happy you’re so excited, but I wasn’t talking about that type of–”

Smack!

Twilight flew away as fast as he stiff wings would allow her, her mind racing with the possibilities of her experiment, and just how horrifying it would be.

Twilight shifted in her bush and readjusted the focus on her binoculars as her target moved to his next tree. The supple, red stallion had been hard at work for almost four hours at this point, though he was also clung to by a powerful parasite. While the filly’s presence hadn’t shown much benefit, it only helped show why her target personified her topic.

His determination, speed, and thoroughness are all good traits to begin with. Add on top of that the caring nature he shows to his sister, the intelligence of having come so close to spotting me, and of course those supple thiAi! Twilight smacked herself and shook her head vigorously. “Focus Twilight. You are here to research his work ethic, not how wonderfully perfect he would be at carrying you home, laying you down, climbing over and–”

Smack.

Twilight let out a small groan at the fifty-seventh hit that day. Maybe a break is in order? Some time spent more closely examining the subject? She glanced back at Big Mac as his strong form almost seemed to ripple with each kick. Her face turned a bright red and she whimpered, just like she had for years. Hence why you study, until you can act.

Big Mac sighed as he heard the bush shuffle a bit more. For the fifty-seventh time that day, he thanked the fact that his coat was able to hide his blush. All he had wanted that day was to get some work done. Buck the west field, clear up the pig sty, and make sure Apple Bloom doesn’t destroy another building this week in her attempts to crusade as she puts it. That was it though.

He glanced out of the corner of his eyes and saw her tuck that little tail of hers back into the bush as the rims of her binoculars continued to give her away, just like they had for the rest of the day. Big Mac still couldn’t decide whether or not it was adorable, or a little creepy. He ran a hoof over his forehead and swept the sweat from his brow and heard her leap from the bush. Just like every other time.

Big Mac moved to his next tree and positioned his hooves just right. His mind started wandering again, wondering what it would be like if he could walk over there. He could say hi, watch her be all frustrated, they would chat about how he had seen her, and then, just maybe, he could get her to go out with him. He looked directly at the bush this time, and again, as always, she disappeared. He took one step towards the bush, but immediately just sighed and put it back, starting to examine the tree for any more fruit.

Apple Bloom’s eye twitched for the fifty-seventh time that day. She had watched this little routine over, and over, and over again. She noticed Big Mac paw at the ground one more time before doing his subtle shake of his head as he decided the princess was too much for him, and of course Twilight’s binoculars would go towards the ground, making sure to not miss a thing. Just, like, always!

“Will you to just kiss or something already?”

Big Mac stiffened and Twilight’s wings almost destroyed the bush she hid in. Apple Bloom’s scowl grew. “You look like a fool in that stupid helmet, and I think if you spend another minute trying to pretend she isn’t here you’re going to have heatstroke. Now, kiss, or else!”

Big Mac turned to blinked a few times before turning to Twilight and her beautiful purple eyes. He opened his mouth, but only a strangled gasp came from him before he face planted into the ground.

Apple Bloom walked over Twilight who simply had her eyes the size of saucers and waved her hoof in front of her eyes. No response. A small idea squirmed into her mind and she smiled. “And here I thought I wouldn’t get to go crusading today. Cutie Mark Crusader Matchmaker go!” And with that declared, she dragged the paralyzed princess and her unconscious knight into the old barn and left them there, where neither said a word for three days to each other before snuggling.