Out of all the Elements of Harmony their friendship made the least amount of sense. The Farmer and the Scholar. The Earth Pony Farmer and the Unicorn Magician. Twilight, of course, had the uncanny knack for making friends with a diverse range of ponies. Any given day one might find her eating cupcakes with Pinkie, debating Daring Do with Dash, drinking tea with Rarity or helping Fluttershy with her animals. Every Saturday one could almost definitely find her at Sweet Apple Acres. She had no farming experience. She had no farmers in her family. She came from Unicorn warrior stock who had slashed their way into aristocracy. There was not a farmer among them. From a traditional standpoint, she had no business on a farm. Yet, ever since a certain incident involving a bunny stampede and a stubborn farmer every Saturday would find her at Sweet Apple Acres bucking apples with Applejack. Applejack was never quite sure what Twilight got out of it, but she got a helping hoof so she didn’t complain. The rooster crowed and the sun was beginning its trek into the sky, guided by Celestia’s power, when Applejack woke up. She yawned and stretched. Today she had to harvest the south field. She spent several minutes stretching before leaving her bedroom. Applebloom pranced out of her room just as Applejack came from hers.

“Good morning, Sis!” The yellow ball of energy chirped before tackling her “favorite big sister in the whole wide world” with a hug. Applejack smiled tolerantly and hugged her back. The smell of pancake batter wafting through the house told Applejack that Granny Smith had already woken up and started breakfast. Applebloom smelled the pancakes and shot down the hall like a rocket. Applejack broke into a somewhat more dignified gallop. Like every Saturday Twilight was already there seated beside Big Mac. They had started offering her a place at the table a while ago.

Twilight yawned. “Good morning Applejack.”

Applejack gave her a quick nuzzle. “Good morning Twilight.”

Granny Smith laid out the pancakes which were quickly devoured by the five ponies. After breakfast Applejack helped Granny with the dishes. Then she, Big Mac and Twilight went out to the orchards. Granny Smith and Applebloom would care for the house chores. Applebloom occasionally liked helping in the orchard, but last time she had sprained her hoof so she was on clean-up duty for now.

Twilight and Applejack took the south field, Big Mac the north. Applejack surveyed her home as she and Twilight walked among the apple trees. This time of day the world was still. The sweet scent of apples perfumed the air. It was a scent that Applejack had become so used to she hardly noticed it. Beneath her hooves she felt energy coursing through the land. The energy of life flowing through the living soil beneath which were the bones of her ancestors. She could feel the energy in those bones, pulsing like a distant heartbeat beneath the ground. The energy of life flowing through the trees and the birds singing their songs to the sun. Life was all around her. She could feel it in every blade of grass, every branch, every juicy red fruit hanging from the trees. She knew Big Mac could feel it too. It was the magic of the land that Earth Ponies drew upon for their famed strength. She’d tried to explain it to RD once, why RD would never beat her in a contest of strength (hoof-wrestling was another matter altogether, requiring muscle control over raw force. Something an athlete like the brash pegasus had developed.) RD would never be able to break wood with a kick or throw a stone thousands of miles. How could anypony compete with a pony that wielded the power of the earth herself? She looked over at Twilight and wondered if she could at least feel an echo of the land’s power.

She paused at the entrance of the southern orchard, turned and kicked. Twilight caught the apples in her basket. They worked in perfect harmony. The earth pony walked through, turning and bucking the trees. Twilight caught the fruit in the basket she held in her magic. They trotted at a leisurely place through the dense orchard. Applejack paused after bucking a particularly tall tree. The apples fell down like a crimson waterfall. They fell into Twilight’s basket, which was now full.

“Let’s go get another basket.” Applejack said. They had worked for a while and the sun inched steadily towards noon. They left the orchard and walked towards the barn. With a flash of her horn Twilight opened the barn door. Applejack followed her inside and took the basket from her aura, laying it down beside a bale of hay. She picked up a new basket and they walked back towards the orchard.

“Twilight? Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Well, does this sorta work tire you out?”

“Sure. At first. I’ve gotten used to it.”

“I appreciate the help, but you’ve been here every Saturday for a year. I feel sorta bad, cause we usually pay our workers. We’ve never accepted volunteers."

“But I like it.”

“How come? I like this work, but it’s my special talent. Bred and born into it. You’re a uni-er-what I mean to say is…how do I put this without soundin’ like a tribalist bigot?”

Twilight giggled. “It’s alright Applejack. I know. Unicorns aren’t known for being farmers. I do want to help you and I do enjoy spending time with you. But there’s something else. The truth is I like watching you work.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re so strong. Watching you work, the intensity, the power in your muscles. I like watching it. I’ve never been strong like that. I admire it.”

“Um, okay.”

Twilight blushed. “Not like that! I’m not like that. I like stallions.”

“I know what you mean, Sugarcube.” Applejack smiled. “Why do you think I’m so popular at rodeos?”

They walked out into the open air.

“I’ve always admired you too, Twilight.”

“You do?’

Applejack nodded before bucking a tree.

“You’re smart. You seem to know so much about everything.”

“There’s a downside to that. Too much knowledge becomes a burden. Ponies stop hanging out with you because you only care about ‘weird things’ like pre-Classical Equestrian architecture.” Twilight said, holding out her basket for the apples.

“Ponies that wouldn’t hang out with a wonderful mare like you for something like that are just plumb dumb.” Applejack said, moving onto the next tree. “I never did that good in school. Something I’ve always regretted.”

“We all have regrets. I wish I’d spent more time trying to make friends.”

“Better late than never. That’s what Granny always says. Still, I would like to do something to show you how much I appreciate your hard work.”

“Well, there is something.” Twilight said. “I, um, I really liked those apple brown betties you shared with us at the last picnic. Any chance you could give me the recipe?”

“Well, it’s sort of a family recipe…ah, Tartarus, you are family. Sure I will.”

Twilight smiled. “Thanks.”

They hoof-bumped once before continuing to harvest the apples.