“I can´t wait to taste some apple pies! Or maybe some apple fritters! What about an apple salad? Do they have those?”

“Calm down Spike, Applejack just invited us for lunch, not to a food fair.”

“Yeah but you know how lunch goes for Apples! They made food for a dozen ponies just for breakfast!” Spike said, jumping on Twilight´s back.

“Well, they have to if they invited you…”

“Yeah...hey!”

Twilight giggled while Spike pouted but her smile soon disappeared when she spotted Applejack in front of them. And she wasn´t alone. She was with one of the cows of the farm, Daisy Jo it seemed, talking. But there was something off, something about the way they leaned closer to each other. Twilight raised an eyebrow, wondering if she was reading too much on their actions when Applejack  and Daisy Jo actually kissed right in the open.

“Oh my Celestia!” Twilight shouted.

“What? What? Hey!” Spike complained because Twilight covered his eyes with a hoof.

“Umh I think we need to go back to the library, Spike.”

“Why? I´m hungry! Did something happened!”

“Nothing happened! Let´s just go!” And despite Spike´s protests, Twilight trotted all the way back to the library.

Twilight spent the rest of the day, wondering if she saw what she thought. Spike obviously wasn´t too happy of being denied a lunch but Twilight managed to calm him down with a few gems. She couldn't calm down however, not unless she got some answers from Applejack so she went to Sweet Apple Acres that afternoon.

When she reached the barn, she confirmed she hadn't alucinted the event since Applejack and Daisy Jo were casually nuzzling. Twilight took a hoof to her mouth, blushing at the spectacle.

“Hi Twilight!”

“Apple Bloom, you startled me!”

“Hey, why did yah miss lunch today? Ah thought Applejack invited you and Spike.”

“Yes, well...what happened was…” Twilight couldn´t come out with an answer, she was too busy trying to keep Apple Bloom from finding her sister getting intimate with someone who wasn't a pony.

“What´s wrong? There´s something in your back?” Apple Bloom asked.

“No no no! Of course not!”

“Ah wanna see! Hey!” Apple Bloom protested because Twilight used her magic to lift her up and she sent her floating towards some haystacks. “That ain´t fair, Twilight!”

Twilight sighed. “Well, that was close…”

“What was close, Twi?”

Twilight jumped again, wondering if startling her was a sisters thing. “Applejack! Wha-what a re you doing here?”

“Ah live here, Twi,” Applejack deadpanned.

“Yes! You live here with your brother, who is a pony and your sister, who is a pony too. And your grandma is also a pony.”

“Yes, we are all ponies, Twi.”

“But there are other animals who aren´t ponies, like Winona, who is a dog.”

“That she is,” Applejack casually stated.

“And there are pigs and sheeps and...cows.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, wondering what was the deal with Twilight but since she couldn´t read her emotion she just shrugged the issue. “Yeah, there are cows and pigs and sheeps and tons of other animals. This is a farm, Twilight. Now, ah´m glad to see you, why did yah miss lunch today? I got an apple salad ready for Spike.”

“Well, I was...we were..I mean, me and Spike…”

Applejack leaned forward, piercing Twilight with her gaze. “Twi, are yah keeping somethign from me? You know ah don´t like lies around here…”

Twilight finally couldn´t keep it anymore and she shouted out loud. “I saw you kissing Daisy Jo, who is a cow and you´re a pony!”

“...that´s it?” Apple Bloom asked from the haystacks.

“Wait, you knew? And you´re okay with this? I mean, your sister is a pony and she is a cow and…”

“And what is exactly the problem with that, uh?” Applejack asked, clearly offended.

“Well, isn´t a little strange? I mean, you´re two different species and…”

“And what? Just because we´re different does that means we can´t love each other?!”

“Lo-love? You love…”

“Yeah, ah love her! Ah been loving Daisy Joe long before ah met you. We practically grew up together and she loves me back!”

“I...I didn´t know. I mean, I just assumed…” Twilight stuttered.

“Yah assumed what? That farm animals and ponies can get along? That we´re too different?”

“No Applejack, I…”

“Look, ah don´t know how things work in fancy Canterlot but ´ere in Ponyville, we all work together, farm animals and farm ponies. There are no distinctions, no animal is better than the other and Daisy Jo and mahslef have been a team for years. Mah family understand, mah old friends understand and ah was hoping mah new friends will too!”

And with those last words, Applejack turned over and went inside the barn. Apple Bloom got off the haystack and repeated her sister motions. Twilight just stood there in the field, trying to find the right words to say.

“...I´m sorry.”

*****

Two days later, Applejack and Daisy Jo were having a picnic on the field when Twilight Sparkle came to join them. Applejack was still mad at her so she just ignored her but Daisy Jo casually asked her if she wanted to join.

Twilight sat down and took a package from her saddlebags and offered it to Daisy.

“Oh oatmeal, my favourite!” she said.

Applejack was still ignoring Twilight.

“And there´s a note here. I´m sorry? Why are you apologizing Twilight?” Daisy Jo asked.

“I…”

“Ah invited her for lunch a couple days ago and she forgot ´cause she was in one of her study sessions. Again,” Applejack said and Twilight blinked, confused.

“Oh well, that´s just silly. No need to apologize for that. Would you care to join us to make up for that, Twilight?” Daisy Jo asked.

Twilight looked at Applejack who pushed a plate with a dandelion sandwich. Twilight smiled and wiped some incipient tears, taking a bite of the sandwich.