“When the hay did you get so tall?”

Twilight looked up from grading papers, placing her quill into its ink well.

“Pardon?” she asked.

Applejack was looking at her from across the desk, a tight smile on her muzzle.

“I can still remember when we were first dating,” she said. “You were this little unicorn and now look at you. You’re easily a head taller than me.”

“I wasn’t little,” Twilight murmured. “I was completely average for a unicorn.” She smirked. “Though, I won’t lie, I very much enjoy having the tables turned. Speaking of which, how is your grading coming along, my tiny earth pony marefriend?”

“Hardy, harr, harr,” Applejack grumbled, though her smile betrayed that there were no legitimate hard feelings. “But for your information, it’s coming along nicely. Sandbar and Silverstream wrote a mighty fine report on the importance of friendship within agriculture.”

“Sounds like they're brownnosing,” Twilight joked.

“Just a little bit, but I can’t blame them. I kind of wear my biases pretty proudly,” Applejack said, tapping the brim of her weathered Stenson. “How about you? What did you get from Yona and Gallus?”

Twilight drew out her freshly inked quill, scribbling down yet another comment on a report already burdened with in a sea of red ink.

“They wrote a nicely rounded essay examining the role of friendship within the modern labour movement. It’s alright…” She bit her lip, “just a little on the light side.”

“How long is it?”

“Only twenty-five hundred words.”

“I don’t see why that’s a problem.”

“Applejack,” Twilight whined. “I told them I was looking for something between twenty-five hundred and five thousand words.”

Applejack snorted and placed her muzzle into her hooves, looking across the table at Twilight. “Hun, you should be well aware that most students will go for the minimum word count. They’re barely older than grade schoolers and not everypony is as motivated as you once were.”

“I know, I know,” Twilight grumbled. “But still, would it have killed them to give me a little extra to work with here? They could’ve totally fleshed out their introduction and conclusion a bit better, added a little more information on the background of the Equestrian labour movement, and don’t even get me started on how little they discussed the founding mothers of the first worker’s congress. It all just feels so...”

“Just give them a B+. You know they did good work and that’s what they deserve.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Twilight grumbled. “Honestly… students these days.”

“Oh, calm down, you’re still in your twenties. You were a student pretty recently, sugarcube.”

The two of them returned to their respective papers, scribbling away in silence. Yet, even with no words spoken, Twilight still found Applejack’s presence comforting. Just having her in the same room set her at ease.

It was incredible what good company could do for somepony’s mood.

“I have a trip to Canterlot coming up,” Twilight said. “Both Celestia and Luna want to see me.”

Applejack snorted. “That’s never good.”

“I mean, they’ve gotten a little better about not dropping a national emergency on my head every couple of months.”

“Still, I know what these trips do to you.” Applejack stopped writing and reached across the table, holding out her hoof.

Twilight looked at it and leaned forward, squeezing it gently.

“How are you holding up?” Applejack asked.

Twilight smiled. “Applejack, trust me. I know I used to poorly handle these things. But I’m getting better about it, I promise.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Absolutely?”

“One hundred and fifty percent, hun,” Twilight said with a smirk.

“Well alright, I believe you. Still if you need anything, just let me know.”

Twilight nodded. “I will. Though, just having you here tonight is doing more than enough. It feels like we haven’t had a chance to hang out in ages.”

“I know that feeling but… we’re both pretty busy mares. Between my farming and teaching, and your…” She rolled her hoof, “myriad of commitments, it’s getting pretty hard.”

Twilight sighed. “I know, I know, and I’m sorry about that, but you know… this whole princess thing is kind of a huge…”

“No need to apologize, hun. I completely understand.” Applejack smiled softly. “On the bright side, at least all they have you doing is running a school. Couldn’t imagine how hard it would be trying to run an entire kingdom.”

“Well, I hope I never have to find out.” She frowned. “Well, again, anyways.”

“Considering Tirek is in a nice dark hole, I doubt you ever will,” Applejack said before glancing up at the clock. “It’s getting kinda late, have you thought about dinner yet?”

Twilight bit her lip. “How about we order some take out?”

“Take out?”

“Yeah, I send a message to a local place and they send out a waiter to bring us some food.”

Applejack snorted. “The perks of royalty?”

“One of them,” Twilight said, sticking out her tongue. “I’ve got arrangements with the local hayburger, pizza, and falafel places.”

“What the hay is falafel?”

“Uh it’s… minotaur food, they’re like these balls of chickpeas and other things. You cover them with hummus and a bunch of tasty toppings. I don’t know, Rarity got me into it.”

“Sounds like something Rarity would eat,” Applejack murmured. “But sure, I wouldn’t mind trying it out.”

Twilight smirked. “Is someone feeling a little adventurous?”

“Life’s been a mite boring lately,” Applejack simply stated. “Got find someway to spice it up a little. Just get me whatever you’re getting, alright?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Twilight pulled out a fresh scroll, scribbling a double order of her usual dish, with the only difference between them being the choice of soda. Twilight liked the lemon-lime flavour while Applejack usually went for an apple one, because of course she did. With that finished she ignited a green flame on her desk and fed the scroll into it.

A moment later, a fresh scroll popped out, confirming her order.

“The wonders of modern magic,” Twilight commented.

Applejack chuckled. “Hardly even need Spike anymore.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t know about that. This system works well enough for sending food orders to local restaurants but I don’t know if I’d trust it to be especially secure when I’m sending government secrets to Celestia or Luna.”

“Fair enough.” Applejack motioned with her hoof. “So, what do you want to do while we’re waiting for our food?”

“I wouldn’t mind just lounging around and chatting for a bit.”

Applejack smiled. “That sounds like a pretty good plan to me.”

Twilight opened her filing cabinet and began to file away the various reports on her desk. She then looked at Applejack, who nodded and surrendered the essay she had been working on, allowing Twilight to collect it with the others.

Frustratingly, Twilight noted that Applejack had left only a bare minimum number of red inked comments on her assignment.

How were the students supposed to learn without feedback?!

She didn’t bring up the issue, however. Instead, she got up and trotted towards the door, holding it open as her and Applejack left.

Together, they walked through the school’s crystalline corridors.

“So how has the farm been holding together?” Twilight asked. “Sounded like you were suffering from some labour problems a little while ago.”

“Eh, it was just for the harvest. But with me teaching and Apple Bloom doing her little side business, we’ve been getting a mite short on ponypower. Thankfully, with the extra bits we’ve been bringing in, we could justify hiring a couple helpers.” Applejack motioned with her hoof. “Oak Grove and Lilac Bloom, two of the nicest ponies I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. They don’t slack or complain.” Applejack frowned. “I’m a bit worried, though.”

“Oh?” Twilight asked, cocking a brow. “What’s the matter?”

“Big Mac sure has a pretty keen eye for Lilac.”

“Isn’t he dating Sugar Belle?”

Applejack nodded. “They both… seem to have a pretty keen eye on her.”

“Well, polyamory is getting increasingly common.”

“I guess… I’m just afraid of losing him, is all.”

Twilight snorted. “Applejack, no offense, but I don’t think even a harem of mares would pry that colt away from your farm. If anything, you’ll have two sisters-in-laws to help you with the harvest.”

Applejack bit her lip.

“Something else on your mind?” Twilight asked.

“Just thinking about how Big Mac and Sugar Belle are finally planning to tie the knot. Feels just like yesterday, that me and him were foals running through the orchard. Now he’s getting married, Twilight.”

Twilight reached over, draping a wing across Applejack’s back. “I guess we all reach that point eventually.”

“We’ve been dating for a pretty long time, hun.”

“We have.” Twilight looked over and kissed Applejack on the cheek. “Do you want to get married?”

“Do you?” Applejack asked, stopping. She looked at Twilight, her expression tight and hard to read.

Twilight stopped alongside her, offering a warm smile. “I mean yes, I’d love to marry you.”

Applejack looked away, her cheeks freshly brightened. “Really?”

“Really?” Twilight snorted, playfully bumping into Applejack’s side. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I mean because well…” Applejack sighed, “you’re kind of going to live for a whole lot longer than me, sugarcube.”

“Applejack, haven’t we enjoyed our last five years together?” Twilight asked, drawing Applejack against her side.

“We have,” Applejack softly agreed.

“And are we going to enjoy the next five?” Twilight asked, cocking her brow.

“Probably.”

“And the five after that?”

Applejack offered a weak smile. “I see what you’re getting at.”

Twilight nodded, stroking Applejack’s side with her wing. “I know that… I know that you won’t be here for the rest of my life and I know that losing you will hurt. But I’m still more than willing to make the rest of your life as happy as possible. Doesn’t matter if it’s another decade or another eight. I will make sure that each and everyone of them are as great as possible.” Twilight leaned over and kissed her marefriend’s cheek. It had become dampened by tears. “So yes, I am absolutely certain that I want to marry you.”

They resumed their walk in silence, with Twilight shielding Applejack from the view of any passing creatures.

“Let’s do it,” Applejack finally said, regaining control of her faculties. “Let’s get married.”

Twilight kissed her again. “I think that sounds like a fantastic idea.”

“Don’t we need like rings and what not?”

Twilight shrugged and chuckled nervously. “I have no idea, to be completely honest. This is, uh… my first time doing this. I mean probably, they always seem to have rings in the books I read.”

“Then let’s get some rings.”

“Sounds good to me. We can pick some out later this week. How does that sound?”

“Good by me.” Applejack pursed her lips. “Then, after that, we should probably tell everypony.”

Twilight nodded. “Though to be honest, I don’t think it's going to be that big of a shock to a whole lot of them.”

“Nope.” Applejack chuckled. “Bet you ten bits Rainbow’s just gonna say, ‘finally’.”

“Really my money would’ve been on Rarity.”

They continued to walk, Applejack leaning against Twilight’s powerful frame. After a few steps, they glanced at each other and leaned in for a pleasant little peck on the lips.

“Though, if we do get married. Does that mean I have to become like a princess-in-law, or something?” Applejack asked.

Twilight snorted. “Honestly, I have no idea. I think Celestia always gave her lovers the title of Princess or Prince Consort?”

“Huh… so I’d be a Consort. That sounds kind of fancy.”

“I mean that’s only if you want some fancy title.”

“I think I’d be fine with good ole Applejack. If you don’t mind.”

Twilight chuckled. “Not at all, hun.”

“And will I be forced to attend parades and all those fancy royal galas and what not.”

“I mean, besides for our wedding, I don’t really plan to drag you along to all of Canterlot’s functions. You only need to do what you’re comfortable with. Though…”

“Though?”

“If you wouldn’t mind looking after Ponyville while I’m gone, that would be nice.”

“Well, considering this town is usually pretty quiet, I think that’s a job I can do.”

They finally reached their destination, coming to Twilight’s on-campus residency. For sure, it might seem a little strange to have a bedroom on a campus that was literally a couple hundred metres from her palace, but sometimes it was convenient to just have a place to crash and decompress between classes.

Twilight opened the door with a spell, gesturing for Applejack to go in.

Her campus bedroom was like any of the other dorms, being rather spartan. There was a bed, a chair, a desk, a small kitchen nook, and a few lingering personal items that helped make this place feel a little bit like home.

The room couldn’t shed the utilitarian look. Most ponies would’ve called it boring, but it offered some much-needed privacy. And, at the moment, that’s what they both wanted.

“So, how long until the food gets here?” Applejack asked.

Twilight shrugged. “No longer than an hour, usually. So, I’d say…” She glanced at the clock, “maybe another forty minutes?”

“Should give us a little time, then.”

“Want to cuddle for a bit?” Twilight asked. “After all, it’ll be our first time.”

Applejack cocked a brow. “I know for sure that this isn’t our first time cuddling, hun”

“No…” Twilight smirked, “but it is our first time cuddling as fiancées.”

“Ah!” Applejack smiled back at her. “That, it is.”

She cantered over to the bed and climbed onto it, facing away from Twilight.

Twilight followed behind and joined her on the sheets. Once settled, she draped one of her forelegs over Applejack and added a wing for good measure.

Recently, the two of them had found it necessary to switch up their roles. Twilight was simply getting too big and those wings were becoming too much of an obstacle for Applejack to wrestle with. So, they had to make the heartbreaking decision to finally let Twilight big spoon.

Thankfully, it wasn’t all bad. After all, this new perspective had its own perks. For starters, as Twilight breathed in, she could smell the faint traces of spices that lingered in Applejack’s mane. Then there was the bonus that Applejack’s very sensitive neck was free for her to tease.

She took full advantage of this, planting a playful little kiss against the crook of Applejack’s neck, eliciting a rather pronounced shudder.

“Did you like that?” Twilight asked.

Applejack nodded slowly. “Felt nice.”

So, Twilight picked a different spot and did it again. It was a very hooves-on project, to discover via trial and error which spots were the most receptive to her lips and stimulation.

Science really was a lot more fun when you got to experiment for yourself.

Applejack pawed at the wing draped over her, causing it to ruffle gently.

“This is nice,” Applejack murmured. “A mare could get used to this.”

Twilight nodded and sighed contently. “Yeah… she really could.”

The transformation is complete but not the sorry uwu.

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