Fluttershy had been pacing since waking up that morning. Terror gripped her chest, and she struggled to breathe. Angel Bunny stomped his foot in annoyance. He had still yet to be fed.

"Oh Angel, this is terrible! Yesterday we found out about Twilight's secret relationship, and we all promised to keep quiet... but it's all I can think about! She expects us not to tell any pony, but I don't think me and my big mouth can keep shut about it!" Fluttershy crumpled up into a mess of a pony. She was rudely pulled away from her doubts by a furious rabbit smacking her across the face.

With a sharp squeak, Fluttershy looked upon her favorite critter, and all her other woodland friends who were waiting for breakfast. With a short sigh she collected herself as best she could, and started going about her daily morning chores. "I'm sorry, Angel Bunny; I was so caught up in my own problems I forgot to feed you." Naturally, after pouring out the plain animal feed for the cottage residents, Fluttershy returned from the kitchen with a big bowl of the bunny's favorite morning treat. "Eat up, yum yum yum!"

Angel decided to be nice. Usually he let the timid mare know who was boss, sending his meal back for a remake at least once. This morning, however, whether it was due to how stressed Fluttershy was, or because he was just hungry enough to dig right in, he didn't bother with complaining about his meal. With the rabbit busy eating, the timid mare returned to her fretful pacing.

"What to do, what to do? I should probably talk it over with Twilight. I mean I don't know why I'm going crazy thinking about this now; everything was fine yesterday. What would our other friends think? Why can't I just stop thinking about it?!?" Fluttershy took a deep breath and squeaked out a very soft scream from her frustration. What was wrong with her?

Twilight Sparkle, in her deranged mental state, had never thoroughly read the spell she cast upon her friend. If she had, the magician would have known that it only lasted for the day. After the effects of the spell wore off, the subject would be assaulted with all the pent up feelings which were repressed. Given enough time in solitude, Fluttershy most likely would have recovered from the emotions wrecking havoc on her mind. Fate, however, had a much different road planned out for today.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

Fluttershy's head snapped towards the door. Some pony was outside. She managed to yell just as loud as she had the past Nightmare Night, "GO AWAY, NO VISITORS WELCOME."

"Fluttershy... Ah gots problems with them gophers again," a southern accent spoke through the door. Fluttershy immediately identified the voice as her friend Applejack. With her teeth chattering, she tiptoed to the door and cracked it slightly.

"Oh... Applejack, it's... you. Could you come back later? I'm.... busy. If that's OK with you I mean." Fluttershy was very keen on being around no pony at all from now till forever, but she was never very good at turning a friend away. Applejack had bigger worries. With a quick hoof to the door, it opened wide, and she stepped inside.

"Naw, it ain't alright! Lissen here, yer lil' critters done moseyed up inta our corn field and tore it up with them burrows o' theirs. You need ta get 'em out peaceful like, 'fore me an Big Mac are forced ta wrassle 'em all up." AJ angrily spoke, expressing her concerns. They had something of an agreement: Fluttershy kept the woodland creatures from messing up the farm land, and the Apples didn't do anything to upset the homes and families of the animals that resided on their land. Naturally, whenever an issue cropped up they came to Fluttershy to deal with it first.

Having been confronted with another pony, Fluttershy couldn't hold it in. "Twilight has a secret! She's in a relationship with her brother!" After the outburst, her hooves came up and covered her mouth. Her face displayed a shocked expression, as if the words had come out without her bidding.

Applejack looked at her friend, not quite understanding. "Well, 'course she's in a relationship. Siblings are always close. Why me 'n Big Mac are like two peas in a pod. Ain't no separatin' us," the farmer commented, explaining her own closeness to her big brother.

Fluttershy shook her head, and continued with her explanation as if some unseen force compelled her to do so. "No, Applejack, I mean... adult kind of relationship," she said quietly through her hooves.

Understanding now, the farmer looked on in disbelief. Her eyes were slanted, as if she was confused, and still processing such information. "Yah mean ta tell me, Twi done gone and jumped in bed with her big bro? That's just stinkin' thinkin' Fluttershy. Where in Equestria would yah get a kooky idea like that?"

Having officially dropped the ball on the secret she promised to keep, Fluttershy set her fore-hooves back on the ground. With a sigh, she answered AJ's question, without ever looking up from the floor, and her hoof poking the baseboards. "Rainbow figured it out yesterday when she got back from Canterlot, and then Twilight confirmed it, going crazy like usual. Rarity was there too."

Applejack looked like she had seen a ghost. Her face was drained of color, her mouth slack with her jaw hanging down. Fluttershy looked up at her friend, after waiting for a response which never came. "Applejack...?"

Steeling herself with resolve and determination, Applejack's face regained its color, and a grimace took the place of her hanging jaw. "Well I think I'm due for a good ol' sit down with Twilight Sparkle," the farmer stated, while walking towards the door.

Fluttershy looked on in horror. She had just shared Twilight's secret with Applejack, who looked none too happy about the new found information. "Applejack, you can't let Twilight know you know! She's going to get all scared that you will hate her, and won't be her friend anymore!" Fluttershy pleaded, while trying to block the path of the earth pony.

Applejack simply walked around Fluttershy. "Too late fer that Fluttershy. I'ma give Twilight a piece 'o mah mind," and with those parting words, stepped out the door.

Panicking, the kind pegasus flew out the door, chasing after her friend, with the hopes that she could talk her out of confronting Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight Sparkle was enjoying her morning. She was sitting at the table in the middle of the library, perusing the spell book she had used the day prior. Spike was in the kitchen cleaning up after their breakfast, and the two pets Peewee and Owlishious were roosted high above. It was at this serene moment that everything instantly went to Tartarus in a hand basket.

Breaking the tranquility of the morning was a mighty yell. With a running double buck, Applejack collided with the library entrance. Splintering off its hinges, the door went flying through the library, into the kitchen, where it collided with a very small dragon. The purple assistant gave a tiny yelp, as the wooden projectile smacked him in the back of the head, and then came to rest on top of his body.

Twilight Sparkle looked up just in time to see two orange hooves where the door used to be, and then followed the trajectory of the door to its final resting place. She observed a tiny purple dragon claw protruding from underneath, twitching in shock. The magical mare herself couldn't get a word out, as Applejack strode proudly inside the home. Peewee had fluttered down to check on his owner, as Owlishious' head spun a one-eighty to look down angrily at the farmer.

Ignoring the creepy eyes of the nocturnal bird, Applejack walked straight up to Twilight and looked her dead in the face. "Twi, we need ta talk."

Twilight groaned, and with a few quick thoughtless casting of spells, she levitated the library door and affixed it back upon its hinges. At the same time she cast an awakening spell on her assistant, who promptly sat up. "Ugh... did any pony catch the number on that cab?"

"AJ, what in Equestria are you doing, busting through my door at such an hour?!?" The librarian was beside herself with a mixture of anger and concern. Something had to be important for the farmer to burst into her abode, but she still could have had the decency to knock!

Spike had just managed to regain his footing, shaking off the effects of being knocked unconscious. "Twilight, what's AJ doing here?"

"I was just about to find out Spike. Please, tell me, what is so important that you had to barge in here?"

Applejack looked straight into Twilight Sparkle's eyes, and spoke firmly. "Ah know 'bout you and yer brother, Twi."

It was a look of complete understanding. The brilliant mind of Twilight was immediately sent into overtime, trying to connect the dots as to how she could have found out. Completely subconsciously, she cast a sound-proofing spell upon the library, and a sleep spell on her still unknowing assistant. Spike didn't see it coming before he fell over, and bumped his head again on the way down. Peewee fluttered about, checking on his unconscious owner again.

Not wanting to simply fess up, nor believeing that Applejack knew what it was that Twilight so feared, she feigned ignorance. With a bat of her eyelashes, and a more composed voice than ever before, she crossed her hooves and spoke as carefully as she could. "Why Applejack... I don't know what you are talking about. Me and my brother, what, exactly?"

"Yer ruttin' with yer brother ah mean."

Her composure shattered, her mind wanted to crawl back into her cage. Her mind, in overdrive, thought about the situation. 'This cannot be happening. It's not scientifically possible. This isn't scientifically possible!' Regaining her composure as much as she could under the circumstances, she managed to speak once more. "And how... would you get such a crazy idea as that Applejack?"

"Fluttershy."

'Buck me silly brother,' she thought to herself as her face collided with the table in front of her. 'It had to be Fluttershy.'

Taken aback by the mare's antics, Applejack looked on with concern. "Um, you OK, Twi?"

The librarian shot up in her seat and shouted at the top of her lungs to the ceiling, "NO! I am not OK. First, Rarity and Rainbow get all up in my face about MY business!" Hopping down from her chair, she started pacing circles around the table and the farmer. "Secondly, after promising to keep my secret, Fluttershy manages to tell YOU!" She stopped her pacing just in time to thrust a hoof into the orange mare's face. Continuing onwards with her speech, she began walking towards her friend in a threatening manner. "And finally, the BEST part of my morning, has you gallivanting around here like this is your place, wanting to talk to ME about MY BUSINESS!"

Applejack was the element of honesty. Regardless of how brutal her thoughts could be, it was all she could do but to speak the truth. At this very moment though, her thoughts were far from what she was going to say, and screaming at her to run. Backed into a corner by the most powerful unicorn alive, she thought silently that a forward approach was in fact, a bad idea. "Twilight... Yer scarin' me."

Snorting through her nose, she took only a single step back. "I don't give a damn horse apple if I'm scaring you at this point. You do NOT barge into MY home to talk to me about MY BUSINESS."

Fluttershy burst through the library door, and shut it gingerly behind her. Speaking at only slightly above a normal tone of voice, Fluttershy began begging Applejack again, "Applejack, you can't come in here!" It was all she could say before breaking into a coughing fit, and collapsing on the floor.

It was just what Twilight needed to be broken from her rage. Fluttershy, no matter what she said, was the kindest and gentlest of ponies, and she was lying on the floor coughing. With a sigh, she teleported a glass of water to Fluttershy, and levitated it to her mouth. "What are you doing here, Fluttershy?"

"Ah think she done chased me all the way from her cottage, Twi. Poor girl just couldn't keep up with this rodeo pony," Applejack answered, as Fluttershy daintily drained the glass.

"I'm so so sorry, Twilight! I mean I woke up this morning and all I could think about was our conversation yesterday and how I couldn't tell any pony. I just couldn't stop my big mouth!" Fluttershy cowered in fear, holding the glass out for Twilight to take. With a quick pop and shower of sparks, the glass returned to where it came.

"I guess that's my fault, Fluttershy. I was just re-reading the spell I cast upon you, and I was actually planning on visiting you to see how the after-effects were. I didn't expect you to have a visitor, but I can't blame you for telling Applejack," Twilight comforted her shy friend.

"But I promised, Twilight... not to tell any pony," Fluttershy responded quietly.

Twilight Sparkle, being the Princess' Prized Pupil, knew all of Equestrian law. Reciting from memory, "Any promise or contract made under the effects of mind altering magic is null and void." Smiling down at the vet, Twilight helped her to her hooves. "It's OK."

"If you say so Twilight." With a jump, "GOPHERS, I HAVE TO GO!" Fluttershy dashed out the library door, and shut it behind her. Twilight was left standing in place, wondering how much stranger the morning could get.

"What," a single word from the librarian pierced the silence of the library. "What just happened?"

"Well shoot, that's why ah was at the cottage in tha first place! Gophers done been tearing up mah farmland and ah thought Fluttershy could straighten 'em out."

"Well, that answers the question of how Fluttershy had a visitor in the morning." Turning around to face Applejack, her rage was apparent on her face yet again. "I am going to put Spike to bed, and make sure he gets a nice nap for our TALK. YOU will sit down at the table and wait for me to get back."

Audibly gulping, all the mare could do was to speak softly. "Yes, Ma'am."

Twilight Sparkle slid into the chair across from the chair where Applejack currently sat. She was wearing small reading glasses, and had her hooves crossed. Speaking eloquently, "I will now hear whatever it is you have to say."

The words cut the farmer like a knife. "I don't really know anymore, Twi... I mean I was so sure 'bout what I was going to say, but now..."

"I already had my greatest secret spilled out to three of my friends, who were accepting enough to allow me to go about MY business. Who or who I don't take to bed is not your concern. I have already gone crazy over this topic once, and despite your best efforts, I'm not going to freak out again. Now you are going to speak your mind, or else you will walk out of my home and never, never speak of this again." Twilight finished her speech and sat silently across from a now speechless Applejack.

"So what were you going to say? It's wrong? Nothing has ever felt so right to me. He's married? Cadence joined us on the bed. Please, let's hear your concerns about my relationship, as if it was any of your business." Twilight was getting impatient.

"Jealous." One word muttered from the orange mare sent Twilight into a state of confusion.

"Jealous? Jealous about what?"

"You and yer brother is what, Twi."

"Why are you jealous about me and my brother? That doesn't make any sense."

"Me an Big Mac... we, um... used ta do things too. But no more, and I'm jealous." Applejack spoke softly, but her words carried a huge weight.

Twilight was taken completely by surprise. Applejack and Big Mac? She wasn't one to deny he was one of the finest stallions in Ponyville, but she didn't know what to say to that. "So... if you are just jealous, why barge in here? I thought you were going to tell me off!"

"I want ya to tell me how ya did it! Big Mac and I stopped foolin' round long time ago, an I wanna know how you an yer bro kept it going!"

"This merited you charging into my place?" Twilight asked, still curious as to why the matter was so urgent. She took off her glasses. They weren't needed, but they were a great tool for looking important, or, in this case, frightening. She would have to remember to use them again next time her brother was overdue with a 'book'.

"I'm mighty sorry 'bout that, 'o course. I was just as excited as a filly with an apple fritter. If ya can tell me how yah did it, meybeh I can get my bro back inta bed with me. I tried dating an ruttin' other stallions, but no body makes me feel like he does, and ah miss it." Applejack looked sorrowful, and her face was as low as it could get.

Twilight got up and came around quickly. She had no idea about Applejack and Big Mac, but with the truth out in the open and her friend so upset, she quickly embraced her in a silent hug. "I know what you mean; no other pony makes me feel like my big brother. I'm just really lucky I guess, especially since his wife Cadence knows and let me join them as a family."

"So... what should I do, Twi?" Applejack looked up, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Just talk to him; tell him how you feel. It's important in a relationship that you communicate with one another. Have you ever talked to each other about why you stopped, or anything?"

"Well, no. Ah mean am I pretty Twilight? I thought if he wanted me he would just come up and take me, ya know? I never did tell him that I wanted him to. Shoot, guess all my problems are cuz he don't say much, and I'm too proud to say anything." Applejack smiled, and wiped away her tears.

"You know what Applejack? I think that's a great lesson for Princess Celestia," the student said with a smile.

"Whut. Ya want me ta write about mah relationship to my big brother? That's CRAZY!"

"No, no, silly, just that pride shouldn't stand in your way of happiness. I will even write it with you, if you want."

"Ah think that would be swell."

Twilight pulled out parchment and a quill, and sat down next to her friend. They had more in common with one another than they had ever known, and a nice sit down with writing a letter to their Princess lightened their moods greatly.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I learned a valuable lesson about the magic of friendship today. I learned that pride is a great thing to have, but you need to set it aside at times. Communicating your feelings and desires doesn't make you less of a mare, and you won't be happy in life if you let your pride stand between you talking about what's important and being seen as a independent pony.

Sincerely yours,

Applejack

Rolling up the letter and sealing it into a scroll, Twilight set it aside to be sent later. With a goodbye hug, Applejack started for the door. "Thanks for everything, Twi. It means a whole heap a deal to me."

"No problem, Applejack. Just have a nice talk with your brother, and I'm sure he will understand."

Final parting words, and the farmer slipped out the door. Twilight went back to enjoying her peaceful morning, and decided with everything that had happened, her assistant deserved to sleep in.

A pink mare darted through town, having only just missed being seen by Applejack coming from the library. She dashed into Sugar Cube Corner, and up the steps to her room. Having seen Fluttershy rush to the library caused her investigative instincts to take hold. No measly sound proofing was capable of stopping an ear thrust through a crack in a window to listen to the conversation. The new knowledge at hoof led her to the conclusion that it was time for a party. A party she had been planning for a very long time. Pulling out a briefcase from under her bed, she opened it up with a mischievous grin. The top document inside simply read: Code: Cupcakes.