//------------------------------// // Beneath That Milky Twilight // Story: Kiss Me // by applejackofalltrades //------------------------------// The stars peeked from their hiding place in the soft blue and purple sky. Applejack gazed up at them with a wishful sigh and watched Twilight scrawl away, now lit by various candles surrounding her thanks to the dying outside light. Her horn lit brightly, she wrote with the quill and furrowed her brows at her extra task. The sound of quill scratching on parchment filled the space; the vinyl had long since ended.  She wondered just how Twilight fought the urge to just drop the sun into the horizon and lift the moon in the same motion, especially since she had to do it herself. Mostly.  Being the curious pony she was, she had asked.  "So you see, Applejack," Twilight continued, "I devised a way to turn the raising and lowering of the celestial bodies into a somewhat autonomous task!"  Applejack nodded, only half paying attention as the stars shone slightly brighter and brighter as the sun dipped beneath the edge of the world. "Uh huh."  "It's a spell that self-regulates and self-maintains, meaning that I only have to have the spell active to begin with, and the sun and moon will rise and fall on their own. I can combine this with other simple spells, like levitation, which is what I’m doing now. Honestly, it makes it all a lot more efficient and easy, as they really only need to be pushed into action, and then gravity takes care of the rest.” Applejack wasn’t sure what that meant, but she decided to just go along with it. “Sure. Sounds smart.” “Well, you could say that,” Twilight agreed meekly. “It was just a matter of figuring out how hard to ‘fling’ the sun and moon so they would do what I wanted.” Oh, that’s why the days were weird for a bit a few years ago, Applejack mused with a grin. "An' I thought ya said you weren't good at sports…"  "Hey, I never said that!"  "You didn't?" Applejack asked, turning fully to Twilight, who put her quill down and frowned at Applejack. "Aw shucks, I just figured… well… the Runnin' of the Leaves that year an'... Well, y'ain't the most agile pony… That is to say—" "It's okay, I'm just pulling your leg," Twilight interrupted with a cheeky smile. "I didn't say it, but it's true. I'm not very athletically adept like you or Rainbow Dash."  “Well, ya don’t need to be, if I got anythin’ to say ‘bout it,” Applejack replied with a blush. “You do just fine how you are, Twi. That big brain-a yours is mighty helpful in a stressful situation. Why do ya think the Princesses asked you to take over for ‘em? They know you’re smart and capable, just like I do.” Shying away, Twilight fluttered her wings. “You’re really too kind!” Her horn stopped glowing, but the sun still set slowly. The candles flickered warm light on her face, shadows dancing on the walls and the floor. Applejack’s eyes widened at the birth of an idea. “C’mon, I know what we can do. Let’s go outside; it’s fixin’ to be a nice night.” She stood, motioning for Twilight to follow her. “And bring that record player an' discs if ya don’t mind.” Obediently, Twilight took the record player and the box next to it in her magical grip and followed Applejack down the inclined ramp back to the forest ground. Soft grass cushioned their hoofsteps where it had once been trodden down to hard dirt floor.  The world looked different in the moments before the beginning of the night.  To Applejack, the world looked much more beautiful at that moment. During twilight where her Twilight seemed to glow with the softening sky. The orange and red light of the setting sun slowly gave way to the cool blues and purples of twilight. The same as her Twilight.  It was almost too perfect.  Her breath hitched in her throat as she caught herself staring at Twilight, who fiddled with the record player. The stars now shone in the sky, contrasted by purples and pinks and blues. A certain alicorn's cutie mark came to mind at the same time as a blush rose to Applejack's face.  A cool, subtle breeze blew between the leaves of the trees and into the mini clearing around the old treehouse. The feather tips on Twilight’s wings bristled with it, and her hair stood on end. Applejack swallowed, barely noticing Twilight turn to look at her until emerald eyes fell into pools of deep purple. Amethyst trenches that were impossible to climb up; the very night sky hiding within them, ashamed at being outshined.  Those beads of hypnotic purple softened, causing a similar reaction in Applejack's chest. It was as though her very heart turned to mush, daring Twilight to play with it as she had been unknowingly doing for years. At that point, the music drifted into Applejack's consciousness. A song she didn't realize was playing now bounced around her in taunting waves, its sweet words of love tantalizing and enticing. It almost made Applejack want to jump on Twilight and tell her everything, reveal every secret, every feeling she'd ever felt to the alicorn. To make her listen and understand and sympathize.  Perhaps even to love, to care for, to hold dear. Applejack looked into Twilight and found herself in a cavernous maze, unsure of where to go, but the goal seemed clear. Applejack worked her way steadily, unsure of her advancements, but she strived for her heart. The stars in Twilight's eyes illuminated her way and she took a step closer, the music growing louder and louder.  There was a kind of understanding that all earth ponies shared with the earth below them, with every living creature, no matter how small. Earth ponies were meant to hold all life sacred, fauna and flora. Applejack held true to this but there was one living being she wanted to keep safe most of all. And hold her dear, she must.  Her hooves brought her closer to Twilight; now close enough to feel the warmth from her body. Close enough that she could hold out a hoof halfway and feel her fuzzy body. Applejack blinked, and nothing changed. The world was Twilight; enveloped in it, lit by it, and made important by her. The soft, enthralling song reached a crescendo as Applejack offered a hoof to the mare that occupied her dreams. She wondered if this was a dream, but as Twilight pressed her fetlock to Applejack's, that fantasy became nothing but reality, as had always been.  The hoof bump was more of a gesture—an invitation—to commence a dance, and while Applejack could recognize the song nearing its final third, she stepped forward once more and pressed her shoulder to Twilight's chest, resting her head on Twilight's shoulder.  Twilight mimicked the gesture, beginning the sway to the song. As each mare found their rhythm, they danced under the growing moonlight, the deepening blue of the sky guiding Applejack's eyes to a close as she breathed deeply. Twilight's lavender scent lulled her, even if there was a hint of sweat beneath it.  A part of Applejack worried about her own scent, but upon feeling the softness of Twilight's muzzle nuzzling deeper into Applejack's neck, she smiled warmly and continued the simple dance. The occasional misstep from the alicorn only shot up her spirits more. She was never good at dancing.  The two mares encircled each other. The song dictated their every movement, every step calculated in a silent conversation. Applejack wasn’t as familiar with slow dancing, but she could tell that Twilight had let her lead. As far as her own knowledge went, she thought she did pretty well. Twilight’s soft breathing tickled the hair on Applejack’s ear, but she simply smiled as they breathed in each other’s scent. The song finally ended, and Applejack stepped back. Twilight seemed to linger, snapping into attention only once Applejack cleared her throat. Those big, amethyst eyes looked up and Applejack fought to not look away. Two faces heated up at the sight of the other, their owners barely able to contain their smiles.  "So, uh, Twi," Applejack started. Her voice, although a whisper, seemed far too loud for her surroundings as the next song scratched into the air. Crickets filled in the space.  Twilight’s wings ruffled. "Applejack," she squeaked, her voice breathy and cracking all the same.  Applejack's lips quivered into a smile. The cooling air made her shiver, but the lingering feeling of Twilight’s being ghosted her body and reminded her what warmth was. She worked her jaw a bit, her tongue playing pretend in her mouth as it practiced speaking. "That was… nice," she managed to say.  The giggle that escaped Twilight’s throat was pure bliss. Nodding, she looked at Applejack. “Yes, it was. I  go to Galas and dances and other affairs all the time but… I haven’t had that much fun since, well, since the last time I saw you!” “Aw, is it really that boring?” Applejack smirked. “All that royal stuff sounds kinda fun, not gonna lie. Can’t be that bad.” Twilight groaned and rolled her eyes. “You’d be surprised! It was fun at first, but now it’s just another monotonous thing that I have to do. I never realized how boring Celestia and Luna had it.” “Oh, well, all the more reason for ya to come visit, right?” With a little, subtle smile, Twilight nodded. “That’s true. I definitely wanna see you girls more often.” At Applejack’s slight deflation, Twilight’s smile widened. “And you, Applejack. I’ve had so much fun today.” “I’ve had fun today, too,” Applejack agreed. “I’m just plumb happy you were able to come.” “Yeah me too.” Twilight smiled and pawed at the ground. “You know, when you asked if I could come last week, I was really excited. I haven’t seen you in so long! And… truth be told, I really missed you, AJ.” She smiled softly. Applejack swallowed the butterflies forming in the core of her body. “I’ve missed ya too, Twi. We, uh, we all have.” “Aw,” Twilight cooed, “that’s so sweet! I’ve been thinking about our Friendship Council. I’ve been a lot busier recently, as you know, so I haven’t been able to hold meetings in a long time. I want to get back to that, I believe it would be a good idea to keep Equestria and the lands beyond united in friendship, and I fear that if we fall apart, somehow the harmony will go away.” Twilight blushed and looked away. “Besides, I like my Council.”  “That’s a good point, sugarcube,” Applejack agreed. “Maybe we could figure out a day everypony is free. I know the rest’a the girls an’ me are a mite busy nowadays, but I’m sure we can all find a day,” she suggested, lifting one hoof in a half-shrug. “If we dedicate one day to it, it’s easier to plan around that rather’n try to figure out a different day every moon.” After a moment, Twilight perked up. “A new schedule!” she all but yelled. Forcefully, fueled by eagerness, she grabbed Applejack by the shoulders and grinned. “Oh my gosh! I was afraid of coming off as pushy, but now that you suggested it, I know somepony else agrees! That’s perfect, thank you Applejack!” “You’re welcome,” Applejack breathed. She stayed still, carefully gazing into Twilight’s sparkling amethyst eyes. Strangely enough, Twilight did little more than blink. Her hooves rested on the earth pony’s shoulders, the alicorn form of her body now putting her a few inches taller than Applejack.  She hadn’t noticed at first that Twilight had surpassed her in height. Applejack, up until Twilight’s ascension, was taller than the once-unicorn mare. After Twilight gained her wings, however, Applejack found herself eye to eye with the alicorn. What had been different now after months of not seeing her was that Twilight seemed to have grown very suddenly.  It made her fall even harder. Deeper, to depths she had never been before. Applejack wasn’t sure if it was love, but after years of knowing and caring for Twilight, having to look up at the lavender mare perched on her shoulders made one thing clear.  She loved Twilight Sparkle. And she was no liar, not even by omission. Applejack blinked her realization away, breaking eye contact with the mare she now knew she loved, and had loved for Celestia knew how long. A red tint appeared on her face and Applejack shied away from Twilight. The alicorn cocked her head and slowly lifted her hooves from Applejack’s shoulders. A pair of strong orange hooves fell on them before they could fully be taken away, bringing them back down. Twilight flicked an ear. “Applejack?” Red as Big Mac’s coat, Applejack reset her gaze on Twilight’s. She couldn’t say it. She didn’t know how. There were too many emotions born and built up from moons upon moons of loving Twilight Sparkle. But she had to let Twilight know. It would be unfair to keep her in the dark, especially after all those years. All the adventures and day trips and sleepovers. All the parties and get-togethers and picnics. All the glances she’d steal, all the smiles she relished in, all the small touches.  The memories replayed in her head; a hurricane of moments and feelings and emotions. The hue of love overtook all of that and filled Applejack. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered and her hooves shook with the pure excitement of loving. It truly was a beautiful emotion, one that would make anypony do crazy things.  As love guided her, helped by the liquid courage in her body, Applejack leaned in.