//------------------------------// // So Kiss Me // Story: Kiss Me // by applejackofalltrades //------------------------------// Applejack leaned in. Twilight, much to the earth pony’s surprise, met her halfway. The earth pony let out a held-in breath through her nose. The first thing she noticed was the taste. Despite the brief lingering alcohol, Twilight was a field of lavender, even if only through what Applejack could gather from their chaste kiss. She wanted to further explore that flavour someday; it was everything she thought it’d be, but she would take what she would get. It didn’t last long. The surprise and realness of the situation quickly caught up to both mares, forcing them to step back from each other and stare. Twilight’s eyes lingered on Applejack’s mouth, and Applejack couldn’t help but bring her gaze down to Twilight’s own lips. With a seemingly shared desire for more, they both moved to each other once more. Fleeting sunlight disappeared as Applejack’s eyelids fell in tandem with the sun.  Through the sensory overload of Twilight’s perfect form, everything she felt for the alicorn magnified and exploded inside her. Warmth coursed through her body in tingly waves, and she smiled through her embrace, relinquishing the feeling of another pony’s lips on her own.  It felt different from any other kiss she could remember having, not that there were many, but she felt as though it meant something. Judging by the smile she could feel forming on Twilight’s face, she figured the alicorn had similar thoughts.  Elated due to adrenaline and happiness, Applejack and Twilight pushed closer together. It was still a decent kiss, nothing to be shameful about, but it was definitely different than the first. While the first was fueled by the heat of the moment and rushing emotions desperate to get something out of a good situation, this one was softer and less meticulous. Twilight’s neuroticism was long gone. Her kissing was erratic, driven by the same need for love that influenced Applejack’s own kissing. Though still sitting up, Twilight’s fuzzy chest rubbed against Applejack’s, tickling in a way that only pegasus coats could. Applejack suppressed a giggle at the sensation, not helped by Twilight’s delighted squirming. Blighted by the need to respirate, the two mares broke apart, each inhaling sharply. They sported matching smiles as they gazed at each other with warm eyes. Applejack exhaled in a breathless chuckle, the feeling of Twilight’s alicorn-ed fuzziness still lingering, to which Twilight responded with a breathy giggle. Her wings fluttered at her sides, and Applejack figured it was a subconscious reaction, which was extremely adorable.  “I’m so glad you did that,” Twilight finally said, her voice soft and searching for oxygen, “because I wanted to do it, too.” Applejack rubbed her hoof on her chest, ridding herself of the tickling feeling. She let her gaze linger on deep purple eyes, her smile only widening. “Really? For how long? ‘Cause I been crushin’ on ya since I plain first met ya.” Twilight ran a hoof through her mane, toying with it nervously. “I think for me it was when we all went to the Gala that first time, remember? You showed up ready to go in that dress Rarity made and you looked just… well… beautiful,” she admitted with a blush, her mane-stroking growing faster.  “I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, really, because I had never felt like that about anypony before,” she added. “I mean, don’t get me wrong; all our friends looked amazing, but something about the way you walked in with that casual smile and friendly, lidded eyes made my insides squirm, even though I had seen the dress before. I actually thought I had gotten sick!” Twilight let out an eased laugh. “But then you looked at me and waved and I knew, if only from what I had read prior to that, it was something else.” “Aw, that’s a much nicer reason’n I got,” Applejack mumbled sheepishly. “I just thought ya were real cute when ya came bumblin’ into my farm on yer first day here. Spent the entire night at yer welcome party hopin’ you’d come down so I could talk to ya. Then when ya united us in friendship and defeated Nightmare Moon, I realized I wanted more than to just be yer friend. I dunno, I just admire you so much, sugarcube.” Twilight snorted, shaking her head with an amused smile. “Wow, all this time… And we never spent enough time together to notice until now!” Applejack smiled. “I reckon I was a bit nervous to spend time alone with ya,” she admitted. “I didn’t wanna say anythin’ to make ya feel weird or nothin’. I reckon that it’s all a bit silly lookin’ back at it now, ain’t it?” “Yeah, it is,” Twilight agreed. “I’m sorry we didn’t sort this out sooner. Now I’m rarely here…” Applejack frowned as Twilight deflated. She leaned forward and nuzzled her comfortingly. “No need to apologize, Twi, I promise. It ain’t nothin’ but somethin’ a bit unfortunate. And it sure ain’t your fault,” she reassured her. “You’ve got responsibilities. Nothin’ wrong with that.” Twilight leaned into Applejack’s nuzzle. “I know, but I just feel bad. It’d be silly to try to start a relationship now.” “Now hold on,” Applejack interjected, pulling away with a deep frown. “I ain’t gonna force ya or anythin’, but why is it silly?” With a sigh, Twilight looked down. “Well, in all the books I’ve read about relationships, it mentions that contact and dates are important, especially at first. I can’t come to Ponyville very often, and you can’t come to Canterlot…” “I don’t think there are rules when it comes to love,” Applejack said, hoping to help Twilight see her side of things.  Instead, the alicorn grimaced. “Everything has rules! Or at least, guidelines. Statistically, couples that see each other frequently have a happier courtship and a longer-lasting relationship.” She pouted, looking at Applejack as if she had just broken the law. “Numbers don’t lie.” Applejack pursed her lips and looked up at the sky, searching the starry expanse for answers. A pair of stars twinkled above them, and an idea formed in Applejack’s mind. She looked back down to a dejected-looking Twilight and prodded her. “Well, we’ve got the Council of Friendship, right?”  Twilight nodded. “Then we’d be meetin’ every month.” “Hopefully....” A smile grew on Applejack’s face. “Well, then we could spend time together then. I can take two days off if it’s for official business. Friendship Council’s official business, and one extra day to spend time with ya. If yer worried about not bein’ able to have enough time together, I think that’ll help." She put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder and took her hat off, pressing it to her chest. “I know maybe it ain’t what you think is enough, but believe me when I say that I’m willin’ to do whatever I can to make it work, Twi,” she promised. “I think you’re worth it, an’ no matter what, we’ll always be best friends, right?” Despite herself, Twilight smiled and nodded meekly. “Until the end of time,” she agreed. Applejack nodded once and put her hat back on her head. “Exactly. Now, if ya don’t wanna try it out, that’s alright. I don’t want anythin’ to come between us, but I… Well, Twi, I love ya! In a friend way, an’ in the way that I felt when I kissed ya. I think I always have.”  Twilight’s face lit up like a tree on Hearth’s Warming. “It’s not that I don’t want to,” she assured her. “I’m just… scared. I don’t want to lose you.” “Sugarcube, we’ve been through so much together. I don’t think ya could lose me, even if ya tried,” Applejack pointed out gently. A sigh escaped Twilight’s flushed face. “I know. Rationally, I know you’re right. But the silly irrational part of me is telling me otherwise.” Applejack gave her a patient smile. “Then how about ya prove it wrong? I promise we’ll be okay, Twi. I wouldn’t let anythin’ happen to us.” Twilight looked at her hooves, nodding slightly. “You’re right, we’ll always be friends no matter what. I do want to be with you, Applejack, I have for years. Yes, I’m scared, but... you’ve taught me to get over my fears. I can always write to you, or make more free time.” With a snort, Applejack leaned in to give Twilight another quick nuzzle. “Well, Celestia was always able to come here quite often. You should ask her how she made time,” she joked. Though it was true; the former princess happened to show up to Ponyville more than what seemed warranted. If it was Twilight, though, Applejack wouldn’t complain. The alicorn giggled and nestled down into a more comfortable position. She tucked her forehooves under her, reminiscent of a cat. Applejack smiled softly and lay down next to her, keeping her hooves in front of her and in the long grass. Twilight leaned against Applejack and exhaled softly. “True. Now that I think about it, I think that statistically, we have a good chance. Even without the frequent meetings.” Applejack couldn’t really understand how Twilight could be so focused on numbers and data, but at the same time, she found it endearing. “Why’s that?” “Well, we’ve been friends for so long,” Twilight pointed out. “We already know a lot about each other, and that initial bout of dates is usually meant for a couple to establish what we already have. If anything, we’ve already gone through a lot of steps!” “See? I told ya it’d be fine. Now your ‘numbers’ are provin’ I’m right,” Applejack teased.  Twilight brought her head up and looked down at Applejack. Her eyes sparkled brighter than the stars behind her. “Okay, okay. But I do want just one more thing to make me feel better.”  Applejack cocked her head. “What?” “Kiss me?”