“Wait, what?” Twilight shook herself and turned away from the stacks of paperwork crowded onto her simple desk and whirled around, her ears bolting up with surprise, curiosity. “Applejack, I’m not sure I heard you right.” Applejack smiled wearily and moved a few steps closer.
“Just putting forth the idea of marriage, sugarcube,” she said, smiling softly. “No pressure, I hain’t gotten a ring or anything like that yet. Just wanted to know your thoughts.”
Twilight furrowed her brow and fidgeted slightly. “I don’t know, AJ. I mean, I love you, and you love me, right?” Applejack nodded patiently. “And I know that, and you know that, and everypony who really matters knows that. And that’s enough for me. A wedding seems like overkill, almost. Like we’re making a huge production out of something that doesn’t need to be that way. You get what I’m saying?”
Twilight wasn’t sure what hurt more; Applejack’s resigned sigh, or the wounded little smile that crept onto her face. “Figured as much,” Applejack said, shifting. After all, Twilight was pretty private. They didn’t do much kissing in public, and Twi tended to keep about a hoof-space between them while walking anyplace.
“What’s up, AJ?” Twilight asked, laying a hoof on Applejack’s slumped shoulder. “C’mon, talk to me, please?”
Applejack’s smile grew a little in strength and she met Twilight’s gaze, a fragile little hope burning in her bright green eyes. “I just... It’s just...” she stammered, “I’m not getting any younger here, Twi. And... I don’ know, I guess I’m worried a bit about being forgotten. Not by you,” She soothed, smoothing out Twilight’s ruffled feathers, “Never by you. I know you better than that.” She paused and worked her mouth in silence, as if tasting her words before continuing.
“I mean, I know I’m not gonna be forgotten by Equestria either, not with the way my face is all over the Hall of Glass. Not with the way the six of us have saved the world and all. And it’s mighty humbling to think that I could be helping colts and fillies lead a better life even when my bones are lost memory to the trees...” Twilight flinched, and AJ ducked her head apologetically before continuing. “And yeah, I’ve saved the world. But that’s not all I’ve done. And yeah, I’m a hero, but that’s not all I am, you get what I’m saying?”
Twilight nodded slowly. “Sorta, yeah. You’ve got the Orchard, and your family, and you’re a pillar of the Ponyville community, and --”
“And I’ve got you,” Applejack finished, stroking Twilight’s face gently. “See, I don’t want to just be the mare who saved Equestria again, and again, and again.” Applejack’s eyes flashed with that wonderful, heart-melting confidence Twilight loved so much, and she planted her hoof back on the worn floorboards with a quiet authority. “I wanna be the mare who loved Twilight Sparkle,” she announced, sitting a little straighter. “I wanna be remembered as the pony who could make her smile, who could let her cry, who’d give her somethin’ to lean on when things went rough. I wanna be remembered as the mare who loved her powerfully, with every beat of her heart, with every day in her life. I wanna be the mare who did right by her. Because outta everything I’ve done in my life, Every tree I’ve planted, every monster I’ve kicked, that’s what I’m most proud of, Twi. Jus’ loving you the best I can.”
“Applejack,” Twilight breathed. But no other words followed that one, wonderful name, and so she lapsed into enraptured silence.
“I dunno,” Applejack murmured. “I guess I thought maybe a wedding was the best way to get that...” She trailed off and turned her head to the far wall of their bedroom. “Sounded better in my head,” she grumbled, her voice far too shaky.
Twilight threw herself onto AJ, held her tight in her forelegs, caressing Applejack’s tense neck, rubbing her back with gentle, insistent wingstrokes, and carefully, lovingly nuzzled and kissed away every stubborn, frustrated tear that fell from her love’s eyes. And finally, after AJ’s shakes and suppressed sobs faded and stopped, Twilight smiled and pecked her on the lips.
“Just promise me you’ll think on it, sweetheart?” Applejack asked.
“Of course I will,” Twilight promised. “Cross my heart.”
A little smile, gentle, teasing, and warm, found its way onto Applejack’s lovely face. “That’s all I could ask for,” she whispered, her breath tickling Twilight’s ear. Then she pulled herself out of Twilight’s limbs and rolled her neck. “I’ll call you down for supper,” AJ called as she went downstairs. “But you really gotta finish reviewing those new zoning laws, ya hear?” Twilight chuckled and picked up the stack of papers in her magic, a red-inked quill poised and ready.