It took Twilight a little longer than usual to get to Sweet Apple Acres, due to the fact that she was across town from where her farm pony friend lived. She ignored the stares of the townsponies, and got a little creeped out when a few pegasi stallions started flying after her, but stopped after a while.
Flapping her wings once, Twilight took to the sky as well. She was shaky and kept spinning over, but it was still nice to soar above town. Luckily for her, most ponies didn’t look upwards, so they never noticed her. While she certainly wasn’t as graceful as pegasi like Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy, it was still beautiful to take in the sights of Ponyville from above. She was concentrating so hard that she nearly careened right into a fellow flyer.
“Hey, watch where you’re flying… Twilight?” A raspy voice asked. Twilight rubbed her eyes.
“Oh, sorry sorry sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going!” Twilight apologized as she opened her eyes. She instantly recognized the mare in front of her and smiled. “Rainbow Dash!”
“Hey Twi, good to see you up here! Now that you have those wings, I figured that I would flying around all the time! I think this is the first time I’ve caught you flying alone!” Dash laughed, giving the alicorn a friendly smack on the back, which winded Twilight for a brief moment.
“I know! I never knew how peaceful it was up here. I can see why you like it in the sky so much!” Twilight laughed. The two hovered in the sky for a moment in silence.
“So, what are you doing up here anyways? Are you just getting some flying practice in?” Dash asked, motioning for Twilight to follow her. The pegasus didn’t wait to be replied to, and took off in the opposite direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight tossed one last gaze towards the apple orchard in the distance, but shrugged and followed Dash with a grin.
“No, I was heading on over to Sweet Apple Acres! I needed to talk to Applejack about something.” Twilight told Rainbow as she caught up. Dash smirked as she saw the strain on Twilight’s face, showing that she had had a little difficulty managing to catch up.
“What for?” Dash inquired, slowing down slightly to allow Twilight some time to catch her breath. She could see that the alicorn was grateful for the break. “Am I allowed to ask?”
“Of course you’re allowed to ask!” Twilight laughed, nudging Dash slightly. “I was flying over to ask if she wanted to cater for an event that I’m hosting at the library next week!” Dash stopped flying.
“You’re hosting an event? What kind of event?” Dash asked. “If AJ is supplying the food, it’s sure to be good!” Twilight smiled brightly.
“Well I’m glad to hear you say so, Rainbow Dash! It’s going to be a book fair! The First Annual Book Fair, actually!” Twilight exclaimed. She didn’t seem to notice Dash’s deadpan expression.
“A book fair? Really Twi? What’s that?”
“Oh, it’s a place where ponies can come to take out or buy books, indulge themselves in some yummy food, and have fun with their friends and neighbors!” Twilight answered, sighing dreamily.
“Are you serious? That sounds so boring!” Dash rolled her eyes. Twilight’s eyes shot open and her brow furrowed defensively.
“Hey now, it’s not boring!” She scolded, crossing her arms. “It’s fun! I’m trying to get Ponyville more interested in reading! You’re going to be there, aren’t you?” Dash let out a bark of a laugh and shook her head.
“No can do, Twi. That sounds way too uncool for somepony as awesome as me. I’m busy that day anyways.” Dash shrugged, flicking her multi-hued mane out of her eyes. Twilight raised an eyebrow in doubt.
“Oh, really? And what exactly are you busy with?” She asked smugly, leaning in. Rainbow’s eyes darted around, looking everywhere except for Twilight.
“Oh uh… I got some uh… flying stunts to practice!” Dash stared ahead for a moment before sighing and visibly relaxing. “Yeah, flying stunts!”
“Dash, I never even told you what day I’m going to be hosting the book fair.” Twilight gently reminded her. Dash started sweating again.
“Look, Twi, it’s just… it doesn’t sound interesting!” Dash chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof. Twilight fought to hide a frown. “I’m sorry.”
“Why does it sound boring? You like reading! You read Daring Do all the time!” Twilight exclaimed, exasperated. “Why wouldn’t you want to come?” Dash turned away from her flying partner and rolled her eyes.
“I can come read Daring Do anytime I want. I don’t wanna give up my free time just to come in and browse books that aren’t Daring Do!” Dash explained, but Twilight wasn’t sated.
“You never knew you liked Daring Do until I loaned you the first book in the series. Who’s to say that there isn’t any other books in the library – adventure or otherwise – that you would be interested in? You just have to give them a try!” Twilight retorted, but Dash just shrugged and turned away.
“Sorry Twi, but unless something really cool is gonna happen at the book fair, you can count me out.” Twilight stretched a hoof out to her and opened her mouth to yell at her, but sighed instead, defeated.
“Fine, I can’t make you come. Can I at least count on you for a clear, sunny weekend?” Twilight mumbled, hopeful. Dash turned around and nodded, smiling sadly.
“Yeah, of course. I’m sorry Twi, I didn’t mean it to sound that bad… it just doesn’t interest me.” Dash put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. Sighing once more, the alicorn scooped up Rainbow in a tight hug.
“That’s alright, Dashie. Don’t worry about it. It’s not meant for everypony.” Twilight released Dash. “I gotta get going though. It was nice flying with you! Hope you have a good day!” She called as she flew away. Dash favored her with a wave and flew in the opposite direction.
Her little detour had cost Twilight about half an hour, but considering how easily she convinced Rarity and the Cakes to help out, she wasn’t worried about time. It was relatively peaceful for the rest of her trip to Sweet Apple Acres, however, and she took in the sights and sounds gleefully.
Even from so high up, the unmistakable smell of apples assaulted her nose the second she came into range. Smiling, she dipped down and made a beeline for the ground. While her landing was less than graceful – ending up with her lying on her back, wings tangled with her legs – nopony was around to witness it, and she quickly stood, brushed herself off and made for the nearby farm house.
“Hello? Anypony home?” She called out as she neared it. For a few seconds, silence greeted her and she was about to call out again before a rustling caught her attention. Turning to the source of the noise, she found a little filly staring at her with a smile.
“Howdy there, Princess Twilight! Whatcha doin’ around here?” Apple Bloom asked, trotting over to her guest. Twilight returned her smile.
“Well hello there Apple Bloom! Please, just call me Twilight. How have you been?” She reached down and gave Apple Bloom a quick, friendly hug.
“I’ve been real good! Miss Cheerilee hasn’t given us homework in over a week, so Mac’s been helpin’ me with math in his free time! Miss Cheerilee says that I’m becomin’ quite the ‘in-tee-leck-choo-all!’” Apple Bloom beamed with pride and Twilight ruffled her mane.
“Well, that’s just great Apple Bloom! I’m very proud of you! Say, could you help me find your sister? I need to ask her something, and Sweet Apple Acres is too big for me to be able to find her!” Twilight laughed grimly at the thought of wandering around the apple orchards for hours in a futile attempt to find the farmer. Apple Bloom tapped her chin for a second, deep in thought. Twilight waited patiently.
“I think I should be able to help ya out, Twi!” Apple Bloom finally declared. Twilight sighed in relief and nodded.
“Alright, where is she then?” Twilight smiled, showing her teeth, and leaned forward. Apple Bloom just stared at Twilight blankly for a moment before sticking out her hoof to her right. Twilight followed her forearm.
“She’s right there!” Bloom giggled, and Twilight blushed intensely as she saw Applejack right in plain sight, bucking an apple tree in a nearby orchard. Resisting the urge to face-hoof, she thanked Apple Bloom before shaking her head, irritated at her own lack of perception, and headed off towards the farmer.
“Come on Twilight, focus! This is serious!” She scolded herself silently, but put on a happy grin when she got close enough to her friend. “Applejack! Hey!” Applejack looked up, surprised.
“Well howdy there sugarcube! What brings you to this neck of the woods?” She took off her hat and wiped the sweat beads from her brow, breathing heavily.
“You alright?” Twilight asked, leaning in. Applejack’s breath seemed more labored than usual, and she was massaging a muscle in her arm with a wince on her face.
“Oh, I’m fine Twi. Pulled a muscle the other day while apple buckin’. Mac’s had a mighty bad flu recently, so he’s been stayin’ in to help Apple Bloom out with her homework instead of bein’ out here with me. I’ve had to do double the work.” Applejack sighed and sat down on her haunches. “I’m just mighty tired, is all.”
“Applejack, if you’re so exhausted, you should take a break or ask for help! Remember what happened last time you decided to buck all the orchards by yourself?” She gently chided. Applejack chuckled and slapped her hat back on.
“Reckon I do, Twi. Hard to forget that terrible week!” The two shared a laugh. “I’m sorry. I’ll go take a break right now, in fact. Was there somethin’ you came by for?” Twilight suddenly remembered her purpose for being there.
“Oh! Yes, of course! Though, if you’re so tired, I’m not so sure I should ask a favor of you.” Twilight mumbled, feeling guilty. “You should go inside and rest up. Forget I came by!” She turned to leave.
“Now wait just a second there, missy! Ya can’t just fly off and leave without tellin’ me your purpose for bein’ here!” Applejack grabbed onto one of Twilight’s legs and didn’t let go. Twilight thought of teleporting away, but decided not to.
With a sigh, she told Applejack about the book fair, and about the catering that she wanted Sweet Apple Acres to supply.
“Well shucks sugarcube, we can do that for ya! We’d do anythin’ for a friend!” Applejack laughed heartily, giving her friend a playful slap on the back. Twilight bit her lip, frowning, and shook her head.
“No, AJ, it’s fine. You don’t have to. If you’re so overworked here, I would rather you not strain yourself.”
“Twi, I told you, I’m fine. And besides, it wouldn’t be just me makin’ all this food, ya know!” Applejack laughed. “I got Mac and Granny Smith and Bloom to help me out!”
“I thought you were the only baker in the family!” Twilight exclaimed, surprised. AJ shook her head.
“Oh heck no! Granny Smith makes the best jam and zap apple products in town and Bloom is getting’ real good at fritters. Mac and me are both good at baking, but neither of us are experts in it or anything.” Applejack winked playfully. “Between the four o’ us, we can get your food ready in a week, trust me. It’ll be no problem whatsoever.”
“You’re certain it’s no trouble?” Twilight asked once more for a final time. AJ shook her head.
“No trouble at all. Mac’s been itchin’ for somethin’ to do that’s not sit around in his bedroom all day, and Apple Bloom would be more than happy to show off her fritter baking skills!” AJ looked to her little sister, who was happily hopping around, trying futilely to buck an apple tree.
“Well, that’s great news then! I do have one more stop to make though, so I can’t stay and chat anymore! But thanks so much AJ, that’s great news! Remember to rest up and take breaks, alright?” Twilight fixed her with a stare. “I don’t want you hurting yourself permanently!”
“I won’t, I won’t!” Applejack laughed, shoving the alicorn playfully. “Now get on outta here and go see Fluttershy!” Twilight smirked and took to the air, gaining high altitude with just a few flaps of her wings.
“See ya, AJ! Have a good day!” She called down, but Applejack was already out of hearing range.
This is going better than I could have ever hoped it could go!