"There! Finished!"
Twilight Sparkle had just finished decorating her home for Hearth's Warming. Today was special mainly because today was Hearth's Warming Eve and tomorrow was Hearth's Warming! There was a wreath hanging above the fireplace and mistletoe hanging all around mixed in with a tree in the very center of the room. The fire was going strong for it was recently lit to keep the library warm because the snow outside was freezing the library and Twilight didn't like the cold. Twilight wondered if her friends would be going to the show in Canterlot like last year. They had all enjoyed participating in it as the main characters, and had enjoyed the show over all. Twilight snapped herself out of her memories and stood back to admire her work. The library looked very festive and Twilight grinned. The admiration was cut short however due to the fact that the front door had swung open and slammed against the wall knocking some of the decor off the wall. Twilight recoiled from the sudden intrusion and glared at the intruder which was, of course, Spike. The baby dragon didn't seem fazed by his entry and casually walked in to get warm. He was covered in snow and was tracking it every where he stepped.
"Hey, Twilight! Man is it cold out there or what?" Spike noticed that Twilight was staring at him like he had done something wrong. "What?"
"Spike, you can't just come barging in here leaving snow everywhere like that!" Spike raised his eyebrow.
"What do you mean? I'm not tracking snow." He lifted his foot and examined it and followed the trail he had left. "Whoops. I'm gonna have to clean that up aren't I?" Twilight simply nodded and Spike sighed and headed for the closet.
"How was sledding?" Twilight casually asked as she sat down.
"It was fun! AB almost ran down Sweetie Belle, but no biggie. We made a snow pony but Scootalo used it as target practice.." Spike replied while grabbing the broom.
Twilight giggled. "Sounds like you had a great time." Spike nodded his head and continued cleaning up the mess he had dragged in.
Twilight levitated a book over to her lap and gazed at the cover. The Greatest Gift was the title that stained the cover. Twilight flipped open the book to the first page and began reading her little holiday novel. It was in season and now was the perfect time to just sit next to a warm fire, relax, and read a good book. Spike had finished sweeping and wiped a claw over his forehead wiping away some sweat. He took the broom back over to the closet and put it away leaning it up against the closet walls. He looked at his feet again to make sure there wasn't any leftover snow and when he seemed clean he began his trek upstairs towards the room. Twilight looked up from her reading when she heard the broom being put away and followed Spike up the stairs.
"Now where do you think you're going?" Twilight asked in a motherly tone. Spike sighed and pointed his claw towards the room.
"To bed. What does it look like?" Twilight rolled her eyes and grinned as the baby dragon waddled off to bed.
Twilight continued to read her book. The fire was crackling in the background creating a little noise but it did nothing to distract Twilight from her goal of finishing the book in her hooves. The warm glow of the fire illuminated her coat and made her body tingle with heat. Twilight was about halfway through the second chapter of the book before she heard a knock at the door. Twilight really didn't want to get up from her spot, but she had to in order to answer the door. Slowly but surely she got up and lazily trotted towards the door. There was another knock and this time it sounded impatient which made Twilight pick up speed a bit. Twilight finally reached the door just as another knock was ringing throughout the library.
"Hey, Applejack." The orange mare was standing in the doorway with a blanket of snow covering her entire body.
"Howdy, Twilight. Mind if Ah come in? It's mighty chilly out here." Applejack tried shaking some of the snow off her coat and it was then that Twilight realized it had begun to snow.
"Of course! Come on in and I'll make us some hot chocolate." Twilight side-stepped and allowed AJ to walk into her home.
"That's mighty kind of you, Twi, but Ah don't want to impose." Applejack replied.
"It's not that big of a deal Applejack. Why don't you sit down and warm yourself up? I'm sure after being out in the snow you're bound to be cold." Twilight stated.
Applejack nodded and sat down next to the fire trying to regain some lost body heat. The fire was already sharing the heat provided that was warming up the farm mare. Twilight began making the hot chocolate in the kitchen. She had gotten lessons from Pinkie Pie and wasn't burning everything she touched, but she was still burning a good amount of food. She finished making two cups without burning it and gave one to Applejack and sat down next to her. They both took a sip of their chocolate before Twilight began a conversation.
"So, Applejack, what brings you to the library?" Twilight asked.
"Well Ah wanted to see how ya'll were doing." Applejack replied. Twilight didn't feel quite satisfied with that answer. It felt like AJ was hiding something.
"Is that all?" Twilight questioned.
"Yup." Applejack answered. Twilight was still suspicious.
"Applejack, is there something you're not telling me?" Applejack knew she wasn't the best at lying, but she couldn't hide anything from Twilight. The mare was too good at picking up on things.
Applejack sighed. "Twi, are you doing anything tonight? Ah know it's Hearth's Warming Eve and all, but Ah was just wondering."
Twilight didn't even hesitate to answer. "Well yes I have nothing planned for tonight. What were you wondering about?" Twilight's stomach felt a little lighter all of the sudden. It was like her body knew what AJ was going to say but her mind had no clue.
"Well, Ah have tickets here to go and see the Hearth's Warming show and I was wondering if ya' wanted to come with me." Applejack had a slight blush covering her cheeks, which was weird because AJ doesn't seem like the mare who would get nervous around her. Twilight thought for a moment. Her mind was at war coming to a decision.
Is she blushing? No she couldn't be! Could she? But why would she be embarrassed about this? Unless...
While Twilight was lost in thought she failed to recognize that Applejack was still in the room and sighed before getting up. "Ya' know what nevermind. Ah think Ah'll just go." That got Twilight's attention.
She quickly drew herself back to reality and stood up just as AJ was about to leave the library. At the time she wasn't considering her options and blurted out.
"Wait!" Applejack turned around with a crestfallen look on her face.
"Yeah?" Twilight trotted up to Applejack and stared her straight in the eyes.
"I'd love to." Now it was AJ's turn to be confused.
"Really? Yer not messing with me?"
"Yes, I'd like to go see the show with you. Applejack, why would I lie to you? You're my friend!"
Applejack let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah...friend."
Twilight could detect a hint of sadness and even disappointment hidden within the farm mare's voice. Twilight had no idea why Applejack could be sad about that. She was going to go with her to the show! Right? Applejack shook her head side to side and forced a smile. The way she did it looked painful to Twilight and it clearly showed something was up. Applejack thanked Twilight for the drink and told her when they would meet to head out.
"So 1:30 right?" Twilight asked.
"Yup!" Applejack replied,
"And the show starts at 4:00 right?" Applejack nodded.
"Ok I guess I'll see you then!" Twilight smiled at Applejack and she smiled back.
"Yup. Ah'll see ya' then." Applejack smiled and trotted back off towards her home and left a pondering Twilight at the door.
What's up with Applejack? She looked like something was wrong or that she was depressed about something! But what? Twilight continued to think on the matter and tried to piece it all together. So first Applejack shows up at her door, then she asks her to a see a show which, by the way she worded it, sounded like she was asking her out on a date. The only evidence behind that is that AJ was blushing when she asked, or at least it looked like a blush. It was probably just a light trick from the fire. Twilight quickly dismissed that because AJ's coat was orange so the light would have blended with her coat. It was a frustrating situation. On one hoof this whole thing could be a date and that would mean that Applejack has a crush on her. On the other hoof it could just be a friendly outing and nothing more.
This was a difficult decision, but it was one that had to be made. Should she treat it like a date and potentially lose a friend? Or should she just play it off as friends and potentially hurt AJ by friend zoning her? Twilight felt a sudden cold rush hit her and had forgotten to close the door. She hastily shut it and continued her debate. She sat down on the couch and warmed up by the fire. She now had to consider everything about this decision. Did she like Applejack enough to go out with her? Twilight knew only one way to solve this conflict.
"Make a list!" She shouted to no one in particular. She snagged a paper and quill from the drawer and began scribbling down the words pros and cons.
"Ok so let's see. Pros! Well, Applejack is nice. She's honest, strong, dependable, hard-working, beauti-" Twilight stopped herself mid-sentence. What was she going to say!? She looked down and saw that she had scribbled down beautiful on the paper. "What's going on with me?" Twilight shook her head and continued writing.
"She's loyal, humble, and athletic too." Twilight sighed. "Now for the cons. She's stubborn, proud, close-minded and..." Twilight couldn't think of anything else to add to the cons side. The mare was stunning in her own way. Her coat was the prettiest shade of orange and her eyes were like the rarest gem. Her mane was like a sea of beauty that dragged you in.
Twilight closed her eyes and shook her head violently. The more she thought about Applejack the more she thought about how amazing she was and how lovely she looked! Twilight needed somepony to help her out on this one. She already knew that none of the books in the library would be able to help her so she went with the next best thing.
"Rarity will know what to do! She does know a lot about romance!"
Twilight was about to rush out the door when she remembered again that it was snowing so she would need a jacket or a coat or something. She opened the closet and the only thing remotely close to one was her winter wrap-up vest. Twilight grabbed it anyway and slipped it on. She opened the door and was immediately blasted by the wind and snow. The white flakes were blinding to say the least and the sheer cold stung her face. Twilight shook her face to clear the snow and continued outside. The white snow was illuminated by the daylight and was making it hard for Twilight too see two hooves in front of her face. She couldn't use her hooves to feel where she was going and they were quickly growing numb with cold. Twilight regretted even thinking to walk in this weather and instead decided to teleport to Rarity's instead. Her face was burning from the freezing temperatures and her whole body was going numb.
Ok Twilight. Focus...focus...FOCUS!
In a flash and a pop she was gone.leaving 4 hoofmarks where she was standing.
Rarity was busy finishing up a new dress for Hoity Toity most recent order. It was made for the holiday season but it was also made along with the other costumes for this years Hearth Warming show. Just as she was putting on the inishing touches, Twilight appeared in the lobby with a pop and a flash. Rarity was startled by Twilight's sudden appearance and nearly dropped her thread and ruining her dress. Rarity didn't have a chance to scold Twilight because in that instant Twilight already had her in her magenta aura and was situating her.
"Rarity, I'm sorry for the sudden intrusion but I need your advice. It's important." Rarity resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"And what would that be darling?" Rarity replied. She was freed from Twilight's grasp and was now resting on a cushion on the floor.
"W-Well uh where do I begin?" Twilight plopped down on the floor and situated herself directly across from Rarity.
"Preferably at the beginning, Twilight." Rarity got herself comfortable and stared at focused on Twilight.
"Applejack came to the library a while ago." Rarity thought nothing of it at the time and motioned for Twilight to continue. "And she asked me something." Now Rarity was interested.
"What did she ask?" Rarity asked.
"She asked me if I was doing anything tonight first, then she asked me if I wanted to go and see the Hearth's Warming show with her." At first Rarity was confused but thought it was just a simple friendly outing.
"And?" Rarity asked. Twilight was now confused.
"And what?" She replied.
"What else did she say!" Twilight was now confused.
"She didn't really say anything. But I said yes but something else came up." Again Rarity was fully interested.
"Whatever could it be darling? I hope it doesn't interfere with your plans." Rarity asked.
"Well I think she was asking me out, like on a date!" Rarity stared at Twilight for a moment and giggled.
"Twilight, dear how could you ever think that Applejack was asking you out?" Rarity stopped giggling when she saw the intense glare Twilight was giving her.
"Well she was blushing when she was asking though I'm not one-hundred percent positive. Also she seemed really disappointed when I didn't answer at first." Rarity thought for a moment.
"Well those are common signs but are you sure?" Twilight shook her head.
"No! That's why I came to you! I thought you might be able to help. What if it is a date? What if I hurt her feeling!? What if it's not and I do something stupid and she hates me forever!" Twilight began hyperventilating which was Rarity's cue to calm her down before she went insane like last time.
"Twilight, dear Applejack would never do that! She is our friend after all! Whether or not it's a date you should just act natural and let Applejack lead the evening." Rarity said.
"But what if it is! What do I do then!?" Rarity sighed.
"There's only one way to find out. Twilight, how do you feel about Applejack? Describe her for me." Twilight's face hit the ground with a loud thump.
"What help will that be?" Twilight asked.
"It will help determine if you have feelings for Applejack should she have feelings for you." Twilight sighed heavily.
"Fine! Well Applejack is athletic and a hard worker." Rarity smiled and urged Twilight on. "She is honest, reliable, humble a-"
"Twilight, dear I don't mean to interrupt but I think you're analyzing this way too much. Just let it flow naturally darling!" Twilight sighed again. She closed her eyes and pictured her friend in her head.
"Applejack is brave and honest. She's just so friendly and trusting. It's like, like, I can't even describe it. I've always enjoyed having her around." Twilight's chest seemed to be getting lighter the more she describe Applejack. Her heart started to pick up speed. "It's like she's just perfect. Like when she's around nothing can hurt me." Twilight had a dreamy smile on her face which resulted in Rarity grinning triumphantly. Twilight blushed tried to hunker down as close to the floor as possible.
"Well darling I think we know what is going to happen if this is a date. I never knew you liked mares." Twilight didn't move an inch from her spot.
"I don't! I-I-I don't know!" Twilight slammed her head down on the floor and Rarity stood up and tried to pull Twilight to her hooves.
"Twilight, listen." The lavender mare looked up at her. "You have nothing to worry about darling! Just let Applejack lead and you'll be fine."
Twilight feeling reassured got up on her hooves and thanked Rarity for her help. She had a lot to think about and little time to do so. Twilight glanced up at the clock and discovered that it was already 1:00. Applejack was going to be arriving at the library shortly and Twilight wanted to look presentable when AJ did show up. The lavender mare then looked out the window and it wasn't as bad as before but it was still windy. Twilight used her better judgement and decided to teleport back to the library. She waved one last goodbye to Rarity before there was a pop and a flash and she was gone again. Rarity sighed and resumed her work.
"Let's hope she doesn't do anything uncouth while she's out."