Four words of heartwarming words, four little words that had Applejack shudder and gap in shock. As soon as she heard those words, her body locked, her eyes froze onto Twilight's features, and her mouth nearly hit the floor from falling open. Those four words were so simple, so to the point, Applejack was wondering if they switched brains for a moment, cause whilst Twilight was simple and to the point, which she normally was thinking a mile a second, Applejack herself was going through several situations that stood before her to react to those four words.
Applejack wanted to think Twilight would be proud of her for thinking so dang much at that moment, cause half her brain had a list of reactions that involved everything between a simple smile and kiss, to pouncing the purple Alicorn and showering her in kisses until she got a giggling princess to call her own. Another third was her fear's and slight dejection and the day before, with her either running or getting slightly ticked at being played, and the last part of her brain wanted her to faint. Which sounded pretty good to her about now.
But she didn't do any of those. No matter how temping fainting, or pouncing, on Twilight was, she was strong and dependable. She wouldn't just tackle her love, but she wouldn't leave this all in vein. Applejack stood up straight, her face unreadable.
Twilight was a little worried after that. A pregnant pause and suddenly a hardened look? She hoped Applejack didn't get upset over yesterday. “I can't take it if she hates me for messing up... I want this to work, I want us together. I will do anything for you, AJ, please just... Don't get mad...”
Applejack grabbed her stetson and pulled it off her head, laying it on the floor. With little hesitation, she reached in and pulled out an apple. It was the special one, her love and earth pony magic tending to this fruit's growth. It's light purple color shining still, untouched by even a grain of dirt.
Twilight gasped at this. The purple apple was beautiful. It was rounded just how she liked her apples, and it was special. It was her coat's color, which surprised her most. She looked up to AJ to see what this meant, when Applejack smiled and sat down, holding the apple out. “Ah call it, Lavender Love. Took about four seasons, and a huge mess of gentle care over the last week... It's a slow growing apple, but seein' as ah made it from a Red Delicious tree, ah am proud to have put all my heart into it. No apple got the same amount of care and love from me as this'n.”
Twilight was wide eyed at that. An apple of her color, grown from a Red Delicious? One of her favorite apples? And Applejack grew it and used her own special touch and Earth Pony magic to grow it, just for her. Then it dawned on Twilight... This was a confession and a big fat 'YES!' from the apple bucking pony in front of her!
Applejack smiled brighter. “Ah love you too, Twi. With all mah heart. This here is just the first out of many an apple to be growing in the farm. Ah already asked granny ta give me some of the new land to grow this in. She hasn't seen or tasted it yet, this bein' the first...”
Then Applejack started getting nervous. She blushed and looked down a bit. “Ah... Don't know if it's any good, ta be honest... But Ah put all my heart into this here apple, just for you. If'n there is one thing ah know about growin' apples, it's that love makes every apple taste better than just plain old plantin' and seedin' can do alone.... Still, maybe ah should have made sure before I brought it....”
Twilight put her hoof under Applejack’s, and smiled as she got close to the farm-pony. “We'll, only one way to find out.” Twilight leaned down and took a big bite off the apple. Applejack was a statue, frightened that Twilight might just spit it out from it being so lousy. She pushed every ounce of her heart into it, but she still felt like she messed up.
Twilight slowly chewed her morsel before brightening up, her head nearly popping off her neck as she snapped up in shock. Applejack cringed, awaiting the horrifying result of her apple, and planning to throw it away as soon as Twilight stopped gripping her hoof. But her own eyes shot wide with shock as she heart Twilight's next words. “Best... Apple... EVER!!!!”
Applejack didn't realize she did a triple take on that, as Twilight took another bite, and savored it with a low moan. The young Alicorn smiled as she finished the second bite and looked to her true love. Applejack's heart melted from that amazing look she was being given, the twinkle of Sparkle's eye, the love beaming to her with just that stare alone. “Mah stars... How ah've waited for that look...”
Twilight grabbed onto the blonde mare and pulled her up against her, in a second it took for Applejack to comprehend what was happening, all she could do was go rigid in surprise, then melt into the loving embrace of Twilight's hooves, their lips locking with an intense passion.
Although it was only five seconds, Applejack would never forget it as long as she lived. The taste of the lavender pony before her was engrained into her memory and was never to leave. As the two broke apart to smile at each other, they had totally forgotten the audience. That was soon rectified, as Pinkie Pie brought out her Party Cannon and BOOM! Confetti piled everywhere around them, even on them.
Pinkie blew a streamer and smiled wide. “YAY! THE TWO ARE TOGETHER AT LAST! Congratulations you two!” She had a hat that had a heart with Applejack and Twilight kissing on it, like a picture of them from moments before just slapped on, which kind of made everyone wonder how she did that. She smiled with a loud squee and giggle-snorted. “Oh you two are just adorkable! No, Twilight is, but Applejack you got all mushy with the apples, that's just so like you!”
Twilight giggled and levitated the confetti off her and her lover. But did grab a lavender ribbon. She tied it onto Applejack's tail and pulled for the blonde mare to sit by her. As the two sat, Twilight smiled to everyone. “Thank you for all the support, every pony. And thank you all for helping with this. How about we have some fun with Pinkie's party, and enjoy the day?”
Rainbow didn't need to be told twice. She zoomed to the punch and grabbed a glass. “I'm no fooler, but I can't say I haven't thought about one mare at one point. It's not like you two are the first to come out. But what surprised me was these two.” She pointed a hoof to Pinkie and Rarity. Pinkie was being her usual self, bouncing around in cheer.
Rarity giggled a bit and looked to the pink fluffy mane of her own love. “I may be one of refinement, but even I can see past a mess to witness true beauty. Pinkie may be random, and make a mess of every room she goes into, but she's all heart, dear. That and she truly knows my style, and has helped me every single time I have been unable to come up with new designs. Some of the last fall designs were Pinkie's handiwork.”
Fluttershy remembered those and nodded at that. “They did seem a bit festive for fall... Oh, but I am so happy to see you finally confessed, Applejack. I remember when you had come over to ask about Pegasi. About signs we showed for the ones we cared for. I didn't imagine you'd have wanted Twilight to get her wings ruffled, but all the same. You two make an amazing couple.”
Applejack blushed a bit. She still was holding her tail, which now sported a lavender confetti ribbon instead of her normal red. She kinda liked that. She smiled at Twilight. “You'd be surprised, Twi, at the trouble ah had ta go through to find out how ah could make ya smile and enjoy yerself 'round me. Aw, hay, ah even asked Pinkie about Unicorns, seein' as she had Rarity.”
Rarity blinked a bit before smiling at the farm pony. “You didn’t trust me to answer, dear? I would have given many a tip about what we unicorns consider a romantic gesture.”
Pinkie was hanging from the ceiling when she stretched down and gave Rarity's horn a gentle peck again, smiling and giggling before looking to Applejack. “That's one! Now you try!”
As Rarity blushed and savored the sensation, Twilight and Applejack had looked to each other and both turned rather crimson. Applejack grabbed her Stetson and took a deep breath to calm herself. With a quick look to Twilight, she asked. “May ah, ya know... Kiss yer horn there Twi?”
Twilight blushed harder but she did manage to conduct herself to speak. She gave Applejack a peck on the cheek before smiling sheepishly. “If you want to, AJ. As long as I have you in my hooves, that's all I need. Anything else is just something more to share with you.”
Applejack blushed hotly, but smiled wide. With a big hop, she grabbed onto Twilight's body and rose above the Alicorn's head, giving the horn a long kiss to the side. She didn't expect what happened next, but after hearing more about Pegasi fro Fluttershy, she was rather impressed she gave her love a wing-boner.
Twilight blushed and grabbed her wings, squealing in embarrassment as she had to really try to force them to her sides, blushing hotly. “S-Sorry! I don't know why that happened!”
Rainbow started laughing like crazy, some punch splashing out of her mug. “Princess has the hots for the apple farmer! Wow, Twi, that's one heck of a wingspan for just a kiss! I can hardly imagine what you'll have when she actually starts preening you!”
Fluttershy blushed at that. She wasn't one to talk, but she enjoyed a good preening. She had always asked Rainbow Dash, but knew they could never be closer than friends. She respected Rainbow for who she was, and she was not a fillyfooler. “O-oh.. my...”
The party was fun, some dancing and sharing of the apple passed quickly enough, a game or two roused the friends to a competitive fun time, and the afternoon ended with a heavy sigh of relief to all. The tension of the past twelve hours passing by to give way to an amazing party, and two lovers finally getting together.
Applejack and Twilight were left in the castle, and staring at the horizon through the window, hoof in hoof. Twilight smiled and sighed as she leaned on her new marefriend, letting her wing wrap around the blonde mare. “Everything finally came together... Not exactly how I planned, but I am happy we get to share this view together like this, finally.”
Applejack smiled and gave Twilight's head a kiss, purposefully nuzzling the horn. “Ah know what ya'll mean, Twi. Though, ah doubt ah'd have had the will to say anything if'n it weren't for the situation that caused me ta confess. Allowed to watch you sleep, ah just had ta get them butterflies in my stomach to push me to say somethin'.”
Twilight giggled a bit, sighing wistfully as she felt her horn getting the love and attention her marefriend gladly gave. “Well, if that's all it took, I should have had you sleep over just you and me long ago. I don't like what those stallions did to me, but I guess I should be thanking them for bringing out that situation.” She gave a huff though, and a pout. “Though I should also zap the tails of each for hurting you.”
The two just went silent after that. Enjoying the sunset. Applejack finally processed something Twilight said. “How long... Since ya fell for me?”
Twilight smiled and tilted her head up, looking into the farm pony's eyes. “For a good year. Though I guess I have had a major crush for about two before that. Remember the Unicorn twins that tried to run you guys out with horrid Cider? Integrity, time, and true workponyship beat out magic, science, and timely made surplus. The true and honest way every pony should take as their own. You're amazing, you never gave up. And even though you lost the competition, you won the town's appreciation. And more of my heart.”
Applejack smiled brightly at that. She grabbed onto the purple cheeks of her love and pressed their lips into a deeply passionate kiss. IT was a good minute or two before they broke apart for air, but Twilight could only nuzzle into Applejack and hold her closer in her wing. “How about you? I doubt my bookish ways could ever truly compare to your amazing strength of heart.”
The farm pony could only grin teasingly. “Why Twi, you make it sound as if ah chose wrong in givin' ya'll mah heart. Let me give ya somethin' straight from the top. Winter Wrap-up? You may have been outta place, but ya'll gave us the first ever on time seasonal change for years. Even if'n ya tried ta magically power a plow, you helped us clean up the Earth pony way in no time flat when ya'll figured out how ta help in your own way.”
Twilight looked in awe as Applejack continued on. “Runnin' of the leaves? Ya'll helped me understand how ta pace myself. I won twice in a row in that race, and we didn't miss a single leaf the last two years! Not ta mention ya'll helped me and rainbow put aside a grudge. Though, woulda been nice ta have had her believe ah didn't cheat first.”
The mare continued on. From the Flim Flam brothers, to Appleoosa, even through the blue ribbon disaster she had. Applejack smiled brightly at each before looking deeply into the Princesses eyes. “You are amazin', Twi. Every fiber of your being is dedicated, intelligent, never missin' a detail, and never hesitatin' ta help a friend. Ya'll are kind to the core, sweet as can be, and the strength of heart that makes my own, that ya'll love so much, nothin' but a single apple out of the orchard that ya'll are capable of.”
Twilight blushed heavily at that. She looked down, her hooves digging at the ground sheepishly. “I'm not that great.... I'm just Twilight Sparkle. You, Applejack, mean so much to me that I feel I am unworthy... I may be a Princess, but you deserve a goddess.”
The farm pony now had a turn to blush. She blinked at that but smiled, kissing Twilight's horn once more. She took the wing around her and gave a few feathers a kiss before looking to Twilight and pressing their snouts together. “Ah got mah Goddess right here. Right in my hooves, holdin' me tight. Ah don't need no other than you, Twi. And ah Pinkie Promise ya this. Nopony, and ah mean NO pony, can hold a candle to how amazin' ya are, or how much ya mean ta me.”
Twilight blushed and shivered at each touch, her other wing threatening to pop out into a full span again. She kept her body in control and just nuzzled into Applejack again. She giggled a bit. “You know, you confessed a whole lot last night... You told me more than just a simple 'I love you' to me.”
Applejack rose her head up high and proud. “And ah meant every word.” She did have to wonder where Twilight was going with this. But she could only imagine what this meant for her.
The princess took a deep breath. “Did you mean... what you said about coming to live with me and reading more?”
That got the blond in a pinch. She did say that... and she meant it too. But she had to be honest with herself, and Twilight, if she wanted this to work. “Ah meant what I said. Ah would do mah best ta grow a hobby in readin', live with ya here. But know this, ah would never abandon mah family. Ah will always be a farm pony. Till the day ah die, Ah am an Apple.”
Twilight smiled brighter at that. “That's the mare I know and love. Though it's only fair I get to confess myself as well.” AJ had a good mind to do a double take to that one.
Before she could consider Twilight's meaning, she was pulled tighter, and turned around to face Twilight, who hugged her close into a fierce embrace, both wings around her. Twilight took a deep breath before smiling and looking into Applejack's own eyes with the deepest of love and passion behind them. “I love you Applejack. I know this will come as a shock to you, but no pony else can do to my heart what you have. That strong determination, the devotion of family, the down to Equestria attitude, the wisdom of hard work. It blows my mind, and makes my heart burst with adoration.”
Applejack could only stare in Awe as Twilight spoke to her a confession just like her own last night. Her heart stopped as Twilight told her things that would turn even Cadence's head in wonder. Twilight continued. “Every single day you were out delivering pies, or making Cider trips through to other towns, I would come to the farm, begging Big Mac to teach me how to farm like an Apple, to learn your ways of love and care that make your apples so sweet. I've learned how to farm, because I want to take an interest in what you do, because it is so important to you.”
Twilight looked to the castle and smiled. “I may never stop reading, learning, loving the books of all sorts of things, fiction and fact, but I would gladly give up time I could have reading them, in order to enjoy my days working by your side on the farm. I would even consider this castle as only an official place of work, and truly live on the farm itself, even if it is just in a makeshift tent out in the north field. The closer I am to you, the happier I am to be myself.”
Twilight ok a deep breath again before putting her horn on Applejack's head, their foreheads touching as Twilight held her marefriend closer. “Nothing can stop me from being by your side. No book will take me away from your arms, no shooting star will take my interest away from the stars I see in your eyes, not a single problem of math or science will keep my lips from touching yours. If I had it in me, if I could, I would throw my horn and wings and princess status away, just so my life with you may never go a second away from your loving gaze. And that is from the bottom of my heart. Be mine?”
Applejack could only shed tears of joy before her body finally jolted in energy, her love flaring in passion as she tackled Twilight to the ground and forced their lips together once more. Twilight eagerly accepting her lover's lips, she just held on for dear life as their passions rose, their love filling the room, and their kiss lasting for all the night as the moon rose high in the sky. It was hours before they finally stopped, but Applejack never let Twilight go.
Twilight snuggled against her lover and smiled. “Mind if I take us to.. our bed?” She giggled a bit more saying that. It was just a dream come true.
AJ just kissed Twilight's horn and smiled with her eyes growing closed. “Teleport us there, Sugar.” She smirked when she saw Twilight look up at her, as if waiting for the other part. “Ya'll are mah marefriend now, ah get ta give ya a pet name after all.”
Twilight giggled again before her horn lit up and sent them to bed. Raising the blankets over them they started falling asleep. “AJ?”
Applejack cooed questioningly. “Wha is it, Sugar”
Twilight sighed a deep breath of love as she snuggled closer. “You are the Apple of my eye.” With a stiffened hug and a relaxed snuggle, Twilight knew she had made Applejack happy. She and her love fell asleep soon after.
XxX A year later XxX
Twilight bucked the tree of Lavender Love, smiling as Applejack made the apple fall with a loving tap, no truly hard buck like the rest of the apples. The tree was spiraled to a glorious heart-shaped bush of leaves. All it took was a single hoof with a firm tap, and the apples came down. The only time to take them down was during the hours of of the twilight. The sun was already setting, hitting the purple apples in a way that Twilight herself found so elegant and beautiful. “Just like our love.”
She and Applejack agreed to move into Sweet Apple Acres together, built their own small house to the side, gave Big Mac and Cheerilee the room Apple Bloom once had as she got Applejack's old room. The spare room was for the new child Cheerilee had. Twilight was enjoying being a Foal sitter, just like her sister in law was to her.
It was a very good day. Twilight had spoken to the Stallions that tried to kidnap her. Turns out, they were brainwashed by Discord, to give her a drug that would stay heavy in effect until she heard Applejack's confession. They apologized for their actions, and Fluttershy gave Discord a harsh talk. He had agreed to clean the castle for three months. After which, Twilight told him that, if he kept on the straight and narrow, he would have that throne in the throne room like he wanted after his maid service was up.
Twilight hoisted the apples she harvested into the wagon and attached herself to it. Before she could go, however, she seen Applejack come up the hill. With a kiss, Applejack unhooked her love from the wagon. “Granny said we could let the Apples sit overnight. Hows the work, Sugar?”
Twilight giggled as she lifted AJ's hoof into her own. A purple anklet ring that she gave her. She had ordered special from her sister to make a purple marriage anklet for Applejack, one that symbolized their growing orchard. She kissed it lightly. “Always a pleasure, Lover, when you are with me.”
As Twilight had kissed the anklet, Applejack leaned up and kissed Twilight's horn, right above the horn ring she had given her. It was a star in the middle of a red apple, and the golden yellow swirling with a dark lavender around the horn. She had made the gold and amethyst swirl band herself, took around three months of exerting all her love into a perfect circle, one that even Twilight thought was mathematically impossible to make perfect. The symbol she had BEGGED Celestia to create with them in mind, and she had Rarity join the band and symbol elegantly.
The two married mares looked deep into each others eyes. Twilight pulled her lover into her hooves and wrapped her wings around her, pulling them to the ground as the sun started setting behind the apple trees. The purple Alicorn nuzzled into AJ's chest. “Mmmm. Lavender Love is being begged for by many a pony now. I don't know if we can grow enough to satisfy everyone.”
AJ nuzzled her lover's head, kissing the ring on the horn. “Now don't you fret. We've planted a whole orchard of them just last week. We're gonna be givin' our apple ta all of Equestria in a month.”
Twilight giggled a that. They had planted, and Twilight loved every bud out there. She sighed in bliss. “AJ, you know just what to say to put my mind at ease. I love you so much. You are the Apple of my eye.”
Applejack smiled and each closed their eyes. “And you are the Lavender Love of my heart. Ah love you just as much, if not more.” The two took a nap as Luna rose the moon. A lighter purple hue of the apple above them shining with the symbol of Twilight's Element, and the Apple itself shaping into the heart of Applejack's Element. This same apple would soon become the icon of their new family together, as the first unicorn of the direct family was born a year later, as Twilight cast a pregnancy spell on them both with Celestia's blessing. Lavender Blossom, the young filly born from Applejack, and the Earth Pony colt born from Twilight, AppleKindle. The family lived in love and harmony for all the future of Equestria to see.