Late. Again...
Twilight trudged her way down the dirt road. She wished it was raining. Then she could at least look as pitiful as she felt. She would be soaked and the road would be mud so she would eventually be covered in mud. Yah rain would have been good. But unfortunately for her the world had other plans. Instead of a stormy, cold, and miserable day, it was a beautiful and cheerful one. The sun was out, Rainbow Dash must have cleared all the clouds as there wasn’t one in sight and the temperature was perfect for being outside. Not too hot, nor too cold. It was the perfect day, just like she had asked for initially. Her perfect plan had come together perfectly until it hadn’t.
“Bucking Nobles,” Twilight grumbled under her breath. Of course, of all days the Nobles had decided to act out. Led by non-other then the insufferable Prince Blue Blood. They has marched right into the Castle of Friendship and demanded that she take Blue Blood as her husband.
Twilight let out a snort like she would spend even a fraction of her eternal life bound to that obnoxious fool. It wasn’t like they had some profound reasoning for the marriage either, like peace between two tribes, or a diplomatic venture that would help save Equestrian from certain doom. No…
“I beg your pardon?”Twilight demanded, “Why would you assume that I—”
“Come now Twily,” Blue Blood cooed, his abuse of her childhood nickname causing Twilight to flinch, “You’re hot, I’m hot. You’re a Princess and I a Prince it only makes sense.” Twilight starred at Blue Blood, her mind trying to determine how the Prince’s mind worked.
“That’s hardly reasons for marriage—” Twilight objected,
“Yes well, you are also the only Princess not relate to me,” Blue Blood pointed out.
Even now Twilight could still feel the pain in her forehead from how hard she had facehoofed from that comment. Now she had to go and apologize to her likely furious marefriend for missing their planned picnic, again, because of some Princess like the thing she had to do. To make matters worse, it was their one-year anniversary today.
Twilight let out a sigh before she grunted in pain form her horn. She looked up to see her horn wedged into a wooden door.
She felt her wings flare out in anger, “Are you bucking kidding me!” She had not only reached Sweet Apple Aches but also managed to run head first into the front door. She grumbled under her breath about being so unobservant as she tried to dislodge her horn from the door. With her luck Discord would probably choose this moment to show up a try to take over Equestrian again and here she would be stuck with her horn in a door. Then the door opened and she has pulled off her hooves as she was dragged across the threshold. Her horn dislodged itself from the door and Twilight faceplanted on the old floorboards of the farmhouse.
Great, just bucking great. Some Princess I must like now, she thought to herself, as tears of defeat came to her eyes.
“Princess,” an old scratchy voice stated plainly.
Oh buck, because you had to find the only thing worse than Discord! Twilight sat up and tried to compose herself, though it was a losing battle at this point, “Granny.”
The eldest of the apple family narrowed her eyes at Twilight, “It happened again. Ah, can tell.”
Twilight simply nodded, this was the fourth date in a row that she had missed. It didn’t make matters any easier that Granny didn’t approve of her. While the old mare supported Applejack in her choices in life she didn’t approve of their decision to keep their relationship secret. It wasn’t even Twilights desire it had been mandated by Princess Celestia herself, at least until the right to same-sex marriage was better established in Equestrian.
“Y’all ever going to stop breaking m’ah grandbaby’s heart?” Granny asked.
Twilight sighed, Granny had a point, Applejack never said anything but Twilight knew that their relationship was hard on her, “It has never been my intention.”
“Don’t matter none. Y’all need to decide what’s more important, y’all or her,” Granny stated plainly.
What the buck does that mean? Twilight asked herself. Before she could ask for clarification Granny spoke up.
“She’s in the East Orchard working away the pain. Go fix ‘hings!” with that Granny shoved Twilight out the door and slammed it shut. Twilight sighed again and began dragging her rump towards the eastern orchard. Granny was right, what Twilight was subjecting Applejack to was unfair. The poor mare being forced to sneak around with Twilight. It was against Applejack very nature.
Twilight trudged her way into the orchard and quickly spotted Applejack. She watched, her heart aching, as Applejack reared up to buck a tree. The way the farmpony moved was like the most articulate poem to Twilight, utter perfection. Like pure silver. Silver that Twilight was tarnishing.
Applejack seemed to notice Twilight because her eyes went wide in surprise and she missed the tree with her kick. The orange mare fell to the ground hard but her eyes remained locked on Twilight.
“Twi?” Applejack asked, before quickly scampering to her hooves. Twilight could feel the tears begin to sting her eyes. “Now now Sugar Cube don’t cry.”
Twilight broke, she slumped to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks freely, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” she kept repeating.
“Ya ain’t got nothing to apologize for,” Applejack reassured.
“Yes, I do!” Twilight lashed out, “You deserve so much better!”
She heard Applejack chuckle, “Ah don’t think I could do better than a Princess,” the farm pony joked.
“You could have somepony that actually shows to their dates,” Twilight grumbled, “A mare that is there for you no matter what. Somepony better for you, that could help with the farm and…and…” Twilight trailed off sobbing.
Applejack ran her hoof down Twilight’s back and began to massage the Princess’s shoulders, “Twi Y'all have been there more for me than any other mare and we both know that their magic ‘o yours is plenty of help on the farm.”
“But four dates,” Twilight protested.
“And how many have I had to cancel because of the harvest or something else?” Applejack asked.
“One. One date the whole time we have been together. And it was because you were called away on a Friendship mission,” Twilight lamented.
“Only one?” Applejack mumbled, “Hun I’m better than ah thought ah was.”
Twilight proceeded to cry harder, “See!”
“Twi the difference is that ah ain’t helping run Equestrian,” Applejack reassured.
“That’s no excuse to neglect you,” Twilight mumbled.
“Y’all ain’t neglecting me. Y’all always come for the date even if‘re late.”
Twilight straightened herself up, tucking her wings against her side, “I can’t make you keep punishing yourself.”
Twilight didn’t dare look at her marefriend, “Twi, what are y’all—”
“I’m sorry!” Twilight interrupted, on the verge of tears, “I’m so sorry AJ.” With that Twilight took to the air. However, her escape was suddenly stopped as she was pulled to the ground by the tail.
“Y’all ain’t goin’ nowhere little missy,” Applejack stated firmly pinning the young Princess to the ground. Twilight couldn’t bring herself to speak as she looked up at the strong earth pony over her, “Let me guess, Y’all were planning to end us then fly away to that there castle o’ yours and cry those pretty eyes out. Right?”
Twilight nodded sheepishly.
“And then what? Hideaway for a few weeks avoid me and the girls before heading to Canterlot. Alone and heartbroken, just like a’ll be. Right?” Twilight averted her gaze. “I ain’t letting Y'all go that easily,” Applejack said leaning down to Twilight, “Y'all are worth the wait.” With that, she kissed Twilight. Twilight melted into the kiss closing her eyes. She could feel every bit of emotion the two mares had for each other in that kiss. It stoked the fire of love she had for the orange mare and turned it back into a raging inferno.
Eventually, the kiss ended and Twilight was left staring deep into Applejack’s green eyes.
“Got that?” The orange mare asked.
Twilight nodded, “Got it.”