>the clock chimed midnight
>in the dead of the night, Twilight was working deep in a lab under her castle
>she was performing several tests to increase the productivity of plants
>it was determined that the best method was the increase the size that they can grow to
>her new spell was ready to be cast
>based around the phenomenon that plants grow better with positive attention
>all a pony had to do was chat with her crops and they’d grow tenfold!
>if the spell worked
>in the center of the lab sat a simple sunflower
>she charged the spell and let it loose
>the magic surrounded the flower, giving it an eerie glow
>a bubble grew before it popped in a massive flash of light
>and then it was over
>gingerly, Twilight approached the flower
>”Uh, hello Mr. Sunflower”
>”You’re looking…bright?”
>nothing happened
>she threw her hooves into the air in frustration
>and stomped back up to the main floor of her castle with a groan
>too late to continue tonight, she calculated a myriad of variables to change for the next attempt
>as the door slammed behind her, the flower suddenly moved
>it stretched out, slowly growing in the dark
***
>the very next day, a pink blur bounced around Ponyville
>it was business as usual
> somehow she managed to man the counter at Sugarcube Corner while hosting several parties at once
>even though those parties were halfway across the town
>in two different directions
>in the midst of all her action, she spotted a familiar orange pony
***
>AJ browsed the market for repair supplies for the family wagon
>ever since the little adventure to see Goldie Delicious, it was held together by temporary fixes
>it was high time to finally mend the old cart
>she lifted each nail on display, carefully scrutinizing the quality of the iron
>suddenly, she stopped, a shiver running down her spine
>her head shot up and looked about
>something in the back of her mind screamed about imminent danger
>but AJ knew that it was already too late
>”AAAAAAAAPLLLLLEEEEEE”
>she didn’t know what was worse
>knowing that it was coming
>“JAAAAAAAAACK!”
>or that she was unable to do anything to stop it
>AJ barely managed to turn around
>when the entire world exploded into pink
>a ballistic interponyville Pinkie slammed into AJ
>they both tumbled off into the center of the marketplace
>Pinkie pulled AJ into a hug monumental proportions
>somewhat dazed from the tackle, AJ realized that Pinkie was speaking
>she was spoke too fast to understand but every so often AJ caught a snippet
>”…Don’t ever get to see you anymore! You’re always too busy on that boring old farm!”
>”We should have more adventures!”
>”Hey isn’t Applebloom’s birthday soon? We should plan!”
>”Speaking of adventure, I got a letter from my new pen pals from the Scariest Cave in Equestria
>”They say ‘ROOOOAR’ by the way”
>AJ managed to shove a hoof into Pinkie’s mouth to get a word in edgewise
>undaunted she continued to babble around AJ’s hoof
>she chuckled at her friend’s antics
>”Ahm happy to see you too, sugarcube. Don’t you have some parties to tend to though?”
>Pinkie paused, her smile growing larger
>”I am silly!”
>she gestured behind her
>AJ saw one of the celebrations down the way
>somehow Pinkie was already there, tying balloon animals for the birthday filly
>AJ shook her head and decided that it was best not the question it too hard
>after she made some pinkie promises to spend more time together, AJ left to return to the farm
>she disappeared down the street, leaving Pinkie to sit there, head tilted
>”Was Applejack always that tall?”
>she dismissed the thought and bounced back off to the parties
***
>the next morning
>as usual, AJ woke up before the dawn
>she hopped off the bed to get ready for the day
>the bed creaked more than usual
>another thing to put on the list

>everything on the farm was in a constant state of needing repair
>she walked up to the mirror
>her favorite hat rested on a nearby peg
>she picked it up and placed it on her head
>that’s strange, it didn’t fit as well as it did yesterday
>it must’ve shrunk in the wash overnight
>she would just have to go without it today
>on the other side of the room, AJ almost smacked her head on the doorway as she passed through
>”What in tarnation? Applebloom better not be trying her hand at carpentry again”
>last time she had managed to barricade the entire family in the farmhouse
>there was already a lot of work to do already today
>she didn’t need to add anything more to the list
>the breakfast table was empty, no one had made anything this early
>that was just fine for AJ, a quick few apples from the orchard would suffice
>as she left the farmhouse, the exit door had even less clearance than the one in her room
>Applebloom was going to get a stern talking to after later
>as she trotted across to the nearby barn, an intense feeling of vertigo washed over her
***
>at Twilight’s castle, it was quiet
>off in the distance, a pair of birds happily sang and chirped
>ponies were milling about on their daily business
>suddenly, the peace shattered as Twilight teleported out of the castle
>Spike clung to her back, wide eyed and shivering
>as they emerged from the smoking crater caused by the teleport, the earth rumbled
>there was the sound of cracking glass when a gigantic sunflower burst out of the top of the castle
>maybe the experiment worked afterall
>Pinkie seemed to be on the commotion in an instant
>”Oooh Twilight, that’s a pretty big flower! You’re a shoo-in for the next county fair!”
>Twilight turned to Pinkie, a quizzical look plastered on her face
>”No, Pinkie this wasn-“
>she didn’t get any farther as Pinkie had already ran off several feet away to the newest distraction
>just before she was out of sight, she called back to Twilight
>”By the way, have you noticed Applejack growing any taller lately? Maybe she’s spending too long around her trees!”
>she giggled a bit at her joke as she hopped away
>it took a moment for the realization to dawn on Twilight
>”Applejack!”
***
>back at Sweet Apple Acres, AJ didn’t feel so well
>something had felt off since this morning
>but she had wrote it off as nothing
>now she could barely stand
>the world spun like a top
>and then everything happened at once
>Applejack began to grow rapidly
>her head hit the rafters above, causing them to bend and crack
>she managed to sit down, rear hooves expanding outwards
>they slammed into the barn doors
>the heavy wood resisted for a moment before bulging out
>it cracked in several places
>pieces of wood soared outwards as they were ripped from their hinges
>”Appleja-“
>one particularly large piece narrowly missed Twilight as she teleported in
>this time sans smoking crater
>she stared, slackjawed at the sight before her
>AJ’s rear hooves spread out as they struggled to keep her from rolling over
>they barreled through the barn, annihilating the front half
>confused and dazed, she tried to stabilize herself with her front hooves
>they shot outwards to anchor themselves on nearby walls
>she underestimated her strength and punched through both walls
>the roof was torn like wet paper as her head slammed into it
>it was lifted up and formed a makeshift hat
>the impact splintered it and it crumbled into several pieces
>everywhere, shards of wood showered down on the surrounding landscape
>the back of the barn didn’t fare any better as it collapsed under the onslaught of her flank and rear
>they bulldozed through, leaving the entire structure critically weakened
>AJ finally stopped growing
>the barn around her is now little more than firewood
>she looked at the damage, remnants of the building sliding off with each turn of her head
>and then she promptly collapsed in exhaustion
***
>some time later, Twilight has managed to counteract the spell
>it turned out that it had some delayed effects
>she had misfired on the cast, somehow affecting AJ as well
>the positive attention from Pinkie had jumpstarted the effects of the spell
>Applejack placed a hoof to her head
>aside for a terrible headache, she was also down a barn
>just great, another thing to put on the list
>after some profuse apologies and a promise to help rebuild, she saw Twilight off
>they walked together down the path to Ponyville
>eventually, they split ways, Twilight continuing on to town as AJ turned back
>back at the farm, she surveyed the remnants of the barn
>there was pretty much nothing left
>she let out a long sigh, it was going to be a long day
>but she needed to get that darn wagon first
>as she walked off, the ground rumbled again
>there was the sound of a large crash
>it came from the direction of the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse
>a massive Applebloom rose above the trees
>pieces of the clubhouse were flung off into the distance
>AJ could only gape at the sight
>”Consarnit Twilight!”

Fin