I suspect this is going to be the first of two updates for the month, mostly because Applejack isn't the only one who knows things are about to intensify. I can even provide the title of the next chapter here: Toccata. And I can say that starting with that chapter, it will finally become possible to get a couple of given characters in the same room for what may be as much as five minutes.
Let's face it: for a story with Duet in the title, there's been a lot of solos.
About 6600 words on this one, and I can also tell you this: a large number of them emerged on their own. To give a character a voice can mean giving them something which approaches a mind, and in this case, in a story which just gave her the most screen presence she's ever had... it turned out Miranda's been wanting to say something for a long time.
If what came out surprises you? Join the club.