That evening spent between Cheerilee and Sunburst was not only highly educational, but also a good, jovial experience, and the two would have many more like it as the semester wore on. Days turned into weeks turned into months; students grew and learned and had plenty of fun doing it. Friendships were formed or became stronger; even timid little Gumdrop from the morning class made herself a couple of friends and found her voice, and, under Cheerilee's guidance, her writing improved along with her grades.
The autumn winds became brisker, and the sun shone less and less. Caterpillars grew into butterflies, which the foals set free so they could migrate--one filly even earned her Cutie Mark in entomology right there in front of the class. Through it all, Sunburst and Cheerilee taught the students as best they could, one-on-one or in groups. Whatever the subject, book, or exercise, the students of all classes found their grades improving and their time spent at school more fulfilling.
The teachers would often stay long after hours at the school, if not cleaning up or going over lesson plans, simply talking; in fact, Cheerilee considered it some of the best friendly conversation she'd ever had. She and Sunburst learned much about each other, talking long into the evening over books or dinner; their likes and dislikes, details of their lives, hopes and aspirations, flaws and insecurities. They had truly become friends over the course of the semester, and they were both happy to say so.
One afternoon, on a day in which the oldest children were the final class of the day, Cheerilee and Sunburst once again started up a conversation to make the tedium of cleaning up the classroom pass easier; on this particular day, there was quite a bit to clean up, given the unfortunate misadventure that resulted from the home economics lesson.
"It's kind of a shame that Snips and Snails' soufflé went so drastically wrong." Sunburst remarked, wiping down the desks with a sponge. "I think their recipe was really inspired."
"Well, I told them that you can't rush baking, especially by casting an untested spell on the oven." Cheerilee replied as she rolled the fried remains of the portable oven out of the door. "At least we got all the batter cleaned up, finally... but I have a feeling I'm going to have to reimburse the EEA for this thing."
Sunburst plopped the sponge back into the bucket of soapy water. "With luck, it's an older model." He said. "Maybe they'll just replace it with something newer and not complain."
Cheerilee chuckled. "At least most of the class got to complete their dishes without any trouble. Apple Bloom got to show off her Apple Family pie-making skills, and Sweetie Belle's strawberry tart smelled absolutely delightful."
"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon did quite a good job as well," Added Sunburst, leaning on one of the desks. "though I admit their focus was more on appearance rather than flavor."
Cheerilee leaned back in her chair happily. "I could see the enjoyment in the children's eyes, though. Despite the mishap, they had a good time today. They'll come back and be eager to learn more... that's my favorite part of this job."
Sunburst wiped his glasses on his cloak and levitated them back up to his snout, blinking his eyes a few times to adjust.
"It's always satisfying to see somepony gripped by the pursuit of knowledge. It can be an enjoyable experience by itself, but you can't deny that adding food into the mix makes it better." The two of them shared a brief laugh.
"Though, if I really had to choose," Sunburst continued "I'd say my favorite part is getting to inspire these young minds alongside somepony who's so inspired to do so."
Cheerilee's ears perked up, and she sat upright in her chair. "...Oh?"
"Well, yeah!" The young stallion said. "I may be a lifelong student and enjoy sharing what I've learned, but you, this is your destiny. Your Cutie Mark called you to be an educator, and you devote every bit of yourself to being a good one. I can only imagine how the colts and fillies must feel to have a teacher who's so devoted to her craft, and passes down her enthusiasm to learn to her pupils... well, to be honest, I think you've rubbed off on me anyway."
Cheerilee crossed her hooves over her heart and smiled. "Oh, Sunburst... thank you. That means a lot, really." The student teacher returned a gracious smile and went about finishing his chores. Though she couldn't translate exactly how she felt into words, the sentiment that Sunburst had shared sat warmly in her heart, swimming about and making her feel good. It also made her think in-depth about this friendship she'd made, and what she desired of it in the future.
Another week passed, and Cheerilee found herself distracted, if not concerned.
No matter what she did to try and re-center her mind, Cheerilee couldn't stop thinking about Sunburst. She admired his intelligence, his enthusiasm, and the esteem in which he held their friendship, an esteem which she had come to share. She adored their conversations, indulging herself in the knowledge they could both impart on each other. Much to her surprise, she'd even found her thoughts drifting to things beyond the intellectual: his mane, his eyes, his adorable smile... at first, Cheerilee admonished herself for having these thoughts, but soon her emotions became undeniable. Was she really starting to love him?
All these blisses and their accompanying worries ran through her head one cool Friday afternoon, just before the Running of the Leaves. The last class of the day had let out, and by the time they would be finished with cleaning and reorganizing, the sun would be on its way across the west horizon. Sunburst volunteered to do most of the work while Cheerilee graded a large batch of tests and dealt with various files and forms that the EEA needed for the impending end of the semester.
She looked up at him occasionally between signing forms or putting golden star stickers on tests. He wore a contented little smile on his muzzle as he stood on a stepstool, dusting above the window frames and carefully avoiding the pieces of student artwork that hung there. Her eyes trailed down to his legs and the muscles in them, not overly fit but noticeable in his present position. The curve of his hip was suggested beneath his cloak, and Cheerilee tried to visualize the rest of his form that it concealed. She blushed and gave a tiny shake of her head, trying to focus on the work at hoof, but it wasn't but a few minutes before her mind wandered back to her friend across the room. Her eyes scanned her desk in thought, looking over the tests, the EEA forms, and her nervously-chewed pencil.
She looked up again at Sunburst, the heat gathering in her face.
"Hmm... Sunburst, how old are you?" She quickly uttered, managing to emit a fairly normal voice.
"22." He succinctly replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, just filling out paperwork!" Cheerilee replied in a singsong-y tone. She quickly turned her face back toward the desk.
"Damn." She thought. Cheerilee had turned 33 that spring. "I'm eleven years older than him. That won't look good if anypony finds out. But then... we're both adults... and..." The mare pinched her eyes shut and reopened them, wincing. She couldn't stop thinking about him, she had to let him know. But it wouldn't be easy. If he didn't feel the same way, it could hurt their friendship. If word got out and turned into gossip, it could hurt both their reputations, or even their careers. But Cheerilee couldn't deny it any longer: she had serious feelings for him, and if she allowed him to go back to the Crystal Empire at the end of the year without letting him know, it would hurt her more than any amount of lost face.
She closed her eyes, took a deep, calming breath, and rose from her desk to walk towards him.
"Sunburst..." Cheerilee began "...a question, if you please."
Sunburst climbed down from the stepstool and put aside the feather duster, greeting her with a little smile and a spark of curiosity.
"Ask away."
"...Are you familiar with the concept of... sapiophilia?"
Sunburst tugged at his goatee.
"Hmm. I think so." He said. "It's the concept of romantic attraction towards somepony that is primarily based on the subject's intelligence, correct? From root words meaning 'love of wisdom.'"
"Exactly." Cheerilee replied, crossing one forehoof behind the other. "I ask because... I think... I think I feel that towards somepony..."
"Hmm! I'm not usually one for gossip, but this sounds like a chance to learn. Tell me about them."
"Well..." Cheerilee fought back the knot in her stomach to continue speaking. "He's very intelligent, obviously, but also very sweet and considerate... he's got a great energy about him when it comes to learning and sharing his knowledge, and when he talks about things he loves, I just... I don't want to listen to anything else." Her face began flushing bright red.
"Not only that, but he's got a cute smile, beautiful eyes, and just the greatest care for his friends. I've known him for a while now, and... I just can't stop thinking about him."
Sunburst seemed intrigued, though clueless. "Well, he sounds like a nice enough guy. What's his name?"
"Sunburst."
"Yes?"
There was an intensely awkward silence of a few seconds before Sunburst reanalyzed the exchange in his head. His eyes grew wide and Cheerilee's face grew redder than ever before.
Though a mare in her 30s, Cheerilee felt like a nervous teenager again as she kicked the dirt floor with a hoof.
"I'm sorry to impose this on you, Sunburst, but... it's true. I have to let you know what I'm feeling." She tried her best to look him in his surprised face. "At first I thought it was just a fleeting fancy that would leave me, but it's only gotten stronger and I can't deny it anymore. I love the friendship we've built, the knowledge we've shared, about everything from academia to our personal lives, and the way you work with the foals astounds me. I-I've never met a stallion like you, and... I hope that.... sigh I hope that I haven't just jeopardized our friendship. But that's how I feel."
She reached down to take his hoof in hers, looking up at him hopefully.
"Forgive an old, lonely schoolmarm for falling for a gentle young soul."
Sunburst was quiet for a few moments, unsure at first of what he should say. His face, by this point, was equally red.
"Well, Cheerilee, I..." He began with a stutter. "...first of all, you're not old."
Cheerilee let out a quick noise between a chuckle and a sob. Sunburst wicked a tear away from her eye as she smiled.
"Second, I'm glad you consider me such a good friend... honestly, you're one of the best friends I've ever made as well." He took an awkward breath, searching quickly for more words. "I... would be lying if I said that... that... that I didn't find certain things appealing about you."
Cheerilee said nothing, but her countenance changed to one of slight surprise. She grasped his hoof tightly in both of hers.
"I-I-I don't usually give much thought to matters of... romance... but... intelligence is a big factor for me, as well. I think you have a beautiful mind, Cheerilee, a-and it's been a pleasure getting to explore it. When I look into your eyes, I can tell..."
The two ponies locked eyes and were breathless for a moment.
"I can tell... that I want to explore this feeling even more... with you..."
Cheerilee choked back a tear or two and pulled Sunburst in close for a hug, which he heartily returned. The unicorn smiled as his friend's rose-scented perfume tickled his nose, and Cheerilee likewise took in the scent of his mane, which smelled vaguely of tangerines. They spent several moments in each others' embrace before pulling apart and looking into each others' eyes once more.
Cheerilee gulped nervously and glanced to the side before returning her gaze.
"Sunburst... I-I'd like to kiss you now..."
Sunburst's ear flickered and his brow furrowed nervously. "Ha-I-ah, well, um... oh dear... I... Cheerilee, I... I-I-I've never kissed anypony before..."
"It's okay." She said with a heartwarming smile, still blushing like a filly. "...I'll teach you. Just... let me take the lead..."
Sunburst's visage became less nervous, and he brought himself closer to Cheerilee.
With another deep breath to calm herself, Cheerilee closed her eyes and moved her snout close to his. Sunburst followed her lead. Finally, when their lips met, Cheerilee hooked his bottom lip and pulled it into her mouth, turning her head to the side to allow Sunburst any access he may want.
They held that kiss for what felt like an eternity. Cheerilee could hardly believe she was kissing somepony. Of course, she'd given ponies kisses before; she kissed her sister and her parents on the cheek, and as a teacher she'd kissed plenty of scraped knees or bumped noggins, but this was a kiss, a kiss of the kind she hadn't had since college. The memories rushed through her mind in a split second: the first chaste peck on the lips she'd received as a teen, the tender, careful embrace shared with her date to the prom, the sordid, passionate lip-locks she'd had at college parties... yet all of them were eclipsed by this first one in years, seasoned by time and genuine, heartfelt emotion.
Finally, the two pulled apart, locking eyes again and catching their breath. Their faces were both incredibly flushed, and their smiles said what words could not.
"Would... would you like to try leading the next one, Sunburst?"
The studious colt gave a quiet nod, then leaned in to try for himself. Cheerilee's lips were soft beyond description, and he carefully tried to move his about hers in imitation of the tactile sensations her kiss had given him. The memories that flashed through his mind weren't of past romances, for he'd had none, but of loves unrequited: the filly he'd shown interest in at the School for Gifted Unicorns who'd laughed him down, the festival in Ponyville where he'd almost asked Starlight to dance, only to realize she was on a date with Trixie, and the moment where Twilight had gently put him into the friend zone. All those lingering defeats, all those times he'd given up on love, were washed away by Cheerilee's tender kisses.
The little noises their mouths made ceased for a moment as the two pulled apart again.
"See?" Cheerilee posited. "Isn't that a great feeling?"
Sunburst couldn't even think of a response before the two interlocked mouths again, taking in the sounds and smells and sensations and losing themselves in them, each pony's heart beating like a freight train. Cheerilee had to try not to giggle when Sunburst's goatee tickled her, and Sunburst felt his hair stand on end whenever Cheerilee huffed through her nose while they kissed.
Finally, this third kiss ended too, and the two newly-minted lovers took a moment to let each other rest. Sunburst chuckled to himself as he wiped the fog off his glasses. Cheerilee leaned back against her desk and briefly fanned herself with a sheaf of papers. However, it wasn't long before they both were eager to resume the lesson.
"You know, Sunburst..." Cheerilee said, breathy and apprehensive. "...I... like having my neck kissed..."
With a barely audible oh, Sunburst pulled his mare into his embrace and began planting slow, tender kisses along the side of her neck. Cheerilee quietly tittered as his lips tickled her sensitive skin, and her head rolled back with pleasurable sounds as he moved his attention to her throat proper. Her breathing became shallower, and mare and stallion both felt the blood rush from their heads.
The kissing continued back and forth for about 15 minutes, with Sunburst sitting on one of the low student desks and Cheerilee, with her hooves propped up on it, showered him with kisses across his face and neck as both their chests heaved.
"Oh Sunburst..." She said between kisses.
"Cheerilee..."
The two were barely in control of themselves anymore. Cheerilee, panting through her nose with a lustful grin, buried her face in the fur on Sunburst's chest, playfully tugging at it with her teeth. Sunburst felt his whole body shiver. After taking in a deep breath of his scent, her nose pressed into him, Cheerilee pulled herself back and looked into his eyes, seemingly a bit more in control of herself.
"Sunburst..." she said, trying to steady her breathing. "If you want to take me, you can."
Sunburst lifted his glasses and massaged his eyes, also trying to get ahold of himself.
"T-Take you where?":
She huffed out of her nose, partly in humor, partly in frustration. "As in 'take me, I'm yours.'"
He straightened his glasses. "Again, where would I be taking you?"
"Right here, right now. Over my desk."
Sunburst's naivete once again shattered, and his eyes grew wide.
"We can lock the door, pull the curtains..." Cheerilee said, feeling her knees shake a little. "...even soundproof the room if you know how to cast that spell. Nopony has to know but us."
Her lover nervously glanced out the window. The sun was now resting on the horizon, likely to set within the hour. He looked back at her half-lidded eyes.
"B-But Cheerilee... I've never..."
She gently put a hoof to his mouth and shushed him. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"That's alright. I'll teach you. I'll h-help you... get warmed up... and tell you anything you need to know..."
As nervous as Sunburst was, Cheerilee was just as nervous. She knew what she wanted, what she needed him to do, but she hadn't done it since college. She hoped she hadn't lost her touch. Good or bad, she wanted to share herself with him, and either way she knew it would be memorable for them both.
"So... do you want to...?"
Sunburst shivered again, running his hoof over hers.
"Y-Yes..."
Cheerilee leaned forward and delivered another kiss to his mouth, pressing her body against his, before whispering sultrily in his ear.
"Class is in session."