Dusk awoke to the sound of birds chirping on his balcony, he had been asleep for roughly six hours and felt completely refreshed. But a strange thought had entered his mind, Why would there be birds sitting on my balcony? He thought.
He got up to investigate, looking out the large glass doors he saw one of the birds carrying a note in it's feet and opened the doors to see it. Who could have these birds here with a note? Dusk thought for a moment and felt his heart quicken, Fluttershy... it has to be from Fluttershy. She's the only one I know who can even talk to birds. The letter was covered by a dark blue aura and hovered toward his eyes to read what was written on the piece of parchment.
Dusk,
Please meet me in at the lake outside of town, I need to talk to you about some things, in private.
What could she want to talk about? He thought upon reading the note. She probably wants to talk about the meeting. Specifically the part where Rarity asked me out, shocking as that was. She was more surprised about that than I was.
Dusk decided not to keep her waiting and left the inn, he followed the stream he had seen the day before until he got to the source. A large crystal clear lake with a perfect mirror surface, he looked down at his reflection seeing his mane was messy, since he hadn't run a brush through it in a long time, and decided to try to fix it. He didn't notice Fluttershy walking up to him just outside of his field of vision, she looked at him fixing his mane and couldn't help giggling.
Dusk jumped and turned around, after seeing it was Fluttershy he started to feel a little embarrassed that she had been watching him try to style his mane. "You wanted to talk to me?" Dusk asked, he could feel his throat getting a little dry.
"Yes, would you mind if we walked as we talked?" She responded, there was a bit of energy in the air between the two. Dusk simply nodded and walked alongside her. "I wanted to talk to you about Rarity."
"I thought that's what you wanted to talk about."
"Why's that?"
"The look on your face when she asked me out to dinner was more than a little shocked."
"Oh, right. Well, I just wanted to apologize."
"Apologize?"
"Yes, I didn't think that anything like that would happen when I set it up."
"It wasn't that awful."
"It wasn't?"
"Well, yes. There's a reason why I turned down Rarity's offer."
"Why's that?"
"There's only one mare that I want to try dating right now."
"Who's that?"
"Someone really special that I met in Ponyville."
"You met her here?"
"Yep, before I could even say 'hello' she dragged me to her home."
"W-well... I-I wouldn't say dragged." Her face was red with embarrassment, but she was smiling.
"I wasn't complaining, she's a very pretty mare." Mentor told me not to hesitate.
"Dusk... there's, there's something you should know."
"What's that?"
"I've never..." he voice trailed of.
"What was that?"
"I've never had a..."
"You've never had a...?"
"I've never had a special somepony!" She admitted, she retreated fully behind that pink shield that was her mane.
"Well, neither have I."
"R-really?" She revealed on eye.
"Yeah, I don't really meet many ponies in the forest. Plenty of wolves though." He smirked.
"So, so you don't mind?"
"Nope, there isn't a single thing about you that I do mind." He kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Oh, I, uh, I..." Fluttershy's legs gave out from underneath her and fell against Dusk.
"Easy there," he picked her back up. "You alright?"
"I'm... I'm better than alright!" She threw her hooves around his neck.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"I can't believe this is happening. I have something that I want you to see."
"Lead the way."
Fluttershy led Dusk to Sweet Apple Acres the apple orchard owned by AppleJack's family. Hundreds of trees sat on the property. Each one holding small green bulbs. It would be a little longer before any apples would be ready to fall. Further up the path a gate stood, with a familiar face standing there waiting for them.
"So, Ah take it Rarity's plan worked?" AppleJack asked from the gate.
"What plan?" Dusk asked in confusion.
"Yes, although, I wish I had a little bit of warning before she did that."
"Ah hear ya. Ah asked Dash to let me know how it went, when she told me Rarity bluntly asked him out. Ah had half a mind to confront her 'bout it. When she told me her plan, Ah warned her about playin' matchmaker. She always blows things outta proportion, especially when it comes to romance."
"Oh, I know. After Dusk left I was fuming at her. When she told me why she did that, I felt a combination of anger and happiness. But, once I came to my senses again, I warned her about trying that stunt again."
"Can I hear an explanation? Or am I going to be confused for the remainder of this conversation?"
"I'll explain a little later," the pegasus promised. "So, AppleJack, can we take a stroll through the orchard?"
"Sure, we have a few weeks before we can start harvestin' these trees.."
"Thank you."
"No problem."
The two found a small clearing in the orchard, the sun gave an orange glow as it began it's descent to the horizon. "I found this little spot here a few years ago. I have always wanted to share it with someone." The two sat close together and watched the sun set, "it's beautiful," Fluttershy whispered.
"Not quite as beautiful as you, though," Dusk replied.
"You are such a sweet-talker."
"I try." The next thing Dusk knew, he felt a pair of golden lips pressing against his. At that moment, nothing else mattered. The only thing he focused on was the one he was sharing this moment with.
The moment ended a little prematurely by the sound of a twig snapping. The sound separated the couple as they turned to find AppleJack standing there, an awkward silence followed.
AppleJack broke the silence, "My apologies I didn't mean to interrupt, I just wanted to make sure you didn't stay too late." She paused, trying to figure out what she should say. "I promise I won't tell any pony."
"AppleJack represents the element of Honesty, she is the most trustworthy pony in Equestria," Fluttershy noted. Dusk trusted her word and gained a little more confidence in confiding in his new found friend.
"Well then, I trust that this secret will remain just that," Dusk began. "Thank you AppleJack for letting us to use your orchard, but it's getting late," he turned to Fluttershy offering his hoof. "Shall I escort you home?"
Fluttershy nodded and the two began to head toward Fluttershy's cottage, AppleJack stopped them for a moment. "Don't mention it, you two can use it whenever you like, just during harvest season it won't be quite so peaceful." The two nodded in agreement and started off again, though their first kiss was cut short it still gave them a feeling of ecstasy for the entire trip.
Dusk was the first to speak after they left Sweet Apple Acres, "So... our first kiss." He felt his face turn red, he looked at Fluttershy with no less red in her face, but she had a beautiful smile on her face.
Fluttershy didn't say anything, she didn't need to say anymore and Dusk was fine with that. The silence lasted until the two reached her door. "So, I will see you tomorrow." Dusk stated before giving her a peck on the cheek. As he began to turn away but she pulled him back, firmly planting a kiss on his lips. The two stood there, neither of them had any care in the world, they had found each other and they would never be separated in spirit.
Dusk finally broke their kiss, it was getting late and he hadn't shown any sign, but he was physically and mentally drained. He needed to rest, but the walk back to the inn was lonely. His heart grew heavy without Fluttershy with him, but he felt that he needed to be careful not to smother her.
Upon finally reaching his room, Dusk couldn't take another step, and crawled into his soft bed and drifted off into sleep.