//------------------------------//
// The Cowgirl and the Drake 
// Story: New Year's Kiss 
// by scarves-n-converse 
//------------------------------//

Twilight Sparkle and her friends had just arrived on the scene on the annual Ponyville New Year's Extravaganza. Spike was following behind the girls, struggling as he lugged along a heavy case of fireworks, sparklers, and scarves and blankets for the winter cold.

"Brr!" Rarity shivered underneath her thick pink striped scarf as the wind started to pick up. "New Year's Eve is unusually cold this year!" The unicorn turned to the little dragon as he finally caught up to the group. "Spikey-Boo, would you wrap a blanket around me, please?"

Spike perked up. "Of course!" He hastily opened the case of items and withdrew the most intricate throw of all of the soft materials in the container. Unfolding it very ceremoniously, he bowed, saying, "Milady." Rarity and the others giggled at his proper tone.

"Uh, hey, Spike," Applejack stuttered and trembled because of the cold as well after the blanket had been placed on her friend. "Could ya throw one of those over me, too?"

Spike smiled. "Oh, yeah, sure." He did so, though not as formally as he did for Rarity, and after, Applejack wrapped a fore-hoof around his middle and pulled the dragon to herself and letting go after a few seconds. "Thanks, Spike." Inside, her heart was pounding a little faster than normal.

"Oh, Spikey-Wikey," Rarity cooed. "Always so helpful." Then she planted a kiss on the drake's cheek. Applejack twitched a little, but not noticeably.

After a couple minutes of settling down in the square, Twilight looked up at the clock. "Hm. We've still got about a half hour until midnight. Oh! How about we share some New Year's resolutions!"

Rarity nodded and lay down on the cobblestone, still wrapped in warmth. "A wonderful idea! I'll go first-- my resolution is to wow Canterlot with the greatest fashion line I've ever created!" She dramatically raised a hoof into the air. "I'll call it, 'A Rarity to Behold'!"

That brought some harmless laughter from the other mares. "Ooh!" Pinkie Pie squealed, jumping up and down instead of sitting or lying like the others. "Me next! Me next! This year I wanna make the biggest cake EVER!"

"Well I'm gonna train myself so hard, I'll be able to out-fly Spitfire by the end of next year!" Rainbow Dash chimed in.

One-by-one, every pony confessed their resolutions. It was getting close to Applejack's turn. The mare was nervous. She had a resolution, all right.

It just wasn't one she wanted to share.

"So, AJ," Spike said. "What's your resolution?"

Applejack took a deep breath. Okay, here I go... "M-my resolution is... to tell S--uh..." she stopped. I can't do it! I just can't do it!

Pinkie was confused. "S-uh? Who's S-uh? And what are you going to tell him?"

Rarity paused to think. But then she smiled mischievously. "Applejack... are you saying you like a stallion? Who's name starts with the letter 'S'?"

Pinkie gasped. "Is it Soarin'?"

"It better not be!" Rainbow pushed herself into AJ's face. Then she slowly backed away, blushing a bright red. "Uh... I mean... never mind." She grabbed a blanket from the case and buried herself in it.

"So, Applejack," Twilight smiled. "Who is it?"

AJ gulped. She didn't want to lie to her friends. But she didn't want to answer when the answer himself was standing right there. "It's... uh..."

Suddenly, cheers came from a little further away. A few seconds later, it became evident that they were counting down the seconds until midnight. "Oh!" Twilight cried. "Girls! Get your sparklers ready!" Each mare took a sparkler from the case, and Spike readied the firework, blowing a bit of green fire on it, slowly shrinking the fuse.

Saved by the bell... Applejack sighed with relief. Then she joined the citizens of Ponyville in counting down. "Five, four, three, two, one--"

Bang! Zap! Crackle All kinds of light and firecrackers went off, and every pony let out joyful cries.

Within the noise, Spike was distracted as he stood next to his crush, Rarity. Applejack, without taking more than two seconds to think, dashed beside the unicorn, pecked the dragon on the side of his mouth, and exited the scene before the drake turned to only see the white unicorn standing there.

W... What? he thought. Did Rarity just... kiss me on the mouth? Then the unicorn looked down to him, tilting her head and curling up the corners of her mouth.

"Happy New Year, Spike," she said lovingly.

Applejack stood behind the two at a distance. Yes. She'd definitely tell him this year.

Just not tonight.