There I sat, on the far west border of Sweet Apple Acres, watching Celestia's Sun lower onto the horizon. As the glowing star which gave life to everything slowly faded away to make way for evening, I sighed once, and then again.
There was no real reason for my slightly depressed state. After all, my birthday was tomorrow, and I knew that Pinkie would have something planned, as she always did. But for now, I couldn't think about the fun I might have tomorrow, I was thinking about what I wanted right now.
And what I wanted right now was to be cuddled into cloud nine by the handomest, most sought-after stallion in Ponyville: Macintosh Apple.
For over two years now, basically since I first laid eyes on him, I had been completely smitten from mane to tail. The way he carried himself, the way that he made any feat of strength look effortless, how he could use one or two words to convey an entire array of emotions and feelings, the fact that he was so photogenic, though admittedly that last one may just be second nature to my artistic self.
When I first realized that I was in love with Macintosh, I couldn't even say his nickname without blushing slightly. I tried my best to be subtle about it. I wasn't sure how he would handle a mare expressing her desires to him, no matter how elequently it was said. Besides, I wasn't exactly the most outgoing mare in Equestria, so building up my own courage to say such things was a difficult process.
I couldn't even be sure if he had any hunch of his own about my feelings. Sure, he was always willing to let me take a picture or two of him, and no, those did not go toward some secret shrine that I had in my house, honest. But, on the other hoof, there were many nights where I would try to pretend that he was holding me and keeping me warm, even if only in my imagination.
Of course, my imagination didn't have to stretch very far when it came to his personality. Besides the positive traits I have already listed, he was kind, loyal, honest, and would never intentionally hurt anypony, unless you made the mistake of hurting his kin, of course. And I badly wanted to be part of his kin and to have him protect me.
But who was I kidding? Every unattached mare in Ponyville wanted what I wanted, and there were probably far better candidates than me. For example, Mac was good friends with Cheerilee, and the consensus around town was that they would make an excellent couple. Then there was Fluttershy, a very beautiful mare who shared Mac's shy demeanor. Not to say whether or not this was a good thing, but it certainly lent them something in common. I could go on, but that would probably just make me more unnerved. I knew for a fact that Mac wasn't actively seeing anypony, but the very idea of being shot down by the only stallion who I had ever had feelings for stopped me everytime I even considered baring my soul.
So there I sat, now bathed in the light of the full moon, wondering if I would ever have the courage to make a move. I felt confident that Mac would never make the first move. He was always so busy with the farm, everyday putting in physical labor and being the backbone of the family. To be honest, how Mac looked after a day of work, tired and sweaty, but still standing tall and strong, would immediately make me leave his presence. He was just too handsome, too studly, for little old me to handle at once.
A new thought crossed into my mind. It was night now, the Apples would have ended work for the day, which would be the best time to talk to any of them, particularly Mac. Of course, I still had doubts cemented into the back of my mind, but if I didn't do something soon, I might lose my mind a bit. At that moment, I decided to get off my flank, trot to the Apple family homestead and see if I could get Mac alone. It would only take a minute, maybe less.
And that's exactly what I would have done, if I hadn't been interrupted.
"Miss Flashpoint, are y'all alright?"
There it was, or, rather, there he was. The exact pony who had been lingering in my thoughts for the last thirty minutes was standing close by, speaking in that undescribably delectable drawl of his which made my legs quake every time I heard it.
"Uh, Miss Flashpoint," he repeated, and I could tell that he had taken a step or two closer.
"Yes Mac, I'm fine," I replied, not turning around to face him and trying to keep my voice steady, "I was just out enjoying the sunset."
He did not reply immediately, instead choosing to come closer until he sat down right beside me. I glanced at him in my peripheral vision. His mane was a bit of a mess, and his hooves bore the mudstains associated with the planting season. To some, his work-disheveled look would be something to fuss over, but to me, this was when he was at his best-looking. Seeing how comfortable he was in his own being, his own fur, sometimes made me a bit jealous. Not that I worry about my own looks, but the photographer that I am appreciated the fact that he just sat there, not caring in the slightest if his hooves were muddy or if his fetlocks were untrimmed. Nopony I knew was more comfortable with themselves then he was, and that attracted me to him even more.
"So," I began again, trying to make conversation, "what are you doing out here this late?"
"Applejack said she had seen y'all come out this way," he replied, still looking straight ahead, "Ah was just checkin' to see if y'all were still out 'ere."
I blushed a little bit. Even if it was AJ who had asked him to come find me, the mere thought of him worrying about my wellbeing caused butterflies to form in my stomach.
"Yeah," I said with a small sigh, "I'm fine."
I turned to face him, only to find that he was already looking at me.
"Y'all don't sound fine t' me," he stated in his usual blunt manner, a small smile playing on his muzzle.
"Alright," I conceded, "you got me. I'm not. But it's a little hard to explain."
Mac raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Is it really?"
"I just," I started over, but I could find the right words. My mouth hung open, and I felt like a foal trying to come up with an excuse as to how my mother's favorite vase broke. However, before I could potentially embarrasses myself further, Mac held up a hoof near my mouth, his smile slightly widening.
"Just say what ya want t' say," he replied cooly before placing his hoof back on the ground.
"Mac...I...," I stuttered, finally looking up into those bright green eyes which matched his coat so well. For a second time, I couldn't get the words to get past my throat and out of my mouth.
Mac smiled wider, and he did what I never would have expected him to do. He leaned over slightly, an easy task considering our relative closeness and his exceptional height, and planted a short peck of a kiss on my right cheek.
My entire body froze up, and I could only assume that my normally brown-coated face was beginning to take on a Mac-like shade of red.
When Mac pulled back, I could see the warmest smile on his face I had ever seen.
"Does that answer y'alls question?"
My brain still refused to create words, much less sentences, so I did the next best thing. I turned toward Mac and leaned forward, planting my muzzle into his chest, which smelled like sweat and hard work, my favorite. Mac, in turn, rested his head atop mine, and gave a second short kiss.
"I love you, Mac," I finally got out as I began to nuzzle into his chest and up to his neck.
Mac sighed contently as I continued my affectionate contact, even reaching my forehooves around his barrel as best I could. In turn, my stallion leaned his head down further, nuzzling the side of my head and giving me another kiss on the cheek.
"Ah love you too, Flashpoint," he drawled out the words I had been wanting to hear for a long time, and then for good measure he added one more thing, "Happy Birthday."
I couldn't help myself. I brought my head back in order to look into his eyes again. Everypony knows that Apples are honest, and that if they say something they mean it. But all I had to do to know that he was my stallion from now on was look at those soft green orbs of his. I could practically feel the emotion coming out of them, emotion that his words and his body language often had trouble conveying, but I could see it in his eyes. I leaned up and pressed my lips onto his and held them there as long as I was able. With only the full moon as a witness, we sealed our mutual feelings for one another. I never wanted that first kiss to end, and when it did, I took a deep breath and began a second, which was even better than the first.
After our displays of affection, and a little more nuzzling, Mac offered to walk me home, which I agreed to before he even finished his sentence. The entire way, I leaned against my strong stallion, silently wishing we would pass some mare that would get a hint of jealously at seeing us together.
Eventually, and sadly, we reached my home. And, after a kiss goodnight, I watched Mac walk back in the direction of the farm, knowing full well that I would see him every day from now on.
When I shut my door, I allowed myself to slide down it in bliss. I closed my eyes and wrapped myself in a hug, not in self-protection or warmth, as I had in the past, but in an attempt to keep the feeling of his body close to me for as long as possible.
Luna blessed me with sweet dreams that night.