Hearts and Hooves

>be in equestria working the orchards with Applejack

>it's Hearts and Hooves day

>Applejack approaches you and pic related

>"Hey sugarcube... can we talk?"

>I set down my tools, start to take off my gloves. Taking a break sounds good anyway. "Sure, what's on your mind?"

>She's fiddling with her hat, no longer trying to cover her face, which has turned a darker shade of orange from the blushing. She just fumbles with it for a while, looking down.

>"What's the matter?" I ask. As long as I've known her, she's never been at a loss for words, never mumbled or appeared uneasy. Not around me, anyway.

"I was thinkin... bout uh... well, today."

>"What about it? Its Saturday ain't it?" I honestly forget sometimes. Not like weekends mean much in Equestria. I brush my hands off on my pants and square my hips now, looking straight at her.

>She seems to fold even worse now. She takes a step back and tries to put her hat on. She's visibly sweating despite the breeze.

"I just... was, you know, thinking and... hoo boy, hot out here."

>"Spit it out!" I chuckle. "What's wrong with you?"

>She drags a hoof across the dirt for a second, then stamps it down. Her face twists up in determination, and she looks you straight in the eye for the first time today.

"You may be right, sugarcube... there might be something wrong with me."

>My hands go to my hips and I give her a puzzled look.

"I... I cain't stop thinkin about you. Every day, yer out here with me, even when we ain't right near one another... all I's thinkin' about is you."

>I'm stunned, and all I can do is blink, letting my jaw slack open a little.

"And it ain't right, confound it." Her eyes drop back to the earth and she kicks at it. "Tain't fair. Yer a good worker and..." Her eyes meet yours again. "And a good friend. You done helped us a lot, when ye ain't had to."

>I smile and laugh a little. "Maybe I didn't have to... but I wanted to."

>Her eyes are searching my face, a glimmer of hope in her big green eyes.

>I break the silence. "Look Applejack..."

"No, wait." She cuts me off, extending a hoof at me. "Please... lemme just say somethin'." She takes a deep breath and sighs. "Listen, it's Hearts n Hooves day, an I dunno if yall folks have somethin' like that but... it's a day where you're a-pposed to spend it with your... special... somepony." She squints a little, still looking at you intently. "And I know you... ain't exactly a pony. And maybe it ain't right a-tal. But... I wanna spend today with you." She exhales through her nose. "There, I done up and said it, you can think I'm weird or whatever, and we can get back to work now... but I had to say it. I just had to."

>The relief is audible in her voice at the end. I'm trying my best to hide the grin that's creeping across my face, but its hopeless.

>Say something now, you idiot!

>"Hey, no, wait... I don't think you're weird Applejack." The grin is full bore now, honest and wide. "I'm honored that some...pony like you would want to spend... today with... me."

>Her eyes are the size of saucers, and a weepy, desperately happy look grows onto her face.

>"I never really thought about you like that... being... you know, not a pony and all. But it would be my great pleasure to spend Hearts and Hooves day with you."

>She takes an awkward step towards you, tears now visibly escaping from the corners of her eyes. She's unsure how exactly to go from here, but I open my arms and she gets the message. In a flash she's on her hind legs, forelegs wrapped around my waist, her dusty blonde mane buried in my shirt.

"I was so darned afraid you'd think I was... weird or creepy or that you'd not wanna come around anymore and...

>I cut her off. "Sshh, its okay. Even if we were just friends, I'd still want to help you... because you're still you." I run my hands through her mane, and she hugs me tighter.

"Darn you... why are you so good to me. Makin' me all 'motional."

>I let loose a big belly laugh. "You silly pony." You turn to face the mid-day sun.

>It's going to be a good day today... and for a long time after that.