There is a Mare Who’s Mine

“So, you decided to go roller-skating with the fillies?” Twilight asked, frowning at Dusty, he was just about to respond when the Crusaders appeared out of nowhere,

“Yeah!” Applebloom laughed,

“It was so much fun!” Scootaloo replied,

“And none of us got hurt…much.” Sweetie Belle giggled,

“Well, I’m glad you three had Dusty to watch you.” Twilight said all of the sudden, I’m saved! Dusty thought, Twilight gave Dusty a kiss, “Thanks for watching them.” She said warmly,

“It was my pleasure.” Dusty blushed,

“Ew…” the three fillies wailed, leaving Dusty and Twilight giggling,

“Oh, girls,” Twilight began, “One day, you’ll understand.”

Dusty chimed in, “I would love to stay, but I need to pick up some things from the market.”

“That’s alright, may I join you?” Twilight offered, Yes! Dusty silently cheered,

“Of course!” Dusty beamed, the two turned and slowly walked toward the market,

“So, how was your day?” Twilight asked as they were walking,

“It was pretty good,” Dusty replied, “At first, it was me and the fillies, then Rainbow decided to join us.”

“Oh, she did, did she?” Twilight replied, Dusty looked at her and noticed that she looked a bit unconvinced,

“Oh, come on, Twilight.” Dusty chuckled, “Nothing happened between us.” And he gave her a peck on the cheek,

“It’s not that, it’s just…” Twilight sighed, “We never spend as much time together as we used to.” Dusty suddenly realized something, She’s right, we barely see each other much anymore,

“Well, in that case, that will change.” He nuzzled her playfully, Twilight giggled as she gave him a shove, Dusty shoved back a bit harder, Twilight shoved him so hard he went flying and she galloped off laughing,

“Come back here, you!” Dusty laughed galloping after her, Twilight slowed to a walk again as Dusty made his way back to her side again, “Anyway, how was your day?” Dusty asked,

“Well, I helped Applejack with her harvesting of the orchard, Rainbow Dash was there too but said that she wanted some fun and took off.” Twilight gave a slight chuckle, “And that’s when I found you here with Rainbow and the fillies, you two looked like a mother and father on vacation with their kids.” She joked; Dusty blushed slightly and chuckled,

“If it were me and you, then that would make sense.” Dusty replied, making Twilight’s face turn red,

“You aren’t talking about…” Twilight stared at him, “Oh, look, here’s the market!” Twilight suddenly said,

“Thanks for coming to help, Twilight.” Dusty nuzzled her as they went inside, he expected ponies acting surprised, but surprisingly some went on with their business and some waved,

“It’s good not having to keep our relationship a secret.” Dusty commented, giving Twilight a smooch on her cheek,

“Yeah, but let’s not get dirty if you know what I mean.” Twilight gave a dirty look at Dusty, causing his face to glow bright red,

“O—of course not!” he stuttered, “That just isn’t…appropriate since we’ve only been going out for…”

“A year.” Twilight finished for him,

“Right.” Dusty wiped is forehead, he stopped in some places to grab something, but each time, Twilight would carry it with her magic.

After they finished their shopping, Dusty looked a bit depressed, “I guess this is goodbye?” Dusty asked,

“Not if I can’t come over.” Twilight giggled,

Dusty’s face lit up, and he nearly jumped with joy, “Well, of course you can!” he laughed,

“It’s a date.” Twilight responded, followed by short laughter,

“Spike?” Dusty called as he opened the door, noticing that he was gone,

“Spike came home a few hours before I left.” Twilight explained,

“Ah, I see.” Dusty replied, and sat on the couch, Twilight sat next to him, both staying quiet with nothing to say, finally, Dusty started to speak, “Twilight?”

“Yes, Dusty?” Twilight looked at him with hopeful eyes,

Dusty looked down embarrassed, “I…” Dusty began to talk but he stopped mid-sentence, I’m rushing things here, I can’t just – out of the blue – ask her to marry me… he thought glumly, he was about to move in for a kiss when Twilight knocked him on his back, “Twilight? Are you okay--” he was interrupted when Twilight laid on top of him and pressed her lips against his for a kiss, she pulled back and tears were streaming down her face,

“Dusty,” Twilight blinked,

“What’s wrong?” Dusty asked, hopelessly confused,

“Will you marry me?” Twilight asked out of the blue, Dusty’s eyes shrank; the question had really stumped him, his body screamed yes, but his mind couldn’t decide, Twilight was just about to get off from on top of him, but Dusty pulled her back in and quietly whispered,

“Of course I will, my dear unicorn…” Twilight seemed to cry tears of joy as she collapsed on top of him, and they stayed like that all through the night, not wanting to leave each others' arms.

Dusty found himself standing in the middle of the orchard at Sweet Apple Acres, thinking about the night before and nearly giggled with glee, until he heard a filly’s voice,

“Dusty!” Applebloom and the other two came up to him, and at the same time…

“Dusty?” Twilight came from the other side,

“It’s time to continue our quest to find out cutie marks!” Scootaloo cheered, “Let’s go!”

“Dusty, you promised we would spend more time together…” Twilight looked at him glumly, Dusty just stared at them, the three fillies looked upset,

“Fine, have it your way…” Sweetie Belle hissed as the three began to walk away from sight,

“Wait!” Dusty shouted, but the three didn't even acknowledge him.

“I guess the wedding is off then.” Dusty turned to Twilight when she said that, tears streaming down her face, as she began to run away,

“Twilight, wait!” he shouted, before they both ran out of sight, “What have I done?” he muttered to himself as he sat on the ground alone, he closed his eyes and let his head hang down.

When Dusty finally opened his eyes, he found himself on the couch again with Twilight asleep on top of him, Dusty smiled as he rubbed her mane, Twilight slowly brought her head up, and gave a lazy smile as she stared down at him, “Good morning, my husband-to-be…” she muttered as she sneaked a kiss on his lips,

Knock knock, came from the door, but no one moved,

Knock knock, came again, and a knock came again but this time in the tune of “Shave and a haircut, 2 bits.” Which scared Dusty, Uh oh… he thought to himself as the door slammed open, revealing the five other ponies, Spike, and the CMC, Pinkie began to giggle,

“Aww…” the CMC cooed in unison,

“What in the hay?” Applejack went red,

“Should I come back later?” Rainbow Dash looked like she was turning green,

“Explanation, please?” Rarity sneered, “How could you, in front of the children!”

Dusty stared at Twilight, then back at the door, “It’s not what it looks like?” Dusty gave a nervous chuckle,

“I suppose we’ll just come back later…” Applejack closed the door, Twilight giggled and gave Dusty another kiss,

“Well, that went well, didn’t it?” Twilight snuggled against him, “I love you, Dusty.” She said as she slid off him,

“I’d better get home…” Twilight forced out,

“Twilight, wait!” Dusty said as he felt a memory come back into his mind…

A bell chimed as Dusty stepped inside the store, it was the day after Hearts and Hooves day, Twilight asked Dusty to be his special somepony already, and he wanted to give her a gift, but he didn’t know when to, that was the problem. So he decided to pick one out for when the moment ever called for it,

“Dusty!” the clerk greeted, “How may I help you?” he asked, “A gift for a special pony no doubt?” Dusty nodded and the clerk nearly bounced with joy, “I knew you had it in you, what’s her name?” he asked, Dusty paused and smiled,

“Twilight Sparkle.” He said, the clerk froze and stared at him,

“Hoho!” the clerk laughed and gave Dusty a friendly hug, “Good job my friend, and at a perfect time too, we just received a new shipment and I think she will love this.” The clerk pulled out a display case holding a heart shaped amulet with a purple gem in the middle, “Normally, this would cost some pony a fortune, but for you, Dusty,” The clerk held it out, “It’s on the house.” Dusty was caught by surprise,

“I can’t just take it, there has to be a catch, anything!” Dusty blurted, the clerk laughed,

“Fine then, when you recognize your true feelings, I’d like to be there at your wedding day.” Dusty blushed, he never thought about marriage,

“Thanks, bud!” Dusty called as he exited the store,

“Bye, Dusty!” the clerk called as the door shut.

Dusty went to a small drawer by his couch and opened it up, exposing the purple necklace inside a display case; he pulled it out and showed it to Twilight, “For you.”

Twilight stared at it in awe, then slowly tears began to fall from her eyes, “It’s beautiful…” she sobbed, Dusty set it aside as Twilight wrapped her forearms around him, “Why are you so good to me?” she asked quietly,

“I love you.” Dusty said, Twilight pulled away,

“Can I stay the night?” she asked, Dusty held her hoof in his,

“Of course.” Dusty replied,

Twilight and Dusty talked the entire day through and as the sun was setting, they laid on the bed together, snuggling the whole night through.