Apples and Flowers

"So where are we off to?" Fleur enquired curiously as she walked alongside Applejack on a small path leading outside of Ponyville.

"If I told ya, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" Applejack returned with a grin, readjusting the saddlebags on her bag.

She had talked things over with Twilight, and had reluctantly agreed to also let Rarity in on her planned confession of love, and together they had worked out just the perfect way to carry it out.

Applejack would take Fleur to a special hilltop outside town for a private picnic lunch, which Rarity graciously volunteered to prepare for them. After lunch had been eaten, she would tell Fleur exactly how she felt. She was excited but at the same time she was extremely nervous.

"This is beautiful. We haven't been this way yet, have we?" Fleur asked, breaking her out of her wandering thoughts.

"Nope! New spot that I ain't showed ya yet." Applejack answered. "But I can garuntee you're gonna love it."

'And hopefully me too.'

Fleur refrained from further questions, instead eagerly following Applejack and taking in her new surroundings with awe. The path led through a stand of oak trees and directly to the top of a hill overlooking long, rolling green pastures.

"Here we are!"

Fleur took in the sight breathlessly.

"Oh...oh it's gorgeous." She murmured, her eyes shining.

Applejack grinned and eased her saddlebags from her back before setting up their picnic spot with a blanket. Fleur turned around.

"Wha- a surprise picnic?!"

"Eeyup!"

Applejack pulled out the sandwiches and brownies that Rarity had packed for them, and dragged out two cold bottles of fruit punch that Twilight had supplied. She dug out napkins and utensils and then waved her hoof at the ready lunch.

"Soup's on! Well, I reckon I should say sandwiches."

Fleur laughed and settled onto the blanket, eyeing the food a tad hungrily. Settling down next to her, Applejack passed her a bottle of punch as they both picked up a sandwich.

"This is delicious!" Fleur announced. "Who made these?"

"Er, I may have got Rarity to help, cuz my specialty is apples, not sandwiches."

Fleur laughed as she took another bite. They sat in companionable silence, eating their lunch while gazing out at the gorgeous view in front of them. Once they had consumed the sandwiches, the brownies met the same fate, and for awhile the two mares just sat unmoving and unspeaking on the blanket, each lost in her own thoughts.

"Fleur-"

"Applejack-"

They spoke at once, and laughed awkwardly as they both blushed in embarrassment.

"Fleur, I brought ya up here today cuz there's somethin' I want to tell ya." Applejack started.

"Yes?" Fleur said quietly.

"Well...uh...ya see..." Applejack hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Consarn it all, I-I love you."

Fleur blinked rapidly. "I-wha-say that again?"

Applejack inhaled. "I got to know ya as a friend, but as time went on, I guess I started fallin' for ya cuz the other day, at my farm, well...I realized I was in love with you." Her gaze locked on the speechless Fleur. "Now I know I ain't no fancy city mare, and I ain't got much. Just my heart. But it's yours if ya want it. Course, I don't reckon I rightly know if ya want to be on a farm during all them times ya need a break from modelin', but-"

She was silenced by a hoof resting on her mouth, and saw a glint of tears in Fleur's eyes as the mare leaned forward slightly.

"Applejack. You were kind and saw me as just another pony, and wanted to be close to me just because of who I am inside rather than because of my fame. I deeply appreciated that. I still do. But the other day at your farm, I came to realize that I..." She paused to inhale. "...I have fallen in love with you too. And it doesn't bother me that you're a country mare and farm pony. I'll spend lots of time on the farm between modeling jobs, because I know that's where you want to be, and I just want to be with you."

Applejack smiled, struggling to contain her joy as she took Fleur's hooves in hers.

"I reckon if ya will have me then, I'd be right proud to be with ya too." She inhaled slowly. "I won't ever take ya away from your callin', sugarcube. You're meant to be a model, and I ain't gonna stop ya. I can leave the farm for a few days to be with ya in Canterlot or wherever your jobs take ya. And then we can come back here when you're done. I just...I just wanna be with ya no matter where ya go."

Fleur nodded. "You couldn't get rid of me now if you tried." She plucked Applejack's hat from her head and flipped it onto her own. "I reckon you're plumb stuck with me forever."

Applejack laughed at the failed accent attempt, and then the two mares looked at each other. Orbs of violet gazed deeply into ones of emerald, neither of them speaking a word for the longest time. Finally, Fleur leaned in and wrapped her forelegs around Applejack, hugging her tightly, and Applejack readily reciprocated, nuzzling her head into her neck and sighing in happy contentment.

They pulled apart after a moment and gazed at each other again, then Applejack leaned closer and placed her lips on Fleur's, kissing her very gently and almost hesitantly. Fleur responded by wrapping her forelegs around her neck and kissing her back with enthusiasm. Once they came apart for air, Applejack smirked.

"Fleur de Lis, I got a question."

"Yes??"

"Will ya do me the honor of bein' my marefriend?"

"YES!"

With a happy squeal, Fleur hugged her tightly, and they sealed their new relationship with another kiss before settling down and gazing off over the hills, forelegs wrapped around each other, basking in the love they felt for each other. Above them, birds sang happily in the trees, celebrating with them.

"Applejack?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love ya more."