Why is this happening to me? Lately it's been the same.

I can't talk to him without feeling so pathetic, so vulnerable, so... so lost in his gaze. But why?! I've always been able to talk to Hitch in the most normal and natural way, joking with him and everything... But in the last few days, just thinking about him makes my heart race like crazy, my cheeks turn completely red and I become very clumsy. And when he approaches me it gets worse, and it becomes very difficult for me to formulate words.

Again, why?! We've known each other since we were colts, we've done literally all kinds of things together! Now I can't talk to him without feeling like my heart wants to jump out of my body, without feeling a warm sensation in my chest...

2 days ago

I was at my smoothie stand, taking care of business as usual. The ponies shopped around like any other day and walked by, saying hello and having a normal day. I was arranging some boxes since no customers arrived for a while, until I heard that voice...

"Good morning, Sunny!" Hitch greeted.

I suddenly dropped what I was carrying, and although it was only a box with apples, it was strange anyway, because it never happened to me before, but in the last few days, it was a frequent occurrence when he approached. My cheeks suddenly turned red and my heart raced like crazy. I saw him there, and tried to return the greeting, but I ended up stuttering as it's been happening lately.

"H-Hello Hitch," I said nervously. "W-What can I offer you?"

"I was... just passing by to say hello, but I see you looking a little red. You feel good?" Hitch asked with concern.

I noticed that he was caring about me, so attentive and cute as always... NO! Now's not the time Sunny! You shouldn't think that way about him, he's your friend.

"B-Better than ever! I-I'm just a little c-clumsy today, that's all," I replied.

Hitch raised an eyebrow and looked at me, not very convinced of my answer. "Are you sure?"

You're not helping, Hitch! How can I stop thinking about you or feeling so weird when you keep worrying about me?!

"D-Don't worry, I'm fine," I assured him.

It seems that I convinced him, or at least that's what I want to believe, because he regained his smile and began to walk away from the smoothie stand.

"Okay, then I'll go back to work. Take care of yourself!" He said happily with a wink.

"B-Bye..." I replied nervously.

I stood gawking at him as he walked away. Whatever he was doing to me couldn't be normal. Maybe somepony put a spell on him by mistake? But if that was the case, why was it only affecting me?

I can't go on like this, I need to know what's happening to me... so I decided to talk to Izzy, telling her exactly everything that was happening to me.

When I finished explaining myself, I noticed she had a strange expression, as if she was holding back a laugh.

"What's so funny?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh Sunny, I know I'm not the smartest seed in our group, but even I know that what you have is nothing serious," She said, while she laughed a little.

"What do you mean?" I blurted out confused.

"You are not sick, and Hitch is not under a spell, as you believe. What happens to you is that you are in love with him!" Izzy explained cheerfully.

"...Sorry, I think I'm hearing you wrong. Could you repeat that?"

"You are in love with Hitch! You blush, you get nervous, you stutter, and your heart goes crazy whenever he's on the picture. In love!"

...There is 1 of 2 options: Either Izzy went crazy, or I am not able to process that I really fell in love with Hitch and I want to deny it with my soul... I have the feeling that it may be the second one.

"Okay Izzy, I know you love to say crazy things and joke around, but this is not a good time to do it," I said with a slight frown, but she just laughed more, which bothered me a little.

"Oh Sunny, it's so obvious that you try to deny it, how cute!" She said, in a mocking tone.

"Izzy..."

"Sunny, you like him, just admit it, the world is not going to end just because you admit such a thing," Izzy pointed out.

"I can't!" I exclaimed frustrated, hiding my face with my hooves.

Although I couldn't see her, I felt that Izzy was looking at me somewhat confused and worried at the same time.

"Why not?" She asked.

"Hitch and I have been friends since we were foals. Even before uniting ponykind, he has always supported me despite everything I did to prove that we could live without fear. I know well that he has always cared about me, but just as an older brother, the truth is that I don't think he feels the same way I do... and that's why I prefer to pretend that I don't feel anything, maybe with time I'll get over it... But what if I don't? What if the feeling only grows? What if he finds out and rejects me? What if our friendship is ruined?! What if...?!"

"SUNNY!" Izzy shouted suddenly.

It wasn't until she screamed that I realized I was flying in the air. At what point did my wings and horn appear? I didn't feel it, and even stranger, I didn't feel it when my hooves left the ground. I went down until I was back with Izzy and my wings and horn suddenly disappeared. Even after the Maretime Bay Day festival, I still can't understand how my alicorn magic works.

"Do you know what happened to me? I didn't even know when I left the ground..." I asked Izzy.

"Well... you started to panic asking thousands of questions, and your wings and horn suddenly appeared. Then, the more panicked you were, the higher you got off the ground, and you couldn't hear me, so I had to scream," She explained, as always with her characteristic enthusiasm.

I sighed heavily before speaking again. "The point is... I don't want to ruin our relationship, I don't care if we stay friends, I just... I don't want to lose him..."

"Hey, get rid of that long face!" Izzy said with a smile, giving me a little push. "Let's suppose Hitch doesn't love you that way, so what? You said it yourself, you've been friends for a long time! Just because you want it to be more doesn't mean things between you are going to be ruined. Your friendship won't be ruined..."

I analyzed every word she told me, and I had to agree with her. Hitch has always protected me from others, since we were foals. Even if he didn't share my thoughts on pony unity, he never made me feel less for what I believed. He always cared about my well-being, and was even there when I lost hope of uniting all ponykind. I realized then that, even if I still didn't feel anything romantic for him back then, I've always loved him... And yet, I still felt insecure...

"But what if he chooses not to be my friend anymore?" I asked Izzy.

"Well, he better, or we will make things go very badly for him!" She said.

"We?" I asked confused.

"We!" Three other voices suddenly said behind me.

I turned around in horror, but was somewhat calmed by the sight of Zipp, Pipp and Misty, who seemed to have heard everything... THEY HEARED EVERYTHING!!!

"...How long have you been...? How long have you been there?!" I asked in an almost choked tone.

"Enough to know that you're in love~" Pipp sang happily, while my ears drooped and I felt my face turn completely red.

"And Izzy's scream kind of dragged our attention as well," Misty confessed sheepishly.

"But Izzy is right, Sunny," Zipp said, approaching me. "Even if he doesn't feel the same, I'm sure everything will stay the same between you two."

"Are you... sure about that?" I asked, still kind of concerned.

The others just nodded silently, although Izzy with more energy than the sisters and Misty. I couldn't help but smile and gather the other 4 in a group hug, I thanked them and then ran as fast as I could towards Hitch's house.

Izzy sighed regretfully.

"You sure you'll be okay?" Zipp asked the Unicorn mare with concern. "I doubt it was easy to say all of that to the mare you're in love with..."

"...I'm fine, Zipp," Izzy lied with a sad smile. "I always knew she wouldn't love me back anyway... I just hope Hitch makes her happy, that's all I want..."

After having walked through the almost empty streets of Maretime Bay, since the sun was beginning to set in the distance, I finally arrived at Hitch's house. I hoped he was home, because he finished his shift early today if I'm not mistaken. I knocked on the door calmly, and not long after I heard hoofsteps on the other side. The door opened and he was there, without his Sheriff's belt nor badge, which seemed strange to me because he always wore it. He greeted me with a smile, that smile that drove me crazy.

"Sunny! What an unexpected surprise," Hitch said with joy. "What brings you here today?"

Despite how difficult it was for me to talk to him lately, I somehow managed not to stutter while speaking to him.

"Hey Hitch. I... I would like to talk about something important with you. I can pass?" I asked.

"Sure, make yourself at home!" Hitch replied, as he stepped aside to let me in and closed the door. He offered me a seat, but I told him it would be quick and that it wasn't necessary. "Okey? So, what do you want to tell me?"

I took a deep breath and started walking towards him. I was afraid he would back away, but thanks to Celestia he didn't move an inch.

"Do you remember... when we met?" I asked him somewhat insecure.

"Of course! You were a bit lonely back then, until I decided to get to know you better. I have to admit... it was one of the best days of my life," He smiled again.

...Did I hear wrong or did he just...? I noticed a slight blush on his face... Could it be that he feels the same?

"Do you also remember all those times you defended me from others regardless of whether you didn't agree with what I believed?"

"I will never regret hitting that pony for knocking you to the ground. That punishment in detention was totally worth it," He said with pride, while my heart was racing like crazy after hearing that. For Celestia, let this not be a dream, let this not be a dream...

'Well, the truth is that I have never thanked you properly, even though I had thanked you..." I remarked.

"Hey, it's not necessary––"

"Please..." I said, raising a hoof. "Let me finish."

He nodded and let me continue talking.

"I will never be able to thank you enough for having been my friend, no matter the circumstances or how far I went to show that we could all live in peace... You were there through thick and thin, you were the only pony who didn't made me less and that offered me his shoulder to cry on when I needed it... and in all this time I always thought of you as a friend, but... maybe I want something more..." I explained.

"Sunny..." Hitch said, as if he understood what I was referring to.

I slowly moved towards him again, and he still didn't move, although his face suddenly reddened, I think he knows what I'm about to do.

"W-What I'm trying to say is..."

Not being able to resist it anymore, I kissed him. I kissed him on the lips, and suddenly he began to kiss me back. It was something tender and soft, and I really liked feeling it. The lack of air, however, separated us, and our foreheads remained together after that kiss.

"What I... was trying to say is... I love you, Hitch. I've always loved you..."

We were silent after that, however it didn't last long because I felt Hitch lift me up in the air and spin me around non-stop while he laughed, infecting me with his laughter. He put me down and looked at me with joy.

"Oh my... you don't know how happy you make me by saying that!" He blurted out.

"R-Really?!" I exclaimed with joy.

"Sunny, I love you too, I always have. It's the reason why I never left you alone, because I love you, more than you imagine..."

"S-So... you love me the same way I do?"

Instead of answering me, he approached me and kissed me lightly. I'll take that as a yes.

"I could get used to this..." I whispered mischievously.

"Me too," Hitch whispered back.

The rest of the night I stayed at his house and we spent watching movies, telling stories and annoying each other. The difference is that now we were dating...

Dating... As a couple...

Maybe I shouldn't had acted so paranoid over this, because despite everything, he was always there for me. And I will always be there for him, because I really love him.

THE END

Author's Note

I feel bad for doing what I did to Izzy... But you know, adding some drama never killed anyone.

Constructive criticism is appreciated. Thanks for reading! See ya!