And this is how an Earth Pony loves back
Misty had a lot of insecurities. It wasn't a secret to anyone, not even herself.
As much as she wanted to feel more confident and less clumsy, in the end things were going a little against her. It's not that it was a 100% bad thing, because it was part of what made her special, or at least that's what her friends said. They tried to make her see what they saw, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't. Maybe Opaline got into her head too much, or maybe she just didn't believe her friends' words and she was just saying the opposite so as not to make them feel bad.
With all that in mind, there are some things Misty still can't explain: Why, every time she's near Sunny, does she feel her cheeks burning, her hooves shaking, her heart beating like she's running a marathon, and butterflies flying in her stomach?
The truth is that the idea scared her a lot at first. She didn't know what it was about, and since Opaline never talked to her about falling in love, most likely because there's no one crazy enough to fall in love with Opaline, Misty didn't even know what it was like to fall in love with anypony. Does she even know where babies come from? If Opaline was as cruel to her as Misty herself says she is, she probably did do it, details and all, to disturb her just for fun.
Misty trusted her friends enough to tell them anything, no matter how small and insignificant it was. However, she only called Sunny directly because she of all people didn't want to keep any secrets of any kind from her. But as soon as Sunny arrived with her, to meet in a park in Maretime Bay at noon, Misty felt all those strange sensations at once. Sunny's silky lavender hair with that rainbow fringe; her orange fur reminded him of tangerines, coincidentally her favorite fruit; her green eyes that sparkled like emeralds; and that smile that for some strange reason was driving her crazy lately...
She didn't know why she noticed those details in such a poetic way, nor why her heart was beating hard when she saw her, but the truth is that it didn't bother her to feel it. She just wanted to know why she felt it, and if it even had a name.
After greeting each other with a hug, one that made Misty's heart flutter with joy, they sat down on the bench, with Sunny looking at Misty with a friendly smile. "Well, Misty. What's that important thing you wanted to tell me?"
It took Misty a moment to process the question, since a part of her was still lost on Sunny's beauty. Still, when she finally snapped, she took a deep breath before speaking.
"...Look, before telling you what it is, I should warn that I don't want to keep anything from you nor from anyone, no matter how small it is," Misty began to explain. "After hiding something as big as working for a tyrant like Opaline, I just know that I cannot hide anything anymore..."
"We know that, Misty," Sunny told her with a warm smile, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "You haven't kept anything from us, even if sometimes you tell us the silliest things."
"I know, I know, and I'm sorry for that," Misty apologized, although she also chuckled slightly. "I just don't wanna loose your trust on me ever again... And for some reason, I don't wanna loose your trust more than anypony else's."
"Huh?" Sunny raised an eyebrow, confused. "What do you mean, Misty?"
"That's a really good question, Sunny, and it's precisely because I need an answer that I wanted to talk with you," Misty replied, confusing Sunny even more. "I don't really know why, but whenever I'm close to you these days, I feel... funny."
"Funny? How do you feel 'funny'?"
"When I try to talk to you, o-or look at you right in the eyes, my hooves tremble like if I were to lose my balance; my cheeks burn hot like if I ate something too hot for my mouth to resist its taste; my heart jumps like if I just ran the longest marathon in all Equestria; and I feel like if butterflies were flying in my belly," Misty explained, really calmed, but also a bit shy and, each word she said, it made her heart bump faster than ever.
"...You feel all of that... when you're with me?" Sunny asked, with Misty nodding slowly. "And... do you feel any of that right now?"
"Yeah... And I still don't understand why!" Misty said out loud with panic. "Did I got sick or something? Because I really doubt that feeling butterflies flying inside of you is normal..."
Even though everything Misty said was very serious, and Sunny even felt concerned about the fact she didn't know what it is, she still laughed out loud at Misty's silly comment on the butterflies thing.
Still, she sighed and looked at Misty, who was confused on why she laughed, although Sunny could also see certain... happiness on her eyes that were so focused on her. She knew what Misty had, yet she still feels concerned on why Misty herself has no clue on what's happening.
"Before answering your question, let me ask: Did Opaline ever taught you about love? I mean real love? The one where two ponies fall for each other and date, sometimes even getting to the point they marry?"
Misty was extremely confused now. She felt like if Sunny just talked on an alien language and pretended Misty could understood her. Sometimes it felt like that, anyways, but what she just said was the cherry on the top.
"...You didn't got anything of what I said, right?" Sunny asked, still smiling anyways.
"Nope. Not even a single word," Misty shook her head.
Sunny giggled, making Misty's heart melt again. "It's okay, Misty. What you're feeling is completely normal, really. It happens to everypony at one point in time, and it seems you're feeling it now."
"Okay, but... What is it, exactly?"
"You're falling in love, Misty. If you wonder what that is, well... The best way I can explain it is when you love a pony much more than anypony else. You love our friends, but if you feel what you feel just with me, then you love much more than them, because you're in love with me."
"Wait... So I... like you? And I mean like, like you?" Misty asked, her blush increasing now.
"That's the best way to put it, yeah," Sunny replied with a smile and a slight blush.
"Oh, but I don't wanna make everypony else feel less just because I like you!" Misty said with concern. "I mean, I don't really mind that I like you like that, but still... What if the rest feel excluded or something?!"
Sunny giggled at her adorable attitude. She's not entirely sure if she likes Misty the same way now that she knows Misty likes her. She always though of her as adorable, but everypony says the same.
"Misty, just because you're in love with a pony, it doesn't mean the rest will feel excluded, really!"
"If you say so, but... What about you?" Misty asked her, a bit concerned for her answer. "How do you feel now that we both know I like you?"
"...I just know that I love you as much as I love the rest of our friends," Sunny replied. "With that being said, I do think that you're the most adorable out of us."
That comment only made Misty's eyes widen, her heart skip a beat, and her cheeks turn even more red. "R-Really?!"
"Yeah... I don't believe that I'm in love with you, though... But maybe we can give it a chance?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Let's put it like this: How about we stay together as friends and... see where it goes? Maybe your already found feeling might develop even further until, one day, you'll finally understand that your love for me is completely normal. Meanwhile, I think I could develop feelings as well. It's just a matter of try and see what happens, you know?"
"...So... We stay like friends that date like a couple and, maybe if destiny allows it, we'll be an actual couple one day?"
"Yes! That's precisely what I mean!" Sunny said with a slight smile. "But of course, I'll only do it if you're okay with the idea. If not, I'll understand."
As Sunny extended her hoof to Misty, the unicorn mare smiled a little and extended her hoof back to touch Sunny's. "For a possible future love?"
Sunny smiled back and nodded. "For a possible future love. Hoof to heart."
THE END
Author's Note
This is my last story for the year. Honestly? I'm happy with the final result.
I have something cool in store for next year, but Imma wait 'till January to tell you about it.
Constructive criticism is appreciated. Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas and happy New Year! 
