You're currently picking apples at the Sweet Apple Acres.
It sure is going to a long day at work, so you've prepared accordingly; it's the Apple family reunion today, and this time it's held in the middle of summer.
Applejack hired you shortly after you got into Equestria. At first, you doubted your abilities at menial, yet physically intensive work.
You used to be a DYEL, but AJ was nice enough to allow you rest accordingly to the work being done.
So eventually you grew stronger, while tiring yourself less, and all the healthy Equestrian country food made your body healthier as well.
This heat is killing you, even your big hat doesn't help much.
When you feel like being overwhelmed by the heat, you retreat to the shades under the canopy of the apple trees; sitting on the grass, resting from the scorching summer sun, drinking water and eating some chilis to make you cool off more, so you would get back at picking apples sooner.
You notice a green mare in a cowfilly hat, walking towards you. Must be the one of the Apples.
She walks into the shade under the tree you're currently under.
"Howdy, Anon!" she greets you.
You don't remember all the names of the Apples at the reunion. You recall her being with the other mare, the yellow one with green mane.
Her name was Apple Fritter, that's something you somehow remember, since that encounter lasted for less than five seconds.
And she also introduced this particular mare to you.
Candy Apples, right.
Good thing you remember her name now, would be shameful if she knew your name but you didn't know hers, even if you're as invisible and unnoticable as an elephant in a small, brightly lit room, being a human and all.
"Hello, Candy."
The pony smiles sweetly, taking a seat beside you.
Her tail and mane are two-toned auburn, the latter is braided into two symmetric pigtails, tied into and garnished by the two yellow bows, and her eyes are orange.
The colour of those beautiful globes remind you of honey and gold. In fact, she's cutest and prettiest mare you have ever seen.
You break your gaze from Candy's orange eyes. She did notice your bewitched gaze, no matter of how hard you tried to hide it by breaking the eye contact.
She giggles into her hoof.
"Ah didn't think that Ah would catch somepony's gaze like that. Ya know, yer anythin' but ugly too."
You blush at the mare's words.
The wind blows, bringing more relief from the heat to you and Candy. It blows from direction towards you, bringing her fragrance.
She does smell really nice too. A lot like the eponymous candy apples of her name and cutie mark, mixed with some fresh apple juice.
You're back up on your legs, ready for an another round of apple picking. Candy also gets up on her hooves.
"Mind if Ah help ya? We'd pick more and be done sooner if we do it together." Candy suggests her help to you.
You can't really refuse that offer, as much as you would take pride in doing all of your work alone. Having an adorable mare buck the trees while you pick up the apples sounds quite nice.
"Why not."
Both you and Candy get back at work.
She kicks the trees while you pick the apples, placing them into the barrels. For the remainder of the day, you and the green country mare pick the juicy fruits around the orchard, taking rests from the heat in the shades from time to time, drinking some water to cool off.
This continues until the evening, when you're finally done with your job.
You would stay at the farm this evening though, participating in the reunion.
"Would ya like to try mah candy, Anon? Ah made them just fer ya." Candy suggests her craft to you.
You pick the glazed apple on a stick from her hoof, taking a lick of the coating. It tastes so good.
You consume the sweet goodness, while Candy stares at you eating the apple.
"Ah really like seeing ya eat. Especially when it's mah food."
A new wave of blushing overtakes your cheeks, causing the green mare to giggle.
"Ah have more if ya want."
You're soon done with the candy-coated fruit.
"Can I have the caramel one?"
Candy gives you the apple glazed in light brown coating, which is really good as well.
You take a glass of water after you're done. Afterwards, you've gathered together with the Apples for the group photo. Candy have decided to stand next to you.
The evening went with all the Apple family members participating in various activities.
Not necessary apple or farming related, the old mares were quilting, for instance.
Having a decent dinner of all the apple pastries, you went to look at the sunset, basking in the summer day's last sunrays, as Celestia moved her Sun, giving way to her sister's night, while afternoon's heat gave way to the evening's pleasant warmth.
You sit on the tree trunk, watching the sun move under the horizon. Eventually, Candy shows up here too.
She doesn't have her cowfilly hat anymore. She sits on the trunk, beside of you.
You can notice that she's kinda nervous, shifting her eyes from your gaze, avoiding the eye contact.
You try to focus on the sunset, but you keep thinking about the cute pony sitting just next to you.
And you keep sniffing her pleasant smell, too.
You wonder how does it feel to hug her, to cuddle with her. That seafoam green coat looks really alluring.
"A-Anon."
Her call immediately makes you face her. She looks in your eyes again, clearly having gained courage to do so.
She's so cute.
All mares are extremely cute, but Candy is on a whole new level. Her snowpity is really bright, as you can see through her big beautiful orange eyes.
"A-Ah must tell it to ya. Ah love ya!" Candy says nervously.
She blushes hard, but she's still courageous enough to not to hide her face behind her hooves.
To be fair, you did think of that she thinks of you more than a friend, as she kind of was hinting on that during the entire day. It would be a lie to tell anyone that you don't think Candy Apples is an absolute cutie pie, either.
Actually...
"Candy... that's so nice. I love you too."
Her expresssion brightens up immediately. Her gorgeous eyes shimmer, as the mare processes what you just said to her.
"I just want you to know that you had my eye since you came to me in the orchard today. I want you to know that you are really beautiful."
The mare seems to be really touched by your own confession, trembling in excitement, tears of love and happiness forming in her eyes.
She embraces you in a hug so tight, you have trouble breathing. She's an earth pony after all, she's really strong and she did demonstrate how strong she is today.
"Oh, Ah knew that ya did love me!" she squeaks out of elation.
She loosens her squeezing hug for bit, kissing you on the lips.
Her mare lips press against yours, leaving one passionate kiss after another; leaving pecks all over your face, while you leave your own on her fuzzy cheeks.
You could feel that her pony lips are prehensile, as she's able to move them in such ways you can't do with your own lips. You wonder how kissing her in a even more intimate way would feel like.
She suckles on your lips for the last one. She gazes lovingly at you with her honey orange eyes.
You cup her face in your palms, feeling her short, soft fur gently caress your skin.
You hug her, nuzzling her, rubbing your nose against her muzzle. She reciprocates.
Candy kisses you again, but this time it's a more modest one, a simple kiss on the lips.
The earth mare puts her big head on your shoulder, observing the sunset. You lean your head to her own, enjoying the warmths of your mare and of the summery evening air.
She still smells great, and you can take a closer whiff of her fragrance, which is a mix of candy apples, something she's named after and talented in making, and honey, reminiscent of her eyes.
"Ah hope mah cuz will let me take ya with me." Candy says, enjoying the sight of the sun lowering more and more under the horizon.
"Ah want to marry ya, and we're going to have so many foals together. We're going to be the cutest family out there, me and you, being mah handsome hooman husband." the green mare kept talking, revealing her life dream to you.
You kiss her on the head, wrapping your arm around her barrel. She returns the gesture, wrapping her forehoof around your body as well.
"I'd love to be your husband, Candy."
You stay on the trunk, watching the sunset until the today's sun's last rays disappear, enjoying the romantic hug of a mare and her man, soon to be married together.
Author's Note
Any feedback is appreciated as always.
Candy Apples is an underrated cutie. One of the prettiest mares.
