“Why don’t you just ask him out?” a low voice mumbles from behind Applejack’s shoulder. She quickly turns her head from looking out of the window to see her brother, a gentle giant known to many as Big MacIntosh, standing behind her. The heat in Applejack’s face rises when it occurs to her that he’s been watching her ogle the mysterious figure relaxing outside that whole time.

“How… how long were ya standin’ there for?”

“Long enough to know what my little sister‘s daydreamin’ about.”

“Ah. Horse apples.” The orange mare, out of nervousness, rearranges the brown stetson-hat sitting atop her head, “MacIntosh, believe me, I truly wasn’t expectin’ myself to get all mushy over the biped, alright? It just kinda happened-”

“I ain’t one to judge, Applejack.” MacIntosh says, using short, simple words to ease his sister’s stress as efficiently as possible. That’s MacIntosh for you. “It’s your life, after all. Can you say you have feelings for our friend taking a nap outside, even if he ain‘t a pony?”

Applejack doesn’t hesitate on that. “Of course I do! Don’t ask me how, but I do! But I‘m still worried, Big Mac. What would Granny think of me if I started dating him? She’s always wanted me to find the perfect stallion, and that ain't no stallion out there! How would the other ponies in town react? I know my friends want me to be with him, but everypony else in Ponyville is scared rigid of the guy! What if-”

MacIntosh raises a hoof to signal her to stop. “If you can honestly say that you like who you like, then species shouldn’t matter to you or anypony else,” MacIntosh states simply, “Just look at cousin Braeburn; he‘s dating a buffalo and we‘re all for it, even Granny. Sure, there are ponies in Appleloosa who object to it, but they don’t see the love involved. Don’t let others force you to stop somethin’ you like. We just wanna see you live a happy life, sis.”

She takes a deep breath, allowing what MacIntosh told her to sink in. “Thanks, big brother. You come out with real smart things whenever you feel like talkin‘.” The two share a short, sweet, sibling hug - the Apple family can always rely on each other - before Applejack plans what to do next.

“So, uh, do you want me to go out there and tell the human that a pony has a major crush on him, or should I just wait until tomorrow night at his Welcoming shindig?”

“Your friends‘ll be there tomorrow night. Might be easier for you.”

“Alright, Big Mac.”

The sun slowly falls in the horizon, the sunset causing the whole orchard to glow with a soft shade of orange. You’re lying with your back against one of the many apple trees, eyes closed, soaking up the last of the sun’s warmth.

After another long day of helping the owners with their farming duties, a rest in the calm, dwindling sunlight was always the way to go. Of course, your legs weren’t strong enough to buck the trees or anything, but you were always there to pick up any remaining apples and carry a couple of extra buckets with your hands, or tending to other farm duties. Whatever work helps you take your mind off things.

You hear the sound of somebody, or as they put it, somepony, trotting towards you from the family barn-house. The clopping sound was too light for the older stallion Big MacIntosh, but too heavy to mistake for the pitter-patter of little Apple Bloom. You know exactly who those hoof steps belonged to. You’d never forget.

“Hey, Applejack.” you call without even opening your eyes.

“Howdy, ya daydreamer,” she replies teasingly, “Mind if I take a seat too?”

You pat the ground next to you, “It’s your orchard, go right ahead.” You hear a quick shuffling sound as she sits down, followed by the warm press of her leaning against your shoulder. You’ve had a fairly strong friendship with her since you walked into her life. And her whole world, now that you think about it.

“Y’know, Applejack, there's something I still can’t get my head around.” you tell her.

“What is it, sugar?”

You raise a hand, pointing towards the orange sphere that sinks behind the distant mountains. “That’s not my sun. Some magical white horse in a castle is causing that thing to rise and fall out of her own will. Same deal with the moon, too. I know that much already.”

The mare keeps quiet, waiting for you to continue.

“The sun and moon where I come from doesn’t do that. They can’t. And if that’s not my sun or my moon, then I’m clearly on a different planet. Which doesn‘t make a lick of sense.” you pause, thinking about how to follow that up, “If I’m on a different planet now, how the heck did I walk here?”

“Is that what‘s troubling you?” she turns to you, “Maybe you should check with Twilight tomorrow night at the party, she might’ve gotten word from Canterlot on how you got here by now.”

The party? Of course! That bubbly pink one (Pinkie Pie, was it?) has always wanted to throw you a welcoming party, just like she does with every new Ponyville resident, you're told.

You’d have had it earlier, but when you first set foot in the strange new world (unintentionally; you just wanted a quick walk) the inhabitants were more than a little wary of you. As a result, royal guards had to be called in to escort you to some fancy palace where the kingdom’s princess (or as you kept calling her, “Queen Pony“) assigned her most prized pupil to examine and interview you. And by interview, she must’ve meant interrogate. After being looked over for the hundredth time, they finally allow you to find a lodging in Equestria while they try to find out how to send you back home.

And so, you’re living in Ponyville, under the kindly offered roof of the Apple family, whose upbeat friendliness made you feel more than welcome. Why the Apple family? Because they were on the outskirts of town, and living anywhere else would risk scaring the Ponyville residents. Hopefully the upcoming Welcoming party should remedy that.

The only problem was getting the other ponies in town to attend, which is perfectly understandable, considering what you are. To the citizens of Ponyville, it was like saying “Hey, there’s this creepy looking alien from another world that’s been lurking in our town for the past month or so, let’s all go and dance and party with it! What’s the worst that could happen?”

In fact, that’s pretty much how Pinkie Pie said it.

There was another pony who had an equally remote house, a bright yellow pony-with-wings (a pegasus, of course) that took care of various animals, however she seemed far too fearful around you to make a good housemate. You somehow doubt she’d be at the party.

“You know what, sugar cube?” Applejack nudges you reassuringly, “Even if we never find out how to point you back to where you call home, you’re always welcome to stay at Sweet Apple Acres. You’ve been a mighty fine addition to the family.”

With a weary smile, you hold your friend using your strange, five-digit hands. “Thanks, Applejack.”

Something stirs in your chest as you hold her. You know the signs of infatuation all too well. You also know how dangerous it is. You’re not too sure of how Equestria sees relationships between other species, but from where you come from, it’s either humans or humans, nothing else. It’s just wrong otherwise.

Which is why, with a pang of regret, you admit to yourself that it will never be. The soft fine fur of her coat. The blonde mane and tail, tamed by red hairbands and her cowboy hat. The cute freckles that nestle between her smile and her eyes, as green as the leaves in her orchard.

None of that will be yours. You’re not allowed to think of her like that. She’s a pony. A horse. A beast. And since you’ve arrived, your best friend.

Still, it’s always a pleasure to hold her like this.

You share the rest of the evening with your companion, watching Celestia’s sun disappear behind the mountain supporting the city of Canterlot in the distance. The sky burns as orange as the mare you’re holding, and it feels just as warm. Even if it’s not the sun you know back home, it’s still a beautiful thing to look at.

The sun, and her.

“C’mon, back inside,” she finally says as the sky grows dark, “Before we catch ourselves a chill.”

Nodding, you pull yourself up and head towards the Apple family’s home, ready for a good night‘s rest. You have a long evening ahead of you tomorrow, whether you know it or not.