David awoke to a a loud knock on his door. He groaned as he tried to roll away from the sound and pull the covers up over his head. He only managed to delay the inevitable by a few seconds as another knock roused him from sleep. He let out an overly dramatic groan as he forced himself out of bed, his eyes still barely open and his vision blurry. He managed to find the door handle and open it, revealing Storm Shield, in full armor. Her coat now shone an alabaster white, and her mane and tail were a dark cobalt.

"Hey Davey! I made breakfast. Come on, I'm gonna have to leave in about fifteen minutes." Storm's chipper greeting raked at Davids ears.

"Ugh... What time is it?" David asked, rubbing his eyes.

"Five thirty! I had to get up a little early today so that we could have breakfast, but like I said, I have to go to the castle in about fifteen minutes. So come on lazy-butt! I made waffles!"

Storm smiled as she trotted back to the kitchen, leaving David looking like a sad child in the doorway.

"Five thirty?! You weren't kidding when you said you'd be up early. Thanks for reminding me why I got out of the Military."

David trudged to the kitchen, dragging his feet the whole way. As he reached the table, he pulled out a chair and took a seat opposite of Storm. He slowly grabbed a couple waffles and put them on his plate before raising a tired eyebrow at Storm's syrup usage.

"Whapfh?" Storm asked through a full mouth.

David lightly chuckled at her antics.

"Nothing... You just eat waffles the same way Mid eats her pancakes. Drowning in syrup."

"Thas 'cause is so gud!" Storm said before going right back to devouring her waffles.

They ate the rest of breakfast in silence. Once they were both finished, David took the plates the the kitchen and placed them in the sink before Storm entered behind him.

"Thanks for the help, Davey. I wish I could stick around with you for the day, but I have to get back to work and I really don't wanna be late. Last time that happened I was doing push ups for a week. My legs are still sore from that... and that was three years ago..." Storm exclaimed, rubbing her shoulder as she shivered from the memories.

"Hehe, I understand. Despite your exaggeration, I know what you mean. Here, I'll get out of your place." David replied with a tired smile.

"I'm not saying you have to leave! I'm just not gonna be here all day and... yeah..."

"It's fine Storm. I need to get back to Midnight anyways. Hopefully we can sort this out today now that she's had some time to cool off. At least, I hope she's cooled off a bit by now."

"Alright, but seriously, if things are still heated between you two, don't hesitate to come back over. We're not using that room for anything and I love your company." Storm said with a smile.

"Thanks. Here, I'll walk with you to the castle." David said as walked to the front door.

The pair left Storm's house and walked toward the castle. The air was very cold and windy, telegraphing the coming Heart's Warming snow. The dark morning sky was clear, allowing the last hour or so of moonlight to illuminate the streets for Storm and David.

"Damn, wish I had brought a thicker jacket. It's getting really cold now." David said as he rubbed his hands together for warmth.

"Yeah, it's supposed to snow either tonight or tomorrow morning. You must be cold without any fur to keep you warm. I would have offered you one of my coats, but um... you're a little too big for them." Storm said with a sheepish smile.

"That's alright. I've got a few back at Mid's house. I just hope she lets me in."

"She will. We ponies aren't the type to hold a grudge. She'll take you back, I promise. Besides, she didn't really kick you out, you just left to give her space. She probably misses you more than she's angry at you." Storm said dismissively.

David sighed.

"I hope you're right, Stormy. I don't know what I'll do if I lose her. I think about her all the time. Like, she never leaves my thoughts. It's kind of ironic, actually. I'm obsessing over her like some kind of stalker, which can't be good for my mental health, yet she's the one thing that's kept me sane since the crash."

"Sounds to me like somepony's in love..." Storm said, batting her eyelashes at David.

David's cheeks flushed a hot crimson, starkly contrasting with the cold world around him. He looked away from Storm before sighing.

"I..."

"What was that Davey?" Storm asked, leaning closer.

"Nothing, Stormy. Look, here's the castle." David said, pointing ahead.

Sure enough, Canterlot Castle towered in front of them like a skyscraper. Its high walls and tall towers blocked out the fading moonlight, causing the ground to be even colder under its immense shadow. Storm and David closed in on the front gate and met the two thestrals stationed there.

"Morning guys, anything exciting happen last night?" Storm asked.

"It was quiet. As usual." Replied the first thestral.

"Just a little chilly." Said the second thestral as he grabbed his saddlebags.

"Alright, well, I'll see you guys tonight then." Storm said as the thestrals walked away.

David and Storm stood there alone for a few minutes in an awkward silence before he spoke.

"So... where's your partner? You're not just gonna be here alone, are you?"

"Well we are a little early, so he's probably on his way. He'll be here in a few minutes."

"Alright, I'll wait with you until he gets here."

"Are you waiting with me for my sake? Or because you're trying to put off going to see Midnight?" Storm asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No..." David said, unconvincingly.

"Davey."

David shuffled side to side as he rubbed his hands together for warmth. He turned away from Storm's voice and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

"Mmhmm?"

"Go see her. No more stalling mister lazy-butt." Storm said, pressing her head against David's leg and pushing him away.

"Okay, okay. Geez. I'll go see her." David said, nearly falling over from Storm's pushing.

"You'd better. Now remember, mares loves roses!" Storm called out as David walked away.

"Uh... Thanks... I think. I'll keep that in mind."

David waved his final goodbye to Storm and continued on towards Midnight's house. As he walked away from the castle, a thought crept into his mind.

"Maybe I should buy her roses... Fuck it, might as well go all out with this apology."

David quickened his pace and made his way to the Canterlot central district as fast as he could. Most ponies were still asleep save for the thestrals closing up shop for the day.

"Where is that shop? I know they're still open..."

After running up and down the street for a few minutes, David finally found his target. 'El Florero Del Desierto'.

"I will never understand how ponies speak English and Spanish, but whatever."

David entered the flower shop. The front door swung open easily and a small bell above the door made a loud ringing sound that filled the room. Rows upon rows of beautiful flowers lined the front entrance all the way to the rear of the store. A couple small rooms with strange glowing flowers were hidden in the back of the store by the surrounding greenery. A tired-looking thestral sitting behind the front counter seemed to perk right back up and put on a happy smile as he watched David walk towards his counter.

"Ah, good morning señor. It is rare that I meet an alien in my humble shop. Please, tell me how I can be of service to you today." He spoke with a smooth Spanish accent, the words seeming to effortlessly roll off his tongue.

"Uh, hi... Well, I messed up really bad and I need to apologize. Think you have any roses that will help me do that?" David asked.

"Would this be for a mare friend? Or perhaps a stallion?" The thestral asked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Uh... It's definitely for a mare." David said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Would this mare be, perhaps, a potential love? Or, perhaps just a good friend?"

"Um... Why do you want to know that?" David asked cautiously.

"To better serve you sir. I can't very well help you pick out the perfect flower if I don't know anything about this lucky mare."

"Well... I don't know about love... I haven't known her long enough to say that I love her yet... But I care for her more than anyone else, and I want to give a relationship with her a chance." David said, thoughtfully.

"Ah, romance. Such a beautiful thing. It truly warms my heart to see young stallions such as yourself striving to woo a mare. Such dedication is a rare thing to find these days. Tell me, what kind of pony is she? What does she look like?"

"Uh... Well, she's a unicorn... and her coat is a dark grey, almost granite color. Her mane and tail are black... The way the light catches on her mane, it shines like it's made of ebony... She has the most beautiful blue eyes - God I love her eyes - they're like little sapphires." David said, almost losing himself in his reminiscing.

"You truly care for this mare. I can see it in the way you speak. This, I can work with. I have just the flower for her." The thestral said, turning tail and leading David further into the shop.

As David followed him through the many rows of flowers laid out through the shop, his eyes were drawn to beautiful lilies and roses ranging from every color in the spectrum. An entire row was dedicated to every shade of red the equine eye could perceive, and every flower David could name was in said row. As he followed the thestral further into the store, he saw more and more flowers, ranging from every color imaginable. Every species of every flower was present, there was even a section for carnivorous plants as well. They walked through row after row of beautiful flowers that David couldn't name even if he tried, before the thestral stopped at a small doorway and unlocked it, motioning for David to follow him inside.

Inside the secret room, David saw a dim glow emanating from the darkness. There were no lights in the room, making it intentionally dim, save for the plants inside. As he entered, more and more flowers slowly began to glow. Every color of the rainbow began to fill the room, and David was taken aback by the sheer beauty of the dozens of bioluminescent plants.

"Ah, here we are." The thestral said, pointing out a flower and drawing David's attention from the other flowers in the room.

David walked up to the flower in question and inspected it. At first glance, it seemed fake. It looked like the petals were made of glass and expertly crafted into the shape of a rose. They had a deep blue tinge to them and seemed to lightly pulse with light every few seconds.

"This, is a crystal rose. If her eyes are as beautiful as you described, then the ocean blue aura of this flower will compliment her nicely. This rose has been used by many mares and stallions to confess their love. It is said that if your heart is pure, and your love true, then the crystal rose will glow even brighter when it feels your presence." The thestral spoke, gently grabbing the flower with his hooves and turning to David. "Here, please take the flower."

David slowly reached out and gently grabbed the flower. He held it gingerly, as if it would break at any moment. After a few seconds, the petals seemed to glow brighter, and brighter. David stared in awe at the mysterious flower as the thestral smiled brightly at him.

"The flower has spoken. I wish you the best of luck with your mare."

"How much for this flower?" David asked, his eyes still glued to the majestic rose in his hand.

"For you? Free of charge." The thestral responded.

David swiveled his head to look at the pony.

"Free? No, I can't just take this. You might have just saved my chance with Mid. Let me give you something for it." David said, already digging into his pocket with his free hand.

"It is a rare thing to see true love blossom these days. One day, when I was younger, I watched the spark of romance create a bond - an understanding between two ponies - an understanding of trust and affection. An understanding, that no matter what happens, the only thing they will ever truly need is each other. It was an understanding so bold, so passionate, and so beautiful... just like this flower. When I saw that phenomenon, that connection, that love, I knew my destiny was to provide that spark of romance. A spark that you need, my friend. Please, take the flower. Tell her you love her, and find your happiness." The thestral said, handing David a small black box just large enough to house the rose.

David opened the box and felt the fuzzy interior.

"Almost as soft as Midnight's fur..."

David gently placed the crystal rose in the box and closed it. He noticed a small glass window just on top of the petals. The cool blue light shown through the glass brightly, washing over David's face as he stared at the flower.

"Heh, it's like holding a star in my hand. If this doesn't win her back, nothing will..."

After a few seconds, David looked up to see the thestral already at the doorway.

David followed behind, dumbstruck. Words failed him as the pony opened the door for him. He walked out into the cold to find a rising sun. He turned around to find the thestral still in the doorway, flashing him a toothy grin.

"Thank you... Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me."

"Like I said, love is beautiful. If I can help in even a small way, I will. Good luck." The thestral said, closing the door.

"Wait! I didn't get your name!" David cried out as the door clicked shut.

The 'open' sign in the window quickly flipped to a 'closed' sign and the pony was gone.

"El Florero Del Desierto... I gotta come back here some time. I like that guy."

Midnight galloped into Canterlot as fast as her legs would carry her. She frantically searched throughout the city for any trace of David. As she went from place to place, she asked every pony she ran into if they had seen her missing friend.

"Excuse me, have you seen David?"

"No."

"Have you seen David?"

"Who?"

"Have you seen David?"

"The alien? No."

Midnight galloped towards the castle.

"Maybe he's with one of the princesses." She thought to herself as she approached the front gate.

Midnight moved with such haste, she almost didn't hear the front guard calling her name.

"Midnight!"

She turned her head to see a pegasus guard quickly trotting up to her.

"Can I help you? I'm kind of looking for my friend right now, so I don't have much time to talk." Midnight said, trying to get away from the guard.

"You're looking for David, right?" The guard said.

"Yes! Ohmygosh you've seen him!? Where is he!?" Midnight said, her excitement peeking.

"Woah, calm down there. I'm Storm Shield. One of David's friends. He stayed at my house last night. He left a couple of hours ago. He was going to your house to apologize." Storm said, trying to calm the increasingly excited unicorn in front of her.

"Ohmygoshthankyousomuch!" Midnight said, wrapping Storm in a hug before galloping off towards her house.

Storm stood there in bewilderment for a few seconds as she watched Midnight gallop away.

"Hehe, she's a keeper, Davey. Treat her right." Storm said as she returned to her post.

David walked up the steps to Midnight's front porch and approached the door. He knocked several times before stepping away and waiting patiently for an answer. Several minutes passed with no answer before David decided to knock again, louder. Still, nothing.

"Hmm... Is she asleep still? No, she would've heard me knocking. Maybe she's not here? Should I wait for her to get back? I mean, I have my key, but I don't feel right going in there now since she's not there... What to do, David? What to do?" David thought to himself as he scanned the area surrounding Midnight's house. "Hmm... I guess I could go for a walk while I wait. The peaks up here are beautiful when ponies aren't chasing you off the edge. Yeah, I'll do that and come back in like... an hour? Yeah, sounds good. I just hope she gets back by then."

David turned and walked down the steps away from Midnight's house and towards the cliff side. He held the black box gently in his hand as he made his way across the open field. A soft breeze lightly caressed his face as it blew over the mountainside and the sound of rushing water quickly filled David's ears as he approached. The rock face seemed all the more wonderful to enjoy and calm his nerves as he waited for Midnight.

David quickly found himself at the cliff where he almost lost his life merely two months ago. As the updraft blew his hair back and slightly skyward, he closed his eyes. He couldn't help but think of the mare that saved his life two months ago. He saw her soft fur, her silky mane and tail, and her ocean blue eyes. A beautiful warmth filled his chest and a renewed vigor filled his mind.

"I'm gonna fix this, Mid. All I need is a chance."

David stepped away from the edge and turned to walk along the side of the cliff. He moved slowly, his mind far too busy calculating the right thing to say to the graphite mare to worry about speed.

Midnight barged into her front door and swiveled her head in a frantic search for David. She trotted through the front hallway and into the living room before making her way to every other room in her house.

"David!?" She called out.

No answer.

"David!?"

Again, no answer. Midnight burst into David's room and looked at every corner for even a trace of the missing human. A pit quickly formed in her stomach as her fears began to claw at her mind. She chanced one last room and bolted out of David's room to the stairs and up to her room. It was as empty and unkempt as when she left it that morning. Midnight's heavy breathing slowed as her heart sank. Her head hung low and she choked back the tears before they could start.

"No... Where is he? He couldn't have just left... could he?" Midnight thought to herself as she slowly turned on her hooves. "I need to get out of here..."

Midnight trudged out of her room and down the stairs. She walked out of the open door and slowly walked towards the cliff side. The walk was slow and painful; her heart ached and her head hung just barely above the ground. She wasn't in any kind of hurry, her mind barely registered the passing of time until she arrived at the edge of the cliff.

"Maybe that mare just lied to me to cover for David or something? Maybe he told her to lie because he doesn't want to see me anymore... I really messed this up... Ugh... What am I gonna do... Why would he just leave me like this?"

Midnight sat on the edge with her head hung low. The pit in her stomach physically hurt and despite her best efforts, the tears slowly started to force their way out. Midnight shut her eyes as the they clawed their way out and began to flow freely, leading her into sobbing.

"Damn it... Stop crying... please stop crying..."

She sat there for a while, until the sun was high in the sky. Her sobs were the only noise to accompany the sound of the mountain breeze as they echoed off the cliff side. Her tears dripped down into the dirt beneath her hooves as the stabbing pain in her heart persisted. Her will crumbled, and she allowed herself to cry freely.

Midnight wondered if the tears were ever going to stop. She knew they had to, eventually. Though, at the moment she couldn't even fathom a world without this crippling pain. So lost was she in her own suffering, that she didn't hear the footsteps closing in behind her.

"Mid?" David asked, his voice laced with concern.

Midnight froze and her eyes shot open. She slowly and shakily turned her head toward the sound of David's voice. Her eyes fell on his form, standing a few paces behind her with both hands behind his back. His face was painted with worry. A tense second passed before Midnight spoke.

"David?"

Before he could answer, Midnight was already on her hooves and closing the distance between them. David had less than a second to brace himself before Midnight jumped into the air and tackled him. She wrapped her hooves around his back as they fell to the ground and her sobbing started back up in full force. She buried her face in David's shirt and cried while she hugged him as tightly as she could.

"P-p-please... d-don't leave... I'm s-s-sorry." She managed to get out between sniffles.

David was in shock. He turned his head to see the crystal rose still intact in its box. He quickly decided that that moment wasn't the best time and gently set it down next to his leg. He brought both arms around Midnight's barrel and held her as close as he could.

"Jesus I didn't think she'd be this upset... Fuck, why can't I get anything right?"

The sight of his best friend bawling in his arms stung like a hot knife through his heart, and a pit instantly formed in David's stomach. He buried his face in her mane and gently rubbed her back with his hand.

"Mid... you have nothing to be sorry about." David said, tears forming in his eyes. "This was all my fault. I'm s-so sorry I put you through this... I was in the wrong, and I'm sorry." David said, his voice slightly muffled by Midnight's hair.

Midnight's sobs slowed and her sniffles became less harsh. She slowly turned her head up to look at David. He pulled his face away from her head to find two bloodshot eyes and very distinct damp spots of fur under those eyes. David felt a tear pull free from his eye and trickle down his face. He pulled Midnight in close for another hug and she gladly reciprocated, hugging him tightly.

They laid there for a while, simply holding each other as the tears slowly stopped flowing. The blowing breeze of the mountainside was the only sign of an outside world at all as they squeezed each other closer. Finally, Midnight released her hold on David and sat up on his stomach.

"I... I t-thought you left... I thought I ruined our friendship... I thought you hated m-" Midnight started.

"Mid, I could never hate you. You're my best friend. I'm the one that should be sorry. I never wanted to hurt you." David interrupted before rubbing Midnight's hoof with his hand.

"But... you left. Why did you leave?" Midnight asked in a whisper.

"I hurt you... So I-I tried to give you some space... I spent the night at Storm's house and I came back a little over an hour ago." David explained, his hand still lightly caressing Midnight's hoof.

"I'm so s-sorry. I-I overreacted and pushed you away. I should have told you about what happened a long time ago." Midnight said, closing her eyes to hold back even more tears.

"No, you didn't. Not at all. I shouldn't have gone through your stuff like that... I just heard that something happened to you and I felt like I had to do something. Like I had to get answers... I betrayed your trust and went where I shouldn't have... and I'm sorry for that. Think you can forgive me?" David asked, a small smile on his face.

Midnight sniffled, then giggled, before leaning down and nuzzling David's cheek with her own.

"Only if you can forgive me too." Midnight whispered.

"There's nothing to forgive." David whispered back into her ear.

Midnight nuzzled David for a long time before finally leaning back up and sliding off of his stomach as she turned toward the cliff side. David sat up after her and followed her gaze to the cliff.

"Would... Would you like to know what happened?" She asked him with a hint of worry in her voice.

"Only if you're willing to tell me. I won't press it anymore if you don't want me to." David replied.

"I want to tell you. Here, sit with me." Midnight said, walking a few paces away and sitting by the edge of the cliff.

David rose to his feet and quickly grabbed the black box, hiding it behind his body, before walking over to Midnight and sitting down beside her. He set the box next to his leg, away from Midnight's field of view. They both stared out over the horizon before Midnight spoke again.

"It was about five years ago... I had just been assigned my position as a medic in the royal guard and everything was great. I loved my job, I saved lives, and I was serving my princesses. It was the happiest time of my life. I even had love..." Midnight trailed off.

David cocked his head to the side.

"I didn't know you had someone before. Who was he?" He asked softly.

"His name was Cobalt Spring. He was the first pony I ever loved. We met at the academy, and, as cliché as it sounds, it was love at first sight. We were assigned together once we graduated and got to our platoon in the royal guard. We did everything together. We went on missions, we went out after work, we even moved in together. I was the happiest I think I've ever been..." Midnight stopped as fresh tears forced their way down her cheeks.

A gentle caress against her damp cheek got Midnight's attention and her eyes darted down to see David's hand gently wiping the tears away from her face. She turned to him to see a small smile on his face as he brought his hand back. She returned a sad smile before beginning again.

"I was going to propose... He knew of course... he found the ring one night and pretended to be clueless. I knew that he knew... and that just made it even more exciting... Then... the changelings took him from me. It was the Canterlot Wedding. They attacked when Princess Cadence and Prince Armor married. They broke through the dome, and we had to fight for every square inch of the city while the royals and element bearers tried to save us all. I lost a lot of good friends that day. I lost the pony I loved that day... I even lost the ability to walk on that day..." Midnight trailed off again.

"What happened?" David asked, gently rubbing Midnight's shoulder.

Midnight sniffled.

"When the changelings broke through the barrier, they dive-bombed the city... One of them hit about a foot away from me, sending me flying through the air. I ended up falling off a ledge and crashing about a hundred feet below. I only survived because I landed on my legs. Completely shattered all four of them and damaged my spinal cord. Even with Princess Celestia herself, healing me with advanced magic techniques, it was over a year before I could stand on my own, and another two years before I could walk without a limp. The worst part of it all was that... Cobalt died in that same blast. He was right next to me, like always... I-I never wanted to see his body... T-To see him all mangled and d-dead like that..." Midnight broke down into tears again, preventing any further explanation.

David quickly wrapped his arms around Midnight and pulled her close. He hugged her tightly as her tears came freely, while desperately holding back his own tears from falling.

"I am so sorry that happened to you. You had every right to be angry with me for trying to force that out of you earlier... You've been through more than I ever realized... I'm so sorry." David whispered.

Midnight managed to stifle her sobs enough to speak again.

"T-that's where the morphine came from... I was in so m-much pain for so long that I started taking it every chance I got. I s-started stealing it... S-started lying to the princesses to get more... It was the only way I felt better... When they found out, they sent me to rehab for six months. Everything you found was what I had left..." Midnight said in between sniffles.

"I understand, Midnight... You are the strongest mare I've ever met. I don't know what to say. Just... thank you. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me that." David said, squeezing Midnight even tighter to his chest.

"Just promise me you wont leave me too..." Midnight whispered.

David released his grip on Midnight and gently nudged her chin upwards with his finger.

"I promise." David said, smiling warmly.

Midnight smiled as her eyes watered again. She buried her face in David's chest while she wrapped her hooves around his torso and held him as close as she could. David returned the hug warmly, a content sigh escaping his mouth as Midnight's soft fur warmed him in the cold air.

They sat there for a long time, simply holding each other. Neither spoke a word, content to just hold each other. The soft breeze from the cliff side was the only reminder that there even was an outside world around them.

Finally, David lifted his head from Midnight's and looked out to the horizon. The sun was just hovering beautifully at the tip of Canterlot Mountain. Fluffy clouds now covered the land below them, encapsulating the perfect picture of heaven. David stared at the beauty of the moment and as the suns rays beautifully reflected off of the clouds, he felt a serene warmth fill his chest. He turned his head to the side and eyed the black box lying next to him.

"I have to tell her. This is the perfect moment." He thought to himself.

"Mid, you gotta see this." David whispered, gently rubbing Midnight's back.

"What is i... woah..." Midnight said, slowly turning her head to the world behind her.

Midnight climbed out of David's embrace and sat down next to him. She leaned her head onto his shoulder and sighed contently.

"That really is something, isn't it?" Midnight said, clearly in awe of the sight.

"It sure is..." David replied, hesitant to say more.

"Thanks by the way... For listening. It really helped to get that all off my chest." Midnight said as the yellow filter of sunlight reflected off her eyes.

"Thanks for sharing it. I know that was hard, but it means a lot to me... I really care about you Mid." David said, slightly turning his head.

"I... I really care about you too." Midnight gulped.

"Oh my gosh, is this it? Should I tell h-" Midnight was interrupted from her thoughts when David suddenly moved.

"I, uh- I felt so bad about what happened between us, that I wanted to get you a peace offering... but uh..." David swallowed nervously. "I, um... I wanted to tell you that I... I-I uh..." David trailed off, trying desperately to find the words.

"I like you." Midnight said, her sapphire eyes trained on David's chocolate ones.

David froze. He focused his eyes on the dark unicorn sitting next to him.

"Y-you do? As in..." David asked in disbelief.

"More than a friend..." Midnight finished for him.

"Woah- I just... yeah... Well... as cheesy as this line might be, I wanted to get you something that's hopefully as beautiful to you as you are to me." David said, holding out the black box.

Midnight's heart beat faster, butterflies soared in her stomach, and her eyes widened. She looked down at the black box and saw a pale glow emanating from the window. She opened the box with her magic and pulled out the crystal rose. Her breath caught in her throat and she covered her mouth with both her forelegs. A barely audible gasp left her lips as she stared at the beautiful flower. After several seconds of admiring every petal on that flower, she slowly turned to face David.

"Thank you."

The crystal rose began to shine brighter and brighter, until it was a brilliantly bright sapphire light. Both parties stared in awe for a few seconds before Midnight turned to fully face David and placed her hooves on his shoulders. David hesitantly placed one hand on her cheek, and the other on her wither as he leaned in closer. Midnight leaned closer in kind, parting her lips slightly as the pair inched their way closer together. Both of their hearts beat faster, and the butterflies already fluttering about in their stomachs grew even more erratic as the last few inches were crossed. Midnight's eyelids drooped and she slightly tilted her head as she closed in. David reciprocated in kind, and gently pulled her ever closer. They paused at the last inch, their hot breaths mingling in the cold air as they took one last second to take in each others faces before they closed their eyes completely.

Then, they kissed. It was a modest, chaste kiss, but full of passion. A wave of pleasure rippled through both of their bodies as their lips met. Midnight's heart soared and her entire body tingled with joy as a happy hum forced it's way up to the back of her throat. David's senses were clouded by the feeling of pure bliss coursing through his veins as the graphite mare's lips connected with his. They held the kiss for several seconds before they both realized they needed to breath and pulled apart. Midnight leaned back from David, panting slightly while her eyes stayed trained onto his. David breathlessly stared back into Midnight's sapphire orbs for several seconds before gently leaning his head down and touching his forehead against hers. She returned the gesture in kind, a soft smile gracing her lips.

"I've wanted to do that for so long..." She whispered.

"I'm sorry I made you wait... Think I can make up the lost time?" David said, pulling back slightly.

"I think so..." Midnight said, turning her head to look up at David.

They stared into each other's eyes for another second before their lips locked again. Midnight's entire body shuddered under the warmth of David's breath as he pulled her closer. He was no longer willing to let his past awkwardness prevent him from showing his mare just how much he cared about her. Midnight used her natural advantage and pressed her tongue against David's teeth in a silent bid to force them apart. David happily welcomed her as he pushed his tongue forward to meet her. Both met in a slow dance of passion, delicately tasting each other and feeling each other more intimately than ever before.

Despite the differences between their anatomy, somehow, someway, kissing Midnight was not awkward for David. Her muzzle was slightly longer than a human's mouth, but not by much, and her lips gently caressed his with the care of a long lost lover, reminding him that, despite their obvious differences, he was welcome here. Her tongue was broader than his, and just ever so slightly rougher, but not enough to be uncomfortable. She explored each of his teeth, one by one, taking extra time to feel the foreign feeling of his incisors. She shivered with delight as her ministrations drew a small moan from David.

"Holy shit... Did she eat honey today or does she always taste this sweet?" David drunkenly thought to himself.

"I can't believe this is finally happening!" Midnight happily cheered in her head.

Slowly, but surely, they became more bold, diving their tongues further in and wrestling with each other more and more intensely. As their tongues battled for dominance in the increasingly passionate display, Midnight slowly rose to her hooves and pushed forward, forcing David to lean back as he gladly accepted her advances. David leaned further and further back until he couldn't maintain his balance any more and fell onto his back, with Midnight falling on top of his chest, forcing them to break their kiss. Both Midnight and David held each other close as they laid together, gasping for breath. A particularly cold breeze forced its way up the mountainside and over the pair as they basked in each other's warmth. A shiver ran down David's spine as his arms and legs felt the full effect of the cold wind.

"Geez, it's getting kinda cold..." David said, suddenly aware of the sub-freezing temperature.

"Yeah, we should probably head inside." Midnight replied with a small shiver.

David wrapped his arms around Midnight and sat up. With a grunt, he rose to his feet and turned back to the house. Midnight wrapped her forelegs around his neck and her hind legs around his waist. She happily kissed him again as David made for home.

After a few moments, Midnight broke the kiss and her half lidded gaze fell onto David's eyes. She allowed a small smile to grace her face as she was carried.

"D-do you want to..." David hesitantly began, his eyes darting away from Midnight.

"Yes." Midnight firmly replied. "I want to."

David's eyes widened at that before he hurried his pace back to Midnight's house. He quickly planted another kiss on her lips as he moved.

Woohoo! Things are finally looking up for our protagonists, and spicy! This chapter took a lot of time to get out and do right, mostly because I wasn't sure how to go about getting to this point. I knew I wanted their relationship to start at sunset, but I wasn't sure exactly how to get there. Especially with the whole day dragging on before that. I think this was one of the best ways I could do this. Also, when you're reading the flower shop thestral's lines, think of Zoro. That's how I envisioned him speaking. Anyways, the next chapter is going to be completely nsfw. However, it will not be necessary for the progression of the plot. If you just want some pony x human erotica, then read ahead. If you're just here for the plot, then you can skip the next chapter and all will be good.