So sorry about the wait guys. Wow, I didn't expect this story to get positive attention. Guess I'll be working a little harder on the plot to ensure that this story will be interesting as well as romantic. Thank you all for the kind reviews. If I haven't thanked you personally in a PM, I apologize and will be sure to do so soon. I hope you enjoy chapter 4.

Chapter 4 Out on the Town

"So I talked it over with Honeycrisp, and she said she'd buy a whole crate a' Golden Delicious Apples for twenty whole bits! That there's a darn good sale, doncha think?"

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh answered absentmindedly as he pulled a plow nearby as his sister walked alongside him. The morning sun was casting its harsh rays upon the vast open field, causing sweat to gather on his forehead, though he barely noticed the heat. He couldn't be bothered to carry on a lengthy conversation with Applejack at the moment; he was a bit busy daydreaming about a certain purple-haired unicorn. He pulled the old plow along effortlessly with a cheerful look on his face.

Applejack almost had to canter to keep up with him. She gave him an amused smirk. "Land sakes, big bro. I ain't seen you look this happy since Granny made you that triple layer apple strudel cake for your birthday last year. What's got ya so chipper?"

The workhorse looked down at his sister as he continued to pull the plow across the field. "Hmm? Oh, uh, no reason AJ," he simply answered.

The cowpony ran in front of her older brother and stopped in front of him, blocking his way. She had a stern look on her face. "Come on now, Big Mac, now Ah'm your sister, and if anyone knows when somethin's up with ya, it's me. You're hidin' somethin'. So spill it. How come you always seem so happy lately? Doin' chores with a skip in your step and whatnot."

Big Macintosh lifted a front hoof in caution. He wasn't really sure he was ready to tell his sister about his little secret; he wasn't sure how she'd take it. There was a big chance that she'd be furious and give him hell about it, telling him that he and Rarity were too different to be together and having a big issue with the whole possibility of him dating a city pony like her unicorn friend.

But sooner or later, he would have to tell her about it. It was just that later always sounded better than sooner. Unfortunately, Applejack had caught on to her brother's jovial disposition, and demanded an answer for it seeming to suddenly appear out of nowhere. And when Applejack demanded an answer, she would get an answer, one way or another.

He stopped pulling and sighed in confliction. "Alright, alright…Ah'll tell ya. But ya can't go gettin' mad and gettin' all up in mah face about it."

Applejack placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Hey, c'mon, Ah'm yer sister. I ain't gonna get mad at ya, no matter what it is," she assured him.

He lowered his head the slightest bit and pawed at the rich soil beneath his hooves, his ears folded downwards. "Ah think I might be takin' a likin' to Rarity."

Applejack's eyes grew wide and her eyebrows rose. She held a hoof up and waved it in the air. "Wait wait. Are you talkin' about my friend Rarity? Rarity, the prissy city slicker pony? The pony who spends all her time makin' frilly dresses and goin' to all them fancy parties? That Rarity?" her voice lowered and softened as she saw the look in her brother's bright green eyes. "Are ya'll for real?"

He nodded. "Ah get all nervous when Ah'm around her AJ, and that's how I know. I mean, she's sweet, polite, and generous. Shoot, she even helped out 'round the farm last week. Sure she may be a might high maintenance, but I think I could work with that." He stamped a hoof into the dirt. "She's just so gosh darn pretty, AJ!"

Applejack chuckled and shook her head. "Well Ah'll be. My big bro's gotten a visit from the ol' love bug."

"Love bug?" came a young female voice.

The stallion and pony looked to see Apple Bloom walking over. "What's a love bug?" the filly asked. "Does it bite?"

Applejack and her brother exchanged amused smiles before Applejack smiled down at her younger sister. "Nah, ya silly filly. I just meant that it seems our big brother has his eye on a certain somepony."

Apple Bloom's eyes sparkled as she looked up at Big Macintosh. "Really? Ooh is it Sweetie's sister?"

The red workhorse looked down at his sister. "How'd you know?" he asked in shock, thinking he hadn't been obvious about his feelings.

The young filly giggled, her tiny tail swishing, feeling proud of already being in on the apparent secret. "I saw you two pickin' corn the other day. You get all googly-eyed around her, big bro."

Big Macintosh laughed nervously as he sat back down into the soft dirt. "Yea…Ah-Ah know. Can't help it." He sighed deeply, closing his eyes with a small frown.

Apple Bloom rushed up to him and leaned against him lovingly. "Why are ya sad?" she asked. "Ya should be happy!"

He patted her head gently with a hoof. "Well…Ah would be, if Ah knew she felt the same way 'bout me." His ears flattened against his head. "But who am I kiddin'? Ah'm just a workhorse. She's a…a fashion designer. She'd never go for a farmhoof like me." His voice softened to something weaker and pitiful. "Ah'm just foolin' mahself."

"Now wait just a carrot-pickin' minute!" Applejack interjected. "You're puttin' yourself down Big Mac. Ain't you forgettin' that she came here twice, and, as far as I know, was spendin' time with you both days?"

Big Macintosh pressed his lips together as he considered his sister's question. "The first time she just came to make a dress for Mandarin," he reminded her.

Applejack shrugged. "Okay. So who forced her to come a second time?"

Big Macintosh frowned, not having an acceptable answer to that one. He was selling himself short, and he knew it, but he just couldn't help it. He felt like he couldn't measure up to meet a girl like Rarity's standards. But did he ever have it bad for her.

Applejack raised a hoof and put it under her brother's chin, lifting it so he'd look at her. "You listen to me Big Mac. I ain't mad that ya have a little thing for Rarity. She's a good friend o' mine. Now she is a bit too particular about how she does things at times, Ah'll admit, but she's still a real good friend. And if ya like her, I say go for it."

"Me too!" Apple Bloom chirped, hopping up and down.

"Go for it?" he asked.

Applejack smiled and shrugged again. "Why not? She's come 'round here twice to see ya. Why don't ya ask her out now? Take her out on the town? Maybe take her somewhere she likes to go."

The red stallion looked back and forth at his sisters, both smiling up at him. He was still unsure. "Ah don't know…w-what if she turns me down?"

Applejack displayed an expression of disapproval. "Now come on Big Mac, why in the world would she turn ya down?"

Apple Bloom nuzzled against his leg. "Yea, why would she? You're the greatest! There's no way she could say no to ya."

Big Macintosh finally smiled and let out a small chuckle. "Well, if ya say so. Why not? Ah'll go and take her out for a little somethin' to eat."

Apple Bloom cheered and Applejack laughed. "After you finish plowin' this field o' course," Applejack reminded him.

Big Macintosh looked back at the plow he was pulling, suddenly remembering that he wasn't quite finished with the farm chore. "Oh…right," he said in a sheepish tone.

So Big Macintosh set out for Ponyville to go see Rarity at her boutique. His normally slow and steady pace picked up to a canter as he got closer to her house. As his pace picked up, so did his heart rate. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this. The whole way to her house, he was going over in his head how he would go about asking her out. And the other thought he was dreading was the possibility that she would turn him down once he asked her.

He shook the thought out of his head. He couldn't let that stop him now; he had nearly reached her house already.

C'mon Big Mac, he thought to himself. Get ahold of yourself! Ya came this no far, can't turn back now. Just relax. You're overthinkin' this.

As he approached her front door, he raised a hoof to knock but stopped, spotting a patch of flowers out of the corner of his eye. He smiled and dashed over to the small patch of, picking a fragrant lavender one up using his teeth and turning to walk back up to the door. He knocked and waited patiently, at first wondering if he should come back later. Then he heard a soft approaching of tiny hooves from the other side. The door opened to reveal Sweetie Belle, looking bright-eyed as always.

Seeing her younger sister standing there instead of Rarity caught Big Macintosh by surprise.

"Hey Big Mac!" said the filly. "Whatcha doin' here?"

His muzzle lips parted slightly. "Uh…uh well, ya see...Ah-"

"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity called from down the hall. She trotted into view. "Is there someone at the d-" She stopped when she saw her surprise visitor. She smiled but still looked confused. "Oh, well hello there Big Macintosh."

He grinned warmly, lowering his head to give her the lavender flower.

She smirked, tilting her head to one side. "Big Macintosh, is that a flower from my personal garden?"

When she saw him frown nervously and begin to stutter, she giggled, magically lifting the flower from his mouth and grasping it with her tail. "That was very thoughtful of you, picking a flower for me, Big Mac."

He smiled and pawed at the concrete under his hooves. "Ah'm sorry. Ah woulda' bought you some, but Ah just wasn't thinking."

"Oh nonsense," she said. "Buying me flowers? I'll have none of that. The sentiment is lovely though. Thank you darling."

His heart fluttered at the way she called him 'darling'. Though she referred to many ponies that way, she seemed to say it in a sweeter tone to him. "Sure thing Rare," he said.

"You didn't answer my question," Sweetie Belle reminded him bluntly.

He looked down at her. "Oh, uh…I gotta ask your sister something," he answered.

"Oh, would you like to come in then?" Rarity offered. "I can fix you some tea. Hold on, let me get a vase for this." She turned and left for the kitchen. When she returned after filling a vase with water and placing the flower in it, she set it down on a side table. Walking back up to Big Macintosh, she asked, "Sorry, where was I? Oh yes, tea. Shall I fix some?"

He shook his head. "Nah, that's alright. Actually…Ah was wonderin'…if maybe…"

Rarity tilted her head at his hesitation and apparent anxiety.

"I-if ya'd like to…go get lunch with me?" he finally managed to ask.

Rarity was speechless for a moment, her lips parted as she looked up at him. Sweetie Belle looked up at her sister, smiling brightly, but remaining silent, not wanting to interfere.

Rarity beamed up at the stallion. "That sounds wonderful," she replied. "I would love to."

Big Mac's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

She nodded. "I was actually planning on heading out for lunch today. I'm glad you caught me in time, or else I'd be getting lunch alone."

He nodded, relief at not being rejected flooding his senses. "Yea that's good." He then violently shook his head. "Uh no, Ah mean, it's good that Ah caught ya, not that you'd be alone if Ah didn't."

She giggled flirtatiously at the flustered stallion. "I know what you meant. So…just the two of us then?"

Big Macintosh looked back down at the cheerful filly. "Sweetie can come too. Ah sure don't mind," he answered.

"Oh no that's ok!" Sweetie said abruptly. "You two go out to lunch. I was actually gonna meet up with Scootaloo in a bit anyway. In fact, I think it's about time I met up with her now." Sweetie Belle began to canter out the door.

"Sweetie, are you sure?" Rarity called.

Sweetie Belle looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Totally! See ya sis. Bye Big Mac!"

Rarity held a hoof out. "Ok, please be careful Sweetie!" she called before looking up to Big Macintosh and sighing. "Those little fillies are always up to something." She shook her head.

He chuckled. "Eeyup. Ah know whatcha mean. Apple Bloom always has somethin' new planned every day it seems."

She smiled and pushed her curly mane back. "So, I guess it will be just the two of us after all."

He grinned. "Eeyup."

She laughed. "Well, did you have a place in mind you wanted to go?" she asked.

"You came to my place twice already," he stated. "Ah think you should choose."

Her blue eyes widened. Normally her suitors never let her choose where they ended up eating; it was always up to them. "That's very kind of you, Big Macintosh," she finally said. "I actually just recently came across a nice little café a few blocks away."

He smiled. "Sounds good to me."

As they walked to the café together, Rarity couldn't help but notice the amount of stares she was receiving. Some looked puzzled, while others were just glances that lingered a little too long. She could only guess that the staring was due to her being out in public with a workhorse like Big Macintosh, as she normally only associated with high class ponies. But she didn't care; she quite enjoyed his company. Even if he didn't speak properly at times. He was still handsome and chivalrous, and that was more than she could say about most males. He even held the door open for her as she walked into the café. She smiled and thanked him before they were seated by the waitress pony.

After they ordered their meals, Rarity folded her hooves on the table. "Well this is nice," she stated. "Thank you for taking me out today."

"Ah'm glad to Rarity. Ya need to get outta that boutique of yours every now and then," he joked.

She giggled. "Yes I suppose I spend a great deal of my time, slaving over projects, but it does make profit. And that puts food on the table for me and Sweetie."

He nodded. "Ya seem like a real great big sister, Rarity. Ah know what it's like to have a young filly around to look after; it can be hard work at times."

"Oh yes," she agreed. "But there are such sweethearts when they want to be."

"Eeyup," he agreed.

About that time, the waitress brought their drinks and left again. Big Macintosh took a sip of his lemonade before placing his hooves on the table. "Rarity?"

She looked up at him, captivating him with her deep azure eyes. "Yes Big Macintosh?"

He looked back at her nervously. "Do you…consider this a date?" He then quickly added, "Not that is has to be one, if you don't want it to be." He shook his head, looking down at his drink. "Never mind. Forget Ah said anything."

She moved her hooves toward his ever so slightly. "Well it's quite a shame you'd rather me forget, since I do consider this a date."

His heart plunged as he looked up at her smiling face. She batted her lashes at him.

"Ya do?" he asked.

She nodded. "I was hoping that was what this was actually," she said.

"Well me too!" he said happily.

She laughed lightly. "Well then, a date it is."

He smiled and inched his hooves closer to hers across the table, until he was gently grasping them.

She smiled back at him, her heart fluttering at his warm touch. She was already having a wonderful time, and their food hadn't even arrived yet.

After lunch they both took a leisurely walk out to a nearby park. They walked side by side, stopping on the middle of the bridge to look out over the clear water of a small pond, which was decorated with a lily pad here and there on its surface.

Rarity noticed the stallion looking down at his reflection, seeming to be in deep thought. "What are you thinking about?" Rarity wondered aloud.

He looked down at her. "Just wonderin'," he answered vaguely.

Her brow furrowed. "What about?" she asked.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Wonderin' what a gorgeous pony like you is doin' hangin' out with a farmhoof like me."

She scoffed and leaned against him. "Oh stop it," she said. "I thoroughly enjoy spending time with you Big Mac. It doesn't matter what you do for a living. You're wonderful company."

"So are you, Rare," he murmured.

He wanted to express how much he liked her, but thought it best just to enjoy the peaceful silence with her and wait until he knew she liked him just as much before taking a risk of getting his heart broken.

She laughed softly and nuzzled against his shoulder. "I would hope you thought so. Otherwise, I would be suspicious as to why you asked me out to lunch today."

He grinned. "No need for suspicions, just wanted to see ya. Ah really enjoying spending time with you too, Rarity. It's the bright spot of mah day."

She beamed, her curly tail swishing. "I feel the same about getting to see you, Big Macintosh."

The two leaned against one another, staring up at the pale blue sky together. They both knew that this was the start of something wonderful.

As they stood on the bridge together, nuzzling affectionately, someone was watching from behind a tree nearby. His green eyes were wide in devastation and he gasped softly.

"No," whispered the baby dragon. "No, it can't be…"