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// Part II: Chapter 8 
// Story: Emerald Chronicles 
// by Dandereshy 
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Chapter 8: Popping The Question

Manehattan was approaching dusk, as the sun sank even further below the horizon, spilling a barrage of pastel reds, oranges and yellows across the sky. It began getting a bit chilly, but not uncomfortable. Even as populous as Manehattan was, only one couple grazed the bayside, slowly making their way along the crystal blue sea, holding hooves, actually breaking into a song, and talking about anything while they went from dock to dock. Emerald and Fluttershy were enjoying this day more than any day they’d enjoyed before. The painful and horrid memories of Manehattan no longer bothered Emerald, but a whole new matter was putting him in an uneasy position.
They reached a point where the Mare of Liberty was straight across the bay from them and stopped to watch the sun surrender to the night. As peaceful as it was, Emerald was in no way at peace. Nervousness and anxiety were now eating him alive, and even with it being chilly, he began perspiring noticeably.
“Are you okay, Emerald? You look worried.” Fluttershy asked, looking away from the statue and at him.
He nodded vigorously. “Yeah, of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be okay? I’m okay, okay? Okay.” He blurted quickly, smiling innocently.
Fluttershy stared at him for a moment, obviously not convinced. “Um…okay…”
Emerald laughed tensely, scratching the back of his head. Get it together, Emerald. You’ve gotta get this right the first time. He leaned over the railing with her, now looking out over the ocean and listening to the waves crash into the docks. He took a deep breath. “So…how romantic is this?”
Fluttershy took his hoof and moved closer to him, so that they were touching, feeling the warmth of each other’s 	bodies. Emerald smirked, loving how comfortable she’d grown with touching, especially in public. She still wouldn’t kiss him in front of others, but holding hooves and hugging were much easier for her. She put her head on his shoulder. “It’s so beautiful…I’ve never seen a sunset on the water before.”
“Well then tonight’s your night, girl. Because we’ll be here until dark.” He looked over at the sun. It was just barely peeking up over the horizon, about to succumb to the inevitable night that was now marching from the east. “Also I have one more gift for you.”
She lifted her head to look him in the eyes. “More? Oh, Emerald, you’ve given more than I ever could wish for already. What else could you possibly have to top this?”
He gave a quick chuckle. “Well, um…” He looked back over the water. Alright, Emerald…start with the flattery. The memories… He gulped. “You remember the first night we met?”
She nodded slightly. “Of course, what about it?” Her eyes glittered from the setting sun.
“I’m just reminiscing on the good times, you know…like the time we first met.” He explained, his pulse rising again. “I remember how adorably shy you were towards me. How you walked me home.”
She blushed and looked away with only her eyes. “Oh, yeah…I do remember that…” She looked back at him, her cheeks staying pink. “But I really didn’t fall for you until you took me out to eat. You were so sweet, and on the way home, I’d never laughed so much in my life…although, your sense of humor was a bit dirty…”
He laughed heartily. “Yeah, I always did have a naughty joke up my sleeve. I made a few of them in reference to you, if you didn’t notice. At least, you didn’t act like you did.”
She smiled up at him. “I did, and I still thought they were funny.”
“Or, you remember, the night after, well, you know…we got rid of…him? That was a wild night.” He said, hinting at their lovemaking that night.
Now she blushed harder, looking around to see if anypony was within earshot. She looked back at him. “Yes, well, that was um…fun, I suppose.”
“Hmmm…fun? Wow,” he said with a laugh. “You actually said that. I’m surprised.” He gently moved her head back onto his shoulder, so that they were both looking out at the bay. “I’m now remembering our first kiss. How it felt to finally touch you…”
She kissed his cheek. “It was so passionate…I didn’t think we’d even kiss so soon in our relationship. You make me feel so good, though…I couldn’t resist…”
He felt his cheeks grow warm. “How I feel about you is more than words can ever describe. That night, I was just so infatuated with you, the only thing on mind was how to actually kiss you without startling you. But I guess you were ready sooner than I imagined.”
“Well, I was expecting it, to be honest…” She admitted, hugging him tighter.
He leaned down and kissed her head, feeling her soft warm coat on his lips…”I love you, beyond words…they cannot express…do you have any idea what you do to me? How many times I’ve lay awake at night, just watching you sleep, wondering what you’re dreaming about…? How many times I’d been at work, slacking off because I was daydreaming of your pretty face? My heart aches for you when you’re not around. It burns for you. Your love is addicting, girl. It’s a really good addiction…one I’ll never get enough of.”
For a moment, he didn’t hear a peep from her, but then, a quiet sniffle. “That was…I-I can’t even…oh my Celestia…” She peered up at him through her mane, and he looked down at her. It was easy to see the tears glimmering in her eyes, all while she had the most tantalizing smile on she’d ever given him.
“And it’s all true,” He went on, moving back a little and taking her hooves in his. “Everything I do is done for you, hon. I wake up every day with you on my mind. You are the only thing that keeps me sane. And I want to make something else clear…” He lowered his voice, so Fluttershy, still teary-eyed, leaned closer to hear. “When I say that I love you, it’s not because I have to, or to make conversation…it’s because you are the sweetest thing, that ever walked into my life…”
Tears of joy now streamed down her face like little rivers. But before she could say anything, Emerald went on even further.
“You are my everything, all that I’ve ever wanted, all that I’ll ever need. We’re going to be a family, Flutters.” He said, his heart rate now jumping to its highest for the impending question. He got down on his knees, reaching back into his saddlebag and taking out the bangle. Fluttershy gasped. Emerald held it up to her. “Fluttershy? Will you be mine…til the end of time?”
She could not contain the waterworks any more. She had planted both hooves over her mouth in surprise, her eyes portraying the extreme joy that could not be withheld. “Oh, Emerald…of course I will!”
At the same time, they ran into each other’s arms hugging tightly, both of them now sobbing with bliss. Never in his life had he cried like this. The emotion was overbearing. After holding each other for a good ten minutes, they finally pulled apart to look each other in the eyes.
Fluttershy wiped the tears from her face and sniffled. “Okay, I did not expect this…”
Emerald chuckled and delicately lifted her chin. He kissed her, passionately, amorously, and she did the same. In public. He stopped to see her face again. Her smile was only the beginning of what she was expressing. “Why don’t we head back to our room, it’s getting dark.” He looked over just in time to see the sun finally fade away and dusk set in.
“Good idea.” She replied, still sniffling.
Emerald lifted her hoof and slipped the bangle on just above it while she gawked. “There, you look so pretty with it.” He said, smiling at her.
She held it up and studied it closely. “It’s amazing…” She glanced up at him. “How much was this? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Uh, well, you see…we’ll talk about that later. Let’s just get home before all the crazies come out.” He took her hoof once again and started taking her back to the hotel.



They lay in bed that night, spooning, just feeling each other’s warmth, listening to each other breathe, thinking about this new event in their life, how it would affect them.
“Do you think we should tell the others?” Fluttershy asked in an adorable whisper.
Emerald laughed quietly. “They’re going to know the next time they see you. The bangle?” He stroked the arm that was wearing it.
“Oh.”
“But just in case, we’ll just tell them next time we’re all hanging out. I’m sure they’re going to be excited.” Emerald said.
“I’m sure they will be.” She agreed. “Pinkie will definitely be throwing a party over this.”
He snuggled up to her a little more, so his muzzle was resting on the side of her head. “Oh, that will probably be the best party I’ll ever go to…until we get married. And you have our foals.”
“Yeah, that too. Oh, I’m so excited, I don’t think I can fall asleep tonight…” She said, resting a hoof on his cheek.
He smiled. “Well, tomorrow we can go see the other zoo and get something to eat before we head back to Ponyville, so you might want to at least try.” He then kissed the back of her head, making her give a little “Eeep!” She pushed herself against him to be a little snugger.
“Okay…”
“I love you sweetheart. So very much.” Emerald whispered to her.
“I love you too. You’re my hero…” And with that, she was asleep in moments. But Emerald didn’t fall asleep until a few hours later, thinking about nothing but her.