What is this?

Dusty is the main focus of a drawing and gets actual character development!?!?

Witchcraft!

I kid but seriously I never draw country boi enough this is so overdue but his time to shine has finally come-

1. Duty’s a stallion of many talents- flirting isn’t one of them. He’s hung around Champ enough times to know how to do it, albeit horribly, but his shyness cripples any attempt at displaying romantic affection. Not to mention, he’s genuinely thoughtful with everypony so that on the rare occasion he tries to make a romantic gesture, it just comes across as him being “good ole’ Dusty”.

At least, that’s how Pansy sees it. Dusty gives her a batch of cookies for no special reason? What a sweetheart! He personally delivers her flowers out of the blue? Aw, he’s always so thoughtful! He goes out of his way to bring her that book he overheard her saying she wanted? Isn’t he just a gentlecolt!?

It seems Dusty’s kindhearted nature has inadvertently cornered him in the friend-zone.

1. Although butterflies occasionally surface in Dusty’s stomach when hanging around Pansy, for the most part he’s very relaxed and friendly with her. They’ve practically been friends since they were foals and their siblings-like relationship grew steadily as they aged. He trusts her the most outside of his family, and Pansy knows she can always count on him to be there for her (usually with baked pastries included). They get along so well partly because they have similar hobbies, like helping others or hanging outdoors, and partly because Pansy frequently visits him.

She knows farm life can sometimes get a little lonely, so she regularly goes to hang out with him- there’s just something about the farm that she finds very relaxing. Often times she does stuff like helping him out with his chores and baking apple tarts or going through family albums. You wouldn’t believe how many embarrassing stories Dusty knows. All the while, Granny Smith watches on from her rocking chair hiding a sly smile as she works on her newest quilt.

1. While is Pansy is ignorant of Dusty’s deeper feeling for her, his sister Cricket sees right through his subtle-not-so-subtle wistful sighs and slight bushes. That, and he’s talked extensively about his feelings with her, although he won’t take her advice to rip it off like a band aid and just tell her already! And Cricket, being the snarky sibling she is, never passes up a chance to tease him about his crush. At first it ruffled Dusty up, but over time he’s gotten to where he just brushes it off like all her other teases.

This isn’t to say she ships them. I mean, sure she likes Pansy well enough, but all that ‘sappy lovey dovey stuff’ just isn’t her thing. Still, she’d like to see Dusty grow a backbone and stop complaining that he ‘just cant tell her’ as his mane whips back dramatically by the non-existent wind.

1. Dusty doesn’t when he started loving Pansy- as a friend, like a sisters, and possibly something more. To him, he just always has. It’s as natural to him as breathing and country slang.The only reason he’s been silently harboring his feelings all these years is the age old fear of rejection. Not to mention, he can’t stand the thought of ruining their friendship.

So he continues to wait. He waits and looks for any sign that she might feel the same way about him. So far, he’s had no such luck. Still, he’s willing to wait as long as he needs to in order to make the right move, at the right place, at the right time. He’s waited this long, surely a few more years couldn’t hurt. Besides, patience is a virtue after all.