Hearts and Hooves Special- Part One
-Author's Note-
Woot! Hello, everypony! I apologize for not uploading anything in so long, but I'm excited to be back! I got so into this piece of writing it was awesome! I can't wait to hear back from you, and guess what! It's a two-parter! Part two will be up tomorrow, Valentine's day!
-End Note-
The morning air was crisp, and carried with it a slight chill. The sky was coated a beautiful cyan blue, camouflaging the winged pony that flew through the clouds; a faint rainbow trail in her wake. The only thing that gave her away was the vibrant rainbow mane that danced wildly with her movements, whipping with the wind. Like every other morning Rainbow was flying over Ponyville before most other ponies had even risen from their beds.
I wonder if Applejack is awake yet. Rainbow thought. The odds were that the orange earth pony was up, and had been for hours. Rainbow would be surprised if she wasn't, for that matter. Ever since Rainbow had moved into the apple family farmhouse Applejack was awake and working the orchards before Rainbow even got out of bed. This morning, however, Rainbow had decided to go for an early morning flight. I can't wait to see her!
Even thinking about Applejack made Rainbow's cheeks redden slightly. It had been some time since Rainbow had finally re settled into Ponyville after the incident of her running away, and things had finally begun to return to normal. That is, of course, with the exception of seeing three of Rainbow's best friends every day.
Below the cyan Pegasus Ponyville zoomed by, the first ponies of the day making their ways onto the streets. All around Ponyville large hearts and pink ribbons had been plastered wherever space permitted them. It was the day before the Hearts and Hooves festival and everypony was excited. And then, just like that the town homes and shops were replaced by acres of apple trees. Sweet Apple Acres.
The sweet scent of apples waded up from the orchard and around Rainbow Dash. The scent was one that Rainbow had grown used to, having spent so much time with the farm pony of late. It had become Rainbow's favourite smell and the Pegasus couldn't help as a wide grin spread across her muzzle.
Finally spotting the farmhouse Rainbow angled her wings, and began a speedy fall towards the red barn. Air shot passed her, coating around the Pegasus's mane. With several beatings of her powerful wings Rainbow Dash came to a full stop just in time to land in the window sill of Applejack's room.
To Rainbow's surprise the room was dark, unlit and empty. Applejack was nowhere to be seen.
Maybe I'll wait here for her to get back, and surprise Applejack! Pleased with her plan Rainbow jumped into the room, landing softly of the squeaky floorboards. At first the Pegasus tried to move stealthily and quietly, but after several loud whining from the floor she decided flying would be much sneakier. Now, where to hide...
Applejack's room never really changed much. The same comfy orange bed sat by the window. Across it in the room a large wooden desk, and the ever present scent of vanilla resided in between the rooms walls. That might have been why a new stack of paper, sitting messily on AJ's desk, quickly caught Rainbow's attention.
What could that be? Rainbow thought. Hovering over to the paper and looking across the first page Rainbow quickly realized what it was. A story? I didn't know Applejack liked to write.
Falling to her haunches on the floor before the desk the rainbowed Pegasus was taken aback by her own reflection staring back from a large mirror; her mane wasn't messy in the slightest. It was a mystery, how Rainbow could fly through the wind all day and never get a messy mane.
Excitedly Rainbow picked up the papers and began to read.
'The Appledash Chronicles'
As Rainbow read she couldn't help but feel giggles forming in her throat. The stories were a series of short adventures based around Applejack and herself, each with a heavy romantic pull to it. In one the couple danced under a waterfall far out in the wilderness, in another they got into a pillow fight and tiredly fell asleep in each other's arms. Rainbow continued to read until she got to the end of the stack. There, under the papers was a letter envelope.
It read;
Dear: Rainbow Dash,
Merry Hearts and Hooves day,
Love: Applejack.
Every fibre of Rainbow's body urged her to open the envelope, to explore its contents. However, despite her need to know, Rainbow put the letter back under the pile of papers. Hearts and Hooves day wasn't until tomorrow, and to be honest it had slipped Rainbow's mind.
Oh stallion, I forgot!Rainbow's mind raced, panicked and flustered. Every year Rainbow had hated the festival, avoiding as many ponies as possible. She had never been asked to be somepony's special somepony before, and didn't really know what to do if she was. However, Rainbow knew of a certain pink pony that might.
Quickly making her window Rainbow dived out into the sunlight, flying barely over the apple trees. She flew quickly towards Ponyville, determined to learn about the festival and how she was supposed to celebrate it.
"Howdy, Rainbow!" Applejack's voice caught Rainbow by surprise, throwing the Pegasus off track and hurtling into the nearest apple tree. A sharp pain shot through her shoulder as she slumped to the ground.
"Whoa there, y'all okay partner?" Applejack said. The orange earth pony trotted past several trees, making her way to the downed Pegasus. From Rainbow's position at the base of the tree the whole world seemed upside down, and the moment Applejack cleared the distance between them Rainbow felt the warm sensation of the orange ponies muzzle upon her own.
"I- I'm fine!" Rainbow said as their kiss separated, spinning herself off of her back and onto all four hooves. Rolling her shoulder Rainbow was pleased to note an absence of any serious pain.
"Well, then, G'mornin' darlin'!" Applejack spoke, stretching out her back and legs. "Ya certainly are a sight for sore eyes! Ah've been workin' the orchard all mornin'."
Rainbow noticed the beads of sweat forming on AJ's brow, and the tired looking way the orange pony stood. Her muscles seemed tense, and Rainbow could tell that Applejack needed a break. However, Rainbow also knew that her fillyfriend wouldn't stop till the day's work was done. Still, there was no harm in asking, right?
"You look exhausted, AJ!" Rainbow said, walking over to her friend's side and placing a wing across Applejack's shoulders. Immediately Rainbow could feel as if the work pony was melting into the Pegasus's side, leaning onto the support. "What do you say you take a short break, and hang out with me for a bit?"
Applejack's face gave her away, proving that she was thinking heavily of giving into Rainbow's offer. However, it only lasted a moment before AJ responded exactly how Rainbow thought she would. "Sorry hun, but Ah've still got a lot of work to do b'fore Ah'm done for today. How about we go out for dinner tonight?"
"Sounds good to me!" Rainbow spoke as she lifted her wing away from her fillyfriend, raising herself into the air. A frown formed on AJ's face, disproving at the sudden loss of Rainbow's hold. "How about we meet tonight in Ponyville, at Sugarcube Corner just before sunset?"
A quick nod from Applejack was all Rainbow got before the earth pony turned to return to her work. Then, calling over her shoulder's Applejack quickly added, "I'll see ya soon, Dashie!"
Sugarcube Corner. The building itself resembled an oversized gingerbread house decorated by a young filly. The building was the place to go in Ponyville to get sugary treats and other baked goods. It gave off a constant smell of sweet baked goods, differing occasionally between cupcakes, cinnamon buns and a variety of other sweet smells. Naturally it was where Pinkie called home.
"Good morning, Rainbow Dash!" Mr. Cake said across the shop as Rainbow entered the building, a bell above the doorway announcing her presence. Mr. Cake was sitting at the counter, icing a batch of cupcakes. Rainbow always found it rather strange, how Mr. and Ms. Cake seemed to be two of the only adult ponies in Ponyville. Mr. Cake had a light orange coat, with a matching dark orange mane. "How can I help you today?"
Distractedly Rainbow sauntered through the shop, eyeing several maple pastries hungrily. Finally finding herself in front of the counter where Mr. Cake was working she answered. "I'm looking for at crazy Pinkie Pie. She around?"
"Ooh, I'm afraid you've just missed her Rainbow!" Mr. Cake said, not lifting his attention from the sugary treats before him for even a second. "Said something about preparing for a party, but she shouldn't be gone for too long. You are welcome to stay and wait for her if you'd like."
Sadly Rainbow dropped to her haunches, determined to wait for Pinkie Pie. She watched as Mr. Cake worked, Putting his whole heart and soul into decorating the treat. Suddenly a great idea crossed Rainbow's mind, making her jump from her seat and slamming her hooves on the. Counter to get the stallion's attention.
"Uhm, can I help you, Rainbow?"
"Yes!" Rainbow's pink eyes sparkled excitedly. "Hearts and Hooves day is tomorrow, and I need to know what you're doing with Ms. Cake to celebrate!"
Mr. Cake did not respond right away, instead resorting to staring at Rainbow in confusion. For some time Mr. Cake continued to stare, as if trying to piece together the pieces of a puzzle. Then, at long last his muzzle broke into a wide smile, and he began to laugh.
"You don't know what to do for Applejack, do you?" Mr. Cake reluctantly put down his bag of icing on the counter, turning his full attention to the rainbow maned Pegasus. "Well, I suppose I could give you a little bit of advice. However, I really do have to get back to work so I'm only going to say this once!
"Hearts and Hooves day is a day each year where we get to celebrate those we love. It's a day to spend time together, and to show another pony just how special they are to you. Every year I take Ms. Cake and we go out to a fancy dinner, followed by a night at the movies. Sure, it's not the most original, but it's tradition. It's the time that matters, not what you're doing." Mr. Cake spoke softly, in an ancient wisdom Rainbow didn't quite understand. Just as he finished his little rant a loud ringing indicated a new visitor to the shop. "Ah, Pinkie Pie! Welcome home, you Ah've a visitor!"
Giving Mr. Cake a quick thank you Rainbow Dash turned, excited to see her Pink friend. However, the room was empty. The Pegasus had turned just in time to see the door swing closed, but it seemed as if no pony had entered. Quirking her brow in confusion Rainbow began to turn back to the baker at the counter.
"Boo!" Pinkie screamed excitedly, somehow upside down and hanging off of the support beams of the ceiling. A sudden jolt of surprise shot through Rainbow, causing her to fall. "Haha, gotchia! You're silly, Rainbow Dash!"
Rainbow giggled lightly as she pushed herself from the floor. For the longest time Rainbow Dash had wondered how Pinkie did the things she did, how she could seemingly teleport or set up a party in no time at all. Especially how Pinkie senses worked. However, she just stopped even trying to figure it put after knowing Pinkie for long enough.
"Finally, I've been looking for you Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow said.
"Oh? Why's that, Rainbow!" Pinkie's eyes lit up as she spoke. "Are we going on an adventure? Or maybe we're going to go fight a dragon, or find a long lost treasure! Oooooh, or maybe you want to go find a couple of innocent mares and stallions and pull off some awesome pranks! If that's the case, then I just so happen to have some awesome amazing spectacular super fireworks that we can fire off to surprise people!"
By now Rainbow had broken into a full on laughter. "Pinkie, you are solo random!"
Gasping the pink pony feigned offense, although her pearly smile showed off that she was enjoying herself quite a lot. "Well fine then, little miss adventure-less, what did ya have in mind?"
"Well, you like parties, and festivals and stuff, right?" Rainbow spoke, but it was more of a statement than a question. After receiving a ferocious nodding from Pinkie, Rainbow continued. "Well, I was hoping you could help me with what I should do for Hearts and Hooves day tomorrow, for Applejack."
For once in her life, Pinkie was silent. Her super frizzy hair seemed to flatten, just a little, and she looked down to the floor where one of her hooves swung back and forth awkwardly.
"To tell the truth, Dashie, I don't know much about Hearts and Hooves day." The pink pony seemed to sink into herself, trying desperately to keep up and innocent smile. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can help ya too much there."
"Oh," Rainbow watched as Pinkie slowly began acting more like Fluttershy than herself. "That's okay, Pinkie! No problem! Are you okay?"
"Of course I am, silly!" Pinkie lied "Uhm, I gotta go though! Gotta go take care of Gummy!"
And with that the pink earth pony turned, darting towards the staircase that led up to her room. Rainbow Dash instinctively moved to catch her, but Mr. Cake stopped her.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow," The orange stallion spoke softly, as if attempting to hide his voice from the filly upstairs. " but you have to understand that Pinkie's never had a special somepony, and that Heart and Hooves day is the one day every year that she doesn't feel loved."
It hit Rainbow like a freight train. For the longest time Rainbow thought that she felt lonely on the special day, but for a pony like Pinkie Pie who practically lived off of the love of her friends, well... Being alone would not only hurt. It would be heart breaking. There had to be somepony who wanted to spend Hearts and Hooves day with her.
Heart heavy and spirits low Rainbow turned, making her way towards the entrance to the shop. After muttering a quick thank you to Mr. Cake she broke into a flight, shooting through the door and into the warming morning air.
The morning had taken a quick turn for Rainbow's mood, leaving her heavy soled as she walked through Ponyville. The sky above was cloudless, a bright blue blanket of light. The morning breeze had died down, and in its place warm sunlight coated Equestria.
Ponyville market was busy with life, ponies of every color darting this way and that. The large pink festival banners covered every corner, reminding Rainbow of the ever advancing day. It was tomorrow, and Rainbow still had no plan.
The Pegasus hadn't even noticed the direction she was traveling, to wrapped up in her thoughts. However, as she looked up from the road beneath her she stopped in her place, her heart suddenly feeling a lot heavier and a lot emptier.
The Carousel Boutique.
The place seemed empty. Probably because it was. It used to be home to one of Rainbow's closest friends, but now its empty halls held only memories. It was the place that Rainbow had spent her last nights with all of her friends, together, laughing and playing like they had all the time in the world.
"Sad, isn't it." The voice took Rainbow by surprise, but it's soothing quality and slow speech did not throw her off balance like Pinkie's surprises. No, if anything the words were relaxing, their tone sweet and caring. Twisting her head to the side Rainbow spotted the lavender pony beside her.
"Princess Luna," Rainbow said, comforted by the mares presence. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Rainbow Dash." Luna responded with a soft smile of her own. "Feeling a little bit nostalgic, are we?"
"I suppose you could say that." Said Rainbow. "It seems so lonely since they all left, Y'know? I'd grown so accustomed to seeing them every day, spending every waking moment with them!"
"Actually, Rainbow Dash," Luna laughed a little as she spoke. "I don't understand at all. Ever since I left Canterlot to live in Ponyville I've felt more loved than ever! I've been able to be who I want to be, and spend time with you and the others!"
Rainbow realized what Luna was saying. Three times a week Rainbow and the princess went flying together, showing off new moves and having a golly old time. Luna had even begun enjoying Pinkie's silly antics, and only recently gave up trying to figure out the mysterious Pinkie senses. Luna was living freely, whilst watching over Ponyville and its people the whole time.
"I suppose you can't help me much, trying to figure out Hearts and Hooves day plans." Rainbow signed. She was quickly giving up hope of giving Applejack a Hearts and Hooves day to remember.
"I'm afraid so." Luna spoke. "I'll be spending the night running the festival in Ponyville Park. I'm hoping I'll be able to learn about the festival myself. I've also been stuck on the moon for the last thousand years, so I'm a little out of the trends."
"In the past we all spent the night together." Rainbow said, looking back to the Carousel Boutique. "We would just hang out, and have a sleep over."
Slowly Rainbow turned back towards Ponyville, flexing her wings and preparing for flight.
"Thanks anyways, Princess." Rainbow said as she lifted into the air. "I'll see ya later! I need to go take care of some things for tomorrow."
Rainbow shot into the sky, determined to figure something out. If she'd stayed only a few more minutes Rainbow would have seen the tears swelling in Luna's eyes; the princesses heart lonely and longing.
The night sky was a veil of black, hued with a deep red emanating from a reddened moon. Luna's little way of making the night before the Hearts and Hooves festival a little more festive. Ponyville was lively with excitement, ponies dashing around making last minute preparations and shopping.
It had been just under an hour since sunset, and since Applejack had met Rainbow in Ponyville square. They sat across each other at a dinner table that basked in the moonlight, waiter ponies occasionally wading by to tend to them and the other customers. Their main meal had just been finished, and the two fillyfriends were waiting for desert. For the most part their conversation had consisted of senseless flirting and speaking of the apple family orchard, but at long last it began to turn towards the ever looming Festival.
"So," Applejack said. "Ah was just wonderin', Y'know, if ya had any plans for t'morrow? I have the day off work at the orchard and was wonderin' if you'd like to spend the day with me?"
Rainbow's face lit with excitement at AJ's words, a broad smile conquering her face. Maybe, just maybe Applejack already had something planned! If that was the case then all of Rainbow's fears were for naught.
"I would love to!" Rainbow said, leaning across the table to grab Applejack's hooves in her own. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well," Applejack began speaking, but paused in thought for a moment. "Ah'm kinda new to this whole relationship thing, but we could always attend the festival in Ponyville. Everypony who's anypony will be there."
'Everypony who's anypony.' Images of Pinkie Pie, sitting alone in her room fluttered through Rainbow's thoughts. Would Pinkie go to the festival? No. As much Rainbow wanted to spend the night with Applejack, romantically gallivanting through Ponyville, something in her heart called out to Pinkie Pie.
"Applejack?" Rainbow said, tightening her grip on her fillyfriend's hooves.
"Yes, sugarcube?" Applejack spoke, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Is something wrong?"
"No," Rainbow spoke, not wanting to worry AJ, but quickly bit her tongue. "I mean, yes. Kinda."
"What is it?"
"Pinkie Pie." Rainbow immediately gained a quizzical glance from Applejack. "I mean, I saw her today and she seemed pretty down. The whole festival has really downed her spirits. Every other year we've all spent the day together, but this year she's all alone!"
Applejack's eyes softened, lowering their gaze to the table. The orange pony, usually upbeat looked thoughtful and confused. A cool breeze was beginning to pick up, Applejack's golden mane fluttering in the wind. Her eyes, a forest of green warmed Rainbow's heart. AJ hadn't said anything yet, but Rainbow knew the other pony well enough to guess her reaction.
"Well, then, Ah s'pose we gotta make it up to her!" Applejack said, looking up with determination. "Pinky doesn't have a special somepony yet, and Ah can't imagine how terrible it would be to be alone on Heart and Hooves day."
"It's settled, then!" Rainbow smiled broadly. "Tomorrow we work together to give Pinkie Pie the best Hearts and Hooves day ever!"
-Author's Note-
Well there y'all go! I hope you all enjoyed, and I can't wait to hear back from you all!
-End Note-