"Happy Heart and Hooves Day, Cartenlot City!" With this jaunty cry Twilight Sparkle sprang out the front door of his home and ran across the floor.

Twilight Sparkle had thought February 14 would never arrive! His skinny arms were overflowing with valentines of all shapes and sizes. After weeks of waiting, he could deliver his custom-made gifts at last!

"First stop, a valentine for my favorite next-door neighbor!" Twilight said with a happy giggle.

Dancing across the grass on the tiptoes of his shiny patent purple boots, Twilight lobbed a large pink valentine into the lap of highs frowning neighbor, Fluttershy.

"Happy Heart and Hooves Day, pal!" Twilight sang. "Will you be mine?"

Fluttershy scowled, then sat back in his outdoor lounge chair. "Why don't you go play in this holiday?" he suggested sarcastically.

"That's a great idea! Sharks need love too, and I've got lots more valentines to give!" Twilight replied with a wave. "Good-bye!"

"Good riddance," Fluttershy said sourly, shredding his valentine into confetti and tossing the pieces over his head.

Spotting Pinkie Pie behind the steering wheel of her blue-and-white car, Twilight ran up alongside her vehicle.

"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Pinkie Pie!" Twilight called as he tossed her a red valentine with white lace.

"Oh, my! Thank you, Twilight!" the pink girl replied as she opened the valentine.

Taking out a pair of tweezers, he selected the smallest paper heart from his pile and held it out to a Applejack.

"Twilight!" the Applejack cried as he looked up. "Well, I'm ready for you! Give me your best shot!"

"Okay!" Twilight agreed. "Here you go!"

Applejack took the offering and read the note aloud. "I'd walk the plank for you! Be my valentine! Love . . . Twilight?"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Twilight tittered as he skipped away. "Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Applejack!"

Twilight wasn't listening. He continued dropping off valentines throughout Cartenlot City. But he had to hurry, for there was a final stop to make before his Valentine's Day was complete. .. .

Twilight arrived at Applejack's House. He was ready and eager to take his Hearts and Hooves Day plans to the next level.

Applejack was waiting outside in her pinkcute heart motif jumper say "Love" on center, grey cropped trousers, and pink shoes on it. She had a smile on her face and her hands behind her back.

"Happy Heart and Hooves Day, Twilight! I'm nuts for you!" Applejack said with a grin as she handed over a heart-colored apple with a twig arrow through the center.

"And I'm bubbles for you, Applejack!" Twilight replied, taking out his bubble wand and a bottle of chocolate syrup.

A master of bubble blowing, Twilight blew a heart-shaped chocolate surprise to Sandy.

"Mmmm! Mighty tasty!" she said, gobbling up the gift through a portal in her air helmet. "Pippi's going to love the one you made for him!"

Together, Twilight and Applejack turned to look at the tremendous chocolate balloon tied down behind the house. The balloon was large enough to carry two people in the hanging basket below. There was even a pink marshmallow girl attached to each side!

"Take me through the plan again," Applejack said as she examined the balloon. Twilight dipped the bubble wand into the syrup bottle, took a deep breath, and blew out a floating, three-dimensional chocolate model of the Cartenlot City Heart and Hooves Day Carnival!

"Step one: Pippi and I get to the Hearts and Hooves Day Carnival," Twilight said in a commanding tone of voice. "Step two: I position Pippi and myself on top of the Ferris wheel."

"Check and double check," Applejack replied, nodding in agreement. She was amazed at the detail of the chocolate model that hovered in the water.

Twilight blew a small bubble replica of the mammoth heart-shaped chocolate balloon. The replica floated over the top of the model carnival. "Step three: You arrive with Pippi's valentine at the designated checkpoint for maximum visual contact."

"Got it!" Sandy agreed, readying herself for take-off.

The small bubble landed on the boardwalk of the chocolate carnival. "Step four: Pippi is thrilled! Mission accomplished!"

"Sounds good, Twilight!" Applejack said, untying the ropes that held Pippi's Valentine's Day gift to the bottom of the street. "Keep me posted on the phone."

"Right!" Twilight replied. "I'll go grab Pippi right now and Operation Valentine will be in full play!"

Twilight looked up proudly as Applejack floated away in the balloon. He could hardly wait to see the look on Pippi's face. This was going to be a Valentine's Day his pal would never forget!

Crunk! Crunk! Crunk! Crunk!

Pippi Longstocking was breaking rocks.

Crunk! Crunk! Crunk!

One rock, actually. He was chipping the stone into the shape of a heart. Pippi knew Twilight would be arriving soon, and he wanted to have his gift finished.

Crunk! Crunk!

Pippi loved Valentine's Day almost as much as Twilight. The lively girl had even bought a new triangle boat neck sleeveless dress on the front for the occasion.

Crunk!

"There!" Pippi said, pleased with his handiwork. "Nice and smooth!"

The girl lifted the stony valentine just as Twilight came up behind him.

"Hi, Twilight!" Pippi said.

Pippi looked confused. He peered down at the rock. "Hello?" he said.

"Pippi, it's me. Twilight," Twilight said.

"Oh, my gosh!" Pippi yelped, dropping the rock in shock. "Twilight's stuck inside this rock! Hold on, buddy! I'll get you out!"

Grabbing a second stone, Pippi began to smash the heart-shaped rock. With a series of hammerlike blows, he reduced the valentine to a pile of pebbles!

Pippi was horrified! Had he crushed his best friend?

"Twilight?" he whispered, sifting through the remains.

Standing behind Pippi, Twilight rolled his eyes. "Yes, Pippi?"

"Twilight! Oh, no!" Pippi said, falling to his knees and weeping. He picked up the rubble and held it to his cheek. "My poor pal!"

"Uh, Pippi? I'm right behind you!" Twilight said.

Pippi turned and leaped up with delight! "There you are!" he said happily, thrusting out the handful of pebbles. "Happy Valentine's Day! Here's your present!"

Twilight took the debris. "Thanks!" he said, then pointed at Pippi. "And I have a present for you."

Pippi's eyes widened with excitement!

"You do?" he said. "Forme!"

"For you!" Twilight giggled. "It's the greatest..."

Pippi's eyes bulged. He tried to speak, but all he could say was, "Uhhh!"

Twilight continued, "The bestest..."

A trickle of drool ran down the side of Pippi's mouth. "Yeah?" he said.

"The most fantabulous ..."

Pippi turned multiple cartwheels with anticipation. "UH-HUH! UH-HUH!"

"The single most amazing present... EVER!"

"EEEEEEEEEEE!" Pippi squealed, rolling around on the floor.

"But," Twilight added in a teasing tone, "you can't have it yet."

"Huh?" Pippi hopped to his feet and thrust his face into the tip of Twilight's long nose. "Why not?" he asked in a hurt voice.

Twilight shrugged. "Because it's not ready yet."

Pippi paused for approximately one second. "Is it ready now?" he asked.

"Not yet," Twilight teased.

Twilight gritted his teeth. "Now?" he asked hopefully.

"Nope."

"How about now?" he asked.

Twilight put his hands on his square hips and frowned. "Do you want to ruin the surprise?" he asked.

"YES!" Pippi said, nodding his head up and down so that the water swirled around his neck like a miniwhirlpool!

"Ah-ah-ah-ahhh!" Twilight scolded, wagging a finger.

"Come on, please!" Pippi begged.

Twilight crossed his arms. "Sorry."

Pippi fell facedown on the ground. "You gotta tell me!" he pleaded.

"No can do, old chum. You'll just have to wait," Twilight said, struggling to move. He looked down at his feet. Patrick had locked both hands onto Twilight's right ankle.

"Please, please, please!" Pippi begged, hanging on for dear life as Twilight slowly dragged him toward the carnival.

"Uh-uh," Twilight said. "You know what they say . . . good things come to those who wait!"

"B-b-but ... I'm tired of waitin'!" Pippi shrieked. "I want my present now!"