"Today is the day. Hearts and hooves day. You got this Hitch." said the sheriff of Maretime Bay.
It was a very important day for him. It was the day he was going to confess to his crush.
He never thought he would actually get to this point since the first time they met it was not exactly the best. He was hostile and accusatory of her with no real evidence to support his claims. She has since forgiven him but he still regrets it.
Now that he knows her he can now see she was nothing like the monster he feared when he was young. She was caring, funny, adventurous, courageous, and very crafty. She was nothing like the stories. Now, after finally accepting his feelings, he decided it was time to confess.
He especially wanted this hearts and hooves day to be memorable since last year before he knew his feelings, this pony had a hard time. She was alone and tried her best to enjoy the holiday but no other pony wanted to celebrate. Lucky for her, her good friend Zipp was there to cheer her up. He now wished it was him but nothing he could do about it.
"Alright Hitch you got this." he took a deep breath and said, "Izzy I know we started out as enemies and then became friends but now I see you as more. You are a great pony with an amazing heart. I like you?" he said to himself. He then looked at his critters and asked, "Do you think that will work?"
The critters cheered and Hitch blushed, "Why thank you but do you think it will be enough? Should I not point out the enemy's part? I mean we weren't enemies per se but we weren't friends. What if she holds a grudge? What if she doubts me? I wish I gave her a chance from the beginning." he said feeling panicked.
His birds chirped at him and he looked at them, "you really think it will be alright?" they chirped again. Hitch cheered up and said, "Alright I got this. I will just come out and say it. "Izzy I…" but before he could continue Izzy walked in.
"Did you call me?" she said walking into the sheriff's office. Hitch was startled and jumped off his hooves. His face even got bright red from embarrassment.
"Oh hey, Izzy. I did. I was just wondering if you're ready for Sparky?" he said not wanting to confess quite yet.
"I am so ready. Right Sparkeroni?" she said, giving Sparky a playful smile.
Hitch loved that smile. She was so caring to Sparky. He couldn't ask for a better dragon sitter. Which was another thing that he liked about her. The fact she got along with Sparky.
"So Hitch me, Sunny, Zipp and Pipp were going to go have a picnic for hearts and hooves day. Want to come? I mean if you're not busy?" She said not wanting to interrupt his work since he has been busy lately.
"Oh…uhm sure," he said, getting a bit red.
"Are you sure? You're looking a bit red. Are you feeling alright?" she said moving in closer to feel his head.
"I am fine. Just a bit hot today. That's all." He said nervously.
"Well ok. See you later. Try to cool off until then." She said walking out of the office with Sparky on her back.
Hitch watched her go and the moment she was out of sight he fell to the ground with a groan. "I can't believe I did that. That was the perfect chance. I could have confessed. Why didn't I?" he complained to himself. "Well, at least I can have a picnic with her. And Sunny. And Zipp. and Pipp." he got a bit more unhappy with each name. "At least she will be there," he said, cheering himself up. After all, as long as they are together, even in a group, it will still be great. "Still would have been great if we went alone." With that, he started his day.
For the remainder of the day, Hitch was busy at work trying his best to finish before the sunset which was when the picnic would begin. Throughout the day he constantly caught a glimpse of Izzy with Sparky. They were having so much fun and Hitch kept getting distracted. Even on his lunch break.
"Hitch? You ok?" Sunny asked with his favorite smoothie.
"Oh yeah. Sorry," he said taking it and paying his childhood friend.
Sunny looked at Izzy and said, "Will you ever confess?" she said which startled Hitch.
"Yes. Well, I was planning to today but can't find a good time." Hitch said.
"How about now?" Sunny asked. "You're on break and she is right there?"
"No! Not now. I mean it is too sudden." Hitch said, instantly getting flushed.
"Hitch…" Sunny began before she was interrupted.
"Well got to get to work. See you at the picnic Sunny" he said running off.
During Hitch's patrol, he continued to take notice of Izzy. She loved to go all over with Sparky but she also loved to craft and now it would appear she was getting supplies for another project. Sparky was still with her and was having fun with the arts and crafts stuff. Izzy even laughed when he sneezed into a jar of glitter. He made a glitter cloud that covered his nose and she found it funny. She even took some glitter and put it on her nose to play with him.
While Hitch was watching them he almost ran into Zipp who was on the ground shopping for beauty tools.
"Hey Hitch what are you doing?" she said with a bag full of equipment.
"Patrolling? What are you doing?" he asked, getting another glimpse of the beauty produces.
"Shopping for Pipp. She is swamped with ponies getting ready for today and she asked me to help." She then looked at Izzy. "Are you really patrolling? Looks like you are watching a very special pony." She teased.
"I was not. I just noticed she was here and thought it was funny when Sparky got glitter on himself." He said, trying to defend himself.
"Right…" she said sarcastically. "It was pretty cute. Especially when she joined in," she said.
"Yeah." He realized what he agreed to and blushed, "I mean sure."
"Ha. You should totally confess. It is so obvious you like her. I bet even she knows." Zipp said.
"What! Do you think so? I thought I hid it well. Could she really know?" he said in a slight panic.
"Chill sheriff. She hasn't noticed as far as I know but you should really confess soon." Zipp said, trying to calm him down.
"I know but…it's hard. I mean what if she says no? What if she doesn't believe me? I mean we didn't really start out on very good terms." he said, feeling a bit down.
"Izzy's not one to hold a grudge. I can promise you that. If anything I think she will be happy." Zipp said.
"But will she accept?" Hitch asked her.
"Only she can answer that sheriff. Now get going. I got to get back to shopping before Pipp…" Before she could finish her phone rang and when she answered Pipp's voice could be heard.
"Zipp! Where are you? I need that supplies NOW!"
"Sorry. I will be right there." Zipp said, hanging up. "See ya Hitch. Good luck with Izzy." She then flew off to Mane Melody.
Hitch took one more look over at Izzy playing with Sparky and walked off. He still couldn't bring himself to confess.
For the remainder of the day, he patrolled and took notice of all the times Izzy came into view. He was able to get his work done but he still felt upset that he could not bring himself to confess.
"Might just have to do it some other day," he said to himself before leaving his office.
"Not on my watch!" Pipp said who was right behind the door. She dragged him outside and took him to Mane Melody.
"Pipp, what are you doing?" Hitch said in confusion.
"Sunny and Zipp explained it to me. You want to confess to Izzy but can't bring yourself to do it. Right?" she said with a huge smile. She made it obvious she really wanted him to confess. After all, she is the one who has been waiting the longest for that. Long before Sunny and Zipp figured it out she was there pushing him to confess.
"Right?" Hitch said.
"Well for that you need a confident new look. Something that screams 'I can do it'. With my help, you will be ready." She said full of determination.
They made it to Mane Melody and Pipp instantly walked into the empty shop and sat him down. Sunny and Zipp were also there ready to help him get ready. Even his critters and Sparky were there.
Pipp began to sing as she styled Hitches mane. Sunny and Zipp were there helping her get stuff so she would work fast. They also were also pepping him up to give him courage. After a bit of work, Hitch was slick and clean, and his mane was perfect.
"You ready?" Sunny said.
"I don't know," Hitch said nervously.
"Wrong answer," Pipp said. "You are ready."
"Yeah. You got this Hitch." Zipp said confidently.
Then his critters and Sparky began to cheer and this gave Hitch a bit of confidence. "You're right. I am ready," he said walking out of the shop and running to the picnic spot.
The others cheered him on and decided to wait a bit to give them a bit of privacy. After all, if they were there no doubt Hitch would get super nervous again.
Hitch finally made it to the hill the group agreed to have the picnic on. Izzy was already there and the sun was beginning to set. When Izzy looked at him Hitch was awestruck by her beauty. The sun's light made her shine brighter than ever and she looked like an angel.
"Hitch what took you? What is taking everyone? The sun is already setting." She said looking a bit upset.
"What?" Hitch looked behind him and saw the others did not follow him. He quickly figured out why but this fact made him realize he was alone with his crush.
"Hitch your still red. Are you sure you're ok?" Izzy asked with concern.
"I am fine. I…I just am…" he was getting redder with each word. He was so nervous.
"Hitch. Calm down. Take a deep breath." Izzy instructed. She took a deep breath which Hitch mimicked and when she breathed out he did too. "Now what are you trying to say?" she asked.
Hitch was still nervous but he took another deep breath and began, "Well…for a while now I have been thinking. We have been friends for a long time. We may have started off on the wrong hoove but we are now. Through that, I came to see you for you. A kind, caring, and lovely pony. And I am sorry if this is out of the blue but I just wanted to say I… " his nervousness took control again. He could not believe he even said all that. It sounded more like a proposal for marriage than a confession. He wouldn't be opposed to it but it was definitely too soon for that. "I want to say I…" he choked up again. He could not believe he could not get the most important part out.
"I like you?" Izzy said calmly.
"Yeah. I like…" Hitch realized what she said and looked at her. She was smiling so brightly that even the sun could not compare anymore.
"Go on. I would like to hear you say it completely." She said,
Hitch was dumbfounded but now with nothing to hide he finally came out and said it. "I like you."
"Me too," Izzy said. This time she got a bit of blush on her cheeks. "I like you too Hitch."
Hitch looked at her in amazement. She was being serious. There was no hint of this being a joke. Hitch was so overwhelmed with happiness he cheered, "I finally said it!" He said this out loud which embarrassed him but he didn't care anymore. With his nervousness finally settling down he couldn't help but fall to the ground.
"You ok?" Izzy asked, sitting down next to him.
"Yeah. It's just been a long day." Hitch said.
With that, the two sat in silence for a couple of moments. Neither knew what to say. That was until Izzy finally asked, "So are the others coming?"
Before Hitch could answer, the rest of the group came into view. The very moment Pipp made it to them she bombarded them with questions.
"So did you say it? What did you say? Izzy, what did you say? Did you accept? How was it?" Pipp was so excited.
"Pipp slow down. We don't even know if he said anything." She then looked at Hitch. "Did you tell her?"
Hitch was now embarrassed to admit it but with pink cheeks, he nodded yes.
"Yay!" Pipp said. "This calls for a couples pic," she said taking a picture of Hitch and Izzy which embarrassed both of them.
"Pipp?" Izzy said.
"Don't worry. It will just be for you two." Pipp said with a wink.
The two calmed down and Sparky came in and sat on Hitch.
"Hey Sparky. How are you?" he said, playing with that little dragon. Izzy couldn't help but play with the little dragon as well.
"Well, I guess we should leave you two alone. It is hearts and hooves day and you two should celebrate together." Sunny said.
Hitch and Izzy looked at her and then at each other and they both knew they were thinking the same thing,
"Stay. We want to celebrate with all our friends." Izzy said.
"That's right. You guys have been a huge help. It's the least we can do." hitch added.
"Are you sure?" Sunny asked. Hitch and Izzy smiled assuring her it was fine. "Then let's eat.
The group got in a circle with Hitch and Izzy sitting next to each other.
As they eat Izzy and Hitch couldn't help but cross their tails and smile at each other.