Chapter 9
A large red and baby blue striped wrapped box gets slowly pushed into the room by a grey Pegasus with blonde hair. Her eyes are messed up though. She struggles to push it into the room and when she reaches the middle of the room, she looks at Red and sees a cupcake wrapper and Red's snout is covered in frosting. She gets sad and lowers her head, "Awww I missed it!" Apple Jack walks over. "It's ah'll right. He hasn't opened any presents yet!" Red looks around and sees the table, only now it has birthday cards all over it. "Presents?" Scootaloo smiles at Red warmly, "Well since its your first birthday here in ponyville, We like to make it special!" Scootaloo hoofs him a card, "Open this one, its from Dash." Red looks at Rainbow Dash and smiles, then looks down at the card and opens it. He reads what it says out loud, "Dear Red Star, I'm sorry about what happened on your first flight. That was my bad. I scraped together some bits for a present to make up for it. I hope it helps! Your friend, Rainbow Dash." He holds the bits in his hoof and counts them. 75 bits! He looks up and asks, "what's 'bits'?" Rainbow Dash replies, "Bits is our currency, we use bits to buy things." Red Star looks at the bits and then smiles. Scootaloo hoofs him another card, one after another, Red Star reads them, and counts the bits. In the end, Red Star collects 317 bits! Then Scootaloo hoofs him a wrapped gift. He opens it with his teeth. It's a red and baby blue set of 2 bags with straps connecting them. Aero Speaks up, "It's a saddle bag! I had it made just to match you! Red, like your fur, and baby blue like your mane!" Red Star smiles, "How do I put it on?"
"Like this." Aero fits the saddlebag on Red Star, making sure to make it not too tight. Where the buckle is, is the CMC Insignia. Aero shows Red how to open and close them. "Wow thanks Aero! This is cool!" Scootaloo hoofs him another gift. He opens it the same way. It's a pair of baby blue boots and a scarf. Apple Bloom says, "For, you know, when y'all get chilly." The only present that remains is the large one the grey mare pushed in. The whole group looks at it. Finally, Scootaloo says, "We all pitched in a little bit to make this birthday special. Aero said Mr.Book says you like the stars and galaxies and stuff so we got you this!" The grey pony and Aero rip down the wrapping paper in unison. Behind it is a large telescope in its box from the store. He stares at it with happy shock. He starts crying tears of joy. "This......... Is....... The best..... Day.......EVER!!!" He the whole group smiles and hugs Red, Saying "happy birthday Red."
For the next few days, Red eats, sleeps, uses the colt's room, and talks with friends. Heartsong gives him strong medicine, which greatly speeds up the healing process, and knocks him out for a few hours. Scootaloo continues to stay with him, leaving the room only to use the filly's room. After a week or so, they cut the casts off Red's forelegs. Good as new. Red Star hugs Scootaloo and they carry the presents to Scootaloo's house. When they finish, Red heads to the bank, Scootaloo showing him the way. When they get there, Red deposits 250 bits into a long term safe. In case something happens. He is left with 67 bits. He takes Scootaloo for a nice dinner date, and buys some food for her house. As they walk home, they hear a loud bang and hear a fire. The couple rushes to the noise and see a tree on fire. Standing at the base of the tree is a demonic looking Aero. Red get scared and asks Aero what happened, Aero seems to have 2 voices, a demonic one and a normal one, speaking at the same time. "Yoooou......." The ground cracks at Aero's hooves. "Aero! What's wrong?!"
"Red! You don't deserve that filly!!! I deserve a marefriend more than you!! The one you call 'Aero' isn't here!!"
"Then who are you?"
"My name is Aeris!"