Clay walked through the streets of Ponyville feeling slightly tired from his hours of apple bucking. Still his stamina had improved over the years so he still had enough energy get around, if a bit more slowly. As he continued walking he saw Comet leaving Twilights library.
“Comet!” Clay ran up to the stallion with excitement.
“Oh…uh, hey Clay.” Comet shifted uncomfortably.
“Is something wrong?” Clay asked noticing his expression.
“Um…Clay…I need to tell you something.”
“Sure. What do you want to tell me?” Comet looked into Clays eyes not sure how he would react. He then took a breath preparing himself.
“Clay…I don’t know how else to say this but…I’m…” Before he could finish they both heard another voice from above.
“Look out below!”
They looked up to see a pink blur head straight for them. They barely had enough time to back away as Firefly landed with a small thud.
“Firefly! I didn’t expect to see you here!” Firefly walked up to Clay and gave him a quick kiss making him blush.
“What? A filly can’t drop in and say hi to her boyfriend when she’s in the neighborhood?”
“Boyfriend?” Comet remarked.
“Who’s this Clay?” Firefly asked turning to the stallion.
“Firefly meet Comet Blaze.” She walked up and held out a hoof.
“Nice to meet you Comet Blaze.” She said in a friendly manner.
“Nice to meet you.” He took her hoof and they shook “So…you are Clay’s fillyfriend?”
“Yeah we’ve been going out for two weeks now.” She replied happily.
“How did you two meet?”
“Well first he saved my life. Then he went all the way to Canterlot to find me. Then he…”Comet chuckled slightly “What’s so funny?” She asked him.
“Nothing…its nothing.” Firefly and Clay looked at each other and then to Comet “So why were you stopping by?”
“Oh yeah I almost forgot!” She turned back to Clay “I was thinking we could do something special for today.”
“Why today?” Firefly raised an eyebrow.
“You do remember what day it is right?” Clay tapped his chin then shrugged “Clay its Hearts and Hooves day! How can you forget?”
“That was today? Oh damn!” Clay cursed as he facehoofed “Sorry Firefly. Something happened yesterday and I guess it slipped my mind.”
“Huh…its fine. Just don’t forget next year or I’ll buck you.” She nuzzled his face.
“So what did you have in mind?”
“Well I thought we could go out. Get some dinner maybe spend some time at your place and work on our…kissing.” A grin grew on Clay’s face.
“I like that idea.” Said Clay “But uh, first. What did you want to tell me Comet?”
“Uh…it can wait. I don’t want to interrupt your romantic day together.” Comet smiled slightly “You two make a cute couple by the way.”
“Thanks Comet.” Clay and Firefly began walking away. Comet on the other hand had a battle going on inside him.
“A girlfriend? He has a girlfriend? Damn it! As if this wasn’t hard enough!” Comet kicked the ground in frustration “Ok Comet you can do this! You have to tell him! He needs to know who he is!” Comet looked at Clay and Firefly as they walked resting their heads against each other’s “Still…it can wait a little longer.” Comet then walked back to his room at the inn. As he pushed past the door however he saw that the room was dark only to have the lights come on and have a thunderous “SURPRISE!” hit him like a wall. Comet blinked and saw a handful of ponies in his room along with a pink earth pony that looked like she was the one who set up the whole thing. Soon she was talking nonstop and Comet groaned.
Firefly and Clay decided to start their romantic day together with a simple stroll enjoying each other’s company. They either nuzzled each other or gave each other doe eye looks. As they walked they heard a voice from behind them.
“Clay, Firefly wait up!” They turned around to see Dinky running at them before she vanished in a flash and reappeared a few feet away from them “Guys guess what you won’t believe…” She saw their close proximity “Oh…I’m sorry was I interrupting something?”
“No we were just walking.” Firefly replied.
“What’s up Dinky?” Clay asked her.
“Guys guess what?! I finally got my cutie mark!” Firefly and Clay looked astounded as she turned to show her cutie mark which was an ink bottle with a quill dipped into it.
“That’s great news Dinky! Congratulations!” Firefly cheered happily.
“Yeah that’s great…how did it happen?” Clay asked curiously.
“Well I got bored so I took a scroll out and started writing a short story for fun. Then I showed it to my mom and she loved it. And I realized that I love writing and…well you can guess the rest.” Clay gave Dinky a hug.
“I’m so happy for you Dinky.”
“Thanks. Mom was happy too.” Firefly looked at her cutie mark.
“So your special talent is writing? I can’t wait to see what you write Dinky.” Dinky smiled, but it soon faded when she saw Clay looking at his own blank flank.
“Don’t worry Clay you’ll get yours soon enough.” She said kindly.
“That’s what mom told me. But…the longer it takes…I mean most ponies find their cutie marks when they’re still kids. Why don’t I have mine yet?” Clay began to look disheartened.
“Clay…even if you never find your cutie mark and you will. You’ll always be the perfect stallion to me.” Firefly kissed him on the cheek.
“Thanks…but I’d rather if I did get my cutie mark.” Clay muttered.
“You will.” Dinky said confidently. Clay smiled weakly “Well I better leave you two alone. Today is Hearts and Hooves day after all.” Dinky started walking away when Clay called out.
“Hey Dinky! Who are you spending Hearts and Hooves day with?” Dinky turned back to them.
“Well…that’s a secret.” She answered nervously.
“Why?” Clay asked.
“You wouldn’t believe me.” She then teleported in front of their eyes and was gone.
“What did she mean by that?” Firefly asked.
“Beats me. Come on lets enjoy the rest of Hearts and Hooves day.”
Clay and Firefly went to a local restaurant that was giving a discount for couples. After they finished eating they made their way to the park and sat down watching the stars with other couples. Firefly draped her wing around Clay bringing him in closer his warmth making her relaxed and excited. They turned and began kissing slow and loving.
“You’ve gotten better.” Firefly said taking a break.
“Good. I want to give you my best Firefly.” They resumed kissing and Firefly tried to sneak in some tongue. But the shock and suddenness of it caused Clay to back away.
“Sorry. Am I moving too fast?”
“No. You just surprised me that’s all.”
“Uh, we can stop now if you want.” Firefly offered.
Clay nodded and they returned to cuddling while most couples were still tongue wrestling. Firefly looked at Clay and saw him with a saddened expression.
“You didn’t do badly. In fact you were great; we can do more advanced stuff when you’re ready.”
“It’s not that.”
“What’s wrong then?”
“It’s my mom. She’s always alone on Hearts and Hooves day. I know she’s not into romantic stuff, but she always seems so…lonely. And I know she has fantasies about…stallions when she sleeps.” He looked at the other couples “Everypony has someone…except her.”
“I’m sure she’ll find some special somepony to call her own.” Firefly reassured.
“She always has trouble finding one. Either because they don’t fit her standards, or they already have somepony, or…because of me.”
“You?” Firefly asked.
“No stallion wants a mare that already has a kid. I scare them off…or she does.”
“She’ll find somepony Clay. Everyone has some soul mate out there.”
“My mom deserves the best though. Somepony that’s strong, brave, athletic, and can keep up with her, and doesn’t care that she has a kid. Somepony like…like…” A thought began to form in Clay’s head “Comet!” Clay shouted startling Firefly.
“What about Comet?” She asked.
“He’s perfect for my mom! He’s brave, he can fly really fast, he seems to like me, and he is strong and good looking…right?”
“Yeah he’s handsome.” Firefly replied blushing slightly.
“Mom and Comet Blaze…I like that.” Clay said dreamily.
“But…how are you going to get them to meet?”
“I’ll think of something.” Clay rested his head on Firefly “If it works…I might get a dad. And mom won’t be so lonely on Hearts and Hooves day.” Firefly shifted slightly.
“You know…you haven’t met my dad yet.”
“Have you told him about us?”
“Not in so many words. I only told him that I was leaving to meet with a pony I might be interested in. And I might have left out the fact that his mother is a Wonderbolt.”
“He’s going to find out you know.”
“Don’t worry I’ll tell him everything. I just want to enjoy the time I have with you before he starts judging you and your family.”
“Sounds like fun.” Clay replied. Firefly looked at the blackened sky.
“The stars are beautiful tonight.” She whispered.
“Not as beautiful as you.” Clay whispered back.
“Softy.” She muttered as she rested her head on his shoulder.
Clay wrapped his tail around Firefly’s as they shut their eyes and enjoyed each other’s warmth and love. As far as Clay was concerned nothing could ruin what he had in his life. Nothing…