The night breeze tickles my cheeks, as I stare off past the crystal empire and as far as my eyes could see. A slight chill comes to me as I place a hand upon the marble railing of the balcony. I take a sip of my wine from one of the waiters from within the castle as a party commences. I look back towards within, seeing ponies old and young having a grand time dancing, talking to one another, seeing the princesses joining in as Cadance and Shining Armor laugh at a possible cake joke they saved up for Celestia, princess of Equestria and aunt of Cadance. I turn around, staring off in the distance, as though I can fly off the balcony and fly.
My name is Jason. Twenty-six-year-old human living in Equestria as I try my best fitting in with the crowd, which surprisingly went a bit quickly after a month. Living here the past two years is rather simple and with the help of princess Cadance and Shining Armor, they helped me get a place not far from here. I got settled with some nice clothes from one of the best seamstresses in town and one included by a mare named Rarity who is a friend of her sister-in-law. Two days after settling in, I get a job in a bakery, which is good since I have made pizza by hand before. With the bits, I saved up for food, books for entertainment, a couch bed, whatever you need for a house.
Today is a special day for many ponies and possibly not for some, myself included, for Hearts and Hooves Day. Today is to be with your special somepony and to give them so much love. It's similar to Valentines Day, but this time of the year is rather rough on me. The thought of this day saddens me and is really hard not to show a lot of emotions. I have to swallow my sadness and make sure to act as though everything is okay. In the end... I come home crying.
Six years ago, before I even got in Equestria, it was Valentines Day and I had a very special someone in my life named Sandra. She was so beautiful as clear blue skies, hair that followed the wind, and a voice that could soothe any man. On this Valentines Day, I settled the dining room with a nice plate of pasta for two, wine glasses filled with red wine, and in the middle is a vase full of red roses. Earlier that day, she said she would be home by five, but... by the five-thirty mark, I started to think she was running late. Six came, making me wonder if she was stuck in traffic.
I pick up my cell, giving her a call. The phone goes straight to voicemail, making me leave her a message. Suddenly, police sirens came coming and as they come closer and closer, they stop with their lights flashing behind the curtains. The door knocks hard, making me worry that I did something illegal. Opening the door, there were two cops with their hats down. They wanted me to come with them, which I did and hopped in the back on the car as they drove quickly around my neighborhood.
Along the way, I was told that my girlfriend was hit by a truck that had broken brakes. My heart pounded in my chest as we arrived at the hospital, I dashed in and headed towards her operating room and breaking in, wondering if she was gonna survive. Her body covered, her smashed and bleeding nose, was awful to ever see on a person, especially to those you love. I then wait outside as the doctors do the best they could. After two hours of waiting, a doctor came and told me that she didn't make it. The strength to my legs fell, my eyes watering, making me wail in sadness.
Before I left, I go to her for one last time in the flesh, telling her that I loved her and that without her, I couldn't move on. She was the world to me. She was MY world. With her gone, it made me a very different person than what I once was and made me an alcoholic for a few years, then eventually got some help from meetings to prevent me from drinking so much. I then drank a bottle here and there, making myself less of a drunk. From then on, I kept things to myself and became rather less social. Yet, when I got to Equestria, I have been talking a little more than normal, which is good in my part.
I take another sip of wine, looking up towards to Luna's moon shining down upon the land.
"Must be a bit tough raising a moon by one's self," I said to myself out of curiosity. "I wonder how she does it."
"Hey Jason!" shouted a familiar female voice from behind, making me turn. I see Cadance in a nice pink dress with a rose behind her left ear. "What're you doing out here?"
She walks up to me, her hooves clip-clopping towards me along the balcony's floor. I lean my back, swirling my wine glass with two sips left.
"Just feeling like being out here for a little," I replied, putting my heel against a stone rail. "It's a bit noisy inside."
"You've been out here for what seems like twenty minutes." Cadance stands up on her back legs, crossing her hooves on the railing. "I can look at this view forever. It's so nice, don't you think?"
I look to her, smiling softly. "Yeah. It's really nice view of the crystal empire."
"How's life been treating you, Jason?"
She looks to me, smiling as her crown gives off a glint from the moonlight.
"It's been okay. Work is still good and I may need new clothes at some point. Mine are getting a bit short."
"No prob! Me and Shiny got ya covered!"
I look up to the stars, stopping the swirling of my drink. "How've you been doing? How's the little munchkin?"
"Flurry is a handful, but she'll grow up and use her horn better."
She gives out a giggle, making me let out a chuckle. "Yep. All munchkins are like that. My niece must be five by now."
"She must be thinking about her uncle, right?"
There was a pause, making me think back. "She may not know who I am. Last I saw her was when she was a baby."
"Oh..."
There was another amount of silence, with the exception of the wind and the music playing inside the castle.
"Hey there, you two," said Shining Armor as he stands a few feet from us. "Was wondering where my special somepony is."
Cadance takes her hooves off the railings to see her husband as she gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry Shiny, just felt like hanging with Jason for a bit. We'll be in in a little, okay?"
"Okay, Cadance," he nods. "Don't stay out here longer. You'll get a cold."
"Oh pish posh! We'll be fine!"
The two give off a laugh before Shining walks back inside, leaving us alone yet again. I stand up straight, taking another sip of wine. "You know, you are lucky to have Shining as your husband. He's a great guy."
"He is! He makes me feel so good to be a mother to our little Flurry Heart."
I couldn't help but frown, turning my back towards her as I look to the ground below the balcony as I settle my glass on the railing. "I'm rather... jealous."
Cadance helps herself lean on the railing beside me, looking up to me. "Something wrong, Jason? You look rather sad."
"... Cadance, I have been quiet about this for the rest of my life both back home and here, but this day in particular is really tough for me."
"Oh? Why's that? What's up?"
"You see... I had a very special someone. Her name is Sandra. She was the love of my life and now... she's gone."
Her ears fall down, putting a hoof on my back. "What was she like?"
"She was... the prettiest woman who I ever fell in love with back in college. We started out as friends helping out for a project together and during the time we had together, it clicked. I was shy, but I got the guts to ask her if she wanted to go to the park and she said yes."
"D'awwww," she said, as her tail wags. "What happened? Did it go well?"
"Heh. You can say. I brought us some juice and some homemade sandwiches. We sat under a tree and ate peacefully. There was this... this white dog that came outta nowhere and took her sandwich and sped off, making me give her the rest. I was hungry, but she was so sweet to share it. And that, was our first date."
"Sounds lovely," she said, giving out a giggle. "You think she's thinking about you while you're here?"
All the good thoughts I had with her get pushed away as I recall her face in the emergency room. My smile faded, as I look at Cadance in the eye. "She's... she's in a better place now."
Her eyes widen a bit, a bit surprised to hear those words. "I'm... sorry."
She looks away, feeling bad for bringing it up. I couldn't hold it in any longer, as tears drip down from my cheeks. I start to sniffle, then cry on the railing, hiding my face. "I-it's really hard... I just... I don't know how to go on without her!"
As I cry a little more, I felt a soft warmth on my back. I lean my head up to see a wing holding my tenderly. I look down to Cadance, seeing her smile, giving me a warmth in my chest. "Jason, it's going to be okay. She loves you very much. Even in death, she still does. Her soul is with you. Always."
I wipe my face with a sleeve, smiling softly down at her. "Cadance, you're such a good friend. I know I have been a rather quiet person, but... I'll do my best. I have to get on with my life and shouldn't be depressed for the rest of my life."
"That's it!" She said, smiling big. "There are plenty of fishies in the sea."
"If I continue to morn, many good things will slip past my life that I am missing out on."
"Exactly!" she said, jumping on two legs at a time. "That's the spirit, Jason!"
I smile, hugging her by the neck. "Thanks, Cadance."
"Okay, you," she said, breaking the hug. "Let's get back in before Shiny gets worried. Who knows, you may meet your special somepony someday."
I chuckle, following her back to the inside of the castle, but stop before I could walk in. I look back to the wine glass, smiling. "I love you, Sandra. Happy Valentines Day, my love."
I look back inside as I walk in, as the band plays a slow song. Around the room, everyone had a partner. Cadance and Shining were with their neck close to one another. I walk around, awkward and wondering if I could find somepony to dance with.
"Hello," said a sweet and elegant voice from behind. I turn, seeing a light-gray mare with a blonde mane, lucious blue eyes, a sparkling blue dress with diamonds embedded into it, thin body, and her tail in curls at the end. "I see you need a partner. Shall we?"
I blush, giving out an awkward chuckle. "You sure you want me as a partner? Unless you don't mind standing on your back legs?"
"That's not a problem," she said, standing up, making me grab her hooves.
I swing ourselves back and forth slowly, my face all warm and heart racing a tad. A little of my black hair gets on my face, making myself blow it off aside. "You're doing okay, darling. What is your name?"
"My name is Jason. Yours, m'lady?"
"I am Beatrice Swingheart."
"That's a lovely name."
"Not as lovely as your green eyes."
My face warmed up a degree more, making her giggle. I continue the dance, moving a little more to the rhythm. The music continues as I slowly start to become less embarrassed and enjoying the rest of the night with Beatrice, who became my friend that faithful night. And eventually, more than that as the past few months after that faithful night. I settled in with hr at her house, making me rather jealous on how much better it was, but let it go a week later. I now have another special someone. Or in this case, a special somepony.