Starlight Glimmer walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water out of the fridge.
“Morning, Starlight,” Twilight Sparkle happily greeted.
Starlight, however, could barely contain herself. She drank up her water and faced her teacher. “Morning.”
Twilight giggled at Starlight’s chipper mood. “You seem in a good mood this morning. Anything going on?”
Starlight was about to respond when she remembered something. ’Does she not remember? I told her...right?’
“Not much, as far as I know,” Starlight replied slowly.
“That’s nice. Oh! I heard Trixie was in town if you wanted to go see her,” Twilight suggested.
Starlight did her best to keep a straight face. “Sure, I think I will.”
Just then, Jake Taylor walked into the room with them. “Morning, girls.”
“Morning, Jake,” Twilight greeted before craning her neck to give him a kiss as he walked past.
“Morning, Jake!” Starlight said, trying not to sound expecting.
“Morning, Starlight,” Jake simply greeted as he just walked past.
Starlight kept up a smile, but felt her eyelid twitch. ’Okay, I may not have told Jake, but not even a ‘good morning kiss’ like he did for Twilight?’
Jake grabbed his own glass of water out of the fridge and sat down next to Twilight, wrapping his arm around her. “Any plans for today?”
Twilight tilted her head in thought. “Nothing comes to mind.”
Starlight felt her heart shatter on the inside. ’They couldn’t have actually forgotten...could they?’
Jake’s face lit up. “Oh that’s right!”
Starlight’s hope arose as her boyfriend began to remember that it was her-
“Why don’t we go antiquing?” Jake suggested.
Starlight grit her teeth so hard she felt one of them crack.
“That sounds like a great idea! Ponyville has some of the best antique shops in Equestria. Every time I go into one of those shops, I always come out with something beautiful and priceless,” Twilight agreed.
“Alright then, antiquing it is. Starlight, you wanna come with?” Jake asked.
Starlight felt the need to go somewhere desolate and explode. “No...thanks,” she said, barely retaining herself.
“Oh, right, you were gonna go hang out with Trixie. Well, you have fun with that,” Twilight said, waving a hoof.
“I think I will,” Starlight said again before she exited the kitchen.
Once outside, Starlight felt her hooves start to wobble, and her head ache with anger.
“I can’t believe they forgot my bucking birthday!” she said to herself.
It was then that Spike had approached the unicorn, though he had not heard her. “Hey, Starlight. What’s up?”
Starlight’s head shot up. ’Maybe Spike remembers’
“Ooh...nothing much, just gonna go hang out with Trixie later...” Starlight said, blatantly hinting at something more.
Spike, however, did not appear to get the hint and walked past her. “Okay then. You have fun with that, and tell Trixie I said ‘hi’.”
As Spike walked into the kitchen, Starlight was barely able to hold herself together. She ran out of the castle as fast as she could without letting tears flow.
Spike quickly and quietly joined Twilight and Jake in the kitchen, making sure Starlight had left the castle. “Guys, I think this was a bad idea. Starlight’s in pretty bad condition.”
Twilight and Jake looked at each other with worry.
“I was afraid this might happen, Jake,” Twilight said.
“I thought it might too, but it’ll be fine. We’ll just have to make the payoff that much better,” Jake countered.
“Umm, speaking of which,” Spike interjected. “We should really get over there. Pinkie Pie’s already here, and she looks like she’s gonna explode if she doesn’t get started soon.”
“Alright, is Starlight out of the castle?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah, she just left,” Spike responded.
“Let’s get to work, then,” Jake said.
The trio made their way through the halls into one of the many, large closets within the castle. Inside was a bunch of streamers, an assortment of cakes, a number of neatly wrapped gifts, and a pink pony, who looked like she was, in fact, about to explode.
“She’s gonna blow!” Spike yelled.
Thinking quick, Jake grabbed a nearby pillow and held it up to Pinkie Pie’s muzzle. “Scream into this.”
Pinkie stuffed her muzzle into the pillow and let loose. Jake had trouble keeping the pillow in front of Pinkie, but held firm.
Once Pinkie finished screaming, Jake dropped the now ruined pillow.
“Feel better now?” Twilight asked.
“Yepperooni. Now let’s get to work!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“You three start moving the decorations into the foyer. I’ll round up our friends and make sure Starlight stays out of the castle,” Twilight instructed.
Starlight walked through Ponyville, looking for Trixie’s wagon, but she couldn’t find the cyan unicorn anywhere.
“I still can’t believe they forgot my birthday,” Starlight mumbled to herself.
After a few more hours of searching, Starlight just gave up and went to one of her favorite resting spots. It was a hill just on the edge of Ponyville, overlooking the town on one side and a lake on the other. It also just so happened to be the place where she started to fall in love with Jake.
The thought brought a tiny smile to Starlight’s lips, almost causing her to forget about what was bothering her, but not quite.
“Guess I can’t be too upset. It’s not like I’ve celebrated any of my other birthdays,” she groaned to herself.
She spent a few minutes just looking out at the lake, running happy memories with Jake and Twilight through her head, before getting up and going back through town.
She was halfway through the village when she finally heard the voice she was looking for. “Starlight! I was looking for you everywhere!”
Starlight gasped and looked to where the voice was coming from. “Trixie!”
Trixie ran through the crown of ponies and embraced Starlight with both of her hooves. “I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long; my schedule got really out of control.”
“It’s fine. I’m just so happy to see you again,” Starlight replied. When she broke the hug, however, she noticed something was missing from the magician. “Where’s your cloak? And you wagon?”
“Oh, there parked right behind that building over there,” Trixie answered, pointing to the popular store of Quills and Sofas. “Wanna go catch up? I have snacks~”
Starlight giggled at her friend’s playful antics. “Sure, I could use a bite.”
The pair walked around to the back of the store to where Trixie said her wagon was. Once there, Trixie laid out a blanket and got some tea cakes.
“What, are we having a picnic all of the sudden?” Starlight joked.
Trixie chuckled along with her friend. “Sure. Here, try some.”
Starlight took a tea cake in her magic and took a bite. “Delicious!”
“Thanks...Appleoosa, 15 bits for 5,” Trixie responded.
Starlight rolled her eyes and finished her tea cake.
“So, what’s been going on with you?” Trixie asked out of the blue.
Starlight took a breath to say something, but stopped herself. ’Should I really tell her?’
“Something wrong?” Trixie asked with a concerned tone of voice
“I-It’s nothing. There’s nothing going on with me,” Starlight tried to assure Trixie.
The performer, however, rested a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Like I said before: you can tell me anything.”
“Alright, there is something. You see, when I woke up this morning, Twilight and Jake kinda...forgot it was my birthday-“
“Oh my Celestia, it’s your birthday?!” Trixie asked in excitement. “Wait, your herd forgot?!”
“It’s not that big a deal,” Starlight said.
“Starlight, what are you talking about? It’s your birthday; it’s a huge deal!” Trixie countered.
“Well, don’t ponies ever forget your birthday?” Starlight re-countered.
“Well, yeah, but I’m always on the road. You live in a castle! With the Princess of Friendship, no less!” Trixie re-re-countered.
“W-Well...” Starlight tried to re-re-re-counter.
“Are you trying to tell me that you have no problem that your own herd forgot about your birthday?” Trixie cut off.
Starlight actually thought about the question before she answered. “I guess it kinda hurts a little.”
“That’s it. I will be right back, and then we’re gonna go give those two a piece of our minds,” Trixie said before storming off.
“Trixie wait!” Starlight said, but made no attempt to stop the unicorn.
Trixie was walking to Sugarcube Corner with a vengeance.
“The nerve of that Twilight. Even I wouldn’t forget somepony’s birthday like that, let alone my best friend’s,” Trixie said aloud, not caring who heard her.
Once inside Trixie quickly calmed down and walked up to the counter. “Hi, I need five chocolate cupcakes and a candle.”
Mrs. Cake typed the order in on her register. “Okay, dearie, that’ll be six bits.”
Trixie payed Mrs. Cake and hummed a tune while waiting for her order.
Suddenly, there was a bright *flash* accompanied by a loud *pop* of magic. “Trixie!”
Trixie turned her head around to see Twilight Sparkle. “You! How dare you forget Starlight’s birthday?!”
“Trixie, you have to listen to me-“ Twilight tried to say.
“You and I may not get along, but it is completely unacceptable for you to forget your own student’s birthday!” Trixie cut off.
“Trixie, you don’t understand-“
“No, you don’t understand. Just because you may or may not have gone without birthday’s doesn’t-“
“Trixie, of course, I didn’t forget her birthday!” Twilight this time cut off.
Trixie just stared in shocked silence.
“Look, my friends and I have been planning this for weeks. We were going to pretend not to remember, but secretly set up without Starlight knowing. We would’ve let you in on it, but none of us had any idea how to find you,” Twilight explained.
“Ooooooooooohhhhh, that’s genius. Sorry I get mad like that,” Trixie said.
“It’s fine,” Twilight waved off. “But I need you to keep Starlight out of the castle until we’re done setting up.”
“Sure. How long do you think that’ll take?” Trixie asked.
“Anywhere from ten minutes to half an hour. Just keep starlight occupied, and I give you some sort of signal to let you know it’s ready.”
“Can do,” Trixie replied.
A few minutes later, Trixie returned to her wagon with five cupcakes, one of which had a candle.
“Happy birthday to you~” Trixie sang.
Starlight turned a little red at the gesture. “Come on, Trixie. You didn’t have to do this.”
“Hush, I’m not finished,” Trixie responded. “Happy birthday to you~”
Starlight felt both embarrassed and flattered at her friend’s actions.
“Happy birthday dear Starlight~” Trixie continued, pulling forth the cupcake with the candle.
“Happy birthday to you!~” Trixie finished.
Starlight blew out the candle and laughed, Trixie quickly joining in.
“Seriously, you didn’t have to. I really am fine,” Starlight said between laughs.
Trixie calmed down and answered, “Nonsense! You’re my friend, and apparently nopony else remembered.”
Starlight suddenly felt like crying. “Thank you so much, Trixie.”
“Of course,” Trixie replied. She then looked past Starlight and nodded at something.
Starlight looked behind her to see what Trixie was nodding at, but didn’t see anything. “What was that?”
“What was what?” Trixie asked.
“That thing you just nodded at, over there,” Starlight answered.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but enough talk! You and I are going straight to that castle. And you’re gonna give that princess a piece of your mind!” Trixie said, basically ignoring the question.
“A piece of my mind? I’m not mad at Twilight and Jake, just a little-“
“I won’t have any of it. Forgetting one’s birthday is unacceptable. Come on, now,” Trixie countered, heading away from the wagon.
Starlight rolled her eyes and groaned. “Castle’s the other way.”
Trixie quickly changed directions without even looking at Starlight. “I knew that.”
The pair of unicorns were now at the front castle doors, Starlight trying to get out of the inevitable confrontation she was about to have with her herd.
“Right inside,” Trixie said, opening the doors.
“For the millionth time, Trixie, it’s not that big a deal!” Starlight tried to say one last time.
Trixie rolled her eyes, walked around to Starlight’s flank, and shoved her inside the castle foyer. Inside, Starlight took a look around. There were streamers all over the place, a few gifts here and there, and a hue banner that read ‘Happy Birthday, Starlight!’.
Before Starlight could say anything to Trixie, all of Starlight’s friends, Sunburst included, jumped out of various hiding spots, and yelled, “Surprise.”
Starlight jumped and nearly teleported herself out of the castle. “W-Wait, you guys didn’t forget?”
“Forget?! Of course not! We were just pretending, so the party would have a bigger effect,” Jake explained.
“Quite frankly, I’m surprised Pinkie Pie didn’t give us away,” Twilight added.
“So...you guys were just acting this morning?” Starlight asked, still not sure what was going on.
“Of course we were. We’ve been planning this for weeks. We’d never really forget your birthday,” Jake assured.
Starlight struggled to hold in a laugh while turning to Trixie. “Were you in on this?”
“Not at first, but then Twilight told me about it, and I just went along,” Trixie answered.
Starlight looked back at all the decorations and started to laugh. By the time she lost it, so did all of her friends.
“Y-You guys are the best. You even got Sunburst to come in from the Crystal Empire?,” Starlight said once she started to calm down.
“Are you kidding? This was my idea!” Sunburst replied.
“Enough chit-chat, let’s party!” Pinkie shouted.
A few hours later, pretty much everypony had gone home. Sunburst got a last minute ticket to take him back to the Crystal Empire, after wishing Starlight a happy birthday for about the tenth time that day. Trixie had gone back to her wagon, taking a cupcake with her.
It was now just Starlight, Twilight, Jake, and Spike. The guys had done most of the cleaning, while Twilight had tended to Rainbow Dash, who had gone way too far with the sweets.
“Thank you, again. This has been, by far, my best birthday ever,” Starlight thanked. She was wearing the silver half-heart necklace Jake have bought her for Hearths Warming. He had gotten in shined and engraved to say: ‘To Starlight, my first love’. She swore to never take it off.
“Don’t mention it. This was a lot of fun to pull off. Sorry if we took it a bit too far with the antiquing thing,” Twilight responded.
“About that. Jake, would you have actually gone antiquing with Twilight on any other day?” Starlight asked.
Jake shook his head. “Nope, I kinda can’t stand it.”
“That makes two of us,” Starlight agreed.
Spike stood up and stretched his arms, giving a yawn in the process. “Well, guys, I’m gonna turn in. I hope you enjoyed your party, Starlight.”
“I did. Goodnight,” Starlight responded.
“Night, Spike,” Jake called out.
“*yawn* I think I’m gonna go to bed too. Goodnight, guys,” Twilight said, getting up to leave. “Oh, and Jake, not too loud,” she added with a wink.
“I’ll try to keep it down,” Jake chuckled.
“Not too loud?” Starlight asked.
“Come on, let’s get to bed first,” Jake said, standing up and offering his hand.
Starlight took it, and the two walked to the unicorn’s room. Once there, Jake got under the covers and patted the bed next to him, inventing Starlight to join him. She eagerly did and laid down to cuddle with him.
“Hoooold on there a second,” Jake said, pulling her up to her haunches.
Starlight was confused, but sat up anyhow.
“I know I’ve said it about a million times today, but happy birthday,” Jake said.
Starlight chuckled. “Thanks. Never gets old, though.”
Jake chuckled as well before he continued. “Look, I know I’ve been spending a lot of time with Twilight lately, and I wanna make up for that.”
“It’s no problem. You and Twilight have way more history between you two,” Starlight responded.
“But still, like your necklace says; you were my first love, and I’m gonna show you just how much I really love you,” Jake countered.
Starlight felt herself go a little red. “What exactly did Twilight mean when she said ‘not too loud’?”
“Oh that? She was talking about my second gift to you,” Jake answered.
Starlight felt her breath hitch and her body begin to shake with excitement and anticipation. “W-Which is?”
Jake, instead of answering, cupped Starlight’s cheeks in his hands and gave a deep, warm, intimate kiss, laying her down on the bed in the process.
“Now’s not the time to ask questions,” Jake said, laying over Starlight, caressing body. “Now’s just to time to enjoy what I have planned.”