"I can't believe Spitfire's birthday is tomorrow." Sun Chaser murmured as they gathered in the rec room.
"All the more reason we have to have everything ready." Soarin replied, picking up his clipboard.
"Right, let's go over this one more time." Rainbow added, looking over Soarin's shoulder.
"Let's see...Thunderlane, you're on food prep." Soarin said, and he nodded.
"I'm gonna make a huge cake, don't worry. There'll be enough for everypony." Thunderlane said
"Good. Sun Chaser, High Winds, your jobs are to hang the streamers."
"We'll do great. We already have the streamers, they're orange and yellow, Spitfire's favorite colors." High Winds replied.
"Okay, that leaves the rest of us to get gifts and set up. Surprise, are you all set with the rest of the decorations?" Soarin asked
"Yep! Rainbow convinced her friend Pinkie Pie to loan me her confetti cannons! Wanna see?!" Surprise asked
"We should wait until the actual-" Surprise set off the cannons with a loud boom. Soarin spat out a bit of the colored paper. "-party." he finished, as Rainbow laughed.
"Sorry." Surprise apologized. Soarin sighed, shaking his head to get the confetti out.
"It's fine." he muttered, looking back down at his checklist. "I think that's everything."
"Except for one thing." High Winds objected. They all looked to where she was sitting on one of the couches. "We still don't know exactly what Spitfire wants."
"What I want for what?" Spitfire came in, Fleetfoot behind her.
"For your birthday silly!" Surprise said.
"Oh, right. That." Spitfire sighed and looked away from them.
"What's wrong?" Sun Chaser asked.
"Nothing. It's not important. As for what I want, you can just get me anything you think I'd like. I have to go." Spitfire turned and left the room, ears drooping.
"Fleet, what's wrong with her?" Rainbow asked
"I don't know. I'll find out. How'th the party going?" Fleetfoot asked
"It's going to be great." Soarin replied, standing. "We just need you to keep Spitfire distracted while we set up."
"That won't be a problem. I think if I turn off her alarm she'll thleep for a little longer than normal, and then I can take her flying." Fleetfoot assured him.
The next day, they were setting up in the mess hall. Fleetfoot paced around, circling the table that the cake was on.
"Devil's food, her favorite, with blue and yellow frosting and orange fire designs. I hope she likes it, it took me hours to make and apply the frosting." Thunderlane said, taking off his chef's hat.
"It lookth great Thunder. I'm going to wake up Thpitfire." Fleetfoot sniffled a little, then turned to leave.
"Remember, whatever you do, make sure to bring her here by eleven." Soarin replied
"I know Thoarin, I know." Fleetfoot responded, heading away.
She was caught off balance as Rumble, Scootaloo, and Sparkfire raced in. They were heading straight for the food. Thunderlane stepped in their path, blocking the table from them. Rumble crashed into him, Scootaloo and Sparkfire crashing into Rumble.
"Step away from my cake." Thunderlane warned
"Don't you mean my sister's cake?" Sparkfire asked, and Thunderlane turned to the cake with a sigh.
"I wish I did. Now get back!" he extended his wings and pushed them back.
"Fine. But I'll try one of those cookies!" Rumble shot past him and snatched a cookie off the table.
"No, wait!" Thunderlane cried.
"Oh quit it bro, one cookie's not going to make a difference."
Rumble bit into it before anyone could say anything. Rumble chewed for a minute, then gasped and dropped the cookie, sputtering and choking.
"Rumble, what's wrong?" Scootaloo asked
"Water!" he gasped
"I tried to tell you little bro. Those cookies are ones we set aside for Spitfire. They've got hot peppers in them." Thunderlane said, picking up the cookie and tossing it into the nearby trash can.
"Can I have one?" Sparkfire asked, and they all stared at her, except for Rumble, who had run off into the kitchen for water. "What? I love hot peppers. Spitfire's the one that eats them more often but I like them too."
"Sure, why not." Thunderlane gave her a cookie and then turned back to the decorations.
Fleetfoot went into Spitfire's room. She was snuggled under the covers, fast asleep. Fleetfoot smiled and nuzzled Spitfire affectionately.
"Thpitfire, wake up."
"Mmm, go 'way." Spitfire rolled over.
"Thpitty, it'th morning."
"G' morning." Spitfire grunted, turning again. Fleetfoot sniffed and put a hoof on Spitfire's shoulder.
"Happy birthday..."
"To whoever. G'night." Spitfire muttered
"Thilly mare, get up!" Fleetfoot pulled the blankets off her, and Spitfire finally opened her eyes.
"Morning Fleety." Spitfire sighed "How much longer was I sleeping for?" Spitfire asked, stretching.
"Don't know, about an hour later than normal? Anyway, happy birthday." Fleetfoot pecked her on the cheek. Spitfire sighed and looked away.
"Right. Sorry Fleety, it's just...I haven't felt like celebrating my birthday ever since Smoke..." Spitfire's eyes filled with tears, and Fleetfoot nuzzled her gently.
"That'th okay Thpitty. How about you and I jutht go for a nice flight together?" Fleetfoot suggested, then sniffled and rubbed her nose.
"Are you okay?" Spitfire put a hoof on Fleetfoot's cheek. "You're a little warm."
"I'm fine. Now come on Thpitty, let'th go flying." Fleetfoot said, and Spitfire sighed.
"Okay then. I guess that could be fun. Should we ask the others to join us?"
"No, they're...buthy today, don't know with what-ah-choo!" Fleetfoot sneezed into her hoof as they left the room.
"Fleety..." Spitfire said, but she shook her head.
"I'm fine. Come on!"
The two mares left HQ and took off, flying into the sky. They flew around for a while, racing each other and doing tricks. They eventually came to rest on a cloud. Spitfire sighed, curling her legs underneath her body and looking out at the blue sky. Fleetfoot sat down beside her, resting her head on Spitfire's shoulder.
"We were sitting here two months ago, remember? You were telling me you loved me." Spitfire said, and Fleetfoot giggled, nuzzling her.
"I thtill do." Fleetfoot replied, and Spitfire smiled at her
"I know."
"Tho, do you want to head back to HQ?" Fleetfoot asked, coughing a little.
"Not until you tell me what's wrong." Spitfire said, taking her hoof.
"What do you mean? I'm fi-ih-ah-choo!" Spitfire held out her hooves and Fleetfoot snuggled into her. Spitfire put her muzzle to Fleetfoot's forehead.
"Fleet, you're burning up. Come on, I should take you to bed." Spitfire said
"Can't...I don't want to ruin...anything." Fleetfoot mumbled sleepily, cuddling into Spitfire's fur. She gasped, realizing she'd almost revealed the surprise.
"Fleet, you're delirious, you need rest. Let's go." Spitfire helped Fleetfoot to stand, then took off, holding her in her hooves.
Spitfire landed at HQ, going inside while supporting Fleetfoot. Fleetfoot shook herself to get her senses back and stumbled forwards. She needed to give Spitfire this day. She had to do this right. It must be nearly eleven.
"Thpitty, can we go into the methth hall?" Fleetfoot asked
"What? No, we need to get you into bed honey." Spitfire objected, putting a wing on her back.
"Pleathe?" Fleetfoot pressed, pulling away from Spitfire's wing.
"Okay then." Spitfire reluctantly agreed, pushing open the door.
"Happy Birthday!" the others called, and Spitfire gasped, turning to look at Fleetfoot.
"This is why you were trying to say you were fine, wasn't it?" Spitfire asked.
"Yeah. Happy birthday baby-ah-choo!" Fleetfoot sneezed again and coughed into her foreleg.
"Fleet, you okay? You were fine earlier." Blaze said
"I'm okay. I jutht want Thpitfire to have a good day." Fleetfoot said, pecking her girlfriend on the cheek. "I can go to bed if you really want me to, jutht thtay here and have a good time."
"No way. I won't be able to have a good time knowing you're sick. I'm taking you to bed myself." Spitfire said
"Yeah, don't worry about all this Fleet, I can put the cake and cookies in the fridge. Though I might need some help moving it." Thunderlane glanced at Silver Zoom and Wave Chill, who nodded and went to the cake.
"We'll leave the decorations up. If you're feeling better tomorrow, we can still have a party." Misty added
"Thith ith thuppothed to be Thpitfire'th party." Fleetfoot mumbled, and Spitfire smiled kindly at her.
"Fleety, I can't have a party unless you're there with me. You did a great job, but now you need me." Spitfire replied, nuzzling her. Fleetfoot sighed and nodded in understanding.
"Okay. Ah-choo!" Feetfoot ducked her head and sneezed into her foreleg again.
"Come on honey, bed." Spitfire wrapped her wing over Fleetfoot and led her out of the room.
Spitfire helped Fleetfoot lie down in bed, and she sighed.
"I'm thorry baby. I jutht wanted you to have a good birthday. We've been through a lot. You detherve it." Fleetfoot sighed, and Spitfire sat down on the bed, smiling.
"Honey, you gave me the best birthday present ever." Spitfire helped Fleetfoot sit up, then pulled the blanket around her shoulders. Fleetfoot leaned against Spitfire, eyes closing slightly.
"What do you mean? I didn't give you anything." Fleetfoot murmured
"Yes, you did. You letting me take care of you is the only gift I need." Spitfire then kissed her forehead gently. Fleetfoot smiled and wrapped her hooves around Spitfire, snuggling into her.
"I love you Thpitty. Happy birthday."
"I love you too Fleety."