//------------------------------//
// Chapter 20: Hearts & Hooves, Part 1: An Old Friend 
// Story: The Night Janitor 
// by Knox Locke 
//------------------------------//

Today was the day. It was Hearts & Hooves Day, and Knox had decided he was finally going to tell Pinkie Pie how he felt. He'd already left nothing to chance. He'd scheduled a picnic with Pinkie at lunchtime, and he was already sitting there among her favorite baked goods. About twenty minutes after Pinkie should've been there, however, Pinkie's pet alligator Gummy seemingly materialized out of thin air behind him. He had no idea how long the toothless alligator had been there or how he'd gotten there to begin with, but Gummy was always so quiet. He could've been sitting behind Knox the whole time, and he wouldn't have even known it. Clenched in his toothless maw was a note from Pinkie Pie.

The note read:

'I'm so, so sorry Knox, but I can't make it to the picnic.
An old friend just got into town, and they'll only be here for today!
You understand, right?
Sorry again! Happy Hearts & Hooves Day!
Your Friend,
Pinkie Pie  





"Let's just see who this friend of yours is," said Knox to nopony in particular. He was currently hiding in the bushes outside Sugarcube Corner, waiting for Pinkie to come out with the friend she'd ditched him for. He had to know what he was up against.

"Ponyville has changed quite a bit since you were here last," he heard Pinkie Pie's voice saying, "Let me show you all the new sights!"

The door opened, and out walked Pinkie. She was followed closely by somepony Knox had never seen before. His coat was a really weird shade of yellow, and his brown mane was somewhat similar to Pinkie's poofy, pink one. He was wearing a yellow shirt, too.

"C'mon, Cheese Sandwich," shouted Pinkie, "Don't you wanna have some fun?"

"Of course!" her yellow-ish friend yelled in response.

'Cheese Sandwich...' This was the name of the stallion who had stolen Knox's spotlight. This was the name of his adversary.

Knox continued following the two ponies, making sure to stay out of sight as Pinkie led Cheese zipping around from one location to another. They visited the School of Friendship, the princess' old castle, and Maud's cavern. Then, they went to Sweet Feather Sanctuary.

They were laughing and smiling with each other the whole time. This was worse than he thought. Cheese Sandwich was worrying. Spending time with him seemed to be making Pinkie so happy. And he was so much like her... So unlike him.

While they were sitting on a ledge overlooking the animal sanctuary, Cheese wrapped one of his hooves around Pinkie's shoulder.

Knox had planned to ask Pinkie to be his special somepony that very morning! And now this stallion who didn't even live in Ponyville was trying to steal away his chance. Well, he wasn't going to just stand here and take it! He was seething with anger. He felt that same fiery rage he'd felt when he attacked Gallus. It was welling up within him.

However, he knew better than to attack Cheese. For one thing, if he attacked her friend, he could forget about any chance he had with Pinkie. More importantly, if he lashed out like that, they could take Cozy Glow away from him!

'Cozy Glow...' he thought to himself. 'That's it!'

If Knox was going to get past the seemingly insurmountable obstacle that was Cheese Sandwich, he was going to need a plan... and he knew exactly who could help him.