The next day, Fire Heart wakes up with a yawn and stretches his legs.
“Well, that certainly was an interesting first night in town. It’s not every day you meet a beautiful mare, and one that is related to your best friend in all of Equestria. I will ask her out, yes I will, but first, I must write to Briar. She has the right to know.” He says to himself and makes his way down the corridor to the bar.
On his way there, he bumps into Speed Lane and they begin chatting.
“Would you like to meet my brother?” Speed Lane asks, “He may even be able to help you search for your parents.”
Fire Heart smiles and says, “Yeah sure, I’ll take any help I can get.”
“So, are you going to ask Rosebud out today?” Speed Lane asks, giving Fire Heart a gentle shove.
“I am yes, but not today, first I must write to her cousin Briar”
“Why? Surely you wouldn’t need Briar’s permission or anything.”
Fire Heart laughs heartedly and replies, “Well it just so happens that I pretty much grew up with Briar, she and I are really close friends, I’d even say she was my best friend in all of Equestria, so I thought that she has the right to know.”
“Ok, well best of luck with it. I’ll let you know when my brother arrives.
Reaching the bar, Speed Lane says his farewell to Fire Heart and leaves the inn.
Fire Heart, watches his new friend leave, sits down at a vacant table and gets out his quill and ink from his saddlebags. Rosebud looks up from the bar and notices Fire Heart, she heaves a sigh, puts away the glass she had just finished washing and walks over to him.
“Good morning, love.” She says as she walks over to him.
Fire Heart looks up from his writing, “Morning” he simply replies, sighing.
Rosebud hears the sigh and drapes her front hooves over his shoulders, “Why are you sighing, darling?” She asks, leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek.
“I was just thinking about last night” Fire Heart says, trying to smile.
“What about it, love? And did you really mean what you said about me?” Rosebud asks.
“Well, I was thinking about how you helped me to feel better, and yes, I meant and still mean every word I said.” Fire Heart looks up and into Rosebud’s violet eyes.
“Oh darling!” She exclaims, “So, what are you doing? Who are you writing to?”
Fire Heart puts down his quill and holds onto Rosebud’s hooves, which are still draped over his shoulders, “Well, I’m writing to Briar, to tell her about my feelings for you.”
“Ok then, will you say hi to her for me, please?” Rosebud asks with a small smile.
Fire Heart smiles, “I will, did you know, that growing up, Briar was my only and best friend?”
“Yes, she told me all about you two. I’m glad that you two are best friends. She told me that you were her only friend too.”
Fire Heart sighs, “I’m afraid it was because of me. If she hadn’t befriended me and stood up for me, she would have had lots of friends.”
Rosebud smiles, “its ok, she told me that she liked it that way, she preferred to have one best friend and not friends who would use and abuse her. Well, I’d better let you get back to your letter. You know where to find me if you need me.”
“Thank you, and it’s nearly done anyway, I just need to send it.”
Rosebud gives Fire Heart a kiss on the cheek and goes back to tending to the other patrons.
Fire Heart finishes writing his letter and leaves the Inn to mail it, on his way back he meets up with Speed Lane again. Speed Lane excitedly tells Fire Heart that his brother will arriving at the Inn soon, and that he has some news about Fire Heart’s parents. Fire Heart thanks him and mentions that he had just finished writing and mailing his letter to Briar.
As they reach the Inn, they are greeted by Speed Lane’s brother.
“Speed Lane, come here little buddy!” Speed Lane’s brother says, giving him a big hug.
Speed Lane tries to wriggle out of the hug and laughs, “Fire Heart, this big dolt here is my brother, Bright Streak.”
Fire Heart reaches out a hoof and Bright Streak shakes it vigorously, “Hello Fire Heart, my sap of a brother here, has told me about you. I’ve got news on your parents.”
Fire Heart smiles and asks what the news is, Bright Streak then goes on to tell him that his parents, or at least, two ponies matching the description of his parents were indeed seen in Canterlot, but they had left, to go to Manehatten.
Fire Heart thanks Bright Streak and Speed Lane, and says that he must go to see if he can catch up to them and rushes to see Rosebud and tell her the news.
“Rosebud! Rosebud!” He shouts excitedly,
Rosebud asks Fire Heart to slow down, he does and tells her about his parents being in Manehatten, and that he must go see if he can catch up with them.
“But you will come back, won’t you?” She asks him sadly,
Fire Heart gives her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and tells her that if he couldn’t stay away for too long, even if he wanted to. Rosebud kisses him on the cheek, gives him a hug and says that she hopes that they are his parents, and that he does catch up to them.
Fire Heart thanks her and goes to his room to collect his saddlebags. On his way out, he gives the key to his room back to Rosebud, kisses her on the cheek and makes his way out of the Inn.
Speed Lane and Bright Streak are still there, they block his path.
“Come on guys, I’ve gotta get to the train station, to get to Manehatten and catch up with my parents.”
They both smile, “We know, but we have a quicker way to get there.” Speed Lane says.
“Well then what is it? I don’t want to miss them.” Fire Heart says a little irritated and impatiently.
They explain to him that they have been talking to Princess Celestia, and that she has offered for him to use the Chariot to get there quicker. Fire Heart, shocked but ecstatic about it, asks if they are sure, as it is for royalty, and he certainly isn’t royalty.
He hears a voice behind him,
“It is dear, but finding your parents, is a very important matter, and so I have given my permission.”
He turns around and is greeted by Princess Celestia smiling,
He bows down low and exclaims, “Princess! Thank you!”
Princess Celestia smiles and lifts his chin up with a hoof, “Finding one’s parents, is a very important matter. Now you should leave now, lest you miss them again!”
Fire Heart thanks Princess Celestia once more and boards the chariot to go to Manehatten.
After what seemed to be a very long flight in the chariot, Fire Heart finally reaches Manehatten. Thanking Bright Streak, Speed Lane and Princess Celestia, he jumps off of the chariot and begins his search for his parents. With his mind concentrating on searching for his parents, he doesn’t watch where he is going and bumps into another pony. A green Pegasus with a dark red mane and tail.
“Hey watch it!” The green Pegasus says grumpily, as he turns around to see who it was that bumped into him. Fire Heart pulls himself up off the floor, adjusts his glasses and apologizes.
The Pegasus simply shakes his head at him, “I’m Slava Medik” the Pegasus says and walks off.
“Hey wait up! I need to ask you something?”
Slava turns around and with a harsh tone in his voice replies, “What is it then? I haven’t got all day?”
Fire Heart a little put off by the harshness in Slava’s voice, but still determined to find his parents, tells Slava about his parents disappearing when he was young and about his search for them. He takes out a photo of them, the only one he had, and asks Slava if he has seen them. Slava shakes his head and tells Fire Heart that he hasn’t seen anypony that looked like ones in the photo, and walks off.
Fire Heart chases after him, and shouts,
“Hey, wait now. Why are you so mean?”
Slava turns around sharply and replies, “I’m not mean, and I just don’t need anypony! I like being left alone!”
“Oh come on, that can’t be true!” Fire Heart replies with a sad look on his face.
“Well it is!” Slava shouts at him and walks off again.
Deciding that it isn’t good to be alone, he chases after Slava, overtakes him and stands in front of him and says, “It isn’t good to be alone, trust me, I know, I grew up with only one friend, my entire life!”
Slava, who is still rather annoyed with Fire Heart replies, “You’re persistent aren’t you?
“Well, is there any other way to be?” He asks, smiling and reaching out a hoof to shake.
“Very well,” Slava says, shaking Fire Heart’s hoof, “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have at least one friend.”
“That’s the spirit!” Fire Heart says heartily
“Come to think of it,” Slava says, “I may not have seen your parents, but my parents may have. Would you like to meet them?”
Fire Heart who is excited about the possibility of finally finding his parents accepts Slava’s invitation. On their way to Slava’s parents’ house, they begin chatting on what it was like to be growing up alone, and Fire Heart tells Slava about his love for the Prancing Pony Inn’s Inn Keeper, Rosebud Thorns. Slava slaps him on the back and encourages him to go ask her out.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Slava asks with a whimsical look on his face
“What if she says no? Or what if her cousin doesn’t want me going out with her?” Fire Heart replies with a sad look on his face.
“Hey, come on, from what you’ve told me, I am sure that Rosebud would say yes! And in regards to her cousin, I am sure she would be thrilled that her best and only friend is dating her cousin.” They soon reach Slava’s parents’ house and Slava opens the door.
“Mum, dad! I’m home!” He shouts to seemingly nopony in the house.
Slava’s mother rushes down the stairs,
“Slava! It’s so good to see you!” She exclaims giving him a big hug, “You’re father is in the living room.”
Slava hugs his mother back and says with a smile,
“I’ve brought a friend with me too.”
“That’s wonderful dear, why don’t you two go to the living room and I’ll go put the kettle on.”
Slava walks into the living room to be greeted by his father.
“Hello son, and who is this with you?” He asks with a smile on his face and adjust his glasses so he can see Fire Heart better.
A shocked gasp escapes Slava’s father’s mouth,
“HONEY! COME HERE!” He shouts to Slava’s mother.
“Coming dear.” She says, walking into the living room with a tray of biscuits and tea. She sees Fire Heart and drops the tray.
“Mother, Father? What is it?” Slava asks, a bit surprised at the reactions of his parents upon seeing Fire Heart.
“I’m sorry dear, it’s just that your friend looks very familiar.” Slava’s mother says, turning to Fire Heart, she asks him, “Is your name Fire Heart, by any chance?
Fire Heart nods and then explains to them about his parents going missing when he was very young and that he had been looking for them ever since he was old enough to leave the orphanage, he then asks them how they knew his name. They explain that they actually know his parents and that they were just over there a day ago. Fire Heart just stands there, looking both dazed and sad that he just missed his parents by a day. He then regains his composure and looks around, he then notices something.
He walks up to Slava and asks to speak him privately for a moment.
Slava nods and follows him into the kitchen. Fire Heart then raises the question, why is Slava a Pegasus, while his parents are earth ponies, and asks him if they are foster parents. Slava, rather irritated at the question, argues that they are his real parents and that somewhere on his mother’s side, that there was a Pegasus, and he got lucky to be born as one. Fire Heart, nearly gives in, when he suggest that they should ask his parents, and not wanting to argue with Fire Heart anymore, Slava agrees.
They walk back into the living room.
Slava asks his parents if they are his real parents, and they ask him to sit down. After he sits down, they explain to him that they aren’t his real parents. They tell him that his real parents were too poor to look after him properly, and wanted him to live a life free of poverty, so his parents dropped him off here, as they knew he would live a good life and be looked after. Slava just looks down sadly and mumbles that he wishes that they had told him sooner. His foster parents give him a hug, and said that they wanted to, but they wanted him to ask them about it, instead of just coming out with it. Slava nods and says that he understands, but then starts crying. His foster father walks up to him and gives him a hug. He then goes on to explain to both Slava and Fire Heart that they are actually brothers.
Fire Heart’s jaw drops, and they look at each other.
“B…Brothers? You mean, that my real parents are also Fire Heart’s parents?” Slava manages to stutter.
“Yes dear, they are doing much better now, and I am sure they would love to see you. I can give you their address if you like.”
“Yes please!” Fire Heart replies.
Slava’s foster parents write down the address and gives it to Slava. Slava thanks them for all the things they have done for him and for raising him, even though he wasn’t really their son, and then sets off back to Ponyville with Fire Heart. They arrive at the train station and while waiting for the train, they both talk about what they’ve done and that they still can’t believe it that they are brothers.
Fire Heart waits patiently for Rosebud to finish getting ready for their date, and as he waits he starts thinking of what he would say to her, that he hasn’t already said to her in pony or in the note he left her.
“I hope she got the note I left her, and I hope that if she did, that she likes it.” He thinks to himself.
Just as he was about to get up and go to the book desk to check, he spots Rosebud walking down the stairs.
His jaw drops and he manages to stutter, “You look beautiful! Absolutely radiant!”
Rosebud blushes and then runs to him and gives him a hug, “Thank you love, and I got your note. I loved it! It was so beautiful and sweet!”
Fire Heart gives her a kiss on the cheek and gives her his hoof.
“So, where are we going love?” Rosebud asks him, cuddling in close as they walk.
“I was thinking of taking you this nice little restaurant I found out about.” He says, holding her hoof in his.
Rosebud says that it would be lovely and that she is really happy that he asked her out. He smiles and gives her a kiss on the cheek.
They arrive at the restaurant and Fire Heart takes Rosebud to her seat. He then tells her that he will be right back and he goes to talk to the maitre d’. After talking with him for a few minutes, he slips back to the table and takes his seat.
“What was that about?” Rosebud asks him.
“It’s a surprise.” He replies with a big grin on his face.
Rosebud smiles back at him and kisses him. A few minutes later the maitre d’ comes up and asks them what they would like to order.
“I’ll have the watercress salad please” Fire Heart says,
“I’ll have the same too please” Rosebud answers.
“Very well, and an excellent choice.” The maitre d’ says with a smile.
While waiting for their salads, Rosebud asks Fire Heart how he met Slava and how he feels about having a brother. Fire Heart replies that he just so happened to bump into Slava in Manehatten, who at first was really grumpy and harsh, but after he insisted on being friends, Slava gave in. Then they started talking and Slava took him to his foster parents’ house and then that is when they found out where his parents lived and that they were brothers.
The maitre d’ arrives with their salads and says the hope that they enjoy it. Rosebud and Fire Heart nod and say thanks the maitre d’. Rosebud starts to eat her salad, but notices something glistening in it. She takes it out, it is a pair of diamond earrings. She gasps.
“I hope you like them, my love” Fire Heart says with a glisten in his eyes.
“I…I’m speechless! They’re…They’re beautiful!” Rosebud exclaims, then starts crying.
“Honey, love. What is it? Did I do or say something wrong?” Fire Heart starts to panic
“No! No! It’s just…Nopony has ever been so nice to me. First your words last night, then the note you left me on the book desk and now these earrings…I’m just so happy I have you in my life.”
Fire Heart wipes the tears from Rosebud’s face and kisses her on the cheek.
She holds his hoof in hers and says, “You have made me the happiest mare in all of Equestria.”
Fire Heart smiles and holds her hoof tightly. They finish their salads and snuggle up in the booth, talking. Then a few minutes later, after the maitre d’ takes their plates away, a pony with a violin comes up to their table and starts playing a tune. Rosebud smiles and snuggles in closer to Fire Heart and gives him a kiss. Fire Heart just sits there, hugging Rosebud and sighs.
“What is it darling?” Rosebud asks him,
“It’s nothing love, just thinking on how this has been the best day and night of my life.” He leans in and kisses her.
“Fire Heart, sweetie. How did you know that, that was my favourite song? Did Briar tell you?”
Fire Heart smiles widely and says,
“Yes, well I thought she should know about our feelings for each other, and I also asked her what you liked.”
Rosebud snuggles closer into him, and holds his hoof to her chest.
“Do you feel that love?” She asks, moving his hoof to where her heart is.
“That’s your heartbeat.”
“Yes dear, and do you know for whom it beats for?”
Fire Heart shakes his head and says that he doesn’t know.
“It beats for you, and only for you!” Rosebud says sweetly, leaning in to give him another kiss.
Fire Heart smiles and says, “There’s one more thing.”
Rosebud looks up from snuggling him, “What is it?” She asks
“Wait until the cheque arrives.”
“Ok dear”
The maitre d’ arrives with the cheque and there’s something under it.
“What is it dear?” Rosebud asks,
“Have a look for yourself sweetheart.” Fire Heart replies with a big smile on his face.
Rosebud lifts up the cheque and under it is a matching diamond necklace. Her eyes widen with delight but then she starts crying again.
“It’s beautiful, but how could you afford it and the earrings?” She cries.
“It took nearly all of my life savings love, but it was totally worth it. I love you and I want you to know just how much I love, cherish and appreciate you!” Fire Heart replies, holding Rosebud close to him, wiping her tears away and stroking her mane.
An hour passes by and it comes to closing time for the Restaurant. Fire Heart and Rosebud walk out, hoof in hoof and snuggling close to each other. On their way back to the Inn, they bump into Princess Luna, who is on her night rounds, making sure everything is all well within Ponyville.
Fire Heart and Rosebud both bow down low.
“Rise my children. What are two young ponies such as yourselves, being out this late?”
Princess Luna asks with a smile on her face.
“Princess, we were just on the way back to the Inn from our date.” Rosebud replies.
Princess Luna smiles, “I hope it went well for the two of you.”
Fire Heart nods, “It did ma’am.”
Rosebud sighs and Princess Luna hears, “What is it dear?”
Rosebud takes out the earrings and necklace and shows them to Princess Luna.
“They’re really beautiful.” Princess Luna says with a smile, “What’s wrong?”
Rosebud sighs again, “They were really expensive, and Fire Heart spent almost all of his life’s savings on them. I…I don’t feel like I deserve them.”
Fire Heart smiles, pulls Rosebud closer to him and says, “But you do. You’re the light of my life. Scratch that, you ARE my life!”
Princess Luna smiles, says farewell and flies off, continuing her nightly rounds.
“Well that was interesting, meeting the Princess like that, wasn’t it?” Rosebud says, snuggling in close to Fire Heart.
“Yes it was dear.” He sighs.
“What’s wrong love?”
“Nothing dear, just…I just love you so much!” Fire Heart replies, looking down at his hooves.
“Oh dear, I love you too!” Rosebud tells him, lifting his chin up with a hoof, and kisses him.
They reach the Inn and say goodnight to each other and make their way to their rooms.
Seeing that Slava is already asleep, Fire Heart closes the door silently and slowly.
He lays down on his bed and thinks about Rosebud. He tosses and turns in his sleeps, but he eventually gets off to sleep.