//------------------------------// // Flashback: Hearts And Hooves Day // Story: If You Hear Me, Let Me Know // by SolidFire //------------------------------// Flashback: Hearts and Hooves Day 7 Years ago... Lightning landed powerfully on the front porch of the Dash home, sending bits of cloud in a wide arc around him. He checked his saddlebags to make sure Scootaloo's gift was still inside. He had checked four times on the way, but one could never be too sure. The young stallion pushed open the door to his marefriend's home. Rainbow and Spitfire weren't home. Rainbow had surprised Spitfire with a trip to Manehatten as a Hearts and Hooves Day present, and they had left just that morning. Lightning immediately felt a pang of sympathy for the ponies in hotel rooms near that of Scootaloo's parents. Lightning noticed that something else was missing from the home. Where in the hay was Scootaloo? She had told Lightning to meet her at her house. It was then that Lightning heard a slow, romantic melody coming from the direction of Scootaloo's room. He facehoofed. Should've known, he thought with a smile. He walked to her room and noticed something odd. Scootaloo wasn't playing her guitar. The music was coming from a set of speakers on her nightstand. That's not good. As soon as Lightning finished that thought he was sent sprawling to the ground by the mare he had come looking for. The two shared a kiss before either of them spoke. "Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Lightning." "Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Scootaloo." Scootaloo and Lightning smiled and kissed again. Scootaloo let herself relax and she buried herself in Lightning's embrace. Lightning stretched his wings and wrapped them around her back. "I can't believe how much has happened in the last five months," Scootaloo began. "With Steel, Jade..." Scootaloo reflexively put a hoof to her right ear. Lightning cringed. He was still having difficulty getting used to that. "I'm just happy you were here to help me through it all." Lightning smiled. "I'm not going anywhere, Scoot. No matter what happens. I promise." The two young lovers shared another kiss. "I love you Lightning." "I love you too, Scootaloo." Scootaloo shook a little. That had become the known sign for Lightning to release her from his wing's grip. He unfolded his wings and she got up. "I didn't have the money to buy you anything, so I made you something instead," Scootaloo said as she took Lightning's hoof and lead him to the kitchen. In the kitchen was one of the most delicious looking cakes Lightning had ever set eyes on. The left side was frosted deep blue and bore Scootaloo's Cutie Mark. The other side was orange and bore Lightning's. Lightning licked his lips. Scootaloo laughed. "So, what do I get?" she asked and batted her eyelashes at him. Lightning smiled and set down his saddlebags. He reached in and brought out a small, felt lined box. Scootaloo gasped when he opened it. Inside was a necklace. The pendant was an engraving of a picture the two ponies had taken together. Scootaloo was speechless. "How did you... wha... Ohmygosh, Lightning, this must have cost a fortune!" Lightning laughed. "You're worth every bit." Lightning had dropped out of school to start his racing career. The signing bonus he received gave him a good deal of bits to work with. Lightning removed the necklace from the box and placed it over Scootaloo's head. The pendant fell right next to the locket Scootaloo was already wearing. Scootaloo looked down and frowned. She removed the locket from her neck and held it in front of her face. "Something wrong, Scoot?" "This locket... I wanted to wear it every day as a reminder of my mother," she murmured. Lightning sat on his haunches next to Scootaloo. She sat down and leaned into him. "But I think it's time I stopped wearing it." Lightning gave Scootaloo a worried glance. "Are you sure? I thought you were going to wear that to the grave." "I was going to. But what you just gave me... I need to focus on what I have now, not what's absent from my life. And what I have now is the best stallion I could ever hope to get my hooves on." Scootaloo gently set the necklace down on the counter. Lightning smiled and kissed Scootaloo. "I'm flattered, Scoot. Now what do you say we dig into this cake?" Scootaloo smiled. "May as well eat it while it's hot." Some time later, the kitchen was littered with pieces of cake. The process of eating it had turned into an all out war after Scootaloo shoved Lightning's face into his first slice. The young couple was rolling around on the floor in a fit of laughter. "Maybe we should get cleaned up," Lightning suggested. "Good idea," Scootaloo replied. A sly smile passed her lips. "And seeing as we're alone, we could share the shower and not get caught." "Woah, Scoot. Let's keep it clean." "Who said anything about sex? You're just so hot when you're wet." "I'll take that as a compliment," Lightning said, chuckling as he got up. He helped Scootaloo to her hooves and wrapped a wing around her back. The couple made their way to the bathroom. "It's a good thing Twilight was home. Her and Mac are always so happy to babysit Steel," Scootaloo said. "Yeah. I wonder how long it will be before they have a foal of their own," Lightning wondered aloud. "At this rate, not long. Is... is that a note on the bathroom door?" Lightning looked up. There was a note on the bathroom door. Judging by the sloppy writing, it had obviously been left by Rainbow. Lightning and Scootaloo both facehoofed as soon as they read the note. Dear Lovebirds Use Protection Love, Ma