Hearts and Hooves Day

Hearts and Hooves Day

Chapter 2: Why I hate Hearts and Hooves Day

I grabbed the door handle, pushed it down, and opened it to a hallway of the pawn shop. Down the hall were three doors with one on the left, in the middle, and right. The middle door leads to the huge warehouse where all the stuff that was put into pawn by customers are kept and other items that were purchased by Mr. Gold Bar and his family. The right door on the hallway leads to the Employee Break Room and Lounge where all my co-workers and I go in for lunch or dinner and rest for awhile for 30 minutes. The left door leads to the most busiest part of Equestrian Gem and Loan: the office area. I go through the door where I saw two Earth Ponies, three Unicorns, and a Pegasus working at the Redeem and Loan windows and Checkout windows. Unlike all pawn shops back on Earth where customers information are stored on computers, all the information from humans and ponies are stored the old fashion way: thumbprints or hooveprints; basic written info about the customer, and ID number. Across from the mares on the right was one of my human co-workers named Jeff, whose duties include customizing and cleaning all types of jewelry. Not only does he customize jewelery, but he can also melt scraps of gold and silver that can be sold for money at the pawn shop. Next to his desk is a small alcove that leads to the vault where all the money is stored and on the left side of the vault is Mr. Gold Bar's office.

I headed towards the alcove and approached the door to Mr. Gold Bar's office. I knocked on the door slightly as to not cause any commotion on what's going on the other side. I heard from behind the door the voice of the owner instructing me to enter. I opened the door to see the old stallion sitting at his desk filling out some paperwork about today's sales and inventory count. His office was decorated with plotted pants on the right side of his desk and a trophy case right next to the door displaying expensive antiques from different countries. On the left side of his office is an oil pastel painting of Mr. Gold Bar showing off his smile and a stack of bits by his right side. To top it off, the painting is displayed in between two gold statues of Canterlot's Royal Guards that the rich owner bought from Princess Celestia for 50,000,000 bits each. Whenever Mr. Gold Bar buys something that expensive, like those statues, his kids have a problem with it for the fact it's a waste of money and to them, in their opinion, it's bad business. However, whenever I witness this event unfold, I just laugh and play the “Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase's song in my head.

Money, Money, Money, Money, Monnnneeeeyyyyy!

Everypony's got a price

Everypony's gonna pay

Cause Mr. Gold Bar

Always get his way! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I walked up to Mr. Gold Bar who is still writing on his paperwork by using a pencil with his teeth.

“You wanted to see me, sir?” I asked nervously. I hope whatever he has to say has nothing to do on what just happened earlier.

Mr. Gold Bar puts his pencil down on his desk and removes his glasses with his hooves as he sets it right next to the pencil.

“Yes,” He said. “I have something really important to tell you. So I need you to listen up.”

I gulped. “Does it have something to do with that stallion Handy Tool and his marefriend earlier?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “No. I didn't bring you in here to talk about that.”

I quietly sighed in relief and felt more relaxed as I listened to what my boss has to say.

“Frank,” Mr. Gold Bar said. “You know next week is Hearts and Hooves Day, right?”

“...Yes.” I answered back. Like I wanted to be reminded of that fucking holiday. Geez, can anyone and anypony just shut up about it?!?

“Next week, we're having a Monster Deal sale during Hearts and Hooves Day here in Canterlot. Unfortunately, the store will be open from 8am – 2pm because at 5pm is the Hearts and Hooves Day Ball at Princess Celestia's Castle and therefore I need to close shop since some of my employees are heading to the event, including myself. I have a schedule for a four hour shift starting at 10am until close. Are you interested?”

A four hour shift during Hearts and Hooves Day? Hmmm...at least this sounds better than going to some stupid ball and I'm glad I don't have a date for that. For 20 bits an hour, I guess I should accept it.

“Yes,” I told him. “I'll do it.”

“Good,” Mr. Gold Bar said as he reached into his desk and took out a stack of papers. “I want you to take these fliers to the sister store down in Ponyville where my daughter works at. These papers are advertising our Monster Deal Sale next week. When you get to the store, you can clock out with a timecard and go home.”

I took the stack of papers and pulled one of the fliers out to read what it says.

This Hearts and Hooves Day!

From 8am – 2pm

Monster Deal at Equestrian Gem and Loan

Only at Canterlot's Main Store

Married Couples get 50% off of All Items

Dating couples get 30% off of All items

Singles get 20% off of All Items

Hurry while supplies last!

I put the flier back into the stack and headed towards the door. “Thank you, Mr. Gold Bar. I'll go immediately.”

“Alright,” The rich stallion said. “You go and have a nice night now. By the way, Frank, you going to the Hearts and Hooves Day Ball next week?”

“Ummm...no, sir. I'm not.”

“Why?” He said with a puzzled face. “Why don't you ever go? This is like the third time you've declined.”

“It's...uh,”I paused as to try come up with a good reason. “...complicated. That's all I can say. Anyway, have a nice night, Mr. Gold Bar.”

“You, too.” he said as I walked out the door.

I went to the Break Room and grabbed my lunch bag. I headed back to the showfloor where Silver Dollar was taking over my register and the store was becoming less busy as I entered. I began to walkout the store to catch the next train ride until I heard Silver Dollar call out my name.

“HEY FRANK!” The grey unicorn hollared. “WHERE YOU GOING?”

I changed directions from the door to my register and counter.

“I have to go to the sister store in Ponyville and drop off these fliers for the Hearts and Hooves Day Monster Deal.” I said showing Silver Dollar the stack of papers.

“Oh,” Silver Dollar discovered. “Well, you better go catch the train. Don't worry, I'll take over your register.”

“Okay, then. I'll see you next week on Monday.”

“Hold on, Frank. Since the store is closed tomorrow during the weekends, you want to go to the Ponyville Spa and relax? I want to discuss about next weekend's schedule.”

“Ummm...sure...I guess.”

Silver Dollar smiled. “Great, I'll see you at 10:30am tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I'll see you, too.”

I got out of the store and into the streets of Canterlot carrying my lunch bag on my right hand and the stack of fliers in my left arm. I noticed that the sun is beginning to set and nightfall is approaching, thanks to the royal sisters that rule this world. I journey towards the train station down a few blocks away from the pawn shop while passing a few ponies, dressed all fancy and rich, on the sidewalk. It will be a great place to live here in Canterlot so I wouldn't have to travel that far to get home but unfortunately, the city's population is full of snobs who degrade anyone and anypony who don't have money in their pockets. Yeah, not a great place to live at all.

Within a few minutes, I got to the train station in time and boarded the next express to Ponyville. I paid my ticket by spending 10 bits and got clearance from a unicorn stallion dressed as a train conductor. I sat inside the third out of the four passenger cars available and took a window seat on the the first row on the right. I always love taking the window seats so I can get a great view of Ponyville whenever I depart to and from it.

“AAALLLL AAABBBOOAARRDDD!!!” Yelled the train conductor from the outside as he stepped inside the train before it pulled out, leaving the deserted station.

I rested my head against the window once the train began to move, thinking about what to do for next week. I can't believe that Hearts and Hooves Day is coming up and two ponies I know from my job had to bring it up on such occasion. Ever since I came here in Equestria, I thought their holidays and tradition would be a lot different than Earth. Surprisingly, they have their own version of Halloween and Christmas called Nightmare Night and Hearths Warming Eve, which I love celebrating a lot. There's also the Summer Sun Celebration, Winter Wrap-Up, Summer Harvest, and Running of the Leaves. Those are okay events though there are certain reasons on why I don't go crazy about them. However, there was Hearts and Hooves Day...which I fucking hate! I try my best to avoid such a holiday about love since it brings me pain and misery about my past. Some friends of mine, both ponies and humans, always tell me to give the holiday a chance but with all I do respect, I refuse to do so. Whenever I do, some of the humans will compare me to the Grinch from Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Both characters loathe a certain holiday as one tries to prevent it from coming while the other calls it a fraud. At the end of both stories, both characters had a change of heart and realized that Christmas is a great holiday and should be enjoyed.

Compare me all they want but it seems as though my mood of not celebrating has not changed for the past two years of living here. It's not the fact that I find it uncomfortable to date mares or have Princess Celestia bring a female human to this world since she only brings male humans. My reason for hating Hearts and Hooves Day is far more different...and sad, too.

It happened 3 years ago on Earth while I was living on the East Coast of Virginia. I just graduated from College and began to save money for Graduate School while working at my town's local pawn shop as Assistant Manager. The pay was so good that it helped me get an apartment down the street from the shop and had me move out of my parents' home for good. Besides working at a pawn shop, one of the main things I like to do when I have time off was to go to comic book and video game conventions and meet certain celebrities and hang out with friends. I also love to cosplay and act like a total goofball at the cons whenever I feel like it. However, there's one thing that was missing in my life – a girlfriend. I never had a girlfriend at all and had been single throughout my life. Throughout my school year, from Middle School to High School and to College, I've been bullied and lied to by so many girls who refused to go out with me because I'm not “hansom enough” or “man enough” to be with any of them. I never had a date for my Middle School's Sweetheart Dance nor my High School Prom. What's worse is that the guys in my school would tease me that they got laid and that I'll never get a chance. I don't want a girlfriend for sex! I want just a girlfriend so I can have a happy life!

After my college run, I discovered dating and matchmaker sites that will help me find my significant other. Sadly, after sending 80 messages to 80 different girls within a 100 mile radius from where I live, I got rejected and blocked by them thinking I was some sort of creeper or something. I just don't know what the hell's going on anymore in this society! Do girls really hate me that much? I was about to quit and just say 'fuck it, I'm done with girls.'

That is until I met her in February during Valentine's Day, Sarah Kennedy, or going by her model name, Sarah-Chan. She was a cosplaying model that I met on an Otaku social site where I met a lot of geeks and nerds who are into anime and video games. She was a blonde, skinny, beautiful Caucasian girl that lives in Georgia and lives with her older brother who works at a distribution center as a Supervisor. Sarah-Chan once said during an introduction about herself that she's been modeling since she was eighteen and has a dream to become famous around the cosplay community. She's also a seamstress where she makes costumes and props for clients and works Part-Time for a dollar store as a cashier to make a little extra money. When I first met her, she wasn't that interesting to talk to so I often don't say anything to her unless it was important. One evening, however, she began to talk to me about what my favorite video game is, anime, cartoons, and such in a private chat. I spent the whole night just talking and talking as to know her a lot more. Finally, she asked me if I was going to Animate Richmond, which was an anime convention in Richmond, VA. I told her that I was going and she was immediately thrilled to see me there.

Two months later, after saving money, I went to Animate Richmond wearing casual clothes where I met Sarah-Chan and...my god...she was beautiful! She was cosplaying as Triela from the second season of Gunslinger Girl. I asked if we can take a picture together and she happily complied. I asked a random con goer if he can take the pic and he did, which I felt was the best moment of the con. I wanted to hang out with Sarah-Chan and get to know her more. However, Sarah-Chan informed me that she had to do some panels and attend some model runway contest involving cosplays later. So, in other words, she'll hang out with me if she has enough time.

Sarah-Chan never did. Instead, I happened to attend the runway show and applauded for her as she won 2nd place for Best in Show for her Steampunk cosplay of Killer Frost from DC comics. Before the con was over, I went up to her, congratulate her for her win, and we hugged each other. Before departing, she told me that she'll be back next year. I couldn't wait for next year to arrive but on the plus sides of things, I can still talk to her in the chat room.

Months go by and when December came, I did the only best thing for her: I bought her presents that cost me $250. I heard that she loves Pokémon so much and that she really wants a plush doll of both Pikachu and Togepi. I spent weeks looking on ebay for a 18” Pikachu plush doll that cost $39.99 new and a talking Togepi plush that was at $25. The spending didn't stop there! She also put down on her wishlist on her Facebook that she wants the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 1 - 3 Special Edition games that cost $180 total and I had to fight for it on ebay against other gamers who also had dibs on them. After buying these items, I shipped them out to her home in GA and she couldn't even be more happier. My reward from her was an autograph print of her as Android 18 from Dragon Ball Z with a “Thank You” letter from her.

Then it happened! After receiving the letter and print from her, I couldn't help but feel something different inside of me. My heart start beating faster. I can feel the butterflies in my stomach whenever she shows up on chat. I couldn't stop thinking about her nor stop talking about her daily. On some nights, I had dreams about Sarah and I being together in each others arms. Dreams of me and her sharing our feelings for one another. I...I...I...I was...in love. I really do like her a lot!

Two months later, at the next Animate Richmond, I made it my mission to tell Sarah-Chan that I had feelings for. The best part was that Animate Richmond took place before the week of Valentine's Day due to another convention being booked on the former month that it was once scheduled. I hope she does feel the same as I do after all this time. I just had to wait for the right moment for it to happen. On the third day of the convention, I saw Sarah dressed as Emma Frost as she was doing a panel about Do's and Don't's for Cosplaying and it went well. When the panel was over, she began to depart to the parking lot of the hotel where the convention was being hosted. I walked up to her and began to partake in a small chat with her as the both us got to the lot. When we started talking, she wasn't kind of in the mind to talk but she decided to chat anyway without caring. We talked about the con and how things were going between the both of us since we haven't seen each other in person since last year. When she got to her car, that's when I let it all out:

“Sarah, I have a confession to make: I...I...I have feelings for you. I like you more than just a model and a friend an...”

She cuts me off. “Friend?!? Who said we were friends?”

I was stunned upon hearing this. “...what?”

She opened her car door, got into the driver's seat, and starts up the engine. Before driving off, she rolls down her window and says, “You and I weren't friends to begin with. You were just a fan! You think after buying me all those gifts and being so nice to me on chat that somehow I had developed feelings for you?!?”

I lowered my head and stared at the cement. I felt tears forming in my eyes as I let one ran down my cheek. I look back at her while trying to wipe the tear away.

She then said before pulling away. “You have a nice night...sir.”

I was heartbroken. I walked towards my car at another lot near the hotel with my head down staring at the pavement. I got into my car, turned on the A/C, and begin to bawl uncontrollably. As I did, I turned on my radio and plugged my MP3 player into it. I searched for the song Watch Me Bleed by Scary Kids Scaring Kids. I hit the Repeat button as the song continued to play once I started up my car and drove back home north of Richmond. I can feel the sudden pain in my heart as I went down the road passing traffic.

I was depressed throughout the week until Valentine's Day came. That's when the bad news came to me one night on Facebook: It was announced that Sarah-Chan, the girl I loved...was taken!

I couldn't believe it! Taken...on Valentine's Day?!? By who? It turns out that the guy she's dating is another cosplayer model by the name of Joel. I saw a pic of him and Sarah dressed up as Final Fantasy characters Tidus and Yuna on Sarah's Facebook page. To my discovery, the pic was taken on a Friday at Animate Richmond, two days before I told Sarah my confession. She told everyone that she met him last year at a Georgia Comic Book convention as he cosplayed as Nightwing while she did a cosplay of Saturn Girl from DC comics. She went into detail on how this Joel was more handsome than any guy out there and that he invited her to dinner at Olive Gardens and treated her like an absolute queen; something that I would've done as well if Sarah gave me a chance.

I was torn so badly that I felt my heart shred into pieces. I ended up closing my membership on the site and never to come back again.

The next year, after failing to find another girl in my life and taking medication to cure my depression...

The final blow happened...

On Valentine's Day, one year after their anniversary...and my anniversary of meeting her...

On Sarah-Chan's Facebook, she announced to everyone that her and Joel...were engaged.

That was it!

I had enough...and my depression got worse that I couldn't handle it anymore. I felt like the song Scream with Me by Mudvayne playing in my head as I cradle myself in despair right after I read that posting. I couldn't even eat nor work on that day right after the announcement and I remained in my apartment all to the night. I cried myself to sleep as that song continued to play in my head.

That night, I had a terrible nightmare that will forever haunt me. I dreamed that I was in some dark room strapped to a chair with an overhead light swinging above me. In front of me was an old 1980s TV set showing TV snow. It reminds me of the SAW movies and I expected Billy the Puppet to show up on the screen giving me instructions on how to escape this chair and leave the room.

That didn't happen as the TV snow transitioned to a shot of Sarah-Chan meeting me for the first time. Then a montage of me saving my money and buying all the gifts for her on Christmas played on the screen as I watched. Suddenly, all those memories changed from good to bad as the tube played the moment that Sarah dumped me and left me in tears. Her words that she said to me that night echoed throughout the dark room. I shut my eyes in sorrow but then I heard the TV changed again. This time, it was Sarah...and Joel...kissing each other! My eyes popped out of my skull in horror as I saw them making out and it even got worse when I witness Joel and Sarah removing their clothes as they continued their business. I screamed and screamed in agony as I called out Sarah's name and pleaded to be let go from this chair! No one can hear and no one was there to help me. I couldn't take it anymore!

I woke up the next morning at the break of dawn from that dream and I couldn't help but feel the same pain that I had years back building up again. I couldn't stop thinking about that dream as it plagued my mind when I got up from bed. Something had to be done about it!

I got out of bed and got dressed to go to a different pawn shop than the one I work at. There, I purchased a S&W M36 with six rounds but I disposed only five of them in a nearby trash can outside of the pawn shop. I went to the bank where I withdrew all the money I had saved for Graduate School and donate all of it for charity at my church. I went back home and posted this post on my Facebook:

My friends and family

I just wanted to say

Thank you for all the good times and memories

I love you all

Goodbye...<3

I took out my journal that I kept for years with all my written information and personal thoughts. I opened it up and took out a pencil to write one more entry. I wrote on my final page about why I want to hurt myself and what it lead to. Finally, I wrote all of my passwords to all my Internet accounts so in case if anyone finds my journal, then can go and delete them.

It was time for me to go. I placed my journal next to my laptop and I pulled out my gun that I recently bought. I sat on the edge of my bed and slowly placed the gun near my head. I took one look at my room and scanned it one last time to see all my prized possessions like my PS3, my DVD player, my laptop, and WWE posters. However, one item grabbed my attention as a way to prevent me from pulling the trigger was my family photo of my parents and my little brother. Even if I do take my life away, I know for the fact that my little brother will not have me around to look up to and my parents for not having the best son that was ever brought into their life and world.

I couldn't do it. I had to put the gun down...but then that image of Sarah and Joel flashed before my eyes and even that nightmare I had last night as well.

No! I had to do it! I'm sorry bro, mom, and dad. Goodbye...

BANG!

The gun didn't go off. I didn't die that day. There was a loud bang but it didn't come from a weapon. Instead, it came from a magical ball of light that appeared in front of me in the form of white enchanted Alicorn with a Princess crown on her head, a multi-colored mane and tail that flows; and a cutie mark of a sun. I thought I was seeing things or maybe I did kill myself and ended up in purgatory but I can still feel my body and I was still breathing. Which means, I'm still alive!

I turned the gun towards her but then I felt something weird around the gun. There was some magical, yellow aura surrounding it that prevented me from firing one shot.

“There's no need to harm me, Frank,” She spoke. “I'm not going to hurt you.”

“H...H...How do you know my name?” I asked in a confused manner. “And who are you?”

“I am Princess Celestia, the co-ruler of the magical land known as Equestria. I know your name after a year of watching and studying you when I noticed how sad you were when this female human, named Sarah, turned you down after you told her on how much you feel.”

“How...how do you know that?”

“I'll explain back in Canterlot if you follow me. Don't worry, I won't hurt you.”

And here I am, two years later. I've been living here in Equestria with a much better job, better friends, and almost a better life. Though, I still haven't found love yet. That explains why I don't celebrate Hearts and Hooves Day because of that incident involving Sarah and the nightmare I had the following year.

The train arrived at Ponyville at last. I got off while grabbing my belongings and headed towards my destination. As I remembered, it's located East of City Hall in the back and pass the Ponyville Pizzeria. Time for me to drop these fliers off and call it a night.