Dylan looked at his heart-shaped pancakes with curiosity as he sat down at the kitchen table. It was the first time Applejack had ever made anything creative with breakfast. Normally, she would serve the food without any special contributions to it, but now here it was, a big heart, with blueberries lined up in a heartshape on the edges of the pancake.

"What's going on, Applejack?" Dylan asked as he poked at one of the berries with his fork.

"I'm just so excited! Today is your first ever Hearts and Hooves Day!"

Another holiday? Dylan was now stumped as to what this holiday might've been all about.

"Hearts and Hooves Day is a day where ponies celebrate love," Applejack explained. "And I know you love a certain somepony!"

Dylan immediately blushed, the color red easily becoming visible through his fur. It was a good thing nopony else was at the table, otherwise, he might have passed out from embarrassment. Applebloom was at school while Big Mac and Granny Smith were at the market getting firewood. Applejack sat down next to Dylan at the table, looking at him with a knowing smile.

"I know yer embarrassed, but ya can't hide yer feelings forever. That's why I've already got your day planned for ya!" Applejack exclaimed, being about as excited as a school filly. Dylan looked at her nervously. He had never told Amber that he liked her.

"Wh-What's going to happen?" Dylan asked, scared out of his wits. Applejack simply smiled.

"Oh my gosh! I love the carnival!" Amber exclaimed. Applejack had bought both Dylan and Amber tickets to the Hearts and Hooves Carnival. Set up just outside of Ponyville, the carnival had plenty of rides and games to choose from. The Tilt-A-Whirl, Ferris Wheel, Waterguns and much more.

Ponies from all over Equestria roamed the carnival grounds, and it was difficult not to get lost in the crowds. Dylan clung closely to Amber as she led him through the sea of ponies. Applejack has

"Step right up! Step right up!" one voice shouted. "Toss a ring and win a prize!"

"Don't forget to try your luck at darts!" another voice called out.

"Popsicles! We got popsicles! All shapes and sizes! Hey, kid! You like square popsicles?" a familiar voice called out.

Eventually, Dylan was led to a stand. Within the stand was a tower of bottles, stacked up in a way so they could fall over easily. Dylan noticed a bright green pony sitting at the counter, waiting to take their bits for the game. Amber, being overly excited, had already paid for both Dylan and herself, prompting the pony to give both of them three balls each.

"Alright, Dylan! You go first!" Amber nudged Dylan in his side, causing him to jump slightly. He picked up the first ball, aimed carefully, and threw with all his might. It missed, flying past the bottles and hitting the wall before falling with a pitiful thud.

"It's ok, Dylan! You got two more tries!" Amber assured, patting Dylan on the back. He grabbed the second ball and aimed a little more to the left, hoping he'd hit it this time, and threw. The ball went past the bottles, ricocheted off the wall, and came right back at Dylan, who immediately ducked, the ball missing him by a hair.

This was it. The moment of truth. One ball left. Dylan picked up the last ball and aimed a little to the right, one eye closed and biting down on his lip. This was it, he thought. He had this. He threw the ball, and everything seemed to go in slow motion. The ball moved toward the bottles, on a sure path to hitting them. At the last second though, it dipped and hit the shelf the bottles were on, causing them to shake slightly.

He couldn't believe his luck. He had thrown too softly. Any harder, and he would've hit them. He lost, and in front of Amber, too. It was absolutely embarrassing to him. Amber patted him on the back, smiling.

"It's ok," she comforted. "Anypony would have trouble with this game!" She picked up her first ball and tossed it. "See? Anyone wo--"

"Winner!" the green pony shouted. Both Dylan and Amber were shocked. Dylan looked up at the toppled bottles. Amber had knocked them down on her first try.

"Teddy bear for the lovely mare!" the green pony congratulated as he handed Amber a stuffed animal, who was still in shock.

Dylan, feeling bad about his loss, turned to leave. But before he could go anywhere, somepony had bumped into him.

"My apologies!" a familiar voice said. Dylan looked up to see a soaked Filthy Rich.

"Filthy Rich? What are you doing here?" Amber asked. "Any why are you all wet?"

"Well, wouldn't ya believe it, I had volunteered to be the fall pony for the dunk tank," Filthy Rich explained. "Of course, no one could hit the target since it was so small, and so I didn't get dunked. At least, not until some random ball came out of nowhere, hit it and dropped me in. I guess I've learned my lesson about volunteering for a rigged game."

Both Dylan and Amber were confused. How could a ball just come out of nowhere? Suddenly, their minds went back to Dylan's second ball throw, where it richocheted off the wall and almost hit him. If he hadn't ducked, the ball wouldn't have dropped Filthy Rich into the water.

Amber grinned and whispered into Dylan's ear. "Looks like you won something after all.~"

"Err, what was that?" Filthy Rich asked.

"Oh, nothing.~" Amber replied.

Author's Note

Sorry for the late Hearts and Hooves chapter. Shortly after the biopsy I got really sick. I'm a little better now though. And looks like Dylan got some unintended revenge on Filthy Rich.