Hearts and Hooves Day; It was that time of the year once again. The time when ponies big and small scrambled about to get gifts for those they cared about. Colts and fillies alike confessed their crushes at school, stallions and mares all around bought expensive gifts for their significant others, and the town itself was ablaze with excitement. But the one pony who was more excited than any of them was their resident party planner herself, Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie was a bubbly, lovely mare. She was always making others happy and today was one of her specialties. Pinkie sat at home, wrapping gifts and humming a sweet tune to her heart's content. "Hmmm, hmmm hmm, hmmmm...a dash of glitter here, a splash of color there....finished!" Pinkie wiped her brow with her hoof, leaving glitter mixed with sweat on her forehead. "Finally, that's the last gift I had to make! I'm ready!!" Pinkie shook with excitement. "That's a gift for all nine hundred and forty-eight ponies in town!" Pinkie looked behind her to see the stacks upon stacks of gifts sitting in the party planning cave. Each had a different pattern or orientation of wrapping paper their own nametag. "Now I need to get ready to pass them out!"
Pinkie stretched before ascending her slide back up. The gravity defying mare rose up it with ease, and with a hop skip and a jump she was back in her bedroom. No sooner had she landed on her own four hooves did she hear a bell ring downstairs. "Oh, somepony's here? Sugarcube Corner isn't open yet. I wonder who it could be...?" Pinkie raced down the steps and into the downstairs bakery where she worked. There, she looked to the door and smiled with glee. "Nonny!"
Standing in the empty store was one of her best friends ever, a human by the name of Anthony. Anthony looked up just in time to see a big pink ball of fluff hurdling toward him. Pinkie tackled him to the ground and began to hug him.
"H-hey Pinkie. It, It's nice to see you too." Anthony wheezed out.
Pinkie soon rolled off the dazed human and stood up. She looked at him on the ground and smiled. "Whatcha doing the floor, silly? Get up!"
Pinkie reached out her hoof and Anthony took it. Sitting up, he chuckled. "Oh Pinkie, what am I gonna do with you?" Pinkie stuck her tongue out. Anthony continued. "Well, you might be wondering why I'm here before you or the Cakes had a chance to open the bakery. I wanted to see how the gift making was coming along. Maybe see if I can help with anything?"
Pinkie jumped. "Oh! Actually, I'm already done! Come on I'll show you!" Pinkie raced upstairs once more. Anthony followed, smirking to himself. "Offff course she is. Classic Pinkie." Anthony followed the sporadic mare up the stairs and into her room. As he walked inside he saw the towers of wrapped gifts and took a step back to take it all in. "Wow, Pinkie. This is way more than I was expecting."
"Yep! There’s a gift for every pony in Ponyville! That's nine hundred and forty-eight ponies, to be exact." Pinkie hummed a little tune as she checked the towers of boxes.
"Well, looks like I'm too late to help." Anthony only realized his mistake after uttering that sentence.
Pinkie fired back. "Oh, well you can help me deliver them! I've planned routes all around town!"
'Great, me and my big mouth. Although, it wouldn't be the worst thing to spend the day with Pinkie...' Anthony thought. "Sure Pinkie. What do you need me to do?"
"Yay! Okay, so how about we split them up into groups? We can grab small groups of gifts and deliver them separately, before coming back here to get more. Sound like a plan, Nonny?" Anthony nodded his head. "Alright, let's get to separating!"
It didn't take long for Pinkie and Anthony to form groups of presents. With their cargo loaded into their respective wagons, they set out to hand out each gift. Anthony's first stop was the Town Hall. As he arrived he stopped at the front steps. He pulled out three ribbon bound boxes and headed on inside. There, Mayor Mare and two of her assistants were hard at work. When Mayor Mare saw Anthony, she smiled. "Anthony, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Delivery on behalf of Pinkie Pie. Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Mayor." Anthony said with a smile.
"Oh! Thank you Anthony. Pinkie is always so thoughtful. I wish I had something to give you both in return." Mayor Mare frowned slightly, but Anthony dismissed it.
"Oh, it's fine Mayor. Pinkie's just happy that you're all happy. I got more to deliver so don't let me keep you. Have a good day Mayor." Anthony set the boxes down and waved goodbye before walking back to his wagon.
Next stop was Sweet Apple Acres. As he pulled up, a little filly came racing up to him. "Howdy Anthony! Whatcha got there?"
Anthony chuckled. "Heya Apple Bloom. Delivery for yall from Pinkie Pie."
"Really!? Aight then, come on!" Anthony followed her up the path to the farmhouse. Outside was the rest of the filly's family, including her sister Applejack.
"Hey Applejack, special delivery!" Anthony shouted.
"Well, ay'll be! Howdy Anthony! So, Pinkie's got you doing her dirty work?" She snorted.
"Yeah, heh. Hey AJ, mind if I talk with you for a sec?" Anthony asked.
"Sure thing partner, just set those boxes down in the house and we'll chat after that." AJ replied. Anthony followed AJ inside and shut the door. "Whatcha need to talk about?"
Anthony took a deep breath and sighed. "Well, it's about me and Pinkie...
On the other side of town...
Pinkie strolled from house to house, giving out each gift to its recipient. With each gift, Pinkie saw smiles, but not much else. She expected a simple thank you, but she rarely got more than a friendly nod and a smile as she passed ponies in the streets. She didn't mind, but it stayed in the back of her head as she continued.
Pinkie's last stop before heading back was at the home of Filthy Rich. Knocking on the door, Pinkie expected Filthy or Diamond to answer, but to her surprise it was neither of them. The one to open the door was Spoiled Rich. "Oh, hello Mrs. Rich!"
"Hmph, what do you want?" Spoiled Milk's voice was laced with sass.
"Hearts and Hooves Day delivery!!" Pinkie exclaimed.
Spoiled's face grimaced. "Ugh, as if these measly things are worth my time. Although, I shall take them anyway, to see how worthless they truly are."
Pinkie's smile faltered a little, but she set the boxes down and slid them inside beside Spoiled Rich. "Happy He-" SLAM! Before she could finish her sentence, Spoiled had shut the door in the pink mare's face.
Pinkie's smile dissipated. She shuffled back to her wagon and headed back toward the bakery; Her head hung low...
Back at Sweet Apple Acres...
"What about yall, Sugarcube?" AJ asked.
"Well, me and Pinkie have been friends for years. She's my best friend, but lately I've noticed something. Whenever I'm around her, I feel a warm sensation spread through me. I get the feeling of butterflies in my stomach around her. AJ...I think I have a crush on Pinkie Pie."
Applejack smiled and stood on her hind hooves. "Yeehaw! I knew it!"
Anthony looked startled. "Wait, what!?"
Applejack calmed down and clarified for the flustered human. "Oh, don't look surprised. I suspected for a while that you had feelings for our resident ball of fluff, so it was really only a matter of proving it."
Anthony sighed. "Is it that obvious? Ugh, this is why I bailed out this morning! I was going to confess this morning when I came to check on Pinkie, but I chickened out at the last second."
Applejack's face softened. "Oh, don't beat yourself up Anthony. I am 100% sure Pinkie will feel the same if you just talk to her about it. You have to tell her, mate. Go for it, mate!"
Anthony slowly smiled before nodding. "A-alright. I'll do it. Thanks AJ."
"Anytime Sugarcube. I'm rootin' for ya!" AJ tipped her hat as Anthony got up to leave. He waved her goodbye and headed back toward Sugarcube Corner...
At Sugarcube Corner...
When Anthony arrived back at Sugarcube Corner, he heard Pinkie upstairs. He started to ascend them when he stopped. He heard a faint noise coming from her room. It was crying. Anthony opened the door and found Pinkie on her bed; She was sobbing lightly. "Pinkie?? Are you okay?"
Between sniffles she responded. "N-no...not really..."
"Pinkie..." Anthony made his way around the bed and got behind her. He got in bed and pulled the little pony into a hug. He held her there, taking in her scent and listening as her sobs lessened. "Pinkie, tell me what's wrong. What happened?" He whispered.
Pinkie sat up. "I just had a bad delivery. That's all."
"That is certainly NOT all! Pinkie...what's really bothering you?" Anthony pleaded.
Pinkie sighed. "Nonny, do ponies appreciate me?"
Anthony was taken aback by those questions. "What!? Of course! The whole town loves you Pinkie! You bring smiles and joy to all the ponies of this town all on your own!"
"But I don't get much in return...I didn't get so much as a thank you as I passed out my gifts. I got smiles and hugs and nods, but it felt somewhat shallow. I just...didn't feel appreciated..."
"That's not true! This town adores you! I adore you! It...it's why I developed a crush on you in the first place!" 'Uh oh. Why did I say that!? That was too soon! Ugh, I'm an idiot!' Anthony slapped his hands over his mouth, a look of terror hitting his face as Pinkie turned around.
'Wait, what did you just say?" Pinkie stopped crying and looked into Anthony's eyes.
Seeing no way out of it now, Anthony went for it. "I...I have a crush on you, Pinkie."
Pinkie looked shocked. "Anthony...why didn't you say anything sooner?"
"I was confused, and afraid I guess. I didn't know how you'd react. I didn't want to be awkward. But it's true. I've had a crush on you for years now." Anthony said somberly.
Pinkie's eyes began to water slightly. "Oh, Nonny...you should have told me. I...I like you too."
"Wait, really?" Anthony looked into her eyes. They sparkled with slight tears, but they weren’t sad.
"Yeah, silly. How could I not? We've been friends fiveever, Nonny. You're special to me."
"Wow...I never knew. I feel kind of silly now hehe." Anthony chuckled.
"Me too. But hey, now we both know we care for each other a lot." Pinkie jumped into Anthony's form and snuggled into him. Anthony in turn hugged the soft pink mare, breathing in the sweet scent of her mane.
Anthony opened his eyes as he rubbed Pinkie's mane. "Hey Pinkie?"
"Yeah Nonny?" Pinkie looked up to reach his gaze.
"Since it's all out in the open, I wanted to say something." Anthony smiled.
"What is it?" Pinkie's face lit up like a star in the night.
"Pinkie, I care about you more than anything else. I can't imagine having a better friend than you. Now that our feelings are out in the open, I think it's time I ask you something." Pinkie looked at him with curiosity. "Pinkie, will you be my special somepony?"
Pinkie's eyes began to water again. Without saying a word, Pinkie clamped her front hooves onto Anthony's face and pulled him into a soft kiss. Anthony's mind exploded before he melted into the embrace. Pinkie released Anthony and giggled. "Does that answer your question, Nonny?"
Anthony was stunned.
Pinkie looked a little worried. "W-was that too soon? Did I upset you?"
Anthony smiled as he scooped Pinkie up in his arms. He went in for a another kiss, savoring the moment with his new soon-to-be marefriend. After letting go he pulled Pinkie into a hug. "That'll do Pinkie. That'll do."
For the next few moments, Pinkie and Anthony sat on the bed, hoof in hand. Pinkie folded into Anthony's form as he gently rubbed her mane and ears.
"Well, Pinkie. How about we go deliver the rest of your gifts together this time?" Anthony kissed the mare on her forehead.
Pinkie giggled at the touch. "Okey Dokey Lokey!! Come on Nonny, let's get to it!"
Anthony and Pinkie loaded up their wagons. Standing side by side, the two new lovebirds set out to deliver the rest of the presents. It was truly a Hearts and Hooves Day to remember...
Author's Note
Yes, there are more humans than just Anthony
No, I will not explain how and/or why
