Pinkie's favors and flavors

A little over a year ago...

Hearts and Hooves day; a day for many ponies to either finally confess their affection for their possible special somepony, or enjoy their loved one's company and let it become know and congratulated among the townsponies.

On this particular day, everypony was happy, with one exception; Pinkie Pie. She lay alone in her bed, covered up, hoping her blanked would shield her heart from the annual pain, but it was fruitless. She cried silent tears into her pillow. She knew what she felt, but not WHY she felt that way. Jealousy was the only emotion in her poor heart at the time. She was envious of the others, of their happiness, of their loved ones. Pinkie may have been innocent to a degree, but she was far from foolish. She knew her own emotions well enough. She didn't like this one particular day, and her feelings toward it scared and worried the poor pony.

Sure, she loved making others smile, laugh, and hearing their thanks for a job well done, but how many truly returned the favor? At least not to the degree her heart wanted. She was so confused.

After what felt like an eternity, yet was nothing more than two hours at most, she climbed out of bed, shook out her mane, plastered a fake smile, and began the long work of keeping a steady supply of sweets in the confectionery for all the inevitable customers that would buy their sweethearts something to demonstrate their love, whether it be cookies, a cake, muffins, candy, or anything sweet they could think of.

As the day dragged on, Pinkie's work speed slowed down greatly, yet was not noticed by any of the regulars, as their minds were elsewhere at the time. Once a break appeared in the heavy traffic of lovestruck ponies, Pinkie retreated upstairs after placing a "Taking a teensy weensy break, be back in a jiffy!" sign outside the door. Soon after, Mr. and Mrs. Cake arrived to find the sign on the door and an empty kitchen. As they grimaced at each other, knowing it to be unusual for a break on such an important day for the near infinitely hyped pony, they both ascended the stairs.

Pinkie was curled up on her bed, absentmindedly petting her beloved pet, Gummy when Mrs. Cake raised a hoof and gently knocked on the door, to which pinkie mumbled a low "Come in..." Mrs. Cake noticed Pinkie's less-than-happy mood and slowly sat down next to her and wrapped her hooves around the distressed pony.

"Pinkie, what's wrong? You never ever put up the 'Going on a break' sign during a major holiday."

"You wouldn't understand," Pink mumbled sadly.

"You'd be surprised sweetie."

"Well, almost every year on Hearts and Hooves day, I feel jealous. I know it's jealous, just not WHY."

"Can you maybe tell me more about it? Maybe what causes it?"

"I'm happy for everypony, of course, but I see all of them smiling at one another and holding hooves and buying things for their special someponies, but... I don't know why that would make me feel this way."

"Is there somepony you adore? Perhaps maybe even want to be more than friends with?"

"Not that I can think of, no," Pinkie responded after thinking it over for a minute.

"I think you just need a special pony to call your own dearie, and you'll be fine." And with that final statement, Mrs. Cake excused herself out and Pinkie from work for the rest of the day to relax.

'A special pony... for me?' Pinkie thought, and blushed slightly at the sheer notion of her holding hooves with anypony at all. She would have to keep a super keen eye out for her possible soulmate from now on. She Pinkie promised herself that if anyone got her attention, she'd do whatever it would take for them to let her feelings be known. After a well-deserved nap, of course.