Hearts and hooves day, a day celebrating the love between two ponies. A day where couples exchange gifts, eat at fancy restaurants, and appreciate each other's company. It was truly a day of love.
In his room, a caramel colored stallion with a brown mane appropriately named Caramel slowly woke up.
"Morning already?" Muttered Caramel.
Caramel slowly got out of bed and walked into his bathroom.
"Wasn't there something special happening today?" Thought Caramel.
Caramel turned on his shower and stepped inside, letting the warm water hit his body.
"Yeah I was supposed to meet Applejack today." Said Caramel.
Caramel smiled at the thought of his marefriend.
"Applejack. Yeah...We were going to have our first hearts and hooves day together today."
Caramel reached for his shampoo as the realization suddenly hit him. His eyes widened at his realization.
"HEARTS AND HOOVES DAY!!!!!!!!"
Caramel stumbled and fell out of the shower.
"OH CELESTIA I FORGOT!!!!"
Caramel got up and started panicking.
"How could I forget about Hearts and hooves Day!?" Thought Caramel.
Caramel turned the shower water off and grabbed a towel to dry himself.
"Caramel you idiot." He thought to himself. "You probably forgot to get her a present-"
Caramel dropped the towel upon his second realization.
"I DIDNT GET HER ANYTHING!!!!!"
Caramel ran to his sink and grabbed his hairbrush. He frantically began to brush his mane.
"Not good not good not good!"
Caramel looked himself over in the mirror.
"Don't panic Mel." Said Caramel. "You still have time."
Caramel ran downstairs and opened his refrigerator.
"Your meeting Applejack at Three, plenty of time to find her a present."
Caramel grabbed an apple from the fridge and closed it. He began eating the apple. Once he finished he looked at his front door.
"I better get started now If I want to find a good present." Said Caramel.
Caramel walked over to his front door and opened it. He was about to step outside when he heard a voice.
"Ahem...."
Caramel turned to see a blue unicorn mare that he recognized as his dentist, Colgate.
"Forgetting something?" Said Colgate.
Caramel slowly walked upstairs and proceeded to brush his teeth. Once he finished, Caramel walked back downstairs, grabbed his saddlebags and stepped outside.
"How did you know I didn't brush?" Asked Caramel.
"Thats top secret." Said Colgate.
Caramel closed his door and began to slowly walk away from the blue unicorn.
"Note to self, find a new dentist." Thought Caramel.
Caramel walked towards a ponyville shop.
"I can probably get something good here." Thought Caramel.
Caramel stepped inside the shop. Most of its shelves were empty.
"What the?"
Caramel walked up to the cashier.
"Where are all the Hearts and hooves day items?" Asked Caramel.
"Bought up." Replied The Cashier. "Don't tell me you didn't-"
"I know I'm stupid."
Caramel walked out of the shop.
"Just a minor bump in the road." Thought Caramel. "Theres plenty of other shops to check."
Caramel's train of thought was interrupted when a blue blur collided with him, knicking him down.
"Ow...." Mumbled Caramel.
Caramel looked around to see what hit him. Standing over him was a light blue pegasus known as Soarin.
"Sorry mel." Said Soarin.
Soarin helped Caramel up.
"I should have watched where I was flying."
"Probably should have." Said Caramel.
"I need to get going." Said Soarin. "Rainbow has a pie with my name on it......... Literally."
Soarin flew off.
"What is it with him and pie?" Thought Caramel.
Caramel left to find another store.
Caramel walked into a jewelry store.
"Mares like jewelry." Thought Caramel.
Caramel stepped up to the display case and examined several pieces of jewelry.
"What would Aj like and doesn't cost a fortune?" Thought Caramel.
One piece of jewelry caught his eye. A necklace with a red gem on it.
"That might work." Muttered Caramel.
Caramel took a closer look at it and saw the price tag.
"9000 bits!?"
Caramel slowly backed away.
"Theres no way that can be right."
Caramel walked out of the jewelry store.
"Too rich for my blood." Said Caramel.
Caramel began to look for another store.
Caramel sat in front of town hall.
"Its getting close to Three." Muttered Caramel.
He had tried two other shops and neither had anything he could give to Applejack.
"I have to think harder."
"Hey Caramel."
Caramel looked and saw his best friend Lucky approaching him.
"Hey Lucky." Said Caramel.
Caramel got up.
"Hows your hearts and hooves day going?" Asked Caramel.
"Good." Replied Lucky. "Im taking Carrot top out for dinner tonight. How about you?"
"I...... Well...."
"You forgot didn't you."
"Yep."
Lucky sighed.
"Mel you need to write these things down somewhere." Said Lucky. "I'll buy you a calendar if I have to."
"Well I'm running out of time." Said Caramel. "If I don't find a gift soon, then I'm going to look like the worst coltfriend ever."
"Theres a store by Sugarcube corner." said Lucky. "They might have something."
"Thanks, I'll check it out." Said Caramel.
Caramel left to find the store.
Caramel walked into the store. It was a simple store, all the merchandise was handmade and there wasn't a lot of space inside. A dark green stallion with a white hood stood at the cash register. Caramel guessed that he was from another land given his bizarre apparel.
"May I help you?" Asked the pony.
"Yes." Began Caramel. "Im looking for a gift for my Marefriend."
"Well I'm sure theres something here." Said the pony. "If something catches your eye, just tell me."
Caramel looked around. He spotted a selection of dreamcatchers.
"These things look alright." Said Caramel.
"Native equestrian dreamcatchers." Said the Pony. "Made from scratch."
"Applejack isn't too fond of Native equestrian items." Said Caramel.
Caramel looked at a rabbit's foot.
"No, Fluttershy would pass out if she saw that....."
Caramel looked around.
"Anything an applefarmer would like?" Asked Caramel.
"I have chineighse apple presser." Said the stallion.
"They have their own apple presser." Said Caramel.
"Don't know what else to tell you." Said the stallion.
"Guess you don't have what Im looking for." Said Caramel. "Thanks anyways though."
"Any time." Said the Stallion.
Caramel stepped out of the store.
"Third missed sale today." Said the Stallion. "Maybe I should rejoin the guild."
Caramel walked through Ponyvile park, his head lowered in defeat.
"I failed." Thought Caramel. "I don't have enough time to keep looking....."
Caramel noticed his friend Comet tail sitting on a nearby bench. Comet looked at Caramel and got up.
"Hey there Caramel."
Comet tail approached Caramel and noticed how sad he looked.
"Why the long face?" Asked Comet tail.
Caramel sighed.
"I forgot to get Applejack a hearts and hooves day present." Said Caramel.
"Thats a shame." Said Comet tail. "I got Twilight a book on Eternal Bond."
Caramel raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"Eternal bond." Replied Comet tail. "He was a Unicorn who secretly married ponies in the crystal empire while Sombra was in power."
"I did not know that."
Caramel turned to the direction of Sweet apple acres.
"I have to go see Applejack now." Said Caramel. "I just hope she doesn't hold it against me."
"Good luck." Said Comet tail.
Caramel headed off towards the farm, passing by a black pegasus stallion and a black unicorn mare with a purple mane.
"What was that guy's problem?" Asked the Stallion.
Caramel walked into Sweet apple acres. Standing by main farmhouse was his Marefriend, Applejack. Caramel walked up to her.
"Hey hon."said Applejack.
"Hey....."
They exchange a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Aj." Began Caramel. "I........ I forgot it was hearts and hooves day."
Applejack raised an eyebrow.
"What was that?"
"I forgot is was hearts and hooves day, and I didn't get you anything."
Caramel was on the verge of crying.
"Im sorry, I'm the worst coltfriend ever I done deserve-"
"Ah forgot too."
Caramel stopped and his eyes widened.
"Y-you forgot too?"
Applejack nodded.
"Ah looked around fer something you would like, but I couldnt find anything..... Guess we both made a little mistake."
Caramel smiled.
"You know what Applejack, I don't even need a gift." Said Caramel,
He placed his left hoof on Applejack's shoulder.
"Knowing you love me is a gift on its own."
Applejack smiled back.
"Ah don't need no fancy shmancy gift either."
Applejack embraced Caramel in a hug, which the stallion returned.
"Cuz ah have you."
They stood there in that position for a full minute before Caramel broke the silence.
"Happy hearts and hooves day Applejack."
"You too Caramel."
Those two ponies learned the true meaning of hearts and hooves day, its not about gifts, dinners, or overpriced candy hearts, its about the love between two ponies.
And that is the best gift of all........
Author's Note
Being single on valentines day sucks.
Also there are 3-4 hidden refferences in this story. Can you find them all?
