I woke up the next day to find a few gifts and cards by the table from my bedroom. Getting myself up and dressed, I walked on over to see what they were and looking closely, it hit me. It was my birthday today and I had completely forgotten all about it, when I should've remembered, speaking of which, it looks like the others remembered.

I opened up one of the cards which said 'open me first' and it had a message saying 'Grab a cookie and start here' with a yellow balloon on it, which was strange at first but I worked it out, whoever send this it must've meant something about Sugarcube corner. So after my breakfast, I walked out of my home and headed to Sugarcube Corner. Along the way, I spotted Spike out in town with a list on a long piece of paper.

"What to do, what to do..." Spike said to himself before he gasped, "...A hot air balloon ride!"

He then rushed over but didn't look where he was going and ended up being knocked down by a stump and as luck would have it, the rope that was tied began to loose and then it was flying away.

"Oh no! Wait! Runaway balloon!" Spike exclaimed as he tried to catch up to it in many ways and he was close but not close enough.

I then put on my serious face and began to gallop before flying upwards to catch the balloon and with my mouth, I grabbed the rope with my teeth and brought it back down to the ground and had it tied up.

"Wow, thanks Bond." the balloon pilot mentioned.

"Oh it's no problem." I replied, "So Spike, I guess you were looking to do something?"

"Yeah, it's my day off cause Twilight is busy with a whole day of reading new books and spells from Princess Celestia."

"I guess that's our Twilight, the book nerd she always is...by the way, it's my birthday today and I only just remembered."

"Really? Well, happy birthday, man."

"Thanks Spike."

We then did a brohoof.

"In that case, wanna ride in the balloon with me?"

"I'd like to, but I got a card that's telling me to go to Sugarcube Corner."

"Okay, see you later, dude."

Spike then got in the hot air balloon with the pilot mare and they flew upwards and away. I smiled as I walked over to Sugarcube Corner, when I walked in, I was greeted by none other than Pinkie.

"SURPRISE!" she greeted loudly.

"Hi there Pinkie...I guess you know about my birthday?" I asked.

"It's your birthday?" she gasped, "Ohmygosh! I nearly forgot...happy birthday, hope your day is fun fun fun!"

"Thanks Pinkie...I came here cause I followed a message."

"Oooh, in that case, here's a cookie and a card from me."

She then gave me a card which I opened and it showed a message saying 'you'll find the animals here' with a pink butterfly next to it.

"Another clue...well, I better go and see Fluttershy about this...butterfly." I said.

"Fluttershy...butterfly...that rhymes!" Pinkie replied, bouncing around.

"Right...it does...see ya."

I then left sugarcube corner and trotted over to Fluttershy's cottage and I noticed her door was already open. I walked on in and knocked at the wall by the door.

"Hello, are you here, Fluttershy?" I called.

Some of the animals in the cottage pointed to the backdoor that leads to the garden with the everfree forest in view. I walked through that door and to the outside to see Fluttershy singing a tune about a birthday and I heard all of it.

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Bond Racer

Happy birthday to you

She then turned around to see me.

"Oh...my...hello Bond, I didn't see you there." she said.

"No it's okay...thank you for the birthday message." I replied.

"Oh, was it your birthday, I didn't know."

"Don't worry, you're not the only mare."

"Actually, if you come with me to the house, I do have a card for you."

I nodded as we walked into her home, she went over to her table and grabbed the letter. I took the letter and opened it to see another message that read 'Forget about the money, Apples grow here.' with a red apple next to it.

"Right, next stop...the apple farm, see you Fluttershy."

"Okay, see you Bond."

I left her cottage and flew to Sweet Apple Acres to see Applejack, Applebloom, Spike and a giant pig by the cellar doors.

"Ta-da!" I heard Spike announce as soon as I flew down and landed.

"Good job, you two." Applejack complimented.

"Applejack, is it okay if ah get goin'? Ah don't wanna be late for my Crusaders meeting. We're gettin' fitted for water skis!" Applebloom said.

"Heh, you definitely don't wanna be late for that."

"Water skiin' cutie mark, here ah come!"

Applebloom then galloped off and away from the farm.

"Spike, you can head on out too, your work with me is done for now."

"Will do."

Spike then walked away from the farm and Applejack noticed me.

"Oh howdy there sugarcube, what brings you here today?" Applejack asked.

"Well, I came here because I'm following a clue and it's my birthday." I replied.

"Sounds mighty interesting and happy birthday to you, partner."

"Thanks."

"As for your clue, ah had a letter sent to me but it had your name on it which kinda confused me."

"Show me."

We walked into her barn home and on the table was a letter with my name on it, I opened it to see yet another message that had not only a lipstick marking, but a message saying, 'Only as somepony as fabulous as you can find me." with a purple gem beside.

"Looks like I'm off to see the love of my life, Rarity." I said.

"Okay sugarcube, just stay outta trouble." Applejack replied.

"I will..." I giggled as I left the farm and flew very fast over to Rarity's home.

When I got there, I walked in to her home and there she was, working on another dress when she saw me.

"Oooh hey darling." she greeted before hugging me.

"Heya Rarity, it's my birthday." I replied.

"Oooh happy birthday dear."

We then kissed passionately for a few seconds.

"Thank you, my love...I'm also here because there may be a clue for me and I've been getting these clues since this morning."

"Well, I may have something that might help you, come over here."

She pointed to a letter beside the dress she was working on, it was covered with traces of glue and tiny broken gems but that didn't bother me, I opened it to up to find a message that reads, 'By the lunch hour, look up to the clouds.' with a rainbow cloud beside it.

I saw the clock above the front door and noticed that there was a few minutes before lunchtime.

"Well I should get some lunch and look up at the skies." I said to Rarity as I hugged her with my hooves around her waist.

"Alright darling...when you come back, I'll have a special birthday surprise for you." she replied before winking.

"Cool, love you."

"Love you too, dear."

We shared a loving kiss and I was on my way out. When I walked over to the cafe, I ordered a meal of my choice and whilst I was eating, I looked up to the clouds to see just normal clouds, until I heard a distant whoosh. I looked as hard as I could to see Rainbow Dash shifting the clouds around and making them smaller at an alarming speed.

When she was done, the clouds spelt out a message for me saying 'Happy Birthday Bond Racer'. I smiled a lot when I saw it and Dash then flew down and she too had a letter for me as well.

"Wow...thank you Dash." I said.

"No problem, just doing my job, birthday boy." Dash replied before she massed around my name above my head. "Oh and this is for you."

I opened up the letter and it had a longer message which read, 'Well done for getting this far, this is the last one. Want to know more about magic, read my books.' and it had a dark pink star beside it.

"Oh and if it's alright, I'm coming with you." Dash added. "You can leave the letter here."

"Alright, let's go." I replied.

Dash and I walked to Twilight's library and I saw it all dark until the light flickered on.

"SURPRISE!" everypony shouted.

"Happy birthday, Bond Racer!" Twilight exclaimed as she trotted over to hug me.

"Well, to be honest, I began to have a feeling of where there was going, but then it would've taken the fun out of waiting and keeping it a surprise." I replied with a wink. "But still, I am amazed to have such amazing friends..." I paused to look at Rarity, "...and a loveable marefirend who have gone through this trouble to set up a great birthday."

"Awww and you're of one the best friends we've ever had too and we love to make you happy." Pinkie replied.

"As well as an amazing cousin." Vinyl added who was also there.

"Not to mention my favourite pony to give muffins to." Derpy also added, "By the way, it was me who sent the letters around by Twilight's request."

"In other words...we all knew about your birthday long in advance thanks to Pinkie keeping track of everypony's birthdays." said a voice from behind me.

"Sweet Chocolate!" I exclaimed.

"Yes indeed, happy birthday, bro!" Sweet replied as we shared a relative hug. "Here's one more card and gift."

"Thanks, sis."

Soon, the party began around the bottom floor of the library. With the six mares, my sister, my cousin, Derpy and Spike all in one room along with decorations and food, it was an amazing birthday party. During the party, my sister and cousin were talking and I remembered that they hadn't seen each other for a long time. I smiled at the scene, seeing that they were getting along really well.

Then came the finale, the birthday cake that they said Spike himself made the day before my birthday and I was impressed that it had a few gems on it, since I know he has a huge craving for gems, especially when Rarity gives some to him. So I blew out the candles and we all enjoyed a slice of cake and on this occasion, the cake did not lie.

It was Sunset by the time the party was finished, we all exchanged hugs and farewells until all that remained were Spike, Twilight, Rarity and me. Spike began sweeping up the flooring whilst Twilight cleaned up the tables and the plates.

"Time for me to go home, I had the best birthday ever!" I exclaimed.

"That's great to know, Bond." Twilight replied.

Suddenly, Spike burped out a letter from nowhere.

"It's from the Princess." Spike said.

"I'm sure we can find out about it tomorrow, Spikey Wikey, now it's time for me to go home as well." Rarity intervened.

"Alright, see you Rarity." he replied, sighing.

Rarity and I then left the library home, then I felt my right hoof being grabbed by Rarity.

"Come on darling, I promised you that birthday surprise." she said with a sly look.

"Okay, lead the way, love." I replied with a poor attempt at doing a low voice.

Rarity then took me to her home and into her bedroom where there was a dress that looked finished and sparkling.

"Okay dear, watch this performance...it's for your eyes only." she said as she placed on her dress.

I gulped as I watched her getting into that dress, shortly, she had her dress on which was a black gown that was almost see-through with stockings to match.

"So, how do I look darling?" she asked as she walked closer to me.

I found her so incredibly sexy that I smiled big and my wings flew open in an instant.

"Is that your reply or are you happy to see me?"

"Umm...err, I think it's a case of both..." I replied although I wasn't sure.  

Rarity giggled, "Here darling, come to bed with me. You deserve to sleep with me tonight." she added as she climbed onto her bed.

I then followed suit by taking off my suit and shoes and joined with Rarity on the bed. So there we were, looking into each other's eyes and feeling the love between us.

"I wanna show you how much I love you dear and this is the way to go about it." she said with a loving smile.

"So do I, love and if you really want this, then let's make it special." I replied.

After that, no more words were needed, we began to kiss passionately as we showed how much we were in love, but what happened next and for the rest of the early evening is not worth explained in detail because after all, we need to keep this story remaining Teen and not Mature, so whatever Rarity and I did will remain locked away in my vault of knowledge, thanks to Populous: The Beginning.

It was the beginning of the evening and I was relaxing on the bed with Rarity who was resting on her side with her hooves around me, we shared a few kisses, knowing that we shared a lot of passionate love just between us.

"One thing I'm glad about darling...is that you know how to be smart and be safe." Rarity said quietly.

"That's me in a nutshell...quick get the nutcracker." I replied randomly.

Rarity then laughed...huzzah! Finally somepony laughed at my randomness and I feel twice as good now.

"Alright love, I think I'm going to call it a night." I said.

"Oh, are you going back to your home?" Rarity asked.

"Well, if you want me to stay, I guess I can."

"Please darling...I want to have a night where I can sleep beside you."

I then smiled back and kissed her gently. "For tonight, I will for sure as I wanna feel your love and see you in my dreams."

Rarity then squeed before kissing me back. "Thank you...goodnight dear."

"Goodnight to you too, love."

We shared one more kiss before we got under the duvet and made ourselves comfortable with each other in the bed.

What a birthday, without a doubt, it was the best birthday ever and I wish everypony the best of luck if they can try and top it off for my next one, although knowing Pinkie Pie, she'll find a way to do that. But none of that matters now, as Rarity and I began to sleep, I could only dream of the romantic times we can have ahead of us... Next Chapter: Keep Calm & Flutter On Estimated time remaining: 13 Hours, 52 Minutes