One week later, a brisk late morning wind blew through the Ponyville Park, rustling the green leaves in the trees. The whispering of the foliage provided the perfect counterpoint to the gentle sax music that was currently being issued by the stallion in the green vest sitting atop one of the benches. Berry Punch and Minuette passed by, walking with their tails intertwined and carrying a cart loaded with kegs of Berry's famous grape juice. Berry Pinch rode atop her mother's shoulders. The group paused to listen to the song; when it finished, they applauded enthusiastically.

"Have a happy Hearts and Hooves Day!" Minuette said with a smile, dropping a couple of bits into the upturned gray hat laying on the bench next to the saxophonist. The couple continued down the path, dragging the cart behind them towards the collection of ponies gathering in the town center, setting up booths and hanging decorations of pink and crimson from the trees and rooftops. Berry leaned over and whispered something into Minuette's ear, causing the unicorn to giggle and blush. The two shared a kiss as they passed beneath a tree that gently rained rose petals down upon them. Pinch giggled to herself, shaking her head at the adults' behavior.

Phillip Finder watched them, feeling a small twinge of envy at the sight. His thoughts strayed to Daring, wondering what she was doing today. Maybe he should get a bouquet from the Flower Sisters and have it mailed to her, maybe with a thoughtful letter ; that's what couples did today, right? Sitting back on the bench, he closed his eyes for a moment to examine his surroundings, inhaling deep the various scents: the fresh-cut grass, the sweet pollen from the budding flowers, a vaporous trace of grape and mint toothpaste, and the powerful aroma of chocolate from the celebration preparations down the pathway...

Suddenly, he was aware of a very strange scent. No, a collection of scents: an aromatic amalgamation of cheeses. Looking around for the source of the odor, he spotted a stallion trotting down the pathway. This pony was dressed in an unusual ensemble: a dark poncho and a wide-brimmed hat that hid his lowered face. He held a pink-striped party horn between his teeth and a rubber chicken dressed in a bowler hat with a bright red "2" painted on its belly rode on his back.

"Oh, no, not again," Phillip groaned.

Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry wandered through the main thoroughfare of the Ponyville Town center, admiring the ongoing decorations for the day's Hearts and Hooves Day party. "Wow, Pinkie Pie sure knows how to put on a celebration," Flash commented, passing by a stage where the Ponyville Jazz Ensemble was setting up under the instruction of conductor Slide Fortissimo and Octavia Melody, who had traded her cello for a bass. Slide's twin brother, Green Screen, was helping Vinyl Scratch test some of her sound equipment nearby.

"Well, of course, silly!" a voice cried behind Flash, causing him both to leap up into the air in surprise and spin around. Pinkie Pie was right behind them, floating in midair, suspended by a collection of multicolored balloons of all shapes and sizes. "Being a party pony is all about putting on celebrations! Especially when they're celebrations for my bestest friends!"

"Of course," Twilight agreed with a smile. "You always throw the best—" Her voice trailed off as her attention was diverted by the flock of balloons that was holding Pinkie up in the air. "Pinkie, how did you make a square balloon?"

"With square breaths! Duh!" Pinkie answered with an eye roll. As Twilight and Flash exchanged a "should have seen that coming" look, there came a shout from Applejack: "Hey, Pinkie! Where did you want the caramel apples?"

"Be right there!" Pinkie called over. "I'll give you two lovebirds some time alone," she said to Twilight with a wink and knowing smirk. Twilight smiled and waved at Pinkie Pie, who impossibly propelled herself through the air towards Applejack with swimming motions. Chuckling, the two ponies continued on their way. Passing by a candy table, Twilight plucked two cupcakes with her magic, taking one for herself and giving the other to Flash. They sat in the shade of a tree to enjoy their treat, watching the crowds of ponies preparing for the celebration.

"Hey, you've got some frosting on your cheek," Flash said.

"Where?" Twilight asked, reaching up to wipe it off.

"I got it," Flash grinned, leaning in and licking the frosting off.

"Flash!" Twilight scolded, turning red with embarrassment. Her Guard laughed in reply, pulling a wing around her and cuddling her close. After a moment of resistance, she surrendered to his affection and nuzzled up against his neck.

"I'm really glad to be here," Flash whispered happily.

"I'm glad that you're here," Twilight replied, tilting her chin up and half-closing her eyes. In answer to her unspoken request, Flash closed his eyes and leaned in close; but to his surprise, instead of the kiss he was expecting, he received a cupcake being mashed into his face. "Hey!" he sputtered in surprise.

"Gotcha," Twilight smirked, laughing at the sight of Flash with frosting and crumbs all over his face. "Here, let me get that off." She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. It was Flash's turn to blush at the sensation of her lips on his, especially when she gently licked away the frosting. She smirked at seeing him flustered; Turnabout is Fair Play by Baden Switch had been well worth reading.

"You little minx," Flash smiled, wiping his face off with a napkin that she provided and wrapping his wing around her again. He sighed contentedly. "This is perfect."

"You know what would make it more perfect?" a gruff voice asked. Both ponies looked up to see the pony in the poncho and hat standing next to them, his head lowered. "If this party were planned for two, by two."

"Cheese Sandwich!" Twilight said in delight, jumping up to greet the traveling party pony. Cheese grinned as he removed his poncho and hat, revealing his yellow polo shirt. "Good as gouda to see you again, Twilight!" he greeted her. "Have you seen Pinkie Pie around here?"

"Cheesie!" a voice squealed. A pair of pink hooves wrapped themselves around Cheese's eyes. "Guess who?" Pinkie shouted, floating behind Cheese.

"Is it Uncle Frank or cousin Louie?" Cheese asked.

"Nope!" Pinkie giggled.

"Is it Bob or Joe or Walter?"

"Guess again!"

"Could it be Bill or Jim or Ed or Bernie or Steve?"

"No, silly!" Pinkie laughed, letting go of Cheese and allowing him to turn around. "It's me!"

"Pinkie Pie!" Cheese hugged the mare.

"I knew you'd be back one day!" Pinkie squeed.

"Can't keep a party pony like me away! Especially not when there's a Hearts and Hooves Day party to plan!"

"Both of us working together, to make this the most frabjuous Hearts and Hooves Day ever?! Callooh, callay!" Pinkie cheered, her voice reaching an excited octave. "Think you're up to it, Cheese Sandwich?"

"I'm on it like stink on Limburger!" Cheese grinned determinedly, following Pinkie. "Now, the first thing we need is about three tons of confetti..."

Twilight watched the pair of party ponies trotted off, then turned to Flash. He was staring after them with his jaw hanging open. "It's like there's two of them," he whispered.

The preparations were ready by that afternoon. The celebration was kicked off by Pinkie lighting a firework that shot up into the air and exploded in a heart-shaped shower of pink sparks that rained down on the crowd. Children squealed with delight as they hurried over to the game booths and buffet tables of sweets. Heart-shaped balloons floated over the jamboree, reflecting the beams from roving spotlights.

"Come on, everypony!" Pinkie shouted through a megaphone. "Grab your special somepony and head for the dance floor!" She signaled the ensemble on stage. Slide Fortissimo raised his baton and struck up the band, whirling them into an energetic swing that blasted through Vinyl's speakers, the music magnetically attracting the celebrating ponies to the dance floor.

Twilight watched from the Town Hall porch. Carrot Top and her husband Written Script were doing a four-step while Lyra was leading Bon Bon in an impromptu step dance. Caramel was energetically stumbling over his four left hooves, to the amusement of Sassaflash, who fortunately could dance well enough for the two of them. Gingerroot and Decibelle Rose were laughing as they attempted to mimic the dancers around them. A blushing Spike nervously presented a bouquet of roses to Rarity, who giggled and allowed him to guide her to the dance floor. Starlight Glimmer sat nervously off to the side for a while, but was approached by a nervous-looking unicorn stallion who offered her a marigold muffin, earning a shy smile in reply.

She sighed contentedly at the sight of her friends and citizens happy. This was almost perfect. The only thing that would make this better was...

"Excuse me, Princess," Flash cleared his throat and smiled. "May I escort you to the dance floor?"

She giggled at his cheesy act. "You may," she nodded, allowing Flash to take her foreleg and guide her over to the dancing crowd.

Meanwhile, Cheese Sandwich supervised the party from some distance away. "Well, Pinkie, looks like we did it," he said to the mare beside him. "These ponies will be talking of this Hearts and Hooves Day party for years."

"Yup! And it's all thanks to us!" Pinkie said, hugging him. "I'm really glad that you came back. I couldn't have pulled this off without a friend like you!"

She failed to notice the red glow that spread across Cheese's cheeks at her touch, or perhaps she thought it was a reflection of the light. "Er, yeah, Pinkie," he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "See, the thing is..." He cleared his throat. This plan had sounded easier in his head. "You...you know how Hearts and Hooves Day is all about couples...about a pony being with a pony that they really like and..."

"Cheese Sandwich?" a voice interrupted. Looking up, the two ponies saw a cream-colored unicorn with an elegantly styled golden mane and smiling green eyes approaching them. This pony was dressed in a dark red waistcoat and tie and had a cutie mark of a pair of tragedy and comedy masks.

"Allow me to introduce myself," this pony said in an upper-class accent, extending his hoof to shake. "My name is Encore Performance. I've been looking for you for days."

"You didn't have far to look," Cheese said, shaking his hoof. "Just had to follow the party signs."

"Precisely," Encore smiled. "That's actually why I wanted to speak to you. You see, I'm a close friend of Lord Fancy Pants and his wife, Lady Fleur de Lis. It is a tradition of theirs to spend Hearts and Hooves Day to themselves, and then hold a celebration for their friends on the day after. These celebrations are very special to them, and they would like to provide the very best for their friends. Which means, of course, that there is nopony better in all Equestria to plan this party than you, Cheese Sandwich."

"Me? Really?" Cheese said.

"Indeed!" Encore said, patting Cheese Sandwich on the shoulder. "Fancy and Fleur both agree, nopony better. Of course, we'd be more than willing to reimburse you for your time, if you decide to help us."

Cheese looked back at the ongoing party before him. He had just organized a Hearts and Hooves Day party to top all other parties. And now he got to do it again on the very next day!

"No, I would not like to," Cheese said seriously. Encore's face fell and he opened his mouth, but then, Cheese leapt up into the air in an explosion of confetti. "I would love to!" he shouted.

"Splendid!" Encore said in delight. "We shall expect you on the earliest train to Canterlot!" With a final hoofshake, the upper-class pony departed, thanking Cheese for his kindness.

"Wow, lucky you," Pinkie said with a small note of envy. "Getting to plan two parties in a row!"

"You could come with me, you know," Cheese offered. "The two of us could really make that a party!"

Pinkie smiled sadly. "Sorry, Cheese. But I have to stay here; I've got a lot of baking to catch up on."

Cheese's ears flopped down and his face fell slightly. "Oh. Okay."

"Aw, cheer up!" Pinkie said with a smile. "You can tell me all about it next time you come to Ponyville! Or you could always write!"

The thought seemed to perk up Cheese again and he smiled broadly. "Sure as sharp cheddar I will!"

"That's better!" Pinkie said. "Now, come on; there's still a party here in Ponyville!" She bounded off to rejoin the festivities, with Cheese bouncing after her.

Encore Performance paused at the door to his limousine carriage, drawn by two uniformed pegasi. He smirked at the sight of Cheese bouncing off before signaling his drivers to take him back to Canterlot. Scarlet would be pleased, he thought as he was carried off towards the shining city in the distance.

Author's Notes:

And what better way to kick off a romantic comedy-adventure story than with a party and a lot of shipping?

I'm truly sorry this took so long: I just wanted this story to start off perfectly. As an apology, have the cute Cheesepie image that I based this scene off of. Hopefully that will sate you while I write the next chapter.

Slide Fortissimo and Green Screen belong to my collegemates and buddies Trombone2015 and Mandolin15.
Decibelle and Gingerroot are the stars of their own series by DatPoneEnthusiast90, which you should totally check out. All are used with their knowledge and permission.