It was early morning. Celestia had yet to bring out the sun, its edges only peeking over the horizon.

A white Earth Pony trotted slowly through the empty streets of Ponyville, his head kept low and deep in thought. He had with him a green saddlebag, and was on his way to meet a certain gray Pegasus for their daily trek to headquarters... to work. The night before he'd asked her to be ready a bit early, leaving a few minutes to spare... there was something he needed to say to her. He'd been up half the night thinking about it.

They'd meet her in front of her house, like always. She was the only one usually up at this time. Mom, dad, sister all still sleeping peacefully in their beds. He'd only just met them days before.

Good gravy, he was already there. There she was, waiting for him...

“Hi Cloudfire!” The Pegasus said enthusiastically, yawning silently as she was still waking up.

He smiled, replying, “Hi Derpy,” all the while slowly cantering up to her. “I brought you some muffins, in case you skipped breakfast for this... and a few other things. Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah!” Derpy replied. What didja wanna to see to me about?”

Cloudfire sighed, taking out a muffin and giving it to Derpy... he then looked over at the glowing horizon as the sun rose.

“I have something for you..." he said, smiling. "Well, a couple somethings. I hope you like them.”

She'd scarfed the whole muffin down in one giant bite, looking up to ask (with bits of muffin still in her mouth):

“What?"

Cloudfire smiled, rummaging through his saddlebag. It took him a moment of shuffling things about, but once he found what he was looking for, out came a baby blue ribbon. It would mean nothing to most ponies, but Derpy's face lit up the moment she saw it. It was brilliant even in the fading darkness. He held it up to Derpy's blond mane. It was the perfect shade of blue to compliment her mane and fur.

"I remember that comment you made about not looking good in bows while browsing in Rarity's shop last week... Remember how she said 'Why, Baby Blue would look spectacular on you!'? Well, she didn't have one at the time... had her help in picking this one out for you yesterday." The bow was fixed in her mane. "There. You look very pretty."

Derpy ran her hoof through her mane, touching the ribbon.

"Lemme see!" She said, trying to see her reflection in the low window of her house... it was still too early to see anything but a reflection of her eyes and a vague blue mass attached to her head.

“I have one more thing to give to you..." Said Cloudfire, as she turned back. "Remember that Wonderbolts show I took you to a couple days ago?”

“Yeah, I remember..." She replied, giggling. "You were so focused on watching them you started to drool! It was cute... kinda gross... but kinda cute.”

“Well, remember how afterwards we stopped at that photo booth and had some pictures taken...” He pulled out a small, light-weight piece of bronze jewelry on a small yet sturdy chain. It sparkled in the faint sunlight. ”Remember how I insisted on keeping both copies. Well, you can finally have one now, if you like...”

With a press of his hoof on a tiny button, slowly the piece of jewelry opened up... it was a locket and on the inside it had the picture of Derpy and Cloudfire embraced in a warm hug inside the cramped booth.

“I... uh... wow!” Derpy started to say. “I like it. Thank you, Cloudfire!”

“No problem," he replied, beaming a smile at the grateful Pegasus. "Just my way of saying I like you. It came from Rarity's fashion boutique, too.”

"With All these gifts... other ponies are going to think you're my Special Somepony!"

Derpy giggled like a little school filly.

"Yeah, they are, aren't they." He thought, aloud. "I was going to ask you later after work, but you know what Derpy... I'm feeling kind of brave. What do you say?"

"What do I say about what, Cloudfire?"

“Derpy... we've been seeing each other a good... three weeks now. That sound right to you?”

“Yeah.”

He looked up at her and smiled, a warm glow in his eyes. Even in the low light he could tell she was blushing, and shyly looking away. Perhaps playing a game, he wasn't entirely sure. Was she really this innocent? He would ask this again, but... maybe slowly.

“I like you Derpy. A lot.”

“I like you, too!” The gray Pegasus immediately replied.

He chuckled. This was it. He was just going to come out with it:

“Would you like to be my Special Somepony, Derpy?”

Derpy froze. All was silent and cold for a few moments... not what he was expecting. The sun still rose, however, the first of its rays spilling over into Ponyville and on to the two ponies. He didn't know what to think. Had the question upset her? Intimidated her? Was she just not into him like that and it was fun so far until now? They'd spent plenty of time together, that was for sure... he felt a connection, which is why he even asked.

“Derpy, I know you've never had one...” He began to say.

“Special Somepony?” She repeated, looking deep in thought as the sunbeams came over her. “That means boyfriend and girlfriend...”

“Yes. That's exactly what it means, Derpy.”

She looked up at him, a small smile on her face:

“I'd like that, Cloudfire.”

He smiled back:

“I'd like it, too, Derpy.”

The two looked into each other's gaze as the sun rose completely, soaking them in its warm rays. Cloudfire cut their trance short:

“We should go soon, but first...”

Cloudfire gave Derpy a big hug. She let out a contented sigh, burying her head into Cloudfire's upper flank, right beside his Cloud-shaped Cutie Mark, using it like a pillow. They enjoyed each other's warm embrace for a few minutes.

"I'm your Special Somepony, Derpy," he said, quietly. "I'll always be there for you... always."

"I trust you, Cloudfire..." She replied, snuggling up. "And you're really comfy!"

He noogied her, laughing.

“We should go now, Derpy..." he said, still hugging her. "Unless you want to talk first.”

“Nope. I'm good,” she said, gently wriggling free.

“Okay...”

Together they took the trek to work. Derpy stopped briefly once they reached the two fountain, looking down at her reflection to see how she looked with her new bow. She thanked Cloudfire again for the lovely gifts.

For the most part they walked silently, Derpy occasionally asking a random question like she normally would... sometimes she'd ask about nature, maybe other ponies, pets, cooking, exercise. They'd always have a theme... this time it centered around Special Someponies, naturally. Cloudfire was off somewhere, deep in thought, yet experienced enough in the subject to answer without too much thinking...

That whole earlier exchange had taken nowhere near as long as he had been expecting... it had been impulsive, too. He wasn't even ready to ask her about Special Someponies... he still cut right to the chase and asked, as opposed to warming up and stupidly dumping all of his ooie-gooie feelings on her. It worked out well.

He already knew they were already the talk of Ponyville, so this probably wouldn't change much. Everypony could see they were infatuated with each other, therefore this was the logical next step. Makes perfect sense. Still... he waited a little longer with her than he had with others.

The others, back in cities far away such as Baltimare and ManeHattan. He'd been around, cities mostly. He didn't have to be in Ponyville a month to figure out Ponyville ponies were not the same... this was a simpler life.

Derpy was different from those other ponies. Not in a bad way. Cloudfire felt something special about her... and at first he didn't know if it was a good idea to ask her at all if she wanted to be Special Someponies at all, as that's a very big thing to a pony like her. He was her first boyfriend and she was at least his 10th girlfriend (he'd lost track). If she said yes and it fizzled out a bit later, she'd probably get really sad... he'd manage, but she'd have all those icky feelings to sort out... probably alone, as he wouldn't be able to help her all that much... might not even want him around. He was in no rush to even think about doing that to such a kind pony. He was pretty used to things just not working out, though, which was why he was so inclined to take it slow.

He shook his head. Overthinking things again.

It was only days before he'd met her parents... he was so nervous, yet they were so welcoming. Little Dinky Hooves thought he was funny. Her parents told him not to be a stranger... with the way her dad looked at him, smiling and eager to see him again, he thought he might've known that they were interested in each other like this. It was almost as if he was giving him permission. Yes, permission... Of course!

Derpy'd asked about his parents and his house... what was he going to show her? He had nothing in comparison to the wonderful life she had. A basement apartment he could barely afford for a home and a bitter Earth Pony father miles away in a retirement home who wanted a Pegasus he didn't even bother thinking up a second name when Cloudfire was born with no wings... “At least I didn't name you Dirt Peddler!” His father used to joke. "Good one, dad! You're old now!" He replied one day not too long ago. They hadn't spoken since...

His mom wouldn't have made a joke like that... she was proud of him. Was is the word, however.

“Hope I'm doing right here, mom...” He thought aloud, barely whispering to himself while looking high above. She had wings in life, and maybe she still has them now that she's left it all.

“What?” Derpy asked, turning to her brooding boyfriend. “You're scowling... is something wrong?”

“Just miles away, dear... reflecting.”

“Oh.”