Lazing on the clouds high above Ponyville, Cloudfire was in heaven. The world below seemed so tiny and insignificant -- just dark specks on masses of land with an endless supply of deep blue water all around. His troubles far beneath, bound to the land and put on hold for a cloud nap whenever he felt like it. He'd ascended high enough to see some of the greatest spectacles Equestria had to offer -- high enough to see Luna herself pull out the great glowing moon in the starlit night sky. He wouldn't, though... he would feel the brilliance of her approach instead, and bask in it. Shutting his eyes as the night crept up, he allowed himself to float freely, barely sensing the gentle breeze that guided him... surrounding him nothing but golden silence and compete bliss. Stretching his limbs as far back as they would go he sighed, feeling the vast limitless skyscape surrounding him. With no ground holding him back, no restrictions as far as the eye could see, his world seemed infinite. He allowed himself to fall freely, opening his eyes and looking down at the approaching world covered in brilliant lights, surrounded by a purple horizon and shrouded in a crystal haze...

"Wake up Cloudifre!" Exclaimed an all-too familiar voice right above the relaxing Earth Pony, putting gentle pressure on his chest while laughing. "Come on, silly! Today's a big day! You said so yourself!"

Cloudfire came crashing back to reality all too quickly. He was no Pegasus, despite having prayed to Celestia many, many times during his foalhood for him wake up as one. He even prayed a few times to Luna, as a foal and an adult. He'd always be an Earth Pony... but life wasn't too bad, especially lately.

"Gah!" He exclaimed in response, flailing his hooves. "Okay! I'm up! I'm up!"

He looked over at the pony who'd just woken him... the shy, blushing Derpy Hooves. His Special Somepony.

"Derpy, you know there are better ways to wake a sleeping pony..." He shook his hoof at her, then pulled his body over so they were nose-to-nose. He licked her snout. "I can't stay mad at you... I can try, but it's not possible. You're too cute."

Derpy giggled, rolling out of bed with him. She looked right at him with a big grin on her face, rubbing her stomach with her hoof.

"Okay, Derpy..." He stretched, chuckling. "I'll make you and Dinky breakfast, and..." he looked at the clock, which said 10:32 AM. "I'll make you and me breakfast, then I've got some errands I gotta run all by myself. I would have taken care of this business last night... but there was a..." he cleared his throat, putting on his saddle bags, "hold up."

"What hold up?" Asked the gray Pegasus. "And where ya goin'?"

He winked in reply:

"If I told you that it wouldn't be a surprise, silly..." He turned towards the exit. "I'll race you down stairs... last one there is a... uh... rotten dragon's egg!"

Cloudfire waited for her to start and together they dashed down the stairs. Derpy took a small spill once they hit the first story, but it was nothing she couldn't recover from right away. She was tough, but Cloudfire still beat her marginally, and nooggied her in the end all the same.

"You always beat me!" Exclaimed the Pegasus, sitting down at the table.

"We've had a few close calls, though..." Replied the Earth Pony.

As promised, Cloud made breakfast consisting of eggs, oatmeal, and few left over muffins for Derpy. He took a small single muffin for himself before giving his Special Somepony a kiss goodbye. He then exited the house in the direction of the shops, a spring in his step, and much on his mind. He had big plans for the day, but every one of them were going to have to be secret and Derpy would have to be left wondering... for now. She watched him leave from the window, fighting the urge to follow him and see what he was up to. Cloudfire was nice to her, gave her space when she wanted to he left alone, so it was only right she give him his space... but she was excited! What did he have planned and why wouldn't he tell her?

They'd been together for 12 months. Cloudfire had been counting. One whole year and neither had gotten tired of the other, and they seldom even raised their voices at each other in anger. Though the excitement was long gone from their relationship, there really wasn't much to begin with. They were just themselves, infatuated off the bat and the best of friends throughout. As their relationship grew there'd been talk in town, not nice talk, and yet still they stayed together. Cruel ponies who enjoyed a good, cutting gossip whispered quietly amongst themselves about of what unhealthy forces must be in play to have a "drifter and retard" together in a romantic relationship. This was just the way it was, Cloudfire and Derpy heard it everywhere they went... they were used to being picked on, so they grew to ignore it. Then, one day they all lost interest and it stopped. Though talking about the two had gotten boring, they were hardly bored. Their relationship had been proven to last, and all of the Mane 6 were ecstatic for them. Derpy's family was, too. Seeing Derpy's bright face, that was all that mattered to them... that she was happy. They never imagined in all their life that they'd love the pony Derpy fell for as much as they did. Her little sister called him "Uncle Cloudfire" and her parents insisted on being called Mom and Dad from the get-go. He was a member of the family. Their relationship was more than either could have ever asked for -- healthy, fun, and idyllic...

Cloudfire had been happily moved into Derpy's house for almost 8 months. It was depressing to Derpy's family to see that all of Cloudfire's belongings -- a few magazines, a pair of saddle bags, and a collapsible cot -- could be fit into a single plastic garbage bag for moving. Derpy had only seen where he lived one time and decided not to go back because of how small and icky it was. An illegal basement apartment with high rent for what it was... all gone now, thanks to the generosity of Derpy's family. He needed nothing new, and despite Daddy Hooves repeated offerings to buy him things like a winter jacket or a radio of his own, he always politely turned him down. With all those extra bits in his wallet (his rent a fraction of what it was) he saved for something special. He saved. And he saved. And he SAVED. Today was the day that all that saving was to come to an end... he had a smile on his face and could hardly wait to get there.

It was going to be a good day for Cloudfire... he was sure of it.

"Good Morning Miss Rarity!" The Earth Pony exclaimed, pushing open the doors to her boutique. "How are you?"

"I'm positively fabulous, darling!" Replied the ivory Unicorn, watching Cloudfire walk up to her counter. "It's been a slow day today, but it's always nice to see a friend... I take it you're here for...?"

"Exactly." His face was serious, but smiling. "I take it they're ready now?"

"Yes, they are," Rarity replied, using her Unicorn magic to levitate a small box behind the counter. "I apologize for the extra day, but one of the gems cracked when I tried to reset it after noticing it was a bit off... I had to cut a new one. They're quite rare, you see."

"I do." He went through his saddlebags. "That'll be the price we agreed on?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry I couldn't go any lower... I know how long you've been saving. Alas, this is a business I'm running... it feels so icky having to talk about Bits with friends."

"It's not a problem." He set a velvet bag filled with Bits almost to the point of bursting on the counter. "Feel free to count it before I leave... there's a lot in there and I could have made a mistake."

"In all the time I've known you I've never seen you make a mistake when it comes to your Bits... I trust you, Cloudfire. It certainly feels hefty enough, but I'll let you know if it's short or over... anyway, it would take me forever to count and I know you've got things to do."

"Thanks." He picked up the box and put it in his green saddle bag. "Can I get a receipt at least?"

"You're not seriously considering that... Derpy wouldn't like this gift? After all that saving, and the careful selection you made? I think it's absolutely perfect and she'll be swept away by the gesture!""

"I don't know."

"Well," Rarity scribbled something down with a pen on a piece of paper. "If she doesn't, just bring it back with this and you'll get your money back... along with my condolences, of course."

"Thanks." Cloudfire pocketed the note along with the box. "I'll be giving it to her later tonight... you'll know in the morning if it doesn't work out, so I guess no great rush to count it."

"I'll have it counted by then!" Rarity had one more question. "Have you decided where-"

"Probably the Sugar Cube corner." Cloudfire chuckled. "I'm sorry to keep cutting you off, but I'm nervous. This is really expensive!"

"Oh, don't be nervous!" Replied the unicorn with a confident smile. "I think that's a wonderful place, Darling. Being there makes her very happy... I hope she likes it."

"Me too," replied Cloudfire, turning tail towards the exit. "Me too..."

Cloudfire had another place to go before heading back... he walked into the Sugar Cube Corner and right up to the counter where Pinkie Pie sat smiling.

"Hiya Cloudfire!" Said the Pink Earth Pony. "What'll it be?"

"A private table for two at 6:00 tonight, please, Miss Pinkie... gunna have a special evening with Derpy."

"Oh... it's tonight? As in tonight, tonight?"

"Yup!"

The Pink Earth Pony jumped into the air, vanishing into the rafters above, and Cloudfire still looked up knowing it was futile...

"Right this way!" Exclaimed Pinkie, who was now standing right behind her stallion friend.

"Gah! How do you do that?" He sharply replied, clutching his chest.

"My secret," giggled the pink Earth Pony, bouncing towards a table by the back wall. "How's this, Cloudy?"

It was obscured on all sides except the back... with that set up, Derpy would be facing him and he'd be facing the wall. No pony but Derpy would be able to see what he had, and it would be hard to see Derpy's face from behind him. They'd at least have some privacy there.

"It's ideal," the ivory Earth Pony replied.

Once they were settled with the table, Cloudfire ordered dinner. Aside form Derpy's usual brown sugar topped muffins, he also ordered an unusual meal be made for the Corner.... spaghetti, topped with oregano and few other of their favorite spices. Normally the Bakery didn't make that type of meal, being mostly a pastry and party shop, but tonight... Mrs. Cake had told Pinkie she could bend the rules a little if Cloudfire asked. For this, they had everything they needed. This was going to be a special, romantic night. All Pinkie had to ask is that Cloudfire pay for his meal in advance:

"Mrs. Cake told me to..." Pinkie sighed, hesitantly adding, "it's a matter of the Cake's Policy."

"Not a problem," he replied, setting down a few bits on his reserved table to pay for his requests. "I'm off now... take care."

"Be seeing you tonight, Cloudfire!" The Pink Earth Pony waved him off. "Good luck with everything!"

Cloudfire had a few more errands to run before going back home. He left the corner, with most of his objectives now behind him. He felt really good.

It was now early afternoon. Where had the time gone? The ivory Earth Pony strutted down the street, having just two more places visit. Both were both located within the market. He visited the Arts & Crafts table first, picking up colored pencils and paper:

"Didn't know you were an artist, Cloudfire." Said the shopkeep, who'd seen the two Special Someponies around town. "I've got plenty of other materials you might be interested in..."

"I'm not," he replied, nervously chuckling, handing over some Bits. "An artist, that is. Thank you, though!"

Walking away from the Arts & Crafts table he then visited June Bug, who was nearby selling flowers from a portable kiosk.

"Hi June Bug..." he shyly muttered to the yellow pony, going through his saddlebag for a Bit. "I'd like a yellow rose, please."

"Sure," she replied, selecting one for him. "What's so funny, Cloudfire? You're blushing! Do you have a secret?"

"It's nothing," he replied, handing her a Bit as she handed him the rose. "Just a big evening a head of me."

"Well, okay... good luck then!"

"Thanks."

Instead of going straight home, Cloudfire walked up to the nearest picnic table, sat down, and went through his things, organizing them carefully. The box containing Derpy's surprise, the receipt, the art supplies, and the rose. He carefully hid the rose in a palce that it wouldn't get crushed, but pulled out the paper and colored pencils:

"Guess this is as good of a time as any," he thought out loud.

He proceeded to, very carefully, make a card for Derpy. He knew her favorite colors, and applied them to the card first before even writing the message in it... a very important message he would get to last. He didn't get that far... he didn't like the way his card was coming out from the start. Crumpling it up in his hooves, he threw it in the trash remembering that's why he bought more than one piece of paper. He tried again, and again he wasn't impressed with how it looked... so he threw another ball out. Again, and again, and AGAIN he tried, until he got to the last two pieces of paper.

"Hey, Cloudfire," said Twilight Sparkle, who approached from the side with Spike, Apple Jack, and Fluttershy.

"I'd swear we could see steam comin' out your ears on the way up here, Sugarcube... what's the matter?"

"Trying to make a card for Derpy," replied Cloudfire, not looking up. "Getting... frustrated."

"Mind if I take a look?" Asked Twilight.

"Be my guest," Cloudfire replied, handing over his most recent attempt he'd yet to crumble.

"I think it's pretty," commented Fluttershy.

"This actually isn't that bad, Cloudfire," said Twilight. "It's very abstract. Would you mind if I added something to your card to help the yellow stand out?"

"Certainly. I helped you last time with your art project."

"Do you have any sky blue?"

Cloudfire went through his selection of pencils and picked out that exact color, handing it over to Twilight who levitated it with her Unicorn Magic. She scribbled in a few places on the folded piece of paper while Cloudfire looked up at her. She smiled at him, knowing he was unable to see what she was doing... once finished, she set the card down in front of him.

"Well, what do you think?"

The small patches of pale blue complimented the light yellow in a way that Cloudfire never saw in his mind. Because of the way the colors were spaced, two colors never touched. His card went from looking like it was missing something, to resembling a dazzling butterfly... and all it took was just a few strokes from a knowledgeable pony.

"It's wonderful." He replied, looking down at the card, then up at Twilight. "Thank you. I think I may use it..."

"By all means!" Replied Twilight. "Good luck tonight, Cloudfire!"

"That's tonight?" Asked Apple Jack, suddenly roused out of a deep thought having nothing to do with what was going on at the moment.

"Yup." replied Cloudfire. "Tonight as in tonight, tonight."

The three surprised the ivory Earth Pony with what happened next... all three mares gathered around and gave him a big hug. Spike was standing behind the three, rolling his eyes and mouthing something along the lines of bleh.

"Spike!" Snapped Twilight, seeing his shenanigans out of the corner of her eye.

Again, he rolled his eyes, but then approached... also hugging Cloudfire completely by his own accord.

"Thanks guys," whispered Cloudfire. "You are wonderful."

Waving farewell, the four then left their anxious friend in peace. He had one more thing to do, then he could go see Derpy and pretend nothing was up except he was going to treat her to a meal that evening at the Sugar Cube Corner. He looked to his left, then to his right, and then... he wrote down the message to Derpy on the card and quickly put it away in his bag. He got up, put his bags back on, and trotted away quickly... absent-mindedly leaving his sky blue pencil on the table. It didn't matter... he'd show her the card tonight and see what she thought. It would be happening soon enough.