It was a usual work day morning. As the sun rose in the clear skies, Derpy and Cloudfire took the trek together.

Rainbow Dash called out from above:

"Hey Derpy! Got a moment?"

A rainbow blur fell speedily from the heavens as the rainbow maned Pegasus landed in front of Derpy and Cloudfire.

"What is it, Rainbow Dash?" Asked Derpy.

Rainbow looked at Cloudfire, smirking:

"Excuse us a moment... mare talk."

Rainbow flew about 20 feet infront of the group, motioning for Derpy to follow.

"Hold on a seccy, Cloudfire..." Derpy said, flying up to Rainbow. "I'll be right back!"

The two Pegasus huddled together facing away from the curious Cloudfire.

Rainbow whispered:

"I talked to a few Pegasus ponies, and Twilight Sparkle... her connections are what really made this possible. We want to set you guys up with a special evening... are you game?"

"Yeah!"

"When would you like it? We can it any time this week... or the week after. Your call."

Derpy glanced back at Cloudfire and thought to herself... it didn't take her long to decide:

"We're going to see each other tonight after work."

"Okay, then, if you want it tonight, that'll work..."

Derpy wriggled in anticipation:

"What're you gunna do?"

Rainbow Dash grinned:

"If I told you that, it wouldn't be a surprise... don't say a word to Cloudfire."

Derpy was quite excited. Before departing, Rainbow whispered to her that they'd meet up there that evening after work. She left Rainbow Dash saying "Okee!" as she trotted back to Cloudfire.

"What was that all about?" He asked Derpy.

"I dunno!" She replied. "Rainbow Dash told me not to say anything..."

"Uh... okay." Cloudfire chuckled. "Sounds like you guys are planning something... I wonder what."

Derpy said nothing... she really didn't know that much, anyway.

They trotted to work. Together they would be working 6 hours. That'd be more than enough time to get everything together...

On the bus ride to a large abandoned field that was going to be a block of houses, Cloudfire asked Derpy:

"So... will we still be able to see that movie tonight?"

"I dunno!" Derpy replied.

"Oh!" The ivory Earth Pony rubbed his chin. "So I'll be finding out tonight, will I?"

"It's a secret!" Derpy replied, giggling.

For the first half hour, Cloudfire tried guessing what it could be. Derpy didn't know and said so, but Cloudfire still guessed... finally, he gave up and just waited for it at the end of the shift.

At the end, once the bus dropped them off and they collected their bits, the two walked right back to that spot, halfway between Derpy's house and Headquarters. Cloudfire couldn't believe what he saw:

The entire mane 6 were waiting alongside one royal Pegasus guard. All were standing around the object they'd rented for the evening, just for Derpy and Cloudfire. It would take three to power it - Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and the royal guard were going to be taking Derpy and Cloudfire in the air for a couple of hours in an RFC. A Royal Flying Chariot.

Something that luxurious would have cost at least 180 bits to rent... 120 for something more ordinary. He was completely speechless, never being able to afford anything even close to the most plain of vessels.

Using her magic, Twilight Sparkle opened the door and welcomed the two inside.

"This is just for the two of you," she said, as they stepped inside.

"Enjoy, you two," said Apple Jack. "Considerin' how much Cloudfire likes flying... we thought we'd give him the chance. This is entirely on us, Cloudfire, an' it's only good fortune we were able to do it... don't you go trying to pay us back now."

"This is wonderful." said Cloudfire with a tear in his eye, fastening his seatbelt.

"You guys ready?" Asked Rainbow Dash.

"Yup!" said Derpy, fastening her own seatbelt beside Cloudfire.

As the four on the ground waved them off, the cart gradually began picking up speed. At first it seemed like the Pegasi were just running, but as it went down the street faster and faster, it seemed almost to be floating off the ground. Higher and higher it went, until it was as high as the buildings... then higher and higher still. All felt still as the Chariot glided silently through the evening sky. High up above the trees there was nothing more than a gentle breeze.

Cloudfire looked down at the long, winding patterns of the Ponyville streets. As the chariot kept its assent, going higher and higher, eventually Cloudfire could no longer see the ponies below... just carts and buildings, all the size of foal's toys. It didn't take them long to leave Ponyville altogether, floating freely above the country side. The two admired the grid-like patterns of the grasslands below. To Cloudfire... this was incredible to see.

"Like it?" asked Fluttershy, the closest of the three.

"Like it?" Replied Cloudfire. "It's beautiful!"

He looked over to Derpy, who was smiling, happy that he was so excited.

"Derpy, this is the best present I've ever received! And you mean to tell me your friends did this of their own accord?"

Derpy blushed, nodding.

"I didn't know what they were doing... Rainbow Dash mentioned flying, but she wouldn't tell me anything else! That's why I was able to keep this from you so easy... 'cause they kept it from me too! I never expected anything this neat."

"Neat? This is amazing!"

"Yeah!"

He put his arm around Derpy and held her tight as they looked down at the fields below. Off in the distance he saw the Everfree forest - a mile above the unsettling trees of dark wood, some wide as three ponies are long, were so tiny and spindly. They hardly looked intimidating anymore. Everything was so different from way up high. It was a bit colder, but pony bodies could deal with that. If a Pegasus ever wanted to be alone and in awe at the same time, all he needed to do was go straight up. Cloudfire felt the land so whimsical and mysterious being able to look down at everything as if it were a map.

Up in the air, Cloudfire kissed Derpy and Derpy kissed him back. Without thinking, his mind drunk in a state of euphoria due to being so high up... it just slipped out:

"I love you, Derpy."

Derpy heard it all too well. At first she looked troubled, far away. Cloudfire wanted to be able to take it back, but that would make it untrue... he did love Derpy. This was the perfect place to tell her... away from those unpleasant ponies. He hoped her silence was just her processing what he had said.

She looked at him, her eyes warm and calm... focused on just him:

"L... I love you, Cloudfire."

That was just what the Earth Pony was hoping to hear. The two snuggled tightly as their chariot floated above Equestria.

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had both heard it, and knew from the shaky tone in their voices that it was likely the first time they'd told each other. Fluttershy was going to say something to the effects of "d'awww..." but Rainbow Dash silenced her with her hoof... holding back a tear of sentiment herself.

It was indeed a good night for all parties involved.

Two hours later the chariot set down where it had taken off. The only pony left there of the four was Twilight Sparkle. She welcomed them both back to earth.

"Did you guys have fun?" She asked.

Derpy nodded happily. Cloudfire stared at Twilight with wide eyes.

"Thank you..." He said.

"You're quite welcome!" Twilight replied.

"I... I must repay you 6 for this."

"Didn't Apple Jack tell you it was okay?" Asked Flutershy as she and Rainbow Dash wriggled out of their harnesses.

"That's not necessary, Cloudfire. If it helps it was mostly a free ride. We're only paying the driver! I just had to ask the Princess and tell her about your desire to fly... I hope that wasn't crossing the line."

"Princess...? You mean Princess Celestia? You talked to her about ME and my dreams? Holy moly..."

"Well... yeah. I wrote her asking her if something like this were even possible and she granted my request not an hour later."

Cloudfire sauntered up to Twilight and hugged her.

"I'm at a loss... thank you so much."

"It's just fine, Cloudfire. I'm glad you had fun, but it's getting late. We all need to sleep, even the Royal Guard."

The light Gray Earth Pony turned to the Chariot and Guard, nodding respectfully. The Guard nodded back, then spread his wings and took off... up into the night sky with the empty chariot.

Cloudfire looked at the four ponies in front of him.

"You know it was my idea, Cloudfire!" Said Rainbow Dash. "How about some acknowledgement? I helped carry you both around for the past two and a half hours!"

"Rainbow!" Said Twilight Sparkle in surprise.

"It's alright, Cloudfire..." Said Fluttershy. "Being taken up there by surprise must have you really tuckered out... I know you're grateful."

"I am. I really am!"

Rainbow winced, then gracefully said:

"I'm... glad you liked it." She opened her arms. "How 'bout a hug, too?"

Cloudfire hugged Rainbow, then the other two joined in.

"Wow..." Said Cloudfire, as he walked Derpy home. "I'm never going to forget tonight."

"Me neither! That was neat!"

"Neat doesn't even begin to describe it. Wonderiffic! Spectacular! Ginormous!"

Derpy giggled.

"Cloudfire..." said Derpy, bashfully. "Now that we're almost to my house, I was wondering... do you wanna spend another night together?"

"Wow... uh, sure!" He cleared his throat. "I'd love to."

"Can we... snuggle tonight? You can fit on my bed!"

Cloudfire smiled... uncomfortably.

"Hey... did my question make you mad?" Asked Derpy. "You're all... red. And you're scowling!"

"No, it's not that, Derpy..."

Snuggling at night can lead to other activities, and he knew that. Derpy was the first Somepony he'd had that he loved... he didn't want to get so far ahead of himself that he'd ruin it. He was happy Derpy was ready to at least say she loved him back... but expressing it in other ways, he wasn't so sure she was ready. He wasn't sure he was ready! ... but he'd manage to be a Gentlepony or take a late night walk home if he did sleep there... in her bed... with her... not an hour later.

She was looking at him with very... puppy dog eyes.

"Okay, Derpy," he said, chuckling. "You win. If you would do me one favor, I'll sleep in the same bed as you..."

"What's that?"

"Because we were just up in the air so late, I want you to keep extra warm tonight... I want there to be lotsa blankets on you, and I'll sleep on top of them. Okay?"

"I'll be all snuggly warm. Sure! That sounds like fun."

"Okay, it's settled then..."

Cloudfire relaxed quite a bit after that conversation.

By 10:20 they were at Derpy's house. Her parents were still up and said hello to them as they passed... into Derpy's room. Cloudfire looked past Derpy at her parents and noticed them looking at him with a certain level of intensity:

"You staying the night, Cloudfire?" Asked her Dad.

"Oh yeah!" Exclaimed Derpy.

The look he was getting from Mr. Hooves was hard. It wasn't something a pony could easily put his hoof on, but it was there.

"Be good!" He said. "And stay healthy!"

They went right to her room. Cloudfire swallowed hard and closed the door before they even turned the light on.

"Hey!" Derpy exclaimed.

Pitch black in her room. Derpy laid down in bed and invited Cloudfire to join her, turning on her night light. Slowly Cloudfire sauntered over to the bed and rolled in.

"Don't forget about the blankets!" he said, as he laid next to Derpy.

"Oh yeah!" Derpy slipped beneath her sheets and blankets, leaving Cloudfire above them.

She turned to him:

"What's wrong?"

"Derpy, you know when you have something like... let's say a giant muffin and you know if you finish it too quickly, you won't be able to enjoy it later? Not only that, finishing it all at once makes you feel kind of... well, icky."

"Yeah-huh!"

"Well, I have a good thing here... and I don't wanna move too fast."

Derpy snuggled him.

"I love you, Cloudfire." She said with a sleepy tone to her voice. "You're so soft and warm, and comfy..." She played with his mane. "And I really like the way you look and smell!"

He hugged her back, tight.

"I know I'm comfy, Derpy... " He noogied her. "Love you, Derpy... and I really like the way you look and smell, too. G'night, my Special Somepony."

"G'night..."

Cloudfire wanted to kiss her. Instead he slowly stroked her mane until she fell asleep... then he fell asleep, too. The second night he spent there and he was still a perfect Gentlepony.

Author's Notes:

This is the first MLP story I've written of this length that I've followed through this far on. Good way for one to get his feet wet in the MLP universe. Originally 50% of the first part was one, big narrative exposition dump. No character development whatsoever, and no bloody humor at all! To go from that, to a romantic relationship... really doesn't work.

The only stipulations I've put up for myself on this story (and this has been difficult in the second part) are no vular references to activities and no cursing or Bronie adapted cursing (I.E. "Get the buck of my farm!"). It just seems silly to me to put that in :-P ... I get it though. The second half will have a bit of a... darker tone... and I'll post it once I'm done editing it ;)

There were many versions of this story written and it does resemble the original story in a way. There were going to be two OCs, Wayward Pony (my personal OC) might make an appearance in another story. Originally Cloudfire was going to be emotionally abusive to Derpy and end up trying to forcing himself on her, only to have her run off and find Wayward camping near the Everfree forest. That... that's cool, but I've decided to do something else with the story. I'm kind of trying to let my imagination run wild with this, though I already know how it's gunna end ;)