Chocolate Strawberries !! :3

It couldn't have been but a quarter-year since Jessi bought her first farm and stable. There was much to get used to: the near-constant rolling breeze of the mountains, the nightly creaks of the worn-down stable, and the (sometimes intrusive) sounds of nature that she could never quite block out. That was the harest part to adapt to: the sounds. It kept her up at night, tossing and turning for hours until dawn eventually broke, only for her to have to get right back up to tend to her ponies for the day. And tonight was no different. There had been a whooshing gale that rapped at her roof in rhythmic brushes. Each hiss seemed to get louder and louder until Jessi eventually decided that, at least for now, she would not be subjected to a sleepless night with nothing to show for it. Of course, that meant one thing: more time to prepare her stable for new ponies!

Jessi had fixed up her stable to fit a couple of Teddies comfortably. There was her first boy, the wonderful teddy-eared stallion she prized. Then, there was her first girl, a gorgeous mare who had been donated from another stable. With how new she was to hosting Teddies, it was no surprise that two was already enough to keep her busy in the mornings. And, while that didn't stop her from dreaming of a bustling farm with tens of ponies, she knew that it might be best to settle down for now.

With that thought in mind, Jessi meandered to her stables in the dead of night, admiring the beautiful mountains and valleys that she had been blessed to own a farm upon. When she got to the stable, she set her things down and readied for a night of reluctant chores. At least it was better than rolling around uselessly in her bed. 

"Hey, Dwight," she murmured, petting his cheek with reverence. "Having fun with your new friend?" she asked. Dwight huffed with a couple small steps in place. He was always quite a happy boy.

"That's good," Jessi said, this time with a smile. Thankfully, someone here was having a good time. When she turned back to the empty stalls on the other side of the stable, her lips pressed together. There was a cozy space, well-sized and ready for a new friend. But, of course, she knew better than to go in over her head, especially when it had become a bit difficult to find willing ponies to bring to the stable. It only made her wonder what she was missing out on in the mountains. She hadn't been here long, and had spent most of her time fixing up the farm and making it just right for her future endeavors. Hadn't that been enough? Didn't she deserve a bit of time to herself to explore the world around her?

And so that is what she did, gathering a bucket of carrots and apples and heading out for the valley. With those items, she took a pretty pink bell ribbon, just in case. You can never be too hopeful on a property like this. As she walked out into the night, exploring the land beyond the perimeter of her ranch, she heard the soft clops of hooves on dirt.

No, it couldn't be! 

Jessi poked her head around the corner, gaze catching onto one of the most stunning stallions she'd ever seen! A wonderful bay boy, about 12 hands tall. He was quite the horse, seeming almost pink in the moonlight. Upon closer inspection, there was even the sweetest heart on his nose, and he had the most beautiful teddy ears, just like Dwight. It was as if Valentine's had brought Jessi its own gift: a friend to grow her brand new stable! 

With cautious steps, Jessi approached the docile boy. She thanked herself for taking the treats with her on her expedition, and set out the options for the stallion to choose from. For a moment, Jessi held her breath. There was no way to be sure if he'd take it or decide to trot off into the night. And, though she knew to respect the pony's choice, she gnawed at her bottom lip in anticipation. She hoped the pony would choose to come home with her today!

"That's okay, sweetheart, take your time," she reassured, backing away to let him appraise his options. 

With a moment's time, the stallion lowered his snout to the apple. His lips pursed as he sniffed the curious fruit. There was a small, hardly-perceptible nibble from him as he chose to taste the apple first.  Jessi admired him as he gobbled the fruit, just about to pick the carrot back up before he nudged her away and began to eat that, too!

"Good boy," she muttered, in an attempt not to scare him off. "You just enjoy your meal, alright?"

As Jessi soothed the stallion, he lifted his head and rested it on her waiting palm. For a wild boy, he had such soft fur! She was greatful to have brought her bell with her today, and was excited to try to braid it into this boy's hair. Maybe today would be the day she made a new friend, after all.