A couple spoilers for MLP: FIM are contained within this story and the notes!
Most of this story is made up of various flashbacks that take place before S. 1. There are brief glimpses (and a couple chapters, as the end) that take place one year after S. 5, though no episodes are referenced (except for Tirek's, referenced when his destroying the library is noted).
In real life, I'm not very experienced (read: pretty much not at all) with romance. I've only had one girlfriend, and we weren't very romantic (we only spent 1-2 days a week with each other, and we never even went on a date). That relationship didn't end in the best way (we're still great friends, but it wasn't a very pretty ending). I'm also terrible at writing emotions (at least, I think I am), so a lot of the scenes are almost definitely going to fall way flat.
But, hey, I tried! I, personally, am very proud of this story.
If this ain't your cup of tea, what are you doing here? If it is to your liking, then sit back, relax, and read some probably-badly-written, romantic feels.
Firestar is based off of myself, but there are a few relatively-minor differences (such as less social awkwardness). Midnight Blackbird is my ex-girlfriend's OC, but her behavior is nothing like what she is actually supposed to be like. Windfall and Cloudy Summer are also OCs, though neither of them are based off of anyone.
Ditzy "Derpy Hooves" Doo (Coach Ditzy Doo) might not have actually been a Coach in Cloudsdale's flight school (I don't know a thing about her canon background, if she even has any). Gilda and Ditzy Doo are both well-known by Rainbow Dash, canonically, however (though I think, canonically, Ditzy might be around the same age as Rainbow, but I'm not sure)