Prompt: "Tirek and Chrysalis share their first Hearts and Hooves Day."
Chrysalis shut the front door, shed her Shutterbug disguise in a flash of emerald fire, and stared incredulously at her husband. Normally when she returned from a photo-shoot, she would find him in the gym or catching an afternoon nap. Today he was standing in front of her, like he'd been waiting for her to arrive. And his hands were full. “What exactly am I looking at?”
Tirek cleared his throat and gently shook the offered box. “Chocolates.”
“Chocolates.” Chrysalis repeated. Her gaze slowly drifted to the object in the centaur’s other hand. “And these?”
“Roses.” Tirek’s smile was too wide, too toothy. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead.
“Roses.” Chrysalis nodded. “And why, pray tell, have you met me at the front door with chocolate and roses?”
Tirek shrugged. “I, uh, was told that it was the custom for Hearts and Hooves Day to give your loved one gifts. Specifically, flowers and candy.”
Chrysalis, who was far more familiar with the Equestrian holiday than her husband, couldn’t resist a small smile. “And who told you this? Cozy Glow?” Before Tirek could answer, she noticed the clouds of black smoke drifting from the direction of the kitchen. “Did she tell you there was anything else you needed to do? Traditionally speaking, of course.”
Tirek’s eyes flickered toward the kitchen. Another bead of sweat appeared. “She informed me that it was appropriate for the husband of the relationship to prepare a romantic dinner for two.”
“And then she left you in the kitchen to fend for yourself while she took off for a friend’s house. Didn’t even offer to help, even though she knows you’re more useless at cooking than I am.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “Honestly, I’d be irritated with her if I wasn’t so blasted proud of her.” Before Tirek could do something foolish, like apologize, she leaned forward and took a deep whiff of the roses. “They’re lovely. Thank you.”
Tirek visibly relaxed. “Not as lovely as you.”
“Did Cozy tell you to say that?”
A pause and the tenseness returned. “Not specifically, but...”
Chrysalis chuckled as she took the chocolates in her magic, placed them on the table beside the door, and started for the kitchen. “Well, I suppose we’d better see what we can salvage from all this. Can you put those in some water?”
“Aren’t you going to eat them?”
She gave him a withering look over her shoulder. “Ponies eat flowers. Do I look like a pony to you?”
“Not at the moment.” Tirek smirked. “But eventually…”
“Oh, how incredibly witty.” She shook her head as she entered the kitchen and took in the disaster that had overwhelmed her normally pristine cooking space. She scanned for any clue as to what Tirek had been attempting to cook. She spied a pot of burnt sludge on the stove and a tray of ashen vegetables beside it. A platter of fresh fruits sat whole and unattended by the sink, evidence of a panicking centaur becoming distracted from his task before they could be peeled and cut. She heard him join her and looked back again, this time with a much gentler smile. “You could’ve just ordered out. I wouldn’t have minded.”
“That was my exact thought after the soup caught fire.” Tirek muttered as he placed the vase of roses on the counter. “But you try finding someplace that delivers this late on this blasted holiday.”
Chrysalis giggled as she disengaged the burners and began dumping the burned remains of food down the garbage can. “Honestly, you didn’t have to do any of this. I’ve never really cared for Hearts and Hooves Day. Never had much time for it.”
“Why’s that?”
She shrugged. “It was the hive’s best hunting time. Easiest day of the year for us to sneak into some town, infiltrate a date or two, and drain some love. I’d always mock our prey’s devotion to this whole idea of being especially romantic on one given day…”
“So…” He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms about her, hugging her close. “Would you have preferred if I did nothing? Simply let the day go by as though nothing special was happening?”
She relaxed into his embrace with a sigh. “I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I’m being honest. Was there some reason you felt compelled to go through all of this?”
“Only that it seemed appropriate. We’re trying to lead normal lives, after all.” He leaned down and kissed the place where her horn met her mane. “This is the day where normally someone in my position needs to remind the one in your position how much you, and your love, mean to me.”
Chrysalis felt the familiar warmth of his love flow through her and she shuddered as her transforming flames once more washed over her, this time with no conscious decision on her part. In a flash, it was her creamy white reformed visage that Tirek held tight. “Ugh, I hate when you do this to me.”
“I know, but it’s like I always tell you; you look amazing to me no matter what form you hold.” Tirek gave her one last squeeze before releasing her and looking around the kitchen. “Alright, so; where do we begiAHHH!” He cried out as his wife tackled him and dragged him to the tiled floor. “But dinner!”
“It’s Hearts and Hooves Day.” Chrysalis leered over him and licked her lips. “And I want my dessert first.”
“…You left the chocolates in the other room. Should I fetch them?”
Chrysalis cut off his prattling with a hungry kiss. When they parted, she pressed her forehead to his and smiled. “I love you. Did you know that?”
Tirek returned the smile and brushed a strand of mane away from her face. “It’s nice to be reminded from time to time.” He pulled her in for another kiss, this one much slower. “Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Chryssy.”
“And to you, my darling.” Her face grew serious. “Now take me to bed before I take you right here.”
“As my queen demands.” He chuckled as he stood up, holding Chrysalis bridal style. She snuggled into his chest as he hurried down the hall to their bedroom. The door quickly shut once the pair had entered.
A moment later, the door cracked open just barely enough for a sock, bathed in green magic, to float out and wrap itself about the outer doorknob.
It was Hearts and Hooves Day, and Chrysalis was taking no chances.
What a nice couple, it sure is good that Tirek has Cozy teaching him about normal life things. I'm so happy that this was made.
Wait..... can we get a chapter where Cozy finally opens up about her biological parents to Tirek and Chryssy and we get some backstory?
Cute story. I assume most of these chapters will take place before Cozy's graduation?
10084225
I'm pretty sure that's the whole plot of the first story.
i miss this
The oddest pairings (in both fiction and real life) can often be the most loving.
Gotta love this dynamic.
IT'S HERE
10084311
True, but it was mostly a bare-bones kind of thing.
Now that the trio has settled into family life, I feel like it be kind of cool that Cozy Glow lets herself get a little emotional on her birthday or something and she can then have flashbacks of how her parents even ignored her THEN.
It's one thing for Cozy Glow to tell us, but it would be really cool if we could be shone now that some time has passed.
YEAH! I love your stories ^_^
I love this universe. Nobody does a villainous family quite like you do
I love this so much.
Villainous family is best family.
That's cute, And, I thought Discord and Starlight Glimmer are happy about being reformed.
Very adorable chapter.
This is almost weapongrade level of cuteness. I loved the stories before and I'm 100% sure this lovely piece will be just as good. I can't get enough of those three lately.
idea (maybe)
cozy vs stupid bully
Nice. Nightmare Night is likely to be interesting with this family.
This series has been some EXCEPTIONALLY wholesome stuff. Good going!
D'awwwwwww ~ now that's a happy, if sometimes dysfunctional, family.
What's this? Another addition to my growing collection of family stories featuring the Legion of Doom? Sold!
I'm really interested to see what kinds of moments these three have. I second Ember Shroud and Vaguely Demented's ideas for chapters. I would also like to suggest taking a look at how Tirek acquired his job at the rock farm to support his family, and the first parent-teacher conference between Cozy's new teacher and her parents.
The priorities of this family. I love it. I wish the Despicable Me franchise handled its central family the way you're doing with these guys.
Looking forward to more moments of this family to come.
well done my friend, I promise you this a series I will treasure with every update!
Can I suggest a chapter?
Name: Dis-banishment
Premise: Cozy glow comes home one day to a crying Tirek and Chrysalis. Their banishment- all three of their banishments have been removed, and they are free to move back to Equestria, free of all charges. On one condition: Cozy Glow must attend Twilight's school of friendship.
thoughts? Please?
EDIT: 2/17/20
Oh my gosh, you liked the sleepover suggestion? I'm honored!
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Chapter Suggestion(s):
Cozy Glow brings her new friends Lily Vine and Mustard Seed over for their first sleepover - at her house. Potential parent shenanigans, or we learn the friends think having a centaur dad (and maybe catching her exposed by accident) a changeling mom are awesome.
The only other suggestion I can come up with at the moment is the moment Chrysalis changed into her new "embraces love" form.
Loved the previous installments, and can't wait to see what these in between snippets bring!
10084225
It already happen with a side of revenge. Look for story before this.
Cosy can still use magic, right?
Thanks for accepting my suggestions for chapter ideas!
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Nope. Just a pegasus.
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Really, She is not half windigo ?
Aaaaaaah that was so cute! I hadn't been keeping up with new fics but I got SO HAPPY I found these new in-process short fics about my favorite villain family!!
Aww. Nice callback, too.
A really cute addition to the series!
So, when is the next chapter going to be released?
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I've been distracted by work on contest entries, but the next chapter is about halfway done.
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Awesome! Can't wait to read it!
Dawwwwww, so sweet! I like it. Tirek trying to have a nice gesture with his wife (And Cozy using this day in her own benefice, hehe) and Chrysalis trying to look cool about her husband's goodwill and having fun with it. Short, nice and wholesome. Awesome job. I looking for more of this. Greetings.
Tirek completely ruining supper, I love it. That seems like something he would do. I can tell I'm going to love this just as much as all the others.
I love this our you going to do a father figures day?
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This is an exceptional idea in my opinion.
Amazing