Two More Fic Ideas · 4:06pm Apr 5th, 2022
These have popped into my head recently, and I want to get them in writing. As always, any feedback / ideas are welcome.
The Princess of Family
(Based on an outtake from the 2017 My Little Pony film, which identifies Cadance as the "Princess of Family," not "Love." Personally, I really love that idea and would like to explore it)
Shining Armor is wandering the halls of his school when he spots a very pretty young mare getting backed into a corner by an older stallion. He's making all sorts of lewd, crude insinuations, ones which are very clearly not reciprocated by the mare. Shiny decides to intervene and slides up beside her, then pretends to be her boyfriend. This is enough to throw off the other stallion, who leaves. However, the mare--who introduces herself as "Cadance," and who, by the way, happens to be a princess--is unexpectedly hostile, and insists that she didn't need his help.
(Perhaps: Cadance is doing her best to "dress down"--baggy hoodie, big, dorky glasses, no makeup, messy mane. She's still quite beautiful, and pretty heckin' sexy, but she's done everything she can to hide that fact.)
The next day, however, Shiny is surprised to find that Cadance glues herself ot his side, presenting herself as his girlfriend to anyone who asks. Behind closed doors, she is hostile again, but in public, she is... well, not loving, not really, but sure makes it seem like it.
Eventually, it comes out: Cadance is the Princess of Love, but not neccesarily romantic love. She is actually the Princess of Family, which entails a gentler, deeper, more abiding form of love. However, most ponies don't see her like that. They think she is the Princess of Romantic Love, which means she is also the Princess of Sex, which means that she's had to fend off entirely too many unwanted advances, which, in turn, has led to her rather prickly exterior. Having a "boyfriend" isn't stopping all the stares, leers, etc., but is helping take some of the heat off of her, and she wants to continue.
Slowly, the two of them start to actually fall for each other, especially when Cadance sees Shiny being a good brother / son (e.g., helping Twilight with her homework). Eventually, they start dating for reals.
Untitled Cheerimac Fic
I love Cheerilee, I love Big Mac, and I feel the two of them, together, got done dirty. Here's one potential idea that could help ease the wounds a little.
The story follows Cheerilee's and Big Mac's relationship from the time they are foals up to the birth of Mac's first kid. Cheerilee's family are cherry farmers by trade, and moved to Ponyville from Dodge Junction to [plant a new orchard / open a store to sell cherry jam and juice / have always been here, just over the hill]. Young Cheerilee meets little Mac through the fence bordering their properties, just like Bright Mac and Pear Butter met. The two become fast friends (Cheerilee's twin sister Cherry Blossom, introduced in the comics, runs with a different crowd).
The story follows the two of them throughout their lives, dropping in once every year or so. We see them get their cutie marks, we see them go to school, we see Cheerilee help Mac deal with his parent's deaths, we see Cheerilee come back from college. Even though her family has moved on, Cheerilee chooses to return to Ponyville, partially because of her good memories, partially because of Mac.
I haven't quite decided what their exact relationship should be--whether it's strictly platonic, or whether it's will-they, won't-they. Perhaps Cheerilee Prefers The Company Of Mares, and talks girls with Mac. Perhaps she's just really focused on her career, no really, dealing with twenty pre-teens all day leaves her no time for romance. Or perhaps she secretly hides the fact that she's been stuck on Mac since the day they met...
Of course, whatever their relationship, the Love Poison incident definitely throws a monkey wrench in it. One idea I had for another fic is that Cheerilee secretly smokes, but only when she's feeling exceptionally stressed; the night after the Love Poison would be the first time in years that she lights up. She and Mac talk about it (or talk around it, as the case may be), and decide they can keep being friends as they are.
Another idea that hinges on their relationship status: The night of Mac's wedding, Cheerilee goes to someplace that was important to her and Big Mac (maybe: the CMC clubhouse, which was Mac's before it was AJ's?) and lights up again. Big Mac comes to find her, and they talk, once again, about their relationship, especially now that Mac is, y'know, married and all. There's an uncomfortable pause, and Cheerilee blurts out: "You know, I would have slept with you if you asked." Mac hesitates, then replies "That Love Poison was awful powerful, I wouldn't a'--" Cheerilee interrupts. "Not just the poison. Any time. For the past twenty years, literally any time."
The revelation that Mac's best friend wanted has been crushing on him since they were children catches him rather off-guard. He admits that he would have wanted it, too, at least a little, but they've known each other so long that he thinks of her almost like a sister--not in the wierd, friend-zoney way, but in the sense that they're closer than just potential lovers. She's the only reason that he's made it through so many hard times: having a rock in the storm has meant the world to him, and he wouldn't want to endanger that bond by bringing in romance. (Cringe? Cliche? IDK. This is just first-pass brainstorming.)
The final scene would be at the party celebrating Big Mac and Sugar Belle's first foal. Cheerilee shows up, and, depending on whether that last conversation actually happened, tries to stay out of sight. However, Big Mac spots her and introduces her to his son(?) as "Aunt Cheerilee," a moment that goes a long way towards healing any hurt she might still have.
My brain just clamped down on “why not both” and won’t let go.
"Twi-light!" called out a familiar voice at Princess Twilight Sparkle's front door. "We're ready! Come on out."
Moving slowly and keeping a coffee cup hovering in front of her face, the Princess of Friendship (and Books and Various Other Governmental Functions As Needed) opened her front door and blinked in the morning sunshine. Cadence was standing right in front of her with a broad grin, far larger than Twilight could ever remember her smiling before. Shining Armor, however, was merely rolling his eyes while standing beside her.
"You know how I'm the Princess of Love and Family and other such associated things," bubbled Cadence at full speed, far more rapidly than Twilight could soak in. "So when I saw him, I knew he was just right for you and brought him right over. And I brought my tiara so I could preside over the ceremony."
"Him? Who? Ceremony? What?" Twilight took a long drink of coffee, then looked at the unconscious shaggy stallion that Cadence was carrying suspended by the tail in her pale blue magic. She took another drink of coffee. It didn't help.
"He's perfect for you and you're perfect for him, so lets get this started. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together--"
"Wait," managed Twilight Sparkle. She peered at the unconscious stallion again. "Why does he have a lump on his head?"
The unnamed stallion snored slightly.
Cadence scoffed and pointed to the bag that Shining Armor was carrying. "It's just the #4 wood in the Persuader series that I got from Auntie Celestia last Hearth's Warming. I was going to use a #6, but--"
"You knocked out a stallion and dragged him over here to get us married?" asked Twilight in what was certainly not a question, considering the number of Ponyville townsponies lined up on "Groom" and "Bride" sections of the castle lawn, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders dressed in adorable dresses with each one carrying a similar child-sized cudgel.
"She's the Princess of Familial Love, not carnal desire and debauchery. End of discussion."
~Celestia Sol