//------------------------------// // Subject 98: What She Wants // Story: Interviews With Equestrians // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// Our workout lasted for a long while. Both of us being earth ponies, we had enough stamina to last us half the night. It was quite the fun experience. She and I both rested together on the floor. I was on my back and Cheerilee lied on top of me with her ear on my chest. I couldn’t feel any happier… “It’s been four hours…” Cheerilee looked up at her clock with a grin, “That’s a new record.” “Mm...yes it is…” I replied with a bit of a blush on my face. She leaned up, and placed a kiss on my nose. “Oh don’t get cold hooves now. Not after what we’ve done, hmhm!” she said with a giggle. That’s when my thoughts started to wander. I wondered how Cheerilee would think about our future together. “...Cheery? Do you want kids?” The purple mare held onto me a bit tighter. “Oh...I’ve thought about it. But it’s far too late, I’m afraid. At my age, I’m essentially infertile and can’t really have children on my own. Though...from what I can tell, you already have a kid, don’t you?” she shot me a knowing smile. Yeah, there it was. It was time to face facts. I had essentially become like a father to Cozy Glow. And it was...an interesting experience to say the least. Throughout my life I had focused entirely on my job and the safety of others around me. Of course nowadays, not much has changed. That’s what I still focus on in a primary sense. But I suppose taking a break every now and again never hurt anypony. “I do, actually. I hadn’t given it much thought until now, but Cozy pretty much is like my daughter now. And...well, she deserves it. Her parents cast her out and never bothered to give her that chance...but look at her now. She’s mostly adapted to this new world despite having been trapped in stone for so long.” I put a hoof around her back to bring Cheerilee in that much closer. “I’d say it’s been worth it.” “Even if your job is difficult? Even if Twilight may want you to avoid being involved in certain situations?” she asked. I responded with the best answer I could think of. “Nothing is absolute in this world. I can’t one-hundred percent promise that I’ll stay out of everything she asks me to. If something threatens you or Cozy, then I won’t choose to stand idle.” My gaze became a bit more stoic as I went on. “No matter what dangers come our way. I will fight as hard as I can.” Cheerilee giggled, and nuzzled my neck. “Ohohoho, there you go...always thinking about others and how you can improve their lives. It’s noble, but you need to remember to look after yourself as well.” I nodded. “Absolutely. I won’t ever falter in that regard. You’ve shown me that I matter to other ponies a lot more than I’ve realized. Still...I wish I could help Cozy with whatever inner traumas she faces.” “Oh...I think I can help with that.” That sounded both exciting and ominous, coming from her. “Wait what? You can?” “Mm-hmm. Not only am I a well-renowned teacher, but I have lots of connections to other...lesson specialists in the field. I can figure out what’s eating her no problem, dear.” Well now that was nice to hear. The fact that she was more than willing to assist Cozy where I could not was very heartwarming. “...Wow, you’re already adjusting to being her mother. You’re like the perfect wife.” She blushed, and brushed it off with a giggle. “Heheh! Not even close. You’re the better husband by far!” Husband, hm? That was a nice thing to hear. I wondered… “Say, Cheery...do you want to get married?” “Well…” she took a moment before she replied, “...I know I said I loathed the idea of marriage and being shackled to another pony for the rest of my life. But...now, I’m reconsidering it.” I decided to take her words and spin them around as a joke. As any good husband would. “Ooh, shackles? We’re getting a bit kinky quickly, aren’t we?” I said with a grin. At first, she scoffed, but burst out into laughter. “Ahahaha! Good one, dear. But in all seriousness, I’m considering it because...I don’t know, I want to be...as close to you as possible. I genuinely love you.” Now that the joke had passed, I too brought it down with a rather important question. “I love you too, but...is it really worth the legally binding contract of marriage? One that could complicate every aspect of our lives should the spark of our love fizzle out?” Silence for a moment. Cheerilee hesitated to answer, but didn’t move. Part of me was afraid that I had asked the worst possible question, and that her reply would be so harsh that it would send me though an emotional breakdown. But that’s not what happened. “I...am aware of that possibility. Love is a very fickle thing that can’t be predicted or understood by our own minds. All we can do is...our best.” Wise words indeed. But my concern over what exactly she thought had not yet been eased. “So...do you wish to be married? There is no obligation to do so.” I ran my hoof through her mane in a gentle, protective fashion. “You are already my wife. Without all that fancy paperwork, dresses, suits, ceremonies, cake, gifts, and whatnot. I love you too, Cheerilee, and want to see you grow and prosper through your life as much as possible.” “I love you too, Pale...with or without some stupid dress that I’ll only wear once,” she remarked with a cute little laugh. “Haha! I mean, seriously, who thought up that concept, anyways?” “Or how about the fact that you toss a bouquet and the mare that catches it is next to get married,” I commented with a scoff, “Heh. If Cozy ended up catching it, I would burn it. She does not need to be entrapped within something like this at her age.”: Cheerilee continued with the roasts towards the concept of marriage. “And the gifts! Ugh! Every single damn wedding I’ve been to, the friends and family of the bride and groom never get them something they’ll actually want. They just offer up basic things like a toaster, mixers, cookie sheets. Oh boy, if I ever invited anypony to my wedding and got a darn pair of horseshoes, I’d throw them out!” I laughed next, and rattled off more complications involved with the affair. “And the in-laws. Oh god the in-laws. Nopony wants to deal with their in-laws!” The purple mare feigned a gag motion with her mouth. “Yeck! If we ever get married, I know for damn sure that I won’t be inviting my parents.” Well now. That was unexpected. I knew Cheerilee held contempt for her parents in some ways. But enough to warrant not even giving them invitations to the wedding? Wow. “...Do you mind if I ask why?” “Oh. Well, I’ve already told you about the fact that they pushed me to get married constantly, right?” I nodded. “That’s right.” “Well, it got to a point where I decided to leave home early, and pursue my career as a teacher. All they said was the fact that I should just marry a rich stallion with a doctor or lawyer job, and be a good wife.” It was my turn to almost gag. I couldn’t believe that. “Disgusting...individuals that choose to value their lives based entirely upon what their children choose to do with their own. It makes me sick just thinking about it.” She put her hoof to her forehead. “I know...it’s quite the annoyance especially when you live in a place like little old Ponyville where there aren’t a whole lot of doctors and lawyers. Male ones, anyway.” Of course. Geographical, and population-based beliefs on marriage would vary from city to city. Being from Manehattan myself, things were much different. “Heh. That’s all you found on Manehattan. Somepony trying to be the next Steve Trots or Bill Gaits no matter what. But there was always pride in your own work--not being a follower to your parents just because.” “Exactly. That’s why I refused to speak with them once I left home, and pursued my dream as a teacher. Honestly, being able to laugh and smile with the youths that would grow up to be the next doctors, lawyers, and firefighters was always my passion.” She let out a longing sigh with a satisfied smile on her face. “Ah...and look at them now. The Crusaders are all well-functioning adults. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon have opened their own businesses. Twist has invented a new form of candy. Snips is now a surgeon. Snails is a biology professor….” she started to tear up a little. The nostalgia hit her like a train as she came to realize how well off her students had become. “They were all...like my babies...and now...now they’re...doing so...great I…” she sniffled, and wiped her eyes. “Ahem. Sorry. I...got a bit emotional.” I myself had to hold back some drops. I couldn’t imagine how she must have felt knowing that her students had all essentially grown up and moved on before she had even realized. If only there was a way for her to be able to meet everypony in one place and see how they had progressed in life... That’s when I had an idea. “Hey...why don’t you hold a Class Reunion?” I suggested, “Send out invitations to everypony that graduated from Ponyville Schoolhouse twenty years ago so they can all return and you can meet them again to see how their lives have turned out. What do you think?” She looked up to the ceiling as if such an idea was otherworldly. “I...don’t know. The reason why I haven’t tried that yet is because I’m not sure if they even remember me or would have time to make it…” I put a hoof to her chin, and turned her face to meet my own. “Are you kidding? Those colts and fillies have grown up to be fine ponies because of you! They’d love to meet you and each other again!” was my candid, yet overjoyed response. Just the idea of seeing all those youths get together had me excited since it was always fun to see how ponies changed over the years. “But who would plan it? How would we coordinate? It doesn’t sound very possible…” Cheerilee replied with uncertainty. But I didn’t let it get her down. I wanted to motivate her to keep this idea going. “We can ask the Cake Twins to help--Pinkie too if she’s available. Then you can ask the Mayor to organize the event, and Cozy can ensure that everything is done on time by everyone involved.” Cheerilee stared at me for a second. I couldn’t tell if she was confused or excited since she shut her eyes. A long silence was erected between us as a result. I bit my lip as I awaited her response. At last, she opened her eyes. “Well well well...it looks like my husband has convinced me of something else important that I need to do.” She gazed at me with a happy, loving expression, “That’s going to be my next priority. And we’ll make it happen together.” As cute as it sounded, I didn’t want to take all the credit. “Ah, well...if you’re sure, heh.” “Of course I’m sure!” she chirped, and tackled me, her whole body pressed against mine, “I’m going to absolutely love seeing all my students as adults!” Wait a minute...love….oh damn. If such an event were to take place, then it’s entirely possible that Elytra may try to abuse the love Cheerilee had for her old students and use it to become stronger. Was I paranoid? A bit, maybe. But the simple fact was that the possibility was there. A possibility that I absolutely did not want to come to pass. Despite this, I had to be careful. I didn’t want to fall off the deep end and go crazy over some bug terrorizing my wife’s students. “...Pale? Pale!” I heard her shout. My thoughts must have made me drift off completely! I looked up at her with a stunned expression. “Oh? Yes?” She nuzzled my face with her cheek again. “Why don’t we...celebrate this idea with a bit more exercise? I think I can go for another hour.” As much as I hated to admit, that got my attention and took my mind off my worries so damn fast. “Yes!” But for her, it was worth it.