//------------------------------// // Vignette Eleven - Hearts and Hooves Day // Story: Quiververse Bonus Reel // by EchoWing //------------------------------// “What were you three thinking?!” It had not been a good day for the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Their well-intentioned efforts at playing matchmaker for their teacher had led to Cheerilee and Big McIntosh falling under the influence of what they had thought was a love potion, only to discover was actually a love poison. They’d managed to break the spell and undo the damage they had done before it could escalate further, but that still left them with plenty of consequences. Consequences that, unfortunately, included explaining things to their immediate relatives and the one from whom they had learned about the potion. “Twilight, darling, calm down!” Rarity at least appeared to be in their corner as she attempted to soothe her friend’s frustrations. “I’ll admit, what they did was more than a bit ill-conceived, but given the fact that they cleaned up their own mess, I don’t think yelling at them is warranted!” “I’m not…!” Twilight took a second to calm herself. “I’m not yelling. At least, not on purpose.” She turned back to the Crusaders and said, “And as glad as I am that the three of you fixed your mistake, it’s one that you shouldn’t have made in the first place. That potion was a mind-altering substance, and potions and spells like that are morally dubious at best.” “Says the mare who hyponized most of the town into fightin’ over her foalhood toy.” Applejack quirked an eyebrow and noted, “And whose sister-in-law can do the same thing they did without a potion.” Twilight winced at her friend’s summation. “And those are precisely the reasons why I’m so disappointed about all of this.” She turned back to the Crusaders and remarked, “I’m just glad the three of you aren’t trying to explain this away with good intentions.” Sweetie Belle gave a nervous smile. “Well, we did have those. I mean, nopony should be alone on Hearts and Hooves Day, right?” Rarity tutted at her sister’s defense. “As much as I agree with that, sometimes we simply have no choice. As much as I wish it were otherwise, romance is far more complicated than it seems, and even if it wasn’t, a love potion is hardly the best foundation to build upon.” “Rarity’s right, y’all.” Applejack gently frowned as she explained, “There’s plenty of ponies out there who don’t end up with special someponies, fer a lotta reasons. That’s just how life works.” She then smirked and added, “Besides, Cheerilee an’ Big Mac already gave it a go. Didn’t really work out fer either of ‘em.” Apple Bloom turned surprised at that. “Really? They dated?” “Back when you were a tiny little thing, before we lost Mom and Dad.” Applejack shrugged as she admitted, “He’s still a little embarrassed about how it all ended, but that’s his story to tell, not mine.” “Okay, fine, but why have the recipe for the potion in the book in the first place?” “That’s actually a very good question.” Gilded Lily turned to Twilight with a raised brow as she echoed her niece’s statement. “Care to elaborate?” Twilight sighed. “I don’t know why the exact recipe was included in the book. I assume it was for the sake of being thorough, especially given the cure was included. But if the three of you had read a little further, you would’ve realized that it wasn’t the prince and princess’s relationship this holiday was meant to celebrate. The prince who crafted the potion did so with the help of a loyal potion maker under his service, a mare who aided him because she loved him and ultimately broke the curse for the same reasons.” “Did they end up together?” Sweetie Belle prompted, a little bit of hope in her voice. “No, but the whole experience did teach the prince a valuable lesson in the true value of love, one that he hoped to remind ponies of when this holiday was founded.” Twilight frowned as she added, “Especially considering the potion maker rejected his advances after she freed him.” “Yet another reason why these sorts of things aren’t worth the trouble.” Rarity turned to the three and noted, “In any case, I am glad that the three of you realized your mistake and worked to fix it before it could go too far. And so far as I’m concerned, the punishment Cheerilee and Big McIntosh have given you is enough.” Applejack nodded in agreement, while Gilded Lily scowled before she relented. “Fine, but Scootaloo’s parents are going to hear about this.” “And I’m just going to remind you that it’s important to read the whole book and consider the potential consequences of your actions before you do something like this again.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Alright?” The three Crusaders nodded, and Apple Bloom noted, “Ah just hope Big Mac an’ Miss Cheerilee don’t rib us too much over this.” - Unfortunately for Apple Bloom, her hopes were dashed later that day. “Since you three are doing all of his chores, Big Mac and I thought we'd have a picnic at the gazebo.” Cheerilee turned to Big Mac with a smile and asked, “Ready, sugar bear?” The stallion returned the smile. “Eeyup, pumpkin pie.” The pair heard the Crusaders’ anguished cries as they made their way off the farm, and Cheerilee laughed. “That was terrible of us.” “Eeyup.” Big Mac’s mirth faded as they got out of the Crusaders’ earshot. “All this though, it’s brought back some memories. Right awkward memories.” Cheerilee sighed. “We both made mistakes, Big Mac. What happened with us wasn’t your fault.” “Still feels that way sometimes, though. There’s more’n one reason why I ain’t the chatty sort anymore.” He snorted. “Says somethin’ the only reason we tried this again was because of a love potion, though.” “I don’t think the involvement of a love potion counts as ‘trying it again’.” At Big Mac’s awkward grimace, she admitted, “Still, at least we’re talking to each other again.” The stallion let out a brief chuckle. “Yep, there’s that.” He turned sober as he admitted, “Don’t change the fact that Ah hurt ya, though. Ah was young an’ stupid, an’ messed up.” “Yes, but sometimes you have to mess up before you can get things right.” The mare gave him an encouraging look as she continued, “You’re a good stallion, Big Mac. You work hard, you look after those you care about, you’re strong and talented, and none of that is something to be ignored. When you find the right mare, she’ll be the luckiest pony this side of the Emerald Isle.” “Ah think Ah’ll let her decide that, but thanks.” He then gave a hopeful smile. “Fer what it’s worth, Cheerilee, when you do find yer special somepony, they’ll be a lucky one.” The mare laughed. “Something tells me you’ll find yours before I find mine.” That prompted a laugh as they continued onwards. Big McIntosh considered himself an optimist, but where was he going to find the right mare for him? - “Achoo!” “Bless you, Sugar Belle!” The unicorn gently wiped her nose with the offered tissue as her friend departed her shop. “Thank you, Starlight Glimmer!”