//------------------------------// // Bittersweet Taste // Story: I Hate Hearts and Hooves Day! // by ILurvTrixie //------------------------------// There was always a sense of pride when you were the best at something. Even when you were augmented by your cutie mark, you could be no better than anyone else with a similar cutie mark. But through work, practice, and with some endurance, you could become the best. And that's what Roseluck was known for. The best roses around, especially in this portion of Equestria. This meant she was in high demand for Hearts and Hooves day, the roses used to decorate huge portions of the Ponyville, to decorate the floats, and of course to give as gifts between special someponies. Which served to frustrate her to no end. It was wonderful that her flowers; and more specifically her roses; had won her such acclaim. She was thrilled that she was the go-to pony for gifts for special someponies. She adored the fact that ponies constantly complimented her for the flavor and aroma of her flowers. She smiled vaguely as her teeth separated one of the remaining blooms from the plant, the scent as sweet as ever, but the flavor less so. Since she didn't have her own special somepony, the flavor of even the sweetest roses touched her tongue with bitterness. She watched as Derpy and Time Turner walked past, necks partially entwined as they nuzzled each other, colorful muffins topped with blooming roses on their backs. Roseluck's mouthful of bitter rose petals turned fully sour as jealousy rampaged across her face. She sighed, glaring at her garden. It was almost empty, having given up its beautiful blooms for the yearly celebration of love. Another year where she'd saved a bouquet and small dinner's worth of blossoms for herself. Another year without a special somepony. She growled in a fashion more appropriate for a dragon or a griffon. How dare they? She was as lovely as Daisy! She was as sweet as Lily! But she never even got a Hearts and Hooves day card, let alone a bouquet. Let alone a romantic dinner. Let alone... Her anger burned itself out on that line of thought, leaving her staring over her garden's fence at the many smiling faces beyond. Carrot Top and Caramel Apple chatted off to one side, Carrot giggling warmly. Lyra and BonBon were hugged together on a park bench. Pokey Pierce and Fluttershy were dozing under a tree which swayed lazily in the breeze. Pinkie Pie and Applejack had a small picnic with cakes and bottles of cider set on a small hilltop. Helia and Thunderlane were awkwardly sitting near each other, blushing, a partially eaten bouquet between them. Roseluck sighed in envy of the emotions she wasn't receiving. Resolving to make the best of a bad situation, she grabbed some of her bits from the many rose purchases, and decided to go out to eat. The Menu: anything but these bittersweet roses. ♥♥♥ Cheerilee's grin finally collapsed as the last students filed out of the classroom. Admittedly the rictus grin had been almost encouraging for the students as they sought to leave before their teacher collapsed into some Pinkamena Diane Pie level of personal madness. Not that Cheerilee had much of a choice. This year almost everypony in the class had managed to find a special somepony. Sure, they were just foalhood crushes, but each year before there had always been one or the other filly or foal who needed to be consoled. This year? Only Cheerilee was left without a special somepony. Her face met her desk with a frustrated groan. Snips and Silver Spoon; Little Erroria and Dinky; Diamond Tiara and Applebloom; Twist and Snails; it was almost as if the CMC had managed to brew another batch of Love Poison and dose the entire class. But while some of the pairs had been unusual none of them had been obsessive which killed that theory. Did they all just feel more forgiving for today? Was there some kind of magic involved? Was Cheerilee just that unlovable? She raised her head with an angry glare as she pointed at the ceiling. "This is your own fault Cheerilee. You should never have let Big Macintosh walk away. But nooooo. You had to say that it would be for the best for you both to let things settle after the Love Poison incident! And now look at you!" The schoolhouse rafters, feeling it wise to stay out of this conversation, remained silent. Her thoughts turned back on the previous years, where this void hadn't been such an issue. She was young. She still had time to find that special somepony. But the longer she told herself that, and the longer she went without one... Her appetite was pretty much gone, although her stomach grumbled to remind her that she had skipped breakfast this morning, to avoid the lines for rose flavored baked goods. She sighed, then grabbed her saddlebags, and finally collected the papers she had to grade and the lesson plan she had to review. Surely she could find someplace to get something to eat that wouldn't remind her too much of the holiday. ♥♥♥ Roseluck was about ready to give up. Every single eatery in Ponyville was full to capacity with couples. Sure, some of the couples were familiar, accepted. But others... She never would have expected Daisy to be interested in Stonecutter. Not that she was in any position to complain about the special someponies of anypony else. She sighed, releasing a small cloud of envy along with the breath. She needed to get something to eat that had nothing to do with roses. The small cafe ahead looked to have a recently vacated table, where the waitress unicorn was clearing the dishes. And there wasn't a line. Perfect! Rose sped up to a trot, and approached the table. The waitress favored her with a small smile. "Good afternoon, miss Rose, I'm afraid you'll need to wait until your special somepony comes by. The boss wants us to only seat couples." The vague hopeful smile that had started to form collapsed into a neutron star of anger and boiling rage. The waitress flinched away from the suddenly darkened expression. Rose tried to calm herself, although that only lent a cold edge of steel to her words, her anger still visible on her face. "What?" "W-well, we're running a special for today, and the boss wants to make sure it's still profitable, and since it's hearts and hooves, we're requiring two ponies a table." "You are denying me service. Because I don't have a special somepony." Rose wasn't sure what she was going to do, but she could feel her pupils narrowing down into angry points. "N-no, not denying you service, just- uh... well, maybe.. but... um." The unicorn waitress shifted her eyes back and forth, hoping for some kind of salvation. "If I get seated with her can we get some service?" Cheerilee interjected tiredly into the conversation. The waitress nodded rapidly at this sudden excuse to get out of the conversation. "Oh yes, of course, please, take a seat and I'll be right back." She took off at a gallop, the magical aura surrounding the dishes she had removed flickering wildly with her emotions. Cheerilee collapsed into a seat with a groan, but chuckled at the confusion visible on Roseluck's face. "So you don't have a special somepony either, huh?" Roseluck bristled slightly before she finished the complete thought. "Either? You too?" Cheerilee nodded sadly, looking around the cafe. Even from here she could see the panicked waitress being consoled by the chef pony in the kitchen. "Is there something in the water today? I don't think I've ever seen Ponyville so.. completely filled with couples." Roseluck snorted, taking the seat across from the teacher with a frustrated sigh. "No kidding. Usually there are others without special someponies, and we can at least take solace in the fact that we're not alone. But today..." "Looks like it's just you and I. Even all the students managed to find somepony." Cheerilee smiled vaguely as the waitress returned with two menus. She had to frown at the colorful Hearts and Hooves day specials inset. "Well, the prices are very reasonable split between two." "As long as it doesn't have any roses in it, I'll be fine with it." The pair finally decided to share an appetizer platter for two, grape juice, and some chocolate cake, and settled in for lunch.