The next thing Cheerilee experienced was blackness. Then touch came back, to the feel of bed sheets above and below and a warm, furry body next to hers, her back against another’s front with their forelegs wrapped around her. Then hearing came back, the sound of gentle breathing in her ears and a heart beating against her spine. Then her sense of taste came back…
And she was suddenly very aware of what she did last night.
Her eyes shot open. Morning’s light crept in through crystalline windows; she was in the hotel. The hotel that Harshwhinny was staying in. In Harshwhinny’s room. It was easy to tell: the game inspector’s earrings were laying on the bedside table in front of her. The big muzzle nuzzled into her mane was also a good clue.
Cheerilee groaned a little and held her head as it pounded, her everything feeling like lead. “Wow that was strong whiskey… need a warm shower…” She wiggled and squirmed as gently as she could to escape Harshwhinny’s grip. The older mare hummed in her sleep and held Cheerilee tighter against her warm, toned front with her muscular forelegs. “What am I thinking?” Cheerilee asked herself, facehoofing and immediately regretting it. After the throbbing pain in her head went away, she relaxed and smiled as she basked in the glow of a full bed… for a while. The shower called to her, and her hangover begged for some relief.
She finally managed to pull herself from her lover’s side and slip out of bed, hooves meeting plush carpet. She looked over to see Harshwhinny, fast asleep and none too happy to have her bedmate leave, her forelegs lightly pawing at the spot Cheerilee had left. The teacher gently pushed a pillow within her reach, which Harshwhinny seemed to accept begrudgingly, nuzzling into it.
Cheerilee smiled as she looked Harshwhinny over. The older mare had a frown on her muzzle that could only be described as adorably grumpy, hugging the pillow tight. Her mane was disheveled from what was likely a wild night, and the sheets covered her only up to the hip. Cheerilee giggled a little before a throb in her head turned it into a pained growl, trudging towards the hotel bathroom.
As she climbed in and turned the water on, soaking her fur in the hope her hangover would wash away, Cheerilee started muttering to herself. “Okay… I ordered whiskey… then what?” She strained her brain to remember through the pain as she let the water wash over her, brief flashes coming up here and there. Sounds of her and Harshwhinny’s laughter; the feel of their cheeks brushing together; the smell of strawberry shampoo in Harshwhinny’s mane; many pieces to a greater puzzle, many missing but thankfully enough to get an idea of the picture.
“Come on Cheerilee, you can do this; this is a night you want to remember,” she tried to pep talk herself through the haze of booze. She remembered coming back to the hotel. She remembered being pushed onto the bed with sloppy, drunken kisses. She remembered… she remembered… absolutely nothing after that.
She groaned and rubbed her temples. “Well, I can tell what happened, at least,” she muttered, smacking her lips with a frown. “Going to need to brush my teeth…”
She sighed and lifted her face up into the stream of water, closing her eyes and humming an aimless tune as she thought some more, about other things. “Still… had a lot of fun last night. And Harshwhinny is a really nice mare, when you get past the prickly parts… I’d really like to go out on a proper date,” she admitted to herself. “I wonder what she’s thinking… I hope she’d like to, too.”
Cheerilee showered - well, sat in the shower - for several minutes more before climbing out and drying off, hoping that Harshwhinny didn’t mind the use of her hotel towels. She eyed the sink, seeing only one toothbrush. Yeah, brushing her teeth would have to wait until she got back to her own room. They were nowhere near that close yet.
Newly damp, Cheerilee stepped out of the bathroom to find the older mare up and about. She was stripping the bed, her rear turned to Cheerilee. She didn’t even notice the teacher until Cheerilee cleared her throat rather loudly.
“O-oh, good morning,” Harshwhinny said with a blush, looking over her shoulder. “Just hhhhh…” Harshwhinny blinked, cheeks flushing a deeper red. “I believe you put it best yesterday… ‘hubba hubba.’”
“Give me some time to get my curlers in; I’ll look like a small town dork soon enough,” Cheerilee joked with a shy smile. “As you were saying…?”
Harshwhinny shook her head as if she could shake off her blush. “Right, yes, just helping the maids by stripping the bed of its, ahem, spent sheets. Least I can do for getting them dirty, really.”
“Thoughtful of you,” Cheerilee said, sitting on the floor. She didn’t let the silence take over for long before she added, “So, about last night…”
“What about it?” Harshwhinny asked as she kept stripping the bed. Her tone was firm, almost defensive, but it wavered a little.
“Well, to be honest, I can’t remember much about it,” Cheerilee admitted. “We go to bed, we kiss like the pair of plastered ponies we are, then I hit a wall of booze. I was more wondering what you thought about it.”
“I thought it was… nice,” Harshwhinny said simply.
Cheerilee blinked, her ears flattening. “That’s it? Just nice?”
“More than nice,” Harshwhinny sighed with a little growl. “Wonderful. Best night I’ve had in years, if I’m to be painfully honest, and like you I don’t remember half of it myself.”
Cheerilee’s heart didn’t flutter like she thought it would. If anything, it sank. “So why do you sound so angry?”
“Because I know that things won’t work out between us,” Harshwhinny said with a stern stare, turning to face her.
Cheerilee’s heart plummeted, making a proverbial hole in the floor.
“Don’t get me wrong; I like you a lot. You’re cute; you’re kind; you’re patient; you know how to lighten up my day; and I’m mature enough to admit you’re quite sexy,” Harshwhinny listed, her ears flat and a worried, sorry look on her face. “But for the next few months, I’ll be here, in the Crystal Empire, and I normally live in Vanhoover. You live in Ponyville, and as you said yourself, you’ve never lived anywhere else. Both of us are adult enough not to do anything foolish like uproot our entire lives over… over just one night.”
“I… I understand,” Cheerilee sighed, shaking her head and looking away. “I’m not sure what else I should have expected.”
Harshwhinny trotted over and nuzzled her cheek against Cheerilee’s, nudging her gaze back up. “If it helps… we can keep in touch by letter. And I might be able to visit every now and then, once the Games are over.”
Cheerilee forced a smile and looked Harshwhinny in the eye. “I think I’d like that…”
Harshwhinny frowned and sighed, pulling Cheerilee into a tight, warm hug. Cheerilee melted in her forelegs, letting the older mare’s toned muscles support her. “I’m sorry, Cheerilee, but that’s the reality of things. I wish I could say more. I wish I had the gift with uplifting words that you do, I really do. But I don’t, and… I’m sorry for that.”
“It’s okay; I understand,” Cheerilee said, hugging Harshwhinny back tightly. The two basked in each other’s warmth before the teacher brought herself to pull away. “I guess I better get going. Trains to catch, home to get back to, all that good stuff.”
“I suppose. Don’t let me keep you,” Harshwhinny said quietly.
Their eyes locked. Harshwhinny shifted a bit on her hooves. Cheerilee glanced away, but only for a second. Harshwhinny leaned in first, but Cheerilee returned the gesture within the second. The two shared a kiss, their eyes closing in warmth and splendor. They both were a mess, they both had morning breath, but a jolt of electricity went through the both of them like a bolt of euphoria.
Cheerilee pulled herself away from the kiss as well, a sad smile on her muzzle as she trotted to the door. “Good luck with the games, Miss Harshwhinny.”
The older mare followed her to the door and saw her out. Cheerilee turned to see a more easy smile on Harshwhinny’s face, the games inspector looking five years younger for it. “Thank you, Cheerilee. And cheer up; trust me, you’ll see me again. Until next time.”
With that, gently, slowly, hesitantly, Harswhinny closed the hotel door. Cheerilee found a little smile working its way on her face as she trotted away, muttering to herself, “Yeah… until next time…”
Noooooooooooo! I wanted them to stick it out against reality!
3986137
Seconded.
I can enjoy stories that are firmly rooted in reality (as much as a fanfiction about talking, multi-colored ponies can be), but I really wanted to see these two work out.
3986137 There's still ways to stick it out ... Somepony's got to chaperone the Cutie Mark Crusaders when they carry Ponyville's flag for the opening ceremony...
I agree that I woulda liked to see more lovin', but that's what sequels are for ...
By which I mean, I may write one myself? No promises, but it could be really fun?
3986137 3986158
Honestly? I would too. But for this story, this is the ending that fit the most to me. I'd certainly love to see a story where the two of them work out, but here? Probably not. At least... not right away...
3986201
If you want to, by all means, go ahead! Would love to see it.
Mehhh. At least it was better than Of Mares and Magic's original conclusion.
Nicely-written story, I enjoyed it!
But the ship has been sunk by the ending. Many a tear was shed this day.
Awwwww. I wanted them to work out. Then again, they still could, maybe, in a sequel. But props to you for ending it this way. It is the best ending that such a pair can have in this situation, so hats off for taking the realistic route.
Though I still wanna see them make it work in the future...
edit: Woah, this has got to be the first story I've ever read that has zero down-thumbs (with more than three up-thumbs). *really really hopes she didn't jinx it*
I like this ship and the realistic approach, but it feels like it ended before it really began.
I think you should write the sequel, but I can understand if you don't want to. I would write it myself, but I have too many neglected stories as it is.
As always, big fan of your work.
Y'know... think I might write an epilogue to this story. In the process of it right now; it'll be released tomorrow.
3986300
Of Mares and Magic? Also, guess I'll take that as a compliment; means you were invested.
3986377
Well, not the best ending... Glad you liked it so much! And I know, right? I've never seen this either. In a way, that makes this my most well-loved story.
3986638
Sequel, maybe. Not anytime soon, though, but I might. And glad I can keep you entertained.
Well, that ending was a bit of a downer but it felt right. It was a nice little story. I really enjoyed it. At least you finished one multi-chapter story.
Isn't that a line from a TATU song?
Anyway, keep up the good work.
3986158 I've heard Bad_Seed_72 mention this a bit but I don't recall where she got it from but she says the best pony stories are stories about people. Or something like that.
Augh! Da feels! It's...too much to handle! (Thud, dead).
3987031
Another shipfic that ended in the exact opposite way that it was hoped to. Only that one was even more cruel because it was a bunch of chapters. D:
And yes, it was a compliment. I liked the story, just I think this is the first Harshilee ship ever, and it ends on a bitter note of longing. D: My tears, they flow.
I will admit, my heart sunk when I got to the end, very bittersweet… but I think the ending is perfect, very grounded in reality.
I just hope this sparks off some more Harshilee stories, I really do. Because what I really need right now is to be hooked on another under-populated ship (still have not found enough Twicora to sate my appetite!)
Sad to see them parting ways, but such is the way of reality in the world of dating.
At least they were both mature about it.
Can't wait for more.
3987213
Second I've finished, actually. Other was In the Pale Moonlight, another story about an unpopular ship. So glad you've enjoyed, though! And yes, that is from a tatu song!
3987293
Clear!
i29.photobucket.com/albums/c259/DeimoSpherE/Kylemeister/ROTJ-ForceLightning2alt4.gif
3987419
Well, as I said, epilogue coming up. Goes up in two hours. Hope you enjoy that too. Also can't find that story you mentioned...
3987991
Addiction is the name of the game.
3989455
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the epilogue!
3991015 Yes I see now. There's going to be an epilogue! Awesome!
This story is magnificently well written. And I liked the backstory you gave to Harshwhinny. You did a great job with this fix so far, can't wait to read the epilogue!
My wife of twenty years and I are not that close. Gross.