This is the 20th chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
Hearts and Hooves Day
It was early in the morning inside of the Golden Oak Library as today was a special holiday for the ponies in Ponyville. It's Hearts and Hooves Day where is in the air and ponies will their friends and family how much they care about them or spend time with the special somepony that they love to pieces.
Comet and Daylight are seen making Hearts and Hooves Day cards for their mother and their teacher. Comet then makes a card for Silver Spoon, which it got his sister notice.
"Are you making something for your special somepony~?" Daylight teases him with a smirk, making Comet blush.
"N-No I'm not!" Comet snapped, turns to her which Daylight isn't convinced. "I'm too young for that stuff!"
"Is it for Silver Spoon?" Daylight asks again, which Comet groans in annoyance as she laughs. "You're easy to tease, I knew you like Silver Spoon!"
"That's not funny, Daylight!" Comet remarked when the door opens.
"What's going on here?" Twilight asks, enters inside and approaches to her foals, notice Daylight laughing. "Daylight, are you teasing your brother again?"
"Yes!" Comet answered, turns to his sister in annoyance as she stops laughing.
"I was just asking if he's making something for his special somepony." Daylight points out.
Twilight starts to frown at that, then turns to Comet.
"Is it true?" Twilight inquires.
"It isn't like that! I was making it for Silver Spoon." Comet protests. "We were only friends, that's all!"
"Comet, calm down. I know you and Silver Spoon are just friends." Twilight said to her son calmly. "But I want you to be honest with me, do you like her?"
Comet can see that Twilight is being sincere and wanted to know that if he likes Silver Spoon or not. After a few seconds of thinking, he responds with a nod. Daylight was about to say something to her brother, but Twilight glares at her daughter, making her stay quiet and nervous.
"Comet, there's nothing wrong of liking a pony your age, and I'm sure Silver Spoon likes you, too." Twilight told her son with a motherly smile. "But, let's hope you can handle young love at your age."
Comet couldn't help but blush at that, while Daylight and Twilight giggled of his reaction.
"Alright, come on you two, we don't want you to be late for school." Twilight suggests when both Comet and Daylight got out of the bed.
"Oh yeah, we've got something for you, Mom." Daylight said as she and her brother levitates the card to their mother.
Twilight then uses her magic to levitate the card, reading that said:
'Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Mom!
May your heart be happy,
May your day always be bright,
And may you always know how much you're loved.
Comet and Daylight'
Twilight then looks her foals with a warm smile of her face, feeling touched as she hugs her children as they hug back.
"Thank you, you have no idea how much it means to me." Twilight said. "Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, you two."
Then, they heard a knock on the front door. Twilight, Comet, and Daylight then approaches to the door.
"Come in." Twilight said as Mario entered the main room with a smile on his face and hiding some items behind his back.
Apple Shine also entered inside of the main room.
"Howdy, y'all. Happy Hearts and Hooves Day." Apple Shine greets, tipping her hat.
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Apple Shine." Comet and Daylight greets back.
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day." Mario said as he placed a bouquet of a dozen pink roses and a box of candy in front of her, making Twilight smiled excitedly.
"Oh, thank you!" Twilight said happily as she gave him a hug. "You didn't have to get me anything!"
"Well, you know how I fell about you." Mario said as Twilight kissed his cheek, making him blush when he remembered something. "I hope you'll enjoy the candy."
"Of course, you know how much I love chocolate." Twilight said as she walks to her desk.
"You should know that those candies aren't store bought." Mario told her with a smirk and Twilight gasped.
"Mario...you made these chocolates?!" Twilight exclaims, deeply touched.
"Try them out." Mario said as Twilight excitedly opened the box and gobbled a candy down.
The taste and texture of the candy were pure bliss as Twilight let out a happy sigh.
"I had some help from Bon Bon." Mario explained. "It took me four times to get them just right. I put a lot of love into those candies and I'm glad you enjoyed them."
Twilight just placed a fore-hoof to her heart and smiled as she walked up to him while Comet, Daylight, and Apple Shine smiled at that sight.
"Oh, and uh, I got you something else too." Mario said as he brought out a paper heart and gave it to Twilight. "I have to take care of business right now. See you later?"
"Okay." Twilight said as Mario and Apple Shine walked out while she and her foals waved them goodbye with a smile, then turns to her kids. "Let's get you two something to eat before you leave for school."
After few minutes of breakfast, Comet and Daylight left the Golden Oak Library while Twilight tore the parchment and read what it says:
'Ever since you came to Ponyville, I can't take my eyes off your natural beauty. I've been waiting for a day when we could finally speak to each other face to face. I've hidden several of these red roses around town. If you find them all, we can have a special date together. Here's the first clue: Just as the sunrise glows, you go to this pony for such a beautiful rose.'
"Hmm...let me see...pony with roses...oh! Roseluck! See you later Spike! This looks like a scavenger hunt from Mario." Twilight told him, then grabs her saddlebag, some books, the rose, the parchment, and then heads out of the library.
Spike then noticed that Twilight had left her candy box behind, tiptoed to grab the box.
"And no touching my chocolate candy!" Twilight shouted, making Spike flinched.
Spike rolled his eyes at that and got back to his chores.
Meanwhile at the Carousel Boutique, Golden Charm is getting ready for school when Rarity places the saddlebags onto her son.
"Have a good day at school, sweetie." Rarity said with a smile, kissed him on his forehead.
"I will, Mom. And Happy Hearts and Hooves Day." Golden Charm said, levitates the card to his mother and then left.
Rarity then reads it, which it got her gasp as she placed her fore-hoof to her heart with a teary smile.
"Oh, Golden...my special Irish boy." Rarity said, deeply touched as she turns to Flora. "Both you and your brother are very special foals, I'm so lucky to have you both..."
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day, Rarity." The voice of Kronk said, earned their attention when they saw him placing a bouquet of roses and a box of candy in front of her.
"Ok, thank you, darling!" Rarity said excitedly as she hugs Kronk. "You didn't have to get me anything!"
"Well, uh, you know I feel about you when we first met." Kronk said as Rarity kissed him on the cheek, making him blush. "I hope you'll enjoy the candy, cause, it's not from the store. I've made it myself."
"Kronk...you made these chocolates?!" Rarity exclaims with a gasp, deeply touched.
"Try them out." Kronk said with a smile as Rarity excitedly opened the box and gobbled a candy down.
The taste and texture of the candy were pure bliss as Rarity let out a happy sigh.
"It's my grandma's homemade recipe, with a little addition of strawberry filling." Kronk said. "I put a lot of love into those candies and I'm glad you enjoyed them."
Rarity just placed a fore-hoof of her heart and as she walked up to him. Kronk the uses his magic, levitating candy to Flora as she grabs it and began sucking the candy.
"It's cherry flavored." Kronk told her. "So, how about we-"
"Yes, I'd love to go out with you." Rarity cuts in.
Flora then giggles of her respond while Kronk smiled. Rarity places her daughter on the baby stroller and then she and Kronk walked out of the boutique.
While at Fluttershy's cottage, Winter Breeze was helping her mother feeding some birds that were chirping to tell them that they're indeed hungry. She and Winter Breeze pours some bird feed to these birds as they immediately started to munch on their meals.
"There's some good little birdies." Fluttershy said sweetly. "All of your food should be laid out for the day."
"I gotta go, Mom." Winter Breeze said, earned her attention. "And I left something for you inside."
"Okay, have a good day." Fluttershy said, kissed her forehead.
"I will, and Happy Hearts and Hooves Day." Winter Breeze told her, then left.
It got Fluttershy wonder what her daughter left something in the house. She went inside, noticing a card as she grabs it and reads it. Angel turned his attention to Fluttershy, who gasp with a teary smile on her face, deeply touched.
"Oh, Winter, thank you so much. You don't know how much it means everything to me, my special little snow fairy." Fluttershy said to herself.
Angel can tell that Winter Breeze must've given her something, but he then noticed a carrot wrapped around in a ribbon with a paper heart. Angel reads it and it got him gasp as well, began to tear up with a smile on his face.
At Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was about to get ready for the morning chores when she noticed a card at the kitchen table. She then picks it up, starting to read as her family approaches at the kitchen.
'When I tell you, 'I Love You'
I don't say it out of habit or to make a conversation
I say it to remind you that you are the best thing that ever happened to me
Happy Hearts and Hooves Day,
Apple Shine'
Applejack then smiled, touched as she placed her fore-hoof of her heart in tears.
"What's got you so smiling?" Bright Mac asks.
Applejack showed the card to them as they read, but after a few minutes of reading, the Apple Family started to swell up in tears with smiles on their face.
Up in the skies of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash noticed that Storm Hawk left something at the living room. She saw a card as she picks up and read what it says. Rainbow Dash finished reading it with a teary smile on her face, feeling touched.
"Storm Hawk...you...Aw! Now he got me all sappy!" Rainbow Dash shouts, but sniffles. "But I'm lucky to have him as my son!"
While at the Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie and the Cakes are busy baking for the customers since the event is today. Rose Lotus secretly places two cards on the table before she left to school earlier. The twins took a quick glance and noticed two cards on the counter as Pumpkin Cake uses her magic to levitate the cards. Though, the twins couldn't understand what it says, but it's enough to make them smile. Both the Cakes and Pinkie Pie walked out, notice the twins are reading the cards.
"What have you got there, you two?" Mrs. Cake asks as the twins shows the cards.
Mrs. Cake and Pinkie Pie grabs hold of the cards and read it, but after a few minutes of reading the Cakes and Pinkie Pie were deeply touched and smiled. Pinkie Pie sniffled as she then cried in tears of joy.
Meanwhile back at Sweet Apple Acres, the CMCs were busy working on their own project for Hearts and Hooves Day as the sound of the school bell was heard in the distance.
"Hmm...I just don't feel like it's quite finished." Apple Bloom states with a ponder as she walked through some glut and glitter, holding a bottle of glue in her mouth.
"I know what you mean." Sweetie Belle said with Scootaloo standing nearby. "If it's for Ms. Cheerilee and Zane, it needs to be perfect. Hearts and Hooves Day only comes once a year, after all."
"I say we add a little more ribbon!" Scootaloo suggested as she held up the ribbon with a fore-hoof.
The other two fillies nodded with an agreement as Scootaloo jumped past them, holding the ribbon in her mouth.
"Mm-hmm, yeah, yeah." Sweetie Belle said, regarding the new additions as she picked up some white lace and tossed it into the air. "And now just a tiny bit more lace."
"A few more hoof-prints." Apple Bloom adds as she dunked her hooves into some purple paint and walked across the project.
"Glitter! It could definitely use just a little more glitter!" Scootaloo exclaimed as she held a bucket loaded with glitter.
Scootaloo then dumped the entire bucket over the project, making it sparkle as Sweetie Belle examined the project and smiled. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo did the same. There on the floor was a giant paper heart that was literally the size of a carpet since it nearly covered the entire floor of the clubhouse.
"Now, that'll show Ms. Cheerilee and Zane how much we care about them." Apple Bloom said. "Just have to get this to the Hearts and Hooves party at school."
Sweetie Belle then put down a small envelope and attempted to put the giant heart inside...but only for the bottom tip to fit inside it.
"I think we're gonna need a bigger envelope." Scootaloo said with as a matter-of-fact tone.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're my best friends?
At the schoolhouse, some little ponies were chattering as they discussed and exchanged hoof-made cards with each other. Silver Spoon glances at Comet, who uses his magic to levitate the card to her while Golden Charm levitates his card to Diamond Tiara. Both Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara read, and it got them blushed for a bit as the two fillies turned to the two colts.
Apparently, both Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara are starting to grow close to Comet and Golden Charm.
Twist gives Truffles a card, earned a hug from him. As the chatter continued, the CMCs presented their giant heart to Cheerilee and Zane.
"It's lovely." Cheerilee said, struggling to find a word to say about the giant heart. "And so...big!"
The CMCs nod in agreement together.
"We just wanted to let you know that we think you and Zane are the best teachers in the whole wide world!" Apple Bloom said. "And we think you're super! And that we love you so much! And we want you to have the best Hearts and Hooves Day-"
As Apple Bloom spoke, the top of their heart slumped over and both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo struggled to strengthen the heart to keep it from falling on top of them. Cheerilee and Zane just smiled while Apple Bloom continued to speak, their little project then tumbled right on top of them.
"-Ever!" The CMCs finished the sentence at once when Cheerilee lifted the end of the heart up.
"Thank you so much, girls." Cheerilee thanked them. "I love it. I really do."
"It's no wonder the three of you were able to carry something that big all the way here." Zane adds.
"I'm sure it's nothing compared to the gifts you've gotten from your...very special somepony." Sweetie Belle said slyly as she stood beside Cheerilee and Zane, nudging playfully.
Cheerilee and Zane looked uneasy, took a step back.
"Oh, I don't have a very special somepony at the moment." Cheerilee said as she walked away from them.
"Same." Zane adds, walked away as well.
Both Cheerilee and Zanes remark instantly made the three fillies for from happy smiles to pure shock.
"Really?!" Apple Bloom exclaims surprisingly.
"How could somepony as amazing as you two not have a very special somepony on Hearts and Hooves Day?" Sweetie Belle asks.
Both Cheerilee and Zane discreetly rolled their eyes as a very sour look on their faces appeared.
"Maybe it's mostly because I've been focusing on training and try to find those staves, which right now, we only manage to find one. But unfortunately, they're very hard to find and finding them is like finding a needle in a haystack." Zane points out. "For now, we're still trying to find the location before Lord Garmadon does."
The CMCs can understand the reason why Zane didn't have a special somepony, which Cheerilee can tell that the Master of Ice has been busy. Cheerilee then began to blush a little but shakes it off.
"But it's alright, Sweetie Belle." Cheerilee told her. "I have lots of good friends and wonderful students who care about me very much."
As she was walking, Truffles handed her a card and she accepted it with a smile.
"I'm gonna have an absolutely terrific Hearts and Hooves Day." Cheerilee said as she then made their way toward the rest of the students sitting at the desks. "Alright, everypony, who's ready to play 'Pin the Heart on the Pony'?"
The three fillies just watched Cheerilee and Zane for the moment, but it got them bothered. Though, the 7 foals were confused of that game, but Cheerliee gives them explanation of how this works.
"Okay, since you 7 are new, I guess I'll give you an explanation." Cheerliee said, then shows them the picture of a pony at the wall. "This game is similar like 'Pin the Tall on the Pony', but instead of a tail, you place the heart on the pony."
The 7 foals then started to understand.
"If anypony deserves a very special somepony, it's them." Apple Bloom said.
Sweetie Belle then gasped and gave her two friends a very wide and excited smile.
"Uh, you all right?" Apple Bloom asks in an uneasy tone and Scootaloo glares at her.
"You look like Mario asked for your hoof in marriage." Scootaloo points out.
"If he'd only stop loving Twilight." Sweetie Belle muttered before shaking her head and then stood in front of Cheerilee as she watches Twist try to play the game. "Never mind! I'm more than alright! I've just come up with the best idea ever. We're gonna find Ms. Cheerilee and Zane a very special somepony."
"That is the best idea ever!" Apple Bloom said as Scootaloo smiled in agreement.
"Tooold yooou!" Sweetie Belle said as she got between the two fillies with her fore-hooves around them and then got in front of them.
"So, what are we waiting for?" Apple Bloom said as she noticed the clock was approaching 3:00. "Hearts and Hooves Day is almost over! Let's get out there and find somepony for Cheerilee and Zane."
"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Let's do it!" Scootaloo added as the three fillies jumped into the air and high hoofed each other.
But little did they know, the 7 foals overheard of the CMCs suggestion of getting a very special somepony for Cheerilee and Zane. Though, it got Zane and Cheerilee's attention as they approaches them.
"Is something wrong?" Zane asks, worried.
"You 7 felt like you're not enjoying the party." Cheerilee adds.
"It's not that, it's just those three are at it again." Daylight said.
"Cutie marks?" Zane guessed.
The 7 foals then started explaining to their teachers as Zane and Cheerilee listened carefully, but after a few minutes of an explanation, the two teachers are now annoyed.
"I see, that explains why they left." Cheerilee said. "Cutie marks is one thing, but a very special somepony..."
"We can understand of them being eager for getting their cutie marks, but this? Having a special somepony for us is way out of line." Zane states.
"And it's way wrong, dog. I mean, they force somepony to love of who they don't even like." Storm Hawk agrees.
"But what do we do?" Comet asks. "They're just too eager and stubborn to listen."
"Hmm...Oh, I've got an idea." Cheerilee said with a ponder, but has an idea she then begins telling them the plan.
It wasn't much longer the three fillies were walking around in Ponyville market area. It was then Twilight was also walking around in search for Mario.
"Now, how did that clue go?" Twilight asks herself, tried to remember the next clue. "'Whenever you slice this fruit apart, you'll find that it resembles the shape of a heart.' Hmm, what fruit would resemble a heart?"
Then, Twilight noticed a particular mare selling various baskets of freshly grown strawberries. Twilight then looked at them when she picked one up and then noticed something.
"Wait a second!" Twilight said as she looked at the strawberries. "The shape of a heart! Strawberries! Um, excuse me...I believe 'somepony' said that I would find a rose here with fruit that's shaped like a heart?"
The mare giggled to herself as she handed Twilight another red rose with a piece of parchment on it. Twilight smiled as she tucked the rose into her saddlebag, as well as paid for some strawberries for later. She had already collected a few roses from her travels around Ponyville.
She then walked away to read her next clue by tucking it in front of her book as the CMCs walked past her. Neither of the ponies noticed each other.
"Now, it can't be just anypony." Sweetie Belle reminded her friends as they got ready to begin their search. "We'll help Zane later, but Ms. Cheerilee is one of the best mares in Ponyville. She deserves to have one of the best stallions as her very special somepony."
Just then, the thought bubble appeared above Sweetie Belle's head as Cheerilee was smiling and holding an apple with her fore-hoof. As Sweetie Belle walked around, she then held onto a tall flagpole and scouted around the area before facing two fillies, who smiled and swayed from side to side. She then make a high jump and sang a high note in front of town hall. Sweetie Belle then took off to the left while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo headed to the right. It was then, Sweetie Belle saw Button Mash playing an arcade game, an elder pony reading a book to the crowd, who she hoped on his back and then hopped off, leaving him confused. Then, she poked her head out of the ambulance wagon to give a sickly stallion a thermometer.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
Cheerilee is sweet and kind
She's the best teacher we could hope for
The perfect stallion you and I must find
One to really make her heart so-o-ar
But...
This one's too young
This one's too old
He clearly has a terrible cold
"AH-CHOO!"
A stallion named Hay Fever sneezed, which Sweetie Belle quickly ducked inside of the wagon to avoid getting a cold.
Apple Bloom found one stallion dressed up like a clown and leaned against another stallion wearing a noble attire.
Apple Bloom (Sings):
This guy's too silly
He's way too uptight
"I say!" A stallion named Persnickety said rudely, stepped away from her and making Apple Bloom fall over.
Sweetie Belle pointed towards an orange stallion.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
Well nothing's wrong with this one
He seems alright...
"His girlfriend sure thinks so." Scootaloo points out in a deadpan look.
The orange stallion then nuzzled the mare sitting nearby, making Sweetie Belle flinch from embarrassment with a sheepish smile on her face.
Apple Bloom held a fore-hoof above her head since his green sparkly disco shirt was hurting her eyes.
Apple Bloom (Sings):
How 'bout this one?
He's much too flashy
Scootaloo pointed out another stallion as he rushed by, splattering Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle with mud.
Scootaloo (Sings):
He might do!
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle (Sings):
If he weren't so splashy!
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle glares at Scootaloo, making her smile sheepishly.
Apple Bloom saw a stallion about as tall as her.
Apple Bloom (Sings):
Too short
Sweetie Belle saw a stallion that is tall as a giraffe.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
Too tall
Apple Bloom saw a nice, shiny stallion that's sitting in a bathtub loaded with bubbles.
Apple Bloom (Sings):
Too clean
Scootaloo has a pin on her nose since the stallion she found was dirty and grimy.
Scootaloo (Sings):
Too smelly
Sweetie Belle saw a stallion peeking out of a giant jar of blueberry jam with a creepy smile on his face.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
He's strangely obsessed with tops of jelly
Sweetie Belle backed away and bumped flank into Scootaloo. With a disappointed sigh, they're now back at town hall. Apple Bloom looked over to some couples at a few nearby patio tables who're spending together.
Apple Bloom (Sings):
I don't think that we're mistaken
It seems all the good ones taken
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
I really feel at this rate
We'll never find the perfect date
While the CMCs continued singing, they climbed up a tall mountain of haystacks. As they reached the top, Scootaloo saw that Big Mac was the one responsible for the haystack mountain.
CMCs (Sings):
Don't wanna quit and give up hope
"Doing anything special for Hearts and Hooves Day?" Scootaloo asks.
Sweetie Belle made a praying gesture with her fore-hooves.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
Oh please, oh please, oh please say-
"Nope." Big Mac answered, causing the three fillies to gasp excitedly.
The CMCs began to hop around happily.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
We did it girls
We've found the one
Who will send our teacher's hearts aflutter!
"Wait a minute!" Apple Bloom said, stopping bouncing. "Lemme get this straight! Are you talkin' about mah brother?"
The three fillies wasted no time heading over to Sweet Apple Acres where Big Mac was busy pushing basket of apples across the grass. They continued watching him discreetly from the side of the barn doors.
Big Mac then turned in their direction, causing them to lean away and hide behind the doors to avoid being seen. They went back to watching him once he looked away and got back to work. Scootaloo waited Big Mac to disappear from their view.
"Sweetie Belle is right! Big Macintosh is the perfect match for Ms. Cheerilee." Scootaloo told her. "He's really nice, super hard-working."
Big Mac began to do some apple bucking outside and loaded three baskets with tall stacks of apples.
"Hmm...but he's also pretty shy." Apple Bloom points out as Big Mac carries all three stacks of apples on his back. "He's never gonna ask Ms. Cheerilee to be his very special somepony."
"Maybe he doesn't have to." Sweetie Belle said, rubbing her chin as she and Apple Bloom paced inside of the barn.
"Huh?" Apple Bloom inquires, puzzled.
"If we can get Big Mac and Ms. Cheerilee in a really romantic setting." Sweetie Belle explains. "I bet she'll ask him."
"Sounds like a place to me." Scootaloo said as she stood up from sitting on top of a haystack.
"So? What are we waitin' for?" Apple Bloom replied. "Let's get out there and create the perfect date!"
"Yeah!" The CMCs said together as they jumped into the air and shared a high-hoof.
A little while later, the CMCs were at the park where a makeshift gazebo was created using some octagon-shaped roof pieces and using the nearby tree trunks to support the roof. Sweetie Belle was busy setting up the grounds for a little picnic inside of the gazebo area as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom each set up the plates to create a picnic for two.
"Flowers!" Sweetie Belle said when she noticed the empty flowerpot. "Don't forget the flowers!"
"Oops, I'm on it!" Apple Bloom replied as she zipped away.
Scootaloo was busy keeping a look out. She then gasped when she saw the four ponies approaching.
"Huh? I see Ms. Cheerliee, but what's Zane and Apple Shine doing here?" Scootaloo asks, confused.
"Maybe they're sending her home?" Sweetie Belle guessed as Apple Bloom was setting up the flowers inside the vase while Scootaloo changes the subject.
"Anyway, this is gonna be perfect. Ms. Cheerilee is gonna have the best Hearts and Hooves Day ever!" Scootaloo said, then did a small flutter jump in excitement.
"With her new very special somepony." Sweetie Belle adds as the three fillies giggled to each other.
"Hi, girls." Cheerilee said as she, Zane, and Apple Shine arrived.
"Hi, Ms. Cheerilee." The CMCs said at once in an overly cheery tone.
"So, you three said needed help identifying a tree you found here near the gazebo?" Cheerilee asked.
The CMCs smiled as they point to a nearby tree loaded with...apples?
"That's an apple tree." Cheerilee and Zane said dryly with an unamused look on their faces.
"Is it?" Apple Bloom asked innocently as the three fillies giggled to each other.
Cheerilee, Zane, and Apple Shine just looked at them suspiciously as Big Mac arrived carrying his toolbox and set it down. Big Mac noticed his niece next to the teachers.
"Apple Shine, I've read your card and...and...you touched my heart!" Big Mac said in tears, hugs his niece but tightly.
"Ugh...Uncle Big Mac...can't breathe..." Apple Shine grunts.
"Um, Big Mac, Apple Shine needs to breathe." Zane suggested.
"Sorry." Big Mac apologizes, breaks the hug as Apple Shine gasp for air. "But I just can't help it."
Cheerilee and Zane can tell that Big Mac is in tears with a smile, which they knew Apple Shine did something nice to her family. Apple Bloom raises her eyebrow, wondering what card her brother was talking about.
"Oh yeah, big brother." Apple Bloom called him, earned his attention. "We went and fixed up the gazebo all on our own. See?"
Big Mac then looks at the gazebo, and she's right as his eyes widened in surprise. She then bumped his flank, forced him to move forward.
"As long as you're here, why not have a bite to eat from this romantic-looking picnic?" Scootaloo suggests as she bumped Cheerilee to make her walk forward as well. "Oh gosh, seems like there's only room for two."
"I guess we'll be goin' then." Apple Bloom said before they all zipped away at high speed.
But then, Sweetie Belle returned and made the gramophone play before she took off as well. Cheerilee, Zane, Apple Shine, and Big Mac just watched the three fillies disappear. The CMCs didn't go too far as they ducked inside of a bush not too far away to see what would happen.
"You really think this'll work?" Scootaloo asked.
"Of course, it will work." Sweetie Belle said. "They're perfect for each other."
The CMCs just watched quietly to see what would happen. However, they were anything but subtle as Cheerilee, Zane, and Apple Shine were fully aware that the three fillies were watching them. She looked at Big Mac nervously, who just looked back at her blankly. Truth be told, they've been friends with each other for years, but these days, they didn't speak to each other as much. The fact Big Mac was usually a stallion of few words made conversation awkward. But Cheerilee then looked at Zane, who just looked back at her in confusion and curiously. Though, they've been friends for a while and help each other out as teachers, but she does enjoy his company. She then began to blush a little when she noticed how handsome the Master of Ice is, which made her heart flutter.
"Ms. Cheerilee, are you alright?" Apple Shine asks, making Cheerilee snapped out of her thoughts.
"Oh, yeah, sorry." Cheerilee answered, tried to shake off the blush as she turns to Big Mac. "I'm really sorry about this, I mentioned to the girls that me and Zane don't have a very special somepony."
"And we believe they're putting us in these awkward situations." Zane adds.
"That's okay, I'm sure they mean no harm." Big Mac said with a small smile. "But I am gonna have a word with Apple Bloom and her friends."
Apple Shine then turns off the gramophone.
"Well, we need to get going, but it's always good to see you, Big Mac." Zane said with a smile.
"Eeyup." Big Mac answered before he and Apple Shine began to drag the CMCs out of the bush.
Zane was about to leave when Cheerilee stopped him, which it got his attention.
"Is something wrong, Cheerilee?" Zane inquires.
"Actually, I have something I've wanted to tell you." Cheerilee said as she exhaled. "Zane...I have a crush on you."
It got Zane shocked when she confessed.
"When we first met and when I hired you as a new teacher, you were very patient and calm. But despite being as the Master of Ice, I watched you fight against Pythor and the group of monsters while back." Cheerilee told him. "You and your friends were brave, and learning that you left for finding the staff, I feel rather worried that you'll get killed. But after you came back, I was relieved."
Zane then begins to understand, continued to listen.
"But whenever school is starting and when you're helping me teach, it made my heart flutter...and for some reason, I felt so...whenever I look at you...you're the most calm and handsome stallion I've met." Cheerilee said, making Zane caught off-guard in shock. "And I really like you."
Zane felt touched and it got him blushed.
"Zane...will you be my special somepony?" Cheerilee asks as Zane smiled.
"Cheerilee, when I first met you, you were very kind to help me find a job, and it's something I really appreciate. But when I saw you, you were kind, very tolerant to the students, and...I'll admit, you were beautiful." Zane told him with a blush which Cheerilee also blushed. "But I didn't want to say anything because I'm trying to keep it professional when it comes to work and teaching."
Cheerilee can understand about his reason which the Master of Ice made a very good reason.
"Cheerilee, will you-"
Cheerilee stops him when she gently pressed her hoof on his mouth.
"Yes, Zane, I will be your special somepony." Cheerilee replied with a smile, then kissed him.
Meanwhile at the Carousel Boutique, Twilight arrived when Rarity, Kronk, and Golden Charm have arrived as well.
"Oh, Twilight, what brings you here this lovely Hearts and Hooves Day?" Rarity inquires.
"Well..." Twilight said as she held the most recent roses she'd received. "The note said a beautiful mare like you always looks her best, visit this mare to find the perfect dress."
Rarity, Kronk, and Golden Charm just chuckled as she used her own magic to hold another one red rose. However, unlike the others, this one had an envelope attached to it with the number 22 on it.
"Is...'22' the clue?" Twilight inquires curiously.
"No, darling." Rarity answered. "I cannot give you the next rose unless you have 22 red roses in your possession."
Twilight blinked as she began to count the red roses she had. She's shocked to that the total was just that.
"I have exactly 22." Twilight said.
"Then, you can have this." Rarity said as she handed Twilight to the envelope. "Oh, where's Mario at? Are you dating him?"
"Yeah, or at least I think we are." Twilight said with a nervous smile, but smirks. "But, I seen you've been busy."
Both Kronk and Rarity couldn't but blush in respond.
"Well, actually, Kronk ask me out for a date and...he proposed for become a very special somepony." Rarity said with a smile. "And...I said yes."
"Oh, Rarity, I'm so happy for you." Twilight said with a smile, then opens the letter and began reading.
'With 23 roses, you have completed my little plight. Now you can meet your mister right. Meet me at this location just after sunset by following the final clue: You will find me at this place where it's the best, where the sun take its daily rest.'
"Hmm, well the sun sets in the east...the best place to watch the sunset..." Twilight ponders as she gasped. "I got it! I'll see you later!"
Twilight exits the shop while Rarity, Kronk, and Golden Charm waves her goodbye. Rarity then turns to Kronk.
"Now, where were we?" Rarity asks with a flirtatious smile, batting her eyes.
"Oh! I remember!" Kronk said with a chuckle as he and Rarity kissed, making Golden Charm and Flora Heart smiled at the sight, hoping that their mother marries him and hoping to have Kronk as their father.
Back at Sweet Apple Acres, the CMCs were now working hard by gathering all the apples at the orchard after Applejack, Bright Mac, and Buttercup gives the three fillies an earful and a good scolding. The sun was already beginning to set as the three fillies sighed in exhaustion. Cheerilee and Zane came to check up on them.
"Hey there, Ms. Cheerilee." Apple Bloom greets them. "What are you two doing here?"
"Since you three are doing all of the chores, your family filled us in." Cheerilee told her. "Maybe now you'll learn not to meddle in our relationships or forcing two ponies together."
"Thus, it's up to everypony to choose that very special somepony for themselves." Zane adds. "And...perhaps now it'll teach to never try something like that again."
The CMCs cringed, remembered of the scoldings coming from the Apple Family.
"Hmm...look!" Zane said, points at a pony.
They noticed Twilight from the far distance, who slowly approaching a particular mount of grass that allowed a pony to watch the sun set behind a vast green landscape. Zane and Cheerilee then rush towards the nearby bush where they could see Twilight meet up with none other than Mario Star.
Cheerilee was giggling to herself with excitement while Zane just watches with a smile. Applejack and her family noticed the scene from the green landscape. Twilight approached Mario as he's currently looking at the stars with his back turned to her.
"Hey, Mario!" Twilight called from behind him, earned his attention.
"Hey, Twilight." Mario said as Twilight walked next to him. "I've been waiting for you. It sure is beautiful sunset. Isn't it?"
"Yes, it is." Twilight replied. "I wanted to thank you for all the lovely roses and the diamond. I guess you did all this for me?"
Mario smiled with a blush and nods as Twilight giggled.
"You know, from when I started dating you, I've really come to like you a lot. And I think I might be developing feelings for you." Twilight said with a sweet smile.
"Do you really think I treat you right?" Mario asked.
"I feel like a princess when I'm with you." Twilight replied with a smile. "And you are the sweetest and most loving stallion I've ever met, especially when you help others in the face of danger when you're not afraid of anything. And my children even considered you as the father when you help me take care of them."
"Funny." Mario said with a smile, stared at her into her eyes. "I've been developing feelings for you all over again. I'm a really lucky stallion to have the affection of suck a beautiful mare like you."
Twilight gigglied.
"I know how much you like mysteries so I set up this little scavenger hunt for you to find some red roses and a very special diamond." Mario said humbly as Twilight couldn't help but smile as her eyes sparkled.
"I still can't believe you did all this for me." Twilight said, deeply touched.
"Well, today is Hearts and Hooves Day." Mario said. "We don't need to be an official couple to be each other's special somepony."
He then pulled out a red rose.
"Not another clue." Twilight groans.
"No clue." Mario told her. "Just answer this question: Twilight Sparkle, will you accept this rose and be my special somepony tonight?"
Twilight replied by diving into his fore-legs, gave him a quick kiss on the lips, and hugged him tightly.
"Yes!" Twilight said happily.
Mario chuckled as they pulled away and he used his magic to tuck the rose into her mane. He also grabbed the necklace inside her saddlebag and put it around her neck so she could wear it proudly. Twilight giggled as she snuggled herself under Mario's chin and sighed happily.
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day." Twilight said as she closed her eyes and relaxed as he held her in his fore-legs.
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day." Mario replied sweetly as he held her lovingly and they watched the sunset and the stars began populate the early evening sky.
Cheerilee was giggling like a school filly while Zane smiled proudly.
"Well done, Mario." Zane said.
"How romantic." Cheerilee squealed quietly, then hugs the Master of Ice.
The Apple Family smiled at the loving sight of Mario and Twilight, felt proud of him for proposing her.
That's it for the 20th chapter.
I did some alternation and twist on that chapter. So, instead of the love potion, it'll be where Cheerilee and Zane propose while the CMCs do the chores after getting an earful from the Apple Family.