>You are Shimmer Light.
>... Winter is mostly over.
>Well, most of the projected harsh parts are anyway.
>Either way, you'll stay cautious until it's fully done.
>... Until then, you have other things to worry about.
>For example, you found a pink heart made of paper on the ground earlier.
>It's for that celebration of love... whatever they call it.
>That holiday's going to happen soon, but you've never done anything for it before, so you don't really know much about it.
>There's love and...
>That's your extent of knowledge for whatever-it's-called.
>The pink heart you're holding has a "To" and a "From" line but both are blank.
>Whoever dropped it didn't care to fill it in.
>... Or maybe it was for those who wouldn't pick one up at the marketplace stall (run by a moth who went by "Sweetheart"... probably).
>Love is embarrassing to most moths.
>You simply don't have a reason to care about it; you don't have anyone you love.
>Besides, this paper heart is generic and ineffective.
>It's flawed.
>It says "You're my sweet little fairy~", but you're certain not everyone here knows "regular" ponies consider moth ponies to be fairies.
>... Unless that's just a well-known thing no one ever told you.
>That's possible.
>Your twice-yearly trips to sell your jewelry garner enough attention of being called a fairy for you to know.
>Foals are the worst about it.
>They just say whatever comes to mind, no matter how illogical it is.
>That's just how "normal" ponies are.
>It wouldn't make any sense if everyone else in the village knew, right?
>... Anyway, there's nothing special about being a fairy.
>... Fairy?
>You start thinking about it in a looser form.
>... Ferry...
>Wow.
>That was a stretch.
>Ignoring the migraine you've just giving yourself, your incredibly odd dilemma has shown up once again.
>... You could give this to Hexferry.
>No, that's stupid.
 
>You hated the very concept of this heart a few moments ago, now you're seriously considering participating in this illogical event.
>It's all because you can't figure out if you love Hexferry or not.
>That's it.
>You're self-aware.
>You can figure out what your problems are, you just don't know how to fix them.
>This is the biggest problem you've had since losing your self and almost freezing to death on several occasions.
>Yes, you noticed it used to happen often.
>... If your peripheral vision wasn't so good, you may have been worried about running into something while staring at this heart.
>You'd also worry about anyone seeing the heart, but you're sure no one did.
>No one's around.
>They're all in the marketplace, mulling about the lover's stand trying to be secretive about their affection.
>They're all fools.
>... But that's a common desire of the heart; they have their tendencies, you have yours, there's nothing wrong with that.
>Your tendencies don't include... love...
>This is one giant mess.
>At the very least, you've come to the realization life would be easier if you were still the "perfect" you, but it would be less fulfilling.
>You'll try to get over it; life is filled with challenges, your life should be no different.
>Your challenges are just... trivial, at this point.
>... Actually, you haven't made a piece of jewelry in a while.
>This trivial problem is leading to an actual problem, apparently.
>Fantastic.
>Something enters your peripheral vision.
>Your other thoughts are inconsequential, and you focus on the figure.
>"Hey, Shimmer, just finish shopping?"
>... Hexferry starts walking next to you.
>You slowly lower the heart so she can't see it from her vantage point.
"... Yes."
>Is your breathing off?
>You're not scared, are you?
>This can only end badly.
>It's just a heart you picked up off the ground.
>"I was just at Meisa's, but she had to go help Sweetheart at her Love Card stand."
"Two would definitely get it done faster."
 
>"Yeah. Meisa said everyone's just so embarrassed about getting them. Well, besides Caramel and Virgo, of course. They buy them by the ton."
>You just nod.
>Wait, if she just came from Meisa's...
>You just passed Meisa's house.
>You glance back and sure enough, she's standing in front of her door.
>... Looking directly at you.
>... She's smiling lightly.
>After a few seconds, she turns and walks to the marketplace.
>... Oh.
>No.
>She could see it.
>The heart was in her sight, and you know Meisa well enough.
>She thinks the heart is for Hexferry.
>... Or at least for someone.
>Either way, she probably thinks you bought it with a certain purpose in mind.
>You should've just left it on the ground.
>"Anyway, what do you have planned for today?"
>... Your heart isn't calming down.
>You're certain you still appear to be completely calm, but you definitely don't feel calm.
"... Nothing."
>It was true... for the most part.
>All you really do is clean your house, but you do that often enough to not truly need it for another... few days.
>Most others would probably say you wouldn't need to clean it for a month, but you won't leave you home in that kind of disarray.
>You'll probably clean it tomorrow anyway.
>Your home was spotless after the last time you cleaned it.
>Yesterday.
>"Well, do you want to hang out? Maybe we could have a sleepover."
>You should decline.
>You're not in the right mindset to be around Hexferry right now.
>... Wait, what if that's what you need?
>Yes.
>You'll accept to figure out what you feel toward Hexferry.
"Okay, just let me drop these off first."
>"Okay. I'll just wait out here for you."
>She crosses to the other side of you and waits by a door.
>Her door.
>Are you back already?
>You've gotten really bad at noticing the environment while being around Hexferry.
>You walk to your home and open the door.
>"Wait, Shimmer, what's that?"
>... You slowly look at her.
>She's looking straight at your hoof, the one holding...
 
>The heart.
>You didn't think to switch its side when she crossed over.
>Your heart is pounding, and your breath is weak.
>It's all okay.
>It's all fine.
>It's all...
>It's...
"... I-it's... something I picked up off the ground."
>"Isn't that a Heart Card?"
"... Yeah."
>... There's a short silence.
>You don't know what to do or say.
>You're trapped.
>You told the truth, yet you're still in a bind.
>"... Weird, someone must have dropped it."
>... You let go of the breath you were holding.
>It's all okay.
>Everything will be-
>"Wait, why'd you pick it up?"
>... That's not fair, you don't even know the answer to that.
>You don't want to do this, but it's time to save face.
"... I... was g-going to throw it away."
>"But what if they came back for it?"
>... So this is the web of lies...
>You've never been caught in it before now, and you've only told one lie.
"... It was... in a snow patch. It would've been ruined before they got it."
>Well that's pretty convincing; there are many patches of snow on the ground everywhere. There are also many dry spots.
>... Unfortunately for your peace of mind, it wasn't in a snow patch.
>It was on dry ground.
>It would've been fine... but Hexferry doesn't have to know that.
>... You feel terrible.
>Hexferry looks like she believes it.
>"I guess that makes sense. Anyway, I'll let you do that. Hurry back!"
"... Right..."
>You go inside your home.
>... She was so... happy.
>She genuinely enjoys being with you, and you lied to her face.
>Are you supposed to feel like this?
>Your insides feel twisted yet empty.
>You set down the bag of things you bought from the marketplace.
>... You look at the heart.
>... With great pain, you throw it away.
>It'll only being more pain if you keep it or worse... use it.
>You turn and exit your home.
>Now, you test yourself.
>You walk over to Hexferry and prepare for an emotional war inside you.