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- >Your knees are weak, palms are sweaty.
- >It's been a damn long shift at the spa, and with so many customers, you haven't had a chance to sit down.
- >The clock lets out a soft tick, as the minute hand sweeps forward again.
- >You put the last few bottles of oils away, and close the cabinet door.
- >Done for the day, and just in time.
- >You wave goodbye to Aloe as you leave, swinging your jacket over your shoulders, and head outside.
- >The spring wind nips at your ears, cold after a day in the gentle heat of the day spa.
- >Fiddling with the zipper, you finally get it to work, and pull it all the way up, before jamming your hands in your pockets.
- >Whilst having hands is awesome, sometimes you do wish you had a pony's fur coat.
- >Whistling softly as you meander the streets of P0nyville, it doesn't take you long before you arrive.
- >Luckily, you're still early.
- >A few other parents nod to you as you enter the playground, but none come over, preferring to huddle for warmth.
- >Honestly, you don't blame them.
- >Shivering, you lean against the wall, trying to get out of the wind.
- >Even with the clouds cleared all day, the meagre sunlight wasn't enough to be comfortable in.
- >You're only waiting for a few minutes before the school bell lets out a shrill ring, causing you to flinch in surprise.
- >Pulling back to avoid the stampede of children, you cast your gaze, trying to spot your daughter.
- >Not that she's easy to miss.
- >Already the height of a mature mare, she stands head and shoulders above her classmates.
- >Unfortunately, you don't see her.
- >Looking around, you do, on the other hand, spot Cheerilee, who beckons you over.
- >Carefully avoiding the foals, you head over, before stepping through and closing the school door.
- "Everything okay?"
- >Cheerilee smiles.
- >"Everything's fine, I just wanted a short word, if you had the time?"
- >You check your watch, then nod.
- >It isn't like ten minutes will make much of a difference.
- >"Hope's still in the classroom, I gave her some colouring to work on."
- >Cheerilee waves through a doorway, and indeed, Hope is engrossed.
- >Tongue firmly clamped between her teeth, she's carefully holding a turquoise crayon in her fist.
- >Deliberate and controlled movements across the page, she's obviously taking great care with whatever it is she's working on.
- "Thanks. So what was it?"
- >Cheerilee opens her mouth, then closes it again.
- >Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, she quirks her eyebrows, letting out a small frown.
- >She lets out a 'tch' noise, but it isn't directed at you.
- >Eventually, she speaks.
- >"I don't mean to pry..."
- >Oh great.
- >One of THESE conversations.
- >You pull your attention from a brightly coloured mural about winter, and stare at Cheerilee.
- >"It's just... There's been a few signs, and I just wanted to check on something..."
- >Well that's different.
- >You've had a few ponies ask odd questions about your diets, or behaviour.
- >One stallion even asked if Hope was likely to snap and kill everyp0ny, "as omnivores are wont to do".
- >"Is everything okay for Hope at home?"
- "Well... Yeah. She doesn't complain about anything, not anything important. Why?"
- >Cheerilee's ears fold back, pressing tight against her skull.
- >"It... Well it's going to sound silly."
- "Don't worry. I'm glad you're looking out for her."
- >She lets out a sigh.
- >"It's Hope's mother."
- >Ah.
- >"I don't think I've ever seen her pick Hope up, or ever drop her off in the morning. And, well... she used to be here all the time. I just wanted to make sure you were both alright"
- >Your wife, Lyra, had managed a promotion over the winter break.
- >No longer working on stage, she now helped line up performers and acts for the theatre, and ensured they ran smoothly.
- >This leaves you with the school runs, and occupying your daughter's time.
- >Currently, she was working even later, trying to prove to the boss she was worth the promotion.
- "Yeah, she changed her hours during the holidays, and her and Hope just sort of miss each other during the week."
- >Relieved, she looks up at you.
- >"So there's no... trouble going on?"
- >You smile.
- >Ponies are naturally friendly, and it's always nice to know someone's got your back.
- "No troubles. Everything's just gonna be hectic for a while."
- >Cheerilee sighs.
- >"Oh thank Celestia! Poor Aquafresh last term, I just wanted to make sure Hope didn't have to go through the same."
- >Unsure to her meaning, you frown slightly.
- "Aquafresh? Isn't he Colgate's kid?"
- >Cheerilee nods, and glances side to side.
- >When she sees the corridor is clear, she whispers up at you.
- >"Wildfire left her, and it was rather messy. Poor Aquafresh was caught up in the middle of it, and didn't quite know what to do with himself."
- >Pausing, you think to yourself.
- >But it's only for a split-second.
- "Nah, Lyra's clingy, but we're good."
- >Wait...
- "Colgate got divorced? I would've thought the papers would be all over that!"
- >She is, after all, one of the leading dental surgeons in Western Equestria.
- >"Hmm? Oh no, why would they do something like that? It's her own business."
- >Huh.
- >Pony media actually seems alright.
- >It's nice to just chat, even if you don't know Cheerilee that well.
- >You spend a few minutes catching up on Hope's school-work, and filling Cheerilee in a bit more about Lyra's new work.
- >"Might... Might it be possible to get discounts for the foals, if we went on a school-trip to see a play?"
- >Unsure if Lyra could swing such a thing, you merely shrug.
- "I'll ask, but I dunno. She works more with the performers than the audience."
- >Cheerilee smiles, ears dancing gently as she perks back up.
- >"Oh, thank you, Anon! We couldn't quite manage to get the foals to the Hearth's Warming's panto, and I thought it would be nice if they could have an evening trip."
- >You shrug.
- "I can't promise anything, but I'll see if Lyra can have a word with her boss."
- >You turn, and glance at Hope, still happily scribbling away.
- "I hope you don't mind, but we have to scarper."
- >Cheerilee nods, and you call out to Hope, who dances around, throwing all her stuff into a backpack.
- >Soon enough, she comes boinging over, ponytails flapping around her head like the wings of a luminescent bird.
- "You alright, kiddo? Learn anything today?"
- >Hope beams up at you, her picture tightly clenched in her fist.
- >"Miss Cheerilee told us all about dragons, and then about that big mean guy, D... Dis... Disc..."
- "Discord?"
- >"Yeah! Him! And then we did colouring. But Twizzler was already drawin' Princess Celestia, so I hadda draw a dragon instead. Look!"
- >She presents the crumpled drawing, which is indeed a dragon.
- >"Look! He's breathin' fire an' all!"
- "So where's he going then?"
- >She looks up at you, and bites her lip.
- >"Can... Can he go on the fridge?"
- >You grin, and wave goodbye to Cheerilee.
- "Maybe... We'll have to see if there's room though. C'mon, we're off."
- >Hope waves as well, before grasping your hand, tightly, in hers.
- >Her fingers are fever-hot entwined with yours, something she inherited from her mother.
- >It's never seemed to bother her, so you've never worried.
- >As you walk back home, she continues her inane chatter, explaining the complex barter system that makes up lunchtime dealings.
- >"-ut then Daisy said that there's no way she could gimme the pudding for an apple, so I asked if she wanted the apple AND my banana, and she said yes, so I had TWO puddings for lunch!"
- >She beams up at you.
- "Two puddings? Won't that make you too full for dinner?"
- >She shakes her head.
- >"Nuh-uh. Cuz that only filled up my pudding space, I still have my dinner space left, see!"
- >She tries to grasp at her stomach, but with one hand holding yours, and the other holding the dragon picture, she can't quite manage it.
- >Giving up, she starts to babble about dragons instead, and asking if you can take her to go and see Spike.
- "He's not an animal in a zoo, Hope. We can't just go and stare at him."
- >She lets out a sad frown.
- >"But I wanna know more about dragons! And he lives inna liberty, so they'll have books!"
- "A library, Hope. Tell you what, if you're good tonight, we can go tomorrow, seeing as it's the weekend. How's that sound?"
- >She lets out a cheer, and wraps her arms around your waist.
- >You reach down, and run a hand through her hair.
- >A little scritch behind a slightly pointed ear, and she's off, jumping and giggling down the path to your house.
- >She bursts through the front door, and dashes through to the kitchen, determined to stick the dragon to the fridge.
- >You let her pelt through the house, choosing to take your time.
- >Lyra won't be back for a few hours, but that's no reason to dirty up the place.
- >By the time you reach the kitchen (having tidied away Hope's scattered jumper, backpack, and for some reason, lone pencil sharpener), she's dragged over a stool, and is busy trying to fix her picture to the very top of the fridge.
- >You cough.
- >Hope jumps, and wheels around, face whitening in shock.
- "You know you're not supposed to climb things without me around."
- >She ducks her head, and mumbles something.
- "C'mon, I'll lift you instead."
- >Wrapping arms around her, you lift her high, so she can put the dragon in pride of place.
- >She takes a while to decide, and insists on fidgeting the entire time, so you're glad when you manage to settle her back on the floor.
- "So what're we having for dinner tonight?"
- >Hope lifts her hand, and rubs her chin in thought.
- >You're pretty sure it's something she's picked up from you, but she looks darned cute when she does it.
- >"Is mummy going to be back?"
- >Poor Hope.
- >She looks slightly sad, as if she already knows the answer.
- "I'm sorry, kiddo, she's busy again tonight. B~ut..."
- >She looks up at you, eyes narrowing slightly.
- "If mummy's not home... I could maybe..."
- >You make a big show of looking around, trying to spot eavesdroppers.
- >Hope's face is starting to light up.
- "Make some lasagna?"
- >She cheers, and claps.
- >You can't really have meat often - ponies don't eat it, and your griffon vendor very rarely gets any in.
- >The import of meat is closely watched, presumably to stop sentients ending up on a plate.
- >You check the cupboards, and you do have a jar of sauce, leftover from last time; and a few sheets of pasta.
- >Hope continues dancing around the kitchen, 'helping' as you start the white sauce going, and brown the few scraps of mince you managed to pick up earlier.
- >Soon enough, you manage to bring it all together, and sling the dish into the oven.
- >You fiddle with the dials, and set it to start cooking in twenty minutes, which should be plenty of time to help Hope with her homework.
- "Right. You can either do the washing up, or get started on any homework Miss Cheerilee gave you."
- >Really, you needn't have asked.
- >Like a shot, Hope's out of there, clomping upstairs to continue trying to learn this week's spelling list.
- >You settle the pots next to the sink, and start running the tap, letting the water heat before you fill the bowl.
- >Ten minutes later, you're still elbow deep in suds.
- >The familiar clump-clump-clump lets you know Hope thinks her homework's done, and is bored.
- >"DAAAAADDDDD"
- >Yup.
- >You feel her warm fingers poking you in the back, and have to bite back a giggle.
- "What's up, Hope?"
- >"I'm booored. The words are easy, an' I already know 'em all."
- >You tell her to spell them all for you, and she does.
- >Correctly, too.
- >"And cake is see, ayy, kuh, eee."
- "Well done, you're a smart girl, eh?"
- >She giggles, and fiddles with her hair.
- >You feel her tug your shirt, to pull you down, so you squat, putting your head on a level with hers.
- >She puts her face right into the crook of your neck, hair pricking your skin.
- >"Miss Cheerilee gives me the sheet from the next year! I already know all my year. Not like Twizzler, cuz she has to do the little kids one."
- >She lets out a giggle, and her hot breath tickles your ear.
- "It's not nice to laugh at others, Hope."
- >Her face falls, and you can't resist it.
- "Even if they're as mean as Twizzler is, or as..."
- >You change to a stage whisper,
- "stupid"
- >Hope's grin lights up the room.
- "As she is. But remember, you shouldn't tease her."
- >Her giggles are delightful, the sheer excitement that can only come from a shared, illicit secret.
- >They're suddenly cut off when the oven beeps, switching itself on.
- "Alright, go put your list back, and we'll go over it again tomorrow, make sure they've stuck. Then you can read me some more of your story, eh?"
- >Hope clomps off again, stomping up the stairs.
- >You'd never admit it.
- >Not even under torture.
- >But you do actually want to know what happens to Puffy the Purple Hippo.
- >And having Hope read it out to you is just the icing on the cake.
- >By the time she has finished the book, and found out the Puffy did manage to find some more tea-bags hidden in his cupboards, the lasagna's ready.
- >It's not as good as you often managed back home, but you're working from scratch - most pony food is made from hay, rather than any grains, making it indigestible.
- >Your sauces aren't that great, but that's just because you never bothered making them back on Earth, buying them pre-made.
- >Either way, it doesn't stop the food from smelling absolutely fantastic
- >You split the lasagna into three, dumping one portion on Hope's plate, and one onto yours.
- >The other, you leave in the oven. It'll do so you can eat with Lyra, when she gets home later.
- >Hope dives in, tomato and cheese sauces splattering her face from chin to eyes.
- >She always gets excited when you manage the odd, sneaky, meat-based meals.
- >With dinner now done, and the plates left to soak in the sink, you and Hope potter around the house, doing a few small jobs and a bit of clearing away.
- >Once the house is back to Lyra's exacting standards, you both proceed to wreck it again.
- >Building blocks, dominoes, and a set of electric train tracks are all pulled together, so Hope can build a giant city that spans most of the living room.
- >You help with the fiddly bits, like pulling them back apart, but let Hope mostly do her own thing.
- >It takes an hour, but she's finally done.
- >You can tell from the fact she's started poking you again.
- "Ready to put it away?"
- >A quick glance at the clock shows it's nearing bedtime, but she still has a few minutes left.
- >She shakes her head.
- >"Nuh-uh. Wanna be Godzilla!"
- >You smile.
- "Ahhhh! Oh no! Who will save us, a giant is attacking the city!"
- >She squeals in delight, and starts hopping around, pushing the small buildings over.
- >Her hardened hooves allow her to kick and stomp, with no worries about stepping on a lone brick and putting herself in the hospital for decades.
- >When she tries the domino track, only for it to fail due to already smashed dominoes, she lets out an angry huff, and starts jumping.
- >This settles it for the town, toppling the remainder of the peaceful village.
- >She never gets to do this sort of thing in school, the rest of the foals are too focused on building things to take enjoyment from such mindless destruction.
- >You, on the other hand, never get tired of it.
- >Neither does Hope, which works out well.
- "Right, let's scoop it all back into the boxes, don't want mummy tripping over the ruins when she gets back, eh?"
- >Hope sighs, but reluctantly 'helps' as you tidy up.
- >Everything goes back into one box - it all gets used at once, so it can all get boxed at once.
- >That done, you heft Hope, swinging her over your shoulder.
- "C'mon then, let's get you back to bed. Don't want to be too tired tomorrow, you'll miss school!"
- >Happy squeals and yells come from behind you as you lunge up the stairs, making sure to keep a tight hold on her waist.
- >Green legs kick helplessly at the air, and you reach out and tickle her frog with your spare hand.
- >The squeals turn back into laughter, and you gently drop Hope onto the bathroom tiles.
- >You grab her toothbrush, smear a bit of toothpaste onto it, and then pass it over.
- "Ready?"
- >She nods, and you start the timer.
- >It was a fantastic bit of kit, counting down from two minutes in giant red numbers.
- >Marisa, Hope's gran'ma, had picked it up for her last birthday.
- >She'd initially hated it, but when she found out it could play songs, had fallen in love with it.
- >It'd taken a lot of effort to persuade her to stick it on the bathroom wall, and not take it to bed with her.
- >You trust Hope to put proper effort into brushing her teeth, especially after the 'horror' stories you told her about trips to the dentist.
- >Because of that, you feel no worries about leaving her whilst you go and sort her room out.
- >Nothing much, just pulling the sheets back, making sure the clock faced her bed, and a few other things.
- >Whilst rummaging for a clean night-dress, Hope pounces on you again.
- >She presses herself against your leg as she wraps arms around you, squeezing as tight as her small body can.
- >"Dance me daddy!"
- >You sigh.
- >There's no way she'll go to bed without one, now she's got it into her head.
- "It's a dance and a short story, or you can have a proper one. Which do you want?"
- >As if you needed to ask.
- >"DANCE!"
- >You wrap her hands around her much smaller ones, and prise her from your leg, gently pulling her in front of you.
- "Hop on then."
- >She does so, small hooves barely covering the top of your feet.
- >You start to rock, gentle sways and twirls around the bedroom, until you drop your arms, wrap them around her chest, lift your little girl, and drop her onto bed.
- >She lands with a soft flumpf, and you quickly lift her duvet, tucking her in before she can bounce back out again.
- >Once she's done in snug, you plop yourself down, and pick up a book from the night-stand.
- "What're you in the mood for tonight then?"
- >You leaf through the book, finding the contents, and scan through them.
- "We've got knights, wizards, or spaceships."
- >She tries to squirm free, but your weight helps keep her locked in.
- >"Knights! With dragons anna princess anna castle!"
- >Choice made, you flick through to page seventy, and begin to read.
- "Once upon a time, there was a brave knight, called Sir Melody. Sir Melody was a strong knight, and her armour was bright as the sun..."
- >Losing yourself quickly in the world of make-believe, you read through the story, putting on an array of voices and accents for all the roles.
- "And so, the Queen said to Sir Melody, 'You have saved our kingdom, we shall'..."
- >A gentle snore causes you to stop.
- >She's asleep.
- >Finally.
- >Carefully, you stand and stretch, popping your shoulders as you do so.
- >That done, you make your way out of her room, clicking off the light as you do, leaving it bathed in the gentle luminscent green of her night-light.
- >Her door closes, and you make your way downstairs, socked feet gently padding on the carpet.
- >You've got an hour or so before Lyra gets back, and you plan to spend it nicely ensconced on your sofa, the gentle warmth of a fire filling the room.
- >Whilst not much can compare to Puffy, Aloe did lend you a book on griffin anatomy she wants you to get through.
- >They've always felt intimidated by the large bird-lions, and wanted you to take over those customers from now on.
- >The front door shuts, closing with a quiet click as Lyra swings it closed.
- "Hey Lyra, I've rustled up something for you."
- >She doesn't respond, as she's in the closet, hanging her coat.
- >You take another forkful of lasagna, and use your last slice of garlic bread to wipe the bowl clean.
- "Everything go okay today?"
- >Your only answer is a grunt.
- >So apparently not.
- >You look up as she comes in, and give her a smile.
- >She doesn't return it, her eyes heavy and bagged.
- >Gingerly, she hauls herself onto the other end of the sofa.
- >You don't comment on the way it dips slightly.
- >Just like you didn't say anything when the cushions needed replacing.
- >She may have put on a bit of weight, but she's still your girl.
- >"Work was crap. Turner's still trying to settle that harassment claim from the ditzy pegasus, and he's taking it out on us."
- >You let out a sympathising tut.
- "Well, I'm just glad you still have the next few days off. I thought we could all go out, do something together?"
- >She lifts her face from the salad bowl, and fixes you with a glower.
- >The leaf of lettuce hanging from a lip slightly offsets it though.
- >"The hell brought this on? I just wanna spend the day in bed. I'm shattered, Anon."
- >You bite your lip, unsure if you should say anything.
- >Eventually, you decide to try and work around it.
- "It's... well, we haven't all spent time together recently. I thought you could spend some time with Hope. She misses you, y'know?"
- >The lettuce leaf drops, landing on the coffee table.
- >Her glowering intensifies.
- "We don't have to, I just thought..."
- >She raises a hoof, and wipes it across her eyes.
- >"No, you didn't. She doesn't miss me. You were always her favourite."
- >Her voice is flat, lifeless.
- "No! You don't mean that! I just spend a bit more time at home, that's all."
- >Lyra turns away, blinking furiously.
- >"You don't get it! I CHOSE to work later!"
- >What?
- >At your expression, she continues.
- >"Don't get me wrong! I love her, she's my daughter! She grew inside me for nearly a year! We... We just aren't that close. I thought it'd be better if you were the one around her."
- >She stops.
- >Silence blooms.
- >A minute later, she's just started back into her salad, movements slow and jerky.
- "Cheerilee asked about you."
- >She stops again.
- "Hope's teacher. She was worried about you, about us."
- >Lyra lifts her eyes, peering at you through her fringe.
- "She wanted to check nothing was going on at home. Because, apparently, Hope doesn't talk about you any more."
- >Hey eyebrows close again.
- "Just wanted to check we weren't going through a divorce or anything. Not after Aquafresh's folks last term."
- >Lyra lifts her head from the bowl, and fixes you with a glare.
- >It must've been a bad day.
- >She doesn't normally get this pissed off... Well, ever!
- >"Sure. Not like she was do anything else."
- >You're confused.
- "Lyra, honey, chill. Honestly, she just wanted to make sure nothing was goin on that could bother Hope."
- >"No! You're talking about me behind my back! Don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at the mares in town!"
- >Oh come on!
- "Lyra, you're my best girl! We're married!"
- >"No."
- >She spits in her bowl.
- >"Hope's your best girl. I'm a distant second."
- >A tear drips from the corner of her eye.
- >"Possibly not even that."
- "Damnit! Lyra! You're my wife! I'm not going to leave you!"
- >It rests for a second on the edge of her jaw, before falling to the floor.
- >Splashing to the carpet.
- >"You didn't refute me though, did you. Hope's your best girl."
- >Another soon joins it.
- >"Do you even love me anymore?"
- >Thumps from the staircase make you both pause.
- >Hope peers around the bannister, looking in, clutching her stuffed dinosaur to her chest.
- "Hey sweetie. It's all alright. No need to worry, okay? Sorry we woke you. Head on back to bed, I'll be up in a mo'."
- >She nods, and disappears again, clumping back upstairs.
- >You turn to Lyra, but her tears have stopped.
- >She's standing, and her nostrils are flared with anger.
- >"SURE! Say sorry to YOUR daughter then! Not to your damned wife! What a surprise!
- "DAMNIT LYRA! SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER TOO!"
- >Her next question stops you cold.
- >"Is she, Anon?"
- >What sort of question is that?
- "Of course she is! You've seen her, haven't you? You bore her, didn't you?"
- >"Sometimes.... I... I just don't know."
- >She turns away, not even looking at you anymore.
- >"I... I need to get out. Don't come and find me."
- >She bolts, running for the door, and slams it open.
- >You jump after her, but by the time you get there, she's gone.
- >Turning, you look up the stairs.
- >Hope's cowering at the top, kneeling down with her hands covering her ears.
- >Tears track down her face.
- >You leap up, wrapping her in your arms, and shushing and rocking her.
- >"I don't like it when mummy shouts!"
- >Her voice warbles, distorted by her fear, and her gummy nose.
- >You feel the tears start from your own eyes, leaving damp trails down your cheeks.
- "Me neither kiddo, me neither."
- >It takes a few minutes, but she calms down, and you tuck her in, reading another story to her.
- >And as you pull up the covers, and place a kiss on her forehead,
- >You have to wonder...
- >Are you losing Lyra?
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