//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Halcyon Hearts // by TheMyth //------------------------------// “That should do it.” Rainbow Dash hovered in the air looking at the sky, not seeing any clouds in sight. She turned her whole body to get a better look, with a smile forming on her face as she nodded. She stopped and squinted her eyes, seeing a cloud off in the distance where Sugarcube Corner was at. Rainbow spat on her forehooves and rubbed them together. “Here I come!” She zoomed to the cloud and buckled her hind legs to her stomach, and turned at the last moment to give a powerful buck to the cloud. The cloud evaporated into nothingness, leaving the skies cloudless for the rest of the day. Rainbow smirked. “Another job well done by the awesome Rainbow Dash!” she saluted and was ready to fly away. “Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow looked down and saw Pinkie Pie waving to her, with a tray of cupcakes in her hoof. She lowered herself down to the ground and landed gracefully on her four hooves, walking to her friend. “What’s up, Pinkie?” Pinkie smiled and showed the cupcakes. “I was gonna making these for a party and...” Rainbow arched an eyebrow and turned her head slightly. “And?” “I didn’t make enough, and I need help to make more and I see you’re done with your work for today so can you please help me?! Pretty please with sugar and cherry on top!” Rainbow shook her head and smiled, chuckling slightly. “Relax Pinkie, of course I’ll help you. What kinda friend leaves her friend hanging?” “Yay!” Pinkie shouted and gave a cupcake to Rainbow. “Here you go! Keep the energy up!” “Thanks!” Rainbow said and took a bite out of it. “Wow! This is great! You always know how to make a good cupcake!” Pinkie giggled. “Well duh! I’m a party mare! A party mare ought to know how to make good sugary treats!” she said as they walked inside and into the kitchen, where the ingredients were prepared for them to use. Rainbow nodded as she took a position next to Pinkie. “You said it.” They sat off to the task of baking, telling the usual jokes, sometimes playfully flicking flour at each other, and generally having a good time. It was an hour later that Rainbow Dash thought to ask the question. “So, what’s this party for anyway? Is there somepony new in town?” “...Yes,” Pinkie said slowly. Dash, not paying the greatest attention, didn’t catch the hesitance. “That’s nice. Can’t wait to meet them.” Pinkie looked at the bowl she had been mixing for a few seconds before she worked up the courage to speak. “Well, you kind of know him already.” Rainbow Dash tensed. Her blood went cold. She rounded on her friend so that their faces were practically within kissing distance. “Pinkie. Please. Say. You. Did. Not. Meet. My. Dad.” “Okay, I didn’t meet your dad.” Silence. “Okay, tell me. Did you meet my dad?” “Yep! We’re throwing him a ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ Party!” “Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash began angrily, “my dad is a grade-A gelding! Do you know what he did to me? He...” “We know,” Pinkie said. She then found herself writhing under her friend’s glare. “Um, he told us everything, and...” “You knew!?” she yelled. “You knew and you’re still throwing him a party? What’s next, are we going to invite Sombra for cookies and tea!?” “Ooh! You think he’d like that? Maybe he won’t be such a meanie!” Her good mood evaporated again. “Please, Dashie. He’s really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really sorry, and we think you should give him a chance...” “We? Are the others in on this too?” “Yeah, Fluttershy brought us over, and he told us everything, and we all decided you needed to make up with your dad, so...” “The day I forgive him is the day Bloodwing returns! You know, I shouldn’t need to explain myself, especially when it comes to that monster!” “But Rainbow-” “I don’t want to hear it!” she snapped. “After what he did to me...” “Dashie, please... come to the party I’m throwing him tonight... you two can sit down and talk everything out...” “I am not talking anything out with him!” “Please, if you’ll just listen to me...” At that point, Rainbow Dash finally lost her patience. “I am not going to take advice on this from somepony who’s dumb enough to think some stupid little party is going to fix everything!” The cyan mare clenched her eyes shut in frustration as the words spilled out of her mouth. An unusual response greeted that: dead silence. After a moment, she dared to open her eyes. Pinkie’s eyes were wide, and they were leaking tears as a result of the insult. Slowly, it dawned on Rainbow Dash exactly what she just said. “Pinkie... I... I’m sorry. I... I didn’t mean it.” “I know you didn’t, Dashie,” Pinkie said quietly. “Ponies can say things when they’re upset that they don’t mean.” Pinkie pulled her friend into a hug. For a few seconds, they just stayed in each others embrace. “...Dashie?” “Yeah?” “...If I can forgive you for this... do you think you could forgive your dad?” Rainbow Dash pulled away from her friend and looked at her. Pinkie just returned the look, an air of seriousness around her that seemed so out of place. The pegasus backed away from her friend. Then, she turned and ran out of Sugarcube Corner, with Pinkie watching in disappointment. “This is going to be harder than I thought...” “Alrigh’! So wha’ should we do fer the talent show?” Apple Bloom stood in front of the podium, looking to each of her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders. She was only met with either blank faces or frowns deep in thought. Apple Bloom let out a sigh and banged her hoof to the podium. “C’mon y’all! We need to think of something!” she shouted out the others, but was only met with silence. A hoof was present in the air and Apple Bloom spotted it. “You got something on yer mind, Sweetie?” Sweetie Belle stood up and let out an audible gulp. “Well, we can always do a song.” “Um... didn’t we do that last time?” Scootaloo asked her friend as she looked between Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle with an arched eyebrow. “No no! I mean, one of us writes a song and another one of us can sing it?” Light tapped his chin, letting loose a hum in thought. “That’s not a bad idea, though who would we get to write the song? I’m no good with words Sweetie.” Sweetie beamed and giggled softly, gaining the attention of the other members as they turned to each other and shrugged at their friend’s excitement. “Well, I know just who to ask for a song!” Spike turned his head in confusion. “Who?” Sweetie turned to him and pointed a hoof at him. “You!” Spike blinked, raising his eyebrows slightly. “Huh?” Sweetie Belle continued giggling. “You can write the song, you’re good with words!” Spike’s irises shrank to the size of pins as his eyes widen to the size of saucers. With his mouth gaped, he waved his hooves frantically to the unicorn filly. “Oh no! Not me! No can do! Nuh uh!” Scootaloo rolled her eyes and crossed her front legs as she furrowed her eyebrows in frustration. “Spike, you know you are a good writer... so why not?” “I never wrote lyrics before! I know how to write a poem or a short story, but a song is totally out of league here!” Sweetie Belle grabbed hold of Spike’s hoof and squeezed it gently with both of hers. “Please, Spike!” Sweetie pleaded to him, pushing her lower lip out and making her eyes moist. “Pretty please?” Spike felt his face heat up. He could hear Light and Pip giggling. “S-Sweetie, writing words and writing notes are different things. I can’t write music!” Sweetie thought a moment. “I know a lot about music! I bet I could write the notes!” “That’d be cool!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “Ah can sing it again, if you like!” Pip and Scootaloo cringed at this. “How about Sweetie sing it?” the earth pony suggested quickly, remembering all too well the last disastrous talent show. “If she knows so much about music...” Sweetie’s eyes shrunk to the size of pencil points. “In front of everypony? The whole school?” “Well, it might actually be th’ whole town,” Apple Bloom clarified obviously, unaware of her friend's fear, “dependin’ on who shows up...” “Uh-uh, no way!” the unicorn filly said quickly. “I can’t be up in front of everypony!” “But your voice is so good!” Scootaloo insisted. “And we already know Apple Bloom’s special talent isn’t singing...” “Hey, what’s that supposed ‘ta mean?” she asked angrily. “What if I help her with her singing?” Sweetie asked quickly. “I bet I could teach her to sing good.” “But you wouldn’t have to if you just sang it yourself!” Scoots countered. “Please?” “No,” Sweetie answered stubbornly. “I’ll help Spike write the song, and I’ll teach Apple Bloom to sing. You, Pip, and Light can work on the stage.” “But that makes no sense!” Scootaloo yelled. he turned to Pip and Light. “Help me out here!” “I’m sure Apple Bloom will do fine,” Light said politely, in a tone that made it clear he wanted to stay as uninvolved as possible in this. “Well... I guess if anypony could teach Apple Bloom to sing, it would be Sweetie,” Pip relented. “Then it’s settled!” Apple Bloom knocked on the podium. “We start on the stage tomorrow after school!” She stuck her hoof in the air and breathed in. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Talent Show Contestants!” “Yay!” After Apple Bloom walked out on off the podium, Light turned to the window and saw the sun setting. “Looks like it’s time for me to go now.” “Aww...” Scootaloo sighed out, but heard some giggling from the background and immediately straightened herself. “I mean! Why you have to go now?” Light shrugged, “Blaze is going to pick me up now. It’s getting late you know?” Scootaloo looked out and saw the sun setting. She perked her ears and stood up from her seat. “Guess you’re right...” Spike sighed and looked down on the floor. “Guess I’m going to get into trouble now,” “Why?” Spike went to his saddlebag and pulled out a letter, with Cheerilee’s writing on it. “First day of school and having to send a note back to my mom, she’s not going to be a very happy mare.” Sweetie Belle reached out for Spike, placing a gentle hoof to his shoulder. “I’m sure your mom will understand, Spike. That meanie Diamond Tiara is the pony who is meant to be in trouble.” Scootaloo huffed and she cringed at the mention of Diamond Tiara’s name. “That and imprisonment!” Spike sighed. “I hope you’re right...” The Ponyville Clocktower was a bit of a landmark in the small town. Light had found Blaze waiting for him at the base of the structure, looking more relaxed than the colt had ever seen him. “Hey, little bro,” he said, affectionately ruffling his mane. “How was the first day of school?” “Pretty fun,” Light said. “Except for this one filly...” “Diamond Tiara?” the older pegasus asked as he lifted Light up onto his back. At his little brother’s nodding, he sight. “Twilight told me about her, said she figured she would try to give you trouble.” As he spoke, he lifted himself off the ground, flying up to the top of the tower and landing in front of the large bell. “Well, after Bloodwing, she was nothing,” he said confidently. “That’s my boy,” he said. “Now, let’s just relax. I got your favorite...” Light licked his lips as his older brother produced two bars of sea salt ice cream, handing one bar to his brother. “Awesome!” he said, taking the bar and beginning to lick. Blaze took his own bite, looking out across the city. Here, in the late afternoon, the town was still at the height of it’s activity, with ponies moving around, in stands at the market hawking their wares, and ponies sitting at the outdoor restaurant, enjoying a quick meal. He grinned. “This was a good choice. Nice, quiet... everypony’s friendly... I think we’ll stay put when the Princess lets me go.” Light swallowed his latest bite. “Does Twilight know you’re out here?” “Yep,” he answered. “She’s allowing it since I’m taking care of you. In fact, my curfew is off tonight for a special occasion.” “What?” “I’m not sure of the full story, but Rainbow Dash’s father is in town. Apparently the two had a falling out, and now the others want to throw a party so they can kiss and makeup. Twilight thinks we should be there since it’s a community thing.” “Twilight...” Light said. “...She scares me.” “What? Why? She’s a cutie,” he mused. Light blushed a bit at that. “She seemed really mean when I saw her,” he said. “She was going to kill you.” “Kid... that’s not a Twilight thing. That’s a ‘get between a mother and her kid’ thing. Heck, I’d probably be more violent with anypony that tried to hurt you,” he said, giving a playful noogie. “You mean it?” “Every word.” Light stared at the sunset and let loose a small smile. His ears perked as his head raised up suddenly. “Say, we got this talent show happening this Friday!” Blaze nodded as he looked to the little colt. “Really? What did you guys think of?” Light turned to Blaze and rested against his back to the clocktower. “Well we thought of a song; Spike’s going to write it and Apple Bloom is going to sing it, with Sweetie Belle’s help she says.” “What you gonna do?” Light shrugged as he placed his hooves to the back of his head. “Well, I’m going to help out with the stage along with Pip and Scootaloo.” At the mention of Scootaloo’s name, Blaze’s eyes became slightly dilated. “How is the little filly doing?” “Well...” Light looked down as he scrunched his lips. “To be honest, she looked horrible, like she hasn’t slept in ages...” Blaze let out a sigh as he leaned back to the clock tower too. “Well, that’s no surprise there.” Light’s ears perked and he looked to Blaze, arching an eyebrow. “Really? Why is it not a surprise?” Blaze was quiet for a moment. “Twilight said... you know, maybe I shouldn’t say,” he decided, biting off the last bit of ice cream on his stick. “If she didn’t want to tell you, that’s her business.” Light nodded, finishing up his own bar. “Well, when’s the party?” “In a few hours,” he answered, standing. “In the meantime, why don’t we take a tour around Ponyville?” Twilight looked over the note from school while Spike stood before her, looking at the ground guiltily. After a moment, she lowered the note. “What spell did you cast?” Spike was surprised, but at the same time realized that he shouldn’t be. “I don’t know,” he said timidly. “I was just so mad at Diamond Tiara, that I...” Spike clenched his teeth and stomped the ground. “Spike, stay calm!” she said quickly. Spike gaped at her, his anger forgotten. She seemed... scared? “Spike, the spell Miss Cheerilee is describing here is powerful... it’s not something you’re supposed to do. If you can really summon things like that, then I think we better up your training for a while.” Spike blinked. “You’re not mad?” Twilight shook her head. “As powerful as it was, it wouldn’t have hurt Diamond Tiara any more than a good, hard buck would have. Unicorn magic has a bit of a failsafe in it. You have to be clearly thinking to truly hurt a living creature. Even if you had hit her, she would have been fine. And I know it’s hard to keep your temper when ponies act like that... it’s what allowed your magic to go off. But we are going to work on controlling your temper, okay?” The colt nodded. “Yes.” Twilight smiled softly and pulled him in a firm hug, and she felt tiny hooves returning the hug. “Spike, I know this may seem hard, but it will improve with time and practice. I know you can master your magic.” Spike looked up to her face. “How do you know?” Twilight kissed him on the forehead softly. “Because I’m your mother, and a mother will always believe in her son.” Spike beamed as his eyes became slightly moist, but her wiped it away quickly. “Ok Mom, I’ll do my best!” “Good. Now why don’t we get started? We’ll start with the basic meditation...” “.. and that over there is the marketplace.” Rarity and Fluttershy were walking side by side with Rainbow Spectrum as they pointed out to the various point of interests in their town. Rarity looked to Spectrum’s eyes and saw a nostalgic look in them. “Ponyville... it hasn’t changed much, has it?” Spectrum whispered as they continued walking to their destination. “I beg your pardon, sir?” Spectrum chuckled softly as he shook his head. “Nevermind, just me thinking out loud... and please, call me Spectrum.” Rarity smiled at the stallion turned her head to face what laid before them. “I guess we’re here.” Spectrum looked up and saw a building that resembled a cake in the form of a house. “Why did you bring me here? Is this place not closed now?” Rarity shook her and giggled slightly. “Oh it only closes in about thirty minutes from now. Right, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy jumped as her eyes darted from one corner to the other. “Eeep! Um, yes!” she whispered as she looked away from the company. Spectrum scratched his head slightly. “Is there something I should know?” “Nothing at all, Mr Spectrum.” At that point, Pinkie burst out the door, looking at the trio of ponies with panic. “You’re here now? No, no, I’m not ready! I still have sooo much to get ready before...” “Pinkie,” Rarity said sternly. “This isn’t what we agreed on. Please wait inside until we’re finished.” Pinkie blinked for a moment, then smiled nervously. “Oh, right,” she giggled, turning back to the bakery. “Pinkie...” Rarity added. “You did keep Rainbow Dash’s... relationship with her father a secret, didn’t you?” She nodded. “I Pinkie Promised, didn’t I?” Rarity nodded. “Good, now then, go on back to whatever it is you were working on.” “Okie Dokie Lokie!” she chirped, slipping back into Sugarcube Corner. Spectrum knocked his head to the side at the unusual scene that had just played out before him. “What exactly is going on here?” Fluttershy kicked the dirt at the ground. Oh, um... well, you see...” “We’ve been talking about how it would be best to go about helping you,” Rarity assured. “We decided that it is best if you and your daughter were to just sit down and talk things out.” “Did she agree to this?” he asked hopefully. “I’m not sure,” Rarity admitted. “But she will, eventually. I know her, we can at least talk her into sitting down with you.” “I would really appreciate that,” he said earnestly. “We want it to happen tonight,” the unicorn continued. “Pinkie is in there, preparing a place where the two of you can sit and talk this out.” Spectrum’s eyes widened and his breathing became hoarse. “This is all too sudden.” Rarity furrowed her eyebrows as she bit on her lower lip, seeing Spectrum like this. “I know this seems fast, but I believe you waited long enough for being with your daughter again.” “Yes...” Spectrum smiled slightly and looked to the sunset. “What must I do in the meantime before this ‘party’ starts?” “Hmmmm....” Rarity squinted her eyes as they were scanning Spectrum’s body thoroughly and a grin was slowing forming on her muzzle. “What’s that look for?” Spectrum asked her as he looked away nervously from Rarity’s gaze. Rarity grabbed hold of Spectrum’s hoof, “I think it’s time we go to Aloe and Lotus before they are closed for the day!” She then galloped with Spectrum behind her and Fluttershy did her best to keep up too. Rarity stopped in front of another building that resembled her own carousel. “And we’re here! So glad they are still open!” Rarity marched on in with Spectrum in her hold and she stopped by the counter to see a pink earth pony with blue hair wearing a white headband. “Oh hi Rarity, good to see you again. If you wish to make an appointment, there’s a spot available tom-” “No can do, this is urgent!” Aloe tapped her chin and leaned her head forward. “Rarity, I’m so sorry to say this but we are nearly closed for today to tend to you and-” “It’s not me that needs you and your sister’s help, it’s him.” She pulled Spectrum to the front and Aloe’s eyes widened at the sight of him. “Um...” Spectrum eyes darted from Rarity to Fluttershy and then to Aloe. “Hi.” Aloe facehoofed and sighed as she stepped away from the counter and went to the front where the three ponies were. “How long do we have?” “About half an hour max,” Rarity answered. “Treatment package?” “Platinum, on me.” Aloe nodded and smiled as she went inside another room and came out with another earth pony who resembled her. “We’ll take good care of him.” Rainbow Dash had been staring at her ceiling for the better part of an hour, as if there was some hidden pattern in the clouds that she had not yet seen. Of course, even though she was seeing the ceiling, she wasn’t truly looking at it. She was more focused on her thoughts. Even since that day when she had left her father, it had seemed the best, most obvious choice she could have made with her life. Escape the over controlling nature of an abusive parent, live wild and carefree. If she hadn’t, she’d have never met Fluttershy, who remained her best friend, or Gilda, who gave her so many happy memories that she couldn’t completely resent her, despite their unpleasant falling out. She’d have never moved to Ponyville, and as a result would have never met Twilight, or Spike, or Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie. And she’d have never known about Scootaloo... correction, Scootaloo would have never been made, at least with her DNA. Bloodwing would have chosen another, and then who knows what would have happened... But now, her father was back in her life, and he wasn’t leaving. To add insult to injury, her friends were insisting that she talk to him. Him! They didn’t know, they couldn’t know... were they idiots or something? You’re the dumbest one in the group, a voice whispered in the back of her head. How many times have you dived head first into something and the others had to pull you out of it? I’m pretty sure you remember Mare-Do-Well... She shivered. This was different. They were being sweet talked. Couldn’t they see through something so obvious? Twilight can, the voice spoke again. I seem to remember her being the only one not to gush over a total bitch because she was letting her wear a frilly dress... She threw a pillow over her head and started banging it with her hooves, hoping to drown out the little nagging voice. It only chuckled. Typical Rainbow Dash... ignoring everything that could prove you wrong. That’s why you left Twilight broken and alone... that’s why you handed your daughter off into the hooves of a complete psychopath... “Shut up, shut up,” she grumbled under her breath. “Mom?” Lifting the pillow of her head, she saw Scootaloo’s wary eyes looking at her. She quickly looked at the pillow which was now drenched in her tears and she tossed it to one side and quickly wiped the remaining moisture off from her eyes. “Hey Scoots. What’s up?” she asked her daughter, putting on a fake smile for the little pegasus. Scootaloo arched eyebrow and looked to the discarded pillow and then to her mother. “What happened, Mom?” she asked Rainbow as she walked up closer to her. “Huh? Oh that!” Rainbow looked at the pillow and then rubbed her hoof behind her head, chuckling nervously. “That’s nothing, ok? It’s just me relieving some stress is all.” Scootaloo looked at her mother dubiously and shook her head sighing. She then walked up closer to her mother and hovered to reach her neck. “Scootaloo? What are you-” She was cut short as Scootaloo hugged and nuzzled her. “Its ok, Mom. You can cry... cry as much as you want, I still think you’re the coolest.” Rainbow Dash stood still there and looked at her daughter’s tiny orange head that was still nuzzling her cheek. The shock was soon replaced as her lips quivered and her eyes became wet. She held onto her daughter and cried into her shoulder. The cry soon evolved into sobbing as she was beginning to tremble from the crying. Scootaloo smiled softly and let go of her mother and landed on the floor and saw Rainbow Dash wiping her tears away as a genuine smile was present on her face. “Feel better?” Rainbow laughed and nodded, looking down in her daughter. She reached out for her daughter and folded her wings over her, pulling her in close. “What did I do to have such an amazing filly for a daughter?” she asked her and she nuzzled Scootaloo. Scootaloo smiled softly, nuzzling her mother in return. “Just by being the most awesome mom there is.” Rainbow kissed her daughter’s forehead. “I love you so much, Scootaloo.” “Love you too, Mom.” A knock at the door interrupted their thoughts. There were only two ponies that visited Rainbow Dash with and frequency: Fluttershy and Derpy, and the latter tended only to deliver her mail. So then, by the time Rainbow Dash had reached the door, she knew exactly who was on the other side. “Oh, um... hello, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said nervously. “Let me guess,” the cyan pegasus said with a heavy voice. “You want me to go talk to my dad, right?” “Oh, well, yes... Pinkie is throwing his ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party tonight, and we thought now would be the best time to...” “Wait, wait, wait,” Rainbow Dash said angrily. “Does the whole town know who he is? What happened?” “Oh, well, not exactly... we didn’t tell anypony why you left home, but they know he’s your dad.” Just as Dash was gritting her teeth, Scootaloo asked, “Your dad is here?” Her mother jumped and turned around, apparently just now remembering she was there. “Um... yes,” she said slowly. “Oh, you haven't told her?” Fluttershy asked. “No, I... listen, Scoots,” she said slowly, talking to her daughter. “My dad and me... we kind of had a fight the last time we saw each other. I got mad at him... me and him need to sit down and have a long talk.” “Y...you’re going to forgive him, right?” Rainbow Dash blinked. “Um, well... I really don’t know, kid... we’ll see.” “Please, Mom?” she asked. “I really want to have a grandpa!” Rainbow Dash blinked. Of course, it came down to something that simple. She couldn’t help but smile. “We’ll see, kiddo.” Fluttershy giggled as well. ”The party’s starting in thirty minutes at Sugarcube Corner. We’ll leave Spectrum in the upstairs loft until you two can talk.” “I never said I’d come,” the cyan mare pointed out angrily. The response she got was Scootaloo clinging to her leg. “Please, Mom? Please!” “...Okay. But this is his only chance,” she told Fluttershy firmly. “His only.” “You look marvelous!” Spectrum looked at himself and was amazed by what the two spa ponies had done to him. Where once there were scratch marks, smooth skin and fur were now present. His mane was awfully brighter than it was a few days ago when he first arrived here. His feathers were preened and were softened as he stroked them with his hoof. When he looked into the mirror, he looked twenty years younger at least. Aloe stood at the mirror and beamed as she saw the expression on the stallion’s face. “I hope this is to your liking, sir,” she asked him. Spectrum nodded and smiled at the earth pony. “This is much better I’d say, then what I looked like previously.” Rarity stood up and walked to his side. “Well of course, darling! You must look presentable if you are going to be at a party that we are throwing for you.” Aloe ears perked and her mouth gaped slightly. “That party Pinkie invited me and Lotus to, is for him?!” she asked as she pointed a hoof to Spectrum. Rarity nodded, “Yes, why do you ask Aloe?” Aloe clapped her hooves and let out a ‘squee’ sound as she came towards Spectrum and Rarity. “Then by all means, this is on the house!” Rarity chuckled as she placed a hoof to her mouth, suppressing the grin forming. “I see you are practicing my speciality. Very impressive.” Aloe nodded and turned her head to the door as Lotus came out. “What time is the party you say?” Rarity’s eyes became alert as she looked up to the clock and gasped slightly. “Oh dear! We are going to be late! Spectrum, come along now please!” she told him as she went out of the building, followed closely by Spectrum. Spectrum trotted up to Sugarcube Corner, with his escort at his side. “Alright, Darling, here we are,” Rarity proclaimed, gesturing to the modest little bakery. “This is where the festivities will be held.” “Dashie is here already?” he asked nervously. “No, no, Darling,” she clarified, using her magic to open the front door. “Nopony is here just yet. I’m going to take you upstairs so you can...” In a flash, Pinkie leapt from the bakery and tackled Spectrum to the ground. “What are you doing?” she shrieked. “G-going inside...” “What? You’re the guest of honor! You can’t see the party before it’s ready!” she exclaimed, pulling a blindfold from nowhere and wrapping it around the frightened stallion’s eyes. “Pinkie...” Rarity said patiently, “Don’t you think you’re going a bit overboard? We really don’t need...” “Rarity,” Pinkie said, sounding scandalized, “this is the most important party I’ve thrown since the ‘Happy Birthday, Scootaloo’ party! If anything goes wrong, Rainbow Dash and her daddy might not make up! And that would be extra bad! Everything’s got to be perfect!” “But... how am I supposed to get upstairs blindfolded?” Spectrum asked. “I’ll lead you up!” Pinkie said, grabbing his hoof and pulling him up. “Don’t worry, you won’t bump into anything! Nopony lives upstairs but me and the Cakes!” “...This is starting to sound like something out of Sweeney Trot,” Spectrum said slowly. When Rainbow Dash arrived ten minutes later, she found Rarity at the entrance, checking her hooves for dirt for the fiftieth time and muttering about wanting to be inside. When she saw her friend, her mood brightened considerably. “Ah, good, Rainbow Dash, you’re just in time.” The mare in question landed, letting Scootaloo hop off her back. In a flash the pegasus was at the unicorn’s hooves. “Is he here? Is my grandpa here?” “Oh, yes, dearie,” Rarity answered, a bit stunned. “But I think your mother needs to speak with him in private first...” Rainbow narrowed her eyes to Rarity, but soon let out a sigh and ruffled her daughter’s hair. “Just wait for me outside, this won’t take long ok?” “Ok...” With that, Rainbow and Rarity entered the Sugarcube Corner. But before she could even get a glimpse of what was going on inside, Rainbow’s vision became dark as she felt cloth bind her head and over her eyes. “Hey! What gives!” she demanded as she tried to take off the blindfold, but heard giggling behind her. “Pinkie...” Pinkie Pie pushed Rainbow forward and up the stairs. “You’re welcome! Now let’s just go someplace else for a moment, party’s not ready yet!” Rainbow felt the steps of the stairs as she was being forced upwards. “Pinkie, if I fall thanks to this I am so gonna-!” Pinkie pulled off the blindfold before Rainbow could finish the sentence. “We’re here!” she yelled out to her friend as they were both inside Pinkie Pie’s room. The only other pony who was there was Spectrum, who was still blindfolded. “Pinkie, is that you?” he called out as he tried to take off the blindfold, but found the knot behind was too tight to be pulled off. The pink pony came up behind Spectrum and simply pulled it off to reveal Rainbow Dash standing before him. He gasped slightly and almost immediately closed his mouth in the presence of his long-lost daughter. Rainbow Dash was not doing any better. Where once she saw a sickly rainbow-maned stallion in Fluttershy’s house for the first time in over a decade, now she saw him look as healthy and clean as he did since her youth. Thinner for sure, but Fluttershy had apparently fed him enough that he didn’t look quite as scrawny as he had a few days ago. Rainbow scrunched her lips as her eyes darted from one place to another and she was starting to sweat profoundly. “Um... hi?” It was more a question than a statement. There was silence for a few seconds before Rainbow Dash responded. “Hi.” There was another long silence. “...I’mgonnagogetsomecakeseeyabye!” Pinkie said quickly and darted away from the awkward conversation, much to the envy of the Rainbow family. There was another awkward silence. “Dashie...” Spectrum started, then stopped. He took a deep breath, then continued. “What I said to you... it was stupid.” “No, really?” Dash said bluntly. Spectrum winced at her statement, but pushed on. “I was just... I was afraid of losing you, like I lost your mother. I... when I found out that you left, I had decided to let you be a Wonderbolt...” “How do I know you’re not lying?” The stallion glanced around the room before sighing. “I guess you don’t,” he admitted. “Please, I came all this way. These last few years nearly killed me...” Dash looked her father over again. “You look like you’ve recovered...” “Your friend Rarity insisted,” he explained. Rainbow Dash found that easy to believe at least. “I didn’t even know where you were until I saw your picture in the paper... the Element of Loyalty... I couldn’t believe it.” “It took you two years to get here? We didn’t live that far up north.” “I can’t fly anymore,” he said sadly. “I didn’t have the strength after you left. Fluttershy has been trying to help me back up...” He was silent for a moment. “Please... I would have been here next day if I could.” Rainbow Dash studied her father’s face for a moment. He looked sincere... maybe he was. But she wasn’t about to let her guard down. “Do you know about Scoots?” she asked. He nodded. “Fluttershy told me.” Then Fluttershy should be grateful we’ve been friends so long, she thought. “I’m not leaving you alone with her.” Spectrum looked crestfallen. “Are... are you saying no?” “...I didn’t say that,” she said finally. “Did Fluttershy tell you about... Scootaloo’s birth? About...” He nodded. “She told me everything. It sounds like a nightmare.” “It was. When I gave Scootaloo to those agents, it nearly killed me. She screamed that she hated me. That hurt worse than any crash I’ve ever had.” She was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know if you’re telling the truth... but if you are, I don’t want to put you through that.” She relaxed a little, but only a little. Rainbow Dash then found herself being held by Spectrum in a firm hug. She stared at him with shock in her eyes, raising a hoof to push him away. Instead, the hoof encircled him and she returned the hug. She started to blink as her eyes became slightly moist, but no tears were present. She took a glance at his wings and gasped slightly at the sight. Even with all the care the spa ponies could give him, his feathers looked as though they were roughly pulled out and replaced with old decaying ones. Maybe he really is telling the truth... maybe he really did go through Tartarus when I left... maybe... maybe I’ve hurt him even more than he did me on that day... The door of the room opened and Pinkie came trotting inside. “You two done now alrea-” she stopped midway as she saw father and daughter in a hug. Her lips started trembling and out of nowhere she pulled out a handkerchief and started blowing on it as she cried. “So beautiful!” she yelled out and wailed as she sobbed. She stopped abruptly as a smile replaced the tears. “Come downstairs you two! We’re ready!” she said as she walked out, leaving the two pegasus alone with confusion on their faces. Dash let go of Spectrum and gulped as she scrunched her lips and blinked furiously. “I think that’s the cue.” “Is she always like this?” Rainbow Dash nodded as she chuckled. “You have no idea!” “Mom?” a voice said from out in the hallway. Spectrum brightened up. “Is that Scootaloo?” he asked excitedly. Rainbow Dash sighed. “Yes it is... even though I specifically told her to wait outside. Well, you might as well meet her now. Scoots?” she called to the hallway. “Come in here. Your grandpa wants to meet you!” Scootaloo bounded into the room. “Where?” she asked excitedly. “Where? Is he...” She stopped, and suddenly looked scared. “What? Did I do something wrong?” Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow, then looked at her father. Suddenly, she understood her daughter’s confusion. Spectrum’s pupils had shrunk to the size of pencil points. His mouth nearly hit the floor. He actually sat down, unable to stay upright. “What’s wrong?” Rainbow Dash asked. Spectrum blinked a few times to make sure he was seeing her correctly. “She looks just like her... Dashie... she looks like your mother.”