I made an effort to spend as much time with my daughter as I could, even if it just was supervising Crusader activities. Sometimes I would wait at the entrance to a cave in case the Cutie Mark Crusader spelunkers needed assistance out of a crevasse. Sometimes I would help make papier-mâché for the CMC sculptors mission. But too often I was kept busy with work. I hated having to leave her alone weekday afternoons. At least she had her friends to keep her occupied if not always out of trouble. All too often this would require me to convince a grouchy Scootaloo to complete her homework assignments right before bedtime as adventuring had put completion on hold until I got home and dinner was finished.
Just as Miss Rarity predicted she did come around eventually. The Gabby Gums scandal certainly helped. The Crusaders decided to put a hold on official activities for a few days and both Scootaloo and I decided it would be best to lie low for a while until everypony had forgiven her actions (and my lack of parental supervision). We quickly developed cabin fever. All the good books and games exhausted we developed our own, like couch hoof wrestling. We put our back hooves together and whoever pushed their opponent to the armrest wins. She was surprisingly good at this game. I wasn’t sure if it was better leverage or all the exercise. We took turns playing storyteller with “The Adventure of the Crystalline Gryphon”, an extremely improbable crossover featuring Daring Do and Fetlock Holms. Part of me wished I had the foresight to write our tales down but that might have made them less spontaneous and fun.
When the confines of the apartment became too much we would take long summer night walks, talking over this and that. She remained canny on certain topics. In fact after the Summer Harvest Parade I discovered I had made a serious misstep in my advice on bullying.
“Sweetheart, when I said that just telling a teacher was not always the best solution I didn’t mean you shouldn’t ever tell an adult. Much less me, you can tell me anything! I’ll always be here to listen. I’m sorry this got so out of hoof.”
She shrugged. “Who knew Sweetie Belle had the right answer the whole time. At least I know how some bullies get started in the first place. For Babs and for myself, I almost became the club rather than the shield.”
“Do you want me to have a word with Mr. and Mrs. Rich or Spoon?”
“Oh no dad only as a last resort. Please, this is my thing.”
I began to fret a bit as summer came to a close. This would be her last year of compulsory education. At the end of the year graduates are expected to have chosen their special talents and then to move on to either higher education or formal training with a specialist. Scootaloo was still without her cutie mark and she still could not truly fly. I often worried how she would take it if she remained so at her graduation.
Then one fine afternoon I hurried home to be with my daughter only to find a gargantuan glass barrier covering the entire town. At first I was curious and tried to find my way around it. Then I assumed Discord or some such miscreant was involved and began bucking and slamming my shoulder into the barrier. I was sweating and starting to get desperate when the black caped unicorn floated up.
I had never seen a telekinesis spell so powerful as to lift the caster. She looked familiar but in my growing panic I didn’t recall her face. The silvery hair seemed distinctive though. “Why are you making that racket?” She gave me a haughty look.
“I’m trying to get to my daughter, can you let me through?” I tapped on the glass.
“No.”
“No you can’t or no you won’t?”
“Trixie will not let you through. You did not say the magic word.”
“The magic… Please! Would you please let me see my daughter? Wait a second… Where’s your star-spangled cape and hat?”
“Oh, you remember Trixie?” She vainly primped her mane.
“Yeah, you’re the one who brought that Ursa Min-“
Red light seemed to flare out of her eyes. “I did no such thing! Twilight Sparkle tricked me, humiliated me!” She took a few beats to regain composure. “But now TRIXIE holds her precious Ponyville in her hooves and Twilight Sparkle is the one in exile! So no, you cannot enter nor your spawn leave.”
“Hey, you listen up. I have connections in the Canterlot government. I’ll get the guard here to smash your silly fishbowl.”
There is a facial expression that is partially mocking and an equal part outhouse rat crazy. Trixie demonstrated it for me that afternoon. “Oh, you’ll go and get the guard? You’ll tell your precious sky queen that the mean showmare stole your filly? Go ahead. Send them to me and see what happens. You know what? I’ll save you the trip! Bye-bye.”
Her pulsing red magic aura flared bright, reached right through the barrier and enveloped me. It felt like tingling, tickling, hot, chilled, and shocking at the same time. With a final zap I thudded to the floor. This meant I was no longer twenty feet in the air above the outskirts of Ponyville. I was, in fact, on the carpeted floor of the royal throne room and a dozen guards were advancing on me with spears drawn.
“Guard, hold… Would you mind explaining yourself?”
I looked up expecting to see the shining white coat of my princess but instead finding the midnight indigo of her sister, her shimmering night sky mane billowing slowly about her head, the height of the throne adding to her already imposing stature.
“P-princess Luna?”
“Our sister is engaged in a diplomatic tour of Saddle Arabia, we oversee Canterlot in her stead. Now for you; why are you in the habit of appearing unexpected in our throne room?”
I heard a gasp from a pony I had yet to notice at Luna’s side. “Martin Swallowtail?”
“You know this pegasus, Scrivener?”
“He works in the scriptorium for your majesty’s library.”
She settled back in her throne. “Speak, please.”
I gave account of what had happened and a foreshortened version of Trixie’s first visit to Ponyville.
“I see… I believe I know what Celestia would advise in this situation.” She glanced over at Quill who nodded back. “This Trixie wants Twilight Sparkle, and it is Twilight Sparkle who shall solve this impasse.”
I balked. “Your majesty will not send the guard and shatter the barrier with your magic?”
“All of Ponyville are her prisoners at the moment. Confronting her with overwhelming force would turn them into her hostages and then her victims. I shall not have that.” She turned again to Quill. “Have you heard from the dragon?”
“No, my princess.”
“Very well. Scrivener, you are to find Mister Swallowtail accommodations. I release you from duty for the night. Mister Swallowtail, I have certain subtle ways of checking on your daughter. I shall make sure your Scootaloo is safe.”
I bowed. “Thank you, your majesty.” I knew enough not to talk back but inwardly I was confused. Why wasn’t she doing more or anything at all? I brought this up to Quill in a conspiratorial whisper as we left the castle.
“I’ve learned not to second guess alicorns, Swallowtail. They are masters of subtlety. Luna may not be as maternal as Celestia but believe me she has your daughters’ best interests at heart even if her decisions may infuriate you at the time.” We made our way through the streets of Canterlot as just as the gas lamps were lit and hoof traffic was winding down. “I can put you up in my guest bedroom. My daughter is staying with us now but I’m sure she will make room. It’s my husbands’ night to make dinner. I’m sure you’ll be pleased.”
She lead me to a three-story cottage, rather modest for a mare of her position but cozy. The interior was liberally equipped with bookshelves and potted plants. She led me to the kitchen where doubtlessly her husband and to my surprise both her daughters stopped their conversation to look at me, all of them unicorns. “Everypony, this is Martin. He shall be joining us this evening. Martin, this is my husband Palatino and my daughters Helvetica and Serif.”
“Ah, welcome to our home.” The grey-coated stallion smiled broadly and brushed his hoof across his apron before offering it to shake. Their youngest daughter gave me a coy smile. She had a curly sandy blond mane like her mother.
“What brings you to our home, Martin?” Helvetica’s dusky voice and the shape of her violet eyes haunts many private idle moments and here I was about to spend the whole evening not just with her but her whole immediate family. If I wasn’t numb with worry I could actually enjoy this.
“Ponyville is once more under threat and I can’t get home to my daughter.” Martin, try not to sound so weary.
“Your little orange filly? I hope she’s okay!” Helvetica blinked when she realized her family was staring at her incredulously. “What? I worked at the scriptorium when I was working on my doctorate… Her drawings are all over his desk… Investigative journalist, remember? Picking up on details is my special talent.” She indicated her typewriter cutie mark but I was much too embarrassed to look anywhere near her flank at the moment.
Her father cleared his throat, probably to stave off Serif’s imminent snickering. “I hope you like caprese salad, Martin. First course shall be ready shortly, why don’t you make yourself comfortable in the dining room.”
“Thank you. I’m very grateful for the hospitality, Mr. Scrivener.”
Quill chimed in. “First names only, Martin. Formality is for the workplace but I’ve learned it’s best to be off the clock when one is at home.” Quill accompanied me while the other two peppered Helvetica with hushed questions in the kitchen. “You must be very worried.”
“What kind of father would I be if I wasn’t? Do you really think Miss Sparkle will come through?”
“Well, she did liberate a lost empire a few days ago by defeating an evil king powerful beyond our wild imaginings. Fancy a showmare will stump her?”
I looked down at the water glass she poured me. “I suppose. It’s just that with Nighmare Moon, Discord, the Ursa Minor, even Cerberus I was able to go and see to her protection. I’m not used to being shut out like this.”
She placed a hoof on my shoulder. “It must be very hard for you. I won’t tell you to forget her but I can say I have learned to trust the princesses. Does your daughter have friends to stay with?”
“If she is not at her mother’s place she is with friends, relatives of two Elements of Harmony in fact.”
“There you are, she’s in good hooves.”
The two daughters took seats across from me and Palatino set out plates full of food. “Here you are,” he said. “a nice creamy stout to calm your nerves.” I longed for a cigarette to accompany it but I promised Scootaloo I would quit several weeks ago. The beer was quite nice though, much finer that I was used to.
As I enjoyed my meal the Scriveners gave me more extended introductions. Serif has a calligraphy business and had negotiated a big wedding invitation order that afternoon but she still needs to work retail to make ends meet. She made sure to mention she has her own little apartment thank you very much. Conversation came easily for this bubbly youngster.
Palatino was a printmaker book binder. I didn't know any still existed. Apparently enough nobles will play for high end hoof-stitched books for a few specialists to make a living and apprentice the next generation of eccentrics. He put on some ragtime music for me. Not jazz, no no. Ragtime. I found myself enamored by his quirks.
Helvetica had indeed been hired by the Daily as a stringer reporter though she had to scramble to find the good stories in a competitive newsroom. She was planning a long excursion to the Crystal Empire. King Sombra's defeat was slightly old news but she thought readers across Equestria would enjoy lifestyle and cultural stories about these antiquated ponies. She was hoping some well received headlines would ingratiate her with the editors so she could pitch other weightier ideas. I tried not to give her long yearning gazes as she spoke and provided some tips on cold weather travel.
Quill much to my surprise was a war veteran despite her slight stature. I always saw her as an efficient manager and ever-present personal secretary to the princess, it figures all that discipline originated in the armed services. She talked of her and her husbands' vacation to Trottingham this summer, the sites they visited and foods they sampled.
Helvetica brushed her long inky black bangs from her eyes. "Martin, if it wouldn't be too emotional for you could you tell us about your daughter?"
"Spirited. Stubborn and determined. Preeminent tomboy. Always trying out new stunts on her scooter and coming home with skinned elbows and knees. She's sensitive but won't admit it to herself. Her hero is gunning for a spot on the Wonderbolts but I visualize her taking the racing scene by storm in a few years. I don't think she knows where she's heading but she's in a hurry to get there. Great little companion that one. Don't know what I'd do with myself without her."
We all contemplated this for a bit until the silence was ended by the family patriarch. "Serif, would you clear the table please. Helvetica darling, would you mind collecting your things from the guest bedroom?"
"Oh, please the couch would be fine."
"Nonsense, Martin." Quill adjusted her glasses with her magic. "No sense in you not being comfortable."
Helvetica gave me a covert wink and went upstairs. Ok perhaps this really wasn't wishful thinking on my part.
"I can't thank you enough. I haven't had a meal this fine with accompanying adult conversation in a long time." The elder couple seemed quizzical so I elaborated. "When you live with a filly you eat what she will tolerate so its mostly fried corn nuggets, hay fries, and steamed peas most nights."
"Along with the written word fine food and dink are our few indulgences." Quill was interrupted by a flash of cold blue fire appearing above the table. A parchment scroll materialized out of it which plopped down in front of her. She floated it over to me. "I imagine this is for you."
I opened it expectantly.
Mister Swallowtail,
Thine daughters' slumber is peaceful. As yet no word from sisters' faithful student but shall update come sunrise.
Respectfully,
Princess Luna
"Best I can expect I suppose."
Palatino's baritone voice cut through my worry. "Why don't you get some rest. I expect you'll want to be off early tomorrow."
"Thanks again."
"Nice meeting you, Martin!" I could hear the smile in Serif's voice. I hope she won't tease her sister too harshly.
I wished everypony goodnight and trudged upstairs. I found the guest room nestled amongst the eves easily enough. The eldest daughter was latching up her suitcase so I busied myself looking over family portraits.
"I hope you get good news come morning, Martin. Don't worry about waking me if you come down for coffee."
"Thank you. I must admit I'm rather shaken."
"Understandable... The bathroom is down the hall." She turned to leave, then leaned close to whisper in my ear. "Let's have our next meeting under less stressful circumstances. Sweet dreams." And with that sauntered out the door. Sometime later I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and plopped my rump on the floor, my head too dizzy for coherent thought. Sweet Celestia it had been a long time since I entertained romantic feelings. I shook the singing canaries out of my head and soon was sliding into bed which lead to the most aggravating thing. The pillows smelled of her shampoo, lavender and maybe a little chrysanthemum. I tried not to imagine her close company as I drifted off.