//------------------------------// // Coffee Shop:(Night Art) // Story: Hearts and Hooves Day! // by Phoenix Heart 27 //------------------------------// Coffee Shop: On quiet mornings in winter, some ponies will normally try to get more sleep or simply try to get to work on time. This morning was no exception in the Dream household. It all started well, Midnight had gotten up before her dad and had already fixed herself up for school before going to wake her dad up and get him ready for work at the university. “Papa? Papa?....PAPA?!?!?!”, Midnight whispered before shouting to the sleeping stallion, effectively waking him up in the process. “*pant* Midnight! Why do you always insist on waking me up like that?”, Spectrum asked while trying to catch his breath. “Because you won’t get up any other way if I don’t. Now c’mon!! It’s time to go!”, Midnight exclaimed as she helped her papa out of bed and into the upstairs wheelchair as the doorbell rang. "Oooh! That must be Ms. Red Cross. I’ll go let her in while you try to find something to wear. Okay?”, Midnight said as she zipped downstairs to open the door for their housekeeper/homenurse. Spectrum laughed as he rolled over to his wardrobe and pulled out a pair of snow pants and a long sleeve mint shirt. Ms. Red Cross came in as he was setting the clothes on his bed. “Goodmorning Spectrum.”, she said as she gave him a hug. “Morning Catrina, hope your evening was good?”, he replied as they separated. “Was good my son tells me to tell you he said ‘hello’, now...let’s get your day started while Midnight watches tv.”, Catrina said as she rolled him into the bathroom and started his shower, replacing the shower chair into the tub, and helping him onto his toilet before leaving to go get her cleaning supplies and to check on Midnight. 10 minutes later… Spectrum is now showered, shaven and dressed (with little help from Catrina and Midnight) as he climbs off the stairlift and into his main chair. With that he hoofs Catrina a list of groceries and chores to get and do while they were gone and he and Midnight were off to school and work. The streets of Trottingham were slowly filling with ponies trying to get to where they needed to be. On his way to drop Midnight off at the local elementary school, father and daughter stop by their favorite coffee shop to grab a quick breakfast. When they go in, they’re greeted to a familiar sight of a quarter-full coffeehouse. The scent of the coffee machines brewing the morning’s selection and the sweet scent of the freshly made pastries being put on display was inviting. Spectrum sighed as they found their favorite table and settled down to look at the menu cards in front of them. As they were approached by their favorite waitress, a loud collision resounded in the cafe. Curiosity enveloped Midnight as she wanted to investigate. Seeing her papa distracted with ordering their breakfast, Midnight stealthily snuck away from the table and towards the sound stage near the back of the building. Once she reached it, she was surprised to see a mare on the ground with a keyboard and a microphone strewn aside her. “Oh my! Miss, do you need some help?”, Midnight asked as she approached the older mare. The mare in question was currently tangled in a web of cords and wires but she managed to nod in affirmation. That was all Midnight needed to start to help the mare levitate and untangle the electric web. “*pant* Thanks a bunch kid! I just don’t know how this happened, I was trying to carry all my equipment to the stage and next thing I know...BOOM! a puddle comes out of nowhere and I’m on the ground.”, the mare thanked her. “No problem! If you’d like, I can help you bring your stuff to the stage.”, Midnight offered. “Ya know what? That’d be awful sweet.”, The mare responded as they proceeded to carry the equipment to the stage and set up. 15 minutes later… After getting everything set up and working, the mare and filly decided to stretch their legs and walk around the cafe a bit. Right as they were headed towards a booth, Midnight heard a sound that usually meant that she was in trouble. “Midnight Demetria Dream, what have I told you about going off on your own without letting me know?!?”, Spectrum calmly seethed as his wheelchair came into view. A highly upset look on his face. “*gulp* Sorry papa...I just…I didn’t mean to...”, Midnight started but couldn’t finish due to crying. Not liking seeing her new little companion sad, the mare tried to approach the situation calmly and explain. “Sir, If I may, your little filly did me a great service a while ago. See I was backstage trying to get my equipment up to center stage when I mislooked and slipped on a puddle. I fell and that’s what caused the crash. I should be lucky that she happened to be so curious, otherwise I’d still be stuck in a web of cords and wires.”, the mare explained. She noticed the concerned father’s face turn from upset to relieved in a matter of seconds. Spectrum, now knowing of what happened, felt bad that he “yelled” at his little one. He lit up his horn and picked up Midnight and set her on his lap. “I’m sorry chaton. Had I not jumped to conclusions, I wouldn’t have yelled. Can you forgive me?”, Spectrum apologized to his daughter. “Hmmm...I suppose...qui, I forgive you papa.”, Midnight responded as she hugged her dad. The mare stood there, feeling slightly awkward as the pair had a moment. Though, Spectrum being the ever observant one that he is, took notice as he rolled his chair closer, slowly to approach the mare. “I’d like to formally apologize again if my daughter was meddling again miss...Oh, silly me. I don’t believe I caught your name, nor did I introduce myself. My name is Spectrum Dream.”, Spectrum said politely. “Of course! I know who you are sir. You’re the artist’ behind that painting ‘Starry Night’ yes? Also, my apologies, I am Harmonia Half-Note. Composer/singer/pianist...I can pretty much do anything but make a strong first impression without making a mule of myself...which is...what I’m doing now...I’ll just shut it.”, Harmonia introduced herself before fumbling over her words. “No, no. It’s quite alright. It was actually kinda cute--In a friendly, you know, acquaintance type way...ummm I mean--”, Spectrum started to spiral. “--What he’s trying to say is that it’s nice to meet you and that he thinks you’re rather bright and pretty!”, Midnight cut her father off and effectively saving him. “MIDNIGHT!”, Spectrum squealed in a high-pitched, un-stallion like, voice. Harmonia took that as adorable and giggled lightly. Spectrum couldn’t have sworn on his late-wife’s grave that her giggle was one of the most beautiful sounds he’d ever heard. “How about this: If I give you my number, would the two of you promise to stop by here sometime in the evenings to catch my sets? Because I have a feeling, I’m gonna be seeing more of the two of you more often around here.”, Harmonia said as Midnight hoofed her, her dad’s phone and she put her number in. “I guess we’ll be seeing you around then too.”, Spectrum said as Midnight started rolling him back towards their table. Weeks Later… The Coffee Shop was semi-filled with ponies of all ages. Some were there for the caffeine rush for a late-night shift. Others were there for a nice warm pastry. Though most were there to watch the live performances. This night, a house regular, Harmonia Half-Note was performing a small set with her keyboard. Normally, a semi-packed house would get Harmonia nervous but tonight was different. Not only was she performing a new song but her “Sorta-kinda-coltfriend” and his daughter were gonna be in the audience. “C’mon Papa! We’re gonna miss her!”, Midnight yelled over the crowd as her papa lagged behind her with their snacks and hot chocolates. “No we aren’t chaton, she’s not even on stage yet.”, Spectrum responded as they found their new favorite seats in the front booths by the stage. The announcer spoke and said the show was starting so Spectrum and Midnight sat patiently while the spotlight shone on a casually dressed Harmonia as she started to sing a rather haunting melody, whilst playing her keyboard. After the song ended she followed up with a small medley of songs in similar fashions. All the while Spectrum was almost hypnotized by her beauty and her voice. Eventually the show did come to a close and when Harmonia went backstage to freshen up and pack up her keyboard, she wasn’t all that surprised to see Midnight bouncing about excitedly or Spectrum trying to resist pulling his mane out due to said filly’s antics. “I take it you liked the show a lot?”, Harmonia asked a now tired Midnight. “Mmmmhmmm….”, Midnight sounded sleepily as she lay on her papa’s lap. “We both did. You were astounding out there!”, Spectrum stated before giving her a quick peck on the cheek. “Yeah...well it helped that I had the...right kind of company there to support me.”, Harmonia said in an almost sultry tone as she hugged him from the back of his chair. “You know what? I been meaning to ask you something for a couple of weeks now.”, Spectrum said. “Oh really now?”, Harmonia replied. “Yeah...where do we stand? Like are we a couple? Is what we’re doing just a casual hook-up? Or what?”, Spectrum stated bluntly. To which the only reply at first was a giggle. “I thought we already established this? You should know that this isn’t some casual fling or some stuff like that. I do care about you Specs. I care about Midnight too.”, Harmonia stated. “Then why not make it official?”, He said. “What? Like officially claim each other as...coltfriend and fillyfriend?”, She asked. “Yes. You know I’m crazy about you and I know you feel the same way. So...why not?”, Spectrum said enthusiastically. Harmonia couldn’t believe it! Yet the only appropriate response she could think of was to wrap her fore hooves around him gently and kiss him right on the muzzle.