//------------------------------// // It All Started When... // Story: Alone Time // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// We were all sitting around the table in the park, the smell of charcoal and various foods wafting through the air. I leaned back, pushing the brim of AJ’s hat back with my thumb. I had gotten a little more country since the two of us had gotten married, and I still loved stealing her stetson from time to time. It looked awesome on me anyway. Sunset was giving her daughter Aurora a romp across the playground on her shoulders, the young girl giggling as she ducked under the branches of the oak tree to settle her down on the bench next to her sister, Midnight Sky. I couldn’t help but smile at the kids. I went back to helping my children fix plates for themselves, the twins coming up on their sixth birthday, trailing behind Middy and Rory by three and two years respectively. “Hey, Mom?” I heard Rhapsody ask, looking at Aria as she raked the coals of the grill to break up ash. “How did you all meet?” “What do you mean, sweetheart?” the Siren asked, glancing at her sisters for support. “You and all your friends,” she said. “I want to know how you all met.” “Told you she was a sharp cookie,” Twilight said, taking a bite from the salad in front of her. “That’s quite a lot to wonder at four.” “I’m four and a half,” Rhapsody insisted earnestly, pushing her dark rose-pink hair out of her face. Thankfully, she had inherited Aria’s straight hair over Pinkie’s curly locks. My own kids, Bushel and Windvane, had somehow gained wavy hair from somewhere. “I think it would be more fun to hear how they got married,” Melody piped up, sounding as much like a second Rarity as she looked like a fusion of the fashionista and Fluttershy. The five-year-old instantly had all the girls’ attention, though Bushel turned away from the sappy stuff, the boy already reminding me of myself at that age. “That sounds like a fun story,” Sunset said as she sat down, reaching over and ruffling Rory’s hair to the child’s dismay. Middy giggled, her own hair tied back simply, reminding me of how my wife had worn hers for years before growing it out and braiding it all the time. Aurora seemed to already be taking more after Aunt Rarity than either of her parents. Twilight shot her wife a narrowed glance. No words were exchanged, but we all knew that they were having a short conversation. “Ah thought we agreed y’all wouldn’t do that at gatherin’s,” Applejack said as she slid onto the bench next to us. The telepathic bond our friends shared unnerved the farmer, but I thought it was awesome. We didn’t quite have that level of bond, but we understood each other enough that a glance could tell volumes. “Sorry,” Twilight said, blushing around her glasses. She adjusted her suit coat a bit before leaning back in. “But I agree. It would be nice to hear how we all managed to pop the question to each other. You all know more or less how it went with Sunny and I, so we’ll forgo putting in unless you really want to hear it again.” “I’d rather hear about how Mom went hang gliding for the first time,” Bushel said, crossing his small arms. I reached out and smoothed his unruly hair. “Another time, squirt,” I said. “Though that is a favorite of mine.” I finished with a wink. “Your Aunt Scoot’s too.” “Speaking of, are they going to be joining us?” Rarity asked. “I haven’t heard from Sweetie Belle yet.” “Apple Bloom said they were hittin’ the books,” AJ said, slicing off a hunk of homemade bread from the assembled food. “Big exam for the three of them tomorrow morning in biology, Twilight level big.” She grinned sheepishly. “Her words, not mine.” The professor waved the comment away. “Well, who should go first?” Sonata asked, the sole unmarried member of the group at the moment, though a ring did glitter on her finger. “I think it would be amusing to hear about Rainbow’s,” Adagio said, Sandalwoods arm over her shoulder as she placed a hand on her pregnant belly. “Should be interesting how she managed it.” “How about we go ‘round the table?” Sunset said, pulling out her phone and setting it on the table. “I’ll record and type it all up later as keepsakes.” “Don’t you have a novel to finish?” Fluttershy asked cautiously. “It’s at the editors,” the fiery-haired woman said. “I may not see it again for a few more days.” “OOH!” Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing a bit before Aria reached over and pulled her back down. “I wanna hear about Shy’s first!” “I think that would be a bit quiet and short,” I said, my wife on one side and my son cuddled in on the other. “Well, only one way to solve this,” Sandalwood said, picking up one of the empty cider bottles from the recycling bin and setting it on the table. “Random chance.” He spun the bottle, and I followed its spin, watching as it slowly came to point directly at me. “Well, alright!” I exclaimed. “I tell the story better anyway.” AJ stuck her tongue out at me, Windvane climbing up into her lap, her long yellow tresses braided like her mother’s. “Well, then,” Sunset said, tapping a button on her phone’s screen. “By all means, please do share the story, Dashie.” “Yeah, Auntie Dash!” Middy exclaimed, echoed by Rhapsody. “Well, sugar,” AJ said, leaning back to raise an arched eyebrow at me. “It’s yer rodeo now.” I blushed. I heard the subtle meaning in her words, Only the god’s honest truth, now, y’hear? “Ok,” I said. “Get comfortable, because I think this may take your breath away kids.” I saw the girls of the group lean forward in excitement, their parents smiling but showing an equal interest. “It was, gosh,” I started, glancing over at my wife, seeking confirmation. “Seven years ago now?” After the nod, I continued. “Anyway, I was home for the summer from the league, and…”