"Come in," Twilight's whisper sounded muffled in the closet.
She had discussed with George her concern that the imaginary friend charade would be hard to maintain, now that Sophie had turned six. Also, his daughter Clarice was visiting far more often as George's condition progressed.
She was relieved when the closet door opened to reveal Sophie's smiling face. The girl rushed in and hugged her fiercely.
Twilight beamed at the child. "My, how you've grown in the four months since your last visit!"
Sophie took a step back, her face registering surprise. "You're bigger too!" she remarked.
"Uh huh!” Twilight nodded. “I guess we'll both be grown fillies soon!"
To her surprise, Sophie looked down at her feet. She took a deep breath and then looking up blurted in a rush: "Twilight, I'm big enough now to know you're not an imaginary friend. You're real. Why are you here with my grandpa? And are you really Twilight Sparkle, 'cause she's just a cartoon!"
Twilight's eyes widened progressively as the girl spoke. She stood frozen with her ears back for what felt like several heartbeats. Their gazes locked, Twilight read no accusation in the girl's eyes, only deep concern. She cracked a crooked grin and her ears slowly rose back to the top of her head.
"I told your grandfather you were too smart to keep this pretense going much longer." She stroked a hoof along the child's cheek. "You've just got too much of both your grandparents in you!"
Twilight sat on her haunches and patted the floor. The girl sat down cross-legged on the rug facing her.
"I don't really know much of why I'm here," the pony began, "or even how I got here. I just woke up here one day with most of my memory gone. I know that's a pretty meager explanation, but it's the only one I have. The one thing I do know is that I am Twilight Sparkle, a real pony, and not a figment of someone's imagination, not a plush doll, and certainly not a cartoon character!"
The girl nodded as if fully satisfied with the explanation. "So why are you hiding from my mom?"
Twilight cringed. "I really don't like hiding from her. But I think you're old enough to know that there's no place on earth for real talking ponies. I think your mom might be pretty scared to find an alien creature living with her daddy, so we decided to keep me a secret from the adults, just like ET in the movie!"
Sophie's brow furrowed. "But I think she would like you. You've been taking care of Grandpa for two whole years!"
Twilight nodded, her gaze turning inwards. "Well, it's only fair. Your grandpa's been taking care of me and helping me figure how to go back home. He's been a true friend, but it's true that he needs more and more help these days."
There was another knock on the door. It cracked open to reveal George scowling down at them.
"Gossiping about me, I see."
He pushed his way into the closet. Twilight sighed and shoved herself backward to make room for him. She ended up with her head peeking out from between several of George's old suits.
Grinning wickedly at her, he sat carefully on the floor and looked around. "Grandma Louise and I bought this place because it had a big walk-in closet. It's a bit crowded for three, though."
George leaned closer to Sophie. "I heard you admitted to Twilight that you know she’s real," he whispered. His teeth flashed in the semi-light. "You were too easy on her. From personal experience, it's more fun to make her prove it!" He straightened his back and resumed in a low voice. "Did you get to the juicy part yet, my secret desire for accordion soloist fame?"
Twilight's left ear dipped and she rolled her eyes. "Sophie and I were having a serious discussion, George."
Sophie reached over to place a little hand on his knee. "We were talking about you, Grandpa," she added in a serious voice. "Did you know that Mommy's really worried? She says that soon you won't be able to take care of yourself anymore. And that you need a nurse, or to move to a home. Is that true?"
George sighed. "I won't lie to you, honeybun. Grandpa's sick and I won't be getting better." His grin reappeared. "But that just means we all have to have fun together while we still can, right? I can’t leave this apartment. That would lead to complications for a friend." George glanced meaningfully at Twilight's face draped on either side by his clothes.
"And as to a nurse, I am not going to have what's left of my life ruined by a drill sergeant in scrubs!" he declared heatedly. "And I've already told your mother that that's my final word on it!"
There was a knock on the closet door. "Dad? Sophie? I heard you in there! May I come in?"
George's left hand reached out and pushed Twilight further into his clothes. He scooched over to block the pony's legs from view.
"Come in, Clarice," he called.
His daughter entered, looking apologetic, with her tablet clutched in her right hand, its glow casting moving shadows of the objects in the closet. She sat down in the place George had just vacated.
"Dad, I know you don’t want to change things but–"
George shook his head. "– This isn't negotiable, sweetie," He interrupted. He grabbed her hand gently to take some of the sting from his words. “I like things the way they are.”
Clarice's expression turned grim. "I heard you say so to Sophie." She brought up her hand holding the tablet. "So I did some searching on an article I read a few months ago. How about another alternative, one that lets you stay here at home?"
George furrowed his brow. "With no drill sergeants?"
Clarice laughed. "Not a living one who’ll argue with you, anyway." She showed him the tablet's screen. It displayed what looked like a very large mechanical dog. "It's a helper-bot made for seniors with mobility and health issues. It can dispense medicine, monitor your vital signs, fetch stuff for you, help you move around the house, do the cleaning, and it can even call the medical services in case of an emergency." She flipped the page. "And it can come in several different styles, in case you prefer a tiger or a pony to a dog!"
There was a muffled thud behind George. He coughed and shifted a leg forward, rubbing it as if it had gone to sleep. "Is this thing going to cost me an arm and leg?" he asked.
Clarice smiled. "It's not cheap, but most of the price is covered under the palliative home care program. So don't worry about it."
George's smile glowed blue-white in the light of the tablet's screen as he peered closely at the image on its surface. "I’m willing to consider it," he said, taking the tablet from his daughter’s hands. "How about Sophie and I look over the models and then we can plan this out together?"
Clarice heaved a sigh of relief. "Sure, dad. Take your time." She glanced around the closet. "So this is where Twilight Sparkle has been living all these years."
Sophie's eyes glowed big.
Clarice laughed again. "Tell her she can use our room when I'm gone." She chuckled, rose, and left the closet. "Even if she is imaginary," she added with a wink as she exited the bedroom. The door latch clicked behind her.
The child and the grandparent looked at each other. George mimed wiping his brow.
"Is she gone?" whispered Twilight from behind him.
"Uh-huh," replied George.
"Okay," said Twilight. "Can you please get off of my tail, NOW!?"
"Oh, sorry, Twilight!" George scooched over and winked at Sophie. "Should we let her see the robots?" he asked innocently.
Twilight glared at George, but her expression morphed into an eager grin as her eyes lit on the tablet. She shoved forward to fully emerge from George's suits. "Are you all thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye.