"Happy birthday, happy birthday!
"May the skies be blue
"May the sunshine follow you
"The whole year through!"
Red giggled as the song came to an end and he blew out the three candles on his cake—after, of course, touching his hooves to his heart to make his wish. He was then hoisted up to receive several kisses on both cheeks from Sunbeam while Pepper cut the cake.
"I can't believe he's three years old," Velvet said with a small hitch in her voice, gazing at him while she stood with Crystal, Golden, and Nightingale. "It feels like just last week, Crystal and I were pacing the hospital room, waiting for him to be born."
Crystal smothered a small grin by turning her head away. "And it feels like just a week before that, you were in our condo crying about being replaced by him."
Velvet's ears shot up and she swatted one hoof at Crystal. "I was not!"
On her other side, Nightingale twittered with giggles, her nose scrunched up. "Aww, did you really cry? That's so cute!"
"There is, like, nothing about me that's cute." Velvet glared between them before her gaze settled on Golden. "Back me up here, Goldilocks."
There was a brief moment of silence as a thoughtful expression crossed Golden's face—then it shifted to amusement. "Oh, Velvilocks, surely you know how adorable you are. After all, it was only a few nights back that I watched you turn to absolute putty in the hooves of that stallion at Synthaholic. What was his name again?"
Like a cat who found the cream, Velvet melted into a smile with a purring sigh. "Steel Courage."
"I'm sure his courage wasn't the only thing that was like steel, but somepony decided not to go home with him." Golden huffed, pausing to take a dainty bite of cake. "Honestly, you've been acting peculiar lately."
Just like that, Velvet's walls came back up. Crystal had known her for far too long to not recognize the signs: her dimples vanished, her eyes darted away, and her voice dropped just slightly in pitch. Their eyes met and, although they both knew that the other knew something was wrong, neither acknowledged it aloud.
"Yeah," Velvet said, looking away from Crystal and forcing a smile. "I was just, you know, tired."
Golden simply shrugged. "Nonetheless, are we going to do gifts soon? I've been waiting for Red to receive my gift for over a month."
"Me, too!" Nightingale squealed. "I found the perfect present for him!"
Golden regarded the little mare with one brow arched, and the look was met with a big grin. "Challenge accepted," she said with an upward tilt of her noise.
As if on cue, Sunbeam called over the noise in the room, "Okay, everypony! Presents time!"
While Golden and Nightingale clambered and clamored over who would give Red their gift first, Crystal remained at Velvet's side. They watched all of their friends and family fawn over little Red at a distance, the world continuing on without their interference.
She overheard Miley apologizing to Sunbeam for Runic's absence, strain clear in her voice. "He's taken another project for the Equestrian Army. You know how he can be with something new."
Sunbeam nodded, and Crystal shifted her attention to watch Winterspear and Iridescence standing together, sharing a slice of cake and glancing around nervously. Pepper came over to whisper something to them and grinned when both of their faces turned bright red.
It was a strange juxtaposition: Miley and Runic were drifting apart, and Winterspear and Iridescence were closer than ever.
Crystal struggled with deciding how to feel and what to do about it, so she turned her head to continue surveying the room. Dot was chatting with a rather good-looking stallion about the silliness of colts in her class, and he was nodding along politely. She recognized him as a member of Velvet's ballet company, which brought her back to the situation at hoof.
"So, I suppose that means things are going well with Silver Script," Crystal said quietly into the space between them.
Velvet's stance went rigid and she looked at Crystal out of the corner of her eye. "Something like that, I guess."
"Oh, Velvet." Crystal floated her plate over to the nearest surface so she could focus her attention on pulling Velvet into a tight hug. "Please don't be that way with me, all right? I don't care if you're just—just 'friends with benefits' or not even friends!" She pulled back to hold Velvet at length so she could look her in the eyes. "I just want you to be happy. Are you happy?"
Just a hint of tears started to well up before Velvet rapidly blinked them away and managed a smile. "Yeah. I will be. What about you?"
Crystal returned the smile as best she could. "I will be," she repeated in a soft voice.
"Crystal! Velvet!" Sunbeam called, her honeyed voice slicing through their tender moment. "Get over here, we're opening Horsey and Savoir's gift!"
They gazed at one another a moment longer before exchanging a nod of understanding and agreement—they would both be fine someday.
Velvet's demeanor shifted into what was expected of her as she trotted across the room, a lopsided grin on her face and a skip in her step. Red reached out his hooves toward her and she scooped him up to snuggle him close. "Let's see what Aunt Horsey got you, little guy, huh?"
"Horsey," Red squeaked, his ears falling back against his mane and his lower lip sticking out. "Where is Auntie?"
Sunbeam lowered her head to his. "Auntie Horsey is at home taking care of her own little foal who's too small to come visit you yet, but she'll come by as soon as she can."
The concept of another little foal being more deserving of attention was too much for Red to bear. He stared up at Sunbeam with a furrowed brow before he turned his frown up to Velvet, seeking clarification.
"Sorry, buddy." Velvet kissed his forehead. "It's true. But don't worry, he's not nearly as cute as you are."
Satisfied, Red cooed and accepted the gift. Beneath the shiny blue wrapping paper was a small bucket of Hay-Doh, which Red regarded with pursed lips and tapped it with one hoof to ask, 'What is this?'
"Let's see what Auntie wrote," Sunbeam said, opening the glittery card with only a brief grimace at the impending invasion of glitter for weeks to come. "Here we are! 'Happy Birthday, Red. I hope you enjoy practicing your baking and decorating with this activity dough.'" Sunbeam paused, then giggled as she continued, "'Don't worry, Mrs. Sunbeam; it's safe to eat.'"
Velvet used her free foreleg to pop the lid off the Hay-Doh bucket; Crystal leaned in to see the dough divided into the six colors of the rainbow; Red squealed with delight and shoved both forehooves right into the squishy substance.
"I think he likes it," Velvet said around a grin, and everypony laughed.
Before the party was through, Red had received a surplus of gifts. Golden had gotten him a vintage play kitchen complete with toy food made of the softest felt. When Nightingale presented her Basic Baking Oven and he immediately hugged it, she stuck her tongue out at Golden, who huffed indignantly.
It didn't take very long for Red to tucker himself out trying to play with everything all at once, and he instead ended up asleep among his pile of presents. Sunbeam draped his blue blanket over him and turned to the crowd with a smile.
"And I think that's the curtain call for this party," Sunbeam said, giggling. "Thank you all so much for coming."
While the rest of the ponies in attendance filtered out of Sunridge Sweets, Crystal nuzzled her cheek to Velvet's before she turned to approach Winterspear and Iridescence. "I suppose that makes it time, then," she whispered, smiling as both mares tensed. "Shall we get Dot and go?"
The tips of Winterspear's wings showed the most of her trembling as they quivered and bounced at her sides. Her nerves visibly settled, however, when Iridescence wrapped a forehoof around hers and replied, "Let's go. Together."
Crystal turned and went to where Dot was still talking nonstop at Velvet's ballet friend.
"… And, like, I really appreciate it, but my locker doesn't have room for books anymore. I guess it's okay, though, because all the flowers make it smell nice, and there are always colts to carry my things, but I'd like to put them away sometimes, you know?"
The stallion hummed in agreement, and his expression lit up when he spotted Crystal approaching. She felt sorry for him; few ponies enjoyed listening to Dot go on for hours about her school woes.
"Dot," Crystal said, flashing the stallion a smile, "it's time for us to go."
Dot blinked a few times before her lips curled with understanding. "It's time? Oh, great!" She started prancing to the door without a second thought for her gratefully abandoned victim.
Crystal laughed softly. "I'm sorry for her. She does have manners, I promise."
"It's no problem." The stallion gave a calm, casual flick of his wings. "It was entertaining, at least."
"That's nice of you to say." She hesitated and did her best to try to remember his name, but when she came up with nothing, she just smiled. "If you'll excuse me." With a quick nod of her head, she hurried out the bakery doors.
Canterlot was in the middle of transitioning between day and night when they stepped outside; the sky darkened into deep blue hues, but the streetlights had yet to flicker on. Winterspear and Iridescence walked hoof-in-hoof ahead of Crystal, caught up in their world of nervous giggles and soft whispers.
Dot walked at her side, all legs and hips from her most recent growth spurt that left her even prettier than the one before. "They're finally getting married, huh?"
"Yes," Crystal replied with a smile. "It's long overdue for them, I think."
With a giggling snort, Dot rolled her eyes. "Way overdue, if you ask me."
Crystal nodded and allowed her gaze to wander their surroundings, a dark shroud of melancholy draped over the buildings and streets. Life was continuing to march ever forward. It was Red's second birthday without his Uncle Silent there—how many more would he have until Silent came home?
She quickly shook her head and smiled as the city came back to life, streetlight by streetlight guiding the way to their waiting appointment. The present needed her focused on it, not on the past she couldn't change or the future she couldn't control.
"Okay," Winterspear said when they arrived at the old building of hewn stone that had been around since the founding of Canterlot. "This is it. We're really doing this."
Iridescence squeezed her hoof and tucked her head under Winterspear's. "If you're not ready, we can—"
"No." Winterspear puffed her chest and flicked her wings to shake off the lingering uncertainty. "I've been ready. I am ready." She turned to look at Crystal and Dot, relaxing into a smile. "Thank you for being our witnesses."
Crystal returned the smile with ease and pushed the doors open with her magic. "It's my absolute pleasure to be a part of this."
They walked inside together, their hoofsteps echoing in the relative quiet of City Hall. Wallflower was already inside with a bag that seemed overburdened with tulle.
"Mom," Winterspear said with clear apprehension in her voice, "what did you do?"
Wallflower's face brightened with a smile, and she rushed forward with the bag in tow. "I know you didn't want to make a wedding out of today, but I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry. But I'm just so happy for the two of you, and I wanted to do something for you. I just wasn't sure who wanted to, er—who wanted to be which, so I brought two of each."
Winterspear pursed her lips into a thin line. "Two of each of what?"
With a shy duck of her head, Wallflower reached into the bag and produced two veils as well as two tuxedo collars. "I just—" She fumbled with them as she tried to hold out all four accessories. "I don't care who, just—"
There was only a brief pause before Iridescence sputtered into a laugh. One of the veils illuminated under the glow of her magic and levitated onto Winterspear's head, and while she snapped the tuxedo collar around her own neck, she kissed Winterspear's cheek. "My princess," she whispered, just barely able to be heard even in the relative silence of the hall.
Wallflower looked between them, her eyes brimming with fresh tears. "You two look perfect. So perfect." She pulled them both in for a tight hug, then dove back into her bag. "I just have two more things, then I'm done, I promise."
"Mom," Winterspear started to whine, but her voice choked with emotion when she saw what Wallfower brought into view.
Little beams of rainbows scattered across the nearby wall and all along the floor from the teardrop-shaped prism. Suspended in the very center of it was a piece of cloud fluff, illuminated by the light and glowing with soft pastel hues.
Winterspear sucked in an almost reverent breath. "A cloudcatcher."
"I know mother-daughter wedding gifts are a bit old-fashioned and out of style, but—" Wallflower paused to wipe at her eyes. "What else can I do?" She held the prism out to Winterspear, smiling. "It's a piece of the cloud you grew up on. May the skies of your home be with you wherever you go."
The air was thick, heavy, and warm. As Winterspear clutched the prism to her chest, Wallflower turned to Iridescence. "You're already like a daughter to me, Iridescence. I couldn't imagine Winterspear without you at her side." Her ears drooped just slightly. "It's not the same, I know, however, I—" She retrieved a simple glass half-sphere, perfectly free of any bubbles or imperfection: an empty wishing stone.
"Since you were engaged," Wallflower continued, sounding strangely apologetic, "I have whispered to it all of my best wishes for the two of you and slept with it under my pillow each night. While I don't have unicorn magic, I hope—"
Iridescence surged forward and pressed her lips to Wallflower's cheek, whimpering out, "It's perfect, Mom."
When swelling emotions threatened to smother them all, Winterspear groaned as she tried to wipe away her tears, "Mom, you're turning this into a wedding! We talked about this!"
The laughter that followed eased the intensity, and Crystal stepped forward to catch their attention. "I'll hold onto your heritage gifts," she said, her magic encircling the cloudcatcher and wishing stone, "while you two go talk to that nice stallion over there and find out where our appointment is."
In the center of the far wall sat a stallion behind a desk of rich, dark wood, who waved when they took notice of him. "Hello! Welcome to Canterlot City Hall," he chimed as Winterspear and Iridescence approached, hoof-in-hoof. "You must be our last marriage of the day. Congratulations!"
"That's right," Winterspear said, raising her hoof that was joined with Iridescence's as if in salute. "I'm marrying this filly. Today!"
Crystal couldn't smother her laughter in time, but Iridescence gazed up at her wife-to-be with lovestruck fondness. The stallion clapped his hooves together and exclaimed, "How wonderful! Let's see, let's see." He scanned a list in front of him before continuing, "Just to be sure, you're Winterspear and Iridescence?"
"That's us," Iridescence murmured, her gaze still locked on Winterspear.
"Perfect! You'll be seen by Her Honor, Dr. Tart." He gestured off to his right. "She didn't have a prior appointment, so you should be good to just go on in! Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Winterspear said and started forward, almost dragging Iridescence along.
Even though it wasn't her special day, butterflies fluttered against Crystal's ribs as she followed the mares down the hall of stately doors, each adorned with a gilded nameplate. They finally arrived at the right one, and Winterspear didn't hesitate to push it open.
The smell of old books rushed out of the office from the floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with the aged spines of tomes Crystal was certain weren't for light reads, judging by their heft. Facing them was a wide, intricately carved desk that seemed too big even for two, full-sized earth pony stallions to carry.
And sitting behind it, looking at them with a level stare, was a pink mare.
For a moment, Crystal almost panicked at the thought of an unexpected encounter with her old friend Lovey Dovey, but she was relieved to note the distinct differences. Between the orange eyes and the short, tight curls of her mane, the honorable judge was definitely not Lovey Dovey. On the other hoof, there was something vaguely familiar about the combination of pink and orange that Crystal couldn't quite place.
"Hello," she said in a smooth voice as she looked between the three mares facing her. "May I help you?"
"Your Honor—" Winterspear began, but a sudden shift in the mare's interest cut her off.
They all watched as the mare looked down at the placard sitting on her desk that read: 'Dr. Sweet Tart, Barrister to the Crowns'. She reached out, flipped it around, and settled into a smile as the title 'Chief Justice Dr. Sweet Tart' now showed.
"Continue," Dr. Tart said with a small flick of one hoof.
Winterspear glanced at Iridescence, then returned her gaze to the judge and cleared her throat. "Your Honor, we have an appointment. To uh. To get married."
"Oh, good." Dr. Tart stood and moved around the desk. She was taller than Winterspear, which was an impressive feat even for an earth pony. "I love marrying ponies. It's such a wonderful break from settling disputes over whether or not neighbors' shingles are clashing in color and style." She chuckled under her breath, then put on a sober expression. "Before we get started, I'd like to know: why?"
"I—" Winterspear and Iridescence began at the same time, and both devolved into nervous laughter. "You fir—" The laughter returned again, more sincere this time.
Dr. Tart's lips lifted into a smile and she gestured at Winterspear. "You first."
Not even a moment of thought was needed. "I've made her wait too long just because I'm scared. I was hurt in the past by a mare I thought I loved, but then I met Iridescence and learned what love really is." She turned to face Iridescence with a smile. "I would go to Tartarus and back for this mare, so the least I can do is marry her to show my commitment."
Iridescence laughed, not with amusement so much as unbridled joy. "I'll be honest, Your Honor. Winterspear is one of the most irritating mares I've ever met. She tried to break it off three or four times when we were dating because she was afraid of that level of commitment, so when she proposed, I almost thought it was a joke."
Winterspear's nose scrunched up, but a grin still graced her lips. "Hey, now—"
Dr. Tart raised a hoof. "You had your turn. Let the mare speak."
"Yeah," Iridescence said with a tease in her tone. "She's irritating, case and point! She snores, she steals the covers, she leaves feathers lying around the bedroom, and she prefers coffee over tea." Reaching out a hoof, she gently stroked along the length of Winterspear's foreleg before clasping their hooves together. "And I want to be irritated by her for the rest of my life, because I love her."
Between Dr. Tart's smile, Winterspear's laugh, Dot's giggles, Wallflower's sniffles, and Crystal's tears, the room effused love. Crystal had to raise a hoof to wipe her eyes so she could watch as Dr. Tart drew herself up between the two lovebirds.
"Then it is my utmost pleasure," Dr. Tart said, "to join the two of you together in the vows of marriage."
A wave of emotion roiled up from somewhere deep within Crystal and she had to choke back a whimper as the ghost of a memory filled her mind's ear.
"Crystal Wishes and Silent Knight, today you celebrate one of life's greatest moments and give recognition to the harmony and beauty of friendship and love, as you join together in vows of marriage."
It hadn't been that long ago, had it? Over a year, but not by much. She could scarcely remember what the aisle had looked like, but she would never forget the visage of the stallion standing at its end. Her stallion.
"Marriage is a wonderful occasional filled with hopes and dreams," Dr. Tart continued, but all Crystal could hear was the voice in her head.
"Marriage is the promise between two ponies who love each other, and who trust in that love, who honor one another as individuals, and who wish to spend the rest of their lives together."
She remembered doubt—only a flicker of it, but there had been some. Was she ready for life as the wife of a soldier, she had wondered? No. She had been ready for the life as the wife of a guard, but not a soldier. Nothing could have prepared her for the desperate, aching loneliness that pervaded the shadows of each day.
But she had no regrets now, even when things seemed at their worst.
"It is a symbol of the promises you will make to each other to continue growing stronger as individuals and as partners, no matter what challenges or successes you encounter together in the years before you."
"No matter what," Crystal whispered as Winterspear and Iridescence and Dr. Tart all blurred together behind the tears filled her eyes.
"Today, your lives, which began on separate paths, will be joined as one."
She would do it all again just the same.
Dr. Tart's voice cut through her bittersweet reverie. "Who joins us on this day to bear witness to the union of Winterspear and Iridescence?"
"We do!" Dot chirped, her chest swelling with pride.
"And what gives you the authority to serve as witness?" Dr. Tart quirked a brow in a playful manner.
Dot cocked her head to the side. "Uh, well, Iridescence is my sister, so that's my authority. And she's never been as happy with anypony as she is with Winterspear!"
Chuckling, Dr. Tart turned to look at Crystal. "And you?"
Crystal tried to stifle a laugh. "Yes, I am honored to be Winterspear's sister-in-law. But more than that, I am their friend who has watched their relationship blossom from the very beginning."
Dr. Tart bobbed her head. "And you give your blessing to their union?"
"With all my heart," Crystal replied, her amusement melting into fondness.
"And you?" Dr. Tart tilted her whole body to the side to look past them at where Wallflower stood out of the way. "Are you here to serve as witness, or to use all of my tissues?"
Wallflower paused, a tissue still pressed to the corner of her eye. Her lower lip trembled before she managed in a wavering voice, "I'm the mom."
"To which one?"
Looking between all four of them, Wallflower grabbed a new tissue and buried her face into it as she blurted out, "All of them, and I'm so proud! So, so proud!"
"Duly noted. Thank you." She gave a quick smile before she looked at Winterspear. "Do you, Winterspear, take Iridescence to be not just your partner in life, but in all things forevermore?"
Winterspear smiled so wide it must have hurt as her gaze flicked to where Crystal held out the ring, which she took and gingerly slid onto Iridescence's horn. "I do."
Dr. Tart turned her attention to Iridescence. "And do you, Iridescence, take Winterspear to be not just your irritant for life, but in all things forevermore?"
With a quiet, shaky laugh, Iridescence nodded. Dot enthusiastically shoved the ring toward her, and Winterspear unfolded her left wing so that Iridescence could slip it onto one of the primary feathers. "I do."
"Then by the power vested in me by the crowns, it is my pleasure to pronounce you married." The corners of her eyes crinkled as she smiled. "You may now kiss each other."
It was a soft and tender kiss, interrupted by a shaky laugh from Winterspear as she whispered, "We're married."
"We are." Iridescence pecked her on the lips and grinned. "Wife."
Though the monotony of paperwork came next, not an ounce of the rose-colored aura of love faded from around the newlyweds. Their marriage became official in the eyes of the law, and Crystal was proud to have her name on the certificate as one of their witnesses.
They walked out into the quiet night, but only made it a few paces before Winterspear whooped with joy as she pulled Iridescence into a tight embrace and spun them both around.
"We're married!" Winterspear laughed, wings flared out to encircle them in their own world. The white gold band resting on her feather glinted proudly in the light.
Crystal watched them, suddenly feeling like an intruder. She took a few steps away, waited to see if she would be noticed, then turned to start the walk home alone.
"Wait, Auntie Crystal—Bye, Wallflower—hold on!"
She stopped and waited for Dot to prance up alongside her, trying to smile evenly. "Yes?"
Dot's nose scrunched up as her expression bordered on insulted. "Oh, I dunno, maybe I want to spend time with you? Or it's, like, really clear that you're missing Uncle Silent and shouldn't be alone right now. Or maybe both."
And just like that, Crystal felt her heart melt and she eased into a smile. "You're right." She turned her gaze skyward, sighing into the night air. "I am missing him, a great deal. But I was going to go talk to him, if you want to come along?"
"Talk to him?" Dot's ears flopped as she tilted her head. "Okay, it's definitely a good thing I'm coming with you. You've gone cray-cray."
"Cray—what?" Crystal blinked rapidly.
"Cray-cray. Crazy." With a snort of a laugh, Dot waved a hoof to dismiss the confusion. "Don't worry about it, Auntie. So, how do you plan to talk to him?"
Though Crystal wanted to learn more about the new slang and other words like it, she relented with a small nod of her head toward the street in front of them. "Follow me, and I'll show you."
They walked in relative silence, Crystal trying to think of anything except the future, and Dot was content to let her. There was so much uncertainty looming ahead of her that the excitement of Winterspear's and Iridescence's marriage receded under the weight on her mind.
Winterspear would move in with Iridescence. Crystal would live alone. Should she consider a roommate? A pet? Between the setup of the Pure Leaf Press with Sunset and the continuation of the Flower Foundation, did she even have time to take care of a pet?
"Where are we going?" Dot finally asked as they walked higher and higher through the city's tiers.
Crystal only gave a quick smile and a simple reply of, "We're almost there."
The petulant whine that Dot gave was a stark reminder that, despite her rapid growth, she was still just a filly. Crystal couldn't help laughing and upped her gait to a light trot. When they crested the cobblestone hill that gave way to a small greenspace, Dot slowed to a halt and frowned.
"A park? You dragged me all this way to a park?" Dot huffed, blowing her bangs out of her face. "We passed, like, three of these on the way here!"
Crystal slowed to an almost reverent walk as she approached a bench and climbed onto it. "Not just any park, Dot."
After a brief pause, Dot came over to sit down beside her. "Okay. What's special about this one?"
"From here," Crystal replied in a soft whisper, "I imagine that I can see all the way to Varrheim."
Her gaze dragged over the distant mountains and rolling farmlands that spread out far below Canterlot. Although it all faded into nondescript blue-green hues on the horizon, she knew she was looking toward ocean that separated Equestria and the Gryphon Kingdom.
The ocean that separated her and her husband.
"So this is how you talk to Uncle Silent?" Dot asked into the stillness.
Crystal shook her head and lifted her eyes to the heavens above. "I talk to him through the stars. Every night, I tell them of my love for him. And every night, he listens as they pass along my message." She laughed in spite of the swell of emotions that pressed against her throat. "It is, some nights, the only way I can fall asleep, knowing that I've done this for him."
Dot said nothing for a while. A breeze stirred the tree that stood alone in the greenspace, and somewhere nearby Crystal could hear the sound of ponies laughing. As always, the world carried on without notice.
Then, Dot sucked in a breath and said with a small quiver in her voice, "Hey, Uncle. If you're listening, I guess that means you're still okay, so, that's good."
Crystal raised a hoof to smother a light giggle, earning a flash of a grin of Dot before the filly continued.
"Um, so, this is going to sound silly. But you know that time a few years ago, when I was feeling lonely, and you let me ride on your back to cheer me up?" Dot's ears pinned back against her mane as she twiddled her forehooves, then jerked her head up and shouted, "You have to come home and do that again, okay? Because I could really use cheering up right now!"
The amusement faded and Crystal watched Dot's expression fall into poorly concealed sadness. "Oh, Dot, sweetie..."
Dot shook her head. "Irid and Winter are married. Uh, spoilers, I guess?" She sniffed. "But they're married, and I'm growing up, and stuff is changing, but you're not here for any of it. It's really easy some days to forget, 'cause I'm really busy with school, but then today happened, and I can't forget." Her nose scrunched up and she turned her head away from Crystal. "You're just... gone, and I miss you. We all miss you. So—Come back soon, okay?"
Wrapping a foreleg around Dot's shoulders, Crystal pulled her into a light hug that was returned with twice the strength. They sat in companionable silence, neither doing much more than breathing and holding onto one another.
Finally, Dot mumbled, "Did I do it right?"
Crystal gave a soft, shaky laugh. "Of course you did, sweetheart." She patted the back of Dot's head before pulling away and standing up. After quickly wiping the corners of her eyes, she offered a hoof and a smile. "Come on. Let's go home, make some tea, and you tell me all about the cute colts in your class, hmm?"
There was a brief moment of consideration before Dot lit up and grabbed Crystal's hoof in a tight grip. "Oh, did I tell you about Maverick? He is super cute! He hasn't asked me out on a date, though, and that's really weird, you know? 'Cause most colts ask me out on a date pretty soon after I meet them."
While Crystal dutifully listened to the truly awful plights Dot had to endure, she lifted her gaze to the stars and mouthed the same words she did every night: "Please come home, my love."