Language check. Anything wrapped in < > in this chapter is spoken Equish, everything else is in English.
Candela opened the front door of the house, then turned her head and winked at Pinkie Pie. "I'll keep him from answering the door until you arrive." A little bit of sunshine was needed, and Candela was happy that Pinkie Pie was there to deliver it.
Opening the unlocked front door took but a moment. "I'm home!" Stepping into the house, Candela nudged the door closed behind her. In the kitchen, she found Mike and Joyce making dinner together, and smiled to see the two smiling and talking. "Misty and Robin are going to be a little late. They got caught up helping Pinkie with some homework."
"That's fine." Joyce turned to deliver her smile to Candela. "Dinner will keep. How was your day?"
"Oh, the life of a teacher is never dull. Marble got her cutie mark over the weekend, so we had a little bit of time off in the morning to talk about it. When she opens up, that filly is just as excited about rocks as her bigger sister." Candela thought back to the morning and couldn't help smiling; helping foals prepare and deal with such big moments was one of the reasons Candela became a teacher.
"Do you have any homework for me?" Mike stepped back from the stove and, with shaking legs, made his way over to the table. His eyes kept flicking to the side, and it was enough to make Candela look too.
Tufts hung from his perch and watched the proceedings of the kitchen. Tilting his head a little, he looked at Candela, and opened his mouth. "Welcome home. Do you have any bananas?"
"Now Tufts, you know I don't do the shopping after school. How many times have you given me those eyes, before, and…" Candela trailed off. "You can talk?"
"He just started today. Mum says it is probably more magic or something." Mike reached out to the refrigerator and fetched a banana from it. "But you want to know the best bit?"
"Don't you dare, Michael!" By the tone Joyce used, it was clear the threat was empty, even if she used his full name.
"He is persueing an interest in Mum." Mike managed to school his features. "And of course Mum accepted his advances." Fake tears flowed down Mike's cheek. "I… I'm going to have a dad again!" A wooden spoon thunked into the side of Mike's head, and he started laughing so hard he almost dropped the banana.
"Careful!" Tufts' voice cut over the laughter. "What does a bat have to do to get some fruit around here?"
"Help me make jokes." Mike held the banana up for Tufts, and watched as the delighted bat bit a huge hunk off the end. He turned his attention back to Candela. "You aren't really that shocked but this?"
"I was more surprised that none of your animals could talk. Hearing that Tufts can makes things feel a little more normal." Candela took a moment to pick through the saddle bag she was wearing, and plucked out a sheaf of papers. "Just a little maths homework, due Wednesday."
"Thanks, Candela." Mike slid the papers closer with his awkward hand.
Candela noticed a pink face in the window of the kitchen—outside—wink at her. She smiled a little wider when the there was a knock at the door. "I wonder who that could be?"
"I'll get it." Mike jumped to his feet, and took Tufts with him to answer the door. Hobbling a little, he reached out and barely got the door open a crack before it flew open and knocked him backwards.
"Invaders!" Tufts screeched, flapping his wings and flying back to the kitchen.
"<Surprise>!" Pinkie Pie landed atop the shocked Mike, and sent party streamers into the air. "<Happy So-You're-Turning-Into-A-Pony Party>!"
Pulling her head back from the hallway, where she was watching her son being assaulted with streamers and cheer, Joyce shook her head. "Was this your idea?" She pointed to the hallway and the shenanigans going on.
Candela had half-spread her wing to let Tufts find a new roost. "Oh no, this is all Pinkie's doing. I was just an accomplice." She leaned her head down and nuzzled Tufts' side. "How is it all going, Joyce? How are you holding together?"
Tufts gulped down his mouthful of completely smooshed up banana. "She was crying. I wasn't going to say anything, but she looked so sad." He reached a wing out, trying to snag the banana that Mike had left on the table.
Joyce turned and looked at the bat, a surprised look on her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again and returned to getting food prepared.
Watching Tufts devour the rest of the banana, Candela couldn't help but admire the bat. "Would you like some more banana?" She had his instant attention, and even though his mouth was so full he couldn't say a word, she knew his answer.