//------------------------------//
// My kids, what a test. 
// Story: A Constant Test 
// by Rose Quill 
//------------------------------//

Bushel picked up the next apple, giving it a polish on his shirt before starting to peel it. "How many do we need, again?" he asked.

I pulled the second apple crisp out of the oven, setting it on the cooling rack. "Ah would think six good-sized granny smiths should do it, Bush," I said as I glanced at Rarity who was decorating a set of small cakes with her daughter Melody. "How many items do you think the show will take, Rares?"

She placed another candy gem on the pastry next to her. "I think another three or four pies should do, darling, especially with Twilight doing some batches at her place," she said as she sorted through the box of sugar decorations. "We should be well stocked after this last round of baking."

I nodded, picking up the first of the last couple of pies and setting it in the oven and closing it. Wiping my brow for a moment, I glanced out the window. "Ah wonder where those two have got to," I said.

Melody glanced up. "Who?

"Dash and Windvane," I said. "Dash said she was going to go out and get me something. Ah just worry 'cause the two of them get into trouble if they get to racin'."

"Ah wouldn't worry, Ma," Bushel said as he dumped a cup of cinnamon and sugar over the sliced apples inside the bottom crust of the final pie. "You know Mom can beat Windy if she cuts loose."

"That's what Ah'm worried about," I said.

"Whatever do you mean?" Melody asked.

I was about to respond when I hear a cry from outside and a crash. I facepalmed before speaking. "That."

We went outside and found Windvane disengaging herself from a tree. "Not bad, squirt," Dash said as she helped our daughter down. "You kept up till you turned to gloat. Rule number one of flying, always keep an eye on where you're going."

"Right, right," Windvane said, picking leaves from her hair. "Ah'll keep that in mind."

"Also?" my wife asked, hooking an arm around our oldest child's neck. "I won. Now you gotta introduce us to this crush of yours."

I grinned as Windy turned red. "Do Ah hafta?" she whispered.

"You raced on it, kiddo," Dash said. "You going to go back on your word?"

She shook her head and sighed.

I narrowed my eyes at my wife. "Rainbow," I started. "You didn't happen to rig this race, did you?"

Rainbow shrugged. "Not at all," she said, her trademark grin flashing into being. "I just knew she'd try to showboat a bit and she's not practiced enough to keep her attention on the surroundings like I am."

"Dash," I said. "You know we were likely to meet him eventually, right?"

"Absolutely," Rarity said. "After all, we've been making refreshments for the Fall Formal all day today."

I nodded as Dash's eyes lit up.

"Crisps?" she asked, causing Windvane to perk up as well.

"Cooling," I replied. "Made two cause Ah know how you are about them."

The teenage girl and my wife traded glances.

"Race you?" Windy asked.

"Nah," Dash said as I crossed my arms. "Ma would kill us."

"Darn tootin'," I said. "No racin' in mah house."





"Vinyl still drops some cool beats," Sunset said as we sat down later that night, watching the kids dance. "Even better than when we were that age."

"Right," I said, trying to keep an eye out for Windvane. The matte yellow dress that Rarity had made for her was easy to track in the crowd, but sometimes a crowd would pass by and obscure my view.

"Calm down, AJ," Sunset said. "Rory may be a senior this year, but you know she's one of Windy's best friends. If you don't find out tonight, Twi and I could always ask."

"That sounds like spying, though," I said. "I would rather her come out and tell us."

"I know. Which is why I think you should stay calm," the author said as she raked her red and gold hair back. "You may get your wish."

"What do you..."

"Um, Mom?" my daughter's voice piped up from behind me.

I turned, and next to Windvane was a boy about her height with a nervous look on his face, running his hand through his shaggy brown hair.

"This is Sonic," Windy said. "He's the one that asked me to the dance."

"Wait," I said. "Aren't you..."

"The DJ's son?" he asked, his voice a little lyrical. "Yeah. My folks wanted to tell you, but I thought we should tell you ourselves. I don't know why she waited so long, we've been dating for almost three weeks."

"Have you now?" I asked, smiling internally as I saw Windy start to fidget in place.

He nodded, and I let the smile outside. 

"Well, don't let me keep ya," I said, gesturing back to the dance floor. "Ah'm here to keep the snacks up, not follow you like a tick on a hound's back. Y'all have fun." 

"Thanks, Ma," Windvane said.

"You're still due home by eleven, though," I amended.

She rolled her eyes but waved a thumbs up at me as Vinyl dropped a fast-paced trance song and she pulled Sonic back out to the floor.

I sat back and saw Vinyl tilt her head at me as she lifted her glasses up. I gave her a thumbs up and was given one in return.

I could trust the kids. I always knew that. I just wish sometimes that they didn't test my patience. 

"What is Dash doing?" Sunset asked.

"Testing me," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose as we watched my wife try to dance to the music.