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// Prologue: Larkspur Blossom 
// Story: Larkspur Blossom 
// by Pone_Heap 
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The earliest concrete memory Larkspur had was the birth of his first sister. The little Pegasus came knocking on the gateway to the real world in the middle of class at the Fillydelphia University. Lark’s mother, Sugar Plum, a new professor of classic literature, saw her water break during a lecture as she began her labor.

Her husband, and Lark’s father, Beige Gunner, professor of civil engineering, left his own lecture and carted her away as she shouted a few last-minute instructions to her student teacher. The test would not be postponed over this, so everypony needed to be ready on Friday.

After a much easier time than Sugar had with Lark, the family welcomed Valley Lily, a beautiful little filly foal with a honey-mustard coat and a mane of rich ebony. The three-year-old Lark was fascinated at the little one. What surprised him the most was the fact that he himself was an Earth pony--the only one in the family. A little colt with a blue coat and a golden mane.

It may have surprised those that didn’t know the family. But for generations, Beige Gunner’s family saw marriages among the three types of ponies, so it was always a surprise when a new foal came along. Beige himself was a Pegasus and his wife a unicorn.

The family history being what it was, it came as no big surprise Beige and Sugar’s third foal was a unicorn. A filly with a blue-gray coat, she was named Copper Curls for her wavy copper mane. Beige thought it lacked creativity, but Sugar liked it.

So, the family of five saw success and looked forward to the future. It wouldn’t last, however, for when Lark was still 4-years-old, his mother was found to have cancer of the uterus. She had a good few months with her third child--and indeed all her children--but she died before the year was out.

Lark remembered little of his mother. She had been very kind. Both their parents loved their foals very much, but Beige became detached and cold as his wife’s illness progressed. Her death did not bring him any closer to his foals. He fell into a depression he never really climbed out of.

Money had never been nor was it currently a concern for the family. Beige hired a nanny to watch over his children, and he attempted to bury himself in work to shut out the world. While the nanny proved helpful during the day, she too had a life of her own and the foals were at the mercy of Beige’s responsibility when she wasn't there. She was often dismayed at his carelessness with the little ones, finding them filthy and miserable in the mornings. But it happened infrequently, and the pay was too good for her to want to make a fuss about it.

Beige was in his own world. The crying of his foals didn’t seem to register fully. Sometimes he would respond... and sometimes he wouldn’t. So, one day, noticing Valley was wet, Lark learned to change his first diaper. It shut her up. He found the same thing worked on Copper. He had learned to feed and clean himself, so it wasn’t difficult to do the same for the young ones. He noticed the occasional mess around the house, so he dealt with that, too. For an Earth pony, none of this was easy, but since he knew nothing else he just did it. By the time he was 5-years-old, he did more for those little fillies than his father ever had.

With Lark covering for his dad, nopony seemed to notice what was going on. Beige was that out of touch at times. But over the months, Beige became better, at least nurturing them enough to convince them he was their dad.

About the time Larkspur was six, Copper had learned to use her magic. Or more accurately, she was able to perform magical feats. Unfortunately, it mostly consisted of setting furniture on fire and throwing things. It kept Lark on his hooves. Lark was glad Valley hadn’t gained the use of her wings, yet. He had heard of foals being able to fly within months of birth. Other times, they would be well into elementary school by the time they could fly. Regardless, Valley got into her share of mischief.

By the time they were this age, two and three, the girls’ personalities were becoming evident. Both fillies had a very strong affection for their brother, and he was often the only one able to comfort or influence them. As they grew, it would later become evident that while Copper had a much greater affection for Lark, Valley understood him more deeply. This would come much later. For now, they were just little fillies, making trouble for a brother that could barely keep up.

Still, over the next few years, they began to exhibit traits that would later define them. Valley was expressive, competitive, stubborn, and could have a very nasty temper. Copper was a strange little filly, far too composed for somepony that young, but all the same air-headed.

As for Lark… it was hard to say just what he was. Of course, he was independent, but he was also innovative. Unusually intelligent, he often had trouble coping with colts and fillies his own age. Mildly confrontational, with an air that warded off trouble, he had very few, if any, friends who were colts. Most of his friends were fillies, which came as no surprise, considering the bond with his sisters. He was mercilessly mocked for his “girly” name, but nopony dared say it to his face.

But, what could be said of all three was they lacked a proper parental figure. They had many unanswered questions, and they didn’t even think to question other things.

About the time Lark was nine, Valley learned to fly. Unusually rambunctious for a six-year-old, she had been enough trouble without her wings working. Dealing with her could be a hoofful. But she learned to control herself and put energy into learning to fly fast. Though he was unable to demonstrate, Lark taught her many things about flight she may have otherwise payed less attention to.

Now seven-years-old, though not the best student, Valley was regardless popular with her peers and always first to be picked for hoofball teams. Everypony wanted to be her friend.

Regarding Copper, the reason the griping about her abilities stopped a few paragraphs ago was she gained control of her magic very early. One day she was giggling, setting the sofa on fire, and the next day she was feeding herself with a spoon, or obtaining items she wanted out of her reach. It was a jarring transition, but Lark couldn’t complain. He came to rather enjoy teaching her all he could find out about magic. She picked up knowledge quickly.

Copper was not particularly skilled in magic; she often struggled in school with practical material declared age appropriate, but her comprehension staggered her teachers. She didn’t have the circle of friends her sister did. Copper was quiet, and rather bookish. She did have friends--very dear friends--but being alone didn’t bother her very much. A trait that began to worry those around her was difficult to describe. She didn’t seem a cruel filly, but she had a brooding side. Nopony ever caught her practicing, but even at the age of 6 she had a heavy fascination with darker aspects of magic. Tallied up to her high caliber of intelligence, it remained unsettling to some of those over and around her.

Lark was now 10. For several years, the foals’ dad had been sick, and he just never got better. One Friday afternoon, Lark saw his sisters off to a slumber party at a mutual friend of theirs. Upon getting home, he went to the kitchen. He thought he’d cook himself something… maybe make extra for when Dad finished his work for the night. But about the time he was starting, his dad called him into his study.

Lark couldn’t really remember being called into the office. He went in there plenty, to look for school supplies or to help his sisters with whatever it was they were doing, but he’d always stayed out when Dad was there… Dad looked old. And sick. It was shocking how the last few years had treated him.

“Lark… your sisters off at their party?”

“Yes.”

Beige smiled, “I’m glad they have such a nice little friend.”

For many years, Lark had trouble talking with the old stallion. What was there to say?

“Lark, I’m proud of you.”

“… What?”

“I’m proud of you. I know… I haven’t been much of a father to the three of you. And I know how much you’ve done for your sisters. I wish I could have been a better father to you, but… I just never knew how.”

Lark was at a loss, “Well… okay, Dad.”

“You’re not even a colt anymore… You’ve taken on a stallion’s responsibility… and you’ve done better than me… So, I’m proud of you.”

Not knowing what else to say, Lark said, “I’m going to go make dinner. I’ll come let you know when it’s done. If you don’t want it then, I’ll save it for you.”

With that, he left his dad. In the kitchen, he put together a stew from some leftovers he found in the fridge. It wasn’t his favorite dish, but when he had the materials around it was a good way to use them up. And his dad liked it, so that was a plus. It was always a plus.

A few minutes before the stew was done, Lark went to see if his dad wanted dinner then, or later.

It was apparent to Lark, immediately, that his dad was gone. He was slumped in his office chair, a book between his legs. He looked peaceful, as if asleep, but he was dead.

Feeling a vague emptiness, Lark phoned the authorities. In the time before they showed up, he ate a bowl of stew.

The hardest part of the night was calling the house of Lark’s sisters’ friend and having them come home. The two of them didn’t take it well. Lark didn’t know what to do.

With no family immediately in town, Lark was required to pack a few bags for himself and his sisters. They were taken to a foster home that very night and remained there until other family could be contacted. Thankfully, Beige had set affairs in order, so that went smoothly enough.

Sugar Plum had a younger sister. She and her husband had agreed, back when Sugar was sick, that she would help her foals if need be. The duty had already been shirked for many years, but now it was answered.

The girls said goodbye to their friends, took what they were able to, and prepared to leave. Lark said goodbye to his own friends, but it was a hollow goodbye. He really didn’t care anymore.

So, Lark, Valley, and Copper were moved to their aunt and uncle’s in Vanhoover, all the way west across the Equestrian continent.