“Ah, horseapples.”
Cotton awoke with her head still nestled under Steadclaw’s chin. As she fluttered her eyelids, she looked up into the dusky sky. When she spotted a quickly retreating form above them, her eyes shot open and she bolted upright, accidentally shoving her hoof into Steadclaw’s gut.
“Oof! What was—”
“Someone spotted us!” Cotton cried in a harsh whisper.
“Oh sh—”
“Shhhhhh!” Pushing Steadclaw’s head down into the cloud, she frantically looked around until she saw the shadowed form of a noctis hovering in the air a short distance away. She saw the figure quickly turn its head away when she locked eyes with it, and she ducked her head down to cloud level before slowly peering back out. The noctis simply flapped its wings, playing the perfect sentry. “Oh no, the shifts changed! Dad must’ve sent someone out for me!”
“Oh Grover, w-what time is it?” Steadclaw asked with a quaver.
“I don’t know, I’m not a clock!” Cotton snapped back at him.
“Well, now that you know Aunt Pinkie’s trick you should—”
Cotton kicked him in the ribs. “Not the time for jokes!”
Steadclaw clutched his side. “Ow… sorry.”
“Besides, it’s much harder for me,” she added.
As she continued peering out from the edge of the cloud, Cotton saw the figure turn its head back in her direction. She noticed a tinge appear on his cheeks as he beckoned to her slowly with a hoof.
Letting out a sigh, Cotton said, “Okay, it’s Anathem. At least I’m not totally dead.”
“Who?”
“Anathem’s Nightshade’s partner on duty. Stay here,” she replied, slowly lifting herself off the cloud and flying towards the noctis with her tail tucked between her legs.
“Good, uh… Good evening, Miss Cotton,” Anathem said as she reached him, his face flush.
Cotton’s cheeks burned red. “Umm… Evening, Anathem. Did… Did Dad send you out for me?”
Nodding, Anathem answered, “He did. Princess Luna is going to raise the moon shortly.”
“Shoot. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be out so late,” Cotton responded. “I…” She looked over her shoulder at the cloud where Steadclaw still lay. “I, uh…”
“Was sleeping,” Anathem finished for her with a firm nod. “I found you sleeping. Just sleeping. That’s it.”
“Heh… Yyyyeeeeah.”
Pointing back to the cloud behind her, Anathem said, “Go say goodnight. I’ll give you a minute, but I need to get you back to the castle.” He then turned his back to her.
Nodding quickly, Cotton responded, “Thanks.” Then she zipped back to the cloud, finding Steadclaw laying flat, covered with as much fluff as possible.
“We in the clear?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah, we’re good,” she said. “He just saw us sleeping.” Steadclaw let out a deep sigh of relief, and Cotton nodded. “Yeah. But I need to go home.”
“Gotcha.” Sitting upright on the cloud, Steadclaw let out another breath, then smiled. Cotton did the same. Then they leaned forward for another kiss. When they parted, Steadclaw said, “Hey, thanks for, uh, y’know… being ready.” He ran a claw through the lower part of her mane. “Gotta tell me how you do that.”
Cotton giggled and shook her head. “Nope. Had to Pinkie Promise I wouldn’t tell anyone. Besides, I’m still not up to par.” With a small shrug and a tilt of her head, she added, “And I did make another promise I had to keep.”
Steadclaw smirked. “You’re a good girl,” he said, booping her nose with a talon. She giggled again and batted his arm away with a hoof. After a moment, he leaned forward and gave her another kiss, then rested his forehead on hers as he gazed into her eyes with a smile. “I love you, Cotton.”
Cotton moved off his forehead, closing her eyes as she nestled her head under his chin with a smile of her own. She nuzzled his neck for a moment before saying, “I love you too, Steadclaw.” Pulling herself away from the warmth and rhythm of his chest, she flapped her wings and launched herself in Anathem’s direction. “G’night.”
“Night,” he responded, falling forward onto his chest to rest his chin in his claws as Cotton flew off.
When Cotton reached Anathem, he continued looking in Canterlot’s direction as he asked her, “Ready to go?”
“Yeah, I’m ready,” she replied. The guard nodded and flew straight ahead, avoiding eye contact as Cotton followed him. After a moment, Cotton let out a sigh. “Thank you, Anathem. That was, uh…”
“A very restful nap, I can imagine,” he responded quickly, still looking forward.
Cotton blushed. “Thanks for covering for me.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said. Turning his head back to her slightly, he added, “Seriously. Please don’t.”
Ж
“…Oh, thank goodness. Here they come.” Spike sat in front of the castle main doors, his great eye locked on his daughter. “I was beginning to wonder.”
“Thou worryest too much, Spike,” Luna said, rolling her eyes at him. “We are quite confident Cotton wouldst have made it home on her own, even by Our moonlight.”
“I agree. You’re taking neurotic to a new level,” Celestia added from next to Luna. “If Twilight weren’t in court, she would have said the same.”
“Sure, bring in my neurotic sister to tell me I’m being neurotic. Again,” Spike harrumphed.
“Here she is, Sir,” Anathem said, dropping to the ground with Cotton beside him. “Cotton was sleeping on a cloud and lost track of time.” He immediately walked past Spike towards the castle interior. “Good evening, Your Highnesses,” he said, half-bowing to them as he continued forward. The princesses nodded at him accordingly before he slipped inside without another word.
“S-sorry, Daddy. That cloud was just so comfy,” Cotton said, her tail inadvertently flicking back and forth. “Thanks for sending Anathem out for me.”
“…You’re welcome, sweetie,” Spike responded, an eyebrow raised. “I presume you know you missed dinner.”
“I must have, if Aunt Luna is about to raise the moon like Anathem said,” Cotton responded. “Sorry about that. Can I, uh, still go get something?”
Spike chuckled before leaning down and kissing Cotton on the cheek. “Yes, sweetheart, I’m not going to make you starve because you…” He paused as his nose twitched. “…overslept.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” Cotton said quickly. “I’m just gonna go eat now.”
“Oh Cotton, before thou leavest,” Luna said, stepping in front of her, “perhaps thou couldst enlighten Us about something most strange.”
“Umm… sure, Aunt Luna,” Cotton responded hesitantly. “What’s up?”
“Dost thou know why thine Aunt Cadenza would awaken Us to speak so excitedly of thy dancing prowess?”
Cotton cocked a brow. “ I… I’m not quite sure what you—”
“We are not familiar with the ‘horizontal tango,’” Luna said sincerely. “Pray tell, what—”
Her eyes suddenly wide, Cotton sputtered, “S-sorry, I c-can’t really explain it.” Then she galloped into the great hall without another word.
“Cadenza sounded most impressed!” Luna called out. “Perhaps thou couldst teacheth Us one day?!”
“Maybe you should ask Twilight,” Celestia snickered.
Luna deadpanned at her. “Nay. We do not understand why thou and Cadenza insist upon foisting Twilight’s awful dancing skills upon Us,” Luna huffed. Giving a quick shrug of her shoulders and trotting out to the garden, she added, “We shall return once We raise the moon.”
Once Luna had departed, Spike let out a deep sigh as he crossed his arms and shook his head. “I had a feeling.”
“I’m impressed, Spike,” Celestia said. “You handled your emotions well.”
Spike shrugged. “Well, I told her how I felt. I told her she’s old enough to make her own decisions. And I told her I wouldn’t bring the hammer down on her. Despite my concerns, she clearly thinks she’s ready, so I won’t dissuade her. Part of being a parent is knowing when to back off.” He paused. “I guess it’s time.” Celestia could distinctly hear Spike’s teeth grinding together, like the low rumble of thunder over the horizon.
Celestia smiled as she patted his lower back with a hoof. “I’m very impressed.”
“Hey, I said I would back off. That doesn’t mean I’m happy about it,” he said with a glare in Celestia’s direction.
“I wouldn’t expect you to be, but you’re being very mature about it,” she responded. “Besides, flambèing citizens is purely a royal privilege. Luna decreed that several millennia ago.”
"Just like royalty to oppress the proletariat," Spike chuckled darkly. "But in all seriousness, being a father isn't easy."
Celestia let out a low giggle. “I’d imagine not.”
With a grunt, Spike said, “Says my sister’s second mother.”
“Okay, perhaps I’ve had some practice,” Celestia said with a smirk, “but it’s really not the same.” She turned around and looked in the direction where Cotton rushed off. “I think I’m going to go have some dessert now.”
“Of course you are,” Spike chuckled again. “Just do me a favor, Tia—don’t broach the subject with her.”
“I won’t,” Celestia said, shaking her head. “If she wants to talk, she will, but I won’t suggest anything.”
“Thank you,” Spike responded. “I intend to talk with her myself later.”
Ж
Satisfied with her quiet meal with Celestia, Cotton trotted back to her room, humming to herself with a smile plastered across her muzzle. When she heard the thud of heavy steps on the stairway, the smile drooped as she quickened her pace. It took only a moment after Cotton shut her door for a knock to arrive, with her father’s voice behind it.
“Cotton? Could you open up please? I’d like to speak with you.”
Beads of sweat dripped down Cotton’s face as her back and forelegs spread across her side of the door. “Uh, whatever for, Dad? I finished dinner, and I was about to, uh, go take a shower! Yeah! I, um…”
Cotton could hear the sigh through her door. “Cotton, you can stop panicking. I already know.”
Her eyes widened before darting back and forth. “Uh… know what?”
With a grunt, Spike said, “Cotton, please don’t play dumb with me. I’m not here to scold you, I just want to talk.”
Cotton took a steadying breath before turning around and opening her door a crack. “How… How did you—”
“That isn’t important. And before you ask, nobody told me, I didn’t go asking, and it wasn’t because of Luna.” When Cotton simply sat there, frozen, he asked, “May I please come in?” After a few moments, she slowly opened her door and nodded, stepping back several paces to leave him space.
When he squeezed his head through Cotton’s door, a frown flickered over Spike’s face. It did not go unnoticed. “Are… Are you mad at me?” Cotton asked, her legs quivering.
Spike sighed again. “Well, I’m not happy…”
Gulping, Cotton asked, “Am I… grounded again?”
With a small grunt, Spike replied, “We already had this conversation, Cotton. I told you how I felt about this. But, I also told you you were old enough to make this decision yourself. I don’t agree with your decision, but it was yours to make. So no, you’re not grounded. And I’m not mad.” Cotton let out a sigh of relief as she settled herself on her haunches and her body stopped quivering. “…for the moment.” She tensed up again as Spike cocked a brow. “…Given your chosen location, I have to ask—did you keep your promise to me?”
She reached up into her mane and fussed around for a moment, then pulled out a torn foil packet and showed it to her father; she felt like a filly showing an F on a report card. Spike’s eyes widened, then he opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Cotton giggled nervously. “Pecan taught me after my birthday party before we came home. She showed me with a candy bar, of all things. I just improvised.”
Spike managed to find his voice. “How…?”
“She’s a Pie, Daddy. Don’t ask, don’t question,” she replied with a smirk.
“That’s not what I—”
“Besides, I Pinkie Promised I wouldn’t tell,” Cotton said, cutting him off.
Spike finally closed his mouth and just chuckled. “Fine, ‘nuff said. At least you kept your promise; that’s what matters. Now I’m not mad.” He pushed his head into the room a bit further and kissed Cotton on the cheek. “I didn’t even need to make you Pinkie Promise. Good girl.”
Cotton’s cheeks flushed as she turned her head away. “Steadclaw called me that, too…”
“Well, so long as he keeps treating you like one.”
“So… are we all good?” Cotton asked.
“For now,” Spike answered. “Perhaps we might need to go have a visit with your Aunt Cadance, though.”
Cotton paled. “…You wouldn’t really throw me to the wolves like that, would you, Daddy?”
Spike smirked, then pulled his head out of Cotton’s doorway. “Goodnight, Cotton.”