//------------------------------//
// A conversation 
// Story: Time for a Conversation 
// by armid 
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I left the school right away. I desperately needed fresh air and just couldn't stand being there anymore. It seemed that my tutoring session had taken way longer than it should have, and the sky had gotten dark. "Ugh! I think I'll be late again!" I nagged to myself silently. The stars started to appear one by one in the evening sky, a pleasant scenery that helped me refresh my mind. Walking down the silent streets and taking in the cold fresh air of fall was all that I needed to calm down. 

"Should I talk to dad?" The thought jumped into my head, but I was not minding it then. If I didn't hurry up, I would have been late, so I decided to speed up and shorten my track by taking the path on top of the buildings and not around them. Jumping from one building to another, sliding down pipes, and climbing ladders while accompanied by the cold breeze of night running through my lungs was not an ideal situation to put my thoughts together, however, I did.

Both Steely and Sunset Shimmer suggested talking to my father. But I still doubted it would have solved anything. My family has owned this business for a while and each generation they passed it down to their son. Of course, my dad would do the same. Denying it would be like betraying generations. But still, I had never actually talked to him about it. Always thought he would be very strict about this, like how he is towards every single tradition in our family.  

Before I knew it, I ran out of buildings to jump onto. The rest of the way was a short walk home. All the stars were in the sky. It was officially night. Staring at them gave my tired feet the energy to keep on going. I was late, not super late, but late by my father's standards. I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk to dad or not, but I was considering it. It was after opening the gate that I made my decision: I was going to talk to him!

I still didn't know how it would go, or if it would do any good or not, but I decided to do it. If it meant solving my problems, well sweet! And if it didn't, I still had my main plan.

While walking from the yard to the main door, I practiced a little. "Excuse me, Dad, would you mind sparing...No, that's not it."

"We need to talk! Too offensive. Not going to work." 

"Dad, do you have time for a conversation?...yeah, that's not bad!"


I reached the door, but before I opened it, I took a deep breath. "Okay, you got this. C'mon, he's your father, after all." By twisting the handles, I opened it.  

As always, the first person to greet me was Alferedo. "Hello, sir. We were starting to worry about you. Especially your father." He took my backpack from me and accompanied me to the living room, where father was sitting by the fireplace. 

"Thanks, Alf. Where is everyone else?" 

"Mrs. Butter is in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Mr. Ace fell asleep, so I took them to their room."

"Thanks, and what about Grandma rose?"

He took a moment to adjust the lights in the living room. "Madam Rose, too, is resting as of the time being." He then gave his usual half bow to me and walked away with my backpack. It was then that I noticed Grandma Rose's loud snore from downstairs.

I should have walked to my room upstairs to change clothes, but I decided to talk to dad first. So, I walked ahead. "Dad, do you have time for a conversation?" 

His gaze was locked on the pictures on the wall, and when he heard my voice, he turned around. "Flame..." he stood up. "Where have you been?"

“We'll talk about that.“ I looked away. “But do you have time for… a conversation?" 

He looked me in the eye. "Y-yeah, of course." He then sat down on his chair again. "Take a seat."

I sat on the couch. I usually just drop myself on it, but this time I wanted to be taken seriously. "You know...I've noticed that you've been giving me these ‘talks’ about your work, discussing your decisions at work with me and...." I looked at him. His eyes were on me, listening carefully. "That offer you gave me about working with Uncle cash? I know that you want me to be like you, but I don't want to be a businessman nor an accountant. I…” I stood up. “I want to be a musician and I mean it!" I looked him directly in his eyes. 

He blinked and took a few moments before saying anything. "I see. I should have guessed." He nodded. 

He did say that. That was...the last thing I expected to hear. 

"Uhm, nothing?!"

"Nothing...what?"

"Like, you are not gonna give me one of those magnificent quotes of yours, lecture, argue...nothing?" Was it really that easy?

"No, why should I?" He shook his head and leaned forward.

"B-but I thought you wanted me to be like you, that you wanted to leave this business to me, just like how grandpa left it to you!" 

He looked shocked. "Yes, but if you don't want to, I understand. Besides, I  wanted that! It was never forced on me."

I was lost! I just couldn't believe it. I had been totally wrong about everything. My jaw was hanging open, wide enough for a plane to go through it. "B-but, I thought..."

"Listen, Flame," he abandoned his chair and sat next to me on the couch, "I know I got...ahead of myself about these, “discussions”.  When I gave you that offer...I really thought you wanted this. But now I see that you do not. And that's fine!" He put his hand on my left shoulder. "If being a musician is what you want, I will support you the best I can."

I was baffled, I really didn't know what to say. It even surpassed the ideal outcome that I thought of. "T-thanks dad."

He smiled as I looked at him, and so did I. I really didn’t expect to hear those words from him. I felt a warmth in my heart. It felt great. Super mega great.

He continued, "do you still remember the song that your mother and I made for you?"

I didn't say anything, I just started singing.







When the sky gets dark, when it gets decorated with lights, 
each being a mark, in the vast gloom nights

Remember our memories and look above.


There is a day after the night and a moon on top of the dark sky.
Everything will be alright, you'll never know if you never try.


In dark moments of your life, there is a tiny, shining peephole of light.

That you will see, if you try hard.

Don’t forget,
I'm with you
In the dark.


"Of course you do!" He hugged me.

"Well, you and she sang it for me every night. It's kinda hard to forget." I gave him a smirk, while also looking at the picture on top of the fireplace, mum's pic.



After that, I headed to my room upstairs to change. I took off my jacket and put it on my chair, and took off my jeans and swapped them for something more comfortable. I kept my T-shirt on because I love it. 



When I got down, the dinner table was ready, but before we headed there I had to answer some questions.


"Flame, why were you so late again?" asked Dad, while we headed there.

"Um, I uh, I had to...TUTOR!"

"What?" He looked at me and narrowed his eyes.

"Yeah, I, uh, was tutoring someone in Math, and it took some time ‘till I managed to teach them something!" I kept my cool, and by that, I mean shrugging and smiling.

"Oh, I didn't know they let you tutor others in Math. Especially when you are still a newcomer."

"You know, talent and all." I winked at him.

Somehow, I had saved it. And who knew talking could solve so much? But I still need a way to get rid of my exam paper.

The moment Flame put the comma at the end of the last sentence, a light bulb lit up in his mind. "Wait! I don't think Dad would get suspicious if he sees some ash around, would he?" He closed his diary and left the edge of the window to reach into his backpack and pick up his exam paper to fulfill the idea that just occurred to him.