//------------------------------// // Velvet Heart - Cotton Ball - Bonus Chapter // Story: Crystal Note - Where life leads us // by TalkingToMyself //------------------------------// Crystal Note gently tucked Velvet Heart in her bed and smiled as she watched the filly for a minute. She’d been sleeping all the way back home and luckily, she’d been smiling the entire time. Unsurprisingly, Sweetie Tooth’s bed was empty. The filly hated being alone at night and Crystal Note found Glass Slipper sharing her bed with her little sister tonight. With Cotton Ball also slumbering in her basket, that left all of Crystal Note’s charges taken care of for the night. Luckily there was no school the next day, so Crystal Note could allow them to sleep in after such an emotionally draining day. She slipped out of the bedroom and closed the door quietly with a spark of her magic, then slumped down on her haunches for a moment with a deep sigh. The tension of the last weeks had been draining on her as well and even though she knew what happened for Velvet Heart tonight was good for her in the long turn, she couldn’t stop doubting herself. She loved the three fillies unconditionally and would readily give her horn and at least three of her legs for them, but after this night, she didn’t know if that was enough. She slowly climbed down the stairs to the kitchen, planning to order her thoughts over a cup of tea, but when she looked out of the window, she changed her mind. In the window next door, she could see light from candles. Apparently, it was one of the few nights Rose Quartz decided to come home instead of staying at the palace. Crystal Note quietly slipped out of the house and went to knock next door, hopefully Rose Quartz would answer her despite the late hour. The door opened up and moments later, the two sisters in everything but blood shared a long hug. Crystal Note took her usual seat at the kitchen table while Rose Quartz prepared another mug of steaming coffee. Crystal Note took a deep whiff and a careful sip while Rose Quartz quickly drained half of her own drink “So tell me Crissy, do you still enjoy being a full-time-mom?” Crystal Note sighed deeply and slumped down in her chair, her head sinking down on the table in front of her with a thud. Whatever energy she thought she still had left just completely ran out at the weight of Rose’ question and her silvery-white coat lost all its shine “That bad, huh?” “Yes… no… ugh, I don’t even know where to start.” Rose Quartz put her hoof gently on Crystal Note’s head, a small gesture she picked up from her own mother when they were both fillies. Crystal Note closed her eyes at that and quickly summed up the events of the last two weeks. Of course, Rose Quartz already knew some of it, but while she was happy to hear Velvet Heart had opened up again to Crystal Note at least, she didn’t understand what caused so much distress to her sister. “So, in the end I took her to her parents’ graves. She needed to open up to somepony, it had to be somepony who loved her and whom she could be sure would never judge her. I know I always felt better after visiting our parents and Glass Slipper does too, so I hoped Velvet could find some comfort from them. I left her alone so she could pour her heart out, I swear I didn’t mean to pry, but I heard her sobbing so I sneaked closer to check on her and I heard a few things she said. She’s afraid she’ll forget about her parents and that she’ll stop loving them. That’s when I realized, Rose. All I did for the last few months when was distract them, helping them find other things to think about. The new house, new hobbies, traveling to other towns, heck I even got them a pet. All the time I thought I was helping them, all I did was make them forget the ponies who loved them more than anypony else ever could.” Crystal Note looked up with tears gleaming in the corner of her eyes “Rose, be honest: Am I stealing them away from their parents? I still don’t know if I’d be a good substitute for them, but now I feel like I should never be their guardian at all. It’d only hurt them more than it already has.” Rose Quartz looked straight into Crystal Note’s eyes for a whole minute. Then she started to laugh softly. Crystal Note blinked confused and frustrated but Rose Quartz just went on “If I didn’t knew it better, I’d believe Velvet Heart is your born daughter. It’s hilarious how you two blame yourselves for things you’re not responsible for but you’re both oblivious.” That didn't help as much as she hoped and instead, Crystal Note only felt more guilty "Velvet Heart called me 'mommy' tonight. For the first time, without any teasing and out of her own. I love her so much, but I don't want to hurt her. I don't want her to betray her parents for me." Rose Quartz stopped laughing and instead glared at her sister “Crissy. It’s not your fault her parents died, just like it isn’t the filly’s fault. And if she forgets about them, at least for a while, it’s not betrayal, it’s healthy. Thinking about her parents constantly would wear her down to the point where she couldn’t face anything on her own anymore. So you making her forget and move on is the best thing you can do for her right now. You’re not stealing Velvet Heart or the others from anypony, you’re helping them because you care for them and, no doubt, love them like your own. You would ask none of those questions if you didn’t.” Crystal Note listened attentively, but the force of her guilt faded down with each word, until her ears folded down on her head and she felt Rose’ words ground her. Her gaze fell down on the mug in her hooves again, but a soft touch on her head made her face Rose’ gaze once more. Her sister had lost her glare as well, instead she looked at her with pride and appreciation “Velvet didn’t call you ‘mommy’ because she’s searching for a replacement. She knows you love her like a daughter and she wants to let you know she loves you too.” Crystal Note returned Rose Quartz’ smile as her sister stepped around the table and pulled her into a firm hug “Maybe you couldn’t know for sure at first. But I know without a doubt, you are the best pony to be their mother.” Crystal Note gently rested her head against her sister and with a wave of relief, her appearance changed back it her normal silvery-white colours. The sisters held each other for a while longer, then smiled and fell into more easy chatter on topics big and small, just like they always used to. Their cups were long empty and a faint glow on the horizon could already be seen before the finally wished each other a good night and Crystal Note returned home to her fillies.