A glint of light shone off the diamond stones embedded in the wedding ring, Glacia frowning as she did the last bit of polishing on it. For most jewelers that would be the final part of modifying a customer's ring, but she was a stickler for quality and knew that in a ring that boasted as many stones as the one she was working on would have small bits of grime in the crevices where no cloth would reach. A soft toothbrush was perfect for the task, Glacia dipping it into a glass of soapy water she had for the task before brushing them gently.
Glacia was a stern looking woman in her mid forties, dark blue hair done up in a low hanging loose bun and white skin flawless through care. Today she wore a blue dress shirt and black business pants with blue heels, her ensemble smart casual but accentuated with a tasteful necklace and earrings of her own design. Her blue eyes could make her look quite severe at times, though the employees of her and her husband's jewelery business understood that while they stressed quality and excellence from them at the same time they were well worth putting the effort as bosses.
The only sounds that had filled the room while she had been working at the repair desk had been the tapping of keyboard and clicking of mouse from her husband Zephyr, busy with the accounting figures on his computer screen. Much like his wife he looked steely, short black hair slicked back with blue eyes and slate grey skin. He wore a long sleeved white dress shirt and black suit pants along with an expensive looking set of formal shoes, making sure to sit upright in his chair as he did a little more work on balancing the books. A smile made its way onto his face, finding that all three of their stores had been exceeding expectations and profits were looking very promising. The staff would likely take the news well, as it meant they would all be getting bonuses.
"Excuse me, Glacia." She looked up from the last brushes of the ring to see the Canterlot store manager Rhinestone had just walked into the back area, her bubbly personality, blonde hair and pale pink skin a stark contrast to the business owners. She too wore a business suit with skirt and high heels, formal attire a required part of the job. "Mister and missus Hollingwell have just arrived for their ring, what should I tell them?" Glacia looked at the ring, having finished the clean and reaching for her drying towel.
"Not to worry, I can bring it out now." She replied, Rhinestone nodding and leaving to let them know. Holding the ring in the towel and drying it delicately as she left the back of shop to greet their most loyal customers. Rounding the corner, she was greeted by a well lit and inviting store, but one that also made the customer feel like they were getting genuine small business care. Mahogany jewelry cases ringed the store, a set of rotating watch displays in the middle to prevent the store looking empty. The Hollingwells waited patiently at the first display, both wearing casual wear and with their five year old son holding both their hands. Ten years ago Mister Hollingwell had come for a wedding ring, the very same one Glacia had just finished enlarging and cleaning for them today. "Welcome back!" Glacia greeted them, a genuine smile on her face. "I trust your shopping went smoothly?"
"It sure did." Woodrow Hollingwell said, beaming at his wife and son. His skin was a light brown with dark brown messy hair, wearing a while collared t-shirt and jeans. His wife Daisy beamed back, her yellow skin and light blue hair accentuated well by a flowing sun dress. Their son had the brown skin of his father and the blue hair of his mother, from what Glacia could see from underneath the slightly oversized fireman helmet he wore. "How'd the cleaning go?"
"Perfectly." Glacia said, presenting the ring to Daisy. "There may still be a little water between the stones, but it won't be damaging in the slightest." Nodding, she put the ring on regardless and admired it, grateful that it didn't chafe due to the smaller size anymore. "I see your little one is interested in being a fireman when he grows up."
"Yeah! Fireman are the best!" Their son Chipper said excitedly, getting quick laughs from his parents.
"Well, until he decides someone else is better." Daisy giggled. "But that's kids for you! They'll figure out what they want to do, and all you can do is support them right?" Glacia blinked, momentarily taken aback at the statement.
"Yes, of course." She said, her thoughts seemingly having retreated. "Was there anything else I can help you with today?"
"Nah, we're just after the ring clean." Woodrow said, Rhinestone having come over again to finish off the transaction. Leaving them to it, she entered the back room once more to find her husband sending off the final email for the day before logging off the computer. She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, noting that it was just one in the afternoon now.
"Is something wrong, dear?" Zephyr asked, snapping her back to the present.
"Oh, no." She replied, sitting down. She took a deep breath before continuing. "Zephyr... are we too hard on Rally?" She asked, causing him to blink much like she had outside. "I know we want him to succeed, but have we ever stopped to consider what success means to him?"
"How so?"
"Well, we have expected much more from him ever since..." She trailed off, both of them thinking about how their oldest daughter had run off with a transfer student just two years ago. "Ahem, ever since he went for his entrance examination for Crystal Prep." She said, neither one of them willing to talk about Olivia. "Perhaps our expectations are simply wrong for him? I just saw the Hollingwell's son with them, and I cannot remember the last time I saw Rally look so happy to be with us."
"Now that you mention it, I can only imagine that it would not be easy for him to be growing up with us constantly telling him to focus on what we want him to and not his own interests." Zephyr conceded, his shoulders slumping a little at the idea that they had been stifling their son's talents. "We've always wanted him to follow in our successes. Has it always been at the cost of his own dreams?"
"No more." Glacia said, determination in her voice and eyes. "We will make things right."
***
Having finished everything they had needed to for work, Glacia and Zephyr had set out on their new mission to make amends with their son Rally Flag. A short trip through the mall had them organise a special gift for him before they headed for Canterlot High School to pick him up. Ordinarily he would take the bus home, having said that he would likely be a little late home that day due to after school study with his friends. For some time they had suspected that meant he was playing sports, now saddened that he had felt the need to hide the truth from them.
It was a short drive from the mall to the school, the married couple riding it out in silence save for the odd remark about the traffic or which road to take. Eventually they pulled into the school parking lot, getting out of their dark blue luxury sedan and making their way to the stands around the soccer field. There was a modest crowd there already, parents and students who wanted to stay after school to watch the game between Canterlot and Cloudsdale High. Finding two seats at the front row, Glacia and Zephyr sat down and searched through the running students for their son.
"There." Zephyr said, pointing to where Rally Flag was running headlong for the goals with the ball. As they watched he artfully dodged one of the opposing team, passing the ball to another student with light blue skin and dark blue hair who ran the ball a bit further before passing it back to Rally. From there it was a short dash before he gave the ball a powerful kick, the Cloudsdale goalie leaping one way only for the ball to curve slightly mid flight, striking the back of the goal net and falling to the ground. A cheer went up from the Canterlot students and parents, Rally pumping his fist excitedly as his team mates ran up to congratulate him.
"He is quite good, isn't he?" Glacia said, clapping politely along with her husband. He nodded in agreement, now very interested in watching the soccer match. The players reset to continue the game, one of the Cloudsdale players kicking the ball to one of their teammates only for a girl with light blue skin and rainbow hair on the Canterlot side to intercept it and run full pelt for their goal. Compared to their son she almost effortlessly evaded the opposition, sending the ball flying at the goal so fast the goalie could barely react. Another goal scored and they saw Rally go up to her, the two exchanging high fives. "Oh, isn't that one of his friends? Rainbow... oh, did we really care so little about our own son?"
"We are here to make amends for that." Zephyr murmured gently, his wife nodding in affirmation. With that goal Canterlot was now ahead by two points with barely five minutes left, all but assuring their victory over Cloudsdale. Though Rainbow Dash had been unable to recreate her lightning intercept again, neither side could gain any meaningful ground in what remained of the game, the final whistle finding Canterlot the winners. Amidst the cheering of the crowd Glacia and Zephyr applauded politely, grateful at the least that Rally was able to find a place to be himself in spite of them. The grin on his face as he celebrated with his teammates, carefree and genuine, warmed their hearts and affirmed that today was the right choice. With the game over, both players and parents had begun to split off into their own groups while Rally seemed to be left alone, his parents making their way over. "Rally." Zephyr said, watching with regret as his son turned to face his parents like a deer caught in headlights.
"Mum? Dad?" He said in shock, his face going slightly pale.
"It's okay, Rally!" Glacia interjected. "You're not in trouble, but we do have to talk with you on the way home." From several metres away Rainbow Dash watched as Rally followed his parents, looking a bit sad on his behalf even though she was sure he felt even worse.
***
"Rally... we want to apologise."
"For what?" Rally had been on a rollercoaster of emotion since the soccer game, now in the back of his parents car while they were stopped at a red light on the way home. Winning the game had been hugely uplifting, only to be followed by a massive crash when he saw his parents had been there. They had told him that study was too important for him to be wasting time playing sport, but the gym teacher had told him that his natural talent would be wasted even more if he didn't. He also had so much fun playing, so it had been impossible for the fourteen year old to resist the temptation. But that opening sentence had caught his interest, wondering whether or not he really was in trouble.
"For failing you as parents." Zephyr said. Rally blinked, not sure of what to say. "We have spent so much time these last two years pressuring you into being what we want you to be, we never stopped to consider what it was that you want to be."
"However, we have realised this mistake." Glacia continued, the young teenager more confused at how oddly formal they were being. He was used to it, but what they were saying now felt even more so than usual. "Rally, we want you to be what you want to be. That means you no longer have to worry about hiding the fact that you play sport from us. If that is what you want to do, then we will support you as best we can."
"We are also going to start treating you like our son, and not our employee." His father added, wanting to look at his son. However they were still driving, Zephyr bringing the car to a smooth stop at a red light before he allowed himself to do so. The look of hope that had settled on his face was all the affirmation he needed, giving Rally a fatherly smile he knew the blue haired teen deserved. Glacia reached one hand back as she turned to look at Rally as well, feeling Rally's own hand grasp it.
"Mum, dad... I love you." He said, the look of happiness on his face warming them to the core.
"We love you too, Rally." She replied, one thumb stroking his fingers. "We also got you a gift. We know you were hoping for a new computer, so we bought you a very good one which is waiting for you in your room." She could see his blue eyes light up at this, grateful that they could start to be a real family instead of just in name. "But we do still expect you to finish all your homework before you start playing games, Rally." She added, her usual sharp tone returning for that part though it only made him grin.
"Sure thing, mum!" He agreed readily, feeling the car start to move once more as the light changed to green. Starting off down the road Zephyr brought the car up to speed at a reasonable pace, checking the mirrors reflexively. The lights at the intersection up ahead had also changed, traffic continuing to move at a steady pace by the time they reached the end of the queue of cars.
The screeching of tyres on the road was all the warning they had as they passed through the intersection, none of them prepared for the car running the red light on their side as it plowed heavily into the side of their car.
***
"... change his... can you..."
"We'll... new sheet and..."
"... under his... pressure..."
Rally could hardly make out who was talking or what they were saying, the words fading in and out. Everything ached, seemingly compounded by two aggravating itches along his torso and just under his left eye. He was lying on something that felt both firm and flexible, with a weight sitting on top of most of his body that was warm but kept his arms out. Something else seemed to have him propped up on his side a little, much softer than whatever else he was lying on. He also felt something wrapped around his hips, padding pressed against his crotch and backside.
"Ughhh..." He groaned, not able to open his eyes or do more than wriggle where he was. All the movement accomplished was to alert him to a more stabbing pain in his right elbow, as well as the fact that something seemed to be wrapped aound most of the arm. More words he couldn't make out were at least picked up by his ears, Rally finally able to blink his eyes open enough just to be greeted by a bright light and an off-white roof. Closing them again to avoid the blinding light, he was a little more aware of the voices as some seemed to move further away. Once he was able to open them again he saw an unknown person with blonde hair and dusty pink skin standing over him. He wore a white shirt and had a stethoscope around his neck, something that confused the teenager.
"Hello Rally Flag." The man said, giving him a friendly smile. "My name is Critical Care, I'm one of the doctors at Canterlot Hospital. Can you tell me how you're feeling right now?"
"Everything hurts." Rally said, frustrated that he could hardly move. He could feel that starting to change a little though, trying to grab whatever was behind his back and pull it out. His right hand could barely grasp it, feeling something hard in the palm of his hand that was obstructing it. "What happened?"
"Rally, you have some friends waiting just outside to see you. I think they would be better off explaining." Doctor Care said, leaving the room. Rally could tell he was talking to someone outside, but not who it was. His question was answered soon enough as his friend Applejack walked in, followed by Granny Smith. In contrast to the doctor both of them had looks of worry on their faces, Granny looking more grim than he had ever seen her in the cafeteria.
"Applejack? Granny Smith? What's going on?" He asked, his voice becoming a little frantic. "Where's my mum and dad?" Applejack looked at him, her face crestfallen at the question they needed to answer.
"Rally, I... Granny?" Applejack stammered, not able to say it.
"Rally, you were in a car accident two days ago." Granny Smith, watching sadly as he started putting the pieces together in his mind. "The doctors did everything they could. Your parents... they didn't make it."
Rally was shaken to his core. He wanted to scream, as though refusing the statement would somehow make it not true. All he could do was close his eyes and cry.