2 weeks later and with their mother back home, Melody Star and Starlight Sonata were either one or the other on the strained tension circulating around the household. For Starlight, she was elated that her Mama was back and that her sister did in fact pass her recital with flying colors. That was when the tension started a week prior. After her performance, Moondance and Melody Star were heard arguing over the phone. While Starlight couldn't hear what was said, she could read what was being argued over. Apparently, Moondance was upset with Melody about what her plans were about these “gap years” that Melody had decided to do with her boyfriend and her band. Melody was frustrated that her mom wasn't seeing reason that her band was going on tour and that she’d be spending about 18 or so months on the roads with her ‘drug junkie of a boyfriend/tour manager and her crazy friends’ traversing about Equestria. Moondance thought her daughter was insane and absolutely forbid more speak of the subject. Starlight silently slunk away and went to find her papa and Sunflower, as she didn't want her sister to know that she had been eavesdropping.
That was a week ago and now Starlight was once again excited as she packed her suitcase with clean pajamas and her toothbrush. Her weekend clothes were folded neatly next to her case (as she had yet to put them in) along with her favorite teddy bear, Jam. Lightly buzzing about her room, she didn't even notice it when her papa came and stood in her doorway.
“Well, looks like somepony’s excited for her sleepover.”, Rain Whip signed when his daughter turned towards him, with a smile upon his face.
“Papa! What are you doing here?! I thought you had work?”, Starlight asked as she hugged her father.
“Surely you knew that I wouldn't miss today? Besides, your mother asked me to take you to Sprinkler’s house this afternoon.”, Rain Whip replied as he watched his little filly resume her packing. A bright blue and polkadot wrapped present with a white bow tied around it, sat gently at the desk in Starlight's room. Glancing at it, Starlight signed with a content look on her face.
“I am certain that Sprinkler will absolutely love her gift! She's going to be so surprised when she sees it!”, Starlight said in an almost mirthful tone.
Chuckling, Rain Whip smiled as his daughter put the last piece of clothing in her suitcase and struggling until she got the idea to whistle for her dog and together they managed to close the suitcase. With a laugh, he scooped his little girl up and hauled her downstairs with her suitcase being dragged behind them. Sunflower happily trotting aside them. Things were peaceful until they reached the bottom of the staircase. That's when Rain Whip heard the argument and the piece that undoubtedly made him wish he didn't hear it.
“I can't believe you right now!?! You realize what you just asked me right?!”, Melody Star said in shock.
“Ohh, don't be so overdramatic love. I'm merely thinking about you in the long term of it. I just think you should reconsider this whole ‘tour’ thing.”, Moondance explained in a chipper tone that betrayed her frustration.
“Oh really now? So what do-do you expect me to tell my record label that ‘ Oh I can't do the tour this year! My mother wants me to go to college!’ They'd drop us faster than light speed! Plus there's my crew to think about here! Honestly, Daddy would let me do it!”, Melody shouted in rebuttal.
“Now you know that what your Papa and I mean is--”, Moondance started, but was quickly interrupted.
“--I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT RAIN WHIP!?! I'M TALKING ABOUT MY DAD! LIGHTNING FLASH?! OR HAVE YOU ALREADY GOTTEN SO USED TO HIM BEING HERE, THAT YOU'VE FORGOTTEN THE POOR STALLION! SERIOUSLY, IF DAD WERE STILL HERE HE’D BE ON MY SIDE OF THIS ARGUMENT!”, Melody Star fumed out. Breath uneven and a harsh look in her eyes.
With a sharp intake of air, Moondance looked shocked as she back pedalled a bit before straightening out. Her once cheerful expression, now morphed into one of a parent at their limit with their foal. Taking a large step forward, she advanced upon her eldest daughter and spoke in a almost deadly tone.
“Melody Anastasia Star. I understand that you are upset that I’m not allowing you to do this tour, however I will NOT stand here and have you bring up the past, much less your father in such a disrespectful tone! I may not often discipline you to the appropriate means, but that does NOT give you the right to speak so abundantly rude in my house! Much less bringing up the whole ‘if my daddy were here he would...’ thing! If your father were here, he’d be trying to talk some sense into both of us. But guess what? He’s. Not. Here! He will never be here again and I thought after all these years, you’d get that through your head. Gee, why do I have the feeling that's why you go out with that lowbrow druggie Checker Flag? He acts so much like how Lightning Flash was at 18 it's astounding! Bad colts attract the good fillies. Always. Perhaps that's why I rushed into the first marriage. My young seventeen years old brain didn't think straight just like yours doesn't now! So do yourself a favor and get out of it while you still have your future ahead of you ‘Mellow Yellow’. There's always time after college for tours and travels! Only after you're in a steady job. So please, call off this whole ordeal with this tour. After all most beginners in the business--”, Moondance explained through her teeth before a harsh slap struck her across the face. Sending her reeling back into the couch in the living room.
Standing on the front porch of Sprinkler’s house, suitcase and present in grasp, Starlight was practically bouncing before stopping to make sure her hearing aids were turned up loud enough for her to partially make out her daddy’s words (of course heavily relying on her lip reading and signs to decipher what was being said helped).
“Now are you sure you've got everything you need? Charger for your hearing aids? ITab fully charged and charger in case? Cell Phone in case of emergency? Sprinkler's present? Jam all tucked in there?”, Rain Whip asked/signed off the list of things she should have with her in her case and the present.
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Definite yes. Papa! Not the whole neighborhood needs to know that!?!”, Starlight signed/spoke back in confirmation (and slight embarrassment).
“Okay. Was just making sure! You know how I worry. Yet I know you’ll be fine. Sprinkler's mom will be here the whole night and it's just you girls here so... that's a bonus!”, Rain Whip stated his worry.
With a very audible sigh, Starlight knocked on the door and was immediately met by a apparently squealing Sprinkler who all but dragged Starlight inside. Only an audible “see you later dad! Love you” came from her was his response as he went on about his way back home.
When Starlight got inside, the party looked like it had truly just begun. With her being the last to arrive (as she told everypony there that she'd be ‘fashionably late’), that gave her the advantage of setting her present (which was the biggest one there) on the table in the far back. Primarily for dramatic effect as she'd later explain. Anyways, after she set it down, she made sure her hearing aids were turned back up and quickly went and rushed at the birthday filly, hugs and all while squealing and signing about how excited she was about that night. Quickly calming her friend down (as well as lassoing her back to the floor via her mane ribbons due to...well an excited Pegasus!), Sprinkler dragged Starlight into the living room. Gently nudging her towards the upright piano in the corner (as both fillies’ were interested in the piano and Sprinkler was receiving lessons from Starlight).
“Play ‘Happy Birthday’ please?! Oh pretty please?!?”, Sprinkler asked her friend sweetly.
“Of course I will! What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?!?”, Starlight replied in sign as she began playing the familiar tune before being stopped by Sprinkler's mother, Weather Vane.
“Hold on there Starlight Sonata. Let's hold off on that until cake time. Sound good?”, Weather Vane suggested.
Pausing for a brief moment, Starlight mulled this over before agreeing with a nod. Agreeing that the truly appropriate time would be when birthday cake was involved and everypony was gathered around. Hopping back onto the bench, she decided to play a different song due to a game of musical chairs being broken out. The tune was a piano version of a song that was a favorite of all the fillies' there. Stopping on random intervals, so that the game could actually be played was alright with her. Truthfully, this song was a little hard for her to play (though she'd never admit that out loud due to pride reasons) due to the beat change being sudden and a bit tricky, but she still manages to do it until the laughter finally reached her ears along with a triumphant whoop of joy from one of them as that told Starlight who the winner was. Turning around, Starlight was greeted by the semi-smug face of Rosalinda as she signed and spoke that she won (to Sprinkler's delight and Spirit Chaser’s annoyance). Chuckling, Starlight got up and excused herself to the kitchen to grab a snack. When she got there, she saw Cinnamon Twist trying to open a bag of chips with her magic. Shaking her head and chuckling, she walked over to her and grasped the chips in her wings and swiftly opened them.
“Thanks Starlight! You're a lifesaver. I was starting to get frustrated with that thing.”, Cinnamon Twist said/signed as the pair dug out a big bowl and poured the wavy chips into the bowl before making their way into the dining room and set it down in the middle of the table as they took their seats. Cinnamon Twist next to Rosalinda and Starlight Sonata next to Spirit Chaser. With plates being served of Cauliflower tofu pizza and chips, the party goers tucked in to a delicious (and not at all healthy) meal before the main event got underway: singing/playing “Happy Birthday”.
2 hours later….
With dinner having already been eaten and dancing had been paused (briefly), it was time for the part of the night that Sprinkler was especially excited for (same for the rest of the party, but moreso for the obvious birthday filly). Slinking away from the apparent group conversation she was in, Starlight saw the subtle nod from Weather Vane and hopped back onto the piano bench. Readying her hooves, she caught the look that Weather Vane gave her from behind the swinging kitchen doors and she began to play the simple traditional tune as everypony else sang and signed the words to Sprinkler. When the song was over, Sprinkler sucked in a big breath (the flash of a camera briefly stunning her) then in an attempt to blow them all out in one go, she only got half of the candles before having to blow out the second half. Cheers rang out and the cake was distributed out (with Sprinkler getting the first piece obviously). To most of the filly's relief, the cake was a sweet chocolate flavor. Afterwards, it was time for them all to get in pajamas and play some more.
“Hey girls, I got an idea!”, Rosalinda said as Sprinkler was about to open her presents.
“Whatever it is, can't it wait until after I finish opening my gifts?!”, Sprinkler said and signed as she immediately went to the present that was labeled ‘To Sprinkler, From Dad’. Opening it up, she saw that it was a new travelling sun parasol with her name engraved into it. With a strained smile she put it back in the box and went to call her dad to tell him thanks.
After the awkwardness that was her first present, Sprinkler began to actually get excited about her gifts. From Spirit Chaser, she got a new videogame (which she was rather elated to receive as she had been wanting that one for weeks). From Rosalinda, she got a new swimsuit (again, there was the forced smile, due to the style not being one she'd wear). Sprinkler got a new dollhouse from her mom. From Cinnamon Twist, she got a cookbook (the author was a ViewTuber that both fillies’ loved watching). Finally after many more gifts from other relatives, Sprinkler came to the final and biggest gift. Seeing the tag that read ‘To my bestie, Thank you for being there’ in Starlight's mouth writing, Sprinkler opened the box and was shocked to see what was inside. With a two hoof grip, she pulled out the box to a brand new wagon!
“Oh. My. Faust?! Starry!! ThankyouThankyouThankyou!!! How’d You know I needed a new one?!?”, Sprinkler gushed as she signed.
“Filly, you’ve been riding around in that old beat up wagon of yours since we were 4. Time for an upgrade.”, Starlight Sonata signed/spoke in reply. A grin never leaving her face.
“How dare you?”, Moondance said in a shocked whisper.
“How could I not?! That's the appropriate response to something like that!”, Melody Star shot back.
Suddenly Melody saw a change in her mother. From the less cheerful expression, that she was wearing to the harsh, cold expression one only received when they know they’ve done something terrible. With a sudden raising of her barrel, raising up on her back legs then landing and taking a forceful step towards her daughter. The aura around her spelled “dangerous. Beware”. That was before she spoke.
“Get out.”, Moondance said in an icy tone.
“Wait, What?”, Melody Star said in shock.
“You aren't deaf, I said GET. OUT! I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU FOR A FEW DAYS! GET OUT NOW!”, Moondance screamed at her daughter as she threw pillows at the shell shocked teenager.
Dodging the projectiles expertly as she fluttered in the air, Melody looked at her mother with a furious look in her eyes.
“Fine, I'm out. When you're ready to talk like an adult instead of shouting at me like a little foal , I’ll be at Uncle Lunar’s place.”, Melody said in a cold tone. Grabbing her pleather jacket, she rushed upstairs into her room and grabbed her dance duffle. Throwing a bunch of her clothes and chargers into the bag, she zipped it again. Grabbing her guitar case and gingerly slung it across her back (being mindful of her wings), she went over to her window. Spreading her wings at the open window, she took off in a sprint. Not even looking back as tears leaked out of her eyes as she flew off into the dark night.
“Okay so what was that idea of yours?”, Starlight asked Rosalinda as she sat back on the floor with a peach juice box in hoof.
“Simple. A mere game of ‘Would You Rather’. I find a bottle and we spin. Whoever it lands on, the person opposite them asks something. It always starts with ‘Would You Rather’. The pony who spun has to answer. Simple.”, Rosalinda explained with signs. To the amusement of the others as they all agreed to the game. So, the group of 5 fillies' in pastel color pajamas sat in a circle. An empty soda bottle in the center of their little circle. The first pony to spin was of course, Sprinkler.
“Okay Sprinkles! Would you rather Eat a butterfly for a million bits or get into a cart accident, but you get a large settlement from the lawsuit?”, Starlight asked, as she was directly to the left of her.
Thinking about it briefly, she had her answer.
“Okay I think it's obvious that I’d eat the butterfly! I mean, shoot I wouldn't be injured if I ate a butterfly. I could be killed if I got in a cart accident! If not, then I guess the money would be worth my injury.”, Sprinkler gushed.
After many more rounds and some very revealing questions, it was Starlight's turn again. This time it was Sprinkler's turn to ask the ultimate question.
“Okay Starry. Would you rather Drive a motorcycle off a cliff in a leap of faith OR….” Taking a pause, she looked at both Starlight and Spirit before finishing “...kiss Spirit Chaser for 100 bits?”, Sprinkler asked with a devilish smirk as her hooves signed.
With a dirty look at her friend, Spirit Chaser glared at Sprinkler. Yet, before she could respond, Starlight spoke and signed.
“Okay. If I answer this, I want you all to pay attention to what I say. This NEVER leaves this room. Got it?”, Starlight explained with a serious look.
The look in her eyes pretty much told everypony there that she meant it. As the unofficial ‘leader’ of their girl group, that gave the 80% deaf honey colored filly the confidence boost that displayed that she was meant to be taken seriously. Nodding in unison, they agreed.
“Okay…..I’d rather do the second option.”, Starlight said with a tone that meant ‘laugh and I’ll skin you alive'.
None of the other fillies could even think of an answer. They were so shocked that they all had their jaws locked in a slack expression. That is until Spirit Chaser managed to speak.
“I...Is that true?”, Spirit Chaser asked in shock.
With a sigh because she knew that this can of glowworms had been opened, Starlight straightened before speaking.
“Yes, but for much less than 100 bits.”, she spoke as she folded her ears back. Spine straight and posture perfect as if she were a queen and not a truly messed up 10-year-old.
Letting the awkwardness fade as the game stopped and the girls went on about watching a movie.
Before they went to bed, Starlight was pulled aside and shoved into a bathroom by a hard breathing Spirit Chaser. Forcing her against the wall, she spoke in clear quiet tones.
“Was what you said in there true?”, Spirit Chaser asked.
Nodding, Starlight signed an affirmative yes.
It was as if a weight had been lifted off of both their shoulders. With this admission, it truly made both fillies think and as they turned back to one another, a slight blush arose on both their faces as Spirit Chaser backed up and let Starlight Sonata free from the wall. With a smile, Spirit Chaser hugged Starlight Sonata tight. No words needed to be said as they left the bathroom and back to the den and to their respective sleeping bags. With a quiet whisper of goodnight, the pair of fillies fell into a fitful sleep.