“You’ve all worked hard this rotation and it is unfortunate that not all of you will be moving forwards,” Chief Print started. “This program is not easy and there is no shame in having to repeat it. We’ll get you all through in time. For today, however, I want to focus on what is next.”
“This has been a challenging rotation given all of the fanfare around Canterlot. We’ve barely done any example work. Instead, we’ve been running like an actual PRO unit and that is impressive. You’ve done the job.
“It is time to say goodbye to some of you as you move onto your final rotation elsewhere. Let me start by congratulating Guard Azurite for being number one in this group. You’ll have your pick of specialization rotation. On a personal note, I also want to thank you for all the extra hours you’ve put in helping me with this case load.
“You’re a wonderful pony that shines brighter than the mo—”
BANG!
I screamed before falling off the couch.
“Azurite, I’m so sorry!” Aurum said as she rushed over to help me up. “Were you sleeping already?”
I blinked in confusion. “I guess I fell asleep. I was having that great dream again.”
Aurum chuckled and rubbed my mane. “The one where Chief Print goes on and on about how great you are?”
“Yes! Would it have killed her to say more than ‘Good job, Guard Azurite, you’re first in the rotation,’ and move on?”
“Well, you were first in the rotation. That is pretty great, right?”
I nodded. “Yes, yes. I know. Anyway, what was that loud noise?”
Aurum flushed. “I was too aggressive with the door when I came in. It slammed, I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t like Aurum to slam the door, but she’d been on edge lately. Actually, longer than lately. She’d been on edge for almost a month.
I set my hoof on hers. “Still no response?”
She shook her head.
“Give him time, alright? I know this is difficult for you but you took a big step and that is great.”
She squeezed my hoof. “I know. I do. I’m just so frustrated. I sent him letters that were superficial, he ignored them. I sent him a letter that was heartfelt, he ignores it. I’m not a terrible mother, Azurite! I didn’t do anything to deserve this!”
The pain in her voice was so obvious it sent a chill down my spine. I reared up and threw my hooves around her neck. “No, you aren’t and no, you don’t! You’re a good pony. You’re a great pony and mother! You’ve been so helpful to me all my life. This is just a rough patch. That’s what Mindful would say. Would you like me to see if she’ll see you?”
Aurum looped her hoof around my back and held me. “No, no, thank you. I’m just upset and hurt. Should I go see him? Just show up at his door? What do you think?”
What did I think? I had no idea! I wasn’t a professional. “I think that I support you regardless of the decision you make. I’m not Quartz or a mom so I honestly don’t know.”
She took a deep breath and nodded against me. “That’s fair. I’ll give it a few more days.” She let me go and ruffled my mane. “Alright, dinner and then bed. You’ve got to finish up your last rotation.”
“Yes, I do! I hope I made the right choice.”
Aurum grinned. “Well, I’m not a royal guard or a pony resources officer, but I’m confident you did and I support you.”
Despite having the best scores in the class and having the choice of any specialization, I’d chosen to be a generalist. Typically, they processed the basic paperwork and for the more in-depth items, they’d refer a pony to the right specialist.
My thinking was that, by being a generalist, I’d still get to be a first point of contact for ponies. Then, if I learned everything really well, I’d never need to refer a client out. That was my goal.
It also meant this last rotation would be my easiest. Generalists were expected to know a little something about every field but not be an expert in any. That already described me. I just hoped I was making a good decision for my career.
“Azurite?” Aurum said, looking me in the eyes and waving a hoof.
“Hmm?”
“Dinner and then bed sweetie. Are you alright?”
“Sorry, still fretting! What’s for dinner?”
Aurum ruffled my mane. “Don’t fret. We’re having stew-fu.”
My nose wrinkled. “What is stew-fu?”
“Tofu stew. I read the recipe in a magazine and figured it was at least worth trying. Worst case, we load it into a catapult and hurl it from the mountain. You’re a royal guard, you can get a catapult, right?”
“Probably? You’d be shocked at what you can achieve with a notebook or a clip board. That and a little confidence,” I replied before hopping off the couch and settling up at the table.
Aurum ladled out stew into our bowls. It looked like milky water and smelled like nothing. “Oh, did I mention one of your friends dropped by the shop today?”
A friend of mine? I didn’t have any friends. “Who?”
“He said his name was Macaron and that you two went to school together,” she replied.
My ears wiggled. “Oh, Macaron? He was in my class at warrant officer school. I had no idea he’d look me up. What did he want?”
Aurum replied, “Not much, just to say hello, I guess. He said he was sorry you two weren’t going to be in the same class anymore. Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened per se. Not really. Macaron just didn’t score high enough to move on. He also didn’t score low enough to wash out, so they’re going to keep him for another rotation. Then he’ll likely move up. He’s got a lot of heart,” I explained. That was a nice way of saying a pony wasn’t the sharpest spoon in the woodshed.
“Oh, well that makes sense. He talked you up and said you were great. I just agreed and told him I’d let you know he stopped in. I wasn’t sure if you wanted to get together with him.”
“I don’t know. Maybe?” I mused as I sipped on the tasteless stew. “He’s not a bad pony but I only know him from school. Maybe I’ll look him up later. For now I just want to focus on graduating. I’m so close! All I have to do is keep it together for a little longer.”
“Right, right. I’m sure you’ll be top of your class again…” she trailed after taking a bite of stew. Her nose gave the slightest flare.
I took another sip and then bit into what I hoped was a tofu cube.
“Azurite?” Aurum asked.
“Hmm?”
“This is awful, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t call it awful, no. I’d call it aggressively mediocre.”
Aurum started to laugh, and her ears wiggled. “Aggressively mediocre? Where did you learn that?”
Mr. Peepers swam a fast lap in his bowl, blowing several bubbles. I pointed at him.
“And where did you learn that, Mr. Peepers?” she then asked.
He swam one lap and briefly hopped out of the water before swirling around diver pony.
Aurum looked my way. “What did he say?”
“He picked it up at a party with diver pony last week. It was one of his coworkers that said it,” I replied as I set my spoon down.
“Oh, I see. That— wait, what? Mr. Peepers’s coworker or diver pony’s?”
Mr. Peepers blew four bubbles.
“Mr. Peepers’s coworker.”
“Ah, yes, that makes more sense. Wait, no it doesn’t! When did Mr. Peepers get a job?” Aurum asked, suddenly quite concerned. “Where does he work? How does he get there?”
I could feel my brow furrow. “Of course, he has a job. How else would he be able to pay his share of the rent?”
Mr. Peepers bubbled responsibly.
Aurum’s jaw went slack. She worked it a few times before asking. “Where?”
“Down at the aquarium, of course. He’s a tour guide.”
My cousin sat upright in her chair. “Now I know you’re pulling my tail, Azurite. You explain ho—”
There was a knock at the door.
“Are you expecting anypony?” I asked.
Aurum shook her head no.
“Mr. Peepers?”
He bubbled no.
“Well, must be for me then,” I replied, getting up and trotting over. My horn illuminated and I pushed energy through it to grab the handle and pull the door open. When I saw the pony on the other side, I couldn’t help but blurt out, “Quartz!”
I heard Aurum gasp from the other side of the room and repeat, “Quartz?”
“Hi,” the stallion said sheepishly.
I hadn’t seen him in years, but I recognized him right away. Mostly because Aurum had a picture of him on the table by the door that she looked at every time she left. He hadn’t changed much from it.
He was the same height, which was annoyingly a lot taller than me. His coat was the same rosy pink color and his mane matched uncle Emerald’s honey colored one perfectly. At least when uncle Emerald had been a younger stallion.
Aurum slipped up beside me. So close that our flanks were touching. I didn’t say anything, I just a set my forehoof on her shoulder.
“Quartz,” Aurum said softly, moisture beading in the corner of her eyes. “Hello, son.”
“Hi, mom,” he said, his eyes not meeting hers.
“What brings you here?” She asked, reaching out a hoof to gently touch his cheek.
The younger stallion turned his head, pressing softly into the touch. “I got your letter. I’ve been thinking about it. A lot.”
“Oh?” Aurum replied, her hoof freezing in place.
The moment was painfully tense. I had no idea what I should be doing, so I just stood there against Aurum.
“Yeah. I mean, yes. When you and Dad were struggling, you just seemed so angry. It just seemed like you were antagonizing him. I didn’t realize that he was hiding his side.”
Aurum just nodded, her hooves trembling.
“I’m so sorry, Mom,” Quartz said before sweeping her up into a hug, parting me from her side.
I shouldn’t have minded. He should hug his mom but him suddenly swooping in and literally getting between us rubbed me wrong. Aurum was my roommate. My cousin.
Aurum held onto Quartz and stroked his back. “It’s okay. It’s fine. I know it was so hard on you. I’m so sorry, Quartz. I really am.”
They held onto each other and I backed up, giving them space. “Aurum, um, would you like to invite Quartz in?” I said softly.
“Hmm? Oh! Yes, of course. Come in, please,” Aurum said, pulling away from the hug just long enough for Quartz to follow her inside.
I shut the door with my magic and then the three of us just stared at each other awkwardly.
Aurum eventually motioned to me. “Quartz, you remember your cousin Azurite, right? I know it has been a while since you’ve seen her. She’s been so kind to me. She took me in, encouraged me to write you, and has really helped me get through this.”
Quartz gave a non-committal nod. “I do, although I remember her being larger.”
A short joke? Only Aurum was allowed to do that! Two slights in less than ten minutes!
Aurum shook her head. “Well, I do suppose you were a colt then. I guess she’d seem taller. She’s just the right size, though. Would you like something to eat? We have—” She looked over at the stew-fu. “To go pick something up.”
“I can go get it!” I squeaked in surprise. Why would I offer to go get food at night, alone? “So that you can spend some time with Quartz,” I kept saying. Although I really sort of wanted to just get out of the awkward moment.
“Are you sure, Azurite?” Aurum asked, suddenly directing all her attention back to me. It was marvelous.
No, I wasn’t sure at all. In fact, I was suddenly feeling quite threatened. Quartz showing up was a huge deal! What did that mean for Aurum? What did that mean for us? What did that mean for me?
“I’ll be fine, I’ll just go to the place on the corner,” I said, half lying. Mostly lying.
She stared me down, as if trying to see if I was serious. “To the café at the end of the block and right back,” she ordered.
“Right. Yes, ma’am!” I said before waving and going to the front door. At least that felt normal.
As I opened it, Aurum was already hugging Quartz again. It was selfish. It was petty. It was even foolish, but another twinge of jealousy shot through me.
Instead of dwelling, I focused my attention on the task in front of me. I trotted out into the Canterlot evening and pulled the door closed behind me. It was cold. Not emotionally, but just because it was winter. It was emotionally cold though too, actually.
There weren’t a lot of ponies wandering about and those that were had scarves on. I should have grabbed one but I hadn’t, and I certainly wasn’t going back in right away.
Keeping myself close to the buildings, I trotted down my street to the little café on the corner. Any thoughts of panicking had been overridden by fear of the future.
I stood outside for a bit, staring at the door while I considered everything. Nothing was going to change immediately, right? Probably not. They weren’t just going to speed off into the night. Try to calm down, Azurite.
The door opened and the hostess that was always there smiled down at me. “Hi there, Azurite. Come in out of the cold, we’re still open. Is it just you tonight? All alone? Dine in or take out?”
“Hmm, yeah, just me. Take out, please,” I replied as I shuffled in.
“Alright, one Azurite and I assume Aurum special, coming right up! Unless…” she chimed before turning back to look at me.
“Yeah, that’s right. Oh wait, we have a guest. Can we get one more meal?”
The hostess paused and then flipped open a notebook. “Certainly! What would she like?”
What would Quartz like? I didn’t really know him. All I knew was that he’d been a jerk to my favorite cousin and now he was back apologizing, they were hugging, and it was like nothing ever happened. That was good, right? Yes, it was good!
“I guess a second Aurum special, please.”
“You’ve got it!” the hostess said before trotting off.
I settled onto the waiting bench and hugged myself lightly. Was everything going to change again? We’d just gotten into a good rhythm. No, Azurite, you’re being selfish! This is what Mindful Soul was talking about. It can’t all be about me.
What was best for Aurum? Wouldn’t being with her son be better? It certainly would be for her. Being separated from him was obviously hurting her and that was bad. Very bad. I never wanted Aurum to hurt!
Of course, I needed her, too. She’d know that and wouldn’t just leave me, would she? No! Aurum would never do that. She’d make sure I was alright, no matter what.
It still felt like she was going to leave. That was something I’d known would happen eventually, but eventually was supposed to be a while away. Like fifty summers from now or at least like twenty or so. That wasn’t unreasonable, was it? Especially considering Quartz had been a jerk.
That’s not fair, Azu, we don’t know the whole picture. Still, I wanted things to stay the same but Aurum had to live her life, too. I was just hoping for more… perhaps a summer or two would have been nice. But if she did leave, I’d still have my parents and Mindful Soul. They weren’t the same, though. Aurum was special.
“Azurite, your food is ready,” the hostess said before setting it down beside me. “Will you be paying in bits or should I add it to your tab?”
“Hmm? Oops, I didn’t bring my bag. Can you put it in the tab please?”
She nodded and grinned. “Sure! I’ll be sure to put a big tip for myself. You know, unless you want to get a cup of coffee sometime instead?”
“Sounds good to me, you earned the tip,” I said idly before circling the food with my magic and trotting out. What was I going to do about Aurum and I?
“Oh… okay then,” a voice called after me.
The street just blew by as I trotted down to my apartment. I absently opened the door and trotted in. Should I have done that? This was my apartment! Why wouldn’t I?
Aurum and Quartz were sitting at the table. He was in the chair across from mine. The one we only used when my parents came to visit. Usually my father sat there. It was kind of his chair. I didn’t love the idea of Quartz being in it. Him and his stupid being Aurum’s son self.
“Everything go alright, Azurite?” Aurum asked.
I levitated the food over and settled it on the table. “Things were fine. I had to put it on our tab. I forgot my bits. Sorry about that.”
“It’s alright! Why don’t we eat while it is still hot?” Aurum then started to pull the boxes out of the bag and landed them in front of each of us.
I looked over at Quartz. “I’m really sorry, I didn’t think to ask what you wanted, so I ordered what Aurum normally gets.” And you’d best like it!
Quartz’s cheeks flushed and he waved a hoof. “No, no, that’s cool. Anything is fine. Thank you for inviting me into your home. You’re a good cousin. Mom has been telling me about all the things you’ve done for her. Thank you.”
What had Aurum been telling him? I’d literally just been fighting with myself over being jealous about him coming into our life. I hadn’t done anything for her!
“She’s done a lot for me. I think I got the better end of the deal,” I replied before opening my box and pulling out the plate of steamed vegetables over rice.
There was also a slice of cake nestled inside. Mine always came with cake no matter what I got. Aurum’s never did.
Aurum softly laughed and waved a hoof at me. “We’re family. We were here for each other when we were needed. And this is the important part: we always will be. Let’s just agree to that, okay?”
Was that a hint to me? A secret affirmation? Always was a good word. She wasn’t going to leave! I quickly nodded. “Okay, agreed!” I felt some relief. Aurum was good at dealing with me. She probably knew what I was thinking.
Hopefully she couldn’t read minds, though, because I’d called her son a jerk. Oh! I’d done that at the restaurant, but not here. Now she’d know, though. Sorry, Aurum!