The happy chattering and chittering and laughter of little ones, foal and nymph alike, never failed to bring a fond smile to Sure Stroke’s face.
Maybe it was the attachment to her days in this very classroom, those days when two troublesome nymphs coaxed her out of her shell to come play with them and the rest of their friends. An act that sparked a beautiful friendship, and a relationship with Aspire—the more troublesome twin, if she had her say.
Or perhaps it was the frazzled look upon her love’s face and how mussed up his already messy mane was when she first pushed the door open and poked her head in to find him struggling to maintain order.
A paper ball went zipping by her nose, missing by a mere hair’s breadth. Sure Stroke blinked, her brows raising as she turned slowly to follow its arc and aim a bemused look at a pair of sheepish looking colts, one desperately biting his lips to hold back a fit of chittering mirth at the way his friend’s wings rustled nervously and ducked his head, his hoof still outstretched to follow his throw.
Aspire, meanwhile, looked seconds from hissing at the whole group. “Cordial! Put that straw down right now and stop shooting spitballs at Oleander!” His head snapped over to Hail and Sunshower, who were giggling and whispering encouragement to their new friend. “You two, stop encouraging him to cause—ack!—Pumpernickel, I told you to wait until lunch hour to get your lunch bag! By love, you all! Mister Abacus only left a minute ago! Are you trying to get me in trouble?”
The chittering, tittering mirth which came in reply almost made Sure Stroke chortle. It was no secret that Aspire had been, and still quite was, the worst of their age group, especially among the younglings. In some twisted, almost karmic way, they seemed to look up to him.
Which, naturally, meant they had to tease and prank him just as they would Queen Euphoria—the biggest fish in the proverbial pond, with Aspire being somewhere in the top five or ten, so to speak.
Stifling a grin, Sure Stroke leaned against the doorjamb and crossed one foreleg over the other. Her feathers fluffed merrily as she watched her boyfriend’s plight, earning a shake of her head when she saw him literally stomp over to Cordial Tidings and snatch the straw out of his mouth after a spitball struck him in the nose.
“You’ll be staying in with me at recess, little nymph,” Aspire said, his icy tone enough to silence all merriment and earn a wince from Cordial and the fillies. A hint of satisfaction flashed across his face, his eyes flitted to the rest of the class. “If the rest of you don’t think I’ll keep the entire class in during recess hour too, think again,” he continued. “Tricks and pranks are fine and good, but even Esalen and I knew better than to cause trouble during class. Especially when Mister Abacus told us to stop and listen. I expect the same courtesy from each of you after the class bell rings. Clear?”
It was like magic. The class went from wild and raucous to sheepish and contrite within seconds, each foal and nymph dropping their gaze to their desk, mumbling an apology. But, Sure Stroke noticed, not without a hint of a gleam in several nymphs’ eyes. They’d caught onto something.
And so had she. Oh, honey, she thought, chuckling and shaking her head. You just turned it into a game. You silly changeling, you know better … or is that on purpose?
He did love his tricks. Who was to say this wasn’t another? As a matter of fact, she’d put good bits on it being an invitation so he could have an excuse to teach them a lesson!
She’d have to send word to Enticier. He’d chitter so hard, they’d be able to hear it from Paradise.
It was at that moment, someone noticed her presence. It came with a flash of pink, a nymph of long sea green mane tied into an old style braid flicked his forked tongue testing the air, no doubt to make sure his teacher wasn’t too furious with he and his classmates. Then, suddenly, his ears twitched. His head snapped around, sending his braid whipping about, and his eyes widened. A grin began to split his muzzle. “Miss Doodle!” he cried.
As soon as he did, all heads, Aspire’s included, turned toward her. His sky blue eyes lit up, all trace of ire gone, and a bright smile crossed his face.
And his class began chattering excitedly once again, the little nymphs flicking their tongues to taste the air before they all chimed in unison, “Good afternoon, Miss Doodle!”
The dam broke. Sure Stroke had to cover her mouth with a hoof to stifle a bout of tittering mirth. “Good afternoon, everyone,” she greeted in kind. Waggling her ears, she pushed off the doorjamb and sauntered into the room. “I see you’re all doing your best to make my boyfriend pull his mane out today.”
Another wave of chittering and giggling swept through the room. Aspire shot them a look, unable to hide his smile.
Then Cordial Tidings flicked out his tongue a second time, his deep purple eyes shone with mischief. “Mister Aspire and Miss Doodle are lovedrunk!” he sang. “More lovedrunk than lovedrunk can be!”
A blush filled Aspire’s cheeks and hers, the heat making her feathers fluff even as the nymphs flicked their tongues again and began to take up Cordial’s song. The foals, giggling into their hooves, joined shortly thereafter, filling the room with their excited little voices. The pair of adults could do little more than meet one another’s gaze and try to suck in their lips to hide sheepish grins.
A deep chuckle heralded their savior. Abacus stepped through the door, amusement written plain upon his face. “My, my, we get a visitor for lunch, one of my old students, and you all turn right to being little terrors to Mister Aspire, don’t you? Who ever set such an example?” he asked, mock severity dripping from his every word. The stallion’s gaze flitted between Aspire and Sure Stroke, he raised his brows. “Why, these two were just the model of good behavior in their time in my class—I can only imagine what they must think of such a lack of discipline and good manners now!”
Sure Stroke unfurled her wings, hiding her muzzle behind them. “I only drew silly things on your board one time!” she squeaked in protest. “And only because I lost a bet to Nimble and Toola!”
“So you say. But your art has a rather distinctive style and quality, dear Doodle. I’d be surprised if any in the village didn’t know it on first glance. And my blackboard was graced with it several times in your last year with me.” He arched his brow and hummed, drawing a nervous rustling of her wings before he chuckled and turned to address the class again. “Well, now that you’ve all had the chance to terrorize your elders, I think it’s time we broke for lunch.”
A chorus of whoops and gleeful chittering went up from the younglings as they each hopped out of their seats and began to rearrange their desks to form group tables. Aspire, meanwhile, trotted over to her side and nuzzled her cheek softly. “Feel like eating outside with me?” he murmured.
“You just want an excuse to get away from them so they can’t tease you anymore,” she quipped in reply.
She could feel his grin widening against her cheek. “I’ll admit that’s a small part of it, yes.” He pecked the corner of her mouth. “But at least ninety percent is a want to eat lunch beneath your old tree.”
Sure Stroke couldn’t have possibly cared less that the younglings renewed their teasing when they saw her wings unfurl and feathers fluff in proud display. How did he always know the perfect words to make her heart soar?
Teasing aside, Sure Stroke couldn’t deny there was more than just a hint of romanticism in sitting beneath her old tree to share lunch with the handsome changeling wrapped snugly under her wing. From within her lunch bag, she pulled out a pair of sandwiches and drinks for each of them—seared salmon, one of his favorites. And hers, after a bit of time to adapt her taste.
The smooth, almost sweet taste of salmon and a hint of lemon butter never failed to make a good meal. Coupled with a little cider, some of Sweet Treat’s freshly baked white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, and a piece of chocolate cake she’d hidden beneath an extra napkin to surprise him, and she could hardly go wrong.
And that grin which split his face before he caught her in a deep, sweet kiss once she revealed her little surprise was just delicious. Though not nearly so much as the way he pulled her in to nibble her ears, spurring a tingle down her spine and shuddering breath as he murmured, “If we weren’t on campus right now and I didn’t know my students were sneaking peeks out the window at us, I’d kiss you silly.”
Roses filled her cheeks. Sure Stroke turned away to hide a smile, still holding the plate in hoof. “You just delight in making me squirm don’t you?” she squeaked.
“Of course. It’s one of the joys of dating you.” Pecking her cheek, he slipped his hoof into her lunch bag to retrieve a fork. “Only one? Well, I guess this is going to make sharing fun.” Aspire grinned at how she ducked and tried to hide her face, nosing beneath her chin as he cut off a slice and guided it to her lips. “None of that, silly Doodle. How will I pester you about your first session with mom if you start hiding beneath your wings?”
“Um. Fair point.” She chewed thoughtfully, savoring the rich taste as he took a bite himself. As he ate, Sure Stroke gave him a quick summary of both her initial talk with Faith and their setup, and then the little pep talk she improvised to try to help the ponies, her patients, get a bit more comfortable sharing through art.
A praising smile played upon his lips. With a hum, he nodded, his forked tongue lashing out to lick the fork clean of the remnants of chocolate icing and flakey cake crumbs, rolling his free hoof through the air to prompt her. “Go on. Sounds like you really nailed it with them.”
“It did seem to make a few of them happy.” Her smile faltered a touch. Sure Stroke let her ears splay back. “I, um, sort of got a chance to talk to those new mares. Sleet and Snow Flurry.” A squirming feeling ran through her belly. Rustling her wings, she mumbled, “I found out the reason they came to the village. And why Sleet’s a bit …”
“Gruff?” Aspire supplied. “Wary?”
“Both, yes.” Another rustling. She bit her lip, her eyes flitting back toward the schoolhouse. Back to where little Hail and Sunshower were no doubt eating and laughing with Cordial Tidings and the rest of their new friends. Hopefully, with more new friends. Those two certainly deserved it.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of pink. Aspire’s smile faltered, a concerned frown taking its place. He set the plate down and turned to face her fully. “What’s wrong, Sure Stroke?” he asked softly.
The squirming in her belly was like a bunch of wriggling snakes. Did she tell him? Faith hadn’t exactly told her specifically not to share patients’ problems around, but there was still that sense of respect. Some things really shouldn’t be shared around, and sensitive problems like losing a lover and a foal …
What could be more sensitive and painful?
Then again, Aspire was responsible for teaching and looking after little Hail and Sunshower while their mothers decided to remain in Respite. Wouldn’t it be prudent to alert him so he could keep weather eye out for any signs of stress or depression in the fillies? A bit of preventative care, from therapist to teacher.
Sure Stroke turned to meet his gaze, licking her lips nervously. “What I’m about to tell you stays between us,” she said. “Not as girlfriend and boyfriend, but as adults with trades. Therapist to teacher.”
A glint shone in his eyes. Aspire sat up a bit straighter and nodded solemnly. “I understand. Though, I may tell Abacus if it’s serious.”
“That’s perfectly fair. He probably should know as well so you can both be on the lookout for any …” she trailed off, searching for the right wording. “Any signs that they’re not coping well.”
His brows disappeared beneath his bangs. “I think I’m going to need an explanation as to what they’re supposed to be coping with,” he said. “And, of course, Abacus and I will keep it quiet. I’ll have a talk with him later, and we can figure a way out so we’re discrete. Would that make you feel better?”
Nodding slowly, she offered a weak smile. “Yes, thank you. But let’s focus less on me—”
“—And more on them,” he cut in. “Fair enough.” Aspire pecked her lips, then laid a comforting hoof upon her shoulder. “Tell me whatever you can.”
Sure Stroke’s smile grew just a little. Of course she could trust him to handle things properly. She drew in a deep breath through her nose, steeling herself a moment to unload her burden. Slowly, she began to recount the tale. How distraught the mares had been, the way Sleet seemed almost to curl inward on herself and Snow Flurry struggled to hold her own grief back, trying her very best to stay strong for her remaining love, and that painting.
Oh, her heart almost broke again just thinking of that empty cradle!
Through it all, Aspire stayed quiet, his expression pensive, only a slight frown giving away hint of his feelings. He brought a hoof to his lips, the gears behind those brilliant, sky blue eyes of his turning even as she spoke. Not once did he speak or make to cut across her. In fact, he barely did anything more but nod and hum a low, thoughtful note.
When she finished, though, Aspire closed his eyes in quiet reverence, and heaved a sigh. “I remember how broken Essy and I were when we lost our grandparents,” he murmured softly. “I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like for them to lose their father at such a young age. And their brother—by love, that just … I can’t, Sure Stroke. I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone.”
“I don’t think any would,” Sure Stroke replied. Flicking her tail anxiously, she muttered, “I’m not necessarily asking you to foalsit them. But if you wouldn’t mind doing like you mentioned and looking after them with Abacus, I think that would help the four of them in the long run.”
“Yeah. We’ll take care of them.” Aspire opened his eyes and looked at her again. She could see the pain flashing in them, a want to find some way to protect his students. But it was gone quickly, replaced by a ghost of a smile. “The good news, at least, is that they’re not alone. They have their little friend from the Summer Sun Celebration dance.”
Her ears flicked. “Little Cordial Tidings?”
“The very same. They’ve been latched on either of his forelegs since that day. Thick as thieves, and of course he loves entertaining an audience with his antics.”
“Now who does that sound like?”
“Careful.” Aspire smirked. “I know about all the tricks you pulled on Abacus that he never figured out. You were just as bad as Essy and me after a little while, Doodle. Not to mention how Queen Euphoria never figured out that you helped distract her that day I actually got her sweet stash. She keeps a grudge.”
A shiver ran down her spine. Of all the tricks she never wanted to come back to bite her, that one in particular, was at the top of the list. “Fine, I concede,” she groused. “Just keep an eye on them. And maybe see about getting Cordial to help them make some more friends. Filly friends. No offense, but a girl always needs those.”
He shrugged. “None taken. Love knows Vector and Zephyr are like the brothers I never had. I get it. Besides—” he ran a hoof through his mane “—if there’s one thing I don’t need Cordial to pass on, it’s his disinterest in doing any of his schoolwork properly. Not to mention he doesn’t know when to cut the tricks. Say what you want about me, but I didn’t do that during Abacus’s lectures.”
“True enough. But that’s something he’ll hopefully grow out of with time.” Waggling her ears, Sure Stroke leaned in to steal a kiss. “And perhaps with the right smugling to guide him along.”
Her comment and that kiss earned a wide, toothy grin. “Are you playing on my ego?” he teased. “Because it’s working.”
Giggling, she pecked him again. “Just a little. He does seem to look up to you enough to want to play more tricks.” Before they could continue, the familiar sound of Clanger’s bell rang out across the lawn. Her ears twitching, Sure Stroke smiled. “And it looks like you get to spend a little extra time with your protégé in troublemaking.”
“That I do.” Aspire rolled his eyes, smiling fondly as he leaned in to nuzzle and kiss her nose. “See you at home after school,” he murmured as he rose and began to trot toward the schoolhouse.
Sure Stroke fluffed her feathers merrily, watching him head off, his handsome blue tail swishing and shining in the light. “I’ll be waiting.”