//------------------------------// // xii. Someday // Story: Head Over Heels // by FoolAmongTheStars //------------------------------// Summer returned to Sire’s Hollow, bringing many back to the mountain village...including Sunburst Zenith. Her best friend had invited the young colt over for dinner that evening, so she was eager to get home. Most of the eleven-year-old filly’s afternoon had been taken up by a tour for a group of camp newbies who actually found her scary. There's a first time for everything. After some convincing, the quartet of bashful breezies finally warmed to the idea that the village's unicorns were there to protect them, not to hurt them. He'll smile when he hears about it...then insist on being introduced to all four of them at breakfast tomorrow. It would be good if they made another pony friend. A soft smile was still playing over Starlight's lips when she met her father on the path to their house. Sire’s Hollow headpony looked very official in his wizardly uniform, and the pack on his back meant a journey. "Are the breezies settled?" he inquired with a knowing smile. "Yes dad," she assured. "They're still very jumpy, but I don't think they'll take to the hills again." Firelight chuckled, then clapped his daughter’s shoulder. "Good enough. I'll see you in a few days." "Did something happen?" "A new tribe of creatures would like to join us for the summer. I need to introduce myself to their leader and make sure they understand the ground rules," her father explained. "Now, if you'll excuse me...I cannot keep the Heart of the Forest waiting. He's attending this initial meeting to ensure all goes smoothly." "The deer’s have arrived?" The headpony nodded. "A short time ago. They're the ones who carried the new tribe's application to me." "Oh...so they've already been approved?" "Yes, King Aspen is willing to vouch for them, so this is mostly a formality." Starlight nodded and offered a heartfelt, "Have a good trip." With a parting wave, the pony urged, "Sunset and Sunburst are going to keep an eye on you, so behave!" The beginnings of dread crept up on the mare. "Wait! What about Spike?" she blurted. Firelight turned. "He's coming with us, of course." "Couldn't Sun Glare keep an eye on things?" Starlight pressed. "There's no need!" her father replied. "They assure me that they're old enough to babysit." "Babysit?" the mare echoed with evident mortification. Her father backtracked and laid a hoof on his daughter's shoulder. "They're very excited about being in charge. Let them playhouse for a few days." As a unicorn of Sire’s Hollow, Starlight was ably equipped for both battle and survival. If push came to shove, she could get along on her own in the mountains for weeks on end. Maybe the breezies had the right idea. We could take to the hills together for a few days. Cringing somewhat, she mumbled, "Do I have to?" The headpony gazed off towards the horizon. "Starlight, you’re very mature for your age but you should enjoy being pampered once in a while, you might even like it," he said wisely. "And miss it." Starlight wilted, immediately feeling like an idiot. She missed mother, the vision she had of her in the winter making it worse, and sometimes she even missed being mothered, but that didn't mean she wanted anyone to step into that role. Sunset never tried to replace Mother, but what if Sunburst tries to baby me? The filly lifted melancholy eyes to meet her father's patient gaze. "I guess it'll be okay," she offered with an apologetic smile. With an approving nod, Firelight waved again and set off down the hill. "Look for us the day after tomorrow!" he called. Starlight lifted a hoof and watched until her father disappeared amidst the other houses, bound for the gathering meadow. Then, she turned to face what had the potential to be the single most humiliating experience in her young life. She wanted Sunburst's attention, but not like this. With ponderous steps, she trudged the rest of the way up the path and climbed the steps to the front door. "I'm home!" she called softly as she pushed the door open. Please don't let them make a big deal out of this. Please, please, please... "You're back!" Sunburst exclaimed, hurrying from the direction of the kitchen. "Finally!" Sunset added, close on her cousin’s heels. Both unicorns had experienced some kind of growth spurt over the months they were apart. She knew Sunset was taller because her reach had changed drastically, putting Starlight at a distinct disadvantage whenever they sparred. Father had allowed her to start training with actual weapons that spring, so Sunset was building up the strength in her lean muscles. Sunburst was almost as tall as his cousin, but he looked...striking. "What took you so long?" he inquired, all curiosity. "A tour," she managed, feeling tongue-tied. "Breezies." "I've never met a breezy!" Sunburst said excitedly. Looking at Sunset, he asked, "What are they like?" "Shy, peaceful, nature-loving," the fourteen-year-old rattled off. "They depend highly on the winds to move across the land, and it’s rumored that they actually control the winds in the mountains." "Oooh! Can I meet one?" the wizard-in-training begged. "Four," Starlight interjected, almost immediately regretting it since the cousin's attention was back on her. "I'll just...go to the living room," she mumbled, trying to edge past. "Don't run off!" Sunburst protested. He snatched her hoof and tugged her towards the dining area just off the kitchen. "Come and visit! Sunset and I have been catching up, but I want to hear what you've been doing, too!" He sat her down at the head of the table, then skipped into the next room for a tea tray that had already been prepared, chattering all the while. “Sunset told me you got your cutie mark, I want you to tell me all about it!” To Starlight's relief, the oldest unicorn didn't act any differently than usual, even though she'd been left in charge. Sunset could be bossy, but her orders usually came on the training grounds, not in their home. She and Sunburst hovered over Sun Glare’s tiny stove while the city pony tried his hoof at cooking, but every so often, Sunburst popped back out to fill her teacup and quiz her about things that had happened in Sire’s Hollow since last fall. Dinner was interesting. Sunburst stir-fried carrots were a little burnt, but his salad was really nice. Sunset made the daisy sandwiches, so that part was just as good as always. While they ate, the two cousins made plans for the next few days, and Starlight listened in…like usual. "I want to ask Rock Hoof for another combat lesson," Sunset announced. Sunburst gasped and asked, "Are you planning to challenge Flash?" "What?" Sunset squawked. "Why would you think that?" "Well...you did mention that the pegasus should be back next week, and he does this fancy moves when he fights," he explained sheepishly. "Mixed martial arts," Starlight corrected, hiding her smile behind her teacup. Sunburst was probably right though, and the Pegasus would be coming back to their little village sometime next week. Sunset gave her long mane a toss and defended, "A unicorn mustn’t rely solely on their magic." Sunburst glanced her way and asked, "Can you fight without your magic?" "Sure." "What about combat magic?" he asked, directing the question to both of them. The mares exchanged a glance, and Sunset shrugged. "Yes, of course, we can." "And you're probably both better than me, too," he mourned. "Haven't you been practicing while you were at home?" his cousin asked sharply. "Erm... maybe not as much as I should have...?" Sunburst replied with a guilty squirm. "Training grounds. First thing tomorrow," Sunset decreed with a roll of her eyes. After dinner, Sunset hurried over to Rock Hoof’s to see if she could arrange a training session on the morrow, leaving Sunburst and Starlight alone. The colt shooed her back to her seat at the head of the table and brought a plate of cookies and a pot of tea. She took a bite and swallowed. "These are good," she shyly remarked. He dimpled, then confessed, "I spent more time helping out my Mom…than with my magic." Starlight frowned. "Didn't you do any studying while you were away?" "I did," he affirmed. “I read all the material you gave and then some, but I just didn’t have time to practice them.” "Why didn't you?" "I was busy," Sunburst said, swirling the liquid in his teacup. "With what?" He sighed and shrugged. "I don't know...this and that. It's a lot busier in the city, and I guess I get distracted." "Isn't becoming a wizard important to you?" "Well, sure," he replied. "But when my friends call and say they want to meet at the arcade, it doesn't seem like a big deal to put practice off for one more day. Summer was way off in the future, and I like spending time with my friends. You know?" The mare slowly shook her head. "I train with my friends and family, so they don't take me away from my duties." Sunburst winced, then promised, "I'll work really hard this summer. Speaking of which... would you help me review my herbs before I have to meet with Master Stygian?" He clasped his hooves and gave her a pleading look. "Yeah, no problem," she mumbled, looking down at her teacup to hide her blush. As if I'd say no to anything he asked of me. "So...what was wrong earlier?" he asked out of the blue. "Wrong?" "Mm-hmm," he said, propping his chin on his hoof. "You looked pretty depressed when you got here. Did the newbies give you a hard time?" "Oh, no," she quickly assured. Unable to keep the truth from him, she quietly admitted, "I was kind of afraid you and Sunset were going to treat me like a baby." He looked taken aback. "Well that'd be silly," he asserted. "You could probably take better care of me than I'm taking care of you. But that's okay...right? Taking care of each other?" "Yeah," she admitted with genuine relief. "I'm just glad your dad was so cool about letting me and Sunset do this. It's good practice." Starlight turned that around in her mind a few times. "Practice for what?" she cautiously ventured. The colt fiddled some more with his now-empty cup, a soft smile on his face. "Oh...for someday." He's different. The seasons had turned, and Sunburst had changed. It was hard to tell why or how, but she had all summer to try to figure that out. Clearing her throat, Starlight said, "I forgot to tell you...those breezies earlier? They thought I was scary." "You? Nooo!" he exclaimed, leaning forward. "What did you do?" "I think they were going on reputation alone. I'm a unicorn; they're not." Sunburst laughed softly and asked, "Did you set them straight?" "Yeah," she said with a shy grin. The more they talked, the better she felt. Sunburst had changed, but the things she loved about him were still right there in front of her. Today had been good...tomorrow was going to be fine...and she could hope for somedays as well.