//------------------------------//
// Chapter Sixty-Four - Into the Aether 
// Story: A Daughter and her Dragon 
// by Level Dasher 
//------------------------------//

Cotton put three cookies into a pastry bag, then held it out to the stallion in front of her before sweeping his bits into the till. “Here you are, sir. Have a great day.”

“Thank you, Miss Cotton. You as well. By the way, I wanted to thank you again for your help in court. Expediting that road construction has made our neighborhood exponentially safer for the foals.”

Smiling, Cotton responded, “That’s right! You’re the one that came to us about Rose Lane! Well, I’m glad Comet Tail and the other foals have a safe place to play.”

The stallion nodded thoughtfully. “This is one of Pro’s properties, isn’t it? He’s your landlord now?”

“Yep. Guess everything came full circle.”

“Indeed it has. Well, I wish you the best of luck, Miss Cotton. If these cookies are as good as First Scoop wrote, I’m certain I’ll be back.” He turned and walked out the door, calling behind him as he left. “Have a great day!”

Waving to his back, Cotton called, “You too, sir! And please, just 'Cotton' is fine!” After he was out of sight, she flopped on top of the counter and let out a deep breath. “Geez. Again?”

“Uh, how many customers did you just have in the last hour?” Dreamweaver asked from a corner table nearby the counter.

“Heck if I know. At least forty. Maybe even fifty. The same thing happened to me yesterday. Maybe everyone that didn’t make it then all showed up today. Pretty sure I already had some returning customers, too. It’s hard to tell; all the faces bleed together after a while.”

“Wow.” He turned and looked at the door, then back at Cotton. “You sure you don’t mind me chillin’ in here again? Given how many customers you’re getting I don’t wanna take up space or anything.”

Cotton shook her head. “Not at all. Guess Cutter had the right idea— you lure them in,” she chuckled.

“I don’t think that has anything to do with me,” Dreamweaver scoffed. After looking at the clock, he closed his notebook as he said, “I better go. Do you mind if I come back Monday, too? It’s nice having a friendly spot to hang. The ponies in the place across from Cutter were usually, kinda… I dunno, snooty. Some of them told me to go to Moonbucks if I was gonna just sit and write.”

Smiling, Cotton replied, “Sure. It’d be cool to have some company when there’s a lull between customers during the lunch hour. Assuming that’ll actually happen. I doubt every day will be like today and yesterday.”

“Awesome, thanks.” He put his notebook in his saddlebag, then made his way to the door. “See you Monday, then.”

“Yep.” She followed him to the door as he walked out, then flipped her sign around to signify her own lunch break. Then she went back behind the counter and looked into her case. “Okay, definitely need to make sixty more cookies… probably should make another two coconut crèmes… I’ll do that when I get back from lunch.” 

After walking back into the kitchen, she wiped down a few cookie sheets, then laid them out on the counter to prepare for her return. A moment later, she heard the bell at the door jingle. “Horseapples, must’ve just missed ‘er. But it just hit one o’clock, and the door’s open… maybe she’s— hey, Cotton?”

Cotton’s ears perked up at the voice. “Was that—” She stuck her head out the kitchen door, finding a navy blue Earth pony stallion with a black mane poking his head through the entrance. “Starry!”

“Hey, you are here! Look at you, bigshot business owner,” Starry Knight laughed, stepping inside.

Cotton rushed out and gave him a hug. “How have you been? What are you even doing now? You never told me.”

With a chuckle, Starry replied, “Still with the ‘rents. Playing the ‘starvin’ artist’ game. Far as I know, everypony else is at school again. Crimson, Tess, Aegis, Sugar… they’re all studying.”

“Yeah, last I heard. I’m still surprised Aegis didn’t apply for the Guard.”

“I know, right? My dad was, too. He says he never sees you since he’s always posted outside in the rear of the castle, except at a distance. But I barely see him, either— whenever he gets home I’m in the basement with a paintbrush.”

Giggling as she pointed at various spots of purple, red, and yellow in his coat, Cotton asked, “So that’s what these are all about? I thought that was just the latest fast fashion.”

Starry let out a snort. “Nah, some paints are just harder to get out than others. I kinda like this one, though— might keep it,” he said, pulling at a teal splotch in his mane. Then he looked around the room. “This place is awesome. So you just opened last week? And you’re already making the papers?” He chuckled. “Sweet Celestia, you have no idea how hard I laughed at that.”

“That was just dumb luck,” Cotton replied, shaking her head with a smirk. “The whole point was to get other ponies to see him here and follow his example to come in, but there was nobody else around. So not only was Blueblood a total jerk, he also had horrible timing. If that reporter hadn’t been walking out of the park at that moment, nobody would’ve known about it. Nobody would’ve believed it either, not without a credible witness, and Blueblood would’ve totally denied it.”

“Hey, dumb luck better than no luck, right?” Starry commented with his own smirk.

Cotton giggled. “Can’t argue with that.” She took a quick glance at the kitchen door, then back to him. “Y’know, you’re the first one of the Central Crew to stop by. I wasn’t expecting to get in the paper; I probably should’ve sent everyone letters, huh? But since practically nobody is home I don’t have current addresses anymore…”

“I dunno. Maybe me since I’m still around, but might not’ve helped with everypony else. ‘Cept maybe Tess, but she’s probably up to her horn in work at CU.”

“True, my friend Harmony is, too. Wonder if they ever cross paths?”

Starry shrugged. “Who knows. It’s a big place, from what I hear. Oh, hold up.” He turned and looked back at the sign on the door. “You just went on your lunch break, didn’t you? Sorry ‘bout that— I shouldn’t eat up your time.”

Rolling her eyes before shaking her head with a smile, Cotton replied, “Don’t worry about it. I was just about to head to a hayburger joint a few blocks over; wanna join me? My treat.”

“Sure! And thanks for the treat offer, but I’m not literally starving. I can pay for my own lunch,” he sighed.

“Aw, c’mon. It’s awesome to see you; lemme treat you. Considering how many customers I’ve gotten the past two days I think I can drop a few bits for another hayburger.”

Starry shook his head with a smirk. “Not a chance. I came up to see you, not to have my lunch comped.”

“Fine,” Cotton said with a huff. “Then at least let me treat you to one of these.” She went back behind the counter, took a piece of tissue paper, reached into her display case, and retrieved a chocolate-chip cookie. Putting it in a bag, she stood up just in time to see him put two bits down on the counter.

“Also not a chance.”

“Aw, come on. Please?”

“Don’t make me put ‘em in the tip jar.”

Cotton pouted, “Fiiiiine.” She swiped the bits into her till, then smiled and added, “Thanks.”

As he put the cookie in his saddlebag, Starry responded, “Of course. Now I’ve got dessert. So where’s this hayburger joint? I don’t know this area; I almost got lost on the way here.”

Guiding him out the door and locking up behind her, Cotton giggled and asked, “How’d you get lost? I’m literally right across from the park.”

“Hey, I did say ‘almost.’” 


Ж


As the sun began touching the horizon, Cotton let out an exhausted sigh as she went to the door and switched her sign from ‘open’ to ‘closed.’ Making her way into the kitchen, she cleaned off her work space, wiped out the ovens, and reorganized all her ingredients. Then she picked up a clean cloth and went back out to wipe down the tables.

“Sheesh, that was just crazy. I can’t believe I almost ran out of stock again. Another whole bunch of new customers, though, that’s awesome. And only on the second day after that article.” She finished the tables, then grabbed another clean cloth and started on the counter and display case. 

After a good half-hour of cleaning, she noticed the kitchen light flicker for a moment. “Ugh, I’ll have to take care of that before I go home. Didn’t think one of the lights would already be going on the fritz.” Looking into her display case, she found six slices of blueberry pie left, but nothing more. “Welp, one slice for each of us and an extra. That’s worth bringing home.” 

As she reached into the case, she heard the bell at the door jingle. “I know the sign says you’re closed, but could you maybe make one more sale?” 

Cotton sighed as she picked her head up. “Well, all I’ve got left is blueber—” Her voice cut off and her eyes widened when she found a charcoal-gray griffon standing in the entrance. He quietly walked in and let the door close behind him, then gradually made his way to the counter, a smile slowly growing on his beak. “Steadclaw…” Aside from the one, Cotton found herself at a loss for words. 

“Yeah,” he said simply. “How’ve you been?”

Her eyes glazed over, Cotton’s mouth moved up and down a few times before she settled on, “Good.”

Steadclaw looked down at the near-empty case. “If this was full this morning, I’d say you’re doing better than ‘good.’”

“Uh-huh.”

Pointing at the remaining slices of pie, Steadclaw asked, “Can I buy one of those?”

After sitting still for a minute, Cotton shook herself out of her daze, then her brows furrowed before she answered, “No.”

Steadclaw tilted his head. “What?”

“I said no,” she replied. “Get out.”

“But…why?” he asked with a flinch.

Cotton let out a huff. “After what you put me through? You told me you didn’t want to speak to me anymore. I didn’t believe you at first, but when you didn’t respond to any of my letters, I started to. Then after more than six months of still writing to you and getting no response I started to think you were dead, and then the war happened, and I thought I saw you die in battle! You’ve been alive this whole time, and now you have the nerve to come back here smiling when you haven’t even bothered to contact me once? Did you hear me? I thought you were dead! After all that, what’d you expect when you came back? A welcome with open hooves?” She stopped for a moment to catch her breath, then let out a low growl. “I don’t want anything to do with you. Now get out,” she said, throwing her wiping cloth at him. 

Reflexively catching the cloth in his claw as it bounced off his chest, Steadclaw said, “Cotton, what ar—”

“I said get out!” she screamed, striking him across his cheek. Then she thrust her hoof towards the door. “Now!”

His eyes wide, Steadclaw shook his head as he backed away, then allowed the cloth to fall to the floor as he quickly turned tail and ran out, the bell ringing again as the door slowly closed behind him.

Cotton took a couple heavy breaths before she dropped her head into her hooves on top of the counter, letting tears fall down her cheeks to accompany her sobs. She noticed the kitchen light flicker again. “D-damn. I s-still have to d-deal with that,” she said with a sniffle.

After a moment, she heard a faint voice coming from within the kitchen. 

“We… We do not understand…”

Cotton picked her head up and looked toward the kitchen. The lights inside turned off completely before the door melted away. When Princess Luna stepped into the room, her face painted in confusion, Cotton sighed.

“Cotton, We are most perplexed. We thought thou wouldst be elated to see thy former suitor once again,” Luna said. “When didst he become the subject of thine ire? We have not heard thee speak ill of him since his departure. Nor were We aware of the contents of thy correspondence with Steadclaw.” 

Sniffling out another tear, Cotton replied, “I-it’s… kind of a long story, Aunt Luna.”

“‘Tis a dream, Cotton. We have ample time,” Luna responded. “Thou knowest that—”

“I-I don’t really wanna talk about it.”

Luna shut her muzzle, then nodded as she took a step towards Cotton behind the counter. “Ah. Then—” 

“Why are you here, anyway?” Cotton asked, cutting her aunt off with a glare. “I’m probably just taking a catnap before I go home; you didn’t have to barge in.” As Luna opened her mouth, Cotton’s brows furrowed before she continued, “But instead of helping someone who needs you, you came here, dredging up my past and ruining my day.”

Luna’s eyes widened as she stopped short. “Cotton, We—”

“What made you think I wanted to see him? I told you I saw him die in the war; he’s never coming back. I don’t wanna see him. I don’t even wanna think about him. I’ve been trying to forget about him!” Cotton cried, tears welling up in her eyes as she advanced on Luna. 

Backing up as Cotton forced her into the front of the room, Luna started, “Cotton—”

“I thought I was finished with him! I never knew what happened to him, but then there he was, and then in a split second he was gone! It didn’t matter what happened to him anymore! I thought I had my closure— there was no need to think about it because he was dead!” Cotton shouted, pounding a hoof on the floor. 

Luna continued her retreat. “Cotton, We—”

“But no! You had to pry into my brain and bring it all back! I haven’t got anything! I still don’t know why!” Cotton collapsed onto the floor, burying her head in her hooves as she sobbed. “W-why?” She looked back up at Luna, tears streaming down her cheeks. "W-why did he do it, Aunt Luna?” Then her head fell back into the depths.

Luna took a deep breath, then slowly walked forward, turned around, and lay next to Cotton before draping a wing over her. “We could not say, dear Cotton. We could not say…” As Cotton continued her silent sobs, Luna nuzzled her cheek. “Our sincerest apologies, Cotton. T’was not our intention to bring these feelings to the surface and cause thee so much pain.” She sighed as she shook her head. “May We… make it up to thee?” she finished, finding the appropriate phrase.

“…Y-yeah,” Cotton answered after a moment. “I… I didn’t wanna do it before, but I just can’t take it anymore.” She looked up at Luna as she swept away her tears. “…C-can you wipe him from my memory? Make me forget him?”

Luna’s eyes widened. “Cotton, ‘tis not what We…” She stopped herself, then slowly nodded. “…‘Tis within Our abilities whilst in the Dreamscape, yes. Dost thou truly wish for Us to do so?”

Cotton nodded in return. “Please, get rid of him. I don’t wanna think about him anymore. I-I just can’t.”

“Very well. It shall be done.” Luna stood up, retracting her wing before she sat back on her haunches, gesturing for Cotton to do the same. Cotton looked up, then followed Luna’s example. Luna briefly rested her head on Cotton’s as she once again wrapped her niece in her wing like a blanket, then said, “Prithee, close thine eyes.”

“Thanks.” Cotton shut her eyes gently, leaning into her aunt’s shoulder. 

Luna lit her horn, and the walls and ceiling of the shop around them melted away, leaving only a dark, starry expanse. Luna took a breath as she held Cotton close, then her horn glowed once again as she craned her neck and softly laid it on Cotton’s forehead. A moment later, she pulled a thin, foggy tether from her niece’s mind, then with a flick of her head, snapped it off and cast it away into the expanse. She nodded after it dissolved into the aether. 

As an infinite hallway of doors rushed up to surround Luna on both sides, she lowered her muzzle to Cotton’s ear and whispered, “‘Tis time for thee to return home, dear Cotton.” 

Cotton suddenly disappeared with a flash.

Luna stood and took a deep breath as she lay her wing back at her side. Then one of the doors behind her opened to reveal a star-filled silhouette. 

“You did not actually just do that, did you?”

Luna looked over her shoulder and snorted. “Of course not. We merely disposed of the dream, and her wish for Us to delete her memory. Forgetting him entirely would mean forgetting everything he did for her. She would be a completely different pony. T’would have caused chaos Discord would be proud of. She must face this struggle herself.” Luna sighed and hung her head. “Thou wert correct. We should not have meddled.”

“Yeah, duh.”

Scowling, Luna responded, “Hush, Moondog. T’was not Our intention to upset her.”

“But you still did. I told you I had reasons not to do that.”

“As We said, t’was not Our intention,” Luna said before looking down the infinite hallway. “We were expecting… somepony else.” She turned around as she finished, “But her subconscious overpowered Us. We were merely a spectator.” Looking at the front of the door Moondog had appeared from, she cocked a brow and began, “What art thou—”

“Hey, he isn’t getting any younger,” Moondog said, shrugging her shoulders with a smirk. Then she went back through the door and shut it behind her.


Ж


Jolting awake, Cotton found herself leaning atop her empty display case. Her head lay in her hooves, one of them still grasping her cleaning cloth. She noticed a single tear running down her cheek. 

“Huh. That’s weird.” She wiped the tear away as she looked outside to find the sky a deep, navy blue. “Oh horseapples, what time is it?” she cried, glancing at the clock but not actually seeing the hands’ positions. She gave the counter one last wipedown where her head had lain, then rushed into the kitchen and tossed the cloth into a bin in the sink. “Dammit dammit dammit Dad’s gonna kill me!” She double-checked that the ovens were off, grabbed her saddlebag, flipped off all the lights, then locked the front door and flew off toward the castle. 

“One rule… Dad gave me one rule…” 


Ж


“I can’t believe she fell asleep,” Spike said to Luna, standing in the castle foyer.

Luna nodded. “‘Tis only Cotton’s second week of business, Spike. ‘Tis possible she is still not accustomed to her new schedule. She is likely exhausted.”

Spike let out a huff. “Maybe so, but I did give her only one rule: be home before nightfall.” He glared down at Luna. "And you tried to encourage her to stay asleep."

Luna glared right back and crossed her forelegs. “T’would have been an additional fifteen minutes at most. We have explained to thee how time works in the Dreamscape. How dost thou think We can visit so many—” 

“Still,” Spike countered, his glare intensifying as he put his claws on his hips. “You made my daughter upset.”

Shuffling backward with wide eyes, Luna responded, “Alright, alright, thou hast created thy nub. We apologize.” Regaining her footing, she let out a breath and added, “Go easy on her, Spike. We may have removed the dream from her memory, but her emotions may yet linger.” She sighed. “By the way, We thank thee for enlightening Us about the situation with the griffon. Cotton’s reaction in her dream makes much more sense to Us now.”

“You’re welcome, but don’t tell her I told you.”

Luna shook her head. “Our muzzle is muted.”
 
Spike sighed himself as he crossed his arms. “It still doesn’t make sense to me; from what I knew of him, and from what Cotton told me, he didn’t seem the type to participate in battle.”

“We believed the same. ‘Tis most disappointing.”

“I wish we could just ask him. If only you and Tia hadn’t made necromancy illegal.” When Luna stared at him with wide eyes, he looked at her and said, “No, I’m not serious. Still, I wish we could find out more. It won't hurt to ask, but I doubt Ambassador Gulliver would know; Gallant wasn’t crowned until after the war. I feel so useless.” 

Luna shook her head and responded, “Do not think of thyself in that manner, Spike. Thou art doing what thou art able. Thou canst not protect her from the colts in her mind.”

“No, but I can protect her from the colts out here. I’ll roast the next one that tries to make a move on her,” Spike said, letting out a small puff of smoke from the side of his mouth with a smirk.

“Spike! Thou canst not deprive thy daughter of a love life!” Luna cried, stomping the floor with a hoof.

Looking down at Luna with a cocked brow, Spike responded, “What, am I talking to Cadance now?”

After a beat, Luna frowned as she crossed her forelegs. “Nay, We simply believe Cotton shouldst have the opportunity to try again if she doth wish to take it.”

Spike rolled his eyes.

“But back to the matter at hoof; as We asked, please, make this exception for Cotton regarding her tardiness. We shall grant her a pleasant dream tonight to erase any lingering thoughts. Now, We must return to the Dreamscape.” She narrowed her eyes. “We must learn what Moondog hath done for Pip…” Luna then closed her eyes and disappeared in a flash of light.

Spike let out a breath. “Fine,” he said out loud to himself. “This one time.”

As if on cue, the door swung open, and in rushed a panting Cotton, who unceremoniously dropped onto the floor with a thud. When she looked up and found her father with his arms crossed, she groaned.

Huffing and puffing, Cotton said, “I’m… sor… ry… I’m… late… Dad… dy...I...fell...asleep…locking up.” She let out another groan, flopping onto her back as her saddlebag slid to the side. “Am… I… ground… ed?”

Spike chuckled internally. If that’s her first assumption, then it looks like I’ve drilled the importance of ‘the one rule’ into her head. Good. He leaned down and picked up Cotton’s bag, then helped her back to her hooves. “Welllll… not this time. I’ll let this one slide since you’re still adjusting to a new schedule. I’d advise going to sleep sooner.”

After taking a moment to regain her breath, Cotton sighed with relief. “Thank you, Daddy. I think you hit it on the head; I definitely need to get to bed earlier.”

Spike shook his head before saying, “You won’t be able to use schedule adjustment as an excuse for being late again, though. Next time you’ll face the full consequences. Understand?” 

Cotton nodded, sitting up straight on her haunches. “Yes, Daddy. It won’t happen again.”

With a smile, Spike leaned down and kissed Cotton on the top of her head. “That’s my girl. Now, go have dinner. I can’t imagine you’re not hungry.” Then he raised a brow and smirked. “Unless you’ve been eating your own stock again.”

“Once! I did that once!” Cotton huffed. Then she chuckled, shaking her head. “I’m gonna go have dinner now.”

“Good. Now don’t let Tasty Twist give you any of his own sweets tonight; you won’t get to sleep earlier if you’re on a sugar high.”

“Truth,” Cotton giggled. 

Before moving for the stairs, Spike said, “Just come say goodnight before you go to bed, Sweetheart. Enjoy your dinner.” He leaned down and kissed Cotton on the cheek, a gesture she returned in kind.

“I will, Daddy. On both accounts.” She cantered toward the kitchen with a sigh, then Spike faintly heard, “Hey Twist, do you have any good gems? And I need the flour and everything. Just wanna eat first.”

Spike grinned as he ascended the staircase. 

Hmm… maybe I should let her off the hook next time, too…