//------------------------------// // Episode 26: Don't Look Down // Story: My Little Pony: Sparkling Harmony: Season Two // by Captain_Cosmos //------------------------------// “Ok Kicker. Time to have some lunch.” Sparkler said, levitating a sippy cup to him. “What is it again?” Kicker asked. “A mixture of blended food that’s good for developing foals. Little colts like you need to eat so you can grow to be big and strong.” Said a new pony. The nutritionist had at last paid them a visit and she had brought along a sippy cup of blended food for Kicker to have for lunch. Kicker eyed the sippy cup suspiciously. Sparkler noticed his reluctance and shot him a gentle smile. “Don’t worry Kicker. It’s safe.” She leaned in close to whisper in his ear. “I checked it with a scanning spell and it’s good.” She said. Kicker saw the reassurance in Sparkler’s smile and nodded, leaning in to clasp his lips over the elongated opening on the cup’s lid. Sparkler smiled as she and Kicker fell into the now familiar cycle of what was essentially baby feeding him. Good thing we got the hang of this rather quickly. Two weeks. I’ll say this for this whole problem. Now you’re getting practice for when you and Twilight have a foal together. And that’s the end of this conversation. Sparkler drowned out the voice in her head after that. The nutritionist smiled as she watched Sparkler feeding Kicker. “You got the hang of this don’tcha.” She asked. “Ain’t the first time we’ve done this, all of yesterday.” Sparkler replied. “Good. The kid needs his energy.” The nutritionist said. “Now, while you’re doing that. Let’s talk about the recommended schedule to make sure we get him back to where he should be for his age.” She said, looking at her clipboard. “Now. Typically there’d be three meals a day. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Out of curiosity, what have you been feeding him thus far?” The nutritionist asked. “Mainly it’s been cereal for breakfast, with milk of course. Sandwiches for lunch. And anything from spaghetti to salad for dinner.” Sparkler responded. “And I make sure he eats everything. Due to the malnourishment.” “Good. Then we’re on the right track already.” The nutritionist said. “Since he’s...cocooned at the moment. I’m gonna recommend any food you make him is blended and he drinks as much as he can get.” “That’s doable. How many times should I feed him?” Sparkler asked. “Until he‘s out of the cast and is able to eat without assistance, he should have a full sippy cup four times a day. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and a bedtime snack as it were. Since sippy cups in general have a smaller volume than a typical dinner can fit in.” The nutritionist replied. Sparkler turned to Kicker and took the sippy cup away for a moment. “You hear that Kicker?” She asked. “Yeah.” Kicker replied. “Full sippy cup four times a day.” “That’s right.” Sparkler said as she gave him a nuzzle on the cheek. “As for what exactly we recommend you feed him.” The nutritionist said. “A salad is gonna be your best bet.” Good thing Flappy can handle a grocery run on his own. “Right. Got it. Thank you doctor.” “Than everything is in order. Get better soon kid.” The nutritionist said while flashing a smile. She then turned and proceeded out the door. Sparkler turned back to Kicker and resumed feeding him. Ten minutes later, the sippy cup was empty. Sparkler smiled as she placed the cup on the table next to him. “And there. Feeling alright Kicker?” She asked. “Yeah.” Kicker replied. “Good.” Sparkler said, nuzzling his cheek. “These next two weeks aren’t gonna be easy. But we’ll get through it.” She told him. “Promise?” Kicker asked. “Promise.” Sparkler replied, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Kicker smiled and relaxed. Despite being in a cast, he felt freer than he had in recent years. Because of the mare next to him, he had a real mother again. Not a fake like Misty or Sparky, but a real, genuine mother who cared about and loved him in the way his birth mother did. For Sparkler, finding Kicker in an alleyway was not something she ever thought she’d do. It could be said though that Kicker quickly stole her heart in a way Twilight never could. In a way, he reminded her of herself. As in, he too had emotional baggage to deal with. But unlike her, who had her parents, Kicker had absolutely nopony to turn to for help. An unfortunate fact that only heightened her desire to help him even further. He had brought out the mother in her she never thought would see the light. Thank Faust Flappy stopped by this morning. Not sure if he managed to catch Betty but if he did then Betty should have the forms back with her by now. She thought. She would’ve mailed them back to Canterlot when she took Kicker home the next day but than Flappy came and suggested he take them this morning. Sparkler smiled at that. Flappy was always willing to help. Especially if it was important. He was the absolute best friend she could ever ask for. At that moment, she felt a tingle in her horn. An indication of a Horn Pulse. Airwave: Hey Sparkler. Flappy told me and Lyrica what happened recently with Kicker. We thought we’d come and visit you guys in the hospital but Flappy all but ordered us to horn pulse you when we were outside the door to the room so that Kicker wouldn’t freak out. If this is a bad time just say so. Sparkler just had to snicker at that. She could only imagine Flappy squawking at them. Kicker saw her snickering. “What’s up mom?” He asked. “Remember Airwave and Lyrica from the other day?” Sparkler asked. She saw Kicker nod and smiled. “Well, they’ve decided to come visit. They’re actually right outside the door now. Want me to let them in?” “Airwave isn’t gonna come in as a monster is he?” Kicker asked. “If I see him in anything scary I won’t let him in.” Sparkler replied as she walked to the door. She opened it just enough to poke her head through. Outside the door she found Lyrica...but no sign of Airwave. “Lyrica? Where’s Airwave?” She asked. “Down here.” Sparkler looked to where the voice was and saw a cute little koala staring up at her. Sparkler had to force herself not to straight up laugh. “A-Airwave? Is that you?” She asked with a giggle. “Yep. Thought I’d give Kicker a smile on his face. And what better way than to show him a cute little animal.” Airwave replied, making an adorable face. “You have NO idea how much I want to just grab you and cuddle you right now.” Lyrica said. “Me too.” Sparkler agreed. “Unfortunately I’m gonna have to ask you to revert back to your natural form. I’m not sure but if Kicker sees the flames of your transformation burst without warning it might scare him, and I’m trying to prevent that from happening.” “Alright. I get it.” Airwave said. He took a step back and a green flame burst from the floor, enveloping him. A couple seconds later, the flame died down and revealed Airwave in his changeling form. Sparkler smiled and opened the door wide enough for them to come in. Kicker watched as Airwave and Lyrica came in. Luckily Airwave wasn’t anything scary. Just his insect-like self that Kicker met the other day. “Hi Mr. Airwave, hi Ms Lyrica.” “Hey there bud.” Airwave replied and he and Lyrica approached one side of the bed while Sparkler walked back to her spot on the other side. “We heard what happened. How’re you feeling Kicker?” Lyrica asked in concern. “Can’t move anything but my head. Ribs hurt, and my legs and hooves are busted.” Kicker replied. “But I’m feeling ok.” “That’s good. Here’s to a speedy recovery.” Airwave said with a smile. “He’s gonna be in the cast for two weeks. And there will probably be some physical therapy after that.” Sparkler said. “But he’s safe and sound and that’s all that matters.” She added while giving Kicker a nuzzle on the cheek. “Yeah. Hey, Flappy told us you had some good news at least. He also wanted us to let you know that he got paperwork to Foal Protection Services...whatever that means.” Lyrica commented. Sparkler smiled. “Oh thank Faust. Thanks for letting me know. I was worried he missed them.” She turned to Kicker and they both giggled. “Do you want to tell them or should I?” Sparkler asked. “Mom’s gonna officially adopt me. She’s gonna be my new mom now.” Kicker told Airwave and Lyrica. “Really? That’s great!” Airwave exclaimed excitedly. “Congrats!” Lyrica added. “Thanks. If you had told me last week I’d be petitioning for adoption right now I would’ve thought you crazy. But then...” She smiled at Kicker. “The dumpster trapped this little colt within itself and he quickly stole my heart.” She said as she nuzzled Kicker’s neck in a playful manner. Which caused Kicker to giggle. “H-hey. That tickles.” Kicker said in response. “Good to know not ALL the ticklish parts are covered.” Sparkler playfully remarked. Getting a chuckle out of all of them. After a moment, Airwave got an idea. He smiled and looked directly at Sparkler. “Hey Sparks.” He said. “Do you recall that duet you and I were working on? The one we thought would be a fun little side project?” “Yeah.” Sparkler said. “Why?” “Do you think Kicker here would like it?” Airwave asked with a nudge of his head towards Kicker. Sparkler near immediately picked up the real meaning of Airwave’s question. He was asking if Kicker would like to hear the song NOW. She gave a wide smile as she turned her attention to Kicker. “Hey Kicker.” She said. “What mom?” Kicker replied. “How would you like to hear the song Airwave and I have been working on? Hm? Would you like a little private concert?” She asked. A smile burst onto Kicker’s face and he nodded. “Yeah! Please?” He asked. “Of course.” Sparkler replied. She lit her horn, pulsed it, and a record appeared out of thin air. “Good thing there’s already a record player in here.” She commented as she set the record up in the player. “Too bad you can’t dance yet Kicker. This is gonna be a banger.” Airwave said with a smile as he got into position. “Maybe that could be a good physical therapy exercise. Dancing.” Sparkler commented as she too got into position. After a second, she smiled as she pulsed her horn to activate the player. “Let’s rock! 5 4 3 2...” the music started. Kicker bopped his head to the beat. Sparkler and Airwave were right. This was a banger. “You’re a lucky colt. You know that Kick?” Lyrica commented. “Yeah. I do.” Kicked replied with a chuckle as he continued to listen. Lyrica was right. Ever since he met Sparkler his luck had turned around for the better. Because of Sparkler he now had again what Sparky and Misty took from him. Because of Sparkler he could now be a regular foal. No, it wasn’t Sparkler anymore. To him, she was now mom. Sparkler is my new mom. He smiled at the thought. Just like always the last few days. To be continued...