Most of the rest of the afternoon passed with little to say about it. Lántiān eventually won the earlier game because Jess was still recovering from magical exhaustion. Despite retaining an impressive amount of earth pony strength, Jess didn't have much more stamina than me, not to mention anywhere near the energy of other kids. It was a shock the couch potato nerd was able to stay in the game as long as she did before tiring out. However, it had not been an easy win for Lántiān, and I hoped that the challenge had helped give her a smidgen more respect for humans.
Jess retreated to playing with her baby brother, who seemed to adore his odd-looking big sister as much as she did him, while whispering with Alice—who in turn seemed quite comfortable spending time with a girl who looked close to her age. Considering Alice had spent the last eight years in a bunker, her social development was probably not much better than Jess's, possibly worse.
Lántiān, unable to completely stop playing mother to her brothers, even when told not to, left her daughter with my parents as she went to prepare snacks for the foals. My parents, in turn, seemed to have happily adopted Qīng Yǔ as their new great-granddaughter and were determined to spoil her with attention that the filly joyously basked in.
John, Lauren, and Mike still were only rarely engaging with ponies, but were at least now talking quietly with Devon and Paul. Their younger children were a different story. Trixie needed little prompting to perform parlor tricks for eager-to-be-amazed Bobby and Grace, who both seemed to be having the time of their lives since coming out of the basement, and none of the nervousness about ponies, or unfamiliar people in general, I would have expected.
Malcomb and Silvia took off for a while since Silvia wouldn't be needed while Jess's magic on the fritz—I was starting to wonder if the two were becoming a thing. More power to them if they were. Them being gone for the moment meant there were fewer people to monitor.
Others were missing. The night ponies and Tempest were all still asleep and would probably remain so for at least another two to three hours. Number had texted me that she would be returning later with the security, all while lamenting how much back and forth running Wild was having her do and expressing her wishes that things settle down soon.
That left me with three colts to occupy.
I walked over to the colts, who had gone back to playing with action figures, and gave them a big grin.
"How about we go take a walk outside?" I asked. "I'd like to talk to all three of you for a little while so I can learn more about each of you."
"What if there is barking again?" Sinker asked.
"Then we will avoid wherever the barking is coming from," I answered.
"We're just going to walk and talk?" Líng asked.
I nodded. "That's correct."
Líng frowned. "That sounds kind of boring… but going outside is good."
We came across Lántiān as we were exiting the room, and she raised an eyebrow at us. "Where are you going, ma'am?"
"Just a peaceful walk around the grounds," I replied. I then narrowed my eyes at her. "And what were you doing in the kitchen by yourself?"
She stepped back defensively. "I am preparing snacks to tide the foals over until dinner, ma'am. I believe I made this clear. I was just stepping back in to check on my daughter."
"How about you bring my mother to help you. I don't want anyone being alone," I said firmly.
"I was just a short distance away, ma'am."
I shook my head. "You were out of sight by yourself. Bring my mother with you, my dad can watch the kid."
She gave me a stubborn glare but nodded. "As you wish, ma'am. Be aware; there should be a light rain shortly. I don't think this should interrupt your walk, but you should check Líng for mud before he comes in. If there is water and dirt, he will find a way to get muddy."
"Mud is fun!" Líng said as he pranced in place.
Shǔguāng glared at his brother. "Mud is messy!"
Líng shook his head. "It is dirt and water! Dirt and water are both cool!"
It occurred to me that this might be an extension of his earth pony thinking. Earth ponies certainly had more fondness of the soil than the other tribes; it was pre-programmed into them by instinct. However, the passion for water was distinctly Líng. Put his earth pony instincts and his distinct personality together, and you got a pony who found joy in mud—something that his siblings weren't as naturally inclined to share.
I paused and wondered how much of a good thing or bad thing tribal instinct was. Everything living had instincts, yet I had a habit of assuming everyone was happier doing tasks determined by them or that those instincts somehow influenced every thought someone had. It was a valid thought process, at least with ponies, but it made me wonder how forced into being something ponies were based solely on how they were born. Lántiān was trying to go against this by picking up art. It wasn't that pegasi couldn't be artists, but she was going against not only her tribe but her cutie mark as well.
That was probably one of humanity's strengths, not being conditioned by tribes and marks to be a particular thing. Perhaps I should be more supportive of Lántiān's efforts. I was helping her with the art supplies and books, but I wasn't giving her encouragement. I still wanted her to work on her flying since it was a good fallback option, and people should always have a plan B, but I needed to cheer on her efforts with art more.
Lántiān gave me a questioning look."Is everything alright, ma'am? You are just staring at me without saying anything."
I shook my head. "Just distracted by a stray thought. That's been happening a lot lately, perhaps I'm going senile. Thank you for the weather advisory. Is everything going well with your art? Is there anything else you need for that? Supplies, a professional tutor, anything?"
That seemed to piss her off for some reason. "Are you not satisfied with my progress, ma'am? I only started days ago. It would be unjust to expect me to be drawing well already." She was practically growling at me.
I stepped back defensively. "I am only trying to take an interest in your hobby."
"It is not a hobby, ma'am. I shall become an artist," she all but spat. "I will not be outdone by—" She suddenly clamped her mouth shut.
"You weren't supposed to say that last part, were you?" I asked. I didn't have much time to consider how to continue. This was a moment she was off guard, and I needed to handle it delicately but expediently. I looked at the colts. "Can you all give us a little privacy? Lántiān doesn't want you hearing this. We will go outside once I am done speaking with her. Just step back into the family room, and I will get you in a minute."
Sinker retreated into the family room right away. The other two gave their sister a concerned glance before following after him. That was good. I didn't want to deal with protests.
I turned my full attention to Lántiān. "I'm going to take some guesses. You don't have to tell me if I'm right. Your mother told you who her replacement was going to be. I'm not sure what circumstances allowed her to do this without violating her rules, but there are always loopholes. Who her replacement was going to be is kinda a moot point, considering your mother can't retire to Equestria now. I'm guessing he or she is an artist, and you have decided to be jealous that she thought this person was good enough for her, even if you were never in the running to be her successor or even interested in the job."
She looked left and right as if looking for somewhere to run. "Ma'am, I cannot discuss—"
"Oh, I understand," I interrupted. "This is information you learned in the dream realm, which means it is typically off-limits for discussion—private information learned in the dream realm is always protected. I know the rules. I will advocate for you if your mother or any of the other Dreamwardens takes issue with you having a slip. You didn't say much anyway."
She just stared at me, and her expression was one of a frightened child. That meant I was right on every point I had earlier made. It was time to turn this into something useful.
"I won't pry into this person's identity. I know that is off-limits. Nor am I going to stop you from doing art," I said firmly. "I understand the need to prove to be just as good at something as someone else. I used to feel that way about the Equestrian mages. Through hard work and dedication I'm now just as skilled, more skilled than the vast majority of them. You could do the same with art. However, I have a new condition for you working on art."
She stopped looking frightened and now took up her defiant stance again. "And what is that, ma'am?"
"If you don't actually like it by the end of the year, you're done with it and move into something else, something more fulfilling," I said, trying to keep my expression neutral. I pointed at my flank. "I'm not a natural mage; my mark has nothing directly to do with being good at magic, but I do love working with magic. Even if I hadn't had misguided reasons for learning, I still found something I loved doing. So it wasn't a total waste. If you can find that same love in art, then it is worthwhile. It means you let it become something for you, not merely a petty attempt to show someone up. If after a year of practice you find art brings you no joy, you need to stop. Forcing yourself to do something you don't like for the rest of your life doesn't do anything but make you miserable. If you leave me in a few years on a track for a miserable life, then I have failed in my duties."
She raised an eyebrow at me. "And if I enjoy it, ma'am?"
"Then you have my full support to continue. I will cheer you on the whole way, and I'll even ask Wild Growth to pull some strings to get you into whatever art school you want," I replied with a smile. I then let my smile drop. "Only, don't try to fool me into thinking you like it if you don't; I will be able to discern the truth." I offered my hoof to her. "Do we have a deal?"
She hesitated only a second before putting her hoof up to mine. "Agreed, ma'am."
I nodded. "Good, now go ask my mom if she can help you in the kitchen, so I don't have to worry about you being alone. I don't want anyone alone at any point until we figure this barking out." I dropped my voice to a whisper. "This started after I got you and your brothers, and that means it could be targeted at all of you. It would be best if you kept alert and safe. Just because you are out of China doesn't mean you are safe from people trying to pull the same shit. You're no less leverage to use against your mother than you were before."
Her ears pinned back. "Is this ever going to end, ma'am? We were supposed to be safer coming to America."
I shook my head. "I don't think it ever will, but danger comes in different degrees. You're safer here. In China, you had the government itself trying to use you. Here, it is going to be just stray wackos with far fewer resources and reach."
She scowled. "And what is stopping your government from doing the same, or the Equestrians if we had run to Equestria? I see no reason to trust either."
"Well, the alicorns in Equestria have been willing to do the right thing so far rather than what is best for their self-interest, but you aren't going to Equestria, so there is no need to speculate about that anyway," I explained.
She didn't look convinced, but also looked like she was waiting for the other half of my answer.
I took a deep breath. "As for here. There might be some in the government who'd consider it, but they won't try it. Our government is less monolithic, so they'd never muster enough support to get it approved. Further, the government here has a good working relationship with the Dreamwardens, and the Dreamwardens provide many invaluable services at very low cost. Making the Dreamwardens mad at them and withdrawing those services, as a result, is asking to get shot in the foot."
That left the filly looking baffled. "What exactly do the Dreamwardens do for services? They didn't do anything in China that I know of."
I blinked. "Perhaps the Chinese government didn't advertise it or deliberately blocked them. They give first responder alerts about those who are experiencing critical medical emergencies who have lost consciousness—at least, they do if the person has signed an agreement beforehand allowing them to. Ghadab helps the police with missing persons and kidnapping cases. My wife arranges meetings in the dream realm and acts as a witness in deals finalized there. You must know what your mother does for night pony mares and some isolated others, and I can only imagine her role will continue to grow."
Lántiān pursed her lips. "I don't know. What does my mother do?"
I was dumbfounded. "You've never heard of Yinyu's blessing?"
"You are the only blessing I know connected to my mother, ma'am."
Well, I wasn't going to explain that one to her. "I'll let you ask your mother about that, or you can ask my daughter-in-law or Josie. It's an uncomfortable subject."
"Does she have dream sex with them?" Lántiān asked, not even seeming perturbed by the notion.
I shook my head. "No! Or at least, that isn't what her blessing is. I have no idea how much dream sex and other pornographic things she does, and I don't want to know. Just ask her next time you're asleep."
Lántiān cocked the edge of her mouth up in amusement. "Do you have dream sex with your wife, ma'am?"
"None of your business!" I shouted. "We're done with this conversation. I need to get back to the colts."
That blue-furred filly smirked behind her black mane all the way back into the family room. I wanted to smack it right off her, the brat—trying to fluster me!
The colts had wandered back to their action figures, and I had to regather them. I was just going to take a relaxing walk outside with the colts, and calm down.