“‘Oh no you don’t Dr Callerbrone! You won’t get away with this!’ Said Daring Do as she flapped her wings, launching after the plane.” Sparkler read.
It was time for bed and Sparkler was reading the next chapter of Daring Do and The Quest for the Sapphire Stone to Kicker. She finished the chapter and glanced over to see Kicker fast asleep. She smiled as she bookmarked the page and gently closed it. She gently placed the book on the nightstand and leaned in to give Kicker a gentle kiss on the forehead. “Goodnight my little Angel. Sweet dreams. And don’t worry. Mommy will be back in a few.” She cooed as she quietly made her way out of the room to get ready for bed.
In their room, Flappy took hold of his Sparkler plushie and settled on the bed as Sparkler walked in. “Squawk! Kid go down alright? Squawk!” He asked.
“Fell asleep as I was reading to him.” Sparkler replied as she summoned her toothbrush. “Good thing we DID redecorate that room Flappy. He hasn’t had any problems going to sleep in it since he came back from the hospital.” She said as she started brushing her teeth.
“Squawk! Well it HAS become his room rather than the guest room. And plus, with his memory of you know who nabbing him from that room I figured we’d change the appearance of it to put him at ease. Squawk!” Flappy explained.
“Good thinking on your part. And I have to say, blue as the main color with yellow, red, and green stripes connecting the pictures and posters was a great choice. Heck, Mon and Dad aren’t even gonna recognize that it was the guest room they slept in last time they were here.” Sparkler commented.
“Squawk! Speaking of, have you told them yet? About Kicker? Squawk!” Flappy asked.
“Ya know. I was gonna mention it in the letter, but then I figured, eh, why not just let them find out when they get here.” Sparkler replied with a chuckle.
“Squawk! Then ya might not want Twilight anywhere near them until you explain how you’re a mother so soon. And in only a month since their last visit. Squawk!”
“Yeah...” Sparkler said. “It hasn’t been that long since they last visited has it.” One month... Had it really only been a month? It felt longer than that.
“Squawk! Time flies doesn’t it. Squawk!” Flappy commented.
“Yeah it does.” Sparkler replied, still baffled about how little time had really passed. Honestly it felt like yesterday that Sparkler had found Kicker in the alleyway, now she was petitioning to adopt him as her son. “I...I can’t believe this is really happening.”
“Squawk! You tell me. I didn’t think you’d be a mother until you and Twilight got married and magicked a foal into the world. And that was only AFTER you fell hard for her. Squawk!” Flappy said.
“We could just as easily go the adoption route Flappy. Who says either of us are ready to go through pregnancy? Hehe.” Sparkler chuckled.
“Squawk! Don’t you first have to...oh I don’t know...ASK HER OUT? Hehe. Squawk!” Flappy asked with a chuckle.
Sparkler spat her toothpaste out in the sink and sighed. “I want to...I really want to. But things just keep getting in the way. First it was coming out with my wings, then I found Kicker in the alleyway.” She said.
“Squawk! Well, now that everything’s calmed down you should go for it before something else comes up. Squawk!” Flappy suggested.
“I...I don’t know. I feel like maybe I should wait...least until the adoption is finalized.” Sparkler said. “Can’t have my love life distracting me.”
“Squawk! Betty isn’t even gonna be here until the day after tomorrow at least. Squawk!” Flappy countered.
“Yeah well the odds of me running into Twilight at all tomorrow are slim since I don’t necessarily NEED to leave the house—”
At that moment, she felt her horn tingle, it was Twilight Horn Pulsing her.
Twilight: Hey Sparkler, Spike was wondering if you Kicker and Flappy would like to join us, Starlight, and Gabby tomorrow for Ogres and Oubliettes. If you don’t think he’s good for that yet it’s fine but Spike kinda begged me to ask anyway.
Sparkler’s mind processed the message...and she didn’t know if she jinxed it or not. “Son of a blank-flank.” She said after a moment.
“Squawk! What? Squawk!” Flappy asked.
“Twilight just asked if we’d like to join them tomorrow for Ogres and Oubliettes.” Sparkler replied.
Flappy tried to hold it in, but he let out an amused chuckle. “Squawk! Odds are slim huh? Squawk!” He said coyly.
Sparkler groaned. “Ogres and Oubliettes are SO not a game to ask somepony out over.” She said as she lit her horn to reply to Twilight.
Sparkler: I’ll ask Kicker in the morning but yeah, Flappy and I are up for it.
Twilight: Great. Let me know what Kicker says. Have a good night Sparkler.
Sparkler: You too Twi.
Sparkler dimmed her horn and shook her head. “Well, goodnight Flappy.”
“Squawk! Night Sparkler. Squawk!”
Sparkler turned and left the room to go back to Kicker’s room, where she had been sleeping the last few nights as a way to help Kicker get a good night’s sleep.
Kicker was by himself in a strange hallway, he wasn’t sure where he was, but it looked scary. “H-hello? A-anypony there?” He called out. He walked down the hall, until he saw a door open. Nervous and curious, he walked towards the open door. “M-mom? Y-you there?” He asked. When he received no response, he peered into the room...and what he saw made him scream at the top of his lungs.
...
Sparkler sighed in content as she and Twilight waltzed around the room to soothing classical music. “This is nice.” She commented.
“It really is.” Twilight responded. “I’m so happy we finally got married.”
“Me too Twi. This is perfect.”
“Mom! Mommy!” They heard THEIR son call out. They turned to see Kicker galloping towards them as fast as his little legs could carry him. They smiled and each held out a foreleg to catch him. He jumped into their forelegs and was smiling like a goofball.
“I love you guys so much!” Kicker said.
“Aww! We love you too Kicker!” Twilight replied.
“We’re finally one happy family.” Sparkler said, with tears of joy in her eyes.
“This is a stark contrast to Kicker’s exploits in the dream realm tonight.” Said a familiar voice.
Sparkler saw Kicker and Twilight disappear and the scene changed from a wedding reception to the familiar starry landscape that meant one thing. “You know you’re supposed to save Ponies from their nightmares. Not kill the mood in their fantasies.” She said as she turned to see Luna appear from a white rectangle.
“It pains me to keep interrupting your escapades involving dreaming of the Princess of Friendship. But your assistance is required. Involving your soon-to-be-son.” Luna said.
Sparkler’s eyes widened. “What happened?! Is he ok?” Sparkler asked.
“He is having a nightmare as we speak.” Luna answered.
“Then why are you HERE?!” Sparkler exclaimed. “I mean, it’s great yer telling me but shouldn’t you be, oh I don’t know, SAVING HIM?!” Sparkler responded in a panic.
“Mina was kind enough to inform me of Kicker not currently doing ok with unannounced visitors, except for you.” Luna said.
That’s when Sparkler realized what Luna was asking of her. “You think it would be best for ME to save him.” She concluded.
Luna nodded. “When I connect two ponies in a shared dream either will be able to manipulate it to their heart’s content.” She explained.
“Then by all means.” Sparkler said.
...
Kicker was racing down the hall, trying to find some kind of exit. “I gotta get out of here!” He shrieked. He turned a corner, and came to a dead stop when he saw the two demons from his past. “No! Stay away from me!” He screamed as he backed away from Sparky and Misty in terror
“You thought you got rid of us you little brat?” Misty asked.
“Think again.” Sparky added.
Kicker saw the familiar glow of their horns as they aimed at him. He curled up into a ball and braced himself. “No! Please! Just leave me alone!” He cried.
“This time you’ll pay for everything you’ve done!” Misty shouted at him.
“If payment’s what you want I’ll pay in full!” Shouted a new voice before Kicker saw Sparky and Misty get lifted into the air and thrown back, away from him. They were flung away, and flew over a new pony, one that Kicker was MUCH more happy to see.
“Mom!” He cried out in joy.
“I’ll be but a moment sweetie.” Sparkler replied as she whipped around, flared her wings, and lit her horn in a defensive posture, shielding Kicker.
Sparky and Misty got up from their flight and snarled at the Alicorn. “Grah! You again!”
“Yes. Me again. How bout you make it easy and give up.” Sparkler replied.
“Not until you give us back our son!” Misty snarled.
“Oh I’ll give you something alright.” Sparkler aimed at them with her horn. “Adios you crooks!” She fired her horn and blasted Sparky and Misty through the wall, which just so happened to be on the top floor of a skyscraper. Their screams faded away as they fell.
As soon as it was quiet, Sparkler dimmed her horn and smiled to herself. “That ought to get it through your thick heads.”
“Mom!” Sparkler heard her son cry out. She turned just in time to see Kicker race towards her. She got down on her haunches, opened her wings, and caught Kicker as he embraced her best he could. “You’re here!” He said.
“You bet I am.” Sparkler responded as she held her son. “I’ll always be here for you. Even in your dreams.”
“T-this was a dream?” Kicker asked.
“Yea honey. It was only a dream. It’s not real.” Sparkler said while rhythmically stroking Kicker’s mane.
Out in the waking world, just as she started stroking his mane in the dream realm, Sparkler, with Kicker carefully wrapped up in her wings, subconsciously started petting Kicker’s mane, rhythmically stroking it in a soothing manner.
That brought Kicker some comfort, knowing he was probably still safe in his room in Sparkler's house. Still, something felt off. Sitting here in his mother’s embrace, it felt familiar, like he had done so before. “Are you a part of this dream too?” Kicker asked.
“No. I promise I’m real.” Sparkler said.
“I-I don’t understand...” Kicker said.
“It’s just like when Luna visited you some nights ago. You remember her?” Sparkler asked.
Kicker’s eyes widened. “You mean Princess Luna?” He asked.
“Indeed little one.” Said a familiar voice. Kicker turned his head to see Luna appear from a corner. Also he saw the scene around him change from the hallway to the living room of Sparkler’s house.
Kicker didn’t have a clue in Tartarus what was going on beyond his mother holding him and Luna being here, but he was grateful nonetheless.
Luna approached and got down on her haunches to be more his level. “Hello there Kicker. I trust you are doing ok?”
“Y-yeah.” Kicker said. “Mom’s working to officially adopt me.” He said.
“Really now? That’s great news!” Luna responded.
“Yeah. This little one stole my heart.” Sparkler commented.
“I wish you two nothing but the best. I would imagine the party Pinkie will throw will be a big one.” Luna said.
“Yeah I can believe that.” Sparkler replied.
“What's up with her anyway?” Kicker asked.
Sparkler and Luna chuckled. “Oh honey. Rule number 1 of living in Ponyville...NEVER question Pinkie Pie. Bad things happen when you question her.” Sparkler said.
“She is...we shall say extra in her ways.” Luna said.
Kicker nodded. “If you say so.” He said.
Sparkler nuzzled him on the cheek as Luna got up on her hooves. “I am sorry Kicker. But it is time for me and your mother to go.” She said.
“What?!” Kicker shrieked.
“Kicker, calm down.” Sparkler said.
“I am sorry. But it is not wise for two ponies to share a dream all night. Sparkler needs to return to her own dream so you two can have a fun day after you wake.” Luna explained.
Kicker was still shocked his mother had to leave, but what the Princess was saying made sense. “Y-you‘ll be there when we wake up?” He asked Sparkler.
“Of course I will. I’m never going anywhere. I promise.” Sparkler replied.
“O-ok.” Kicker said as Sparkler slowly let go of him.
“If it will help Kicker.” Luna lit her horn, and Kicker saw a second Sparkler fade into existence.
“Hey Kicker. Wanna dance to Airwave Music?” Dream Sparkler asked.
“Sure!” Kicker said. He turned to Real Sparkler. “Bye mom.”
“Goodnight sweetie.” Sparkler said.
Kicker ran to Dream Sparkler. Real Sparkler and Luna departed through the white rectangle.
...
Out in the Realm of Dreams, Luna walked Sparkler back to her own dream. Sparkler bit her lip. “Those two are still haunting him.” She said.
“Indeed. The psychological impact those two had on him is considerable.” Luna replied.
“Redheart was right. He will need to go to therapy to help deal with his trauma.” Sparkler concluded.
“Yes. You know, I have a friend in Canterlot who happens to be a psychologist. I could ask her to pay you a visit in the near future.” Luna suggested.
“How good is your friend?” Sparkler asked.
“She’s called a miracle worker.” Luna replied.
“And you don’t think she’ll mind making a trip?” Sparkler asked.
“She’ll be happy to help. I know it.” Luna replied.
Sparkler bit her lip. “Ok.” She said. If you can ask her that would be great.” She said.
“I shall pay her a visit in the morning.” Luna said.
“Ok.” Sparkler replied. She took a deep breath. Let’s hope this will work. Those two have tormented him enough.
To be continued...