Follicles of a dim hue of blue mane danced across the grass with the flowing breeze. There was a faint cadence in the air, one of ancient sounding voices and haunting melodies. All there was to be taken in was just that, and with an almost childish whimsy.
"Crystal! Crystal Light!"
From her cozy backyard hammock, a young mare's eyes opened. Her head turned to spy a mare with a strikingly red mane and contrasting blue coat, and as her thick sunglasses slid down her nose, the figure at the doorway waved.
"Come in, dear!"
There was a breath blown through barely open lips, the embedded exasperation nearly visible in the air. Eyes squinted shut as the mare stood from her hammock and walked to the house of faded red brick. The creak of the sliding door and its accompanying slam alerted the contrast colored mare in the kitchen of the younger mare's presence.
"I have a reason not to be happy with you right now, and I believe you'll know why."
The young mare's heart sank as her gaze locked on to the single envelope on the table before her. Her head shot back to her right, the mare now turned and staring.
"Mom, I can explain."
"Explain what? I know what it was, you didn't care enough to put the effort in."
The young mare's eyes rolled as she leaned her hooves on the counter seperating them.
"It's not that, it's just-"
"Don't, I don't want to argue it right now. Your father will be home soon, and he'll decide what to do with you."
"Come on, mom," The young mare started, her sunglasses now moved to the top of her mane. "It's summer, not to mention, my last summer!"
"Don't be dramatic, dear, you'll have plenty of summers, but you'll just have to be working through them. Everypony has to do it."
A carbon copy breath of agitation, something which seemed to be shared between generations. The older mare leaned on the counter, mirroring her daughter.
"Hide it in your room. I'm giving you this week before I tell your father. Does that seem fair?"
The young mare nodded, an action which was then returned to her by her mother.
"Good. Dinner's coming along, go and grab my radio so you don't kill it again please."
"Yes mom."
The older mare turned away, but heard the creak and slam of the screen door. A heavy sigh. There was little more than a morsel at her disposal, and she had no time to get to any of the markets. It would do her little good anyways, she thought, as she grabbed a knife in her teeth and began slicing the few vegetables in front of her. For a few minutes, the door remained closed, and the mare could hear a distant sounding swirl of voices from the open window. Not caring to minimize noise, the knife clattered against the counter as it dropped from her mouth. A huff. That colt again.
"So, what's the deal? Your mom ground you?"
"She gave me a week."
"Ooh, that's a real bummer, Crys."
Hovering brown eyes stared forward at the mare on the other side of the tall fence, their owner keeping a small smirk about his face.
"See if you can get out now, make the most of it."
"I can try, I hope she hasn't seen you yet."
The smirk opened to let out a chuckle, and a thick black mane covered the stallion's face as he looked down.
"Still not forgiven, huh?"
"Not even close."
There was a very comfortable air between the two bodies, not of the unnatural heat of the day, but of understanding and near kinship. A white hoof connected roughly with an outstretched grey one, and a smile beneath blue eyes emerged.
"I'll see what I can do, wait here."
"I got nowhere to be."
Waiting for Crystal Light inside was a mother's stare, the kind she knew unfortunately well.
"Mom, can I go hang out with-"
"Yes, I heard, and I know what I promised. Just be back before ten, and try to stay out of trouble."
"Thanks mom! Love you!"
A smile that hadn't shown itself in quite some time made an appearance on a face that showed its age. The mare watched in mild content as her daughter scaled the backyard fence and started walking off down the street.
-------------------------------------------------
The day's heat was now just simmering, as opposed to the boil that had assaulted Ponyville's resident's throughout that entire week. From atop a playground pirate ship, blue and brown eyes scanned the town. This playground treasure that had been grown up with, used and worn to near death, remained a relic and an ever-calming area for the two.
"Have they thought of names yet?"
"No," A pause while the wonderfully cool, icy beverage was sipped loudly from its cup. "They're kinda in between a few things, but they really aren't sure on anything."
"Have you told them anything?"
"Nah, I suck at naming foals."
"I would hope you wouldn't have any experience."
The stallion chuckled and shook his head, the thick black mane making its way into his eyes again. Contrast was ever so apparent as a white hoof moved it back behind the stallion's ear.
"You need to cut this, you know."
"Yeah, I know. Haven't had the time."
"Oh, because you're so busy?"
"As a matter of fact, I am. I'm no longer Nova Bomb, student. I'm Nova Bomb...free. I've got a blank slate ahead of me."
"You've got a blank mind more like."
"That is not an unreasonable statement."
A shaken head again, and sip, this one of a much lower decibel. The stares extended far into the slowly dimming afternoon, dreamily taking in all that was.
"Any news on your applications?"
"Not yet."
"You applied to Canterlot first, yeah?"
"Yeah. Hopefully I get in."
"You will Crys, you got it."
"Hopefully."
"Hey, did you hear about what's happening in Fillydelphia?"
"Another riot over buckball?"
"No, seriously."
"What?"
"Something went down over there the other day, about some conspiracy involving space...space time magic, or something like that, I don't remember what it was."
"Ok," Crystal Light started, her eyes fully fixated on the stallion. "So, what's your point, is it something we need to worry about or is it just some nutcase?"
"From what I heard, there were some attacks, and some were pretty brutal."
"Oh, maybe ponies are getting a little crazy with this heat wave, or something. Where did you hear all this from anyway?"
"My uncle. Then again, he's a bit of a conspiracy nut himself, so, maybe it is nothing."
A presence had crept upon them during the conversation as the night sky slowly darkened. Not one with any physical or worldly anchor, but one of a foreboding, unanswerable question.
"What do you think caused it?"