//------------------------------// // The Next Morning // Story: The Bell of Bridlewood // by milesprower06 //------------------------------// Alphabittle slowly woke up to the morning sun coming through the window, and was roused further by the bathroom door opening, and Haven came out with her mane in curlers and wearing a white bathrobe. "Ah, about time, dearest. But with how late you got here last night, I figured you were needing a bit more sleep than I did," Haven told him as he sat up, pulling the covers off of himself. "Am I presentable enough for breakfast?" Alphabittle asked, taking a quick look at himself in the mirror. "You're presentable enough for me," Haven replied. "And that's all that matters." The unicorn stallion ran a quick brush through his mane before following Haven out into the corridors and towards the dining hall. Captain Zephyrwing was standing at parade rest at the double doors to the dining hall, and snapped to attention when Haven turned the corner along with Alphabittle. "Good morning, Your Majesty," Zoom greeted. "Good morning, Captain," Haven replied as the guard opened the doors for the pair of ponies. Haven took her spot at the head of the table, and Alphabittle sat down at the first available adjacent chair to her left. Like clockwork, the kitchen staff came out with a cart containing pancakes, waffles, decanters of syrup, and fresh fruit. "Alright, Alphie. You've kept me in suspense long enough. How did it go?" Haven said, asking the question before even starting into her short stack of pancakes. "Well, when I got to Maretime Bay, Misty and her friends were out, something to do with that baby dragon of theirs, so I stopped in for a quick bite to eat on the edge of town. Izzy got back to me soon after that, and I went inside to meet her. She was stunned at the revelation, of course, they all were. But what bothered me the most was where she has been all these years; with an ancient alicorn named Opaline." "I recall Zipp mentioning somepony like that, an alicorn who's been after all the magic in Equestria," Haven said. Alphabittle nodded. "They told me she's the reason that magic was hidden away all those generations ago. She's also the one who likely took my daughter from me. Worse still, she's... She's considering returning to her, to act as a double agent for her new friends. That can't be safe, and if anything ever happened to her..." Alphabittle trailed off, forcing himself to start into his breakfast on the plate in front of him. Haven took a quiet breath as she mulled over what the stallion had just told her. "I certainly don't want to fill your ears with sweet nothings and reassurances, Alphie; not when you have every single right to be worried. I will say that Misty is in good hooves; her new friends were the catalyst that have reunited all of Equestria." "I think I just have to accept being worried for the time being, Haven. They told me Opaline is the kind of threat that Equestria hasn't seen in generations, and I believe them. I just wish there was more I could do," Alphabittle told her. "There is more you can do. Just because there's some ancient cold war brewing doesn't mean that you have to put your relationship with your long-lost daughter on hold. Keep in touch with her, and get to know her again." "There's not exactly a lot to catch up on, I doubt she wants me to sit there while she recounts all her years with Opaline. Now she's back, out of the blue, and she has her cutie mark now." Haven paused mid drink, and Alphabittle could see the light bulb come on over her head. "What is it?" "That, right there! That would be a perfect starting point! Zephyr Heights' Cutie Blossom Bash is coming up, and for the first time, we're involving all the tribes. If she's not off playing spy for Sunny and the others, see if she wants to come to that with you," Haven suggested. "Cutie Blossom Bash? I think Bridlewood does something similar," Alphabittle replied. "I'm sure Maretime Bay does too. In fact, I think friends and families threw individual parties every time a pony got their mark in ancient times. Well, it turns out, doing it once a year as a group is a lot more practical and cost efficient," Haven chuckled. "But, these things are for fillies and colts half her age, even less. Not fully grown mares. Do you really think she'd want to go to something like that?" Alphabittle asked. Haven raised her glass of orange juice. "You'll never know unless you ask."