Alphabittle couldn't deny that it was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders by the time he had arrived back at Bridlewood. He was still worried, no doubt, but he had done it; he had reunited with his long lost child. Granted, it hadn't been as long as he was perhaps hoping for, but she had started to build a life of her own with her new friends, and the last thing he wanted to do was butt in.
He would be here for her when she was ready.
After doing a quick walk-around inspection of the exterior of Izzy's home, he continued down the main road north into Bridlewood. He got several welcomes back into town, but strangely wasn't asked when he'd be reopening the Crystal Tea Room, as it was a fairly popular destination in town.
Of course that was because when he got to that area of the forest, the Crystal Tea Room looked open.
Raising an eyebrow curiously, he stepped forward, opened the front doors of the Tea Room, and indeed, several tables had patrons seated, even some earth ponies and pegasi who had decided to relocate to Bridlewood. He had chosen the perfect time to come in, as Oak was passing the entrance with a platter of food and drinks.
"Hey, Oak. What's going on?" Alphabittle asked, his tone more curious than accusatory.
"Hey there, Alph. You got a guest who came looking for you last night, apparently not knowing you'd be spending the night in Zephyr Heights. She's at the bar," Oak said, before continuing on his way to the table waiting for their order.
Alphabittle continued into the seating area, and his eyes widened when he saw just who was waiting for him at the bar.
"Misty...?"
The light blue unicorn swiveled on her stool, and smiled when she saw him, immediately getting up and going towards him.
"Hey dad," she greeted.
Alphabittle came forward and pulled her into a hug.
"I must say, this is quite the surprise. I... I thought you were headed back to—"
"I know, but I thought about it, and decided that I didn't get enough time with you yesterday. You did come all the way from here to see me in Maretime Bay. Besides, when I do go back, I'm not exactly going to stay. I'll need to occasionally go out for 'recon' and 'intel', and those will be perfect times to keep in touch with everypony," Misty said as she returned the embrace.
Father and daughter parted from the embrace, and Alphabittle made his way to the other side of the bar.
"So I'm guessing Oak spotted you and decided to just open up with that spare key I left him, did he?" Alphabittle asked with a smirk.
"Nothing wrong with a trip down memory lane, Alph," came Oak's reply from around the corner.
"Well, I've thought about things too, Misty. If this Opaline is as big a threat as you all claim she is, and your friendship with Izzy and the others helped pull you away from her, then it's not fair for you to take a back seat in trying to defeat her. It's not fair that they expose themselves to danger, while you hang back just because I'd worry. I'm sure they have others that worry about them. I worry about Izzy too," Alphabittle told her.
Misty gave him a smile.
"Thanks for understanding, Dad," she said.
"So, what will it be?" Alphabittle asked, motioning to all the teas on the shelves behind him, between all the trinkets that were on the left and right.
"Oh wow, I don't know. I haven't decided which one of Sunny's smoothies is my favorite. How about your best-selling tea?" Misty asked.
"That's easy. One cup of black tea, coming up," her dad replied, immediately getting to work, and within a minute, a fresh steaming cup of black tea. She gave it a few stirs, and sipped at it.
"Delicious," she complimented.
"So, anything around here jogging your memory? I brought you here on more than one occasion," Alphabittle asked her.
"I'm... Not sure. I don't remember much of anything from before Opaline," Misty answered.
"Well, that's alright. As long as you can make some new memories here. And not here as well. Queen Haven ran an idea by me, and I'd like to know what you think," Alphabittle said as he slid a serving bowl of pretzels to her.
"Sure, what did you have in mind?" Misty asked, taking a pretzel and beginning to munch on it.
"Each of the tribes used to have their own annual celebrations for ponies who have gotten their cutie marks that year, and Queen Haven has offered to hold a larger, single 'Cutie Blossom Bash' in Zephyr Heights for all three tribes. They certainly have the room for it in that banquet hall of theirs. So, what do you say? Want to go celebrate your cutie mark with your old dad?" Alphabittle asked.
Misty swallowed her nervousness as best she could.
"If you want to, dad, yeah."