Moondancer
I sat with my cup of hot chocolate in my aura as I watched Cotton doing her home work out for the corner of one eye, the other focused on the TV.
“She seems to be doing well,” Twinkleshine commented as she relaxed on the couch next to me with her own cup of hot chocolate as a light snowfall decorated my windows and back yard. “That’s good. The pegasi are starting the snow fall a bit early this year.”
“Yeah she is. We’ve been doing good, minor problems here and there but nothing we can’t handle.”
“Stupid math,” Cotton grumbled as we both looked over.
“Everything going well over there?” I called out as Cotton shrugged. “What’s wrong?”
“I hate math.”
“I got this one,” Twinkleshine reassured me before I could get up. “She needs to get used to me and the others. If I need help, I’ll get you.”
I watched Twinkleshine intently as she trotted over to Cotton and examined the homework she had brought from the orphanage.
“I see. You need to divide thirty by ten and multiply by nine. It’s not seventeen or eighty, which leaves sixteen or twenty seven. What do you think?” Twinkleshine asked as Cotton chewed on the eraser of her pencil.
“Twenty seven,” Cotton answered as Twinkleshine nodded. I gave a faint smile as I watched the two. “Thanks Miss Twinkleshine.”
“Twinkleshine is fine Cotton. Or Twinkle or Twinkie as Lemon Hearts likes to call me,” Twinkleshine chuckled. “If you need more help, we are right here.”
Twinkleshine trotted back to me as she sat next to me and smiled.
“Thanks for helping her,” I said as I levitated the cup to my mouth before setting it back down.
“Anytime for one of my best friends daughters,” Twinkleshine teased with a smile. “I think you might be the first of my friends to have a child. Congrats.”
“Thanks. I mean, Minuette has Ruby I thought.”
“I don’t know if that relationship will last so I’m holding off on that for now. And Lyra can’t technically have kids with Bon Bon and Lemon Hearts isn’t really interested in kids right now and I’m single as a Pringle as Lyra would say. What a Pringle is, I have no clue.”
“Probably a chip or something. I think Lyra mentioned them to me once and compared them to chips.”
“Huh,” Twinkleshine mused as we both looked to door as somepony knocked. “Are you expecting ponies?”
“Yeah. Lyra and Bon Bon are coming to Canterlot for that baking thing for Bon Bon. It’s open!” I called out as the door opened and the two trotted in.
“It’s cold as Tartarus out there!” Lyra exclaimed as she and Bon Bon took their coats off, the cream mare shutting the door behind her.
“Strange, I thought Tartarus was hot,” Cotton snarked as I surpressed a grin. Lyra and Bon Bon both gave the filly confused looks as Cotton continued writing.
“What is she doing here?” Lyra asked curiously as Twinkleshine and I looked at each other.
“I adopted her that’s why,” I said as the two gave me wide smiles.
“Congrats!” Lyra exclaimed as she bounded over and hugged me. “That’s huge!”
“Thanks,” I said as I hugged her back.
“She’s adorable!” Bon Bon giggled as she lifted Cotton out of the chair with her hooves and examined the filly closer. “Just like Lyra said you were.”
“Uh thanks?” Cotton said weakly as she flailed her forelegs in the air.
“I love your mane. The light blue goes perfect with your coat, sweet Celestia!”
I coughed into a hoof as Bon Bon gave me a sheepish smile and blushed.
“She has homework to finish still Bon Bon,” I reminded her and Bon Bon lowered Cotton back onto her chair.
“Right sorry. Can I use your kitchen to work on some candies? I brought everything in my saddlebags.”
“Go for it,” I waved a hoof as Bon Bon gave me a grateful smile and trotted into the kitchen. Lyra plopped down next to me as Cotton went back to her homework.
I still had to go on the next train with her to meet Cheerilee. I wasn’t too worried about it. I was told she was a nice mare. I wonder if I should get her a gift when I go. I know my parents always brought my teachers gifts whenever we had parent teacher conferences. It had been embarrassing at the time but I would give anything for them to give gifts one more to my teachers.
“I saw Twilight the other day,” Lyra said casually as Cottons ears flicked curiously.
“What did she have to say?” I asked curiously as Lyra raised an eyebrow.
“Well for starters, she doesn’t understand what she did wrong that caused you to run out.”
“She did nothing wrong. It was all me who screwed up,” I answered with a groan. “As usual.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Lyra said and stuck a hoof out in Cottons direction. “You have her which proves you don’t always mess up. If anything, that proves you do the exact opposite of messing up. It takes a special pony to adopt.”
“I guess you have a point.”
“I’ll be honest, there was some points with Bon Bon that I didn’t think this would work out,” Lyra admitted as sounds of Bon Bon clanging some pots in the kitchen echoed. “Especially during a certain incident that I can’t bring up during a wedding. But we talked things out and my main point is communication is key. You have to talk to her.”
“Talk to Bon Bon?”
“May Celestia help have mercy on my soul,” Lyra groaned and facehoofed.
“She means talk to Twilight,” Twinkleshine added helpfully. “She’s always in Canterlot, you will see her again or you can write a letter. Or better yet, go in pony and see her.”
“I wouldn’t right now,” Lyra warned. “She’s getting ready for some event in the Crystal Empire. Something about all four princesses needing to be there for some summit. Think it was about some ponies from out of Equestria.”
“Most likely greeting delegates,” I mused. “That’s one of the many times all four princesses are together. It’s to make the delegates visit feel important.”
“Yeah that,” Lyra pointed a hoof. “Is there any more hot chocolate?”
“In the kitchen. There’s three mugs waiting,” I said. Lyra shot out of her seat as I chuckled.
I levitated a mug out of the kitchen and placed it front of Cotton as she gave me a confused look.
“You can take a break from your homework and come hang out for a bit,” I said. She gave a nod and fluttered over with her hot chocolate between me and Twinkleshine.
I absent-mindedly wrapped a hoof around her as we all focused on the TV and our hot chocolate.