“You did WHAT?” asked Fluttershy.
“Ex-lax brownies.” said Trey, realizing he was in deep trouble.
“You...gave some school foals ex-lax brownies?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you do that?”
“They punched Flutterwing in the face. Have you seen her eye?”
“You mean she didn’t trip?”
“No. Anacrusis got in a fight trying to protect her. I was taking justice in my own hooves.”
“I don’t think that was the best thing to do. You could have seriously hurt those colts. What if they tell their parents? What if they tell the police? What is they arrest you and put you in jail?” she added, starting to worry herself. “Oh, what if Celestia finds out and banishes you? What if she locks you up in the place she banished you to?”
“Flutterheart...”
“...and what if I’ll never see you again? You’ll have to forage for food your own way...you’ll die out there! You’ll be stuck there forever!”
“Fluttershy...”
“And what if she...oh no...”
“FLUTTERSHY!”
Fluttershy snapped out of it, looking over at Trey, concerned for his life.
“I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen. I will agree I probably shouldn’t have handled the matter that way, but I don’t tend to act like myself when somepony I love very much is threatened or hurt. I’d have done much more for you. I’d have done the same for Anacrusis, Flutterwing, hell, even any of our other friends. Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, all of them. If something comes up, I’ll answer for myself though. I’m more than happy to accept the consequences of my actions. I’ll have the satisfaction of thinking I did it for a worthy cause.”
“Just...don’t do that again.”
“I promise.”
“Good. Now what was with the cigar?”
***
“So, what’d you guys learn in school today?” asked Trey, as the foals marched in.
“Cutie marks!” shouted Flutterwing, excited.
“...manly marks.” said Anacrusis, gagging a bit. Trey laughed a bit, remembering how he hated the whole “Cutie” thing.
“And?” asked Trey, inquiring for information.
“Mine’s gonna be cute! It’s a cutie mark, after all.” said Flutterwing, beaming at Trey, as Fluttershy trotted in the room.
“What’s going on in here?” asked Fluttershy, smiling at the scene.
“We’re learning about cutie marks!” exclaimed Flutterwing again, beaming at her mother now.
“Oh?”
“MANLY marks.” said Anacrusis.
“Cheerilee said it was cutie marks...”
“For you, maybe. I’m gonna get a manly mark.”
“Both of you are going to get a mark of some sort.” began Trey, trying to end an argument before it began. “I think the better question is...do you have any idea of what you want to do?”
“No...” said Flutterwing, sadly.
“Nope. But I wanna know...can you design your own cutie mark? If you have a mental image in your head, can it become your mark?”
“Uh...” began Trey.
“It never hurts to think of something that looks cool, Anacrusis. Once you start to find something you love to do, why not think about it?” said Fluttershy, smiling at him, encouraging his imagination.
“You’re right! Now, if I could only find something I’m good at...”
“You’re good at getting in trouble...” said Trey, ruffing his mane. Anacrusis sighed. He didn’t particularly care for having his mane roughed up, but he couldn’t exactly retaliate on his dad.
“Maybe I should be a professional troublemaker. Or maybe a stuntcolt!”
“That sounds...dangerous...” said Fluttershy, worried.
“Or maybe I should be a musician like Dad...” he added, unemotionally attached to the idea.
“Do what makes you happy. Now, speaking of happy, who wants ice cream?”
“ME!” yelled Anacrusis and Flutterwing in unison. Fluttershy smiled, taken back by the sudden show of kindness. She knew it better than anypony, but he still managed to surprise her. She trotted alongside Trey as Anacrusis and Flutterwing scrambled out the door. Fluttershy leaned against him ever so slightly, smiling at the sight of their two happy children.
***
2-6-12
Well, while we haven’t exactly settled on a particular date, we have determined we want to get married in July.
We haven’t been able to talk much about anything though. I mentioned Angel was sluggish in my last entry. Well...he passed on about a week ago. Fluttershy and I have been so horribly upset we haven’t been able to do much of anything. Of course, it hit Fluttershy harder than it did me, seeing as she’s had him as a pet for years before I even knew him. It still hurt quite a bit for me, too. One day, I think I’m over it but I see something else; another bunny, his pet bed we can’t bring ourselves to get rid of...leftover pieces of trimming we haven’t gotten around to. It’s just so sudden, like remembering something that never existed. I hope he’s in a better place.
I’ve always wanted to be that crying shoulder, and I’ve done quite a lot of that recently. Fluttershy hasn’t had a day without breaking down since he died. After Fluttershy shut herself off from most of Ponyville after the incident, Angel was essentially her first real pet, as I understand. Really, he just came to be her favorite animal. He was there for her throughout the entire thing, and, I can assume, he made her pull herself up by the bootstraps, so to speak. He was always a bit bold...I guess he helped her to be, too. God rest his soul.
In happier news, I talked to my old school buddy, Frederic Horseshoepan. He and I were in the same graduating class, and I often had him perform several of my works for concerts and stuff. I’ll be using his services again at our wedding. I basically hired him and his small ensemble, including a harp player, a cello player, and, of course, Frederic, the piano player. I asked if I knew anypony in his ensemble, to which he replied he didn’t think I did. The name Octavia sounds slightly familiar though, but I don’t think she was in my class. Oh well. I’ve actually been meaning to pay him a visit. one of these days. I’m excited for the wedding. Nervous, yes, but excited. Just 7 months away.
Waiting for a great wedding,
Trey
“Oh!” said Trey.
“What?” asked Fluttershy.
“I still need to pay that visit to Frederic. Maybe I can do that sometime soon. Would you mind if I headed off to Canterlot in a few days?”
“Oh, no, I’ll be fine.” she said, smiling at him. “I’m sure the kids will behave.”
“Tell me if Anacrusis doesn’t. He’s getting at that age...”
“Cheerilee hasn’t had any bad reports since that fight last month...”
“I know. Flutterwing’s doing quite well. Did I tell you what the school nurse said?”
“Oh, no!”
“I ran into her the other day, and she said that Flutterwing’s been spending a lot of time around the nurses office recently. Not for injuries, but just to watch. She thinks Flutterwing might have an interest in being a nurse or a therapist of some sort. You think you might encourage her to help you with the animals?”
“Oh, that would be lovely!” she said, beaming. The thought of her daughter taking after her made her ecstatic. “I hope I don’t mess it up...”
“Flutterheart, there’s no way you could mess it up.” he said, looking deep into her eyes. “She really looks up to you. I swear she has your sense of kindness.” he added, to which she blushed. He took a hoof and stroked her hair, smiling at her. “You know...” he said, changing trains of thought. “We have to be the luckiest family the the world.”
“Why’s that?” asked Fluttershy, curious. Trey layed down on the bed, pulling her down with him, as she rested her head on his chest.
“Well...I’m already the luckiest stallion in the world simply by being able to spend time with you, much less being your husband. Out of all the stallions in the world, I got to be the luckiest one, blessed with your love.” he added. He felt his chest warm up as Fluttershy’s cheeks flared. “And then, we’re blessed with two amazing children. Both of them really look up to us. They’re the sweetest children for the most part, and compared to other kids, they’re really well behaved. Then again, with an excellent mother like you, I don’t see where they would learn to be anything but excellent.”
“Trey...” started Fluttershy.
“Yes, Flutterheart?”
“I’ve been thinking...”
“Yes?”
“I think I want a new nickname for you. Especially after hearing tonight’s entry.”
“Oh? What did you have in mind?”
“Treyngel.”
Trey smiled. “That’s pretty sweet, actually.” he said, stroking her mane again. He felt Fluttershy smile on his chest, her cheeks flaring yet again. “You always know how to make me feel good.”
“Trey?”
“Yes, Flutterheart?”
Fluttershy looked up at him, her large, blue eyes gazing deep into him with wonder.
“I’m glad I met you.”
“I’m ecstatic. When I first kissed you, I knew I’d love you forever.”
“Well...I won’t love you forever...” said Fluttershy, smirking. Trey gave her a weird look, unsure of how to feel about that.
“Why not?”
“Because forever isn’t long enough.” she said, thrusting herself upon him, kissing him madly. Trey, for once, was caught off guard. And, in all honesty, he kind of liked it.