//------------------------------// // Part 11 // Story: An Azure Future // by Krass McWriter //------------------------------// An Azure Future 11 I apologize for formatting and various errors, as this was written on my phone. >stuff here is thoughts< John surveyed the living room. Everything was in order. There was a large table with every kind of sweet imaginable on display. A similar sized table was empty for the purpose of holding presents. A medium sized circular table held a cake which was a maginificent interpretation of the wind itself. The decorations around the room mirrored the artistry of the cake. When John hired the pink earth pony to organize the party, he was doubtful about his vision for it. Fortunately, those doubts were severely unfounded. It was a pity that the decorations had to be taken down by the end of the day. The patio outside was decorated the same as the interior, along with another long table covered with even more sweets. He unlocked his phone and checked the appointments. The party was scheduled to start in one hour. The entertainment to arrive in three. John sat upon his couch and flipped on his television. The news was on. John observed various reports of happenings in his changing world, though none caught his eye. Just new reports of the same things, HLF becoming IHSA. PER movements. The red plauge. John grumbled and turned the TV off. Any moment Azure would be waking up. As if on cue a sleepy pegasus came down the stairs, brushing his dark steely mane out of his icy eyes. "Impeccable timing Azure." John stood up and waved his hands around the room at the bright decorations. "What do you think?" The sleep left the young pegasus' eyes as wonder replaced it. "You set this all up?" "Well... no. I got the best equestrian party planner." John admitted, shrugging. Azure just luaghed in response. "I love it dad. Thank you." There was a small silence. "So what's for breakfast?" John stood up and stretched, "What ever you want kiddo, it's your day." Azure pondered for a moment. "How about we just eat some candy like cereal in our PJ's. Just visit, you know?" A weak smile creeped onto his muzzle at the warmth of the thought. John felt something inside him waiver. "Sure kid, That sounds nice." -------------------------- John and Azure sat next to each other, sharing the middle seat of the three cushion couch. The television was playing a nonsensical cartoon as the pair muched on super sugary chocolate flavored cereal. John wore an old pair of pajamas he got as part of his family's christmas tradition when he was seventeen. They were of simple design and color, but surprisingly soft to the touch. Azure had donned his Wonderbolt style pajamas. The pegasus leaned against the human as he munched on his cereal. The two sat silently, the crunching of cereal the only sound interrupting the tv. Moments passed. John broke the semblance of silence, "So how's things with that filly you got your eye on?" Azure almost swallowed his spoon. After a small series of coughs he managed to respond. "Luna's night Dad!" He choked out, still coughing. John stifled a laugh. "I was just wondering..." John scooped up a spoonful of cereal.  "So who'd you invite to this shindig anyways?" Azure brightened up. "Oh! I invited Wind Rapids, Sugar dew and Sweetie cane, Blazing Star, Clay, he's new, and... Forest Mint..." His voice went quiet, barely above a whisper. "What was that last name now?" Azure spooned some cereal into his muzzle to postpone awnsering. "Well?" John prodded further. "Forest Mint." Azure sighed in defeat. John wore a sly smile in victory. "On another note, hows school going?" Finishing his bowl off. "Good I guess." Azure shrugged. "Ms. Shale Quarry says I'm doing really well, yesterday I passed a pop quiz. She was impressed because I wasn't there for most of the lesson. Then there's Jet Blaze and Cloudbreaker. They were making fun of Forest Mint, something about her dad. Anyways, I told them to stop it. They said 'Make us.'. So I did." Azure finished off his own bowl of chocolate cereal and guzzled the milk. "By the way, I have detention on Monday." He added. "Wait, what?" "I... sorta bucked Jet Blaze in the face..." Azure shifted his eyes downward. Then John did something Azure didn't expect to happen. He laughed. "Well shit, why'd you do that?" "When I told them to leave Forest alone, they did. Then they started making fun of me... about you... So, I kinda lost it and bucked Jet Blaze in the muzzle." Azure avoided looking at John, facing away. John patted Azure on the back. "Son," John started, breaking out the 's' word and getting Azure's attention, "I'm going to pass something on that my father told me after I got in my first fight.  'You have to stand up for your self or no one will.' There is no reason to feel bad. Hell, what you did deserves commendation." John beamed. "What was your dad like?" Azure asked, curious. John's left eye twitched in response. "He was a soldier. Through and through. Fought in what's now known as the Last Great War. When it ended he came back and settled down with my mom. He was tough on me. When my mother died, he was broken. After all he did, killing was his only way to solve problems. So he killed himself when I was seventeen. I would say I cried but... he was never a kind man..." John trailed off, lost in the memories. It was Azure's turn to comfort John. Azure hooves wrapped as far around the human's waist as he could, his steely grey mane brushing up against John's arm. "I think you're a great dad." John felt something stir that hadn't for years. Then his watched beeped. "Oh shi- its time to get ready. Go get dressed Azure." John started cleaning up the mid-morning mess. "You know we don't normally wear clothes, right?" ------------------------------------------------------------------ John had put on a pair of blue jeans, boots and one of his favorite graphic tees. He had come downstairs to answer a knocking at the door. He made his way across the living room as the weak knock came again. He opened the door, revealing the unicorn filly known to him as Azure's crush, Forest Mint, and a large grey pegasus with an eyepatch partially hiding a jagged scar across his eye. He snorted at John, "Are you sure you wish to stay at this human's place?" He said with noticable disdain. Then added, "Alone?" "Oh please Thunder Head, I'll be quite fine." Forest Mint groaned, rolling her eyes. "Then I shall take my leave. Do not hesitate to contact me if you’re in trouble." The pegasus then pounded his chest with his right hoof and bowed his head in some sort salute. He proceeded to fly out the nearest window. "Huh. Well come on in! Don't just stand in the hallway!" John beamed, inviting the green unicorn filly in. She proceeded to walk in levitating a gift behind her. "Where's Azure?" She asked as she floated the gift onto the table. As if on cue, Azure came down from his room. "I heard somepony come in! Who is-" he cut off mid sentence upon seeing his guest. "Oh." He stopped in the living room. "Hey Azure!" She trotted up and made the day memorable. She gave Azure a small kiss on the cheeck which proceeded to turn his blue muzzle bright red. "That's for helping me out yesterday, the teachers took you away before I could thank you..." She paused for a moment "So, um, thank you. I'll be checking out your snacks." She walked off towards the appropiate table. "Are you okay Azure?" John asked slightly concerened but mostly trying to keep from laughing. Azure shook his head violently and regained composure. He walked off to awnser the knocking at the door. "That's my boy." John said, laughing softly.  Two identical earth pony fillies tackled Azure in a hug as he opened the door. "Happy birthday Azure!" They shouted in unision. "We got you a present!" In unison again. They released him from their coordinated attack hug, picking up their present from the hallway and setting on the table. They left behind a comically dizzy pegasus in their wake. After Azure regained composure yet again. The party started up proper. Azure put the music, some almost obnoxiusly happy beat, and started dancing. Azure danced and talked to twins, occasionally he even dared a word or two to Forest Mint. Checking the time, John noted that there was a little over hour until the entertainment arrived. He was about to get things started when there was a furious pounding at the door, accompanied by a voice. "Are you sure this is the right place? I don't even think this is the building." "We already checked the other building!" Another voice replied with a slight whine. John threw the door open in a sucessful effort to startle them. There was a white pegasus who was hovering in the air acommpanied by brightly colored unicorn levitating three gifts and an earth pony. "Ah told ya we shoulda came 'ere first." The earth pony colt spoke with a southern drawl. His coat was a shade similar to that of Azure's, but a decent bit darker. "You said nothing!" Shot back the pegasus. "Well, if you stopped to listen-" Started the unicorn. "Hey look guys, I got us here!" Shouted the pegasus over his freinds. Azure took notice of the commotion and troted over to greet his friends. "Hey Rapids, Star, Clay! You made it! What's up?" The pegasus put Azure in a playful headlock. "Of course we made it! I was leading!" Azure broke the headlock and laughed. "Hay, now I'm surprised you guys are even in the right state!" He prodded, eliciting a laugh from all but Rapids who sat on his flank with his forehooves crossed in response. "So where do I put these?" Asked Star floating up three wrapped boxes in question. "Right over here, c'mon!" Azure walked off motioning for them to follow. John felt a tugging at his blue jeans pants leg. "Excuse me sir, but ah'd like to introduce mah self. Ah'm Clay, Ah just moved from New Appleloosa. Pleased to meet ya." "Uhhh... likewise." John responded, unsure how to act. The response seemed to satisfy the young pony as he trotted off towards the party. Well, let's get this started before they get here. John picked up a megaphone and clicked the trigger. "WE WOULD LIKE YOUR ATTENTION!" He blared with the help of the megaphone. Simultaniously and immeadiatly the music schreeched to a stop and all eyes were on him. "THANK YOU." Clicking the megaphone to life once more. "IT IS THE TIME FOR THE CERMONIAL UNWRAPPING OF PRESENTS AND SERVING OF CAKE." He annouced, setting aside the megaphone. Azure walked up to the table containing five brightly wrapped presents and one with black wrapping paper from John. "Alright buddy, the floor's yours." Azure carefully examined the presents, deciding which one to open first. "Try to make mine last." John requested. Azure made his selection, the present from the twins. He tore into the wrapping with his hooves. How the hell do they grip things like that? He opened the box and pulled out a small plushie of a familiar form. It was Azure in a wonderbolt suit. "We made it ourselves!" The pair beamed. "Thanks guys, I love it!" Azure smiled with almost genuine enthusiam. Next on the chop block was Clay's gift. Azure made short work of the box and its wrapping. He lifted the lid and revealed a cowboy hat. "How do I look?" He asked as he slid the hat over his dark steely mane. "Ya look like uh real cowpony." Clay smirked.  Wordlessly Azure opened Wind Rapids gift. It was a book on philsophy and its history entitled 'Obscure Thought and YOU'. The present was almost as curious as Azure's elation upon seeing the gift. "Oooo, I've been dying to read this! Thank you!" "No prob Azzy. I remember you talking about it, so it seemed a pretty obvious gift." Only two gifts and John's remained. Azure saved Forest Mint's for next, opting to open Blazing Star's present first. He took an odd amount of caution, slowly and carefully untying the bow. The moment the bow was off, the box exploded, sending the lid flying. "Sweet Luna! Next time a little less, yes?" The unicorn looked a little sheepish. Azure peered into the charred remains of the box, then turned it over, dumping out a large pile of ash. Azure glared at Blazing Star. "I'll use less magnesium next time, sheesh," the unicorn defended. Azure rolled his eyes and turned his attention to Forest Mint's gift. He opened it as normal but with a bit more reserve. It was a rose contained in a simple vase. Oh boy. "I saw it and thought of you." She spoke timidly while shying away. John noticed her gift looked excatly like her cutie mark.  "Thanks. I love it." John couldn't dechipher the myraid of emotions in Azure's voice. One present remained, John's. Azure opened the untied, decorative box.  With a look of disbelief, Azure lifted the contents up: An official Wonderbolt flight suit and a permenant marker. "Thanks Dad!" He cheered, his face lighting up. "No problem Azure." Only fifteen minutes remained. "Let's hurry up and get this cake served!" John announced. The gathering moved over to the large cake whose colors were based of Azure himself. In frosting that reflected his mane it proclaimed 'Happy Birthday Azure!' with eight candles framing it. John lit a match and ignited the candles. "Make a wish." Azure seemed to concetrate for a while then blew out all the candles. John proceeded to cut the cake and serve it up to all the guests. No sooner had everyone received their cake and John finished serving the entertainment arrived. The Wonderbolts were here. They annouced their arrival by way of a blinding flash. "Everyone to the patio!" he ordered needlessly, as they were heading out before he could finish. Three pegasi wearing characteristic blue flight suits with lightning bolts. Trailing behind them were dark storm clouds. They broke their chevron formation and started writing in the sky. With a unsupassed deftness the message was wrought. 'Happy Birthday Azure!' The trio then reformed and weaved in and out of each other pulling a tight loop at a high speed. As the show progressed the stunts became more complex and intricate. Then the trio seperated, taking equidistance spots in the sky. The began to sprial up and closer to each other. Once they were making body contact with eachother they dove down as a ball of lightning filled the sky. It was much better than the show he went to see, though significantly shorter. The wonderbolts swooped down and landed on the patio, removing their goggles. "I heard it was somepony's birthday!" Beamed the leader, Spitfire. She was flanked by Wildfire and Cirrus, who was filling in for Soarin on account of a broken wing. Azure looked like he was about to explode. He opened his mouth to say something but only emitted a squeak. "Are you alri-" Cirrus began.  "Oh my gosh! Stay right there, be right back" blurted Azure before he bolted off, returning with John's gift. "Could you sign this?!" "Heh, sure kiddo." Spitfire took the marker in her mouth and scribbled her name on the suit. "So you wanna go for a flight?" Wildfire offered, striking a pose. Azure immediatly averted his eyes down. "I... I can't fly..." Cirrus and Spitfire shot her a look. John told them to avoid the subject, but apprantly she didn't read the memo. Thankfully, Spitfire came to the rescue. She placed a hoof on Azure's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it, I didn't learn to fly until I was ten. In fact, when you can fly, write us and we'll do a flight together." She comforted, to accuntate, she removed her goggles and put them around Azure's neck. Azure's mood did a one eighty. "Really?!"  "Yep. Just be patient. You'll get it." Spitfire smiled. Azure started machine gunning questions like only he could. "How'd you become a Wonderbolt? How many times did you try to get in? How'd you make captain? How much do you practice?" "Woah, uhhh... Well I got in my second try by sucessfully pulling off my signature move, The Volcano. I got captain for knowing how to run the squad better than anypony else when the spot opened. As for practice... about four hours as a team. I practice an additional two on my own. Except for the day of and the day before a performance." Azure seemed satisfied, as he stopped asking questions. Cirrus nuged Spitfire and motioned that it was time to go. "Hey kid, it was fun meeting you and all, but we gotta bolt." Spitfire explained. "Oh, that's okay. I understand." Azure admitted, and with that the Wonderbolts left. "Man that was so awesome! Why didn't you tell me the Wonderbolts where coming?!" Wind Rapids gushed. "I didn't even know." Azure shrugged, wearing a smile that wouldn't fade for the rest of the evening. He turned to face John and gave him a hug. "Thanks dad." "No problem" John grinned. ------------------------------------- The party winded down after the Wonderbolts left and the guests went as they came. First was Azure's friends who bid him farewell til Monday. The twins left next. Once more Azure and Forest were alone. "I had a lot of fun Azure. Maybe we can hang out next Saturday?" Forest offered. Azure was still riding high from the party. "That sounds good. Hell, let's make it a sleep over. Can you come over Friday night?" Forest mint smiled, "Sure, I'd like that." There was a pounding at the door. "That's Thunder. I gotta go." Then, the second time that day, she leaned in and kissed Azure. This time, however it wasn't on the cheek. Azure's wings shot straight up. "See you later." She turned and exited the penthouse. "So... Azure?" "Yeah dad?" "Did you have a good day?" "Best. Day. Ever."