//------------------------------// // Who Knew There Was Such A Thing As A Backseat Personality? // Story: Blossoming: Learning How To Fly // by nanashi_jones //------------------------------// I had thought that Shannon’s and the other kids’ eyes had been wide. This was nothing compared to my second cousin’s awestruck impression as she climbed out of the minivan and raced over to meet me and Jess. She was about Shannon’s age, in that she was nine, but unlike Shannon, who appeared to be a casual demographic fan of the show, my little cousin was a HUGE Friendship is Magic fan. Huge. She knew who Jess and I were before we introduced ourselves. Apparently, she liked Cloud Kicker more, for whatever reason, so I could tell that Jess stepped back to let the child and original pony chat. I stepped back in a less mental sense with Michelle to speak with her and catch up. “She’s... Scary smart,” I said watching as my distant relative spoke animatedly with Cloud. “Oh yeah. Me and John are really proud.” She basked in her kid for a moment before turning to me, her expression concerned, but more quizzical. “How’re you doing?” I glanced up, smirking. “Okay. Got this wicked craving for apples and alfalfa.” She snorted. “Yeah, don’t call Kathy. She’d ask you to walk some of her trails.” My Aunt Kathy was Michelle’s stepmom. She had a thing for horses and her husband’s occupation afforded her the luxury of indulging in that interest for as long as I remember her. Michelle had actually taken proper riding lessons at one point. “Jeez, you’re right! I didn’t even think about that,” I said with a laugh. Michelle laughed with me. After a few moments of watching her daughter get more excited, she said, “Think about any of the family?” I sighed, my expression settling into neutrality. “Hey, babe, do you mind watching the kid for five?” I asked. Cloud’s expression changed and Jess replied, “Yeah. Catch up with your cousin.” “Cloooud...” the little girl said, a bit petulantly. “No ma’am,” Michelle replied, putting her hands on her hips. “Watch your tone. They’re family and you be polite.” My second cousin swallowed whatever lump she’d made and recomposed herself. We walked away from her and Jess/Cloud with Michelle at my right. One quick wing flap brought me up to human eye-level so we could talk easier.. That earned an impressed nod. “Wow. That’s gotta be amazing,” Michelle said. “I’m not tired of it.” We strolled around the edge of the park. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw as Cloud was lead to the slide by the little girl. She looked more like her dad with her soft face and round nose, though I had no idea where the blond hair came from. Michelle and John were both brunettes, so all I could figure is something snuck down or she was going to be like me and just shed the blond as she got older. “That Jess?” Michelle said interrupting my quiet analysis of her family’s phenotype. Following her gaze, I confirmed she was looking at Cloud Kicker. “Yeah,” I responded, evenly. “Are you two...” “Yup. You called it.” She barked a laugh of triumph. “I knew it. I knew she wasn’t just a good friend.” “She was at the time,” I replied. “Oh. Who-” “Her,” I said. She nodded. We were quiet for a few more steps and wingflaps more. “So,” Michelle drawled. “Cuz. Why’re you acting all snippy?” My gaze straight ahead, I realized I wasn’t doing a good job of calmly and casually redirecting the conversation. Stars, I was practically terse. Why wasn’t I on my game? It should have been automatic. What had... Wait. Blossom... Wasn’t me. Swear. Pony scout’s honor? Have you ever heard innocent whistling in your head? I have. At the rate I was going I was going to need a list of “weird things my body and brain do now.” As I grasped that I was now getting my filters tweaked by a morally-motivated pony, I decided blunt was good. It had chased people away in the past. Maybe it’d work on family now. “Because I don’t want to be here,” I said. “Why didn’t you just say so?” Michelle asked, eyebrow up. “The pony in my head... Blossomforth. She’s an orphan. Grew up in the system without even a foster family to call her own. So when you messaged, she got this... Twinge and I knew that twinge and I figured I could just be cordial while she got a second-hand family buzz.” Blossomforth knew how I felt, but apparently having it said out loud was something else. A wounded, crouched feeling started leaking through me as Michelle’s lips pursed and her brow knit in worry. I looked away. From both of them. “Well... Thanks for being honest, Jane. Didn’t realize we were an inconvenience,” Michelle said with well-earned scorn. “Well, you are,” I said hotly. “I’m not... I don’t do family stuff, Michelle.” Her eyes narrowed, her mouth set to one side and she nodded. “I know,” she replied. “You told me back at the funeral, but you also said to try e-mailing and you never responded.” “Your grammar was bad,” I grumbled, feeling heat on my cheeks. “You shared, like, a third of what I shared with you, and your life was...” I stopped, shaking my head, and floated over to a bench by the jungle gym that still let me see the whole park. Michelle sat down next to me, hands in her lap. She watched over as Cloud flew her child down the slide, both laughing. “Your life isn’t something I can join in on,” I ground out. Michelle looked over at me. It was almost the look we had shared as kids on our younger siblings when they were being especially “younger.” We had both been the eldest of our groups and our siblings and cousins had called us bossy. We’d taken solace in registering a mutual maturity if not any mutual interests. Michelle had grown up to wield that humbling look as a mom and housewife, I had gone on to use it on co-workers who didn’t do their paperwork. I didn’t see the point in us talking. Ever. “Well, that’s dumb as hell,” Michelle said. I looked up at her, the question clear on my little pony face. Michelle snorted and scratched her cheek. After taking a moment to organize her thoughts, she said, “Look, I don’t know about you, but I’m the only democrat in my family. Dad calls me all manner of names just for that and Mom...” She sighed, blowing a lock of rich brown hair out of the way. “And you’ve seen my sisters. I figured with you, I could talk to someone. You didn’t seem to mind me being a house mom-” “I don’t,” I said quickly. “But... What can I say to that? I’ve a partner in my life, but I’m a geek, Michelle. I still watch cartoons. I’m pretty sure I’m like this because of that, though don’t hold me to that theory. What do I say to you?” She shrugged. “You don’t have to say anything. You’re my family. I’m not gonna get loud like Ash did. I wish my daughters would know their cousin more than just a pony and I wish you’d stay in touch.” She rested her hands on the bench, watching her kid. “That’s all.” I followed her gaze, watching Cloud give Michelle’s daughter a pony-back ride around the nearby grass field. She sagely stayed on the ground, winking back at the kid. “I don’t like calling people,” I said as Cloud bumped my cousin in the air just a little. “I feel like I’m barging into their lives.” “That’s fine,” Michelle replied. “And don’t expect regular correspondence, either.” “Never did.” “Or any visits. These wings may be temporary for all I know and gas is expensive.” “It certainly is.” We sat, quietly. Observing dear ones in our lives. “I’m going to marry her,” I said. “I don’t care if it isn’t legal, she’s the best thing in my life.” Michelle smiled and dropped her hand to rub at my withers. “You know, you may act all alone, but you sound like you’re family to me,” she said. Cloud bounced over with the kid on her back, grinning. “Mom! Mom! Didja know Cloud Kicker was gonna be in the pony military?” “No! Really?” Michelle turned an appreciative eye on Cloud. “That true Miss Kicker?” “Yep. Didn’t work out though. I am an arteest, yanno.” Cloud winked at Michelle, earning a chuckle. “Can you two come over for dinner?” the little girl asked. Before Michelle could lend weight, I held up a hoof, floating off the bench to look her in the eye. “Sorry, hon. Me and Cloud have to get going soon. Other ponies to see and all. But if we come back through here, we’ll be sure to drop in, okay?” “Yes!” I’ve been glomped before. I’ve also experienced pick-me-up bear hugs, kind embraces and the daily affirmative hold that Jess and I did. None of them really prepared me for getting tackle-hugged by an over-eager nine year old. Maybe ponies are just universally good at receiving and giving hugs. I wrapped my forelegs around her and Blossom and I both thrilled at the contact to family. “So you’ll be in touch?” Michelle asked from the driver’s seat once she’d gotten her daughter in the back of the car. Her daughter, who had one of Cloud’s primary feathers now. We were going to look like plucked pegasi if we weren’t careful. “As in touch as I get,” I replied. “Only a bit better.” “All I can ask,” Michelle smirked. I floated toward her and wrapped her in a hug. Michelle smiled broader and returned the gesture. After they drove away, I noticed the whole park was empty save for Cloud Kicker on the swing. I flew over to join her and Jess blinked back into place. “Aw, Cloud doesn’t want to talk?” I said playfully. “Cloud knows who you’re in love with,” Jess said. “How’d the talk go with your cousin?” “Well enough. I had a little mental interference...” I knocked a hoof on my head. “But it was for the better. I’m going to try and stay and touch and not be an isolated bitch.” Jess smiled and leaned over in her swing, kissing me. “I’m proud of you. I know how family isn’t your thing.” “Yeah,” I said, pumping the swing harder. “So where to next?” Jess asked. I grinned over at her and at the apex of my swing lifted off from the seat, shooting for Suzy. “Sky’s the limit,” I called back.