Stiletto was trotting though the morning market, gathering things to make breakfast for her Liebe. Fresh celery, carrots, Diamond dog meat, Bee honey, apple cider, Ginny hen eggs, corn and bear milk where held in basket Stiletto was holding in her mouth. Magic held a piece of meat aloft and then dipped it the honey. The meat hovered in the air apparently cooking itself as Stiletto made her way to Kats' apartment first, as she was always up the first. Stiletto knocked on the door just the meat finished grilling. "Kat, Hello meine Liebe, are you home!". After a few minuets without answer, she decided that Kat must have had an early patrol, so she went to try Glyphs' house next. As Stiletto made her way there she used a ≡Small copper knife≡*1 to cut up the celery and carrots. Stiletto knocked on Glyphs' door and drops the mixed veggies into a nice wooden bowl.
"Hello meine wenig Liebe are you home? I have breakfast for you!"
Glyph slowly opens his eyes at the knocking, noticing that Friesden was starting to stir as well. "Good morning malyutka..." He murmurs at her, nuzzling her a bit, before climbing out of bed and opening the door, still half asleep. "Dobroe utro, samyĭ opytnyĭ lyubvi..." He blinks a bit, realizing his mistake, then shakes his head to clear the sleep from his mind. "S-sorry... I forget to speak in midpony when I'm sleepy sometimes..."
"You never told me you speak another language then midpony. Here."
Stiletto presents the basket assorted food stuffs to Glyph.
"I bought many things to eat. Something from all of the places that were open this morning."
Friesden yawns loudly from the bed and turns back over, still stirring.
Glyph takes the basket and heads back into the room. "Y-yeah... It's my homelands language... it's called lopony... thanks for the food, hopefully there will be enough for Friesden too... please come in."
"Oh, another Filly in your apartment. Are you trying to excel at keeping mares happy."
Then Stiletto spotted little Friesden oh the be, with her cute little wings and colorful stripes. "SQUEEEEE!" Stilettos' eyes lit up as she skipped inside.
"When did this happen and who is the lucky mare you Schlitzohr."
Friesden yawns again, and sleepily mutters "I knew dad would like me again..."
"Her... that's Friesden.. she's... she's Ocean Breeze and Carmine's foal... but..." I grit my teeth and look down. "Carmine is acting like he doesn't recognize her... that... that... Rogatyĭ prinosyashchiĭ smertʹ..." I sigh slightly, "I'm taking care of her... and Kat has been helping..."
Stiletto looks a little shocked, Carmine and Ocean Breeze where good parents with many foals.
"Now what could be the cause of that? Wait, how does she have those lovely stripes if she Carmines' child?"
Friesden turns over, another happy sound emerging from her mouth as she continues to dream. "Yes, dad, we can have another race! Of course we can! I love playing with you, dad."
Glyph winces as he hears Friesden speak, knowing what she was dreaming about. "Apparently Ocean got pregnant by a zebra... I'm just guessing though... Carmine... he didn't take finding out well..." He looks over at Friesden, chewing his lip. "Hopefully.... hopefully he'll be feeling better today... I wanted a foal... but not like this." Glyph walks over to the bed and puts his forehooves on the side, nuzzling Friesden gently again. "But if he doesn't... I may not be what she wants... but I'll be the best father to her I can be..."
"That is a very monumental task you are undertaking here Glyph. Let me talk to miss Virtue for you. This seems jealousy has ruined things again. I am expecting that much more consoling will be needed then the amount of cajoling."
Stiletto looked again to little zebra striped unvergessen and a tear came to her eye
"sie werden nie wissen, wie schön sie ist."
Friesden stirs again and her eyes flicker open. "Dad?"
Glyph reachs out and brushs Friesden's cheek with his hoof. "No malyutka... I'm sorry... it's just me... how did you sleep?"
"Where's dad? He likes me again, doesn't he?" Friesden looks around the room anxiously.
"Oh my, ummm, I will be speaking with him later. I am worried about you, I mean, him, yes him, that is."
Stiletto lifts the bottle of milk from the basket with her magic and brings it to within Freisdens' grasp
"Do you want some breakfast? A healthy foal always has breakfast."
"U-u-u-u-um. C-c-c-c-c-can I see dad first? He always makes me breakfast. He won't have forgotten that. He'll like me again."
He closes his eyes and swallows a bit, trying to think of what to say. "W-well... Stiletto made a nice meal for you, and I think we should let her and Virtue talk to your... to him before we go back to see him again. Then when you're back together again..." He stops, not able to finish the sentence, what if he didn't want her back still... He couldn't lie to her... "Besides, I was hoping we could play together today, I don't have any patrols today after all."
"B-b-b-b-but..." Tears well up again in Friesden's eyes. "But...Why can't we see dad now? I want to see d-d-d-dad, and m-m-m-m-mum, and P-p-p-p-p-perry, and C-c-c-c-c-chestnut, and C-c-c-c-c-crimsy...Why can't I see them now? P-p-p-p-please?"
Glyph swallows again and pulls Friesden into a hug, holding tight, and nuzzling her softly. "I'm sorry malyutka..."
"You poor wenig unvergessen. You need to stay with Glyph for a little bit of time. Please eat your breakfast or ponies will be worried about you."
"But...But I just want to see dad! Why can't I see dad?" Friesden's tears do indeed begin to burst forth like a torrent. "Please! I just want to see dad! I'm not hungry, I just want to see dad!"
He wipes Friesden's tears, kissing her gently on the forehead. "I know you do sweetling... I know you do... but if you don't eat then you won't be able to play any today... you have to eat to keep your strength up... We... we can go see him later... if you want..."
"I have already said you have to wait until Lady Virtue and myself talk to him." *She sighs* "I will leave now, please eat, you will get hungry before I return."
Stiletto turns to leave opening the door with her magic
Friesden collapses into tears.
Glyph hugs Friesden tighter, letting her cry into his chest. "There you go... let it out... just let it all out..."
"W-w-w-w-why is s-s-s-she so m-m-m-m-m-mean? M-m-m-m-m-m-mum never yelled at me like that..."
He nuzzles Friesden, "She didn't mean to seem mean... she's just worried about you and your dad... She really likes you... she just wants to make sure you're okay..."
The commotion from across the hall finally manages to break Flux's threshold of awareness and he groggily awakens. Eyes only half open, he staggers to the door and open it. Just across the hall, he sees Glyph door open and Stiletto in the threshold. More concerning, he can hear what sounds distinctly like a foal crying from beyond her. Flux slowly approachs, confused as to why crying is coming from Glyph's room.
"Uh... what's going on?"
"Pardon me for but a moment Flux."
Stiletto left the apartment feeling very low. She trotted down to the road, grabbed a piece of it with her magic... "RAAAAAAAA!" and tossed it into the air. When it comes down she catches it and places it back on the road magically. Stiletto then trots back up the stairs to Flux
"I am sorry, had to get that out of my system. I feel better now. The foal is Freisden, Ocean Breezes' daughter."
When Stiletto exits, Flux gets a good view inside and sees Glyph trying to comfort what looks to him a small winged zebra foal. Her explanation upon her return doesn't really clear anything up.
"Um... is Ocean Breeze a zebra? I didn't know zebra could have wings."
"I-I-I-I-I'm a pony, not a zebra!"
Glyph strokes Friesden's mane, "Yes you are, a beautiful little pony... but you're part zebra as well. That's why you have these pretty stripes."
"I-I-I-I'm not part Zebra! I'm a pony!"
"Does it matter what you are? You a very lovely foal, ponies care for you."
Stiletto sighs heavily again and turns to leave again
"I will be back after I have spoken with Lady Virtue and Ocean Breeze. I am truly sorry I can not do more."
Flux slowly walks to Glyph and the little filly, still confused as to what the situation is.
"Um... are you alright, little one?"
"Of course it matters! Ponies keep saying I'm a zebra and I'm not!"
She chokes back another sob.
"I just want to see dad!"
Flux glances to Glyph, the quizzical look on his face obviously asking why she can't see her dad.
Glyph chew his lip some more trying to think of something to say. "Virtue will want to talk to your... to him, after what happened last night... How about you, me, and Flux have some fun, and as soon as they're done talking we can talk to her about it... okay?"
"But...Why can't I talk to him now? I want to see my family! Why can't I go home?" She looks pleadingly at Glyph and Flux in turn. "I just want to go home..."
"They, they are having, family problems Flux, I think her father is suffering from memory loss." 'lass es sein, dass alle'
Just before she leaves Stiletto turns to nuzzle Flux and whisper
"Be kind to her Flux, she needs her father, but she can not have him now."
At Stiletto's words, Flux's expression changes from confused to deeply concerned.
'Kind? What kind thing can I tell a poor filly who may have just lost her family?'
After a few moments of thought, he walks over to her and kneels to look her in the eyes, gently wiping a few of her tears.
"Shh now, little one. I don't know the specifics of what's going on, but things will turn out for the best. They always do, as long as you don't give up."
"You can't because..." Glyph sighs... "I really want to let you... but Virtue will want to talk to him first like I said. Besides that... we should give him some time, let him cool off before we press him again..."
"B-b-b-but...Okay...."
Flux gives her a gentle smile before standing and looking in the basket of food that Stiletto left.
"That's a strong filly. Are you hungry? Oh! I never introduced myself!"
He turns back to her, looking a bit embarrassed at his rudeness.
"Um, I'm Flux. What's your name?"
"I'm Friesden, but Dad calls me Dizzy because I like flying around and around and around in circles until I feel dizzy. I'm not hungry."
Her stomach's rumbling puts a lie to her last statement.
Glyph chuckles a little. "Well, can you try to eat a bit? After all you wouldn't want to let the food that Stiletto bought go to waste would you?"
Flux chuckles a bit at the obvious lie.
"Well Dizzy, I'm not as good a chef as Stiletto, but I could probably make something with what she got us. Especially with Glyph's help."
"But...dad..."
"...Would want you to have something to eat. Um, right?"
"But he always makes breakfast for me. What if he's waiting for me to go back?"
"Well... it sounds like he'll be busy talking with Virtue and maybe Stiletto. Um, besides, we can't take you somewhere without giving you something to eat. That'd be, um, rude."
"Oh. Well...if we have to..."
Glyph nuzzles Friesden one more time. "Don't worry, he won't mind, after all, if we take care of you overnight, of course we'd make breakfast for you."
Trepidation begins to build on Friesden's face. "Y-y-y-you did tell him where I was, right?"
"Of course, remember? I told him that I'd be taking care of you tonight." Glyph strokes Friesden's mane a bit, "Don't worry, he knows where you are."
"Okay. I can wait here till he comes to get me."
He gives Friesden a big hug. "If that's what you want... but we could go out and play, I'm sure your father could find me... but for now, breakfast." He hops down off his bed and goes to help Flux with making breakfast.
"If you're sure."
Stiletto enters the keep of Dawnpick and knocks on the door to Virtues' office
Virtue looks up from her desk "Come in."
Stiletto opens the door and walks in "Miss Virtue, do you have some time? I need to discuses a very important matter with you."
Virtue gives her a concerned look and motions to a chair "Of course, what's the matter?"
Stiletto moves to the chair and sits across the desk from Virtue "A foal named Friesden has been... forgotten, by her father."
Virtue: "Forgotten? What... exactly do you mean?"
"From what I have been told, her father, Carmine, refuses to acknowledge her. I believe this is because of her recently discovered lineage. Friesden is a hybrid of Zebra and unvergessen."
Virtue raises an eyebrow and mentally chews the statement "Unver...what? And... recently discovered lineage? Do you mean..."
"Unvergessen... umm the midpony name is... Pegasus, yes that is the word. By that I mean what I said, she is half Zebra."
"But... but... I thought she..." Virtue is silent for a few moments "How do you know of this? I... I mean... she looks like a pony to me. Why would you think she is part zebra?"
Stiletto sighs and hangs her head "Second hoof information and observation. She is currently at Glyphs' apartment, he has taken her in, because her parents have kicked her out."
"I don't understand... Carmine... and Ocean Breeze... I wouldn't think that they would just kick her out like that... especially her if she is really her mother..."
"I promised Friesden I would get you to talk to them, but only if you are comfortable with the idea, and mentally prepared to do so, I also promised Glyph I would go with you."
Virtue looks away for a moment toward the dorms "If... maybe it would do some good. They're both reasonable ponies. I can't believe she'd cheat on him... but I also can't believe he'd do something like that to a helpless filly..."
"This might just be my opinion, but I believe this is what happens when jealousy is allowed into society. How much time do you need to prepare?"
Virtue sighs heavily "What preparation can there be for something like this? Let's go see if they're home..."
Stiletto nods and stands up while indicating for Lady Virtue to lead the way
Virtue stands and leads Stiletto to their home. She knocks at the door "Hello? Carmine? Ocean Breeze? Are you home?"
Carmine walked to has door and opened it just a crack "Baroness Virtue!?" he frantically opens the door all the way, then spots Stiletto and goes pail "I, I, Ummm," his voice gets really small "What did I do?"
Virtue tries to work a reassuring smile onto her face, but doesn't do a good job "Relax... I just want to ask you something. Is Friesden here with you?"
Carmine looks at her puzzled "I don't know anypony by that name."
"Of course you do... she was your second born daughter, remember?"
Stiletto scrapes a forehoof along the ground, tearing the dirt to pieces
Carmine chews his cheek "No, Chestnut is our second Foal, are you ok Baroness, you look a little... put off."
"Carmine... this is serious. Where is she? Do you not know?"
Stiletto moves to whisper to Lady Virtue
Carmine shakes his head "I know lost Foals' a serious matter Baroness, but I already asked Indigo to talk to the Zebras about the Foal Glyph brought by earlier."
Virtue frowns "Alright then... is Ocean Breeze here? Can I speak with her, please?"
Stiletto whispers "I have seen this before, he has retreated from reality to a more comfortable place in his mind."
Carmine Nods and makes a gesture to invite the Baroness and the Military Dragonpony inside "Why of course you can Baroness. She is with our Foals."
Virtue steps over to Ocean Breeze and makes a motion for her to speak discreetly "Ocean Breeze... where is Friesden?"
Stiletto looks at Ocean Breeze reassuringly "You can talk to us, unless something is making you uncomfortable here."
Ocean Breeze steps toward the door and leads them outside. "I... I can't talk about this in front of him. He refuses to say anything about it..."
Carmine "Where are you goin-"
then Stiletto cut in "She is going out on a walk with her friends, we are going to talk about Mare things, you understand, Yes?"
Carmine gulped "Y-y-yes M-miss Stiletto!"
Virtue waits until they are outside and repeats her question "Ocean Breeze... please, tell me the truth, where is your daughter?"
Ocean Breeze places her face in her hooves. "I don't know... he... he dragged me away from her when he found out. I... I think Glyph is looking after her... but... but"
Virtue: "Why would he do that? You can talk to us. What did he find out?"
Stiletto clenches her teeth, a near by statue has a crack form in its' base.
Ocean Breeze hangs her head and says, "She is not his foal. He knows now. It's true..." She looks up, tears forming in her eyes. "When he found out... he acted as if he'd never seen her before in his life..."
Virtue is taken aback "You mean... she really is half zebra?"
Stiletto move to put a hoof on Ocean Breezes' withers
Ocean Breeze nods somberly. "Yes. One day... when the zebra caravan was here... I was out at the pier... a bit drunk... and... and he came. One of the merchant guards. I... I'll never forgive myself for cheating on my husband... nothing excuses that..."
"What? Why? You where just..."
Ocean Breeze begins weeping, barely managing to finish with, "I love my daughter with all of my heart... but... when he got like that... I... I just... I didn't know what to do! I still don't... my other children... I..."
Virtue is speechless
Ocean Breeze collapses to the ground, crying uncontrollably. "I want her back. I'd do anything to have her back... but I don't know what Carmine will do... he might hurt her... or take the other children... I... I..."
Stiletto Offers a forehoof to her "We are here for you Ocean Breeze. I will do anything you ask if it will help."
Virtue doesn't know how to proceed. Tears are dripping down her cheeks as anger kindles in her soul.
Ocean Breeze looks up to her, failing to stifle the crying. "What can I do? He won't let her back into the family. If he hurt her... I... I couldn't live with myself..."
"Ocean Breeze, I believe you husband is quiet ill, in his head I mean, I do not think it is wise to let him near Friesden, not for sometime, his fragile mind is unable to deal with the current state of reality."
Ocean Breeze stares into the road below. "I think you're right. I... I'm a bit scared for myself and my other children... but I don't think he'll hurt us. But her..." She begins crying again. "What can I do? My child is out there without her parents... I... I'm going to be sick..."
Virtue sighs and lowers her head, she then chews her lip, failing to find words again
Stiletto: "Ocean Breeze, this is not you fault, you are a kind and generous pony. You husband has let jealousy overwhelm his judgment. Please believe me when I say you are a good pony, and your daughter will be well cared for."
Ocean Breeze blinks and looks into Stiletto's eyes for a few seconds. "B-By who? Glyph?"
Virtue considers the implications. Glyph wasn't her father. What did he really know about raising foals? And the poor thing needed her mother...
Stiletto nods, "Yes, Glyph cares for her very much already, he will be a good Ersatz Elternteil for her. For now." Opens her forelegs and wings "I am sorry I can not do more now, but I will always be here for you."
"If Carmine cannot be trusted around her... I see little alternative..." Virtue places a hoof to her forehead as she looks down, letting a few tears drip onto the shale stones under their hooves
Ocean Breeze continues to cry, but the sobbing has given way to more controlled weeping. "I'll never forgive myself for this. I've done something absolutely terrible to my husband and now my child... if only I could get her back... but I can't..."
Virtue crouches next to her and lays a hoof on her back "Rest assured... whatever happens... Friesden will be cared for. If Glyph can't give her the care she needs, I'll go hungry or without a home before she does." Virtue sighs again, wishing she had something more she could "Perhaps Carmine will change his mind... he was her father for years... but until then... if Glyph wants to look after her, I think he is capable."
Stiletto sits down and gently brought the two mares in close for a comforting hug "Things will get better, we can help you and your ill husband, If you ever need us we are here."
Ocean Breeze says nothing for a long time. Finally she says, "Please... don't let my mistake hurt my daughter any more than it already has... you... you have to help her... and help me..."
"We will. I'll do everything in my power to help your family."
Ocean Breeze sniffles a few more times and nods. "Tell her that her mother still loves her, and always will." She shakes her head slowly, looking down again. "Perhaps I can still see her... when he's not around..."
Stiletto pets Ocean Breezes' mane and presents her chest as place to cry "I promise I will, I will do everything in my power. I will bring you to see her when I can."
Ocean Breeze forms the smallest hint of a sad smile possible. "Thank you... both of you..." She stands eventually and says, "I... I should b-be getting back to the rest of my family...”
Stiletto wraps her wings around the two of them "You are both such strong mares. Lifting so much on your own. You do not need to bare it all on your own though, give me any pain you can not carry on your own."
Virtue nods her off and watches as she disappears inside their home. Emotional torment wracks her as she slowly turns to Stiletto
"Yes Lady Virtue."
"Why... why do things like this have to happen?" She wipes her eyes. "I... I thought everypony here..." her sentence trails off as her voice begins to fade into crying.
Stiletto hugs Virtue tightly in her forelegs "Everypony here is a good pony, they just forget sometimes."
"I... I... I just can't imagine... if-if Harvest Moon... or I... Rose... Valor..." Her crying intensifies for a moment before she manages to recollect herself. "Friesden... the poor thing... G-Glyph can look after her... b-but..."
"He will love her with all his heart, as will we all. I promise that to you as well."
Virtue nods and chokes out something unintelligible.
Stiletto: "I will be strong for you all, lean on me when you need to... I...I love you."
Virtue sniffles and pulls back from the hug "Th-thank you... Stiletto... you've been a fine example to all of us." Virtue sighs and wipes her eyes again
Stiletto nods and bows "Thank you my Lady Virtue, your words mean very much too me."
"Th-there's no need for the formalities..." she says, with a nervous smile. "I-if you see Glyph... tell him he has my full support, and to not hesitate to ask me for anything he needs." Virtue looks back to her own home "I... I d-don't know if I can do this right now... would you tell him that for me? I-I need to get home..."
"I will tell him. Is there anything at all I can do for you as well as that?"
Virtue shakes her head "No... thank you... you've done more than most ponies would already. Just see to it that Glyph knows what happened tonight..."
Stiletto spreads her wings for take off "He will know soon, it will make him sad, but also happy, he already loves her."
Virtue nods and returns home to find Harvest Moon and their children. She gathers them all together and gives them a loving embrace. She'd never hurt her family like this... never...