//------------------------------// // A simple 'Thank You' would suffice // Story: Growing Up Mane Six // by Aiet //------------------------------// Xylon was awoken by a soft prodding to his face as he slept on the couch. He opened one eye to see a large smiling pink face with big eyes bouncing around. He sat up with a groan as Pinkie Pie climb up on the couch next to him with a little difficulty. “Ok, ok I'm getting up.” he said as he rubbed his face with both hands. He was hopping that they would all sleep in late today but it was in vain since it was their... “Daddy you have get the stuff ready for our birthday party!” she started pushing him to get him up and moving. Today was all six of the fillies birthday or as Xylon thought as their re-birthday. He stood up and stretched as Pinkie ran off to the room all six shared since they came here, the room that was once his and the crib to small. He slowly made his way to the kitchen and opened the cabinet underneath, pulling out several bags. With a yawn he started pulling out cake mix and decorations from the bags. As he prepared everything he could hear the girls giggling excitedly and the loud thump of Rainbow Dash and Applejack wrestling. He knew today was going to be a long day as he slid the cake into the oven. He started mixing together several thing in a large bowl as a filly snuck in. “Whatcha making daddy?” Xylon looked down to see Rainbow Dash with her mane everywhere. He lifted up the whisk from the bowl and lowered it down to her. She took a lick of the yellow glob on the whisk and let out a delighted moan. “Banana pudding that's awesome!” he gave her a smirk and shook his head. He turned to the oven to check the cake for a second and when he turned around he saw Dash trying to jump up for the bowl on the counter, she couldn't fully fly yet but she was having more progress then Fluttershy. He pushed her away with a foot and put the bowl at the back of the counter. He looked down but she had already ran off with a trail of cookie crumbs that he forgot to put up. He sighed and kicked them under the stove as the timer went off. He pulled out the cake and set out to cool off when there was a knock at the front door. As he went to answer it Twilight came out the room. “Make sure your sisters don't get to the cake.” he said with out looking at her and made it to the door. He was about to opened it when he heard faint talking on the other side. “... I don't know if I can sister.” Xylon pressed his ear to the door to listen further. “Please? I promise that with the girls here nothing will happen.” “I'll just... go check and see if everything is ready.” he heard the unfurling of wings and the slapping of wind. Waiting a couple of seconds he opened the door to find Luna standing patiently. “Hello Princess Luna.” Xylon bowed slightly as he step aside. “There is no need to bow and just Luna is fine.” she walked in and the closed the door behind her. “Aunt Luna!” Twilight came bounding around the corner with something on her nose. Luna hugged her with a large smile. “What is this? Frosting?” Luna said she poked at the glob of white on her nose. Twilight looked nervously at Xylon. “Rainbow Dash got it down.” he sighed and walked into the kitchen as Luna wiped the frosting off Twilight's nose. Xylon found Rainbow and Pinkie with frosting all over their mouth and mane with the empty container on the floor. He picked both of them up and walked to the bathroom. “Bath now or no birthday.” he turned on the water and walked out as Rainbow groan in frustration and Pinkie jumped right into the filling tub. He went back to the kitchen and pulled out another container of frosting he hid up high. After frosting the cake he put in six candles in a half circle above a number four made of candy in the middle of the cake. As he was getting everything situated when he heard a loud bang in the girls room and went to investigate with another sigh. Rarity ran out the room and strait into his legs as he came up to the open door. “Daddy, daddy Fluttershy is bleeding.” he stepped over her and hurried in to find the large stand alone mirror, with a small lasso wrapped around it, tipped over on the floor and the mirror in pieces all over the floor. Applejack was at Fluttershy's side apologizing over and over as she held her right hoof. He picked them both off the floor and away from the glass as Applejack started apologizing to Xylon. When he got out the room he placed Applejack down and went to the bathroom with a crying Fluttershy. He opened the door to find a mountain of bubbles over the tub and a blue and pink face sticking out of them. He placed Fluttershy on the bathroom sink and gently took her hoof in his hand. “Are you ok sweetheart?” he said as she looked up with tear running down her face and sniffling. She nodded her head and he reached under the sink counter and pulled out a first aid kit. It wasn't a deep cut at all as he cleaned it and wrapped it up while Luna used her magic to put the mirror back together. “There you go.” he let go of her now bandaged hoof and she looked at it. “Will you kiss it better?” he smiled as she held it out again and he kissed below the cut gently. “There all better.” she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him as he put her down on the floor and she walked carefully out, then he turned to the two in the tub. “Out.” he said as he reached into the water and pulled out the plug. He walked back into the living room to find Luna holding a sobbing Applejack. “But ah didn' mean to.” she said crying and hiccuping. Xylon walked over and picked her up. “Hey don't worry sugarcube. It's alright it was just an accident.” he hugged her as he rocked her in his arms and she cried into his shoulder. She calmed down and hugged him back. “Alright.” he said as he put her down and the two girls came out from the bathroom. “Everyone stay in her with aunt Luna. I need to get the rest of the stuff ready.” he watched as all the girls went over next to Luna and he then went to the kitchen. First he went to the sink and slashed cold water on his face. He looked up at the clock to see it was only twelve thirty. With yet another sigh he set to get ready to bring out the cake. As he was lighting the candles Luna walked in. “Would you like some help Xylon?” she asked as he lit the last candle and walked over to him. “Could you get the pudding?” he motioned in the direction of the bowl that sat on the kitchen table. She went to the bowl and they now had their backs to each other. “You were able to keep calm with all that chaos when Fluttershy was hurt. You're really good at being a father.” Xylon chuckled at her comment. “Thank you for holding Applejack or it most likely would have been worse.” Luna laughed lightly as she used her magic to lift the bowl and took a step back. At the same moment Xylon was turning with the cake and Luna back right into the front of his hips. She looked back and turned quickly while blushing. “Sorry.” “Sorry.” they both said at the same time as they looked into each others eyes. Then a voice called out from the living room. “Daddy are you done yet?” Xylon looked at the direction of the living room and smiled. He slowly walked to the door frame and started singing happy birthday slightly altered for them. All six girls waited excited on the couch as Xylon followed by Luna came with the cake and pudding while both sang. They set down the both sweet treats as they finished the song and Xylon couldn't help but notice how lovely of a singing voice Luna had. “Alright girls at the same time, make a wish.” he said and all six leaned forward and blow at once, extinguishing the candles. While Luna cut the cake for six eager mouths, Xylon went back to the kitchen to grab six bags that hid a surprise inside. He grabbed a chair along the way and sat on the other side of the table as the girls ate cake with pudding. “Oh presents!” Rarity pipped up as he sat down. “I know I can't wait to see what I got my self.” all six girls and Luna looked at him confused. He picked a bag at random and set in his lap. Making sure they could all see he pulled out the first gift. “A hat? What am I going to do with a hat?” he smiled devilishly as he leaned forward and placed the hat on Applejack's head as she had a large smile. Then he grabbed another bag and pulled out the second gift. “A make up kit? I think I'm pretty enough.” the girls giggled as he leaned forward and gave the small make up kit to Rarity who let out an excited squeal. The next four gifts he did the same. Pulling them out slowly and making sure they could see them, then say what he needed with what he pulled out and handing it to who it belong to. Fluttershy got stuffed teddy bear that she held on to tightly as she buried her face into the top of it's head. Twilight was given a book over different basic types of magic which she greedily grabbed with a large grin. Pinkie Pie was a small pump gun that shot out foam balls and immediately started shooting at Luna who laughed as they bounced off her head. For Rainbow Dash a pair of aviator goggles that she snapped around her head over her eyes and looked around everywhere with them. Xylon smiled as he watched them with their presents. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou daddy!” Rainbow Dash said excitedly as she took off for a leaping hug and the rest of the girls followed suit, knocking him to the ground. Like any other parent he wished he could give them more then simple, cheap gifts but he couldn't. For the first two years of their life Celestia had provided them with what they needed but unfortunately the royal coffers couldn't keep supporting them. Xylon had planned ahead and reacquired his job as a furniture maker just as before the end but they were just starting off and he made just enough money to feed six growing children. When he would work Cadence, and sometimes Shinning Armor, would come and baby sit them. Just like they did when he went to work the day before and to shop afterwords. He browsed the shops until he found all the gifts, looking down at them with sad eyes. Cheap, simple, mostly assembly line stock, and not to forget cheap. But it was all he could afford. “Alright girls get ready, aunt Tia as a surprise for you.” Luna said as she gathered the girls, Xylon looked up at her with a huff and shook his head. The girls quickly lined up behind Luna with their presents and followed her out the door with Xylon at the back. “Hey guys we're like a train!” Pinkie said as she looked up and down the line. “Yeah. Aunt Luna is the front and we're the carts and dad's the butt.” Rainbow Dash said and they all giggled and Luna even let out a chuckle. “Chuga-chuga-chuga choo-choo!” Applejack started and soon all the girls joined in, imitating train sounds as they walked. When Luna pitched in Xylon smiled and chuckled with a soft shake of his head. Soon they made it to where Luna had intended to take them, just west of the school. “Ok girls her it is.” she turned and motioned to a large, white, two story house with a teal colored roof. Celestia, who was at the door of the house, walked over to the girls with a smile. “Happy Birthday girls and welcome to your new home!” all the girls went wide eyed and let out sounds of awe. All dropped the gifts from their dad and ran to the house. Celestia turned to Luna and Xylon with a smile. “The second floor as a room for each girl and a bathroom. On the first floor is your room, the master bedroom and bathroom, the kitchen, and a living room. There is a basement, an attic, and even a pool in the backyard.” she spoke to Xylon and waited for a response but he didn't give one. Instead he bent over and picked up the discarded gifts. “We're not a charity case.” Celestia was got off guard by the statement and stared at him for a second. “You all couldn't have fit in the house for lo-” “And I would have found a way to fix that.” Xylon said as he brushed dirt off Fluttershy's teddy bear, not looking up once. Luna quietly took a step back from the two. “Please Xylon, it's a gift for the girls.” he still didn't look up at her. “Just had to be the good guy. Had to be the greatest aunt in the world and pour copious amount of money for the best gift in the world while dad had to decide wither or not to get new shoes or buy his daughters gifts for the birthday.” Luna couldn't help but look down at his feet and at the ragged shoes that stitches barely held together and holes in the soles. “I did this for you-” Xylon head snapped up and he cut her off with a glare. “No! You did this for them not me! And don’t you ever think you did something for me because I will never accept it! The only thing I care about it them being happy and if dad as to look like a cheap bastard while you are their hero then so be it!” Celestia took a step back with a shocked look. Twilight had happened to look up and see what had happened and ran to them. “Daddy do you have my book?” she ran up to them and Xylon stopped glaring at Celestia while she straitened her self up. He knelt down and handed her the book for all the presents he held in his arms. “Thank you daddy for the greatest present ever!” she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a the largest hug she could managed. Afterwords she ran back to the house with her book to claim a room on the second floor.