//------------------------------// // Chapter Three- // Story: Reaper With An Angel // by MLPxMaestro //------------------------------// Reaper With An Angel: Chapter 3- The snow continued to fall from the solid gray sky, as the light white flakes touched their bodies as they kept walking around the neighborhood. Quaver simply did what he does best, and that was to listen to his daughter. “So anyways, that is why I’m so worried for my little girl.” “I see…” he replied briefly, as he contemplated about the matter within his mind. He found a moment to speak up after silence fell between them for about half a minute or so. Quaver was astounded at just how much snow was actually falling this year; he had never seen anything like it in all his years of living here in Canterlot. “Perhaps it might be time for you to let Octavia know about what is going on them.” “But she’s so young father, she won’t even understand. Though there is always that possibility she will get worried.” “Well you did in fact say she’s just a little filly.” He replied. “Yes I did, but every time she sees me afraid or hurt, she feels that way along with me and cries.” Melody added. “Then you need to be strong about it Melody. Critical as this may be to you, and as painful it still is for you to bare this, you need to find a time very soon indeed to tell her. Perhaps when you and your husband are together, sit her down, and try to explain it to her as much as you can on her level of understanding.” Her father stated. “I…” she then took in a breath of the fresh cold air. With it filling her lungs, it gave her a refreshing feeling every time she did that. “I suppose…you’re right.” “Of course I am, you know I wouldn’t say something unless I knew it would be for the better of you.” “I know father, you’ve been like that ever since I was little. You’ve always knew what was best for me…even when mother thought it wasn’t a good idea.” She chuckled slightly. “Don’t forget all of those late night concerts I took you too. Remember that one night we snuck out together? I was late for my quintet performance at the Canterlot Concert Hall, and I managed to reserve you a seat in the front row so you could watch me all by yourself.” “I was only six father…mother would have had a fit over that.” “I know, and we barely made it back before she found out.” He laughed. “Heh, oh father, sometimes you still have your moments I suppose, hm?” “I may be old, but yes I still have my moments…ah those were the good old days. You seemed to almost never get into trouble too, though every now and then you would still get in trouble at school. Thank Celestia you didn’t go out with that one colt when he asked you out to prom one night in your high school years.” He chuckled. “Oh that guy? Ugh! He was such a showoff, always trying to impress somepony out there, mother hated him.” “Me and her both my dear.” Quaver smiled. They made their last roundabout around the neighborhood before they would be heading back home. The wind was calm, but now starting to pick up a pinch. “How about we get a nice cup of hot tea before we head back?” he insisted, pointing to her favorite teashop. “Sure father, that’s nice of you…thanks.” “Dear, you need not thank me, you know I’ve been spoiling you ever since you were just a filly.” “There’s no argument there.” She giggled. “Good…you’ll pay this time.” “Father!” “Ha ha ha ha! Of course I’ll pay sweetie.” He laughed out loud. Meanwhile, back at grandmother Octave’s…Octavia’s father had finally arrived through the front door. Octave gasped sarcastically, acting like she wondered who was there, even though she already knew who it was. She merely did that to get Octavia’s curiosity stirred up. “Oh my…who could that be!” Octave smiled big to the adorable gray filly at the face of the oven, struggling to get in the first batch to bake. “Who is it gwanny?!” her face lighting up instantly. “Would you like to see who it might be for me? I’ll take care of this, don’t worry.” “Okay!” Octavia hopped once in place, anxious to see who it was. To her surprise, it was her father, Golden Strings. “Well if it isn’t the young lady coming to greet me.” he smiled. “Hi daddy!” she rushed over to him and gave him the biggest hug she could possibly span out from those little hooves “It appears to me that you are having fun in the kitchen?” his face changed expression to a serious face, confusing Octavia. “Um…oh…am I…uh…not supposed to daddy? I’m sowwy…” “You had better be Octavia…cause you know…” he then got down to her level on the wooden floor and stared right into her bright purple eyes. “I want to…have fun too!” “Yay! Gwanny, gwanny…daddy’s gonna hewp us!” Octavia said eager to get back to what she was doing. Leading the way as she dashed back into the kitchen, sliding a bit across the tile floor from the force of her running, having to resituate her direction. Her father was more refined than the rest of Melody’s family, but knowing Melody’s condition, he knew he needed to be there for his daughter no matter what now. “Greetings and salutations Mrs. Octave.” He spoke up as he made his way into the kitchen, setting his coat onto the coat rack just next to the kitchen entrance. “Oh hello deary! Octavia is being such a big help today, helping her granny make all kinds of things, aren’t you?” “Uh-huh!” Octavia’s little head nodded in agreement. “Well that sounds wonderful ma’am, do you think by any chance she may perhaps obtain her cutiemark through something such as this?” Golden Strings wondered. “I have no idea to be honest with you Golden Strings, but I do know that she has a little something special coming from Pony Claus this year.” Octave replied. “That’s right, I think Pony Claus has something special for you this year…a surprise.” “What is it, what is it daddy?!” Octavia quickly turned around, her hooves still covers in the cookie dough she was setting out on one of the baking sheets. “Well you need to wait until Hearth’s Warming Day to find out. Remember, he knows when you are awake, so make sure and stay asleep okay?” “But I wanna see what he wooks wike?!” Octavia whined. “Octavia? You told me you would be good for Pony Claus remember? No whining, remember?” said her father. “Sowwy daddy…I’ll be good.” Her voice trailed off, then turned back around facing the baking sheet. Golden Strings noticed that Octavia was doing actually a good job of not being messy despite her age. Perhaps refinement seemed to just come to her naturally at times? Though she still made a mess of course, but what would you expect from somepony her age? Anypony her age would make a mess over something they found to be this fun. “Hmm…Octavia?” “Yes daddy?” she turned her head back to him. “Do you know how to make a smiley face cookie?” She blinked back to him once, not understanding what he was getting to. “No…” “Ah I see…well maybe granny can help you make one? Could you make one for daddy?” “Yeah! I make the best smiwey face cookies!” she stated, causing Octave and Golden Strings to laugh together at her adorable remark. “We need to work on saying your L’s and R’s more sweetie, but keep trying okay?” “Okay daddy.” She replied. “I bet he just wishes he could be a baker as good as you, didn’t he?” Octave poked her belly as she stood up on her rear legs leaned up against the kitchen counter. “Gwanny, stop!” Octavia stated with seriousness on her face. “Well now, what are you so serious about deary?” Octave felt puzzled by her granddaughters sudden mood change. “I’m twying to condencentwate for daddy’s smiwey face cookie.” She replied with a looks of determination for making the cookie. It was certainly quite the challenge, trying to make the perfect design of two dots close to the top, and a curve almost to the bottom of it was no easy task for her age. “There, all done!” Golden Strings walked over to Octavia’s piece of art onto the piece of cookie dough. What he saw was merely the opposite of a smiley face cookie; rather it was a frowney face cookie instead to his surprise. “Um…Octavia sweetie…that is sad frowney face.” he stared at the face surprised, but maybe Octavia still didn’t get it yet. “Nooo! It’s a smiwey face just wike you wanted!” she replied, showing that perfect little set of teeth in her grin. “Okay, okay…it’s…it’s a smiley face then.” Her father rolled his eyes, looking back at Octave with that action. She merely stood there and shrugged on the situation, not really caring either way. As long as her granddaughter was having fun at what she enjoyed doing, she didn’t care one way or the other. “It looks wonderful dear!” “But daddy says it’s not a smiwey face? Is that twue gwanny?” “Uh…well…how about we just put these into the oven too, okay?” “Yay! Can I put this one into the oven this time?” Octavia asked, as she grabbed a hold of the pan to bring it off the kitchen counter with her. “You sure can angel…can I help too? I don’t want you letting the pan fall over now.” Her grandmother spoke up, not wanting her to drop the pan onto the floor. After another minute or two passed, they finished up with the finishing touches on the last batch, and popped it in the oven. The smell of the first batch could already be smelled in the kitchen, it was quite the oven, and a pretty penny to buy it nonetheless. Golden Strings was now taking it easy in front of the campfire, and Octavia lay beside him, already getting tired feelings according to her father. “Are you getting sleepy darling?” he asked, as he saw her look off into the blaze of the fireplace that seemed to calm her down despite the energy she had just minutes ago. “No, I’m…just…” her adorable mouth opening up to yawn thereafter saying those words. “Would you like a cover?” Octavia said nothing, and merely nodded softly. Her little purple eyes trying to stay awake as best as they could, but relaxation was taking her mind over by storm. Golden Strings complying with her silent request, brought the cover over her warm body “Can we snuggle?” she added. Her father then noticed her just then, offering him a small portion of the cover. “What good manners you have…thank you very much.” He whispered calmly to her, causing her to giggle in her tired and relaxed tone. Octave simply sat in her rocking chair across from the two of them, knitting a purple and white scarf. “My daughter and my husband shared that exact same blanket in front of the fireplace many times when she was her age.” She whispered to Golden Strings with a smile. He looked back at her, not saying a word, but a nod of approval came from him since he wanted to stay quiet for Octavia to rest her eyes. That last little flicker of the fire could be seen from those gorgeous purple eyes of Octavia’s. The world for her seeming to go black for her, as they shut closed to the rest of the world around her. Her little body moving up and down from her easy and soft breathing, as silence seemed to fall for a moment in the living room. The entire room was dimmed from the dark curtains blocking the majority of the light coming from outside, as the living room was cloaked in a faded orange glow. Crackling of the wood every now and again was heard amidst the savory silence that could be felt in the air. Over half an hour had passed, and that Quaver and Melody had made it back to the house safe and sound. “Okay were-” “Shh!” Octave shushed her husband. “Oh…is she, uh…” Octave nodded implying Octavia was sound asleep at this time. “Hey honey, glad to see you’ve made it…how was your day?” Melody walked over to her napping husband, and kissed him causing him to wake up from him dozing off there for a moment. “Oh, um…it went fine dear…would you like to switch up? I need to um…” Golden Strings then whispers into his wife’s ear, reminding her he needed to go out there and take care of Octavia’s gifts. “Oh right, heh…go right ahead, I’ll take her off of your hooves.” Melody whispered back. He then got up; as Melody quickly took his place on the couch to keep Octavia’s side he was resting next to her, warm. As soon as Golden Strings left out the front door to deal with the last minute shopping, everything once again fell silent in the household. Everypony in the family seemed to take in the lovely silence, and the small crackling noises of the firewood in the fireplace. “My dear sweet Octavia…you’re such a good girl.” Melody thought to herself, as she lightly kissed the side of Octavia’s face. “Mo-…mmy…” the word being heard just barely caused Melody’s heart to melt. “…and forever I shall be.” She whispered back to her softly, as a tear then flowed down from one of her eyes.