//------------------------------// // Scribble4: 2.5 Mares (+image) // Story: Don't Call me Cute! // by Viking Hoof //------------------------------// I trot carefully down the stairs to the living room. The room's walls were a off white that I was still getting used to. In the door between the living room and the dinning room sat a friendly looking Twilight. The sounds of cooking emanated from the kitchen behind her, but there sat two glasses of juice in front of her. She softly lifted one to me and I accepted it with a friendly smile of my own. Twilight's shields dropped a little as I took a sip of what I found out to be cranberry juice. Underneath her smile was an anxious look. It was obvious now that she was worried. I could see her eyes searching my face for approval or disapproval. She obviously needed a confidence boost from me. With a small flourish I removed a card from the bag under my wing and a pen from the same. I took my time writing, playing with Twilight's anxiety a little before producing a note for her. "You seem nice." Twilight read the note softly like the first time. I could see the edges of her lips turn up slightly in a much more confident smile. "Thanks!" She returned, and I could see the note had worked. At just that moment, mom poked her head out of the kitchen and announced that dinner would be served. It was now that I noticed the soft smell of cooked apple wafting from the kitchen like a gift from the gods. My tastebuds worked overtime as images of apple tarts and apple pie filled my imagination. I could feel the soft euphoria of Granny Smith apples as they delighted my tastebuds. Had I ever mentioned that my mom could cook? She could cook you pants off, if you were a mare. She tried to teach me to cook too, but it just didn't work out. As it was, I was happy enough to enjoy the food she cooked. Twilight Sparkle headed for the kitchen. I took my own way to the dinning way. The table had been layed out, but food hadn't been produced quite yet. The table of seven had been set for three, and three chairs sat close together next to the streets. As soon as my flank hit the chair the door to the kitchen flew open. Through that doorway walked a cheerful mother levitating a wide selection of apple based dish bearing platters. Behind her was a happy lavender marefriend carrying some more platters and a pitcher of lemonade. Any doubt of the strength of their relationship died in their wide smile bearing faces. I understood for the first time why mother had stopped me from trying to skip more grades. This warmth was unlike any I had experienced. It was a home. I hadn't ever had a home like this. Mom was a wonderful mother, but she just seemed more complete with Twilight here. The sense of wholeness permeated everything in the room with just the two of them being in it. The next two years might just end up being the best of my life. I was drawn out of my thoughts as the last platter set on the table. Mom was now smiling at me. It was obvious that she wanted me to pick a slice of one of the many pastries on the table. I chose a medium slice of one of the less decadent foods. I'm not sure why. Mom looked surprise, but I could see Twilight smile in the corner of my eyes. I mentally noted it, and decided to investigate that later. Mom offered the same to Twilight, but she somehow she turned it around into a romantic feeding scene with Twilight. It was one of those romantic movie trash scenes, not the sexier kind. My mind was flooded with images of mom and Twilight, and I struggled to not throw up. Maybe there was something to that whole "17+" thing on those websites. I gave my head a shake and returned to the food on my plate. Two mind blowing eating experiences later I was reclining softly against my chair. Mom and Twilight were just about finished with their plates, and it is at this moment that one of the two start talking about my day. "So Twilight do you know this Derpy Hooves?" Mom started the conversation smoothly, "Yeah she works for the mail service. Was a rumor about her being Blueblood's illegitimate daughter a while back, but she was just covering for Rarity"a relationship with him." Wasn't Blueblood some noble or another? "It was sad about that not working out. Rarity said he was a charmer, but that he had some personal issues he had to work through." Was this nervous chatter? I had heard of it, but seeing as how I couldn't chatter... "What about this Earthpony that didn't seem to like Cutey?" I hated it when mom called me Cutey. It was like, so embarrassing. "Sounds like Platinum Dress. Her younger sister, Diamond Tiara, kind of bullies some of my friend's younger sisters." Twilight retrieved the apple juice and poured a new glass. She was stalling, the glass hadn't been half empty. "Nothing to serious, but Misses Cheerilee is considering giving Tiara stricter punishments. "Rotten apple from rotten tree?" Twilight frowned for a moment.. "No, her dad was a self made merchant. He owns half the town. You know him as Mr. Rich." Twilight took a sip of her big glass of apple juice. "That nice man raised two bullies?" Mom grabbed a bowl of freshly sliced apples and spooned a few into her bowl. "His wife comes from a noble family. She spoils the both of them, strangely enough Diamond Tiara is more of a daddies girl." With this they turned back to me, as did the conversation. "So Cutey, how are you liking your apples" I gave mom a BIG smile. It was my way of saying these apples are great! I gave Miss Twilight the same smile as a way of saying thanks. I hoped she and mom were more permanent. "Glad to hear it. Apple Jack would just feel terrible if she heard any of her crop was less then perfect." Twilight lifted the cobbler with her magic and served herself a new slice. grinning she turned her attention back fully to mom. "So Winter, how did you happen upon this house. Celestia herself had to convert a public library into my house, and I still have to keep it open." Mom let a sly smirk slide onto her face. "Really, I never knew the Princes had such trouble dealing with the housing market." Twilight covered up a light laugh with her hoof. "She had to make the cliff Canterlot sits on, but you are evading the question." "If you must know. I got help from Spitfire the Wonderbolt." Twilight's jaw visibly dropped. I was surprised that Twilight even knew who Sptifire was. Do all librarians geek out over female athletes? "Wow, really? And how did you two meet?" The answer is yes. "A while back me and Cutey lived in Manehatten. Spitfire happened to in town for a show, and my newspaper got a interview with her." Mom paused as if wondering whether or not to say something, but it seemed she decided not to. "After the article was published she offered to get interviews with the rest. We got to know each other really well. We still write." Wait, Manehatten?! Interveiws? I almost facehooved as I put two and two together and realized that Miss afire was The Spitfire. Miss Fire had been mom's first fillyfr... Ohhhhh... "You still got that article?" Mom nodded. Twilight was good at stalling, that almost seemed natural, but it was worded in such a way as to prolong the conversation. "Yeah we can dig it out after dinner." "I'd be interested in seeing any of the articles you feel comfortable sharing." Twilight finished lamely. "You know Rainbow Dash, right?" Now it was Twilight's turn to nod. "In her letter Spitfire mentioned that I might want to interview her, also to give her Spitfire's number." Twilight started twiddling her hooves, she seemed nervous like she had earlier. "Actually I was wondering if you would like to meet all my friends. Pinkie is still throwing a party for you and Scribble, and .. and ..and" So THAT was what she was worrying about earlier! Mom reached across the table to hold Twilight's hoof. "Twilight...I would love to meet the rest of your friends."Twilight gave mom a joyous grin. "And I'm sure that Cutey would love to go too." Heck no! Parties meant small talk, and small talk meant... i gave that idea a rapid no shake of my head. Twilight gave me a devilish smirk. "Ohh come on. I bet that Dittzy will be there." Derpy?.. I could go if Derpy was there. I gave a nod of assent. "I thought as much." Mom looked like she wanted to ask what was going on, but instead she asked. "You mentioned that your friends had some yonder sisters. They wouldn't happen to be Scribble's age would they?" "No, they are a bit younger, but they are not that much younger. I think they will be there at the party." "Ohh wonderful! I bet you would love more friends like Dittzy wouldn't you Scribble." I normally hated it when mom did this, but more friends like Derpy would be pretty cool. "Good, Pinkie was worried that she might have scared you off." Me scared? never! I would have made a adventurous pose to punctuate my bravery, but I was ambushed by the pitiful gasp that my mom knew was a yamn. Mom picked me up onto her back. I tried to resist, but my pitiful attempts at flight or fight were met with my mother's magical cuddling. "I think it is about time for bed, don't you?" Aww... I was hoping to fit in more Mother-Twilight bonding. With no way to properly protest I was briskly tucked into bed. This did not not stop me from sneaking out of my room quieter then a Japonyse ninja. I used the secret nin'bitsu that Ravenhoof had taught me to evade mom's bedtime wards on my door and the hall. Ravenhoof had taught me some of the secrets of sneaking she had gained in her immortal life a while back, and mom hadn't caught me since. Mom and Twilight were in the study talking. Taking the cup I had brought I put my ear against the wall. ahh that was much better, I could hear them now. "You really bonded well with Cutey today. I'm so proud of you! Awesome I managed to get here just as they started talking. I think that was mom. "Thanks, she really reminds me of me at her age." Was she calling me smart? She was Celestia's student and all that. It couldn't have been the magic... I can see that. Hmm... Now I was curious about what Twilight meant by what she said. Radiance... Was that a kissing sound? Mmmm! uh-oh, time to split! I had to run extra fast back to bed before another pitiful yawn/gasp escaped my lips and gave me away. It was a close thing. Maybe I should get some sleep...