The lock of the front door clicked, and Arpeggio stepped in through the sliver of light. His horn glinted white in the dim room, and the lights clicked on. He shook his black mane and unbuttoned the green tweed sweater from his chest. “Honey, I'm home.”
No response came from the still, quiet house. The sounds of birds filtered in from outside.
“Honey? Bella? Ruby? Anypony home?” He glanced around. “Huh. Where'd they go?”
I took that as my invitation to butt in. I stepped around the corner, out of the still-dim hallway. “They've left you.”
He stared at me, one eyebrow rising. “Gone? Gone where? Did Hearts take the kids to the spa again?” He huffed. “I told her it's too expensive for everypony to go all the time.”
“No, Arpeggio, they've--”
“Please, call me Peggo. All my friends do.”
I glanced away. “I don't think you'll count me as a friend after what I have to tell you today.”
The eyebrow arched higher. “Oh? And what's that?”
“They've gone.”
“Yeah, gone where?”
“For good, Arpeggio. They've left you.”
His mouth dropped open, and his ears drooped. “You mean--”
“Yes.”
His lips moved, but he didn't make a sound. His eyes grew wide around constricted pupils. “No!” He darted through the hallway, running all over the house. “That can't be! It's not right! She would have told me!”
I stayed in my spot, leaning against the wall, watching him gallop through the house, looking everywhere.
Finally, he walked back up to me, his academic clothing in shambles. He stared up at me, his lips trembling and his sides heaving.
“You've been gone too much, Arpeggio. I'm sorry. Your wife left, taking Bella and Ruby with her.”
He looked down at the ground, slowly shaking his head back and forth. “No. No, she wouldn't do that.” He looked up to me, his lips pursed together and his eyes pinched at the corners. “She...”
I sighed. This wouldn't be easy.
“She...” He fell to his haunches against the tiled floor. “She loved me.”
“They asked me to tell you. I'm not supposed to say where they've gone, though.”
“Why didn't she tell me?” He slammed a hoof into the floor. “I can change! I would have! I was only doing it for her.”
I frowned. “Really, Arpeggio? Only for her? You spend weeks at a time away in Canterlot. You love to teach – it's your talent... but this job in Celestia's school is more about the prestige, isn't it?”
“No!” He glared up at me, but his eyes softened as I met his gaze. “Yes,” he whispered. His face fell to the floor, quickly covered by his hooves. “I'm so stupid!”
I smiled, stepping over to him and putting a hand on his back. “You want them back?”
He looked up. “Of course!”
“No matter what?”
I smiled broadly at him. “Telling you wasn't the only task they gave me.” I took a scroll out of my pocket and handed it to him. “This is your resignation from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Sign it, and I'm allowed to tell you where your family is.”
With his magic, he unraveled the scroll. I pulled a pen out and handed it to him. He stared at the scroll, biting his lower lip, and the pen lifted in his magical glow as well.
Nothing moved in the silent room. He remained there, poised, the pen almost touching the paper.
“Well, Peggo? What will it be?”