Tears of a Foal

by Rocinante


Forgetting

Forgetting
or
The Prince and the Bean.

- - -  ch 14 Day 5 part 1

“Morning,” Green Bean said to the guards outside Princess Celestia’s office.  

The two guards gave him a crisp salute. “Sergeant,” they greeted in unison, stepping aside for him to enter.

Green returned the salute. Taking a breath, he stepped forward and knocked. This was about to become a daily routine for the remainder of his winter contract; maybe even into the summer.

“Come in,” Celestia called from the other side of the door.

There was an air to her voice that bothered Green. Steeling himself, he opened the door, and stepped through with one quick motion. Inside, Celestia sat behind a desk of oak and gold. She seemed a bit frazzled. Papers floated in the air, while she looked in drawer after drawer for something.

In contrast to Princess Celestia’s manic energy was Clover’s tranquility. In the far back of the room, he sat by a window with a book in front of him.

“Good morning, your majesty,” Green said, bowing to Celestia.

Looking up at the clock, Celestia stopped her search to gather a few more papers in her magic. “Thank you, Sergeant Green Bean,” she said, stuffing the papers into a folder. “Please be at ease.” Pausing a moment, she smiled at the guard in formal dress. Truth be told, she liked the gold-trimmed red jackets better than the gilded plate. Perhaps that should be another change for this new age: fewer guards in combat armor, more in dress uniform. “Would it be alright with you if we dispensed with the formalities when we are in private?”

Green was going to be a daily part of her life for a while, as Clover’s personal guard and foalsitter; she wanted to have the best possible relationship with the pony.

“Umm…” Green Bean froze up, looking at Celestia wide-eyed. “If you like.”

Relaxing her posture, Celestia nodded. “I would.” Gathering a few last things, she readied herself to leave for the noon court.

“What is he reading?” Green asked, looking past her. “That’s a pretty thick book.”

“Gray Mane’s Anatomy,” she said, walking towards the colt. “He’s been studying the pictures since last night.” Nudging him, she broke his concentration. “Green Bean is here to take you to class,” she said, taking the book up and putting it in a little saddlebag.

The colt gave her a confused look as she put the saddlebag on him, and escorted him over to the door, but a smile lit up his face once he noticed Green Bean. Leaving Celestia’s side for his, Clover followed him out into the hall.

Pausing outside, Celestia gave Clover a hug before leaving him to go their separate ways. “After class, see if you can get him to play with some foals his own age, but don’t force it. Have him home between four and five.”

- - -

Green was having a bit too much fun helping Professor Diction with the lesson. He had stood outside the door for the first fifteen minutes of the lesson, before the professor had called him into the room. Since then, he had become a living flash-card.

“Running,” Clover said, correctly naming the action Green was pantomiming.

“You are correct,” the professor said, carefully pronouncing every syllable.

Green stopped his pretend running, and waited for the professor to hold up a new sign: this one read sleep.

“Sleep!” Clover cheered, as soon as Green had curled up in an exaggerated sleeping position.

“Very good,” Diction said, setting the card down. “Now repeat after me. I sleep. He sleeps. You sleep.” he said pointing in turn to himself, Green, then Clover.

“I sleep. He sleeps. You sleep,” the colt chanted.

Diction stomped his hoof with a smile. “Correct!” Walking over to his student, he gave Clover a pat on the back. “I think that’s enough for today. Don’t want to give him a headache. Thank you for helping with the lesson, Sergeant.”

“No problem,” Green said, getting back on his hooves. “I suppose it’s lunch time, then.” Stepping beside Clover, Green picked up the colt’s saddlebags. “Any homework?”

“Make him some flash cards for the alphabet. I want him reading as soon as possible.”

“I’ll get him a set to take home to the Princess,” Green said, escorting Clover out of the room.

Clover mumbled random words and phrases as they left the campus. Occasionally he would say something a bit louder, and look to Green for approval or correction. The verbs and nouns Diction had taught him were quickly adding up. With a little luck, Clover would be able to hold a conversation soon.

Wandering aimlessly into town, Green tried to think of where they would take lunch. He also pondered the task of getting a little socialising in. The weather was a bit warmer today, and there was no wind at all. Looking down at Clover, he seemed to be comfortable, so no hurry to get back indoors. Maybe they could get some food at the open market. It was late in the day for that, but most of the vendors should still be there. They should be able to piecemeal themselves a lunch. Plus it would let Clover watch him interact with ponies.

Down market street they went. Green Bean smiled at how well Clover was coming out of his shell. He stayed close, but wasn’t scared of everything. Rather, the colt smiled in delight at every new sight and pony. Even as they entered the open air market, Clover stayed bright-eyed and curious.  

Meandering through the maze of stalls, Green looked for a suitable lunch. A whiff of sweet oats caught his attention. Letting his nose lead his hooves, he passed a few more stalls before stopping in front of one brimming with cracked grains rolled in molasses. He opened his mouth to ask for two mixed bags, but a sharp voice interrupted him.

“Honey, it’s bad enough you let the girls make a meal of that stuff,” his wife’s voice said from behind him.

Turning around, he found his wife giving him “the look”; while Pinto squirmed in his swaddling on her back. Her lavender eyes could never really look angry, but the way her yellow mane clung to to her white coat did make her look tired. “Hehe… you’re shopping late, dear.”

Lily tried to scowl, but couldn’t help but smile. Shaking her head, she ignored her husband for a moment to see the colt standing beside him. He had been sniffing the bags of sweet grain a moment ago, but now looked up at her as if she was a potential threat. Kneeling a bit, she brought her head down to his level, and put on her best mother’s smile. “So, you’re Clover?”

She immediately regretted it, as the movement upset Pinto—and the yearling immediately voiced this by bursting into wailing and tears.

“Oh dear.” She straightened to tend to the yearling on her back, but her husband had already scooped him into his forelegs.

Lily watched as her husband bounced and cooed at Pinto. The stallion’s antics turned the screams into squeals, then finally bubbling laughter. Clover seemed to be just as amused; sitting next to her husband, he watched the scene with an easy smile.

“It’s not fair.” Lily crossed her forelegs in a mock huff, but she couldn't hide the laugh she was suppressing. “I’m supposed to be the one that can do that.”

Green shrugged, and passed the yearling back to his mother. Looking around for something, he idly ran a hoof through Clover’s mane. “Where’s Tiger and Lentil?”

“They’re over at Camellia’s booth,” Lily said, pointing across the market. “We were just about to head home for lunch when I saw you.”

Perking up, Green looked towards his neighbor's booth. He spotted the orange-on-orange coat and manes of his twin daughters almost immediately. Looking back to Clover, the colt seemed relaxed. If he wanted to keep him that way, he was going to have to step lightly here. “Lily, would you mind if we had Clover eat at the house with us?”

Rubbing her ears, Lily stared at her husband. “You want to feed a prince pumpkin stew and fried black-eyed peas? In our house? Are you allowed to do that?”

Green shrugged. “Celestia just asked me to get him around some foals his age.”

“Did you just call the Princess by just her name?”

“Would you believe me if I told you she asked me to?”

Lily massaged her temples, taking a moment to let the idea settle in. “Are you sure about this?”

“I think it would be good for him. I trust Tiger and Lentil not to scare him, and he needs to be around some foals his own age.” Green smiled down at Clover, trying to assure him he was safe. “I was going to just give him some sweet oats, then go back to the community center.”

Lily shook her head. “That place is so loud.” Giving Green a kiss on the nose; she turned to head back to Camellia’s tea stand. “Let’s go eat then. It’ll be good to have you home for lunch again.”

Green watched the cute earth pony mare trot away from him for a moment, before looking back to Clover—who was rolling his eyes at him. “What?” he asked the colt. “You’ll understand one day.” Chuckling to himself, he stood up, then motioned for Clover to follow him.

Clover stayed by his side as they made their way over to Camellia’s stand. Lily was talking quietly to the twins; most likely telling them to be on their best behavior. Giving his neighbor a friendly wave, he walked up to his family.

“Girls, this is Clover. He’s going to have lunch with us. He doesn't speak our language, so be patient with him.” Looking back to Clover, he realized the colt was already uncomfortable. Again Green reminded himself to go slow. “Clover, this is Lentil.” He paused a moment, letting Clover absorb the name. “And this is Tiger.”

Lentil smiled and waved a hoof. “Hello, Clover.”

Clover returned the wave in an awkward, mechanical sort of way. “Hello, Lentil,” he parroted.  

“Is he really a prince?” Tiger asked her father.

Green chuckled. Sitting down between Clover and his girls, he let Clover hide for a moment. “Maybe one day. Right now, he’s just in Celestia’s care.”

“Alright, you two,” Lily said, shooing the daughters in the direction of their house. “Let’s get going.”

Not that any two points in Canterlot were very far apart, but the terrace that Green Bean had always called home was an easy walk from the market. Clover’s curiosity took on a paranoid air on the walk over, and Green could tell he was intentionally keeping a distance from both Lily and the girls. He felt bad putting Clover in an uncomfortable position, but it was necessary to press his boundaries a bit. For now, the task was just getting him used to being around others, playing could come later.

Walking into the house, Green took his son from Lily’s back. “I’ll take him while you warm up lunch.”

“Mom, can we make mulled cider?” Lentil asked, the iron pot already in her grip.

Lily smiled. Reaching into the icebox, she pulled out the sealed jar of sweet cider, and hoofed it to Tiger; since she didn’t have anything in her mouth or hooves. “Tiger Lily, help your sister. I left the mulling spice on the mantle.”

“Okay, mom.” Tiger said, then took the jar’s handle between her teeth.

Inside the closed walls of his home, Clover’s anxiety had doubled. Green could tell he wasn’t scared in a physical way, but something was obviously bothering him. Setting Pinto in his rocker, Green turned to give Clover his full attention. “You’re safe here. Relax, play.” He knew Clover couldn’t understand him, but he hoped the tone of his voice said enough.

Clover fidgeted, mumbling something to himself in a mix of Equestrian and his strange language. Green tilted his head, trying to make sense of what Clover was saying.

After a moment Clover gave him a determined look, and spoke up enough for Green to actually hear him. “Here, not I house. Night, Celestia again?”

Green Bean recited the broken words over in his head a few times, trying to make sure he understood the worried colt. Nodding slowly, he scrambled to remember all the words he’d heard Perfect Diction recite to the foal.

Putting a hoof on each of Clover’s shoulders, Green looked him in the eyes. “Yes, you sleep near Princess Celestia.”

Green could feel the colt relax as soon as the words left his mouth. The color of Clover’s coat even seemed to brighten. They exchanged nods one more time, before Clover took a step back and examined the room.

Leaving Clover to himself for a moment, Green fetched a bottle to warm for Pinto. His mind wandered as he worked around Lily to boil the bottle. It seemed Clover’s worry had been that Celestia had sent him to live elsewhere. He was glad for what few words Professor Diction had taught him. The afternoon would have been very stressful without them.

Professor Diction’s request sprang to mind. Leaving the water to warm on the stove, Green went over to the writing desk and started making the flash cards. Clover’s voice asking, “What is?” drew his attention up for his task. He had assumed the question was directed at him, but he found Clover standing between his daughters. Their efforts in mulling some cider seemed to interest him. A father’s smile crept on his face as Lentil eagerly showed him every aspect of mulling cider. Tiger tried to sit quietly and let her sister teach the colt, but frequently had to intervene when it became clear Clover wasn't understanding Lentil. Her gentle demonstrations often conveyed more information than Lentil’s energetic rambling.

Not long after the cider was ready, so too was lunch. Much to Green’s approval, Clover ate the fried black-eyed peas like they were candy. As conversation bantered around the table, Clover studied the family like a puzzle. Listening to every word, and watching every action. It occurred to Green that Clover needed to see more of Equestria. It would be months before he could really understand a conversation, but his eyes could understand a lot right now.

Checking the time, Green thought about what to do with the two hours he had left in the day. He had an idea. They wouldn’t be able to see much of it, but they could hit a few cool parts. He’d even earn points with Lily by getting the girls out of her hair for a while.

“Hey girls, want to go to the science and history museum?”