//------------------------------// // Sapphire and Sunstone // Story: Summers of Change // by Silver Letter //------------------------------// It had been nearly 11 years to the day since Pixel Wavelength had stepped in Sapphire and Diamond’s house. Her old friends. She had called them in advance and asked when the best time for her to come and see them. She picked one day on the weekend. It was a bit dreary with dense rainclouds up above. The air was moist and heavy and Pixel’s breath often made it fog on the windows as she drove. When she arrived, she parked and got out. Change came to summer as it always had. Children were probably getting new phones, a popular thing for parents to buy as gifts after a good school year. They must be using it to contact friends and get together. Yet, Pixel could tell that things were different from when she was young. When she would shop in the city, nearly every foal had a phone. The fillies had ones with gaudy jewels and the colts with logos of their favorite sports teams. She noticed how little they spoke to each other as long as they had a screen to gaze into. But lots of things remained the same. Sapphire lived in his old house again. He had moved back to take care of his aging mother. Or so he said in his recent text. He relied on texting a lot, especially to his 8 year old daughter. It was one of her favorite things. He told her that she was a strong flyer like he was before he got injured one day flying in a storm. It wasn’t too serious but it was hard for him to stay fit for such a job when there were so many that wanted it. He knew it was time for him to quit and when he did, he found a nice job teaching physical fitness at the local elementary school. She walked up and knocked. When he opened the door, they embraced. It had been a long time and she missed him. Her muzzle graced his neck and she smelled a faint odor of cheese. “Pixel, I’m so glad you’re here. Please come in.” She walked in and saw his filly at the top of the stairs. She had a pretty white coat and a yellow mane layered in roundish patches like petals. She was looking down, somewhat confused by the stranger in her house. “Sweetie, please come downstairs. Our guest has arrived.” The filly nodded and went down the hall. “Does she know to wash her hooves before eating?” Pixel said in amusement. “She’s just getting her phone, I think.” “Her phone? You let her do that at dinner?” Sapphire shrugged. “I suppose. She likes to talk to her friends and I guess I don’t mind. Do you like spaghetti?” “I do.” She giggled. “I thought I smelt a little something on you.” “That would be the parmesan. It’s my little Sunstone’s favorite.” They reached the kitchen. The table was covered by a simple cloth and had a little vase with flowers in it. Sapphire turned off the stove elements before serving the food up in dishes. There were lots of posters. Some photographs of pretty landscapes like Northern Equestria. Some motivational ones too that a gym teacher would be into. And still, the achievements of two foals still adorned the walls. Pixel sat down as he set her food in front of her. A minute later, the bouncy filly nearly leapt into her seat and put her phone down on the table while her dad served her the bowl and lemonade. They were going to eat without Diamond because she wasn’t expected to arrive until late. The filly had little sparkles in her mane and coat. It looked pretty in the light. “What’s your name?” she asked while chewing. Her eyes were wide and curious. “You should wait until your mouth’s empty before talking,” Sapphire said somewhat sternly. “I know your mom might not care too much about it but I do.” Pixel had been at his wedding. He married young and had his child at only 20. The mother was a mare named Sunshine Daisy. Most would say it was too soon but he was like that. He wanted to be the first at everything and he ended up with a marriage that didn’t work to a mare that was anything other than what her name suggested she would be. But he didn’t look unhappy really. He was just a typical father now. He picked up his daughter’s toys and gave her little snippets of wisdom. “It’s alright. My name is Pixel Wavelength. I’ve met you before but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.” “I have to tell you my name though,” she said, boastfully knowing the rules. “My name is Sunstone. And you know daddy, I think.” She smiled then took a bite of her toast. Pixel thought that Sunstone was the cutest filly she had ever seen. Far more than the pampered and prettied up actresses of the big city or even their foals. It’s amazing that such a stallion like he could slow down and live the life of a sweet and loving father. She wondered how much of it was because of how bad his marriage had run. Maybe it was after such an unlucky love life when that little bit of good was enough to make him see things differently. Nopony could have such a beautiful filly and not change. Pixel took a bite from her meal. It was warm with herbs and a hint of spiciness. “You’re a good cook,” she complimented. “Thanks. I do what I can. As long as it’s pasta, I can count on my filly going to bed full, isn’t that right?” “Uh huh…pasta’s my favorite! What’s yours?” Sunstone said. She looked at the filly as Sapphire gave her some extra wine. “I suppose I like spaghetti. And I bet you like macaroni.” “We eat it sometimes. You know it matches my mane?” “I’m sure it does.” Pixel drank a bit of her wine. “Do you like wine often, Sapphire?” The question seemed to take him by surprise. “Uh, I guess. You can say that I’ve learned over the years when I’ve had enough.” “I see.” She glanced at him and their eyes met. It was strange but she saw something in them. A certain warmth and it wasn’t the reflection of the flickering candles. If his change was so obvious then what did he see in her? The mare before him wasn’t little anymore. She was somepony special, the kind that owned luxurious things and had friends in high places. Perhaps as they looked at each other, they saw a little of what they were and wished when they were young and maybe even their future at the same time. She never doubted that he still had a wonderful future ahead of him. “Are you and Ferris Spark pretty close?” Pixel started, almost spilling her wine. She didn’t expect to hear that name come up. She felt embarrassed and was starting to feel drowsy. “Yeah. We’re good friends and we’ve known each other for so long that we work together really well.” “I’m glad. I just read about him in magazines sometimes and he seems like quite the stallion.” “You do? Why?” “I guess because my little filly has grown up with technology that they make for her entire life. I kind of wanted to know more about him and his company especially since you’re such a close part of it. In a way, you’ve always been a part of her life even though you’ve rarely seen her.” Sunstone yawned and clicked the buttons on her phone. “I suppose it’s about time for bed,” Sapphire said. “But what about my friends?” The filly looked disappointed. Her eyes betrayed her weariness by sagging. “Your friends will be there tomorrow so say goodbye.” He stood up. “Pixel, I’ll be back in a moment.” He took his daughter upstairs. Pixel finished her drink then got up. She wandered into the family room and stared at the old pictures from when Sapphire and his sister were foals. She hadn’t seen Diamond in years but she knew that the mare was doing well for herself. She moved to Las Pegasus and became an actress. No A-list celebrity but she did movies and voice work for cartoons once in a while. Pixel heard some muffled voices. Sapphire probably told Sunstone that he loved her as he pulled the covers over her. Soon, he was back downstairs. He sighed and sat down on the couch then looked at her. “Pixel, are you alright?” He must have noticed that she wobbled a bit. After managing to down three glasses, the world was beginning to sway. “You may come and join me if you want.” It sounded like a good idea so she nodded and sat next to him. She yawned lightly and stretched her forelegs. They always felt stiff when she drank but driving in that car didn’t help either. She also was unusually nervous. Words she would usually never say threatened to spill out. “Thanks for everything. You’re such a sweet stallion.” As soon as she did, she could hardly breathe. But it was too late. She already thought that she had said something which perhaps should have been left alone. Her feelings are like summer’s change. It’s hard to anticipate them. She never expected to see that side of him, that family stallion. He was the same but different somehow and it was all so mysterious. “I know it’s been a long time,” he said. His voice was soothing and warm. “I still remember when we were in school and you were going back home from the project fair.” He laughed and even that was comforting. “I remember where I stood when you met Mr. Spark.” She looked at him in confusion. As far as she knew, nopony else was there. She knew that he was the kind of friend to know when to not interfere with her but did he know about her and Spark the entire time? Why had he never brought it up? “Yeah, that was a long time ago.” “I just wanted to talk to you about what happened. When you two met, I was actually watching. I’m sure you wouldn’t have liked it and of course by now you two must be pretty close so it must have been a good thing that I didn’t approach you.” “Close? Kind of but not as much as you might think.” Pixel’s shoulder stiffened again and she groaned lightly. “Are you feeling sore?” “It’s just my muscles. They get that way sometimes in summer.” “Pixel, why don’t I help with that? It would be no trouble,” he offered. She was unsure what to think but his voice did sound kind and genuine enough…on top of having to know physical therapy….so she accepted. When his hooves first touched her back, it sent electrical waves through her. It came in pulses as he pressed down and rubbed the soreness out. It reminded her of summer storms that used to frighten her as a foal, the kinds that made her wish for sleep. “Pixel, do you like foals?” “Of course I do.” The question made her frown and her back almost tighten again. He must have noticed as he shushed quietly. “Sorry…I was just wondering.” “I just don’t know when I want them…not that I don’t want them at all.” When most mares spoke of children they didn’t have, they would often blush if they really wanted it and was just too coy to speak of it. She almost felt tears coming. But he stopped touching her and she could lean upward; the pain she had felt was gone. When she looked at him, she could only gaze into his eyes. Those eyes of his watched change unfold before them and in a way, it was much more difficult for him. He watched his friend leave him, leaving a part of him empty. It was such a big change in her life but it wasn’t just hers. Summer affected them both and it was obviously unreasonable to ever expect things to return to what they used to be. Even if she came back, those eyes of his would only see more change. The hotheaded now cooked homemade meals and the idealized was quiet. She went and hugged him. Her head rested on his wide shoulder, her horn held against his cheek. “I’m tired,” she said. “I’ll take you to your room. C’mon.” Pixel had heard that love required sacrifice. But for every sacrifice she knew about, there was another kept secret and another she hadn’t yet made. As he escorted her upstairs, she thought about his sacrifice. It was so kind and she could hardly forgive herself for not knowing about it. He told her where the room was; it was next to his daughter’s room and across the hall from the washroom. She knew she had always loved him but back then, it was smaller. And what she had to sacrifice was so little, only her time and attention. She felt so very tired but in the threshold of the doorway, she stalled. She didn’t want to be alone and she hoped that he didn’t either. When she pulled him closer, she felt as though she was burning. He kissed her on the cheek and told her good night and then she closed her eyes. When she did, it was dark. She was going to get used to the darkness. That and the ever present heat of change.