//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: The Cabin Boy's Mother 
// by BlndDog 
//------------------------------//

Five Years Later

“That’s a goal for red!” Chocolate Pear declared. “Score is five-four! Red wins!”

Morning Breeze ran to join the rest of his celebrating team at centerfield. It was the first warm day of spring and the field was a little soggy, but the children at the Baltimare Orphanage could not care less. 

Fortunately Anchor Watch had done no permanent damage. Breeze eventually got his voice back as well, though it still sounded weak and scratchy. Dinner Bell, the mare who had purchased him for such an unreasonable price, did not mind at all. She had suffered through the first two years when Breeze would almost never leave her side, and still listened to him for as long as he had the heart to talk. In the last five years he had accumulated a wardrobe of vests and jumpsuits that covered the worst of his scars, and the doctor assured him they would become unnoticeable with time.

As it turned out, Wandering Wings was hardly prescient. Two years after Breeze came to the Baltimare Orphanage, the old pegasus showed up at the door and demanded to see him. It was then that Breeze learned the nature of Wandering Wings’ last dispute with his former captain. He had wanted to buy Breeze and take him home as a free pony, but Captain Zahrah had hiked up the price.

Wandering Wings still visited a few times every year, and sent presents regularly. He also seemed to know Breeze’s birth date, because every year a card and a gift arrived in mid-June in addition to the package on Hearths Warming Eve.

That night after dinner and homework Breeze filled up the bathtub. Each child was allowed a certain luxury beyond their basic needs, and Breeze chose a weekly bath. He eased into the steaming water (unadulterated for the moment) and let his body float. Slowly he leaned back, sinking until only his face remained exposed, and then leaning further so he was completely submerged.

It was a wonderful feeling.