//------------------------------// // Moving Day // Story: The Sparkle in his Eye // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// For the 12th day in a row in the little house on Veldin, Clank was the only one to wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed. Ratchet was grumbling and rubbing his eyes, Qwark was engaged in an excess of uncomfortable stretching, and Twilight was sitting in the window, staring out at the ground and blinking her eyes. Clank had noticed that everyone had been having trouble sleeping ever since Qwark had moved in, but no one had said anything about it. Clank, however, decided it was time to address whatever the issue was before it festered into an argument. "So how did everyone sleep?" he asked solicitously. "Not well," Ratchet yawned. "Qwark's snoring was like a foghorn...like every night..." "My bed's too small," Qwark murmured as he stretched, pointing to the small cot he had been sleeping on. "Can't really get comfortable." "Qwark's so big he blocks the breezeway," Twilight muttered. "I don't get any ventilation, and it's too hot..." Clank blinked, surprised at how clear the problems were. "And...why didn't any of you say anything?" "Didn't want Qwark or Twilight feeling guilty," Ratchet muttered as he chugged his coffee...which, because he wasn't fully awake when he made it, was actually boiled chili powder. He wound up spitting the fiery beverage against the wall...before taking another sip. "Was too happy about finally having a family to want to complain about anything," Qwark muttered, a loud crack echoing as he finished his stretches. "...ow..." "The dimensions of the house is such that no matter how our sleeping positions are rearranged, the new dimensions of sleeping figures will result in my bed getting an insufficient amount of ventilation for comfortable sleeping," Twilight indicated rapidly. "Since the problem couldn't be fixed, I saw no point in complaining." Qwark blinked. "She gets...real technical when she's tired, doesn't she?" "You have no idea," Ratchet muttered as he continued to drink. "Say, does the coffee have more kick this morning or something?" "It's kinda cute," Qwark giggled, snapping his head back into proper alignment after the stretching with a loud snap. "The coffee?" "No, Twilight getting technical." Clank scratched the back of his head. "Well, this house is a bit small for a family of four...perhaps we should renovate?" Twilight let out a pleading whimper, turning towards the group with sorrowful eyes. "I...don't think she likes that idea," Qwark pointed out. "The whole place has sentimental value for both of us," Ratchet pointed out. "It...wouldn't feel right to redesign it." "Then our only other option would be to find a new abode that can handle all four of us," Clank indicated. "I do own a house in Metropolis," Qwark pointed out. "Got it back in my heroing days. It might be big enough for all four of us." "Really?" Clank asked. "How big is it?" "5 floors, 10,000 square feet total, 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, gym, pool, 5-star kitchen," Qwark listed off. "Nice little bachelor pad." "...nice?" Clank asked, shocked beyond words at the understatement. "Little?" Ratchet demanded, equally shocked. "Why didn't you mention it?" Twilight demanded. "You didn't ask," Qwark replied easily. "Besides, I...wanted to know what it was like to live in a family home..." "Then we shall simply have to turn your 'bachelor pad' into a family home," Clank concluded. "It is certainly more attuned to our needs now than this place, and holds fewer sentimental attachments. It shouldn't be too difficult." Ratchet, Qwark, and Twilight all smiled at the prospect. A week after the Sparkle family(1) had finished moving in and renovating the 'house' Qwark had gifted to the family at large, an unexpected visitor stopped by. "Sasha!" Twilight called out happily as the familiar Cazar came into their new home. She rushed forward and hugged her old friend, only to back up a bit with a giggle. "I mean, Galactic President Sasha Phyronix, how good to see you." Sasha chuckled as she set down a large fruit basket she'd brought as a house warming gift. "Please, this isn't a formal visit. I'm just visiting some old friends." This statement was backed up by the fact that she was wearing black sweats rather than her usual uniform. "Just thought I'd come welcome you all to the neighborhood...or in Qwark's case, back to the neighborhood." "Looking good, Sasha," Ratchet said happily. "Can you stay for dinner? Clank cooks a mean swordfish surprise." "I still haven't figured out what the surprise is!" Qwark pouted. "But I won't give up!" "Me neither, and I've run every scientific analysis I can think of!" Twilight complained. Leaning in, Ratchet whispered in Sasha's ear, "There actually isn't a surprise, but calling it that lets those two have fun speculating, and makes it feel like a family event." Sasha couldn't help but giggle. "Well, I'd be happy to stay," she replied gladly. "Maybe I can help you figure out what the surprise is." "Nuh uh!" Qwark countered. "Whichever of us figures out the surprise first gets double dessert! I'm not losing on that!" "Those cheesecake brownies are mine!" Twilight snapped back. Sasha couldn't help but laugh as she took the offered seat at the table. Swordfish Surprise turned out to be rather heavenly seasoned swordfish steaks, fire roasted russet potato chunks with the skins on, mixed vegetables cooked to perfection, white grape juice for Twilight and Qwark, and white wine for Ratchet and Sasha. The cheesecake brownies served afterwards were just as delectable. "I think I ate too much," Sasha moaned out as she finished. "My compliments to the chef, and how much do I have to pay to hire him out from under you for the Presidential Palace?" "I'm afraid I don't have a price," Clank replied jovially, "but I thank you for the compliment." "Say, Sasha," Twilight spoke up, "any luck getting a replacement for the head of the Planetary Defense Center? I heard the last one retired." Sasha shrugged. "Not yet. The problem is that the position is being a glorified figure head. The job's basically looking good for the cameras, knowing how to fight just in case, and knowing how to convince people things aren't as bad as they seem. What warrior could I hire to be a glorified press secretary?" Qwark blinked as three sets of eyes turned his way. "Why are you all looking at me?" (1)When they had decided to make them being a family official, Ratchet and the others had to select a family name. However, Twilight and Qwark were the only ones who had multiple names, and Qwark categorically refused to let his name become the family name, since he was joining the family, not overtaking it. As such, they became Ratchet Sparkle, Clank Sparkle, Copernicus Leslie Qwark Sparkle, and Twilight Sparkle. Twilight had made a joke about Qwark collecting names...which had led to him trying to extend his name even further with additional names, or simply words. Thankfully, Ratchet kept all the legal stationary.