The next day was slightly more humid than the previous. Nevertheless, it was not the kind of conditions that made one’s coat stick to their skin.
On my daily stroll around the camp, I caught SweetHooves conversing with my mother. Her face gave the expression of distress. Although I could not make out words, the tone in her voice was also distressed. I came around the back of my mother for a better listen. I ducked down behind a bench. I immediately knew they were talking about HyperBlitz.
“ … He’s so upset with me that, I believe, he went to go sleep at the base. He never does that. He’s acting like a child. He wanted my opinion you know,” Mom nodded to SweetHooves, “And now he’s not happy with it.
“ And it hurts. He said I’m selfish. Then Jolt came to be and told me I never let him do anything fun. What they said is hurtful.”
“Well I think,” Mom began, “You should let Hyper cool down a bit, give him some time. He’ll come running to you with an apology like always.”
“Yeah but… this feels different. He really is upset with me. Jolt too.”
“Maybe you should let Jolt go. He’s sixteen:It’s time for him to do some adventuring. It’s in his blood, like his father. And I’ll admit you are a bit overprotective.”
I thought of anypony would could persuade SweetHooves it would have to be Mom. SweetHooves is a defiant mare, but she has to break at some point. My mother has such charisma and a very good way with words that it is almost impossible to say no(I know that by experience).
SweetHooves sighed, “I know but… I don’t want anything happening to them.”
“I think they’ll be fine. It sounds like a good plan.”
“They always get into crazy situations. They’ve almost died several times. We thought HyperBlitz was dead once.”
“But they never did die. They know how to get out of things. They have luck and brains. Hype and Rhyth are a good team.”
“It still seems like a risk. It’s that-” Just when I thought mom was getting to her, SweetHooves glanced past the Unicorn’s shoulder. I froze. “I think somepony is listening to us.”
I was walking away timidly when I heard Mom say, “GentleSketch?” I swirled around and faced her.
“Hi, Mom…” I fake smiled.
“Were you listening to us?” She quizzed.
“Um.” I couldn’t lie now, for my mother is a living lie detector. Somehow she knows if someone is lying. She also has a spell that can make one tell the truth, but that is a little extreme.
“I… I was listening,” I confessed.
“Why?”
“Because,” I gathered my words, “SweetHooves looked and sounded upset. I wanted to know what was wrong.” That actually was the truth. I hoped mom could see that with her lie detector eyes.
“Okay,” She said, to my relief.
“I probably already knew what was wrong, but I couldn’t help but to listen.”
“It’s okay,” SweetHooves cooed.
“Aunt SweetHooves,” I spoke in a very innocent voice, “Maybe you could let JumpingJolt go? He really wants to go and Uncle Hyper really wants him to go. I want him to go too.” If Mom could not persuade her, then maybe I can. I am a cute colt who is sensitive. My faux-aunt wouldn’t risk making me upset, now would she?
“I think another pony on the team would be great. And I’d like to have a pony my age around. I mean, I like my dad and Uncle Hyper but sometimes it can be awkward. I want someone around my age to talk too. Jolt is like a big brother.”
SweetHooves was contemplating. “I… will think about it.”
“Thank you.” Score!
Later that afternoon I settle down for lunch. JumpingJolt was with me too but he was abnormally quiet. Jolt is always the one to bring up a conversation, comment a pony walking by, or ramble nonsense words. This time, there was none of that. I’m not a good conversation started, so it was difficult to break the awkward silence.
“So,um,” I thought of a topic that did not have to do with his parents, “what happened with your ballgame yesterday?”
The colt’s eyes finally light up. “Oh. I kinda kicked the ball into a window.”
“I know.” That sounded offensive.
“Rain really wasn’t happy with me. It’s not like anything she isn’t use too with Zapp.”
“Yeah,” I giggled.
“BlazingFlair tried talking her out of being all pissy with me. Blaze said I won because that was the perfect goal.”
“So is Rain gonna make you fix her window?”
“I don’t think she trusts me with glass!” He laughed.
“I wouldn’t trust you either!” I teased.
JumpingJolt’s face suddenly became dark and sad. “I wish Mom trusted me to go on a trip.
Great, this is exactly where I did not want this conversation to fall.
“Oh…” I strayed for a distraction
“But you get to go, and you younger than me.”
“That… that’s not my decision, it’s-”
“Just not fair. I’m old enough. I want to go on an adventure,” He grumped.
“Well, um…” I spotted my father walking around the camp clearing. “I’m going to go see what my dad is up to. Okay? Can you clean up for me?” I gestured to the plate.
“Sure,” The Earth-pony groaned.
I swiftly trotted away and placed myself next to Dad. “Hey Dad.”
“Oh, hey buddy!” He ruffled the back of my mane.
“What are you doing?”
“I am going to find HyperBlitz and talk with him.”
I did not want to hear HyperBitz complain any more but I was already following dad so it was inevitable(unless I wished to rudely walk away).
We continued to the edge of the clearing. HyperBlitz was sitting alone on a concrete block. Seeing Hyper alone is a very rare sight, given he is so dependent and loyal to other ponies.
Dad stood in front of him. Hyper picked up his head and pushed up a pair of glasses on his muzzle.
“CharmingRhythm…"
“Whadya doing, sittin’ here?”
“Just sitting.” The Pegasus tilted his head. “Thinking... Have you seen SweetHooves?”
“No,” Dad rolled his eyes, “And you’re not going to go bitch at her. I don’t want to see any more HyperBitch.”
Hyper sighed,“No, no, I want to apologize to her.” He stood up. “I shouldn’t have gotten so upset. I was being an ass to her. She didn’t deserve that. I understand she wants to protect us. I… I really wanted Jolt to come.”
“Are you still coming on the trip?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“‘Cause we are going to need to set a date to leave.”
“Well at least I got you to to be with.” Hyper’s eyes bounced between me and Dad. “I guess one less pony to look after is a good thing, right?” He said a little unconfident and insecure.
Dad was glancing away when he stated, “I see your wife now.”
Hyper’s ears perked up as he sought for SweetHooves. She came from the way Dad came from. The mare saw HyperBlitz and met with him as if she was look for him too. Dad and I drifted behind.
The couple started to speak, both at once:
“SweetHooves, I just wa-”
“Hype, I need to let-”
The stopped at the same time, bewildered.
SweetHooves bowed, ladylike. “You go first.”
HyperBlitz took a deep breath. “ I just want to apologize for yesterday. I was… I was being stupid, a bitch,” His eyes slipped to Dad for a second. “You… you didn’t deserve me yelling at you like that. I should have like… shunned you or something. I was an asshole, and I made it seem like you were the asshole. But you’re not. You… just want what’s best for us. I appreciate that. I’m truly sorry, especially if I hurt your feelings.”
That was the longest freaking apology I ever heard. But it was also the most sincere.
SweetHooves made a soft expression. “Oh Hyper, baby.”She placed a pink hoof on his cheek.
“Do you forgive me?”
The mare nodded very slowly.
HyperBlitz smiled weakly. “What were you going to tell me? Were you going to apologize to me? Because you shouldn’t do that. I was the asshole.”
SweetHooves hummed. “HyperBlitz…. sometimes I’m too over protective. I just want you safe, since you can’t ever seem to keep yourself safe. I don’t ever want to hold you back. I love you, and want you to be happy.
I’ve been thinking… about that trip… maybe… I could let JumpingJolt go.”
Suddenly HyperBlitz dumbfoundedly gaped with wide eyes. “Are… are you serious? SweetHooves! Are you for real!?”
“Yes.”
“What wh-. You’re gonna let him go?!” Hyper’s emotion was between extremely happy and extremely confused. “Are you seriosus? Are you serious!?!”
“Yes! Yes!” SweetHooves laughed.
“Oh my gosh!” HyperBlitz pulled her close and gave a brief but forceful kiss.
“What changed your mind?”
The mare’s eyes wandered. “I… I saw you were upset… and I am too overprotective. I just want to see you happy. That’s one of my favorite things, making you and Jolt happy.”
“Aw, SweetHooves. You’re the best!”
“Well…” She chuckled slyly.
I bet that I was one of the reasons SweetHooves let Jolt go. Surely so many ponies getting on her would have made her give in. Although, I felt kind of bad for her, but she seemed happy now.
HyperBlitz kissed his wife again and gave her a huge hug. My shoulders hurt just looking at how tight he was squeezing her. SweetHooves accepted his embraced and patted his back.
When the Pegasus let go, SweetHooves said, “You two do need to get out of the camp… even if that means I’m going to be alone.”
Hyper made pouty lips.
“I am going to be really bored and lonely…”
“Well,” HyperBlitz pressed his nose to the Earth-pony’s nose, “I’ll have to give you lots of lovin’ before I go so you can last some time.”
She giggled coyly, “HyperBlitz… GentleSketch is here.”
Hyper shot a glance at me. “Oh.” I have no idea what that had to do with anything. Hyper whispered, “I’m still gonna give you lovin’.”
The yellow stallion quickly snapped his head back. “Oh my gosh! I should tell JumpingJolt! Have you told him?” He received a head shake. “I gotta tell him! He’s gonna be so excited! Oh thank you so much Sweet!” Hyper gave the tan mare one more hug before racing off.
SweetHooves gazed at Dad and smiled. Dad smiled back.
“You really changed your mind?” Dad question.
“Yes. Like I said, I love seeing him happy,” The mare looked the other way. “And he’s definitely happy now.”