//------------------------------//
// Conversation 
// Story: Parental Problems 
// by Speven Dillberg 
//------------------------------//

	Post Haste could tell when he was a third wing. Rainbow Dash and Gilda clearly had some catching up to do if they wanted to repair their friendship, and he felt it would be best if they were alone. His decision was also influenced by the fact that their conversation seemed to taking a rather personal turn.
He returned to Rainbow’s parent’s house to find Tranquil Sky lying on a couch in what could be called a living room. There were two more matching chairs, a small bookshelf and a cabinet that held who-knew-what. The mare was reading what appeared to be a magazine. “Oh! I didn’t expect you to come back so soon!”
Postie did a wing shrug. “Neither did I, but Rainbow ran into an old friend. Is Thunderhead - ?”
“Off on weather duty.” Tranquil sighed. “I honestly hoped that we would have more time together when we moved here. I don’t know why we bothered moving from Cloudsdale. He still works, and I still sit at home on my own.” She let out another sigh.
“Is it really that bad?” Postie asked, feeling a little bad for the mare.
“Oh, not really,” she replied cheerfully, making the stallion feel a little silly for falling for her acting. “I get together with a few mares and hens a few times a week and we make a day of it.”
“Sounds a bit like Rarity and Fluttershy,” Postie commented.
“I still can’t believe that Rainbow is friends with a fashion designer. She can’t stand wearing clothes,” Tranquil replied with a gentle laugh.
“If anything, they’re more like friendly enemies. Whenever I see them, they seem to be arguing.”
The older mare let out another laugh. Compared to the loud, masculine one that Rainbow often used, this one was quieter, feminine and eerily similar to Rarity’s.
“It’s probably not polite of me to ask, but your cutie mark,” Postie said, trying to find a conversation topic. “What does it mean?”
“Well, I was always at home in the spotlight. Made my name as a fashion model. I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of me, though,” Tranquil said with what seemed to be a sad sigh. “I’m far past my prime, and I know it. My last modelling job was ten years ago.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Postie hastily replied. “Personally, I think you’re quite beautiful.”
“Thank you, dear,” she replied warmly. “A mare needs to be reminded every now and then, you know?”
“Rainbow has an ego the size of Canterlot, I’m used to this kind of thing,” he answered calmly.
“I don’t think my daughter would like you saying that,” Tranquil responded disapprovingly. 
“She knows she has a problem,” Postie wing-shrugged. He took up a chair on the other side of the room. “She’s getting better, but...”
“Rainbow’s always had an attitude problem. I guess that’s my fault.”
All Postie did was raise an curious eyebrow as he made himself comfortable. “Really? I would’ve thought that Thunderhead was more responsible for that.”
“He played a part, but compared to what I did it’s completely insignificant.” She waved a hoof airily. “He just wanted her to be happy. I tried to force her into a modelling career.”
“I can imagine how well that went,” Postie replied after a brief silence. “She’s beautiful, but - ”
“Absolutely no patience.” Tranquil finished his sentence. “Thank heavens I gave up before we even started.” She vacated her couch and went over to a small cabinet. “I have a few photos here somewhere...”
“How would that have led to Rainbow’s... ego?” Postie asked delicately.
“She more or less did everything she could to distance herself from what I did after that. I don’t blame her,” she added happily. “She’s her own mare, and it’s not right to force her to do something she has no love for. I just wish she hadn’t been so... vocal about it.” Before Postie could ask what she meant, the mare let out a small yelp of triumph. “Found it!” 
Postie leaned over to look at the floor as Tranquil opened the photo album and flipped the pages. She quickly found the picture she was looking for. There was a silence, followed by a snort, which was quickly followed by unrestrained mirth. “BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” He clutched at his sides and rolled off the seat. He didn’t care though, what he had just seen was too hilarious. “Oh... Oh wow... ” He picked himself up. “How did you get her to wear that?”
“A lot of chocolate and tickets to the Wonderbolts.” Tranquil Sky was laughing as well, though it was much more restrained compared to what Postie was doing. 
“I’m not going to be able to forget this any time soon, you know that?”





Rainbow Dash had spent most of the day with her old friend, and she had found that it was more than worthwhile. When Gilda had left Ponyville the way she had, it had hurt. She had resigned herself to the fact that Gilda was too stubborn to even try to fix the damage. True, it had taken two years, but the fact that she wanted to, even after all that time, was a sign of just how badly the griffon wanted to make things right. At least, that was how Rainbow interpreted it. 
When Rainbow returned, it was to find something... strange. As though the universe had not had enough with her for one day, Postie was wearing an apron and seemed to be slaving away in the kitchen. She stared at him for a moment, and for some reason he snickered behind his hoof. “Mom?” she asked. “Why is my coltfriend making dinner?”
“He volunteered,” Tranquil replied cheerfully. “It’s so nice having somepony else do it for a change.”
“Yeah,” her daughter replied carefully. “Why did he laugh at me when I walked in?”
“Oh, no reason,” Tranquil answered in a tone that Rainbow knew all too well.
“What did you show him?” she asked warily, wondering what embarrassing token of her foalhood he had seen. Before she could get an answer, Rainbow saw a photograph. She stared at it for a moment before letting her anger win. “MOM!”





Author’s Notes:
Yes, another short one. But seeing the speed of the updates, I think it doesn’t really matter.
And I have been waiting for an opportunity to use that picture for months. Rainbow Dash dresses in style, anypony?