Meeting Mommy

I can hardly help but be ecstatic right now. Something about the crisp spring air is simply intoxicating to me. The day was just as it had been yesterday, warm with the most delightful of breezes to keep us balanced. I sigh inwardly as I notice a cluster of rather grey clouds looming in the corner of the otherwise flawless blue sky. Darn it. I hope my big day with Viola goes well nonetheless.

Speaking of Viola, I really have no idea of where I'm supposed to be going. I got a hold of Diamond - and no, for the record, I am still not over his name - and we arranged that I would pick her up today at noon. In hopes of being as punctual as possible, I set out an hour early so I could wander. I wrote the address he gave me on my hoof. I peer down at the letters scribbled in sweat-smudged black ink, making out with some difficulty, the words: 42 Kevlar Street. Perfect.

I trot off down the cobblestone path, which snaked through the entirety of Ponyville. The neighbourhood shouldn't be too far away. In fact, I remember reading somewhere in the paper that there had been quite a bit of construction in this area of late. Five minutes down the road, I am blocked by large steel gates cutting through the road like a knife about to remove a slice of pie. Several chains intertwined through the bars and joined in one heavy padlock. A sign read in swirly letters read: Crescent Acres. Crescent? Huh. That's Diamond's last name. I knew he was well-off but by the looks of it, he or someone close to him was filthy rich!

I pressed my face against the cool metal, gazing at the several beautifully-painted houses overlooking their perfectly-manicured lawns. The rhythmic clicking of water sprinklers as they rotated could be heard. Childish giggles of foals tossing a beach ball back and forth rung in my ears.

"Fancy." I smirked.

I noticed a short stallion with a bristly moustache sprouting from his upper lip approaching me, eyebrows raised. He said with a wheeze, "Yer here ta see someone?" I nod eagerly. He grunts, mumbling incoherently beneath his breath as he fumbles through his keys.

"Who?"

"A Mr. Diamond Crescent. House 42?"

He jerks his head upwards, some sort of sign of recognition. "Lemme buzz up Mr. Crescent here then. Make sure he's expecting ya... well, ya know protocol." he says as he raises a cellphone to his lips, waiting in silence as it rang through. Finally, the muffled voice of Diamond appears. The two chat for a moment.

He takes the tarnished brass key, inserting it into the lock and twisting it until a loud click emanated from within. The padlock fell open, as did the doors, clearing my path. "Thank you!" I grin and saunter in.

Wow, is this place hoity-toity or what? It makes me rich just being in here, that is until it becomes just another sad reminder that I'm a dirt poor 23-year-old mare living in a rented bungalow, did I mention alone at that?

My life sucks. It really does.

Tediously, I search through the several houses, passing incorrect door number by incorrect door number. Finally, I stop at a house marked with a 42 in brass. The walls are made up of stone masonry, a jagged but beautiful pattern. A rather expensive-looking cart is parked on the curb outside. Nervously, I approach the large white door and raise my hoof to knock. I nearly gasp aloud in shock as my hoof falls through nothing. The door opens without me. I stare down at the purple pony with a curly mane gazing up at me as if I were Celestia herself.

"Mommy!" she cries, throwing herself into my forelegs and giving me a tight hug. My mouth is open, my hooves splayed out as I try to grasp what is going on. She's hugging me. She actually called me... mommy. Without a word escaping my mouth, I settle into her embrace, returning it back even tighter.

"Viola." I sigh, my pink eyes settling on the filly. She giggles and withdraws from the hug, stepping aside to allow me in. I see Diamond has arrived by now, awkwardly hovering around the corner, watching us exchange a hello. He waves a grey hoof, an idiotic grin plastered on his face.

"Hey, Magenta." he says sheepishly. I notice his cheeks flush a hot pink, to my surprise, but what is even more shocking is that my cheeks are flushed as well. I feel my heart string being tugged by his charms. I say hi as well, not hesitating to trot into his home.

I can hardly believe what I am seeing, everything is just so opulent and intricate. The main entrance fell away to a polished hardwood floor, leading into several guest bedrooms lining the white hallways. Classy painting hung from the walls, and several shelves were cluttered with neat little baubles and knick-knacks. The kitchen is nice and modern with granite countertops. But my favourite part is definitely the staircase: he hardwood steps led up to the top floor, and I could detect the faintest shimmer of crystals inside of it, the banisters were carved into a floral and vine-themed design, and above hung a large chandelier, thousands of tiny crystals dangling and reflecting the light.

"You're place... is breath-taking." I manage to mumble.

Diamond blushes. "Thanks. My aunt Ophelia Crescent owns this place, so she managed to hook me up with a place to stay while I go to university."

I peer up from a photo I had been examining of Diamond and his parents. "Oh? What courses are you taking?"

"Astronomy. And no, not that astrology stuff. I mean, like, the studies of stars and stuff. But my real interest is in the moon. I find something about it so.. fascinating. That's how I got my cutie mark actually."

"Cool." I say, dismissing his failed attempt at a conversation I surely would not be able to follow.

"So, you said you wanted to take Viola to the County Fair then? Do you drive?"

My almost-apologetic grin answered his question. He chuckles.

"No worries. I'll drive you there and pick you up at around... say, five-ish?" he replies in a nonchalant tone of voice, opening the door and trotting out to his cart. My face lit up, as did Viola's. I trot after him.

"Really?" I prod, evident doubt in my voice. "You'd do that for me? That's really sweet."

I blush. What the hay am I saying? Here I am, cooing to Diamond like some love-sick filly. Get it together, Magenta! If my hooves could reach, I would slap my own face right now. I'm swooning like an absolute foal. He turns, but I can just feel him tense up because he's embarrassed. I pry my eyes from him, landing on Viola. This was my daughter, after all these years, we were going to spend a day together, just her and I. We have a crapload of catching-up to do.

"It's no problem," he mutters as he hitches himself up to pull the cart. "hop on."

We do as told, and I help Viola up onto the cart, stepping on myself. He pulled us along, down the newly-paved streets and onto the stone paths that led to the heart of Ponyville. I marvel at how nice it is to actually get a ride, usually I just walk everywhere. It is certainly good exercise, but tiring on the hooves. It is a luxurious feeling, to stare down haughtily at the peasant ponies below and feel oh so extravagant.

Really, I am just an average mare like the rest. And nopony who knows me is fooled by my sweet ride.

Viola is eerily quiet, I find. She is simply staring off into the distance. In more ways than one, that reminds me greatly of myself. I'm usually the one zoning out while I contemplate life or whatever it is that is whirring about in the filly's brain right now. I sidle up to her on the seat.

"So, watcha thinking about?"

She snaps out of her trance immediately. "Oh... nothing. Just a little nervous." Viola shrugs, her deep purple shoulders rising and falling.

"Nervous? About what?"

She sighs, I can see this isn't easy for her to admit. "I just... I'm nervous abut today and how it'll turn out. I've thought about meeting you and how great it would be to finally see you, but it scares me too. What if I didn't live up to your expectations?"

Wow. That is all that could pass through my head at that moment. A simply word to state my pure shock. All this time I had thought that I was the only one worried about this moment, worried about how she would see me and whether she would be angry or not. What did she have to be scared of? She's perfect. She sure inherited some good looks, and I'd like to think from time to time that it was from me, she is talented and intelligent. She's everything you would look for in a daughter.

"I know how you feel."

"You... do?" she asks incredulously.

"Of course! I could hardly sleep last night I was so worried. I kept fretting that you would hate me! You have no reason to feel you don't live up to my "expectations", heck, you're everything I always wanted but never had." I give her a warm smile, and she returns the notion as her foreleg wriggles behind my back and onto my side in a hug. I rest my hoof on her shoulder, and for and for a fleeting moment, our cheeks brush.

All my life, I lacked one thing that everyone else seemed to find. Happiness. Sure, I'm happy the majority of a nice day. But that's not real happiness, it's just a peaceful lack of a negative feeling. True happiness is joy. True happiness is fulfilment. But right now, at this single moment that was so puny in the vast expanse of time, I felt happy. Truly happy.

And on another high note, the saying "Time flies when you're having fun" actually makes sense to me now. The ride out the fair is a solid hour from the town, so you can imagine my surprise when in what seemed like five minutes,  we had arrived. The cheery hum of carnival music drifted from several booths and several young foals trotted about with pink cotton candy in hoof. Viola's eyes light do, as do mine, not unlike an excited filly peering between the gates that supressed her, craving candy... craving friends.

Ever since the town was founded, the Apple family had held an annual county fair to attract tourists and keep those already living here entertained. Several events including apple bobbing, carnival games and pie-eating contests were held and the place had a sheer sense of joy about it. A little earth pony with her red mane done up in a bow beams at us from the ticket booth. Viola trots up to her.

"Hey Applebloom!" Viola smiles.

"Howdy, Viola. Y'all here fer some tickets?" the filly holds up a reel of yellow paper tickets and unravels a line of them for us to see. "Applejack has me tendin' to tha ticket sales while she helps Big Mac with somethin'."

"Yeah, two tickets please."

If I wore pants, I would have reached for my wallet right now. Dear Celestia! How could I forget my wallet? I blush and step away as Applebloom hands two tickets and a hoof-full of circular bronze tokens to Viola in exchange for a few bits, which Diamond willingly offers up. He turns to us, some more pieces of gold enveloped in the aura of his magical influence.

"Take this, it should get you something to eat if need be."

"Quite the gentlecolt." I chuckle, hopefully masking the fact that I was about to let him pay for it anyways. He shook his head, his shoulders heaving in a shrug.

"Meh, it's not a problem," he says as he wanders off towards his cart. "Now you girls have fun!"

"Thank you, we'll see you in a few hours." I call to him, waving my hoof in the air.

Applebloom hops down from her seat behind the wooden booth and unclips the little gate, allowing us in. "Have a good time now. An' don't forget ta try some apple goodies, 'specially the tarts, They're mah fav'rite." she calls in her thick southern accent. I take a moment to breath in the scent of apple desserts and spiced cider wafting in my direction, and I drink in the sights of delighted families milling about the fair grounds.

It's a nice feeling, to fit in. To finally be one happy family, even if it was just a near-broke mother spending a day with a daughter she had only met yesterday. My eyes meander down to the eager Pegasus trotting beside me, her purple mane ruffling in the breeze and her wings fluttering as if she were about to take flight. She glances up at me, her eyes sparkling.

"Where to first?"

I shrug, weighing the options in a mental scale. "Up to you. Are you hungry yet?"

She shakes her head. "I had an early lunch, so I'll hold off till later."

"Fair enough.... how about some games?" I suggest, tilting my head to a ring of booths.

"Now THAT is a good idea." she starts off in their direction, steering towards the ring-toss. I hand the booth-owner a token and he hands three rings to Viola.

"You have three shots, kid." he grunts.

Her tongue lolling out of her mouth in concentration, Viola held a red ring in tightly in her mouth and I could see her silently calculating her shot. She drew her head back and jerked it forwards, the ring flying from her mouth in a blur of color. I cheer as it hits the middle stake and slowly eases down around it. She takes the green ring in her mouth, contemplating her next move. In an identical motion to the last, she tosses the ring, which comes to rest on the left stake.

"Yay!" she beams. I nudge her with my elbow playfully, giving her an approving nod.

"Not bad."

She clenches her teeth around the purple ring, slowly but surely she moves into position, drawing her head back in one lethargic movement, only to have it snap back, the ring flying from her mouth. As if in slow-motion, the purple ring glides towards the right stake. It seems like a perfect shot. I watch as it collides with the metal target and bounces to the dirt ground. Viola makes a mock pouty face at me, greatly disappointed. I can tell she's bothered by it, but is trying to be tough about it.

"Sorry, kid. It takes three hits. For another token, you can try again."

"Shut up and take my money!" I cry, slamming another bronze token before him. Determination filled me, seeping into every crevice of my mind. I gripped the first red ring in my mouth and tossed it. To my satisfaction, it landed almost perfectly around the left stake. I took the other one up and threw it, once more landing a hit on the center stake.

This is the moment of truth. I clench the purple ring and my eyes lock on the left stake, and in a single fleeting moment it is well on its course to the target.

"Yes!" I grin, pumping my hoof as it lands around the stake.

The booth-keeper gives a light smile and points to a selection of gargantuan stuffed animals. With a great deal of effort, Viola finally picks one, the massive stuffed owl hanging to the right. Her lips parted into a broad smile, which reached from one ear to the other,  as she wrapped her forearms around the soft plush and gave it a loving squeeze.

"Thanks, mom!"

"You're welcome." I say. Several minutes pass as we work our way through the stands and booths lining the dirt pathways. Eventually, the rumblings and pangs of hunger that engulf my stomach become too much to bear. "Hey, wanna get a bite to eat now?"

"Thought you'd never ask!" she groans. We snake our way through the growing crowd, our sheer guide being the scent of the delicious treats that lay in wait of our watering mouths. In what could have easily passed for an eternity in my mind, the bakery booth came into view. Cakes topped with apple slices, succulent apple pies, apples dipped in creamy caramel and even tankards of cider were all lined-up for passing ponies to see. A familiar earth pony by the name of Applejack sat behind the counter with a grin.

I paused to admire her blonde-as-straw mane done up in a loop of braids, her freckles lining her cheeks and muzzle and the infamous dress she had worn to the Grand Galloping Gala a few years before. Believe it or not, I had been at the Gala myself when it went awry. My uncle up in Canterlot is in cahoots with some big-shot designer, so he managed to steal some tickets for his favourite niece. It was quite a nice soiree, but truthfully, it wasn't my type of part-ay... it can hardly even pass for one. Nonetheless, seeing one of the very ponies that saved Equestria countless times tending to a humble shop was a sight to see.

"Two apple tarts please." I say, handing her the money.

"Thank ya kindly for yer business." she rasps in her charmingly southern accent. "Here ya go."

I fight the urge for a mug of cider. It is quite tasty, but strong, and the last thing I want is to get tipsy in front of my daughter. I thank her and trot of, Viola holding her tart. The taste was unbelievably sweet, with just a hint of tang that left my taste buds howling for more.

"Applebloom was right!" Viola exclaims, finishing off the tart with one large gulp. "These are really something."

I nod in agreement.

"Hey - look! A flying game!" I gasp, flitting over on my blue wings to another booth. Viola runs after me, and I feel her tug on my tail, pulling away from it. "Wanna play? We still have a couple of tokens."

She looks away, biting her lip anxiously. "Nah, I don't feel like it."

"Aww, come on!" I press. "It looks like fun. Just give it a try, for me? Please?" I plead. She shakes her head, refusing profusely. I'm not willing to accept defeat just yet. I thrust myself into the air, flapping my wings to stay aloft. "C'mon. Fly up to me!"

She folds her wings, shaking her head.

"Come on!" I holler. Uh-oh, looks like I'm drawing a crowd. I can see several ponies trot over, watching curiously as I urge  Viola. "My wings are getting tired! Better hurry up!" I chime, a hint of sarcasm tainting my voice.

"No!" Viola yells back.

"WHY NOT?"

"Because..." she babbles, tears rising in her eyes. "Because I CAN'T FLY!" she cries.

A collective gasp rises from the audience, and I can hear the buzz of their fervent chatter. My eyes are as wide as physically possible, yet I feel they would need to expand even more to fully illustrate my shock... and guilt. My jaw drops, only adding to the depiction of my pure surprise. Whoops. And to only further my guilt, I hear several childish laughs erupt from the audience. The fillies and colts are all... laughing at her. The bitter sound of their cold giggles haunted me, boring into my mind, dragging me back down to the living Tartarus that was my school days.

Magenta, Magenta!

Magenta Skies.

She's the most worthless of all pegasi.

She has wings, but she can't fly.

Magenta, Magenta!

Magenta Skies.

Viola gallops away, desperately trying to escape the chant of their cruel laughter. I fly in pursuit of the purple filly, making for the little filly's room. I pause and turn to some of the foals that were laughing, anger evident in my voice. "Leave her alone!" I scream, which silences them immediately. I turn to see Viola vanish into a shack, tears stinging her eyes.

What have I done?