Restless in Hoofington

While all who know him well enough would agree that Portal is an early riser, they likely wouldn't consider him enough of one to wake up at seven in the morning on a Saturday. Yet he does, but not for normal reasons.

His eyes spring open suddenly and he gasps, sitting up quickly and suddenly in the bed he still shares with Ornate. He takes several deep breaths to try and calm himself down, his belly inflating and deflating beneath his purple-and-white vertical striped pajamas, before he suddenly turns and latches onto the mare beside him, whimpering.

Ornate wakes up quickly, murmuring. "Portal?" Her hooves wrap around him. "Portal, baby, what's wrong?"

He nuzzles against her, still breathing quickly. "...b-bad dream..."

"Oh, Portal..." She kisses the top of his head as she holds him tight, nuzzling for good measure. "I've got you..."

He snuggles into her, noticeably already calming down. "...I saw everyone... our friends... they were monsters, hurting ponies..."

"Shh... it's okay... it wasn't real..." She hums as she holds him.

"I know..." He sniffs a bit. "...we don't hurt ponies..."

"There you go.. don't worry... Mommy's got you..."

It takes a few minutes, but he finally manages to calm down completely. He doesn't exactly try to escape the hug, though. "Thank you..."

"You're welcome." She kisses his head again. "Should we hug some more or get started with our day?"

"Can we do both?" he asks sheepishly.

“Of course.” Scooting him up to her chest, she holds him there as she yawns and steps out of bed.

He clings to her, the contagious yawn evoking one from him as well. “Sorry for waking you up...”

She glances at the clock. “It’s not too early. Plus it gives me time to make a good breakfast.” Her nose sniffs a few times. “After we shower.”

“At the same time?” He tilts his head. “Like you and Zesten the other night?”

She blushes a crystal crimson. “Ah, umm… yes. Just… not as long. You knew?”

“Yeah… I got home and I heard the water running, so I went to bed.” He gives her a curious look. “Were you two really dirty or something?”

Averting her eyes, she nods. “Yes… very very dirty…” She shivers as her tail flicks.

He still looks confused as they enter the bathroom. “Why?”

“We were, umm… playing a lot,” she says vaguely as she starts the water.

“Oh.” He seems to accept that, watching the water come down. “...what’s heat?”

Losing her balance momentarily, Ornate catches herself with a hoof as she looks to him nervously. “Where did you hear that word?”

He tilts his head at her. “A lot of places… it was used differently yesterday at school. Somepony said she was glad she wasn’t old enough for it, and somepony else said he hated how it kept his parents busy… I asked if they meant temperature and they laughed at me.”

“Oh… well, heat is…” She sets him on the counter and starts taking off his pajamas. “Heat is… the time when nature lets a mare and a stallion make a foal.”

Portal looks at her in confusion. “What do you mean? How do they know when it is?”

She sets his clothes to the side. “They, well… they get hot… and itchy… in places… not to mention it only happens twice a year at around the same time.”

“So… to have foals, you have to get all itchy?” He hops off the counter. “I thought they just had to rut each other a lot until it worked.”

The mare’s eyes shoot open as she stares at her son in shock. “Portal! Where… where could you possibly have heard that?!”

He flinches back from her outburst. “...they talked about it a lot...”

“Oh…” Her expression softens as she hugs him to her once more. “Do you, umm… do you know what it means?” She steps over to the shower.

He hugs back, clinging to her again as he’s carried to the water. “It means… um… putting a stallion’s parts in a mare’s parts and transferring the foal like that...” He watches his words this time to avoid a similar reaction.

Ornate groans, stepping into the shower. “Oh my… well, I guess you have the basics… heat is… when the mare has the urge to do that. A lot. And it’s in heat that making a foal is possible.”

“Ohhh.” He smiles, though shuts his eyes from the water. “I think I get it now… is it going to happen to you?”

“It happens to every mare, Portal.” She sighs, letting her mane slick down. “In about a week, maybe a week and a half, mares will get moody, antsy, shut themselves in their rooms, and if they have coltfriends, drag them in there with them.”

He’s quiet for a moment. “...so are you and Zesten gonna…?”

She clears her throat. “Well, umm… yes, probably… having access to a coltfriend means I’ll at least be able to think straight for a bit at a time. So I’ll… probably spend time with him, come out, do things, check on you, then go back in my room with him two hours later and we start all over.”

He turns to try and get water on the back of his neck and in his mane. “So I should leave you alone during it?”

Still blushing, she thinks. “Well, umm… how about this: if I’m in my room and it’s noisy, wait a bit, and when it gets quiet, then we can do things, okay?”

He nods, smiling. “Okay!” He gives her a nuzzle.

“It might get a little boring during heat for you. Maybe you could go to the park or something those days?” She gets the soap and starts to clean him. “I’ll still cook and have time for you in the evenings when you get home.”

The colt groans. “Outside is boring too...”

“Well, most little ones get bored and go outside during heat week. Maybe you could make some new friends?”

His ears flick at this before drooping. He just silently shakes his head.

Her ears fold back as well. “What’s wrong, Portal?” She nuzzles him as she gently washes his mane.

The colt’s response is uncharacteristically snarky. “I’m not in the Restless because I’m popular, mom.”

She frowns. “Portal, there’s no need for that tone. Especially when I’m worried about you.”

“Sorry...” He dips his head. “It’s just… ponies in my class think I’m weird, so… I don’t think anypony else wouldn’t...”

“Portal… the Restless aren’t the only good ponies. You just haven’t run into more yet.” She kisses him, avoiding suds.

He squirms a bit in response to the kissing, but for obvious reasons, can’t get away from it. “There’s a lot of mean ones, though...”

“I know… not all of them are bad ponies though, some just don’t understand…” She just hugs him.

“I wish they would...” He leaves that part of the discussion with that comment, hugging back before continuing an earlier part of it. “...where’s the park?”

“Just a few roads down. It’s where the trees and ponds are.” She starts washing her own mane. “Many ponies hang out there because its relaxing and you can usually find something to do.”

He tilts his head. “There’s just trees and grass… what’s there to do?”

“Well… tell you what? Why don’t we go there and I’ll show you?” She smiles at the idea.

The colt pauses for a moment. “...maybe… okay.” He smiles as well.

“There you go. There’s my happy colt.” She touches her nose against his.

He giggles and nuzzles her. “Are we almost done cleaning up? I want to go as soon as possible now...”

“Before breakfast?” She giggles at him.

“...oh… right.” He blushes a bit as his stomach growls. “After eating, please?”

“Of course, Portal.” She grabs the soap once more.

The cool breeze blows through the trees at the local park. Ponies of all ages walking, talking, sitting, playing, or anything they want to do dot the landscape. Ornate has a light pair of saddlebags on as she and Portal enter the grassy area.

He looks around, sticking close to her, as though unsure of his surroundings despite the simple appearance of the place. “Um… what should I do?”

“Whatever you want to, dear.” She gestures around them. “We could play in the grass, trees, pond, feed the ducks, pony watch, run around, anything at all.”

He continues to glance around, seeming to look for colts or fillies his age. “Maybe… watch the ducks, then?”

“I think that sounds nice.” The two end up over on the shore of the pond, relaxed as they look out over it’s surface at the waterfowl. However, the ducks are not the only ones to be observed. A purple filly spots them, thinking as she looks at the colt.

Oblivious to being watched, Portal only takes a few minutes to grow antsy, and begins fidgeting around where he sits. He starts swiping at his tail with a hoof.

Ornate spots this and giggles, unknowingly mimicking the filly watching. “Portal, if you’re that bored, why don’t you run around a bit or something?”

He smiles and gives her a nuzzle. “Okay.” With that, he stands up and takes off like a dog off its leash, galloping for a large tree in the middle of the park. Upon reaching it, he starts climbing without a second thought, trying to burn off some excess energy.

The filly tilts her head at this, taking a few steps closer. In just those few steps, Portal has already climbed all the way up and disappeared into the leaves, only his silhouette visible as he crawls across a branch just thick enough to support his weight. She walks to the base of the tree, looking up at him curiously.

After a moment, the tree wobbles around as the colt seems to disappear from view. A second later, he suddenly lands on the grass beside her, doing a small roll before he ends up in a sitting position, unharmed and giggling.

The filly giggles along with him, clapping her hooves together in applause. “That was great!”

He blinks before looking to her. After a second, he smiles. “Hi!”

“Hello!” She smiles back.

He stands up, shaking himself off. “What’s your name? I’m Portal.”

“My name’s Sugar Crystal.” She looks at the tree then back to him. “How'd you jump from there?”

He looks up as well. “...I dunno. I just did. I’m used to it.” He shrugs.

“Do you climb trees that much?” She tilts her head at him.

He nods, smiling. “It’s fun!”

"Don't you worry about falling?"

He shakes his head. "I don't fall."

"But you could." She points a hoof at him.

"...but I don't."

"How?"

He shrugs before suddenly changing the topic. "Do you want to play?"

"Sure!" she replies reflexively before tilting her head questioningly. "Play what?"

He shrugs again. "I dunno. What do you normally play outside?"

"Hmm... tag?" She offers.

"Okay!" He smiles and boops her nose. "You're it!" He sprints off.

"Hey!" She giggles as she runs after him.

Her tongue sticking out, Sugar focuses on maintaining her balance. Her hind legs kick in the air as she stands on her head, tumbling back down onto her rump after a moment. "Phew... your turn. Truth or dare?"

He giggles before replying, batting at his tail. "Truth, this time."

"Hmm..." She taps her chin. "Which class do you like most?"

He flicks his tongue out as if trying to lick the tip of his own nose. "...math, I think. It's easy."

"Really? I thought most ponies don't like math..." She tilts her head at his actions, a smile on her face.

"It's more that I just think it's easy rather than I like it. It's kinda boring." He finally succeeds in his mission and smiles. "Truth or dare?"

"Umm... truth."

"What's your favourite colour?"

"Well... blue," she says simply.

He accepts this with no further questions. "Your-" He suddenly sneezes in the middle of his sentence, seeming to surprise himself. "...turn."

She giggles at him, her tail wagging. "Your sneezes sound like mine. Truth or dare?"

He blushes a bit. "Dare..."

"I dare you to..." She smirks. "Grab your tail with your mouth and run around in a circle."

Portal tilts his head at this before standing up, turning, and biting down on his tail. After a second, he starts galloping in a circle, making it about two full rotations before he trips and flops over, landing almost in a headstand.

Sugar flops onto her side as she bursts out laughing. Her legs kick frantically to try and quell her mirth. After some flailing around, Portal manages to right himself, and tries to hide his reddening face behind his hooves.

She continues giggling, rolling over and walking to him. "You're funny. I like you."

He peeks up at her, then uncovers himself and stands back up, face still tinged with pink. "Th-thanks... um, truth or dare?"

"Dare!" She smiles at him expectantly.

He grins. "I dare you to go into the water!"

Her eyes shoot open before her ears fold. "Umm... not too deep, right?"

"Hm... up to your neck and then just dip your head in?" he offers.

She looks up. "Well, at least it's a warm day..." Walking over to the pond, she ignores the curious ducks looking at her as she wades in, dipping her head in once she can. With a few loud splashes, she's back on shore, her coat, mane, and tail all plastered to her. "Done."

He giggles, looking over her. "You look really silly now..."

She narrows her eyes at him. “I hope you have a plan for getting me dry before I hug you while wet.”

“...not really,” he admits, starting to scoot away from her.

Spotting this, she steps toward him. “Uh uh… you don’t get away after that.” She pounces, landing on him and making sure to spread the water. He lets out a squeal, flailing around beneath her as he tries to get away. She laughs, holding on and making sure he shares in her recent hydration before flopping off him and kicking her legs in the air as she continues to laugh.

He grumbles as he stands back up, shaking himself off like a dog and his face devoid of any amusement. “Please don’t do that anymore...”

She flips over, a smile on her face that fades as she sees his. “Oh… sorry… I didn’t mean anything by it…” She stands there, dripping as her ears splay out.

The colt sighs as he tries fixing the hairs in his coat that have gotten damp and pressed down. “I would’ve thought of a way for you to dry. I hate being all wet...”

She walks over, sitting next to him. “At least you’re not alone, right?”

He glances at her before smiling sheepishly. “...good point… sorry.”

“Heh, it’s fine…” She shakes herself, droplets flinging off her coat. “Umm… truth or dare?”

“Truth, this time.”

“Why did you want me to go in the pond?”

He thinks before shrugging. “I thought it’d be funny to see… and isn’t that the point of truth or dare? To be able to laugh at each other?” He giggles. “Like how you made me run in a circle?”

She nods. “Oh, okay then. I just wasn’t sure if there was another reason or not. Your turn.”

Portal tilts his head at her for a moment before speaking. “Um… truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

He pauses, then grins as he speaks. “Do you have a crush on anypony?”

She blinks, thinking for a moment before shaking her head. “Not really… I mean, I know what they are, but nopony really tells me what they feel like. I don’t think I have one…”

“Oh… okay then.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Guess it’s your turn?”

“Actually, I think it’s my turn to say something.” Ornate’s voice comes from over Portal’s shoulder.

He jumps a bit before turning to her. “Mom? What is it?”

“It’s time we head back home, sweetie. Say goodbye to your friend for today, alright?” She smiles at him, looking between her colt and the filly.

“Aww...” His ears droop as he looks back to Sugar. “Sorry… I need to go now...”

“That’s okay… we’ll just play again next time, right?” She smiles at him, used to the common foalhood saying of ‘say goodbye to your friends, it’s time to go home’.

Portal, not being so used to the saying, has a bit more trouble grasping the concept. He just nods as he stands up. “Okay… see you later, then.”

She waves a hoof at him. “See you!”

Ornate smiles at this as they start heading home. “So it seems you made a new friend after all. Quite the cutie.”

He waves back before replying. “She’s nice. I like her.”

“Seems she likes you, too.” The mare smiles, having watched the two young ones play for a while before she had interrupted. “I don’t think you’ll be bored when I’m occupied now.”

There’s a pause, followed by the colt moving close to press up against her as best he can while still walking. “I still like spending time with you...”

“I know, Portal… and since I’m not busy until things start warming up… how about you and I spend plenty of time doing fun things until then?” She dips her head down, picking him up by his scruff, tucking him against her chest in a foreleg, and nuzzling his stomach.

He laughs and kicks his back legs in response, though careful not to hit her. “Y-Yes please!”

“That’s my colt…”