Kix an Mint; Past Regrets an New Opportunities

  The train whistle came unexpectedly, waking me from mah uncomfortable sleep, announcing our arrival ta Canterlot. Ah'll admit ah was apprehensive about this trip, being surrounded by high class fanciness fer the first time since runnin from Manehatten a couple years ago, bringin back ol' memories an emotions ah still struggle with. Mah name's Kix an mah parents were originally farmers before movin ta the big city ta be fancified, never understood why and resented them fer tryin ta get me all fancied up an snobby as well. That choice left me with some regrets an' some permanent injuries, but none o' that even comes close ta the one bright spot in mah life, lyin there right next ta me, cuddled up and snoozin without a care in the world. Gently a hoof nudges her ta semi- wakefulness, snappin whatever dreams she was havin. "Time ta wake up sleepy, we're almost there" with a yawn mah daughter stares up at me and frowns in confusion.

  "Is momma gonna be here?" The question, tenative and full o' hope as its asked breaks mah heart, though it isn't the first time its been asked.

  "Hopefully we can find her sweetheart, Ah've been told she's livin here." Mah thoughts turn back ta the mare Ah fell fer shortly after Ah left home and then left shortly after our daughter's birth, leavin me with sole custody. However the main thing bringin us ta the city is somethin totally different, a meetin with Sapphire Shores' agent, an two other ponies ta finalize a plan thats been in the works fer a year, mah first major performance, sure Ah did this sorta stuff before, but this is a whole different league Ah'm steppin into. This meeting however isn't for a couple days, an with Mint Song not startin school foranother month an a half Ah decided this would be the best time ta go searchin fer her mama. "Honey, Ah jus...... Ah know ya had yer hopes raised higher then Celestia's sun, but.... if we can't find or she doesn't wanna speak ta us...... please don' get ta upset ok."

  "Ah'll try daddy, Ah jus..... Ah wanna hear from her own mouth why she left us." As the words are forced out o' mah daughter's mouth softly a few glistening pools begin ta form in her normally happy green orbs. After a quick comforting hug and pat we step out onto the platform, the last ponies ta exit, givin the crowd time ta disperse. The cities's view offered from ta station musta froze Mint in her hooves, never before havin seen any buildings as tall as the ones in fronta her, with a chuckle an quick nudge we begin searchin fer our hotel, the glitz an glitter as well as ta cold attitudes of the strangers obviously shockin mah lil gal even more. "Wow Ah... Ah didn' know other ponies could be so.... uuuhhmph." The sound o' two ponies colliding abruptly reaches mah ears, quickly turning Ah give a small shake and chuckle, only ta be cut off and immediately goin inta action as the scene begins ta unfold, rapidly decelerating ta a possible conflict.

  "HEY, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER YOU ALMOST COST ME 1,000 BITS!" The stranger, a unicorn mare begins ta shout, towerin over Mint as a fancy, high fallutin dress is waved angrily in her face, causin mah daughter to cower an begin ta cry.

  "Calm now lady, she's jus a foal, we never been ta Canterlot before and she jus got o'erwhelmed by the sights, yer dress is still clean an in one piece, no need ta yell." Ah slowed my hurried gallop ta a walk, tryin ta stay calm as well as calm her down while steppin 'tween the mare and mah daughter.

  "Are you this ingrates father? You should be ashamed of yourself, letting your daughter run wild through the streets, some ponies have no sense of self- control...." mah jaws start ta clench as Ah wait fer her ta finish, noticin her uppity gaze takin in our cowboy hats, bandanas an overall untidy appearance "or fashion, I still expect some form of payment for your unruly child and the trauma she just caused." Before Ah could answer thankfully a police officer approaches, noticin the large crowd an the mare's yellin was able ta sort the mess out, sendin her along obviously still very upset while givin us a light warnin ta be a little more careful, with that we headed ta the hotel, only stoppin once Ah noticed how upset and down Mint was, headin ta her favorite chain café.

  "Whats wrong sweetie, still thinkin o' that mare?" Ah ask, tryin ta catch her downward gaze with as gentle a voice Ah can manage while offerin a comforting smile after takin our seats with our drinks.

  "Ah... Ah didn't.... Why..... is... is that how all big city ponies act?" Listenin ta her try an form a single question drops mah smile immediately as Ah slide next ta her an wrap a hoof around her shoulders, givin a soft squeeze.

  "Unfortunately some are like that, so full o' themselves they can't or won't think o' anypony else but themselves, its not yer fault." Givin her another squeeze Ah glance around the buildin, takin in the others sittin around either by themselves or with company, then glancin back ta Mint. "if ya want a good example jus look around, really look an watch the other ponies." With that Ah settle back, lettin her look about, watchin the different interactions goin on or the body language of those that are here alone. Her gaze finally fallin on a quartet o' friends around a booth, smilin and laughin without a single care in the world.

  Our revere is interrupted by the sound of the bell ringin as the door opened for a well dressed pegasus mare, mah gaze immediately falls ta Mint, noticin that her green eyes already start ta water as she follows the mint colored pegasus with a pure white mane an tail stylized eloquently, her outfit makin her look like she jus came from a ball.

  Before Ah could act Mint immediately starts fer the mare, a fadin picture fallin ta the floor and trampled by a pair o' hooves, mah daughter's stiffened posture an hurried gait the only clue to the inner turmoil she must be feelin, quickly steppin between the counter and the mare. Suprised by the unexpected intrusion the older mare stares at the young filly in shock while mah daughter glares daggers back into the older mare's eyes, causin the mare ta worry more, the tension of the situation immediately growin as the patrons an workers stop an watch the scene.

  Finally after a few minutes Mint starts to cry an shudder, her lids fully closing then shouts at the top o' her lungs. "YA.... YA DON' EVEN RECOGNIZE ME DO YA?...... AH'M.... AH'M YER....." her sniffles and a chokin sob cuttin through her train o' speech before regainin her composure. "YER MAH.... YER THE ONE WHO..... WHO GAVE.... BIRTH TA.....TA ME." Upon the final words bein issued a collective gasp goes around the buildin, the mare bein confronted obviously shakin and her colorin dulls at mah daughter's revelation as her ears become pinned tightly ta the back o' her head, her panicked gaze goin from pony ta pony, until finally settlin upon me an shrinkin till they're pinpricks surrounded by white, her voice staggered an a bare whisper, soundin drier then the desert.

  "K.....Kix?" Mah name, a bare whisper, full o' questions an confusion slips past her lips an hangs in the air as all eyes are on me, wonderin what is goin on an waitin fer a reply, the tension so thick not even a hundred unicorns can blast through the overwhelmin fog. Before Ah can answer she bolts immediately, the door slammin open hard in her haste, leavin me an Mint in shock as we watch. After a few seconds our gazes fall to eachother, her pools glistenin and shimmers with her anger, mah hooves wrap tight around her before we move on, leavin behind the whispered murmurs o' the others.

  "Wha- whats going on?"

  "Who are they?"

  Finally we make it to the hotel, her sobs and sniffles becomin uncontrollable as we enter our room, immediately she flops almost lifelessly onta the bed, tears flowing in an unendin stream onta the sheets. With care Ah approach, pullin her tight against me an tries comfortin mah gal. Her eyes reddened with the tears as she speaks, her voice weakened as hiccups interrupt the words. "She.... she hates me...... doesn't..... *sniff*..... doesn't she..... she's.... *sniff*..... she's embarrassed bah us." With that she buries her head inta mah shoulder, her sobbing renews. With that Ah curl up around her, tryin to comfort mah daughter as best Ah can, an idea already startin ta form, hopin that it works and mah little gal's heart won't get broken any more than it already is before passin out.

  The next mornin starts grey an gloomy, not a good omen as clouds quickly form, full o' water to drench the city. After we finish showerin an gettin ready the two o' us head out, Mint's lowered head an saddened look noticable ever since wakin further dampenin mah spirits as we stop at the shop we encountered Amethyst last night, our appearance causes a wave o' whispers an murmurs ta begin along with curious glances. Unfazed we step up ta the counter and nod ta the pony behind the counter an order our drinks. "Hey, jus curious, do ya know anythin about that mare that was here yesterday? We've been tryin ta find her fer a while." Ah ask before he steps away, after givin it some thought.

  "Well, I'm not sure if I should tell you, that scene your daughter caused yesterday worried me along with others, and she's pretty well respected in Canterlot." His eyes shift from me ta mah daughter one last time before he goes back ta work.

  "Well, if she comes back can ya tell her that we jus wanna talk, an she does owe our daughter an explanation." With that Ah leave our hotel name and room number with him an follow mah even more dejected daughter outa the shop. With a sigh an saddened glance ta Mint Ah lead her in a long windin trail that ends up passin by the orphanage. "This might be a good place ta possibly take her." Spotting the buiding the idea flashes through mah mind an eventually Ah walk inside, mah daughter lookin around the place in confusion. "Look around sweetie, ya know what this place is?" A small shake o' her head is her only answer as her curious gaze takes in the depressin sight despite the playin foals an the cheery colors an pictures. "This is a place where foals who have no parents an have nopony else ta take care of an love them come, waitin fer a new family ta take them in."

  Mint's eyes widen an shrink in suprise an sorrow at the revelation, then looks up at me. "Wh.... why..... why would their parents not be around? Do.... do they hate them as well?"

  "Mosta the ones here don' have parents cause they're dead, though there are some who were abandoned by both their parents." After givin a few seconds ta let the words sink in a hoof wraps gently around her shoulders an squeezes, at that time a social worker approaches, a tired friendly attemptin smile playin on his muzzle.

  "Are you looking to adopt or curious about adoption?"

  "Not right now, jus tryin ta get mah daughter outa her funk, would it be ok if she mingles with the others?"

  "Sure, right this way." With a glance back ta me Mint follows him ta the open play area where ah can keep an eye on her. "Just curious, why did you bring her here, not gonna drop her off and leave are you?" He asks, worry colorin his words as he watches me.

  "Nah, she's..... she's goin through a rough time.... her mother left shortly after she was born an we bumped inta her yesterday, the meetin left her depressed an with a couple o' questions." Mah gaze never leavin Mint as she opens up a little at a time, talkin an gettin ta know some o' the foals.

  "Ah I see, atleast she has you, I need to get back to work, just let me know if you change your mind."

  "Wait... Ah...Ah am somewhat curious." The question pops out as Ah notice Mint playin and chasin after a few o' the orphans. "How much an what is needed ta adopt?"

  "Well, it costs about 3,000 bits per foal and it requires alot of paperwork, background checks, home inspection, interviews, the whole nine yards, and afterwards we'll need to make a home visit and check up."

  "Ah see, well thanks fer that, and fer lettin mah daughter mingle." With a nod an hoofshake he leaves ta do his rounds as Ah settle onto the nearest couch, givin mah daughter another thirty minutes before callin her over.

  "Pa, this is Jewelshine an Blue Skies." A unicorn filly with a light blue coat and light lavender mane then a dark purple pegasi colt with a dark blue mane smile an nod.

  "Nice to meet you Sir, we enjoyed meeting you Mint." With that the two start ta trot off, only ta be stopped.

  "Wait, Ahm jus' curious.... if ya don't mind....." mah statement trails off as Ah start ta rethink mah question.

  "I know its depressing and sad to talk about...... but..... if you want to know I don't mind telling it." Blue Skies answers before Ah can finish or forget, however Jewelshine falls silent an looks down, her cheerful demeanor switched ta drepressed.

  "I..... I don't like..... like talking about it." Sniffles cut inta her barely whispered words.

  "Thats ok, ya don' have ta tell me, Ah was jus curious." With that all eyes fall to Blue Skies, givin him the floor.

  "It happened three years ago........ during Hearth's Warming Eve......" his voice trails off as tears pool in his eyes, the tone droppin a couple levels as he takes a deep breath an composes hisself. "They.... they were on their way home from a party....... their path took them over a bridge and..... a couple drunks came up from behind, galloping and...... and didn't notice the ice....... they..... they...... they started sliding and flailing about...... my parents.......... got hit hard and........ fell off."

  "Yer parents didn't have any relatives or anypony that could take care of ya?" The question is blurted out by mah daughter in a small voice.

  "There are some family, but..... they couldn't afford an extra or didn't have the room for me, they do visit me every day though."

  "Well, Ah hope things look up fer ya soon, unfortunately we gotta go, but tommorrow we can come back fer another visit."

  "I know I'd like that alot, thanks mister." Comes Blue's response, Jewel however doesn't seem so enthusiastic.

  "Bah the way, its Kix, not mister, makes me feel too important." With a partin smile an wave we take off, a noticeable difference in Mint's gait as we head towards the resturants, seein as how its bout lunch time.