Kix an Mint; Past Regrets an New Opportunities

  "Yea Ah did.... jus'... jus' didn't know there were other foals tha' didn't have a family or home, Ah- Ah'm sorry Ah was so down before, thanks fer openin mah eyes and fer bein there pa." with that Ah'm wrapped up in as tight a hug as she can manage, tears streamin down her tightly shut eyes. After a few more seconds we broke apart an get our food. "Pa.... were ya..... were ya thinkin about.... adoptin one o' them?" she finally asks after a couple o' minutes, the question obvious but the courage to ask lackin.

  After givin a few seconds ta reflect "Possibly, Ah saw how much fun ya had with them an how well ya got along, however it is expensive an right now we don't really have our own place on top o' the bits, how would ya feel about havin one or both as siblins?"

  With the question turned on her Mint hesitates an glances about, unsurity clear on her face an body posture. "Ah'm.... Ah'm not...... Ah don' know..... it might be fun but......" with an arched brow Ah wait, knowin what she's sayin but wait fer her to say it. "Nevermind, jus' curious are we gonna have ta move if ya get this new gig?"

  "Don' go changin the subject, Ah taught ya better an ya know it, now tell me whats botherin ya."

  "Ah....Ah'm worried that.... that if ya do adopt that ya won't have enough time fer me, specially with this possible new opportunity." she finally reveals after a long couple minutes, still hesitant to meet mah gaze.

  "Ah know, but no matter what happens an what decisions are or are not made Ah'll always love ya." with that Ah give her a big hug before we resume our meal, a bit o' worry still radiatin off her, but alot less then before. "As fer yer last question we're not, Ah like our little ranch too much jus ta pack up an leave, never been one fer cities, specially big ones."

  "Good cause Ah don' wanna move either." She responds with a happy smile as we have dinner.

  After breakfast we toured about the city an even toured the castle grounds as a special treat fer Mint. Finally we wind down an get back ta the hotel after a quick stop at the orphanage ta let her play with her friends while Ah talked with the social worker, then the two foals.

  The next day we headed back out, our first stop bein a tailor ta get a new outfit fer mah upcoming meetin the next day, but today's plans are fer a happier event, as expressed by Mint's constant bouncing an hyperactivity, her questions rapidly firin with barely a second to breathe.

  "What'dyagetmewhat'dyagetmewhat'dyagetme....Ah'msoexcitedAhcan'tstanditwhat'rewegonnadotodayhuhuhuhuhuh?" A laugh escapes as Ah watch her as she continues.

  "Ya'll see, how 'bout we head ta the orphanage first." A knowing grin hidden from her as we notice the place is darkened an silent, Mint's happy expression fallin quickly as we enter, navigatin the inky blackness ta the main room.

  "SUPRISE!!!!!!" comes from all around as we stop in the middle as the lights flick on, revealin the streamers, balloons, banners an games, against the far wall is a large table supportin a large cake, punch bowl and a pile o' presents. A couple flashes from cameras take in mah daughter's shocked an open mouthed expression as she stands there for a few seconds.

  "Ohthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyoupa." she squeals after breakin from her trance an wraps me up in a hug before goin ta meet her friends.

  "Thanks fer agreein ta hold her party here, it means alot since she's made friends with a few o' the orphans." With that Ah make mah way ta the table an begin ta cut the cake inta pieces. Only three boxes wrapped up sit atop the table, catchin Mint's gaze as the cake an punch are finished, with a nod she tears inta the largest box, revealin a set o' microphones, an amp an music stand, the next box is a foal sized version o' royalty regalia, customized in Mint's favorite colors an design, includin a detachable horn made ta match her coat. The final gift is an envelope, upon withdrawin the contents its revealed ta contain a single ticket, an a picture o' the Wonderbolts. After a few stunned silent minutes she hugs me again.

  "Oh Pa, ya shouldn't have, thank you SSOOOO MUCH!" After the openin o' the gifts the foals begin playin the games. The creakin o' the door signaling a visitor who stays mostly in the shadows, watching the young ones play while stayin silent. Upon noticin the newcomer Ah approached with a smile which fades upon recognizin who it is.

  "I don't want any trouble, just.... wanted to see my little girl and give her this." A small box is pulled from her back and gently dropped at mah hooves before she turns and walks out swiftly, not givin me time ta respond. With the social worker lookin stunned Ah gather up the gift, debatin if Ah should give it ta Mint or throw it away.

  "That was mah ex marefriend an Mint's mother, this is the first time since Mint was born that she ever showed an interest." with a nod we both head back, the gift hidden as we rejoin the group. "havin fun sweetie?" Ah watch as Mint stumbles and staggers about blindfolded, swingin fer the hangin piñata. Eventually we say our good bys after cleanup and head back ta the hotel, droppin off the gifts and get ta bed.

  "Nervous Pa?"

  "A little Ah'll admit, but Ah'm not gonna let it get ta me." After makin sure all mah stuff is ready fer tommorrow Ah head off fer an early bedtime.

  The next day after gettin mahself and Mint ready we head on out, already knowing the way ta the meetin place. After a few deep breaths we step inside an head straight fer the professional lookin group o' ponies, ta include the famous Sapphire Shores, immediately causin Mint ta go gaga an fawn all over. After the round o' introductions are made we finally start. "Well, miss Shores' performance is six months from now, you have your playlist all set up" asks the first pony, the one in charge of the schedulin.

  "Yup, here it is." With that Ah pull out a list o' ten songs an watch as they pass the list about.

  "Well you only have four song slots, how about in two days we have a show and decide which four we like the most." suggests Sapphire.

  "Sure, now jus' curious how soon am Ah gonna be performin?"

  "You got two other performers ahead of you." comments the pony next ta Sapphire

  "Depending on how you do I'd like to sign you up for a record deal, what'dya say?" Asks the far left pony in the group, a recuiter for a major recording company.

"it sounds.... temptin, Ah'd like ta talk it over a bit more later." After a couple more rounds o' questions we finally get down an sign the paperwork an shake hooves, sealin the deal, jus before leavin Sapphire asks Mint if she was any good at singin or wanted ta be a performer. With a slight blush Mint shakes her head no, followed by a shy voice.

  "No Ah... Ah never thought o' performin in front o' others before, but Ah do enjoy singin an had some thought o' bein a professional singer, however Ah've also had some thoughts o' possibly joinin the Wonderbolts as well"

  "Whats on yer mind Sapphire?" the question is asked in a mix o' curiosity an a little concern.

  "Well, why don't we see how good you are, why not after your dad gets done going through his songs and get them organized you put on a little show, just be me and your dad, ok?" With that me an Mint look at each other, her widened orbs filled with a mix o' unsurity and interest, with that Ah smile an nod.

  "Its up ta ya honey, give ya a good chance ta see what its like bein a singer."

  "Ah'll try it Miss Sapphire, might be fun." With a smile o' her own Mint accepts an we head on ta our hotel room.

  "Ya got a song in mind already, or need help?"

  "Well, Ah did think about writtin mah own song but, Ah'll jus' sing one o' her songs fer now."

  "Ya know any o' her songs?"

  "One, but Ah need ta brush up on it."

  "Well we got some time ta work on them, so lets get started." At that we get back ta the hotel an start our prep, organizin the playlists an tunin up our instruments. We spent the next two days warmin up an knockin off the rust before headin ta the meetin place.

  After a few minutes of settin up and makin sure everythin is in order an the playlist is handed out Ah stand up on mah back hooves, the guitar strapped across mah shoulders as Ah use mah tail ta balance and a stand mah hooves glidin across the fret board an body as the guitar is tuned, at the same time Ah go through mah vocal warm ups.

  Once everythin is in order Ah begin the show, startin the actual song while halfway through mah warmup, grinnin at the deception as I begin with the first song, written back when Ah was workin two low payin jobs a little after Mint was born an her momma left. One o' mah hooves gently tap out the beat ta the music as Ah begin ta sing, releasin the frustrations, pains an hardship o' those first couple years as well as the rough foalhood Ah had ta deal with mahself an the continued hardships Ah've had ta deal with.

  As the first song comes ta an end Ah segue ta the next song, timin the entry an endin perfectly, the strummin gets a lil harsher and speeds up some as the beat changes. As Ah begin ta sing mah voice gets a lil gravelly, rememberin a bunch o' fights Ah had with neighbors over the state o' my house, how Ah talk, mah thoughts, how Ah dressed and even how Mint was bein raised. Mah answer ta all those was simple an lead ta the current song, Ah don' care what others think o' me and how Ah do things.

  As the end comes Ah take off the guitar an take a few breaths while gettin a drink o' water, lettin it soothe mah roughened cords. After a couple more songs Ah start on a song written when Mint was jus startin ta learn how ta fly along with the other hardships we both dealt with while tryin ta get our hooves on steady ground. It's a song about livin life ta its fullest and havin ta chance let downs as ya struggle fer yer goals an dreams an how our perceptions o' others can be scewed.

  The final song played is another o' mah favorites, goin on about the freedom o' travel me an Mint had lately. The positive beat an lyrics flowin freely as the song depicts enjoyin the ride despite bein broke an with little belongins and the joy o' the experience. After the final song ends Ah stand there waitin fer the trio to mull the songs over while Ah wipe mah brow an remove mah hat, coolin down alittle as Ah flash a grin ta Mint.

  "Well after some discussion we really liked....." Sapphire's manager starts before rufflin through the song list again. "I'm A Survivor, What Do You Think About That, Standing Outside the Fire and Who Wouldn't Wanna be Me."

  "I think those four were the best ones you performed as well." Sapphire adds with a smile. As Ah start packin up she looks over at mah daughter. "Are you ready to show us what you got?" Ah chuckle a bit as Mint nervously nods and steps up onta the stage.

  "If singin ta them is that scary ya can turn around or try imaginin me in their place." Ah whisper ta her as we pause while passin each other, the karaoke machine gettin set up quickly. After a couple o' deep breaths Mint selects her choice of songs, hopin ta impress Sapphire by tryin out her first song. Despite a shaky start Mint starts ta relax and gets inta the groove, her voice evenin out an flowin smoothly, her accent becomin more pronounced as she continues. Finally the song winds down, leavin only the music ta peter out, givin her a chance ta regain her breath an wipe away the sheen o' sweat gathered on her forehead.

  "Not to badly done Mint, needs a bit of work but nothing to bad. Are you interested in being a singer when you get older?" Sapphire comments as mah daughter stands there smiling nervously.

  "Ta be honest Ah'm not sure Miss Shores, Ah've thought about it, but Ah also been thinkin o' tryin ta be a Wonderbolt or maybe even jus bein a weather pony." Then with a saddened gaze fixed on the ground Mint admits. "However, Ah've..... Ah've never really how ta...... fly properly." Her voice weakens a bit in shame.

  "Ah know sweetie, Ah'm tryin ta get ya some help."

  With that Sapphire adds. "I might be able to help you out some, ever visited Cloudsdale before?"

  "No, never had the chance or the opportunity."

  "Well I got an idea if your dad doesn't mind." Sapphire adds while glancin over ta me.