The rest of their day went by without incident as nopony else had any dental problems but that was not enough to calm Colgate down. Like she did in the past, she felt like a failure that a pony would show up with dental problems after preaching to them the importance of good oral hygiene. She just couldn't understand it. She couldn't understand how after she would preach the importance of oral hygiene that ponies wouldn't listen to her.

After they closed Amethyst found her in a corner banging her head on the wall. She asked, "Honey, what is wrong?"

Colgate screamed, "Cheerilee is what is wrong! I have preached to her for years the importance of proper oral hygiene and what is worse, she quit emphasizing the importance of oral hygiene to her students!" She kicked the wall and continued, "She quit teaching them about that because they found it boring! She let's them play games instead of teaching them about what is important in life!"

Amethyst put her arm around her and sighed, "Sweetie, calm down. If ponies want to have to come to you more and provide you with more business, then that is their problem." She kissed her and continued, "Besides, with that much more money, we can go on a better vacation next time we go on one."

Colgate replied, "Yes honey, I know." She snorted and continued, "But it is the principle of the matter! Ever since I graduated from the academy I have wanted to see Equestria be free of cavities." She punched the wall and continued, "But thanks to Luna, I can't do that! If she would just let me do what I used to do, perhaps I could achieve that!"

Amethyst got a nervous look on her face when Colgate said that. She said, "Colgate, what she did was in the best interests of not only Equestria but our marriage as well. Had she simply let you keep on killing ponies, our marriage would have disintegrated and you probably would have wiped out half of the population of Equestria by now."

Colgate sighed, "Yeah, you're right. Let's just get home. Perhaps some supper will ease the frustration I am feeling right now."

When the two got home Pearly could see that they were somewhat stressed. He asked, "Colgate, Amethyst, what is wrong?"

Amethyst replied, "Well we had a rather......"

Colgate interrupted, "We had a very bad patient come in today, a patient whose teeth were so bad that I had never seen such horrid teeth before," She began to laugh, "well when they first came in to see me anyway!"

Pearly laughed, "Oh I see, you're reminiscing about the old days, aren't you?"

Colgate snickered, "Yes, I am."

Amethyst snapped, "Colgate, it was just this morning that you didn't want to bring up the old days and now here you are laughing about it?"

Colgate sighed, "Geez honey, no need to be so grumpy about it."

After she said this there was a knock on the door. Amethyst answered it and her parents stood before her. She rushed into their hooves, "Mom! Dad! It is so good to see you!"

Golden Harvest replied, "It's good to see you too sweetie!"

Amethyst invited them in and asked, "So how are you two doing?"

Written Script replied, "Well same old, same old. I'm working and your mother is tending the garden."

When they went in *Golden saw Colgate and sneered, "Oh hello Colgate. How is everypony's favorite murderer doing?"

Colgate sneered back, "Oh I'm just dandy now that I have to put up with you."

Amethyst heard their interaction and interrupted, "Mom, Colgate, I know you two don't particularly care for one another but please try to be civil."

Golden sighed, "Fine."

Colgate added, "Only for you dear."

As they headed in to the dining hall they were immediately greeted by the chef. He saw Amethyst's parents and asked, "So are we having something special tonight since you have company?"

Amethyst replied, "Not in particular." She cast her gaze to her parents and asked, "What do you want?"

Golden replied, "I would love a daffodil and daisy sandwich, a side of carrots and some cider."

**Written added, "I would like a hay burger, hay fries and some cider."

Amethyst added, "I'll take what my mom is having."

Colgate ordered, "I want steak, hay fries, mashed potatoes and cider." She glared and continued, "Oh and make that steak raw and leave the pitcher."

The waiter nodded and headed back to the kitchen. Amethyst was shocked that Colgate would order her steak raw. She asked, "Colgate, why in Equestria would you eat your steak raw? You haven't done that since...."

Golden interrupted, "Since she was brutally torturing and killing ponies?" She glared at Colgate and continued, "Your lust for blood is still there, isn't it?"

Colgate laughed, "No, it isn't but after the type of day I've had, some raw meat sounds very good."

After Colgate said that the table went quiet. While Written had no problems with Colgate's eating habits, Golden knew why she ordered her meat that way. She knew she wanted to feel the blood running down her face and reminisce about the days of when it was pony blood she let do that.

After what seemed to be forever their meal arrived. Written was eating at a rather causal pace but the rest of them were devouring their meals as they simply wanted to get this over with. Once they were finished eating Golden asked, "Amethyst, your father and I have a question."

Amethyst asked, "What is it?"

Golden replied, "Your father and I are going on a vacation to Saddle Arabia this weekend and we are wondering if you would want to come?"

Amethyst asked, "What about Colgate, can she come to?"

Golden glared at Colgate and replied, "No, I don't want to have to spend any more time around her than I have to."

Written added, "So what do you say honey?"

Amethyst asked, "So how long would this trip last?"

Written replied, "A week."

Golden added, "We need to get out of town and we just thought you might need some time away too."

Amethyst looked at Colgate and asked, "Honey, it has been a while since I spent some quality time with my parents, is it ok?"

Colgate replied, "Of course you can! Go and have some fun with your parents."

Amethyst hugged her and squealed, "Thank you Colgate! I can't wait for this weekend."

Colgate replied, "Amethyst sweetie, you know you don't have to ask for permission from me. You could have just told me you were going and I wouldn't have stopped you."

After another hour of talking Written looked at his watch and said, "Well honey, it is getting late. I think we should head for home."

Golden replied "I agree."

Amethyst escorted them to the door and gave them good night hugs. While she was doing this, the wheels were turning in Colgate's head. She realized that the upcoming weekend would be the perfect opportunity to return to doing what she truly loved most and be able to punish Cheerilee for daring to come to her with bad teeth.

When Amethyst returned to the dining hall she saw Colgate had a smirk on her face. She asked, "Colgate, what is the smirk over? What is running through your mind?"

Colgate lost the smirk and replied, "Oh nothing in particular."

Despite having not done anything since before Luna threatened them, Amethyst had a feeling as to what was running through her wife's mind. She asked, "Colgate, you aren't going to do something that will get you executed this weekend, are you?"

Colgate innocently giggled, "Me do something like that? You know I would never do anything like that anymore!"

Amethyst sighed, "Well alright. It is just that you seemed almost ecstatic that I would be going out of town for a week."

Colgate looked at the clock and noticed that it was nearly 2200. She said, "Well Amethyst sweetie, it is getting late, we better hit the hay."

Amethyst nodded and they headed upstairs. That night, like every other night, they would sleep in a tight embrace but Amethyst couldn't help but notice something. Rather than spending ten minutes of saying "I love you" to one another, Colgate fell asleep rather quickly. What bothered her the most though is that Colgate fell asleep with a smile on her face, which had not happened in years. All she could do was hope that Colgate was not lying about her plans.

Author's Note

*Just as it was in Colgate's Practice 3, Golden Harvest will be referred to as Golden.

**Written Script will be referred to as Written throughout this story.