I heard a crashing sound in the library, causing Twilight, Spike and I to turn towards the sound.
“MA!” I heard River shout excitedly as she raced into the room. “Lookit, lookit!”
She skidded to a stop and turned broadside to us and I saw on her flank, her cutie mark, still glowing faintly.
I grinned, a tear in my eye. “Glory be, sprout,” I said, sweeping over and rubbing noses with her. “That’s amazing.”
Twilight came over and gave the young filly a hug as well. “Congratulations, River!” she said.
“That’s an awesome cutie mark, River,” Spike said.
“Thanks!” she said, spinning around in a circle, trying to look at her mark. “I was just compiling those loose tales like Ma asked and just…wow.”
I looked at the mark, a closed book overtop of loose pages of words and music. “So, seems like archivist is in your future, sprout,” I grinned. “How do you feel on that?”
“That would be so cool!” she said. “Think of all the stories that have been lost, or the tales behind the songs! I can’t wait to find more.”
I put a hoof on her shoulder. “Simmer down, now,” I said laughing. “We have to do a couple things first, like tell your Da.”
Spike already had quill and paper in claw.
“I’m already on it!” he said as his quill danced.
“We also need to talk to Pinkie about setting up…”
“A Cute-ceñera?” the pink pony said from the side.
I blinked and jumped a little.
“Y-yeah,” I said. “You think you can start without me?”
She nodded and trotted out of the study we were in.
I shook my mane out of my eyes and looked at Twilight.
“How does she do that?” I asked.
The Princess of Friendship just shrugged.
“I gave up trying to figure it out years ago,” she said.
“Ha!” I cried, hopping down from the stage to dance among the other ponies, my flute still swirling its jig tune above us as the other musicians continued on. River was over with the other young fillies, Applejack’s younger sister and the other two. I also saw a pair of fillies with the group but just off a little, nervous almost.
“It’s so nice to see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon being sociable now,” Twilight said as I danced off to the side. “They were little terrors to those girls a year ago.”
“Aye,” I said. “Nothing like a good party to get everypony in a light spirit!” I finished the tune, bowing slightly as I leapt back onto stage.
“Now, fillies, colts, and the rest of you folk having a good time,” I said, drawing a laugh from the crowd. “I think its time for the filly of the hour to call the next tune!”
River screwed up her face a little before her eyes shot open. “Cooley’s!” she shouted.
“Oh, a reel, is it?” I said. “Going a little excited are we? Let’s kick it off then!”
I caught Fiddleback’s eye and started the slow start of the reel, the two of us playing in unison and slowly speeding up as the rest of the group joined in. As the fillies turned and danced around in a way that in no way resembled an actual reel, I laughed and shook my head before bringing my flute to my lips and gave in to the spirit of music, letting the reel continue until I got the nod from Fiddleback to slow it and end in the swirling upsweep.
As applause rose from the crowd, I set my flute down and climbed down and hoisted River in my aura and set her on my back, going to the cake that Pinkie was wheeling in.
“Happy Cute-ceñera, River,” I said, setting her down at the table. “I’m sure if your Da were here he’d be so proud.”
A voice rumbled behind me. “He is.”
“Da!” River cried and rushed into Gleam, giggling. I smiled and went over to sandwich the filly between us.
“You need to stop coming off rotation early so much,” I teased.
He looked at me and smiled. “And miss my daughter’s Cute-ceñera? You wound me, Az.”
I stuck my tongue out at him as we returned to the cake.
I looked at the filly as she slept that night, leaning against Gleam.
“Seems like just yesterday you brought her home with you,” he whispered. “Scrawny and filthy, terrified.”
I nodded. “Now she’s of proper health,” I breathed. “Got friends and decent marks, according to Cheerilee.” I felt a tear slide down my cheek. “And now she’s got her cutie mark. She’s growing up on us, Gleam.”
He turned his head and kissed the base of my horn, causing a shiver to run along my spine.
“She’s still ours, Az,” he breathed in my ear. “Nothing to stop that.”
“I’m knowing that, love,” I said as we headed for our room. “Doesn’t mean that I don’t miss the days past. It seems like the last three years have gone by so fast.”
“Look at it from my place,” he said as he wandered around to his side of the bed. “Seems like she grows every time I see her, which isn’t often enough for my tastes.”
I smiled at him. “Maybe you should retire, then,” I teased.
He scoffed. “Maybe,” he rumbled. “But what would the two of you do with me hanging about all the time?”
“Spend a few picnic days out,” I said. “Maybe actually figure out how to tend that long mane o’hers, though she’s gotten to where she does it on her own now. Been talking t’Sweetie Belle on tips last time she was over.”
Gleam reached over and ruffled my shaggy mane. “One of us needs to show some sort of fashion sense,” he teased.
“Off with it, ya gobshite,” I teased back, pushing his hoof away. “Lest you wake up with your coat shaved again.”
He rolled his eyes.
I snuggled in close, smiling. “I just remember when she would come in, some dream waking her and asking to sleep in here with us.”
“I know, imp,” my husband whispered.
“Remember her first Wrap-up?”
“Fluttershy was awful proud of the kid,” Gleam murmured. “She was apparently a bang-up with the critters.”
I smiled.
“We still have to help clean up in the morning,” I said. “That party was a blowout.”
Gleam chuckled.
“Remember when you thought you’d never get to say that about your own filly?”
I smiled and kissed him.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “What was I thinking?”
Author's Note
Part of my anniversary writing set.
For The Oldest Brony. I love slipping into Azure’s horseshoes. She’s such a fun character and I may delve into her past soon.
