My Birthday!... But Where's the Cake?
The stupid alarm clock was buzzing in my ear, making it twitch like mad – I couldn’t decide which was worse. My hoofsies were still too heavy to lift and I didn’t feel like moving, fearing to spoil the relaxed state my body was in. But I felt it – I was going to wake up quite soon. As I suspected, something welled up in me, spreading over my legs, back, swirling in my head…
I finally made the effort and shut the alarm clock off. I couldn’t make it fall to the ground like I used to, as Puffy was still sleeping in his jar on top of the contraption. That one was a real sleepyhead! No sound could wake him up; be it mommy’s vacuum, Wing Dancer’s loud music or the TV, Puffy the rainbow cloud sleep in his jar like nothing was happening. I smiled at him – I still vividly remembered the time daddy gave him to me. My very own piece of rainbow, made by my loving daddy, only for me, his ‘little princess’.
I frowned at the stupid, dull and uninteresting alarm clock that told me it was 8:02 AM. Mommy insisted that it should stop falling down ‘on accident’ and that I should respect the nice things I got from mommy and daddy. Well, I was doing just that! I really loved Mr. Snugglebears, as much as Puffy in fact! I cared about my clouds-and-rainbows bed sheet. But that gray box over there? From which side was it nice?!
Mommy told me that Puffy should keep an eye on the alarm clock, make sure it didn’t fall again. I tried to complain that he felt uncomfortable on it, but mom went on and asked Puffy what he thought of it… And he said it was a good idea. Eh. I had a small talk with Puffy about that later on; told him that we could have gotten a birdie clock if this one fell just a couple more times! But it was too late – mommy already made me swear I would put Puffy’s jar on the clock before going to sleep each night.
I could feel my mane was a mess as I slid off the bed, which was still very warm and soft. I leaned on it one last time, snuggling up to the fragrant bed sheets – mommy cleaned them not that long ago, with that flower smelling liquid and all… Everything about mommy always reminded me of flowers. Her hair smelled like daisies all the time, she made the best tulip dumplings in all of Equestria, and daddy every now and then would make her smile with a giaaaaaant rose bouquet.
“Hello Puffy,” I greeted my bestest friend, taking his jar from the ugly alarm clock. At my touch, the rainbow which daddy gave to me woke up and happily swirled in the jar. I could almost hear its tiny voice say ‘Hello Aeria!’
I looked around for Mr. Snugglebears, who was buried under the blanket, the silly sleepyhead! I sat both my friends in front of me and took on a serious expression.
“Today is my birthday, right?” I asked. Puffy swirled in his jar, very happy with the occasion, and Mr. Snugglebears leaned forward, nodding in agreement. “Yes, of course, this is a very special day! A birthday is the day a foal came to mommy and daddy, brought by a magical stork that Princess Celestia herself sent! And today is that day! My birthday!”
Puffy ran around excitedly in his jar and Mr. Snugglebears seems to have dosed of, leaning his head on the floor. I giggled at the sight – the bear was constantly sleepy, even while we had tea parties or played Fort. I put him straight up again, making sure he was listening properly.
“You know what happens when a filly has her birthday? Her family gives her presents! No, don’t worry Mr. Snugglebears, don’t worry Puffy! I know you remembered, and you are family, but it is mommy, daddy and grandma and grandpa who are responsible for the gifts! You guys give me all I need anyway – love and being the bestest friends!”
We all group hugged, Mr. Snugglebears snuggling up to me like I was a pillow and Puffy dancing in his container. I was so very happy and excited! The last time I had a birthday, mommy and daddy gave me a stars-and-moons bed sheet, which I loved so much! Too bad we had to throw it away after I got sick on it… I still miss it sometimes. But Mr. Snugglebears tells me that he likes the new one just as much, and I have to agree! It also smells a lot like mommy, so it’s almost like sleeping in her hooves, all wrapped up in warmth and softness…
The box at my table yelled at me again, making me cringe. It was 8:15… Oh my gosh! I totally forgot, today I still have to go to school! Aww, guess I’ll get to play with Puffy and Mr. Snugglebears once I come back…
“Take care Puffy. Make sure this ugly alarm clock doesn’t fall again. Remember, we promised to mommy! Daddy doesn’t break his promises, and neither should we! Okay?” Puffy shook excitedly in his jar – I could tell that he wouldn’t let that thing out of his sight while I was gone.
“And you, Mr. Snugglebears… You go to sleep,” I giggled, putting the bear back on the bed and wrapping it up gingerly in the sheet. He sighed and closed his tiny bear eyes. I kissed his head, petting his head. He was such a sleepy bear, and he needed to be well rested for the party mommy and daddy probably made for me!
As quickly as I could I trotted to the kitchen, where mommy was finishing preparing breakfast. Wing Dancer looked at me briefly and turned away, staring at the cupboards. He was always like that, grumpy and ‘not here’. He wouldn’t even let me into his room! Not that he had anything interesting in there anyway. I managed to sneak in there one time, and there was nothing interesting – no toys, no albums, only some stupid magazines with mares tucked under his bead. They weren’t even half as pretty as mommy, because mommy was the prettiest mare in the world! I mean, how else would she be picked by such an awesome and handsome stallion like dad?! Her cooking skills might have helped a lot, too!
I sat at the table, unable to contain my excitement – I could already see it! Mommy would turn away from the table, with a big grin on her face and a cake with seven – yeah, SEVEN! – candles on it, singing Happy Birthday along with a smiling Wing Dancer! And then daddy would barge into the kitchen, telling me that today we would spend the whole day practicing flying and then launching fireworks into the air!
“There you go sweetie, your breakfast.” Mommy did turn around, and she was smiling… But that sandwich didn’t have candles on it! I looked at the bread suspiciously, raising a slice to see if there wasn’t any vanilla or chocolate cream in there. Nope, only salad and chamomile.
“Something wrong, Aeria, dear?” asked mommy, coming over and petting my mane. With a few fast strokes she commanded it to straighten and not feel so awkward on my head – I would learn how she did that one day!
“N-No,” I replied, a bit let down by this sudden change of events. Still, this was my favorite sandwich, and there was no harm in eating it. As I finished, I took a look around the kitchen, looking for even a hint of my birthday cake… There was nothing. No icing, not even a bit of wax from a candle, I didn’t even see matches!
“Are you sure, Aeria? You look troubled… Come on, you can tell mommy,” said mommy, crouching next to me and drawing me near to her. I loved that daisy smell she wore. Her mane was full of it, and it was so soft and comfortable, I wish I could really sleep in it. If only I wasn’t so big.
“No, it’s… It’s okay, mommy. I’m fine,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment. I resisted the urge to ask her if she even remembered that today was a super special day. Even more special than the day I first lifted off the ground; more important than the day I got Puffy!
Mom still looked a bit worried, but all she did was nod and kiss me firmly on the cheek.
Well, I guess daddy would still remember. He never forgot a single important day! The day my first tooth fell out of my muzzle (gosh, I cried so hard back then… And was so happy when Princess Luna’s Tooth Fairy came and gave me a shiny bit for that tooth!), the day I first went to school (I cried hard that day too, so hard in fact, daddy sat with me through the lessons, holding my hoof. He looked silly in that small filly sized chair, and that made me laugh a little)… And all the other important days I can’t even remember myself!
So I started looking for him. Where would he pop up from?! He wasn’t behind the sofa. The space between the wardrobe and the wall was too small even for me… He wasn’t under his and mommy’s bed either, and I made extra sure of that, jumping on every inch of the bouncy mattress.
“Aeria, darling, time to go to school. You’ll get to play all you want once you come back, okay? Have a nice day, my lovely angels!” Mommy sent me and Wing Dancer a kiss as we left the house. I had my muzzle really low now, near the ground almost – I felt really let down! I mean, today was my birthday! Didn’t they remember? Wasn’t I important to them anymore?
“… Wing Dancer?” I asked my big brother, picking up the pace to match his own. He had longer legs, so I had to take a few steps for each of his.
“Hmm?” Wing Dancer looked down at me with a lifted brow. Should I ask him? No, it was too late now, was it? I mean… I…
“Nothing,” I said, letting my head and wings droop. They forgot. Or worse, I wasn’t important anymore. Or maybe… Oh my, that would be the worst! I was so big now, that I wouldn’t get to celebrate my birthday! Wing Dancer did get a cake on his just a few months ago… So maybe… so maybe only mares don’t get to celebrate their 7th birthdays?! I never asked mommy about that… So I was big enough now not to get presents? Or cake?! Or have fun and games?!
* * *
At school, Ms. Sunshine called the whole class to stand up and sing Happy Birthday to me. I sat there, smiling a bit, thanking them for their warm wishes. Inside, I felt kind of cold – everypony in class remembered it was my birthday, but my own mommy, daddy and even Wing Dancer didn’t. There would be no presents, no cake, no sweets, no giggles, no fireworks…
We had some art classes today, but it wasn’t as fun as usual – I kept mindlessly doodling on the large page in front of me. I did it with a black crayon, one that got rarely used by anypony at all – black was a sad color, and it didn’t appear on the rainbow, so I hated it. But right now, I didn’t care that my drawing didn’t show a rainbow. There were no rainbows in my head to draw.
“Aeria, sweetheart, is something the matter?” Ms. Sunshine came over and sat next to me, looking with worry at my uninspired drawing.
“Ms. Sunshine?” I asked, gulping down something big and sore in my throat. “After a mare turns seven… Does she stop getting presents? And stop celebrating her birthdays?”
“Huh?” The teacher looked at me funny and then gently shook her head. “Whatever do you mean, Aeria? Is something wrong at home?”
“N-No… I-I… I m-mean…” I couldn’t talk, that choking thing kept creeping up my throat, making my eyes water. It was very unpleasant and I began to sob quietly, feeling my nose fill up with some fluid.
“Aeria! What’s the matter, huh? Oh, dearie, shhh, settle down… Shhhh…” Ms. Sunshine wrapped her hooves around my neck and cradled me back and forth while I tried to wipe away the water in my eyes and the snot from my snout. I dug my hooves into her sides and managed to whimper out the thing that made me so sad I didn’t know what to do: “They f-forgot! They for-forgot it’s my b-b-birthdaaaay… yyy…”
I was crying now, unable to draw in a breath between the jerking of my chest and wailing coming out from a very deep place in my stomach. Ms. Sunshine kept hushing me, rocking me back and forth slowly. The others probably were looking at me, but I didn’t care. I was hurt, literally hurt, there was a pinching feeling somewhere deep in my heart. I felt it beat and hurt.
The teacher unglued me slightly from her mane helped me wipe my face with a tissue. I blew my nose hard in it, soaking it completely. Still sobbing, I looked into her light-blue eyes, unable to stop my lips from curving downwards into a painful grimace.
“Aeria, sweetie, what makes you think your mommy and daddy forgot such a special and most important day?” Ms. Sunshine asked in a gentle voice.
“I… I- They…” I had to fight the sobbing and inhale deeply to stop my snout from leaking. “I-I woke up today… A-And they did-did-didn’t even sing me a song! Mo-Mommy just made me… Made me a sandwich a… and there was no cake!” I broke down into tears again, hugging Ms. Sunshine tightly. I so badly wanted to warm myself against her – I was so cold I was shivering all over. She was gently rubbing my back, while I mustered just enough strength to voice yet another sad truth, a needle that pricked me right in the chest: “I’m not important to them any-anymooooore….. Yhy, yhy!.....”
“Aeria, darling, shhh… Of course you are important… Shhh…. You are their most important little rainbow…. Now, now, wipe those tiny little tears…. Shhhh, my child, sshhhh…” Ms. Sunshine continued to rock me back and forth. It felt comfortable and I was finally getting a bit warmer. My heart still stung and my throat was sore… Not to mention the burning in my eyes… But I wept less and less now.
“This must be some kind of misunderstanding… Shhh, shhh… I’m sure they remembered…. Shhh… Maybe they wanted to throw you a surprise birthday party? Hm?” Her wide smile was very convincing… But it didn’t work on me.
“Surprise? Birthday party?” I sobbed, rubbing my already sore eyes. “What? Why would they? A normal birthday party is fine… I don’t even have to get presents or cake… I- I… I just wanted them to remember…”
“Shhhh, shhh… I’m sure they do remember. Awww, you poor thing you… Shhh… Why would you think that your own mommy and daddy would think of you as unimportant?”
“I… I don’t know… I’m seven already,” I said, wiping my face more or less clean, sitting on Ms. Sunshine’s lap. “Maybe I’m old enough, like Wing Dancer. Mommy and daddy don’t look at him as much as they do at me. They don’t celebrate when he brings back a smile grade or a nice drawing… Maybe I’m that old too, and they will now find another foal to look after?”
“Holy Celestia, Aeria,” chuckled the teacher. It wasn’t funny, not to me… “Where do you get those ideas from? I’m very, very sure they remember about you, and that you are the most important thing in the world for them. They love you with all their heart, trust me. I promise you that when you come back home, you’ll turn that frown upside down. Do you trust me, Aeria?”
“… Y-Yes,” I nodded, blowing my nose one last time into a tissue.
“Good. Now, let’s finish class, okay? Let’s put that dark cloud you drew away… Here, have a new page… And some crayons… Now, come on, draw me the perfect present you would like to get! I remember you were saying something about an alarm clock with a cute little birdie… How did that look like, hmm?”
“Well… K-Kind of like… This… and here it had… No, that was the wing, see? And its beak, it was…”
* * *
Wing Dancer was waiting in front of the school gate for me. We finished classes around the same time, so I had no idea why he had to always wait up for me. It was probably because of those long legs of his. He was so fast without even trying.
“How was school, squirt?” he asked, not even looking at me.
“Good,” I replied.
He glanced down at me with surprise. What? He always complained I ‘gushed over painting some child things’, so for once, I didn’t feel like gushing. More like bubbling. And being left alone.
Ms. Sunshine promised, and I believed her, she wouldn’t lie to me. But there were still no rainbows in my head. The clouds around were bland and dirty from all the paths other Pegasus made. The houses around were uninteresting and dull, pretty much like my non-birdie alarm clock.
Whatever mommy and daddy would do now, I’m not sure it would make me happy. I was really let down! Maybe they really forgot and Ms. Sunshine just rang them to remind them of this special occasion? That would probably be it. They just didn’t remember, they were waiting for another small filly to come and throw her a birthday party. And I would get some of her cake, with as many candles as it could carry. And that would be my present too. A cake that belongs to another filly that mommy and daddy cared about.
Wing Dancer was looking at me from time to time, his eyebrows raised. Let him stare. I don’t care. He wasn’t any better. He didn’t remember too. And he would be surprised when he came home, because there is no way Ms. Sunshine could call him and tell him it’s my birthday.
* * *
“Mom, I’m home. Aeria ate a slug or something,” said my brother, causing me to look at him with narrowed eyes.
“Uh, hi… What?” asked mom, giving me a kiss on the cheek and only managing to greet Wing Dancer before he shut himself in his room.
“I didn’t eat a slug. He’s lying. I’m fine.” As much as I tried to sound okay, I just couldn’t. My voice sounded mean and grumpy. There were still no streamers, party hats or birthday music. So they did forget. Ms. Sunshine was wrong. And I was right… I wish I wasn’t.
“I’m going to my room,” I murmured, but mommy stopped me.
“And where’s a kiss for mommy?” she asked surprised.
Pfft. I just pecked her near the mouth and tried to break off the hug, determined to shut myself in my room just like Wing Dancer. Maybe that was why he was so grumpy now. I got it now. He wasn’t important to mommy and daddy, so he came to his room and pretended to play with the mares that were in those magazines. They weren’t mommy, but they probably cared about him more than mom does anyway.
“I’ll be in my room,” I repeated, opening the door. “With real family that cares about me,” I whispered under my breath, closing the doors shut behind me.
It took me a while before I actually turned around to look at my room. Mr. Snugglebears? Puffy? What are you doing on the floor?... And what’s that box?... A box? A box!
“Mr. Snugglebears… Puffy…” I gasped, feeling another spring of tears open up in my eyes. Shaking, I came up to my bestest and only friends and gave them a long, big, warm and tight hug. They remembered, from the very beginning. And they got me a present!... They were the best. The only.
“I love you so much, Mr. Snugglebears, Puffy,” I sobbed, losing control of my snout yet again that day. This time the choking thing in my throat was warmer, but it hurt still.
Barely seeing anything through tears, I unpacked the bears and balloons paper and lifted the lid of the box. There was a note in it. As fast as I could I restrained my tears and wiped my face. The letters read “Kitchen”. What was in the kitchen?
I opened the door to my room, scanning my surroundings for signs of mommy. She wasn’t here. I didn’t even hear the TV. So she went out. Figures. She had to prepare for the new important filly and her birthday party.
I don’t know why, but I tiptoed silently into the kitchen. There was another box there! Gingerly, I unwrapped the paper and peered inside the box… Another note. “Mom and Dad’s Bedroom”. What? No, I would not go in there. For starters, it was closed. And I was too hurt to even think about the second reason. But what if… Well, Mr. Snugglebear’s and Puffy’s note told me to go there. I mean, what if they hid my present there? They didn’t know mommy and daddy forgot. It was not their fault. Why should I punish them for something they didn’t do? I’ll just take the gift and leave…
On the bed, there was another box, the same as the previous ones. And yes, another note. What kind of game was it? Were even my dear friends making fun of me now? “Wing Dancer’s Room”. Pff, yeah, uhum, right. Now I knew this had to be a joke. No way would Wing Dancer allow me to snoop around in his room. Bad time for a prank, Mr. Snugglebears. I didn’t expect Puffy to play such a prank on me, after all the fun we had…
Whatever… I felt so bad that it didn’t matter if anypony shouted at me. In fact, I wanted to shout back. Yeah, right back at their clueless faces! Today was my birthday, and I would tell it to them, make them embarrassed! I would tell Wing Dancer what I thought about his silly magazine and those ugly mares! I would tell him! I would show them all!
Strangely, the doors weren’t locked. There was no Wing Dancer too. Too bad. I really felt like shouting. I had to settle for stomping my hoof down really hard, like, so hard that it hurt for a moment or two. Maybe a bit longer. On his bed, there was… Yes, a package. And a paper. I was getting sick of this joke. This would be the last one I read. Enough is enough. “Outside”. Hmpf. Maybe I’ll just run away? Yeah, that was a good idea. They didn’t need me anymore. They would get a new filly anyway. I’m sure I saw mommy writing a letter the other day, probably to Princess Celestia, to ask for a new filly. Because this one was already seven. She was old, forgotten and useless.
I was thinking about what to pack and whether or not to take Puffy or Mr. Snugglebears after they made me run around the house for nothing, when…
“Surprise!” roared a crowd in front of the house. Streamers flew through the air, Pegasus cheered, balloons lifted off… And I closed the doors, feeling my heart pound so fast I had to hold it in place. What was that?! What just happened.
A gentle knock on the doors made me jump away, utterly confused. The door opened slightly and daddy’s muzzle poked inside, a party hat on his head and wide smile decorating his face.
“Aeria, sweetie, is everything okay? Come on out, sorry we startled you! Come, join your party!”
“… P-Party?” I was petrified. My head was full of wind gusting in all directions, warm and cold at the same time. Party? Birthday party? Surprise birthday party?!
“Of course! It’s your birthday, sweetie! Don’t you remember?” he opened the doors, letting in the loud music and cheers.
I didn’t know what to do. What to think. So Ms. Sunshine was right. They made a party for me. A surprise party. But why didn’t they tell me?! Why did they act as if it was just another normal Monday?
“Aeria, darling! What’s the matter! Don’t you like your party? Oh, come on, sweetheart, what’s the matter? Shhh, shhhh,” he hugged me really hard. I wanted that hug, I gave it back. I wanted to feel him squeeze these silly tears away from me.
I was happy! I was dumb, stupid! I was the silliest foal in Equestria! Princess Celestia should punish me for being the most clueless filly on the face of the earth! Of course mommy and daddy wouldn’t forget my birthday! They didn’t forget a single thing!
“You, you remembered! You knew it was my birthdaaaay!...” I think I left a lot of snot on his mane, but he didn’t care. He just picked me up and took me outside, where mommy immediately came to me and hugged me, showering me with kissed. Granny and grandpa were there too and they all bent over me, talking something, hugging, kissing.
And I was wailing like a newborn foal. Just like the day I was brought in a rainbow colored basket. And just like on that day, the moment I saw their loving, worried faces through tears of relief and joy, I settled down. Their love showered me like a warm summer rain, washing away all the dark clouds, shooing them to another galaxy and beyond. I felt the rainbows come back; I knew there were thousands of them, one bursting into hundreds, thousands, millions at a time!
The music, the happy faces, the smell of cake, the balloons disappearing in the sky, it was all perfect – and all I could do was try and not to break into a cry again as they sang Happy Birthday to me. No way would I admit ever doubting them. I would keep that shameful secret forever. I mean, I would tell Mr. Snugglebears and Puffy. Not the alarm clock, it had a very loud mouth and would tell everypony. And I was really embarrassed I thought they were getting another filly. Or that they didn’t think about me. Or make me their number one most important princess.
“Now, my little rainbow, make a wish and blow out the candles!” smiled mommy, bringing over a vanilla and chocolate cream cake.
I closed my eyes, allowing the last of the tears to tumble down and sink into my fur. I wished. I wished very hard. I wanted mommy and daddy, even Wing Dancer, to always be like this. Happy, smiling, always together, with me. I also made a small promise to the candles – a promise that I would always have trust in mommy and daddy. That I would never, ever again think wrong about them. They loved me, the proof was all around, and there was no other filly in the world that loved them back like I did. I inhaled as much air as I could, even some more, and blew. I blew hard. All of the seven candles’ flames were spirited away into the wind, carrying my wish and promise to the Goddesses that would listen. They knew I was serious, and that I put all my heart into that single wish. I didn’t want anything else. The stack of presents on the table, while tempting, was nothing compared to the thing I got and cherished the most – their love and attention, their warm, fuzzy coats on my face, their lips that time and time again kissed away the little tears that still somehow made their way onto my face.
“Darling, we had no idea you would be so touched,” giggled mommy, putting me on her lap and showing the stack of presents. She was quite surprised when instead of throwing myself at them, as I always did, I turned around and hugged her, digging my face into her flower scented mane.
“I love you mommy, I’ll always do. Forever and ever. Thank you.”
As everypony begun their ‘Awwwww’, I jumped down and trotted to daddy, jumping at his chest. He picked me up and I gave him a big hug too, gently nibbling at his neck.
“I love you too daddy, always. You and mommy are the bestest mommy and daddy a seven year old filly could ever have. Princess Celestia’s stork was very kind to me when he gave me to you. I’ll have to meet him and thank him one day.”
I felt dad squeeze me even harder, but I didn’t mind. I would let him be an octopus today; he deserves that and much more, for the rest of forever.
“That’s really touching, my little flyer,” whispered daddy, looking at me with watery eyes. “N-Now, how about those presents, huh? If you don’t want them, we can give them back…”
I dangled in his forehooves, everypony looking at me funnily. What?
“Want,” I said simply. I’ll let them laugh. Just today.
* * *
The part was even better than I imagined. I brought Mr. Snugglebears and Puffy along, and learned they were in on the secret as well. They got their hugsies and kisses – they were the bestest friends and family I could ever dream of.
I got some really neat things from the presents! There were no more stupid papers; I got a birdie alarm clock, one that couldn’t possibly produce a squeal louder than mine when I saw the colorful frame; another box contained Dinky and Winky hoof puppets, just like in the show – and they fit in perfectly!; lots of new clothes was predictable, and I was in such a good mood I even put on a fashion show for granny and grandpa; the last box had… Yes! It was fireworks!
“We’ll launch those after the moon rises – we have permission from air control,” I nearly broke daddy’s neck when I threw myself at him, kissing and thanking him with whatever energy I had left.
* * *
I was stuffed with cake so much I could barely dance to the awesome music Wing Dancer set up. I just giggled and bounced in place to the rhythm of Dinky and Winky’s theme song, my daddy telling me to do some neat tricks, such as spinning around or wagging my tail. We both laughed so hard, I feared I would have to taste the cake again. Hopefully, that would wait until my bed sheet was far away.
“Oh my!” gasped daddy, making me stop turning round and round. “I almost forgot! There is one more present that you didn’t unpack, Aeria,” he smiled, vanishing inside the house for a few moments.
I struggled to stop the spinning in my head and keep the cake in my stomach. Mommy came over and rubbed my back, keeping me straight, for which I was thankful. Truthfully, I was a bit tired after this… This day. I managed to lean on mommy’s foreleg, sighing with relief.
“Are you ready?” asked daddy, carrying a box with holes by thread that kept it sealed. There was something inside the box that made it move, and some funny sounds came from it too. Was it some kind of toy? A talking Celestia doll!?
“What is it, what is it?!” I shouted excitedly, trying to snuff out what was in the box. Yeah, there was definitely something inside, moving and… And…?
“Open it. Just be careful! It’s very delicate… That’s right, slow on the lid… Well… How do you like it?”
How did I like it? My heart sunk. My eyes were ready to pop out. My jaw was probably on its way to the ground way, way below us.
“It’s… It’s…”
“It’s a she,” smiled daddy, moving the box closer.
It was a she. A beautiful, small, puffy she. The most adorable baby owl I have ever seen. Her eyes were yellow, she had a tiny little beak, ruffled little wings, and… and…
“Who?” asked the owly in a high pitched voice, jumping around in her small box.
“A… Aeria…” I gasped, looking at the miracle in front of my muzzle. I… I only once. Once, I swear… Once said I wanted a pet. An owl. I asked mommy once, and she said that not now. That it was a big responsibility and that when I was older I could… I was older now. And this was an owl. A small, cuddly, feathery baby owl. A she. And mommy and daddy… They… They think I’m responsible now? That I can have a pet owl?
“Who?” asked the owly, looking at me with those two eyes in which I saw all the beauty a night sky could have.
“Me…. Aeria…” I said to the owly, totally forgetting that there was a world around me. That is, until I felt a hoof on my shoulder.
“She is all yours, Aeria,” said mommy, petting my mane in a way only she could. “Remember what I said – having a pet is a big responsibility. You have to take care of her, feed her, groom her, give her baths, exercise-”
“YES!” I screamed, jumping into the air and flapping my wings. “And sleep with her, and play, and teach her tricks, like sit or fetch, and show her off at school, and and-”
“Yes, yes, all that, darling” interrupted daddy, reaching for my hoof. “C’mon, touch her. She won’t hurt you, I promise. There we go… Delicately… Yes, like that… See? She likes it.”
It was magic. My hoof was gently running down the owly’s head, onto her back, to the very last feathers of her tail. She closed her vibrant yellow eyes and who’ed softly, probably enjoying my touch and cocking her tiny little head in my direction.
It was silly now, but my eyes were wet again. Mommy and daddy were the best, best, best ever. I wanted this day to last forever. Or rewind and play all over again. I didn’t care that I would be sad in the morning, not at all. Because right now, at this moment… While my wings were still weak at flying, my heart was way up there, with the rainbows from my head, doing backflips and corkscrews in the sky weaved from my parent’s care and love.
* * *
Dear Mr. Stork Belonging To Princess Celestia, The One Who Brought Me, Aeria, To Mommy And Daddy,
I, Aeria, am writing to you after all this time. Seven years, to Thank You as hard and wide as is Equestria – I want you to know that I am very happy with mommy and daddy, and that they love me very much, and that you are a very smart and kind Stork to bring me to them when I was little.
I know I sometimes didn’t Behave or Something, but I Promise that from now on I will do my best to please Mommy and Daddy, because they deserve the very best. I want to make you proud Mr. Stork, and I will always tell all the other fillies and foals that you are the Best Stork Ever, very Smart and Kind, because you gave me to such great Parents.
Today, Magenta the Owly joined out family. She is an Owl, and she is very Loving and likes to Play with Me, Mr. Snugglebears and Puffy. She is still very small, but I promise to take care of her and when she will be old enough, I will tell her about You Mr. Stork, so that she can write to you too and thank you for giving me to Mommy and Daddy on that day. Seven years ago.
I am running out of place to write on Mr. Stork, so I would just like to thank you again for finding Mommy and Daddy, giving Me to Them and making them Love Me. I Love Them back hard too, and Love You hard as well. Please say Hi to Princess Celestia from me and tell her that I think you are the best Stork she has, and that she should give you a Raise or Medal or Something, because you are so Smart and Kind.
Lots of Love, Hugsies, Kisses and Love from Your Aeria, Filly, Today Seven Years Old.
I looked again at the letter I wrote – it took me a lot of time and paper to get all the shapes of the letters right, and I nearly ran out of things to write with. The last sentence had to be written with crayons, so I drew a small rainbow and a small heart in the corner of the letter. I folded it and sealed it with some duct-tape, addressing it to the stork that brought me to mommy and daddy.
I was really sleepy now – the fireworks we let fly were loud and colorful as I expected, but my eyes were all over Magenta, my very own owly, who was tickling my back hopping round and round as I giggled.
I put the letter on the counter, where Luna’s fairy would pick it up and, as I requested on the back, give to the Stork it was meant for. Mommy saw the letter and asked me about it, but I kept my mouth sealed… Well, I did giggle, but I didn’t tell anything!
As always, mommy kissed me, letting me get a last sniff of her flowery mane, and tucked me into my warm and soft clouds-and-rainbows bed sheet. Beside me was the new birdie clock that tick tocked silently, right next to Puffy who was lazily hovering in his jar. Mr. Snugglebears was asleep some time now, and now lay beside me, probably waiting to meet up in dreamland. To my right I heard Magenta snore silently – she was as tired as I was from all the jumping, and mommy told me that baby owls were like baby foals – they needed a lot of sleep, food, care and attention.
“Goodnight, my little rainbow,” whispered mommy, kissing me on the head. She wanted to leave the room, but I stopped her and pulled her towards me.
“I love you mommy. Thank you for being my mommy. Tell daddy I love him too and that he is the best daddy ever.” She just smiled and nuzzled me affectionately.
The lights went out and I felt my eyelids close. This whole day was a rollercoaster, one that was scary at first, but made you squeal in delight once you got over that part. I wished we could have a birthday every day. Maybe not a surprise birthday, maybe without cake or even presents. Just a silent little birthday for our whole family – for me, mommy daddy, even Wing Dancer if he’d like to come. We would just sing the birthday song, dance… Look at the night sky together… Make rainbows in the sky… Fly way… Way up high…
Oh… Princess Luna’s fairy… I think… Yeah… She al-… Already took the letter… Good… Goodnight, Magenta… Puffy… Mr… Mr. Snugglebears… And Mr. Stork… Sweet dreams everypony…