Katie was laying on her stomach on her bed. Her feet were lifted behind her, kicking back and forth with a foals book propped up by a pillow in front of her. Learning to read again was arduous, difficult, and caused her much frustration. On more than one occasion Strawberry had heard the girl groan loudly, and toss whatever she was reading onto the floor. Tonight Katie was not looking to learn anything, she was trying to distract herself from the coming trip to Vanhoover. The nervousness and anxiety formed a small ball in the pit of her stomach, making it impossible to relax, let alone get any sleep. Rocky and Strawberry had put together an agreement of sorts and written it down for all of them to sign. They read the whole thing out to her, as Katie still lacked sufficient literacy to do it herself. The agreement scared the girl, as all change is wont to do in all creatures. It roughly laid out the terms for the visit to Vanhoover, putting Katie into a role of minor, and Rocky and Strawberry into roles as guardians for the duration of the trip, to be rediscussed upon return.

Katie felt somewhat panicked and afraid about the whole idea. She signed the paper feeling no different and seeing no change in Strawberry and Rocky as everyone was getting ready to sleep for the trip tomorrow. What if they were controlling and domineering, what if they tried to make her do things she was uncomfortable with? Was she right to allow such a change in role if even for this short time?

Strawberry Dusk knocked quietly on the open door with a hoof. Katie looked up from the book in front of her, "Come in," she spoke in a sleepy and tired voice. Strawberry entered the room, reaching back she grabbed a tray with two mugs on it that was balanced on her back. She placed it gently on the nightstand.

“You know sweet tart, you should probably be getting into bed soon. Tomorrow is going to be a long day,” Strawberry spoke softly. Leaning her massive head towards the girl to get a better look at the book.

“I know, I’ve never been a good sleeper.” Katie closed the book, turned around, sitting up she looked into the massive, kind, and colourful face. “Everything wakes me up, I wake up at least six times a night, going to sleep is never easy.”

“Well I made you some hot cocoa, it might help you relax.” Strawberry gestured slightly towards the direction of the tray. Strawberry climbed onto the massive bed, the frame sagged as the mare made herself comfortable. Reaching over she handed a mug to the girl, it was smaller and had Pegasus ponies in uniforms flying on it. It was clearly a foals mug with a sealed top. Katie didn’t mind it was easier to drink out of, and with the drink being hot she appreciated it.

“You want to talk about it?” Strawberry asked while taking a small sip of her drink and putting it down on the table.

“What is there to talk about?” Katie replied nervously. Harmony magic began to make her fidget. Strawberry had learned to read the girl well over their time together.

“Equestria seems to be telling you otherwise sweet tart. You nervous about the trip? You want to talk about me and Rocky and Vanhoover?” Strawberry asked gently.

“I’m tired of feeling useless,” Katie blurted out. “I’ve never really been able to help anyone, I’ve never really got to do anything that I wanted to do. I was too focused on being there for others. Everything I did I did for those I love, though they couldn’t or wouldn’t love me back. Now I’m free of it all, you’d think I’d be happy. That I’d go running, living and stuff but I’m too afraid to even try stuff now. I’m a useless burden, who’s been used up and tossed away.”

Katie went bright red and dropped the sealed mug, it landed on the mattress safely. Her hands flew to her mouth and covered it, as if trying to stop herself from speaking. She looked away mortified.

Strawberry carefully picked up the little mug put it back on the table. She reached over and pulled the girl towards her. “It’s ok love come here.” Katie fought it for a moment than buried her face into the mare’s warm and soft pink fur.

“I hate this!” Katie hollered into Strawberry’s side. “Why does this world make me say things.” A sob racked the small body, Strawberry’s gently rubbed her back.

“You say them because you need to say them sweet tart. It’s ok, shhh it’s ok,” Strawberry’s cooed. “You’re not a burden, not at all. Shh”

The fur was soft and warm like a comfortable blanket. I felt the hoof stroking my back gently, it was not the touch of a human hand. It was different but soft and very kind. The world was forcing me towards something unknown, and different. I hated it, it scared me to see this person I was becoming. Not sure wether it was me or Equestria who was doing the shaping.

Strawberry said harmony cannot force, it cannot make you do that which you truly do not wish to do. I thought my motives were clear, my wishes understood. Every conflict, every pressure, and moment of forced speech rippled into my heart. It was as if the world was tearing darkness out of me, with no patience or consideration to my readiness.

My tears stopped slowly as I found a toehold of self control. I pulled away from Strawberry, she was looking down at me with such a loving and kind expression. My heart sank suddenly in fear and anxiety. “I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry for love.”

Strawberry got off the bed and turned to look at me. As always she towered over me and I found myself looking up. Her head came forward and drew back the blanket on the corner closest to her. “Come now love. Under the covers. It’s bedtime.” She gestured with her hoof smiling down at me.

I hesitated, unsure, scared, and worried. At what exactly I didn’t know. Strawberry stood quietly waiting for me. After a moment or so I slowly closed the distance between us and climbed under the covers. Her head came down slowly.”What are you doing?” I asked worry surging inside of me.

“Tucking you in.” She grabbed the blanket pulled it up and let go so the comforter covered me. "What? you've never been tucked in before?" Strawberry looked at me with an odd expression on her face.

My hands grabbed the blanket in nervousness, feeling very vulnerable I replied, "I must have been when I was very young, but I don't remember it."

Strawberry's massive head came down and rested on top of me in what I had come to see as a pony version of a hug. Ponies could hug two different ways, one was very much like a human hug the other involved heads wrapping on or around each other. I wasn't sure what to do with my arms, so I stayed still while the weight rested on top of me. She pulled away slowly.

"So what do you think about it, being tucked in?" Strawberry reached over and found Solid Spear near by picked him up, lifted the blanket and tucked him in beside me.

"It's kind of nice."

"How about I read you a story to help you wind down from the day, would you like that?"

"Oh I don't want to be a bother Strawberry."

"Oh crumbs, Katie enough of that. So my first rule as your Equestrian parent is this, you are not a bother. I don't want to hear that come out of your mouth. Every time you think that, I want you to say to yourself." Strawberry lifted a hoof towards herself and tried to mimic my voice horribly. "Strawberry says, I am not a bother." I giggled from under the covers watching her be so silly made me smile.

"Ok now say it with me," she looked down at me smiling.

"Strawberry says, I am not a bother," I whispered.

"Good filly, it's a start. Now let find a good bedtime story."

Author's Note

I had intended them to head to Vanhoover in this chapter, but you see my mind had different ideas.