Author's Note

Last chapter of the evening before I go to bed! Hope you all enjoy!

Old Friends

Waking up the next morning for Soarin was almost magical, not necessarily in the way that everything seemed to be perfect for him or that he had a good feeling about that day, but in a different way. He remembered falling asleep on the couch and waking up in his bed gave him that odd sense of wonder he’d felt as a young colt when his parents put him there. He realized now that his mother must have done that for him last night. Underneath the surprise that she was strong enough to do it, was an odd feeling of warmth at the sensation. When he’d gained his bearings, he realized a few things at once. The first was that the water glasses he kept by his bed were already filled, a chore he usually did every morning. He drank his morning glass, and then noticed the distinctive smell of waffles being made in the kitchen. Specifically, Chocolate chip ones, likely topped with maple syrup and whipped cream- his favorite. The smell made him lick his lips in anticipation. He hopped out of bed, and went to the bathroom before he made his way to the kitchen. At his place was a plate of three chocolate chip waffles dripping with syrup, and piled high with whipped cream. His nose had not lied to him. He grinned at the sight, just as his mother sat her own plate at her place.

“Morning, sweetheart.” Sky Streak smiled, and pecked his cheek. “I made your favorite.”

“Mmmmm.” The happy hum was all the thanks she needed as she watched her son dig into his breakfast and ate by him.

As always, Practice came up in the morning, so Soarin had to leave, and his mother was left the house for the day. Sky Streak cleaned up from breakfast, and then, feeling an odd sort of pull, headed to the attic. That was the place where they kept boxes of old things. She’d rarely gone there over the years, but felt a need to now. She looked over the box labels and found the one she wanted, and pulled it out, taking it downstairs.

Inside was a box of Soarin’s baby items.

Perhaps it was a bit of nostalgia, but last night had her feeling wistful for what she’d had with her son back then. She pulled out a photo album and started flipping through the pages. Her son had been such a beautiful baby. From the moment she’d first held him, she’d fallen in love with him. He was simply perfect in her eyes. As he grew, he became so curious about everything. When he was around three, that was the age when he’d followed her around the house all day asking her questions until she couldn’t even think straight. A picture from his first day of school reminded her of the tears she’d shed that morning so long ago because she feared he wouldn’t need her anymore. There was a medal in there from his first race he won at age six. Birthday parties, milestones, and a childhood well lived were immortalized in those pictures and the loving inscriptions she’d written by them. The picture that made her smile the most though, was taken when he was five.

Soarin was in a little sailor suit, holding his stuffed companion Doggie Do in one hoof as he smiled at the toy. She remembered that day perfectly. She’d helped him dress in that sailor suit because he had told her that he and Doggie Do were going on an adventure at sea to help find a lost temple on the other side of the ocean. So she’d gotten him that little suit and gotten Doggie Do a very tiny piece of fabric to wear as a sailor’s cap, and the pair had set sail on an adventure for the ages. She’d gotten to watch canon battles unfold, traps be outsmarted, and treasure be rescued. He’d had such an imagination on him, and she wondered where in Equestria that had gone. Certainly it took some of it to come up with some of the maneuvers for Wonderbolt shows, but she got the feeling that much of the potential had yet to be tapped into.

The one thing that could help him tap into it though, was in his room.

She packed up the box, and put it back with it’s twins, and headed to his room, to see his old and beloved companion, Doggie Do, sitting on the shelf.

She picked up the small toy. It was very dirty, and worn with age in places where the fur was patchy, but all in all, it was well taken care of. No rips or tears, no pulled out eyes, and not a mark on it in sight. She looked at the stuffed animal, and saw something full of potential. A catalyst of sorts, for her son to be able to tap into the full extent of his imagination. It gave her an odd feeling- like she was touching something exploding with power. It sent a tingle up her spine at the thought. She formulated an idea so fast that it left her reeling. Picking up the toy, she carried it in her hooves as if it were a sacred object that was necessary for worship, and took him to the kitchen sink.

Soon, her son would be able to imagine things just the same as he used to. But his favorite traveling companion would need a bath first. So, armed with soap, an unused toothbrush, and warm water, along with a sewing needle should things go awry, she began her pet project. She carefully wet Doggie Do, and gently scrubbed out any dirt that may have gotten on him. She cleaned him thoroughly, and mercifully created no tears in the toy. Then, she took him outside in the sun to dry, setting him in her lap. As she looked up at the sun in the sky, she couldn’t help but think that this was going to be an incredible day.