Author's Note

Double chapter day! Can I go for triple? I don't know but I'm gonna try!

Enjoy folks!

Knowing Me, Knowing You

When Soarin woke up from his nap, it was to the beat of his own drum. His mother hadn’t woken him this time, and he realized he must not have been asleep for as long as he’d thought because his room didn’t have the brightness level it usually held when it was time for dinner. Despite this, though, he felt oddly refreshed. Very few times did he sleep and actually wake up feeling like he’d slept. Most of the time, in mornings or after whatever sporadic naps he’d taken over the years, he felt like a walking corpse. But this time, he felt like he was ready to tackle the day. Or rather, what remained of it. He did not recognize that his hoof was in his mouth still, but he realized fairly quickly the softness snuggled against him could be the culprit of his well-rested feeling. Taking his hoof from his mouth with a pop (and feeling slightly embarrassed he hadn’t realized it was there in the first place), he picked up his old companion.

Doggie Do carried with him the last shred of Foalhood he’d bothered to keep. This stuffed companion had seen him through nightmares, countless adventures, temper tantrums, and nap times over the years. He’d done it all without ever being prompted, until Soarin was seven, and decided he was too old for him. Still though, he’d kept the toy in his room as a reminder. The stuffed dog was tinged with both good and bad connotations. The good being all the adventures, smiles, laughs, and happiness of childhood, and the bad being a grim reminder of what he’d felt the need to shed so quickly.

His mother had told him a few times in his teenage years about how before the age of five, he had let himself grow up according to his own timetable. His mother had allowed him to give up things at his own pace, she’d said. She’d told him that he had potty trained a bit late, at the age of two, and that she’d nursed him until the age of four and only stopped because he’d said he didn’t want it anymore. So she had. She’d acquiesced to his wishes, and let him develop at his own pace, so he could make his choices independently, and grow in confidence in his decisions. The downside of this, though his mother had been correct about all of that, was that he’d been more childish from other children at that age. He’d been teased about it often, and he hadn’t liked it. So, at the age of five, he’d thrown aside childish things and plunged himself into being a grown up. The only two things that had stuck with him were Doggie Do and sucking his hoof, and when he’d turned seven, and was even more socially conscious of his peers, he’d given those up too, even though he personally hadn’t been ready. It was the only time he could think of that peer pressure had really gotten under his skin.

Staring at the old toy was a reminder of a childhood he’d given up so quickly because he’d been so afraid of what other ponies would think. He realized that that peer pressure to grow up was affecting him even now, because when he realized his mother had first seen him sucking his hoof, the first thought he’d had was that she was going to shun him for acting so juvenile. But she hadn’t. She’d gone on and treated him kindly, without judgement. She’d loved him despite it, and now, seeing this, it made him realize something. If he could send a message back in time to his younger self, he’d tell that young colt not to worry what other ponies thought and just be happy growing up at his own pace. Maybe if he’d known that, and taken it to heart, he’d be less inclined to childish things now. But he knew now that he could still be comfortable with himself and have some childish habits. He hadn’t known that before. He couldn’t take it out in public, sure, but at home… What was stopping him?

Himself. The answer came almost as soon as he’d formulated the question. His mother certainly didn’t seem to mind it, and if she, in all she’d done for him and taught him over the years, didn’t take issue with it, why should he? The thought was oddly liberating. It was the first step in taking down a wall built up over thirteen years. Today, he would fear no more. He put Doggie Do on his back and went down to see how dinner was coming along.

Sky Streak was buttering bread for grilled cheese sandwiches when he came, and she smiled at him.

“I see you found the gift I left you, and that you took my advice and had a nap.” Her tone was pleased, but not overtly excited.

“I did.” He smiled. “What made you touch it up?”

“You’re going to college in a few months, so I thought if you wanted to take him with you he should look his best.” She smiled.

Soarin gave her a half-hug with his wing. “He looks great. Thanks, Mom.”

Sky pulled him into a hug. “Anytime, honey. You had so many adventures with him growing up. I used to love seeing what you could come up with. You and he went to temples, over seas, in forests, and through castles. It was amazing to see what you created when you put your mind to it.”

“Really?” Soarin asked. His memories of those adventures were very vague, but the feeling of excitement and happiness they gave him was strong.

“Oh yes! The first one you ever went on with him was a sailing adventure to a temple. Doggie Do was your first mate. You captained the ship, and you made it to the temple, but the crew didn’t make it past the booby traps. You were upset about that for quite some time.”

As she spoke, he thought he could see it happening, like an old film playing in his mind. He frowned. “I think I remember that. I felt bad for the crew.”

This was Sky Streak’s chance. “You know, I still have your set up from that adventure in a box in the attic. It’s not too late to rewrite the ending.”

He perked up at that. “You saved it?”

“Of course. It was important to you. I’d never forget something that meant so much to you. They were important to you, and they were important to me too, because the memories they carry mean so much to me, and because they were such a part of you and helped make you into who you are today.” She said sincerely.

“Can I… Get them?”

“Of course you can. They’re your toys.” She smiled.

Soarin pecked her on the cheek and sped off for the attic, with Sky Streak smiling as she watched. She steamed some vegetables before she put the grilled cheese on, and through that time, she heard moving of boxes above her, rummaging, and the clatter of several things on the floor, and finally the sound of her son dropping all of it in the living room. She kept on with dinner, now that the griddle was heated, And set the buttered bread and cheese down with a satisfying sizzle. As the sandwich began to cook, she poked her head out the kitchen to see her son fully immersed in a world of his own creation, and smiling with total happiness.

As she went to flip her sandwich, all she could think of was that that was the reason why she became a mother. All of the hard decisions, late nights, fear, guilt, and exhaustion were all made worth it in that one thing. Nothing else mattered to her more than seeing her son smile.