Shines the Sunby MellowSoulChaptersChildren of GodAs Hell RetreatsVolitionA different RevelationWords and DeedsGuiding LightReplicationChildren of GodAuthor's Note Children of God The decades with Shining Armor taught Cadance a great deal about the joys and hardships of entrusting her life to another. The couple had their ups and downs like everyone else, but they managed to maintain a relatively happy marriage, never wavering from their commitment to one another. When Flurry Heart was old enough to inherit the throne, they spent the remainder of their years together reconciling their differences, repairing the cracks, and learning to love one another more deeply than they ever could have otherwise. Alas, in the grand scheme of time, this happiness proved short-lived. The inevitable day of Shining's departure came, siphoning the last grain of sand from his hourglass. All Cadance could do was ensure he didn't suffer. It was truly the most heartbreaking sight one could behold. Tears and sorrow would continue to creep upon her heart for the next half century, but unknown to her, forces far beyond the world she knew were beginning to stir - forces that would consume her grief and make her whole once more. After Shining's passing, Cadance opened an office for those seeking assistance in their love lives. Her experience and talent transformed her into a renowned figure in the world of psychology, able to tear down the walls between strangers and lovers alike. It was as though the pain itself contributed to the development of this newfound skill. It felt so strange, and her situation would only grow more bizarre in the modern era. Fifty years after the loss of her husband, Cadance received a call from an unusually curious individual - a soft-spoken stallion who wished to learn the inner workings of her profession. "To put it bluntly, I provide opportunities for those navigating matters of the heart," she explained, "Whether you've never spoken to someone you're interested in or are in a committed relationship, there's always something more to learn." "Looks like we're on the same page, then," the stallion replied, "If possible, could you put me down for an appointment? I'd like to speak with you directly. We have a bit more in common than you might think." "How do you mean?" "Let's just say there are a few outlying factors about my relationship you may find interesting. My wife is a rather unique individual." "I'm curious. Will Thursday work?" "Perfect. I look forward to sharing my story with you." "Likewise." "Later." "Goodbye." Cadance hung up the phone, only realizing after the stallion hadn't given her his name. "He must've kept it from me on purpose. What is he up to?" She marked him down as an anonymous client. "Something tells me I'll know him when I see him. Why do I feel so nervous...?" When the appointed day arrived, Cadance waited anxiously for the mysterious male's arrival. A quarter past lunch, a black equine entered through the door: his mane a blinding shade of blonde. "Mrs. Cadenza?" he inquired. "You must be the one." The stallion nodded. "Please, take a seat." The pair rested across from each other at Cadance's desk. They could taste the tension in the air. "Who are you?" the princess questioned. "My name's Harmonic. You're probably wondering why I called you, right?" "That obvious, huh?" "May as well be upfront. I called because my wife is intimately familiar with your situation." "Was she in a relationship before you?" "Not exactly. It's complicated." "Start with what you think is most important." "Before I can proceed any further, I need to ask an important question. It might sound unusual, but I promise there's a point." "Ask away." "Do you believe in angels?" Cadance thought for a moment. She'd heard the stories growing up about God and the divine beings under his command. "Well, you're right. It's definitely unusual." "Thought you might say that." "Why do you ask?" "Remember when I mentioned she was a bit different from other people?" "You're not seriously suggesting what I think you are." "Yeah. She's a seraph." "You understand why that's hard for me to believe." "That's why I brought proof." "Okay. I'll bite." Harmonic pulled a portable frame from his coat pocket. He handed it to the Alicorn. "Look at her wings." Cadance obliged, scanning over their anatomical structure. "The size and feathers...This can't be a mutation..." "I couldn't believe it either, but lo and behold, there she was, in the flesh and plain as day." "This is unreal..." "Her name's Atmospheric. As you've probably guessed, those three booger-pickers are ours." Cadance stared Harmonic dead in the eye. "Tell me everything." "All my life, I felt like someone was watching over me," Harmonic began, "I would often hear a voice in the back of my head trying to convince me to do the right thing, like my conscience was actually talking to me." "So it was her?" "You guessed it. Sometime after she was born, we became telepathically linked. It was like we were meant to be together from the very beginning." "What'd you do?" "What I could. I followed her instructions to the best of my ability, and it worked out in the end, but at the time, it felt more like the most insanely spectacular failure in history." "I don't understand." "I was the textbook definition of a loser. My family situation was rocky at best, I struggled academically, I didn't have any friends, and after high school, I could barely find work. I took whatever odd jobs came my way just to pretend like I was doing something meaningful. My entire life was falling apart at the seams, and it bled through into my attitude and behavior." "I take it your luck turned around after she made herself known?" "You're pretty sharp. She taught me survival techniques so I could travel around the country and pick up on other skills. As you can imagine, I was eternally grateful for her help. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, we were hitched with three kids and a house. My head spun so fast I thought it'd rocket into the stratosphere." "I'm glad things worked out, but what did you mean when you said she was familiar with my situation?" "I think it'd be better if she told you herself." Cadance grimaced, pulling away the mask of professionalism she'd maintained up to now. "I don't like mind games." "I'm not trying to deceive you. She knows Shining. That's all. I just figured you'd wanna know how he was doing." "What...!?" Harmonic glanced at the clock. "Time's up." He rose to his hooves, strolling toward the door and twisting the knob. "You can't spend your whole life living in misery. That was the greatest lesson she taught me..." As Hell RetreatsHarmonic returned the following Monday. This time, Atmospheric was with him. She was even more graceful in-person. "Hello, Cadance." "Is it true? Do you know my husband?" "We've met in passing. I learned a lot about you listening in on his conversations." "So he's really...?" "Yes. He's joined us as an immortal soul, much like yourself here in the physical plane." Cadance fell back in her chair. The couple rushed to her aid. "Are you all right?" Atmospheric asked. "Sorry," Cadance responded, "I just...Need a minute..." "I understand. Honey, would you get her a cup of water?" "Sure thing, hon." Harmonic obliged, leaving the pair to speak alone in private. After taking a moment to regain her composure, Cadance requested to know more about her husband's condition. "How is he?" "Just as you remember him. Upon entering my father's domain, he regained the youth once eroded by the sands of time." "From what you said before, he retained his memory of this world as well." "The bonds we make in life transcend the boundaries of space and time. I would argue his feelings for you have only grown stronger since his transition." "Really?" "Distance makes the heart grow fonder and all that." "I assume we would be together if it wasn't for my status here." "Immortality has its drawbacks. Of course, I can only relate so much, given my ability to move between worlds." "I see..." "Don't lose hope. There may still be a way you can see him again, provided my father's willing to bend the rules a little." "What about disrupting the natural order?" "We don't exactly operate within it as things stand." "I guess that's true, but why would you go so far for me? We don't even know each other." "Because I love my husband just as much as you love yours. I know he would want to see you happy. He's a good man who's lived a hard life." "I'll make you a deal. If I listen to your story, in exchange for advice, you can take me to see Shining." "I'd say that's fair. Just for fun, I'll tease Harmonic a bit. You should see him worked up. It's adorable." "Maybe we're not as different as I thought." Harmonic returned with Cadance's water. "Took you long enough, slowpoke." Atmospheric scolded playfully. The couple shared a tender kiss. Cadance eagerly awaited the day she could once again feel the sensation for herself... VolitionTo gain a better understanding of Atmospheric's side of things, she allowed Harmonic to speak first. He started with his early upbringing and continued from there. "The town I grew up in was littered with some of the worst people you could possibly imagine: child molesters, woman beaters, you name it. People I went to school with either ended up in abusive relationships or hooked on narcotics because there was nothing else to do. It was a tragedy in the truest sense of the word. The fact I didn't end up going that route is nothing short of a miracle, and I mean that literally. Without her to set me straight, I would've been in trouble." "What was your home life like?" Cadance inquired. "I wasn't particularly close with anyone except my brother. He was the only one I shared any common interests with. When we weren't at school, we were watching anime and playing games. From time to time, I would go to work with my mom and younger sister. That's how I discovered rock and metal. There'd always be something interesting on the radio." "It sounds like you couldn't really relate to the people around you. It's possible you had an undiagnosed attachment disorder." "It's not that I wasn't appreciative of what they did for me. I just couldn't find a meaningful way to articulate it. I tried to be especially careful with my mother. After high school, I found out she'd been abused by my grandfather. I always wondered why I never met my grandparents. Turned out he was a hardcore pedophile who assaulted numerous girls in the community." "Sounds like you all went through a lot." "As things stand, I'm the first male in four generations not to have been arrested for some kind of violent crime. Aside from Atmospheric, I put a lot of pressure on myself to avoid going down that road. In conjunction with everything else, I fell into a depression that lasted over a decade. I cut myself off from the outside world completely. Most days I was either extremely irritable or suicidal. Needless to say, I was an unpleasant person to be around." "The important thing is you can acknowledge that now. Tell me about when you met Atmospheric." "Not much to say. I was training in the woods when a huge column of light parted the clouds. It was exactly how I imagined something like that happening, actually. You pretty much know what went down from there." "Sounds like she knew you better than you realized." "These days I'm sure she knows me better than I know myself." "I'm still the only one who knows his kinks." the angel cut in. Harmonic shrank back into his coat. Even though sexuality had become somewhat less taboo in recent years, he was still embarrassed to speak about it openly. "Sorry," he apologized, "We're usually a lot more dignified than this." "Don't apologize," Cadance comforted, "You're not the first couple with a passionate sex life. It's nothing to be ashamed of." "It just feels weird to talk about after everything I said, ya know?" "Child abuse happens whether we talk about it or not. All we can do is make people aware and teach them to protect themselves." "Yeah. You're right." "Looks like our time's up. Atmospheric, do you have any objections holding off until our next session?" "Not at all. I figured you were probably swamped." "I expect your story to be the most interesting I'll ever hear. This should give you time to collect your thoughts." "I'll try not to disappoint." "Looking at you now, I'm actually kind of jealous. Shining was never one for public affection. In a way, I'm thankful he became more reclusive as he got older. It gave us more time to be together as husband and wife." "I'm sure he wanted to be closer to you, but you know men. They always have to look tough in front of their guy friends." "When you put it like that, I have to question some things about his orientation." "We all know men are secretly bi. It's just common knowledge." "It's news to me." The mares laughed, causing Harmonic to join in with a light chuckle. Somehow, he already felt closer to his seraphic bride than before... A different RevelationOver the next few days, Harmonic and Atmospheric compiled a list of notes to help the seraph recount her origin. What followed was fairly straightforward. "I was created from my father's personal design," she revealed, "I'm one of the four original angels he created himself. The other three are my brothers: Lucifer, Michael, and Azazel. Lucifer brought me to life by injecting me with his blood." "I take it original angels are different from souls?" Candance inquired. "You can think of us as guardians for each quadrant of the universe. We were designed with special abilities to protect the inhabitants of this planet." "What kind of abilities?" "Strength, accuracy, stealth, and agility. In terms of physics, it actually makes sense father made me a mare. Feminine designs are sleeker with less resistance." "Why haven't the others shown themselves yet?" "Father was blamed for the toils of the ancient world. They made the mistake of assuming his power was omnipotent: that he could erase the evils of existence all on his own. In truth, he could only create one child every two thousand years. I'm just the most recent iteration." "It sounds as though you think of yourself as a machine." "Machines are tools, are they not?" "I think Harmonic sees you as more than just a tool. Wouldn't you agree?" "I suppose you have a point. We complete each other in a way no system could ever be, no matter how complex." "Now for the juicy part. Why him?" "To be honest? I don't know. Fate seems to have brought us together by pure chance. We were having conversations telepathically by the time he was five." "I'm assuming the conversations became deeper over time." "That's about the size of it. We'd already known each other so long that it felt natural when we met face-to-face." "You traveled together from there?" "Yes. I taught him how to hunt, how to forage for food, and how to collect water. Modern tech made the journey much easier." "Your skills resemble tribal warriors from the old world. I'm impressed." "I still practice my swordsmanship to this day." "I'd like to see it sometime. Shining was adept in the art, but I doubt it's anywhere near your level." "I respect anyone who can wield a blade honorably." "I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that." "Why don't you train with him, hon?" Harmonic interjected. "You think I should?" "I get the feeling Cadance would enjoy an old-fashioned duel between two noble warriors." "I'm inclined to agree. What do you think, Cadance?" "I think that's an excellent idea," the princess confirmed, "I enjoyed watching him practice occasionally when he was younger. I'm curious what a bit of polish would do for him now." "Then it's settled. Once we're done with our sessions, I'll teach him what I know." "I can't wait. I'm really eager to see him again." "I promise I'll grant your wish, no matter the cost." The Alicorn sighed. Tears of gratitude trickled across her face. "Thank you..." Words and Deeds"Now that I've properly assessed your personalities, this time, I want you to speak with each other," Cadance instructed, "I want to know what you love about each other and what gets under your skin." Harmonic's face tensed up. Cadance could see the disgust through his mane. "How am I supposed to criticize someone who rescued me from death's door," he protested, "That would be the ultimate betrayal of her kindness." "Communication is key. Even the smallest things can fester over time, unless you mean to tell me there's nothing you want her to change." "Not one thing." "What if she feels differently?" "She's earned that right." "You're truly a fascinating individual. In all my years, not once have I heard anyone say that with such conviction." "I'm sure you've noticed I'm an oddity in many respects." "That, I have." Out of nowhere, Atmospheric clenched Harmonic in a crushing embrace. "I love you...," She whispered, "We've come so far...Please...Don't let the darkness take hold again..." Harmonic took a breath, calming himself back into a relaxed state. "Now I see," Cadance muttered, "Your negative emotions frighten her. She's afraid you'll regress back to your old self." Harmonic returned his bride's gesture. "I've been fighting so long to let go of that part of myself, but it always finds a way back..." "When you told me how you felt just now, I could tell you were being honest. Given that knowledge, I believe your anger was warranted. You're extremely protective of your family because they're all you have left." "You're one of the few people I think actually understand me." "That's my job." "Touché." "Still, she has a point. Being quick to anger under the wrong circumstances is extremely dangerous. Take extra care to keep your temper in check. A hostile disposition is difficult to manage, even for specialists. Take a moment to center yourself and ask if it's worth getting bent out of shape over." "What if I'm a square and wanna be a cube?" "Funny guy." The sound of stifled laughter sent an electric shock through Harmonic's ears. "Hon, are you...Crying...?" "I'm sorry," Atmospheric said, "It's been a while since I've had to talk you down. Guess I got a little over-emotional." Harmonic tightened his grip before releasing her. "Look at me. It's gonna be okay. I promise I won't let it happen again. I need you to trust me, all right?"" "I do." "Your eyes weren't meant to be stained with tears. Come here." Atmospheric wiped her snout, leaning in for a kiss. It was infinitely more gentle than the one before. It was tranquil...Serene...Everlasting...This was Cadance's first insight into how deep their love truly ran... "Shining never kissed me like that. Who are these two...?" Before the end of their visit, Harmonic voiced his concern regarding possible codependence issues. "Relationships like that are far more one-sided," Cadance assured, "You two share a mutual understanding not normally found in parasitic situations. Now that I have all the data, I can say with complete confidence you're a perfect match, and ho-ly crap that feels weird to say." "What do you mean?" "Not one single couple I've evaluated up to now has achieved a perfect score. You looney tunes made history today: in my office, no less." "Holy crap..." "That's what I said!" "So...What now?" "I don't normally follow up on these, but given the exceptional outcome, I would like to speak with your children. If your parenting skills are anything close to your marriage, I might have to close up shop. Once the standard's been set, there's really no need to persist any further." "Didn't you start this because of Shining? Why give it up?" "Don't you see? A perfect reading means you taught me something new. My own marriage paled in comparison to what you accomplished with half the effort. Everything naturally fell into place at the right time. It's almost unheard of." "It's not a one-way street. I'm sure there's more we could learn from you as well." "I'm skeptical. That's why I'm asking you to humor me: at least for now." "Okay, but I'm telling you, it ain't as black and white as it appears." "Time will tell. What are your children's names?" "Melodic, Hard Core, and Shadow." "Bring them by Monday." "Where are you going?" "Home. I have to stay up all night figuring out what the hell just happened." Cadance vanished, leaving the couple to question her stability. "Did we just...?" Harmonic trailed off. "Yep," Atmospheric concluded, "We broke her." "Talk about a rollercoaster. Jesus Christ." "He hands the innkeeper three nails and he asks..." "Oh, hush." Atmospheric giggled, still somewhat tense from her previous outburst. "There's that beautiful smile..." Guiding LightAuthor's Note Guiding Light As requested, Harmonic and Atmospheric returned for a fourth meeting. This time, Harmonic brought a surprise addition: his older sister, Leah. "I've been watching over the munchkins while they've been here," she told Cadance, "It was about time this goofball got some therapy." "Your brother's quite the interesting subject. It's not every day someone turns their life around in such a dramatic fashion." "Can't deny it's impressive." The Alicorn turned to the couple. "May I speak with the children alone?" "That okay with you?" Harmonic asked his bride. "I don't see why not." Harmonic leaned forward, nuzzling the twins. "We'll be right outside with Shadow if you need us." "Okay, daddy." Melodic replied. Hard Core remained silent. Truthfully, he was anxious to be without his parents, but he promised he'd be strong for his baby sister. He couldn't let his father down. Leah, Harnonic, and Atmospheric left the room, granting them the opportunity to speak their minds freely. Cadance levitated an extra chair to the front side of her desk. "Would you like a seat?" she asked the children before her. They accepted the offer, though she could tell Hard Core was more hesitant to do so than his sibling. "What does your name mean?" Melodic suddenly asked. "Music of love." Cadance replied simply. "Is it like mommy and daddy's music?" The princess feigned ignorance, pretending not to know what the filly meant. "I don't know. What kind of music do they like?" "Metal." "I've heard some before. I think it's pretty cool. What about you? Do you like it, too?" "Yes." "What about your brother?" "Yes." "Do your mommy and daddy spend a lot of time with you?" "We got ice cream before we got here." "I used to babysit my sister when she was your age. We got ice cream and sweets all the time." "Is it true you're a princess?" "Yes." "Woah!" "I'm not as powerful as your mother, but I have some neat tricks up my sleeve." "Like what?" "Well...I can make potions and help people fall in love." "Did you do that for mommy and daddy?" "Nope. They did that all on their own." "How?" "I guess they met in the right place at the right time. Sometimes it just happens that way." "Daddy says falling in love makes him happy. Is that true?" "It can be." "Why is he sad?" "That's...Not an easy question to answer. Your daddy went through some bad things before you were born. It changed him - some ways for the better, others, not so much." "Oh...Okay." "Daddy's sad like me..." Hard Core muttered. "How so?" Cadance questioned curiously. "I dunno." "Well...Why are you sad?" "Daddy says its my brain...It thinks things I don't want it to..." "Ah, I see. I think your daddy means you're clinically depressed." "I don't know what that means..." "It's a bit different from your daddy's sadness. His happened over time. You were born with it, weren't you?" Hard Core nodded. "Your condition is called major depressive disorder. It's a common illness that affects lots of people." "Really...?" "Yeah. It can affect them in lots of ways. Sadness, anger, and changes in hunger happen a lot." "Oh..." "Do your mommy and daddy take care of you when you feel bad?" "Yeah..." "That's good to hear. You'll probably need special help when you're a little older, but its good to know they're doing what they can." "I feel a little better when I'm holding Shadow..." "Having someone depend on you is a powerful motivator. It makes you feel good because it gives you a purpose: something to look forward to every day. It lets you know you're not alone." "Yeah..." "Do either of you like to draw?" "I do!" Melodic replied enthusiastically. "We're going to try something called 'art therapy'. I want you to draw what you're feeling inside. Can you do that?" "Okay." An hour after leaving Melodic and Hard Core in Cadance's care, the two children emerged, each carrying a sheet of paper. Their parents and aunt greeted them warmly. "Hey, guys," Atmospheric spoke sweetly, "How'd it go?" "I drew a butterfly!" Melodic exclaimed in delight. "Oh, wow! It's so pretty." Hard Core approached his father, holding up his sketch for all to see. "It's us..." To Harmonic's bewilderment, his son's drawing was extremely detailed. They were standing in a dark field with the colt holding Shadow in his forelegs. "Where's your mom and Melodic?" "They're not in it..." "Ah..." A smothering silence filled the air. Cadance motioned toward the door. "I would like to speak with Harmonic alone." The stallion nodded. The pair exited the room, convening on the steps outside... "Hard Core suffered a nervous breakdown a few months ago," his father explained, "Did you know that?" "No. I didn't." "Then it might surprise you even more to learn he's not the first child I've known to experience an existential episode." "You mean to tell me he's questioning the meaning of his own existence at six years old?" "Hard to believe, right?" "I'm more inclined to believe in the tooth fairy, frankly." "Then I'm sure you know why I didn't show any hesitation in letting you talk with him." "Was it to prove you weren't a hypocrite, or that you weren't abusive?" "Both." "That, I believe." "I suffered so much I needed a literal angel to keep me alive. I love my family more than life itself. I wouldn't jeopardize that for anything." "Can I ask you a personal question?" "My life's an open book at this point." "What was your relationship with your father like?" "Virtually non-existent. Son of a bitch tried to abduct me when I was a baby. Didn't hear much from him until I was thirteen, whereupon his deranged lunatic mind thought alcoholism was a good example to set for his estranged offspring." "Do you hate him?" "Partially. Actually, maybe more, but much of his affliction can be traced back to failures on the medical system's part." "Can you elaborate?" "He's a paranoid schizophrenic." "He never received treatment?" "Nope." "I'm sorry. We shouldn't have let you down." "It's not your fault. You didn't know." "Where is he now?" "Prison." "Ah..." "Don't feel too bad. Least I didn't grow up to be like him. That's more than a lot of people can say." "You were planning on finding Hard Core help from the start, weren't you?" "I'll do whatever it takes to keep my family safe - even if it means opposing the world at large." "Now I understand where you and Atmospheric's attraction to each other stems from. You share a desire to protect the innocent and pass judgement on the wicked." "Do I deserve to, though?" "She seems to think so, and honestly? I agree." "That makes me feel better at least." "With each day, you grow closer to the person you aspire to be. I fully believe you'll reach that point long before your deathbed." "I hope you're right..." "I didn't get this far being wrong." This managed to elicit something resembling a smile from the stallion. "Come on. let's go back." ReplicationAuthor's Note "This belief that I have is the only reason that I'm not dead like the rest of my friends. There's no promise your life will get better. There's no promise that people you care about won't pass away. There's no promise that horrible things aren't gonna happen, but I believe in God because that's the only reason I ever made it through that period of my life." -Dan Weyandt, Zao Replication As per their agreement, Atmospheric threw herself full-time into her training. Harmonic stepped in to help sharpen her skills even further against an actual opponent. Not long before Atmospheric's departure for heaven, Cadence visited them at their home. The pair embraced each other in a familial hug. "It's good to see you." the seraph voiced. "Yeah," Cadence concurred, "You, too." "We were just about to make dinner. Would you like to stay?" "If it's not too much trouble." "Not at all. Please, come in." "Thank you." Atmospheric led the Alicorn inside. Harmonic was preparing the ingredients when he recognized her presence. "Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" the stallion teased. "It's strange to see a genuine smile on your face for once." "I know, right? Feels weird even for me." "Where are the rugrats." "In their room. You wanna check on 'em?" "I have a feeling my presence is rather disquieting for your son. I came to see you, anyway." "Is something wrong?" "I just came by to make sure things were going smoothly. I could tell from out first session you were exceptionally troubled." "I appreciate it. Your advice really helped. As a matter of fact, I feel better now than I have in years. I think all I needed was an outside perspective to validate how I was feeling." "So you feel like there's been notable improvement?" "Definitely." "Excellent. That's good to hear." "I do have one question." "Ask away." "You recommended we wait until Hard Core's older before we start looking for professional intervention. Was there a specific reason for that?" "It's harder to identify depression in children because the brain is still so underdeveloped. Things start to become more clear during adolescence. I'm just going by what most doctors would recommend." "Is there anything we can do to keep his condition stable?" "Spend as much time with your children as possible and monitor their conditions. A strong support structure early on could conceivably expedite the recovery process drastically." "So basically what we've been doing." "Pretty much." "It's times like this I'm glad we're capable of self-reflection." "I would imagine." "I just wish they could stay kids forever, ya know...? Tying the knot with Atmospheric and their births were the happiest days of my life..." "I know how you feel. My daughter means the world to me. It's kind of like...A piece of Shining's always with me..." "We've turned into saps in our old age." Cadence chuckled through the tears trickling down her cheeks. Atmospheric offered her a handkerchief. "Well," Harmonic concluded, "I think we could all use a good meal." "I'm starving." Cadence concurred. Atmospheric kept Cadence company while Harmonic prepared the family's meal. The mares quietly discussed some of the more...Intimate...Details of the couple's relationship. "How've things been in the in the sack?" Cadence asked with an uncharacteristically coy bluntness. "We got a lot of the kinky stuff out of our systems before the kids were born. I think we wanted to spice things up early so that when we mellowed out, the slow, tender lovemaking would be more sentimental." "I feel like that should be the norm for most couples: hot and heavy early on, gentle and emotional later, that way you're not left wondering what the former's like. That's a big thing that creates resentment in marriages these days." "We have a longer sexual history together than you might think. When we were teenagers, we would constantly talk dirty to each other while he put on...Um...Personal...displays for my viewing pleasure." "There was sexual chemistry before you met face-to-face?" "Very much so. He was frustrated, after all. Spending time getting to know me was all he really had to look forward to. Despite the depression draining his energy, he still kept going, taking small steps every day to accomplish what his body would allow." "He did it for you..." "Even through the veil of teenage lust, I could see he truly loved me, and I'll let you in on a little secret." "What's that?" "He told you he struggled academically, but that was kind of an exaggeration. He was only slightly below average in his weakest subjects. Once he got out into the real world, he was far more resourceful than he ever was in a classroom." "What he lacks in book smarts, he makes up for in street smarts." "He took notes of everything I taught him during our travels. I guarantee his skills haven't dulled a bit." "My sister-in-law Twilight was the total opposite. She was extremely intelligent, but she was easily overwhelmed by the pressures of day-to-day life. She eventually adjusted, but for a while, I was concerned she wouldn't make it on her own." "Don't underestimate someone with a will to live. They're some of the most powerful people we'll ever know." "You can say that again." The mares went quiet when Harmonic returned with their plates. He retrieved the children before settling in for supper. Under the table, just out of view, Atmospheric held her husband's hoof, calling forth the memories of all they had managed to accomplish together...
Children of GodAuthor's Note Children of God The decades with Shining Armor taught Cadance a great deal about the joys and hardships of entrusting her life to another. The couple had their ups and downs like everyone else, but they managed to maintain a relatively happy marriage, never wavering from their commitment to one another. When Flurry Heart was old enough to inherit the throne, they spent the remainder of their years together reconciling their differences, repairing the cracks, and learning to love one another more deeply than they ever could have otherwise. Alas, in the grand scheme of time, this happiness proved short-lived. The inevitable day of Shining's departure came, siphoning the last grain of sand from his hourglass. All Cadance could do was ensure he didn't suffer. It was truly the most heartbreaking sight one could behold. Tears and sorrow would continue to creep upon her heart for the next half century, but unknown to her, forces far beyond the world she knew were beginning to stir - forces that would consume her grief and make her whole once more. After Shining's passing, Cadance opened an office for those seeking assistance in their love lives. Her experience and talent transformed her into a renowned figure in the world of psychology, able to tear down the walls between strangers and lovers alike. It was as though the pain itself contributed to the development of this newfound skill. It felt so strange, and her situation would only grow more bizarre in the modern era. Fifty years after the loss of her husband, Cadance received a call from an unusually curious individual - a soft-spoken stallion who wished to learn the inner workings of her profession. "To put it bluntly, I provide opportunities for those navigating matters of the heart," she explained, "Whether you've never spoken to someone you're interested in or are in a committed relationship, there's always something more to learn." "Looks like we're on the same page, then," the stallion replied, "If possible, could you put me down for an appointment? I'd like to speak with you directly. We have a bit more in common than you might think." "How do you mean?" "Let's just say there are a few outlying factors about my relationship you may find interesting. My wife is a rather unique individual." "I'm curious. Will Thursday work?" "Perfect. I look forward to sharing my story with you." "Likewise." "Later." "Goodbye." Cadance hung up the phone, only realizing after the stallion hadn't given her his name. "He must've kept it from me on purpose. What is he up to?" She marked him down as an anonymous client. "Something tells me I'll know him when I see him. Why do I feel so nervous...?" When the appointed day arrived, Cadance waited anxiously for the mysterious male's arrival. A quarter past lunch, a black equine entered through the door: his mane a blinding shade of blonde. "Mrs. Cadenza?" he inquired. "You must be the one." The stallion nodded. "Please, take a seat." The pair rested across from each other at Cadance's desk. They could taste the tension in the air. "Who are you?" the princess questioned. "My name's Harmonic. You're probably wondering why I called you, right?" "That obvious, huh?" "May as well be upfront. I called because my wife is intimately familiar with your situation." "Was she in a relationship before you?" "Not exactly. It's complicated." "Start with what you think is most important." "Before I can proceed any further, I need to ask an important question. It might sound unusual, but I promise there's a point." "Ask away." "Do you believe in angels?" Cadance thought for a moment. She'd heard the stories growing up about God and the divine beings under his command. "Well, you're right. It's definitely unusual." "Thought you might say that." "Why do you ask?" "Remember when I mentioned she was a bit different from other people?" "You're not seriously suggesting what I think you are." "Yeah. She's a seraph." "You understand why that's hard for me to believe." "That's why I brought proof." "Okay. I'll bite." Harmonic pulled a portable frame from his coat pocket. He handed it to the Alicorn. "Look at her wings." Cadance obliged, scanning over their anatomical structure. "The size and feathers...This can't be a mutation..." "I couldn't believe it either, but lo and behold, there she was, in the flesh and plain as day." "This is unreal..." "Her name's Atmospheric. As you've probably guessed, those three booger-pickers are ours." Cadance stared Harmonic dead in the eye. "Tell me everything." "All my life, I felt like someone was watching over me," Harmonic began, "I would often hear a voice in the back of my head trying to convince me to do the right thing, like my conscience was actually talking to me." "So it was her?" "You guessed it. Sometime after she was born, we became telepathically linked. It was like we were meant to be together from the very beginning." "What'd you do?" "What I could. I followed her instructions to the best of my ability, and it worked out in the end, but at the time, it felt more like the most insanely spectacular failure in history." "I don't understand." "I was the textbook definition of a loser. My family situation was rocky at best, I struggled academically, I didn't have any friends, and after high school, I could barely find work. I took whatever odd jobs came my way just to pretend like I was doing something meaningful. My entire life was falling apart at the seams, and it bled through into my attitude and behavior." "I take it your luck turned around after she made herself known?" "You're pretty sharp. She taught me survival techniques so I could travel around the country and pick up on other skills. As you can imagine, I was eternally grateful for her help. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, we were hitched with three kids and a house. My head spun so fast I thought it'd rocket into the stratosphere." "I'm glad things worked out, but what did you mean when you said she was familiar with my situation?" "I think it'd be better if she told you herself." Cadance grimaced, pulling away the mask of professionalism she'd maintained up to now. "I don't like mind games." "I'm not trying to deceive you. She knows Shining. That's all. I just figured you'd wanna know how he was doing." "What...!?" Harmonic glanced at the clock. "Time's up." He rose to his hooves, strolling toward the door and twisting the knob. "You can't spend your whole life living in misery. That was the greatest lesson she taught me..."
As Hell RetreatsHarmonic returned the following Monday. This time, Atmospheric was with him. She was even more graceful in-person. "Hello, Cadance." "Is it true? Do you know my husband?" "We've met in passing. I learned a lot about you listening in on his conversations." "So he's really...?" "Yes. He's joined us as an immortal soul, much like yourself here in the physical plane." Cadance fell back in her chair. The couple rushed to her aid. "Are you all right?" Atmospheric asked. "Sorry," Cadance responded, "I just...Need a minute..." "I understand. Honey, would you get her a cup of water?" "Sure thing, hon." Harmonic obliged, leaving the pair to speak alone in private. After taking a moment to regain her composure, Cadance requested to know more about her husband's condition. "How is he?" "Just as you remember him. Upon entering my father's domain, he regained the youth once eroded by the sands of time." "From what you said before, he retained his memory of this world as well." "The bonds we make in life transcend the boundaries of space and time. I would argue his feelings for you have only grown stronger since his transition." "Really?" "Distance makes the heart grow fonder and all that." "I assume we would be together if it wasn't for my status here." "Immortality has its drawbacks. Of course, I can only relate so much, given my ability to move between worlds." "I see..." "Don't lose hope. There may still be a way you can see him again, provided my father's willing to bend the rules a little." "What about disrupting the natural order?" "We don't exactly operate within it as things stand." "I guess that's true, but why would you go so far for me? We don't even know each other." "Because I love my husband just as much as you love yours. I know he would want to see you happy. He's a good man who's lived a hard life." "I'll make you a deal. If I listen to your story, in exchange for advice, you can take me to see Shining." "I'd say that's fair. Just for fun, I'll tease Harmonic a bit. You should see him worked up. It's adorable." "Maybe we're not as different as I thought." Harmonic returned with Cadance's water. "Took you long enough, slowpoke." Atmospheric scolded playfully. The couple shared a tender kiss. Cadance eagerly awaited the day she could once again feel the sensation for herself...
VolitionTo gain a better understanding of Atmospheric's side of things, she allowed Harmonic to speak first. He started with his early upbringing and continued from there. "The town I grew up in was littered with some of the worst people you could possibly imagine: child molesters, woman beaters, you name it. People I went to school with either ended up in abusive relationships or hooked on narcotics because there was nothing else to do. It was a tragedy in the truest sense of the word. The fact I didn't end up going that route is nothing short of a miracle, and I mean that literally. Without her to set me straight, I would've been in trouble." "What was your home life like?" Cadance inquired. "I wasn't particularly close with anyone except my brother. He was the only one I shared any common interests with. When we weren't at school, we were watching anime and playing games. From time to time, I would go to work with my mom and younger sister. That's how I discovered rock and metal. There'd always be something interesting on the radio." "It sounds like you couldn't really relate to the people around you. It's possible you had an undiagnosed attachment disorder." "It's not that I wasn't appreciative of what they did for me. I just couldn't find a meaningful way to articulate it. I tried to be especially careful with my mother. After high school, I found out she'd been abused by my grandfather. I always wondered why I never met my grandparents. Turned out he was a hardcore pedophile who assaulted numerous girls in the community." "Sounds like you all went through a lot." "As things stand, I'm the first male in four generations not to have been arrested for some kind of violent crime. Aside from Atmospheric, I put a lot of pressure on myself to avoid going down that road. In conjunction with everything else, I fell into a depression that lasted over a decade. I cut myself off from the outside world completely. Most days I was either extremely irritable or suicidal. Needless to say, I was an unpleasant person to be around." "The important thing is you can acknowledge that now. Tell me about when you met Atmospheric." "Not much to say. I was training in the woods when a huge column of light parted the clouds. It was exactly how I imagined something like that happening, actually. You pretty much know what went down from there." "Sounds like she knew you better than you realized." "These days I'm sure she knows me better than I know myself." "I'm still the only one who knows his kinks." the angel cut in. Harmonic shrank back into his coat. Even though sexuality had become somewhat less taboo in recent years, he was still embarrassed to speak about it openly. "Sorry," he apologized, "We're usually a lot more dignified than this." "Don't apologize," Cadance comforted, "You're not the first couple with a passionate sex life. It's nothing to be ashamed of." "It just feels weird to talk about after everything I said, ya know?" "Child abuse happens whether we talk about it or not. All we can do is make people aware and teach them to protect themselves." "Yeah. You're right." "Looks like our time's up. Atmospheric, do you have any objections holding off until our next session?" "Not at all. I figured you were probably swamped." "I expect your story to be the most interesting I'll ever hear. This should give you time to collect your thoughts." "I'll try not to disappoint." "Looking at you now, I'm actually kind of jealous. Shining was never one for public affection. In a way, I'm thankful he became more reclusive as he got older. It gave us more time to be together as husband and wife." "I'm sure he wanted to be closer to you, but you know men. They always have to look tough in front of their guy friends." "When you put it like that, I have to question some things about his orientation." "We all know men are secretly bi. It's just common knowledge." "It's news to me." The mares laughed, causing Harmonic to join in with a light chuckle. Somehow, he already felt closer to his seraphic bride than before...
A different RevelationOver the next few days, Harmonic and Atmospheric compiled a list of notes to help the seraph recount her origin. What followed was fairly straightforward. "I was created from my father's personal design," she revealed, "I'm one of the four original angels he created himself. The other three are my brothers: Lucifer, Michael, and Azazel. Lucifer brought me to life by injecting me with his blood." "I take it original angels are different from souls?" Candance inquired. "You can think of us as guardians for each quadrant of the universe. We were designed with special abilities to protect the inhabitants of this planet." "What kind of abilities?" "Strength, accuracy, stealth, and agility. In terms of physics, it actually makes sense father made me a mare. Feminine designs are sleeker with less resistance." "Why haven't the others shown themselves yet?" "Father was blamed for the toils of the ancient world. They made the mistake of assuming his power was omnipotent: that he could erase the evils of existence all on his own. In truth, he could only create one child every two thousand years. I'm just the most recent iteration." "It sounds as though you think of yourself as a machine." "Machines are tools, are they not?" "I think Harmonic sees you as more than just a tool. Wouldn't you agree?" "I suppose you have a point. We complete each other in a way no system could ever be, no matter how complex." "Now for the juicy part. Why him?" "To be honest? I don't know. Fate seems to have brought us together by pure chance. We were having conversations telepathically by the time he was five." "I'm assuming the conversations became deeper over time." "That's about the size of it. We'd already known each other so long that it felt natural when we met face-to-face." "You traveled together from there?" "Yes. I taught him how to hunt, how to forage for food, and how to collect water. Modern tech made the journey much easier." "Your skills resemble tribal warriors from the old world. I'm impressed." "I still practice my swordsmanship to this day." "I'd like to see it sometime. Shining was adept in the art, but I doubt it's anywhere near your level." "I respect anyone who can wield a blade honorably." "I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that." "Why don't you train with him, hon?" Harmonic interjected. "You think I should?" "I get the feeling Cadance would enjoy an old-fashioned duel between two noble warriors." "I'm inclined to agree. What do you think, Cadance?" "I think that's an excellent idea," the princess confirmed, "I enjoyed watching him practice occasionally when he was younger. I'm curious what a bit of polish would do for him now." "Then it's settled. Once we're done with our sessions, I'll teach him what I know." "I can't wait. I'm really eager to see him again." "I promise I'll grant your wish, no matter the cost." The Alicorn sighed. Tears of gratitude trickled across her face. "Thank you..."
Words and Deeds"Now that I've properly assessed your personalities, this time, I want you to speak with each other," Cadance instructed, "I want to know what you love about each other and what gets under your skin." Harmonic's face tensed up. Cadance could see the disgust through his mane. "How am I supposed to criticize someone who rescued me from death's door," he protested, "That would be the ultimate betrayal of her kindness." "Communication is key. Even the smallest things can fester over time, unless you mean to tell me there's nothing you want her to change." "Not one thing." "What if she feels differently?" "She's earned that right." "You're truly a fascinating individual. In all my years, not once have I heard anyone say that with such conviction." "I'm sure you've noticed I'm an oddity in many respects." "That, I have." Out of nowhere, Atmospheric clenched Harmonic in a crushing embrace. "I love you...," She whispered, "We've come so far...Please...Don't let the darkness take hold again..." Harmonic took a breath, calming himself back into a relaxed state. "Now I see," Cadance muttered, "Your negative emotions frighten her. She's afraid you'll regress back to your old self." Harmonic returned his bride's gesture. "I've been fighting so long to let go of that part of myself, but it always finds a way back..." "When you told me how you felt just now, I could tell you were being honest. Given that knowledge, I believe your anger was warranted. You're extremely protective of your family because they're all you have left." "You're one of the few people I think actually understand me." "That's my job." "Touché." "Still, she has a point. Being quick to anger under the wrong circumstances is extremely dangerous. Take extra care to keep your temper in check. A hostile disposition is difficult to manage, even for specialists. Take a moment to center yourself and ask if it's worth getting bent out of shape over." "What if I'm a square and wanna be a cube?" "Funny guy." The sound of stifled laughter sent an electric shock through Harmonic's ears. "Hon, are you...Crying...?" "I'm sorry," Atmospheric said, "It's been a while since I've had to talk you down. Guess I got a little over-emotional." Harmonic tightened his grip before releasing her. "Look at me. It's gonna be okay. I promise I won't let it happen again. I need you to trust me, all right?"" "I do." "Your eyes weren't meant to be stained with tears. Come here." Atmospheric wiped her snout, leaning in for a kiss. It was infinitely more gentle than the one before. It was tranquil...Serene...Everlasting...This was Cadance's first insight into how deep their love truly ran... "Shining never kissed me like that. Who are these two...?" Before the end of their visit, Harmonic voiced his concern regarding possible codependence issues. "Relationships like that are far more one-sided," Cadance assured, "You two share a mutual understanding not normally found in parasitic situations. Now that I have all the data, I can say with complete confidence you're a perfect match, and ho-ly crap that feels weird to say." "What do you mean?" "Not one single couple I've evaluated up to now has achieved a perfect score. You looney tunes made history today: in my office, no less." "Holy crap..." "That's what I said!" "So...What now?" "I don't normally follow up on these, but given the exceptional outcome, I would like to speak with your children. If your parenting skills are anything close to your marriage, I might have to close up shop. Once the standard's been set, there's really no need to persist any further." "Didn't you start this because of Shining? Why give it up?" "Don't you see? A perfect reading means you taught me something new. My own marriage paled in comparison to what you accomplished with half the effort. Everything naturally fell into place at the right time. It's almost unheard of." "It's not a one-way street. I'm sure there's more we could learn from you as well." "I'm skeptical. That's why I'm asking you to humor me: at least for now." "Okay, but I'm telling you, it ain't as black and white as it appears." "Time will tell. What are your children's names?" "Melodic, Hard Core, and Shadow." "Bring them by Monday." "Where are you going?" "Home. I have to stay up all night figuring out what the hell just happened." Cadance vanished, leaving the couple to question her stability. "Did we just...?" Harmonic trailed off. "Yep," Atmospheric concluded, "We broke her." "Talk about a rollercoaster. Jesus Christ." "He hands the innkeeper three nails and he asks..." "Oh, hush." Atmospheric giggled, still somewhat tense from her previous outburst. "There's that beautiful smile..."
Guiding LightAuthor's Note Guiding Light As requested, Harmonic and Atmospheric returned for a fourth meeting. This time, Harmonic brought a surprise addition: his older sister, Leah. "I've been watching over the munchkins while they've been here," she told Cadance, "It was about time this goofball got some therapy." "Your brother's quite the interesting subject. It's not every day someone turns their life around in such a dramatic fashion." "Can't deny it's impressive." The Alicorn turned to the couple. "May I speak with the children alone?" "That okay with you?" Harmonic asked his bride. "I don't see why not." Harmonic leaned forward, nuzzling the twins. "We'll be right outside with Shadow if you need us." "Okay, daddy." Melodic replied. Hard Core remained silent. Truthfully, he was anxious to be without his parents, but he promised he'd be strong for his baby sister. He couldn't let his father down. Leah, Harnonic, and Atmospheric left the room, granting them the opportunity to speak their minds freely. Cadance levitated an extra chair to the front side of her desk. "Would you like a seat?" she asked the children before her. They accepted the offer, though she could tell Hard Core was more hesitant to do so than his sibling. "What does your name mean?" Melodic suddenly asked. "Music of love." Cadance replied simply. "Is it like mommy and daddy's music?" The princess feigned ignorance, pretending not to know what the filly meant. "I don't know. What kind of music do they like?" "Metal." "I've heard some before. I think it's pretty cool. What about you? Do you like it, too?" "Yes." "What about your brother?" "Yes." "Do your mommy and daddy spend a lot of time with you?" "We got ice cream before we got here." "I used to babysit my sister when she was your age. We got ice cream and sweets all the time." "Is it true you're a princess?" "Yes." "Woah!" "I'm not as powerful as your mother, but I have some neat tricks up my sleeve." "Like what?" "Well...I can make potions and help people fall in love." "Did you do that for mommy and daddy?" "Nope. They did that all on their own." "How?" "I guess they met in the right place at the right time. Sometimes it just happens that way." "Daddy says falling in love makes him happy. Is that true?" "It can be." "Why is he sad?" "That's...Not an easy question to answer. Your daddy went through some bad things before you were born. It changed him - some ways for the better, others, not so much." "Oh...Okay." "Daddy's sad like me..." Hard Core muttered. "How so?" Cadance questioned curiously. "I dunno." "Well...Why are you sad?" "Daddy says its my brain...It thinks things I don't want it to..." "Ah, I see. I think your daddy means you're clinically depressed." "I don't know what that means..." "It's a bit different from your daddy's sadness. His happened over time. You were born with it, weren't you?" Hard Core nodded. "Your condition is called major depressive disorder. It's a common illness that affects lots of people." "Really...?" "Yeah. It can affect them in lots of ways. Sadness, anger, and changes in hunger happen a lot." "Oh..." "Do your mommy and daddy take care of you when you feel bad?" "Yeah..." "That's good to hear. You'll probably need special help when you're a little older, but its good to know they're doing what they can." "I feel a little better when I'm holding Shadow..." "Having someone depend on you is a powerful motivator. It makes you feel good because it gives you a purpose: something to look forward to every day. It lets you know you're not alone." "Yeah..." "Do either of you like to draw?" "I do!" Melodic replied enthusiastically. "We're going to try something called 'art therapy'. I want you to draw what you're feeling inside. Can you do that?" "Okay." An hour after leaving Melodic and Hard Core in Cadance's care, the two children emerged, each carrying a sheet of paper. Their parents and aunt greeted them warmly. "Hey, guys," Atmospheric spoke sweetly, "How'd it go?" "I drew a butterfly!" Melodic exclaimed in delight. "Oh, wow! It's so pretty." Hard Core approached his father, holding up his sketch for all to see. "It's us..." To Harmonic's bewilderment, his son's drawing was extremely detailed. They were standing in a dark field with the colt holding Shadow in his forelegs. "Where's your mom and Melodic?" "They're not in it..." "Ah..." A smothering silence filled the air. Cadance motioned toward the door. "I would like to speak with Harmonic alone." The stallion nodded. The pair exited the room, convening on the steps outside... "Hard Core suffered a nervous breakdown a few months ago," his father explained, "Did you know that?" "No. I didn't." "Then it might surprise you even more to learn he's not the first child I've known to experience an existential episode." "You mean to tell me he's questioning the meaning of his own existence at six years old?" "Hard to believe, right?" "I'm more inclined to believe in the tooth fairy, frankly." "Then I'm sure you know why I didn't show any hesitation in letting you talk with him." "Was it to prove you weren't a hypocrite, or that you weren't abusive?" "Both." "That, I believe." "I suffered so much I needed a literal angel to keep me alive. I love my family more than life itself. I wouldn't jeopardize that for anything." "Can I ask you a personal question?" "My life's an open book at this point." "What was your relationship with your father like?" "Virtually non-existent. Son of a bitch tried to abduct me when I was a baby. Didn't hear much from him until I was thirteen, whereupon his deranged lunatic mind thought alcoholism was a good example to set for his estranged offspring." "Do you hate him?" "Partially. Actually, maybe more, but much of his affliction can be traced back to failures on the medical system's part." "Can you elaborate?" "He's a paranoid schizophrenic." "He never received treatment?" "Nope." "I'm sorry. We shouldn't have let you down." "It's not your fault. You didn't know." "Where is he now?" "Prison." "Ah..." "Don't feel too bad. Least I didn't grow up to be like him. That's more than a lot of people can say." "You were planning on finding Hard Core help from the start, weren't you?" "I'll do whatever it takes to keep my family safe - even if it means opposing the world at large." "Now I understand where you and Atmospheric's attraction to each other stems from. You share a desire to protect the innocent and pass judgement on the wicked." "Do I deserve to, though?" "She seems to think so, and honestly? I agree." "That makes me feel better at least." "With each day, you grow closer to the person you aspire to be. I fully believe you'll reach that point long before your deathbed." "I hope you're right..." "I didn't get this far being wrong." This managed to elicit something resembling a smile from the stallion. "Come on. let's go back."
ReplicationAuthor's Note "This belief that I have is the only reason that I'm not dead like the rest of my friends. There's no promise your life will get better. There's no promise that people you care about won't pass away. There's no promise that horrible things aren't gonna happen, but I believe in God because that's the only reason I ever made it through that period of my life." -Dan Weyandt, Zao Replication As per their agreement, Atmospheric threw herself full-time into her training. Harmonic stepped in to help sharpen her skills even further against an actual opponent. Not long before Atmospheric's departure for heaven, Cadence visited them at their home. The pair embraced each other in a familial hug. "It's good to see you." the seraph voiced. "Yeah," Cadence concurred, "You, too." "We were just about to make dinner. Would you like to stay?" "If it's not too much trouble." "Not at all. Please, come in." "Thank you." Atmospheric led the Alicorn inside. Harmonic was preparing the ingredients when he recognized her presence. "Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" the stallion teased. "It's strange to see a genuine smile on your face for once." "I know, right? Feels weird even for me." "Where are the rugrats." "In their room. You wanna check on 'em?" "I have a feeling my presence is rather disquieting for your son. I came to see you, anyway." "Is something wrong?" "I just came by to make sure things were going smoothly. I could tell from out first session you were exceptionally troubled." "I appreciate it. Your advice really helped. As a matter of fact, I feel better now than I have in years. I think all I needed was an outside perspective to validate how I was feeling." "So you feel like there's been notable improvement?" "Definitely." "Excellent. That's good to hear." "I do have one question." "Ask away." "You recommended we wait until Hard Core's older before we start looking for professional intervention. Was there a specific reason for that?" "It's harder to identify depression in children because the brain is still so underdeveloped. Things start to become more clear during adolescence. I'm just going by what most doctors would recommend." "Is there anything we can do to keep his condition stable?" "Spend as much time with your children as possible and monitor their conditions. A strong support structure early on could conceivably expedite the recovery process drastically." "So basically what we've been doing." "Pretty much." "It's times like this I'm glad we're capable of self-reflection." "I would imagine." "I just wish they could stay kids forever, ya know...? Tying the knot with Atmospheric and their births were the happiest days of my life..." "I know how you feel. My daughter means the world to me. It's kind of like...A piece of Shining's always with me..." "We've turned into saps in our old age." Cadence chuckled through the tears trickling down her cheeks. Atmospheric offered her a handkerchief. "Well," Harmonic concluded, "I think we could all use a good meal." "I'm starving." Cadence concurred. Atmospheric kept Cadence company while Harmonic prepared the family's meal. The mares quietly discussed some of the more...Intimate...Details of the couple's relationship. "How've things been in the in the sack?" Cadence asked with an uncharacteristically coy bluntness. "We got a lot of the kinky stuff out of our systems before the kids were born. I think we wanted to spice things up early so that when we mellowed out, the slow, tender lovemaking would be more sentimental." "I feel like that should be the norm for most couples: hot and heavy early on, gentle and emotional later, that way you're not left wondering what the former's like. That's a big thing that creates resentment in marriages these days." "We have a longer sexual history together than you might think. When we were teenagers, we would constantly talk dirty to each other while he put on...Um...Personal...displays for my viewing pleasure." "There was sexual chemistry before you met face-to-face?" "Very much so. He was frustrated, after all. Spending time getting to know me was all he really had to look forward to. Despite the depression draining his energy, he still kept going, taking small steps every day to accomplish what his body would allow." "He did it for you..." "Even through the veil of teenage lust, I could see he truly loved me, and I'll let you in on a little secret." "What's that?" "He told you he struggled academically, but that was kind of an exaggeration. He was only slightly below average in his weakest subjects. Once he got out into the real world, he was far more resourceful than he ever was in a classroom." "What he lacks in book smarts, he makes up for in street smarts." "He took notes of everything I taught him during our travels. I guarantee his skills haven't dulled a bit." "My sister-in-law Twilight was the total opposite. She was extremely intelligent, but she was easily overwhelmed by the pressures of day-to-day life. She eventually adjusted, but for a while, I was concerned she wouldn't make it on her own." "Don't underestimate someone with a will to live. They're some of the most powerful people we'll ever know." "You can say that again." The mares went quiet when Harmonic returned with their plates. He retrieved the children before settling in for supper. Under the table, just out of view, Atmospheric held her husband's hoof, calling forth the memories of all they had managed to accomplish together...
