Author'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...