The Heart of a Healer

Chapters

Growing Pains
Tug of War
Nightmares
Ties That Bind (Us Together)
Alone in the Dark

Growing Pains

The clear cloudless sky above the pastoral Ponyville served as a blank canvas for the lives of the colorful ponies living in their picturesque village. Ponies of all ages and creeds went about their daily routines; some haggled for a couple bit differences on their weekly grocery purchases, while others relaxed in the park where the song of the meadowlark could be heard, its warped warbles and cheery chirps brightening the day of anypony that passed by. Though on some sidestreet, above an old bakery, a mare had her work cut out for her.

"Honey, if you sleep any longer, you're going to be late!" the voice of the mare called out in a strict but concerned tone. The mare flicked her ears at the sound of the shuffling and rummaging of sheets, but no immediately obvious sign of obedience could be heard.

“I’m being serious, don’t make me come in there, mister!” the mare exclaimed as she trotted down the hall and carefully pulled open the door.

The mare slipped inside the small dark room and scanned it for the source of her resistance. Looking from left to right, she noticed that the window’s blinders were closed like she left them, but instead of being immersed in shadow, the tiny dull beam of a nightlight cast a revealing glow from its perch on the stand next to the dark wooden bedframe. Not wanting to draw attention to it, she quietly flipped off the switch and smiled at the sight of the younger pony’s form hiding under his soft woolen layer of protection. It reminded her of simpler times, but the smell of the old worn carpet and new furniture brought her back to reality.

“Just fifivph more mimnutes…” came the muffled pleas from the younger pony under the sheets; he knew the games were over at this point but tried to resist anyway.

“No, Mystic, you said that an hour ago. It’s time you got up now,” a clip-clop of hooves filled the room, then the sound of the window’s blinders releasing, followed by sunlight shining into the bedroom.

The mare sighed and pulled the blanket off, revealing the sky blue form of her son attempting to pull the blanket away from her. His disheveled multi-tone striped upper mane covered his eyes, and his tail had the odd hair strand sticking out. As his brain registered the sudden change in light, Mystic groaned and rolled over onto his stomach in defiance.

“Alright, you’ve done it now!” she said a bit deviously as she leaned in over him and began to tickle the back of his upper neck. Mystic let out choked squeaks as he pushed himself towards the bed’s headboard, away from his mother’s magic’s tight grip.

"Stop… Mom..." his voice trailed off as he struggled to speak between the involuntary laughs and squeals. As she relented, he rolled over to glance at the mare just to be sure she wasn’t a changeling coming to steal a few more minutes of sleep from him. Pinkish frame, a pair of green eyes, and a brilliant yellow tail and mane, plus, a.. silver necklace adorned with a reflective heart pendant around her neck.

Yeah, everything checked out, it really was Sunny. Unfortunately. Or a good disguise.

Mystic pulled the rest of the covers off himself, yawned, and hopped out of bed, his mother’s rude awakening helping the tiredness escape his body. “Ugh… it's that day today, isn't it? Why—?” he thought, whining in frustration.

Sunny tilted her head in confusion as her son appeared entirely lost in his thoughts, “Hey, where are you? Equestria to Mystic!” she said as she gently nudged his forehead with her hoof.

“I was just thinking about something. That’s all,” he said, annoyed.

Sunny studied her son's face trying to read him while masking a look of worry with a tender facade. His mouth formed into a scowl, and his bright and shining eyes were dull and lifeless, making his expression a fortress of irritability. As much as she hated to admit it, the ability to reach her once bright star had become dimmer. She always thought of herself as a patient mare, but his short, terse, non-starter responses whenever she pushed him made her desperate to get inside his mind. She tried a caring approach and even demanding answers, but pushing him got her nowhere fast.

“Uh-huh, well, can you please start thinking about how you’ll be late to your first day of class if you don’t get your flank into the kitchen!” Sunny straightened out a few stray hairs from his mane and then shoed off. She gave him a look of encouragement but became distracted at the sight of something in his room.

“Well, don’t just stand there! I made your favorite,” Sunny said from behind him, hoping to cheer him up.

Mystic begrudgingly trotted down the unfamiliar carpeted hallway and instantly sighed.

There they were, chocolate chip pancakes. He didn’t want to appear hypocritical, but the smell that wafted into his nostrils made his mouth water in anticipation and his stomach rumble.

“Yeah, when I was five! I told you not to make those anymore,” Mystic snapped impudently, giving her a mean glare as he turned around.

“O-oh, of course.. I just thought.. Anyways, w-well how about some oatmeal?” Sunny suggested, wanting to appease him. “My mistake, it was the pancakes you didn’t want anymore, but keeping your nightlight is fine, hmm?”

“That sounds good,” Mystic replied tonelessly, but his ears indicated displeasure, dropping to the side of his head when he saw her holding that cutiemarkless saddlebag in her golden aura. “Darn it! I thought I pushed that stupid thing under my bed last night.”

“Okay, then, go on. I’m sure you can handle fixing your new breakfast. Hold on, let me check to see if you forgot anything else,” she said matter-of-factly as she lightly shook the bag floating in the air.

Mystic couldn’t tell if she was being spiteful but didn’t bother asking. “The only one who forgot something is you,”he snapped back at her internally. Mystic went over to the cabinet and pulled it open, taking the first bowl that he could reach with his magic and brought it over to the sink.

Five minutes passed and he got his oatmeal off the stove.

"Mystic, you’re just going to have to eat that on the way,” she said urgently, expectantly waiting for him to grab his bag she left on the table. Mystic had no appetite but knew there’d be more questions if he didn’t eat, and also, he definitely didn’t want to be seen eating in class. So, he resolved to quickly stuff the hot porous mush down his throat, making his stomach ache in protest.

“Hungry?” Sunny chuckled and said jokingly, “I guess you don’t have to worry about that now.” Sunny lightly nudged her son towards the door. “I’m going, okay?!” Mystic thought, annoyed, unable to hide the anger on his face.

"I just want you to make a good impression on everypony," she said before smiling and hugging him. “Come on, let me walk you to school.”

Sunny guided Mystic out the door and trotted beside him down the road. A comfortable silence rested between them, until the schoolhouse came into view, and the rolling hills and green pastures could be seen beyond.

Before letting him go, Sunny turned and pulled him into one last tight hug while whispering loving wishes into his ear. Mystic nuzzled back slightly but then abruptly backed off and coughed to break the tension, recoiling from her overzealous embrace. He hoped nopony saw that, but somepony probably did.

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When they arrived, Sunny said her goodbyes, and Mystic took a deep breath and entered the schoolyard full of fillies and colts playing before the first bell. Mystic sighed, he knew nothing about them, but already felt discouraged. “It’s gonna take forever to start over…”

Mystic’s vision shifted past them for a moment, and was surprised when he saw the building his class was located in. It was a single wooden structure with red paint that was peeling off and wood that was chipping with age. As he looked around some more, he noticed there was a white picket fence running around the perimeter that was clearly in disrepair. “Can they seriously not be bothered to clean this place up?” he thought before the bell from the belltower rang with a loud, shrill, metallic clang.

Mystic shook his head at the noise and begrudgingly made his way inside along with the other foals. Everypony made their way to their favorite seats, friends sitting next to friends, cliques next to cliques, that sort of thing.

Mystic chose a seat at the back of the classroom, and a few minutes later, the teacher cantered into the room. She was a maroon earth pony with pinkish hair and eyes to match. "Good Morning, everypony!" the teacher said, her voice dripping with an unusual amount of excitement and cheer.

"Good Morning Ms. Cheerilee!" the class greeted happily.

“Hmph, that totally didn't sound forced,” Mystic grinned, thinking he made a clever observation.

"Today is a very special day! Does anypony know why?" Crickets. A couple smiled politely, but most ponies just gave her bored deadpan expressions.

"Sheesh, tough crowd," Ms. Cheerilee cleared her throat and beamed with delight.

"Well, anyways, I'd like to announce that we have a new friend joining us all the way from Canterlot today!” Ms. Cheerilee pointed her hoof at Mystic, and his heart shot up in panic as his pupils dilated.

“Why don't you come up here and introduce yourself?" Ms. Cheerilee said patiently.

Mystic wiped the smarmy grin off his face and mentally kicked himself for not thinking of this scenario. “Oh, darn it all! Nice one, Mystic,” he reprimanded.

Mystic lurched himself out of the desk and onto his hooves, his hind legs stumbling when he landed. “No, slow down! That was way too fast.”

In an effort to regain control, Mystic slowly shuffled his way to the front of the classroom, hoping he could maintain a cool demeanor if he slowed down. But, the illusion was shattered when his knees buckled, making him stumble as he made his way to the front of the class.

At this point, Mystic was certain the ponies in the class were sneering at him as a drip of cold sweat rushed down his face. His hooves shook, making him wobble around as he shifted his weight, any sense of coolness completely lost.

Ms Cheerilee took his nervousness into account and said warmly, trying to encourage him, “You’re doing great dear. We’d love to know a little bit about you.”

Mystic gulped and said, "Um, h-hi everypony. My name is Mys-sti-cc Hea..” he said, stammering out his name like he forgot it.

Mystic tried to scavenge up some moisture for his next batch of words, but his throat was barren, making his pronunciation sound weird and alien. “I-I'm from Canterlot, but m-my m-om and I-I just m-ov-ed here to P-Pon-yvill-e,” Mystic scuffed a hoof on the floor and struggled to find anything else interesting to share about himself.

“I, uh… What else?!” he paused, desperately trying to think of anything.

Mystic felt his horn heating up, and in response, shook his head in an odd manner, desperately trying to fend off the sensation. “Celestia, please.. Not this again,” he pleaded, but a slew of tiny blue sparks bounced out of his horn onto the floor, dancing around in a sick, mocking display. Mystic stifled a gasp at the sight of his magic betraying his will and made some unnatural throat-clearing noise to try and finish his speech.

“I-I really like stargazing and l-learning new s-spells.. a-and.. a-and.. um yeah.." He said timidly, eyes downcast, hoping if he didn’t look at them, he might disappear.

“Why did that have to happen now?!” Mystic thought ashis stomach twisted in knots. Mystic's shoulders slumped, trying to hide his red, flustered face by tilting it to the side, but it was useless. He swore he could almost feel their derisive gazes that he knew they were making.

The class said nothing at first, but their faces told him everything he needed to know. Any chance of him being liked had been ruined. To Mystic, it felt like hours, but it had only been a minute until the silence was disrupted by somepony in the back of the classroom.

“What? He can’t even control his magic?” a pink earth pony blurted out, making the foal sitting next to her giggle.

Ms. Cheerilee loudly tapped the blackboard with her hoof and glared at the filly responsible for her rude comment, and she suddenly became very quiet. “See me after class, Ms. Tiara,” she said sternly and frowned.

"Thank you for sharing that with us, Mystic! I'm sure you'll fit right in! Why don't you take your seat so we can get started?" she said in a soothing motherly tone of voice.

Ms. Cheerilee's reassuring words helped calm his nerves, if only slightly, and Mystic breathed a quiet sigh of relief, but as he clumsily returned to his seat, he swore he could still hear them whispering about him.

“Okay, class, today we’re going to talk about physics! The study of change…”

Tug of War

The school day dragged on. The lesson was something he learned about already, and Mystic wasn't paying close attention anyways. Pretending to care, he huffed and flipped through random pages of the worn textbook like he was searching for a page and was suddenly reminded of something his mother told him. ‘Only write down the key details! Believe me, if years of cataloging old spells taught me anything, you've got to know what is and isn't important.' He didn’t know what triggered that memory, but it annoyed him. He knew she had nagged him about it at some point, probably trying to get him to take boring lectures seriously.

But, before he could start heavily brooding, Ms. Cheerilee cut him off. “...Have a wonderful weekend! And remember class, your report on the application of Hayton's Three Laws of Motion is due at the end of the month!"

“Whatever, that sounds easy,” Mystic thought, and sluggishly finished packing up his stuff as the last bell of the day rang out.

Mystic gracelessly hopped out of his desk as the other ponies rushed out of the classroom with excitement, off to go hang out with their friends or whatever fun thing they had planned for the weekend, he supposed.

Mystic left the schoolyard and looked around apprehensively. He couldn’t recognize the way home, even though he was confident he had memorized it. Regardless, he made his way onto the winding dirt road and heard the unfamiliar call of farm ponies in the fields that stretched out beyond the horizon. A group of them passed by with their wheelbarrows of hay and oat, headed towards the village of identical thatched roofs.

The farm ponies spoke in an unfamiliar accent, and he couldn’t comprehend their jargon, making him crave the more comprehensible articulation he was used to hearing. He also missed the marked street signs and designated parks of Canterlot. The empty grasslands and bogs of Ponyville were nothing special in comparison.

Mystic took on a slow, hesitant gait and figured if he stayed on the main road, he would be fine, but the further he got from the school, the more confused he got. Stopping to read a weathered sign, he slipped, and his hoof landed in a small spot of wet mud, making him drop his saddlebag in the process.

"Oh my gosh, you need some help?” a yellow-coated filly with a red mane and bowtie said as she galloped up to him.

“I.. um.. nah. I’ll be okay,” Mystic said, embarrassed a filly had to see him like this. Mystic attempted to get up again but slipped onto his side, caking mud into his fur and tail.

“Here, grab my hoof!” she said with genuine concern. Mystic nodded and extended his forearm out fully as she did the same.

“Ready, one, two, three!” she exclaimed and pulled him back onto his hooves.

“T-thanks. I-I.. I-I need to be more careful.. I wasn’t paying attention. Uhm..” he said, unable to look at her without blushing and preventing his eyes from darting around involuntarily.

Apple Bloom laughed but quickly stopped when Mystic got even more flustered.

“Mystic, right? I’m Apple Bloom. It’s nice to meet you!” she said.

“Uhh.. its.. I’m… well, I was also glad to—I mean, it was nice meeting you too!” Mystic sputtered out, taken aback.

“Sorry for laughing earlier, by the way, but falling into the mud ain’t no reason to feel bad. Ponies trip all the time around here. Why it's practically a sport watching ponies fall in the mud 'round these parts. You should have seen me before I learned to watch out for those spots…”

Mystic shuffled his hooves and found it hard to focus on her lengthy spiel. Her kind gesture was just so different from what he knew. As he recalled, his old classmates acted like royals in court, who curated their interpersonal relationships with the discretion of such. They were a little obnoxious, but isn’t that how you are supposed to act? As Mystic pondered the thought, he became oblivious to her presence, watching chimney smoke billowing out into the dark and gloomy woodlands beyond.

“...and I could...if you want?” Apple Bloom said, offering something.

“I.. well, guess so?” He said, confused, his vision swirling slightly before it refocused back on her as his daydream ended.

“Cool! Here, let me help you get your saddlebag out the muck,” Apple Bloom reached down and dug her right hoof around the saddlebag’s handle and lifted it out, hoofing it over to him.

Instead of taking it from her, Mystic lit up his horn and precisely levitated the entire saddlebag back into position on his back as well as the remaining scattered papers and notebooks off the ground in a steady single motion.

“Like I said, I don’t really need your help,” he said neutrally.

“Well, uh alright then…” Apple Bloom said, blinking slowly, eyebrows raised above their resting position.

“A-are you sure?” Apple Bloom asked, surprised by his skillful display.

“Yeah, I am. My magic’s perfectly in my control,” he said, the neutrality in his voice slipping into aggravation as he dug his hooves hooves into the ground.

Apple Bloom backed up, hoping she hadn’t offended him. “I-I never said it wasn’t.”

Mystic’s face blushed as red as Apple Boom’s mane. “Moron! She never said anything about that,” he thought.

“Y-you’re right.. Um, sorry. I-I need to go now,” he said shyly, and awkwardly trotted off.

After trying to navigate several different unpaved roads for a couple of minutes, Mystic realized he should have asked for directions and scolded himself. Eventually, he found the small loft on the outskirts of the town that he and his mother occupied. Before entering, Mystic found a tree to scrape his body against, but it was a fruitless endeavor.

=========================~♡~♡~♡~=========================

“Honey? Are you home?” Sunny knew he was but asked anyway. Briefly, she heard the door handle twist twice, making her recall a habit that she was sure he had outgrown. Opening doors was one of the first things she and her husband Firelight had taught him to do with his magic.

"Mystic, hold on a moment..." she called out gently, but he didn't provide her with a reply. "Is everything alright?” she said, hoping he’d answer.

Sunny trotted out of the living room, pulling herself away from one of her novels. The sight of a grubby, filth-ridden Mystic greeting her in the entryway made her gasp in shock, his coat looking more mud than fur. Mystic weakly nodded his head and pawed at the wet sod and earthy patches that still stained his muzzle. She could tell he was ashamed of something, but Mystic wore a convincing stoic expression, a look she felt didn’t suit him.

“Oh goodness! What happened? Look at you, here, let me help. Those tail knots look painful,” she said, worried, and hurried over to him.

“I… slipped,” he said plainly as he set his bag down in frustration.

“You’re not hurt, are you?” she said, and began to check for bruises. “And where were you? It’s almost been a half hour.”

Mystic swatted away her hoof pat-down and came close to snarling. “I-I fell into the mud when some dumb filly distracted me,” he said as he turned away from her.

“O-oh, okay,” Sunny kept quiet for a moment and assumed that he was in one of his nasty moods and pressing him would only irritate him further. “Well, I-I’ll run a bath for you, is that alright?” she asked cautiously.

Mystic nodded in confirmation, and though he never changed his demeanor to show it, a hot bath did sound nice. He and his mother entered the bathroom that was opposite the kitchen. It was furnished with the typical appliances. Most notably, a white ceramic tub with a brass outlet positioned to the left of the door, and to the right, a sink sat above a wooden cabinet with a mirror above it. Sunny took hold of the bath’s faucet handle and nudged it on. The release of the hot water made a hissing sound, and with it, a small stream steadily filled up the space.

“Remember, don’t stay in there too long, I don’t want you to overheat!” she quipped.

“I know,” he said sardonically and scowled slightly.

“I.. well, of course, no pressure, take all the time you need. I’m going to go get dinner started,” Sunny smiled and walked outside, leaving the door open a smidge, like she always did.

Mystic shoved the door shut and turned the water off. The room’s temperature quickly swelled from the bathwater, creating a cloud of steam in the room, but before moving for the tub, he turned to observe himself in the mirror. It was strange, though. Even after rubbing some of the condensation away, no matter how close he looked, his reflection still appeared obscured. He shrugged and dismissed the odd feeling, reckoning it must be the mud stains that still covered his disheveled fur.

Looking up at the top of the tub, he noticed its tall concave design was something more suitable for an adult pony. He could ask for help but couldn’t bear the thought. He first jumped a bit, then reached his forearms over the top edge and wrapped them inwards on the tub’s curved inner slope. With his hooves secure, he managed to kick off the floor and push the rest of his body inside, the momentum making him tumble and roll onto his back with a splash.

“Having fun, dear?” Sunny said playfully, laughing.

“I’m, uh, sure,” he bit his lip and grunted, stifling any sign of pain.

A bottle of soap and a brush were thankfully left on the sink counter, and he grabbed the former first, nearly emptying the plastic container into the growing murky water. The solution mixed in, and predictably, foam swirled around him. He took the brush and began scrubbing his ears, neck, back, tail, and everywhere else, cleansing himself for what seemed like an eternity. Still unsatisfied, he plunged his head underneath the dark bubbling surface and held his breath. He ran his hoof through his mane repeatedly and combed for that last piece of dirt lurking somewhere in his mane, determined to find it.

Mystic kept sifting through strands of his hair, certain that an irksome piece of muck was still clinging to him. His lungs began to sting as he felt an uncomfortable dizziness, but he decided a few more minutes was all he needed. He rapidly shook his head in random directions to get it out, but that frantic movement only lowered his oxygen supply.

Disoriented and confused, he inhaled, but black streaks of shadow crept into his vision as the bath’s water began to rush into his nose and mouth.

Sunny, cutting up a tomato for a salad, whistled an upbeat tune when her ears pricked up, stopping when the typical bath noises had ceased. Something was wrong.

The absence of bath noises had gone on far longer than what she was comfortable with. She stopped prepping the salad for a moment and hesitantly called out, maintaining a fair and neutral tone. “Honey.. Um.. Dinner’s almost ready.”

Mystic desperately flailed underwater for a couple of agonizing seconds that felt like hours, searching for the bottom. When he found it, he pushed himself up just as Sunny flung open the door and rushed over to him, waves splashing and emanating away from him rapidly.

Mystic tried attempting a facade of control by refusing to take in too many oxygen-greedy breaths but couldn’t prevent himself from coughing up water and spitting up soap as a panicked Sunny hastily lifted him out and above the water’s surface.

“I’m.. I.. just.. breathed.. In a little.. water. I’m okay mom.. please.. put.. me.. down,” he said between sloshy water-filled gasps.

Sunny complied but felt wrong doing so. She put one hoof on his chest and checked his pulse, confirming it had slowed down. She put the other hoof to his dripping wet blue mane, brushed it over to the side, and furrowed her brow. “Please.. Let me look in your eyes for a moment, alright?” Without waiting for his acknowledgment, she moved in closer to examine him.

“Mom, what is it?” he said nervously, afraid she might assume the worst.

“I.. can you see me clearly?” she asked sternly.

“Y-yeah.. Yep. I told you, I’m f-fine,” he said as he flicked his tail to an unheard beat.

Sunny hugged him briskly while glancing at his retinas again, confirming that his eyes did look somewhat glossy. Mystic's words did not match his body’s physical distress signs.

Sunny backed up briskly after realizing that, and not wanting to draw attention to the gravity of the situation, she said, “Mystic, please dry yourself off. I need to finish getting dinner set. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

The almost brusque brush off from Sunny startled him at first, making his pupils dilate. Sunny only acted like that when she was deeply worried. “Oh.. uh. Yeah, uh, got it,” he said through clenched teeth.

Mystic pulled a spare towel off the rack and shimmied it across his hind legs and barrel a few times but stopped drying himself shortly. The short contact with his mother’s aura had done the towel’s job, and he sighed despondently. With great hesitation, he grabbed the handle to manipulate it accordingly.

“I.. No.. It’s for the best,” Sunny lamented under her breath while she shakily placed two bowls of green on the table. In a moment of weakness, Sunny lowered herself onto the chair and sighed with little energy left. She let her shoulders slump and head sink down onto the table, taking hold of her shiny silvery necklace, letting out a couple of restrained choked whimpers and sniffles.

Mystic saw his distraught mother and felt like he was underwater again. His legs, which now felt as heavy as a ton of bricks, dragged his body forward slowly.

Sunny immediately straightened up from her slumped position on the chair as she heard her son approach. “Hi sweetie, I was just about to call you. I’ll bet you're hungry from your first day at school!” she said in an overly cheerly tone, compensating for her wet red eyes and behavioral shift.

He climbed up on the chair opposite hers but was in no mood to talk, her tonal contrast angering him. “No, not really,” he replied flatly, keeping his haunches squarely pressed up against his body. He stared down at his food, clammily fidgeting with the fork and perusing pieces of lettuce.

“Do you.. want to talk about what happened just now?” she asked nervously.

Mystic shoved his fork down into the lettuce and kept his head down. “No, because I’ve already told you what happened,” he said indignantly and took a bite of the salad, chewing slowly so he didn't have to speak.

The two ponies sat at the table eating in silence, and the only discernible sound that could be heard was the crunching of lettuce leaves and the occasional swallowing noise. Sunny cleared her throat and hesitantly made one more attempt at conversation. “Did you.. What did you learn at school today?”

Mystic twisted his fork into the salad several times and said, “I.. learned.. that.. you..”, he mumbled in a restrained tone, barely above a whisper.

Sunny leaned in with her elbows on the table. “What was that dear..? I couldn’t quite hear—”

Mystic took his hooves off the chair and slammed them onto the table, making their bowls rattle. “What’s for the best, mom?” Mystic growled from across the table.

A spike of anxiety hit Sunny in the chest, making her feel like she had been punched in the stomach, and she dropped her head in anguish. She recovered quickly though, and craned her neck back up to meet his gaze, giving him a charmingly soothing smile.

“Oh, sweetie.. The move to a this new school. I know that.. you didn’t like it. But your dad and I thought it was for the best.”

“Right. You know, I think I’m going to do my homework now,” he said coldly.

Nightmares

Mystic was in a mental daze as he stood there and stared at the photo. He felt a migraine coming on as memories from the day mixed in with the details of his recollection. He was utterly conflicted and confused as he tried to reconcile the blank spaces in his memory. There were pieces, fragments, he was certain of happening. Sunny bumping into him with his sled, her apology. Mostly, everything with Sunny was a lot more vivid and concrete.

With Firelight, it was different. The events were far more hazy, and he was unsure of what had happened between them. He recalled his kind and jovial nature, and how safe he felt around him. Most importantly, he knew his father had called him his soldier that day, and he never said that lightly. It was a special term of endearment he used whenever Mystic had a hard time with something. The problem was that the only thing Mystic remembered having difficulty with was his stupid jacket zipper.

Mystic shook his head. It was just a zipper. He tried to dismiss what he heard as a false memory, but it was unshakeable, and his stomach churned. The uncertainty surrounding the memory made him feel sick.

Mystic ignored it though, letting his thoughts twirl and spin as he paced again, pondering what his father wanted from him and mentally berating himself since he stupidly couldn’t remember. If only he were here and not out, working, apparently.

That was, at least, what Sunny told him he was doing, but it reminded him of a rumor he overheard. Mystic didn’t think Sunny or Firelight were the type to—well, Mystic didn’t want to repeat what he had heard, but sometimes when a parent is away for long, it's because one of them is doing inappropriate things with another pony that they like more. He kicked himself for that line of thought, since if they really didn’t love each other, then they would have broken up a long time ago, he figured.

Mystic conceded that he didn’t know everything about his parents, but it was the best justification he could come up with at the moment. He was still at a complete loss, and thoughts raced through his mind he didn’t want to believe. He wished his search for wisdom wasn’t so fruitless, but it was, and wished he didn’t have more questions than answers, but he did.

Mystic huffed with frustration and stomped a hoof onto the ground. He took a deep breath, and wanted to scream. He forcefully pushed his bedroom door open and stepped inside, slamming the same door behind him. He thought about his homework for a moment but realized he could care less about it. All of the day’s reflection had worn him out and he was exhausted and just wanted to sleep.

Mystic went over to shut the blinds, and as he turned towards his desk stand, he grimaced at his nightlight sitting there and quickly flipped off the overhead lamp. “Come on! You don’t really need that thing anymore, do you?”

Mystic, resisting the urge to turn it on, climbed into his bed and covered himself with his sheets. "Get a grip, already."

For a while, as he lay there alone in his dark room, everything was fine, until the innocuous sound of the apartment’s radiator hummed, and his chest shocked him with an intense flurry of pain. He clutched his blanket, and his hooves shook involuntarily.

“No, it’s nothing.. It’s nothing.. It’s..” Mystic mentally repeated to calm himself down. He shut his eyes, but the darkness was still there, like a looming storm siphoning away all his remaining courage, creating a growing sense of unease that formed from the corners of his mind.

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Sunny was not taking the day’s events well either. The way Mystic acted around her was concerning, to say the least. She wanted to check up in him, but she was just afraid. Afraid she might say the wrong thing and lose her temper. Sunny’s mind spun and dark thoughts that still lurked around in the depths of her psyche arose.

Sunny decided to retire early for the night and attempted to sleep, but her nagging worries and fears followed her there, directing her subconscious towards visions of the past. She pushed and pulled the covers off her bed, restlessly motioning like a pony fighting off some invisible specter hovering over her.

“You can’t be serious!” she heard herself say enraged.

When Sunny heard those words, she immediately knew what her mind had in store. It was the night after they received that letter from the school. The argument still felt like it happened yesterday.

“Sunny,” she heard Firelight say shakily as his dark blue form began to take shape. “Y-you n-need to understand, I-I just wanted t-to.. Honey, please calm down. We can talk about this,” he pleaded.

Sunny dreaded having to see her husband so distressed and wanted to scream at her past self for losing control of her emotions.

“Calm down?! How can I calm down when you’re clearly not thinking straight?!” she said as she approached him angrily. Sunny saw herself get right into Firelight’s face, and not gently at all, place a hoof on his shoulder, shoving him back. “You’re something. You know, you really are incredible! You know what your problem is? You don’t think!” she said, pointing at her skull. “Nothing you say is rational!”

“I’m doing my best, alright?!” Firelight glared, stood up tall, and made himself appear bigger than he felt. In response, Sunny lit up her horn and made an illusory fire dance in the pupils of her eyes, an intimidation technique she accidentally discovered.

“You CLEARLY aren’t! Need I remind you of the stunt you pulled with him the day after his sixth birthday?! I was blatantly worried and you assured me everything was fine. I mean, I don’t know what’s worse. The fact that you trusted your six year old child not to tell his own mother or the fact you actually told him to stay quiet to, to, to what? Shelter your ego?” she spat.

Firelight took her pause in thought as a chance to defend himself, “No!” he shouted. “I-It was an accident and you know it! I-I never wanted to hurt him! Sunny, I-I thought you forgave me,” he said, forcing back tears.

“Yes. I did forgive you, even after you insisted on continuing your magic little training sessions,” Sunny said, narrowing her eyes in anger. “You are just.. so naive and foolish! What other reason could you possibly have for not wanting him out of that school and taking him away from this wretched town?” she said incredulously.

“Sunny.. I, well, speaking of…” Firelight gulped, and a bead of sweat ran down his muzzle. He knew this was the worst possible time to bring up the topic, but he had been putting it off, out of fear of her reaction. “I-I have this assignment with the guard’s medical battalion. It’s a big opportunity for me and.. I-I need your support. I need to be here on call.”

“Oh that’s great, Firelight! ” she shouted insincerely. “So, that’s what this is about. Tell me, how’d you manage that? With your history of reckless endangerment?!”

“Sunny, ALL I’ve ever wanted to do is protect and prepare him for the real world!” Firelight shot back spitefully. “Perhaps, if you compromised for once in your life, we wouldn’t be having this argument! You know what YOU are? Impossible! I swear—”

“Oh, shut up! You and your talk of preparations. All you’ve ever done is scare him senseless. Do you think I told the psychologist he has an overactive imagination for no reason? Or are you that dense? I did it for your sake because I trusted you, remember?! Don’t you dare tell me I’m being impossible! I have compromised, and you’ve given me nothing but regret in return.”

Sunny’s words rang out and struck Firelight deep inside his heart. Firelight hung his head low in despair, feeling scorned by the mare he loved so much, “I-I gave y-you Mystic,” he said sadly, barely managing to speak, as his vocal muscles tightened.

Sunny paused in thought, letting her rage consume her. “And you sure showed him how much you cared didn’t you? You know what Firelight, just go. Go then, while I take care of him like I always do! Go ahead since your job is all you ever think about anyway!!” Sunny screamed in utter frustration, spurring the fire contained in her eyes to leap out and engulf him. Sunny did nothing to extinguish it, as she shamefully saw him only as an object of her ire. So, she stood there, ashen and alone, in the wake of the inferno's devastation.

=========================~♡~♡~♡~=========================

In a blur of distorted images, suppressed memories of Mystic’s old school flashed around his mind in a twisted slideshow-esque collage. He heard voices call out to him that grew in veracity, and in an instant, the images morphed until a clearer picture he could recognize materialized. He was in a library’s stacks being led down an endless maze of bookshelves by a group of four slightly older foals.

“Come on, Mystic Heart, if you’re so smart, then show us your vast knowledge,” one of them snickered and put a hoof over his mouth, while another placed their hoof around his shoulders and aggressively guided him through more corridors, making random left and right turns until they were secluded.

Mystic hoped he’d never have to hear the sound of their sinister voices ever again, their giddy laughs still tormenting him, despite how hard he tried to forget. He could do nothing but watch himself scan the words of that spell they chose for him, written in some ancient dialect he could barely understand.

“Yeah we ALL want to see it in action,” the one to his left said gleefully.

The ponies surrounded him, enclosed him in a circle, and after ensuring he was trapped, they shoved a book into his hooves, giving him no choice but to read it.

“W-what’s this going to do to me?” he asked, cowering before them.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fun,” Mystic gulped at the pony’s menacing tone as beads of sweat ran down his face. He reread the spell repeatedly, trying to make sense of it.

“Well? Are you done? Clock’s ticking,” their ringleader asked impatiently.

“Hang on, maybe he needs some encouragement. You can do it, Mystic! We believe in you!” the others cheered on, laughing mockingly.

The bullies repeatedly taunted him and the cacophonous din of their laughter grew louder and more abrasive. Mystic saw himself trying to flee but was shoved back inside, overwhelmed by the entourage. “W-will you let me go if I do?” he said, and they nodded ominously.

“F-fine!” he said indignantly and glanced down at the old tome.

As he read it, he absorbed the raw energy emanating from the book and cast the spell. He felt its magica course through him, causing a pins and needles sensation on his skin. It spread across his body and he began to feel numb. This he expected, he knew the body needed to adjust its sensory input levels to adapt to disruptions in its auric fields. The issue with this being, Mystic had no idea how long the adjustment period would last for this spell. Plus, the magic he was taking in was intense, and its effects were unfamiliar to him.

Eventually, the numbness dissipated but an absolutely awful soul-crushing feeling of dread followed. Nothing felt real, and it made him wish he tried harder to escape. His vision drifted in and out of focus and he suffered depth of field distortions, making his tormentors appear larger than life, allowing him to see every minute detail of their cruel victory written over their faces.

The visual distortions spun and made him feel nauseous, but he nearly forgot the stomach-churning pain when his hooves and bodily extremities became see-through. “Help! PLEASE!” he yelped out in sheer panic as they faded away, but his pleas failed him, and then he experienced something entirely different—the cold.

An icy chill enveloped him and the sound of his voice morphed into an disorienting shrill noise in his ears as the colors around him rapidly shifted into darker hues until everything was totally black and silent. At this point, the darkness itself had become a suffocating fog, a thief to not only his vision but all his senses. It was the worst, most isolating feeling he could possibly imagine.

Confused and afraid, he aimlessly wandered around, unsure of how to proceed—every step increasing his panic.

“Where am I?” he thought aloud, desperately hoping somepony would hear him.

Mystic tried to cast a basic light spell, but no matter how hard he tried, it failed every time, making his heart palpitate in terror.

When his vision eventually returned, he saw the monstrous forms of two older ponies approach him, and a chill ran down his spine. It was his parents. The green eyes of his mother, and violet eyes of his father were dim, and they had a sad, tired, disappointed expressions on their faces.

“M-mom, D-dad? W-what’s going on? What’s wrong with my magic?” he asked, horrified.

They said nothing, shook their heads, and silently encroached into his personal space. Mystic desperately tried to get their attention and called out to them, but they either couldn’t hear or were refusing to speak to him. When he realized this, Mystic took a step back as their shadowy figures passed through him entirely.

=========================~♡~♡~♡~=========================

Mystic jerked himself out of his nightmare, shot up in his bead, and wiped off his wet forehead that was drenched in a cold sweat. Mystic could hear his heart pounding wildly in his chest, and before he was fully consumed with panic, he frantically leaned over to turn on his nightlight.

The dull glow it gave off provided him some relief, but he was still terrified. He felt like he almost died, and it didn’t feel like a dream. It felt real. It reminded him of everything he screwed up, and he began to sob, unable to hold back the well of tears that he had been forcing back since last morning.

Needing to know he was safe, he sought his mother for the comfort only she could provide. Mystic warily crawled out of his bed and nudged open his door, making his way across the hall to where Sunny slept.

Mystic’s hoofsteps creaked on the wooden floorboards, and Sunny stirred from the noise, opening her eyes rapidly—a protection-induced response she developed from being awoken in his I-can’t-sleep-alone phases.

Sunny sat up, and through the murky light of her bedroom, she saw Mystic’s shadowed shaking form in the doorway, front legs wrapped around himself. She could tell from his breathing that he had been crying recently.

"M-mom.. I-I had a bad dream," he said in a brittle tear-choked voice.

Sunny’s heart clenched at the sight of his little body approaching her bed and she lifted her blankets in invitation. "Come here, sweetheart," she said gently, but with an urgency in her tone.

Mystic stumbled his way toward her, and Sunny tightly took him into her hooves, lifting him onto the bed. Once he was next to her, Sunny embraced him and Mystic gladly did the same.

“I’m sorry you had a bad dream. What was it about?” she asked softly, hiding the anguish in her voice. How much more deception could she justify? In the past, she was able to allay his fears by assuring him that none of it was real or have him reframe it in a more positive light.

“I-I dreamed that.. that..” he said, but the thought of his nightmare overwhelmed him, causing a new wave of anxiety to crush his fragile state of mind. Mystic’s body quivered in fear as he heaved against her chest and began to sob for the second time that night. The fresh stream of tears he produced wetted and matted her mane and coat in the process, but Sunny didn’t even notice.

"Shhh, it's alright my baby. I've got you now," she cooed and kissed his muzzle, reassuring him that he was safe. Mystic, in turn, buried his head in his mother’s chest, letting out soft, muffled hiccups as she leaned over to rub comforting circles on his back.

Several minutes passed as Sunny gently rocked and soothed him. His tears slowed to occasional sniffles, and an intimate silence fell over the room. The sight of her shaking and sniffling foal painfully stung her heart with guilt. No matter how comforting her lies were, she knew that she couldn’t allow them to go on any longer, for both their sakes. And for Firelight’s sake.

“Mom, c-can you sing to me?” Mystic asked through chattering teeth. “Of course I will, dear,” she said quietly. “Always.”

Sunny held his hoof and Mystic’s eyes drifted between half and fully lidded. Sunny picked up on his tiredness and motioned for them to lay down. After they shifted to laying on their backs, Sunny allowed him to cuddle up next to her. Mystic yawned and she smiled, beginning to sing him a sweet serenade she had learned from her mother during her foalhood.

Mystic couldn’t recall the number of times he heard the tune, but each time he heard it, it always made him feel like Sunny had cast a circle of protection, preventing any worries he had from entering his mind for the time being. The more he listened, the more it reminded him of simpler times when his nightmares could be forgotten by the calm, reassuring words his mother provided.

Sunny felt Mystic’s small body nestle up against her withers, and she gently pulled him closer as she sang. Sunny’s calm, reassuring voice perfectly complementing the comforting heartfelt lyrics that told of guardians who kept watch through the night.

As she finished the final notes, Mystic became still, his breathing deep and even. Yet, uneasy whispers lingered in the back of her mind as she watched him sleep, reminders of secrets that she knew could not remain hidden any longer if she still wanted her son to find solace in her embrace.

Ties That Bind (Us Together)

The next morning, Mystic was still fast asleep, the warmth of Sunny's body keeping his worries at bay as he lay beside her. Sunny, on the other hoof, was restless and couldn’t sleep at all, preferring to keep watch over him, and mentally rehearse everything she kept from him.

Once dawn arrived, Mystic’s consciousness returned as he felt the tenseness of his mother’s body beside him. Mystic rubbed his eyes, and as he opened them, Sunny sighed, and her shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, did I wake you, darling?” he heard Sunny mutter groggily.

Mystic squeezed her hoof and said, “N-no, I was already basically awake anyway…” he started to explain but stopped when the light leaking into the room illuminated Sunny’s wet red eyes. Mystic sat up and asked her, “Mom... Are you okay?” his tired voice said, laced with concern. Mystic wasn’t oblivious, he knew Sunny often tried to appear stronger than she felt.

“M-mom, be honest, were you crying just now? he questioned, his voice cracking with worry. Even though Mystic had woken up from a deep sleep, understanding what was upsetting his mother became his top priority, despite his own fears.

“There’s.. well.. Now, that’s a hard question sweetie,” Sunny said hesitantly.

"What? No it’s not," Mystic thought, slightly annoyed.

“Mom, please be honest with me,” Mystic said, sounding concerned.

“I.. I’m fine darling,” Sunny mumbled under her breath and said, “You don’t need to worry about me,” she said calmly.

“Mom, please can...” but Sunny cut him off.

“Hey, why don’t we get some light in this stuffy room,” Sunny said, her voice sounding oddly spirited.

With a flick of her horn, a soft golden glow enveloped one of the dangling cord strings. She gave it a gentle pull downward, and the slats of the blinds began to rise, parting row by row as thin ribbons of morning light filtered inside. As the blinds reached their zenith at the top of the window, the shadows retreated, and the space gradually filled with the sun’s warmth.

Mystic watched, transfixed, trying to shake off his wonder. Sunny had such a graceful finesse with her magic, even as she performed the most basic tasks, and it was beautiful to watch, but he wasn’t going to let her drop the topic with what he assumed to be a distraction. He was still upset over her previous evasion, and his wounds were too deep to ignore.

“That’s better! Now, I can see my boy,” Sunny said, smiling happily as her energy returned to her bright green eyes. “C’mon let me make you breakfast and,” she said with vigor before Mystic interrupted her.

“Can you just.. just.. For once just answer my question,” Mystic said, scowling at her overly cheerful tone. Frustrated with his poor articulation, he tried to explain himself, “It’s not gonna make me happy if you act like everything is fine.” Mystic huffed and turned his head away from her in anger, clearly upset that she still felt the need to adopt her motherly facade even after yesterday’s events.

Sunny sighed. She was slipping back into the mask she developed to protect herself, not him, from pain.

“I’m.. sorry..” she said, and looked away. “I.. just love you so much,” she said as she sniffled away fresh tears.

“I-I love you too Mom,” Mystic said and softened, he wasn’t used to seeing his mother so distressed. Mystic leaned his head into her side, and she lovingly stroked his mane. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she said sadly, whispering into his ears.

“W-why do you say that?” he said and allowed her to hold him as long as she needed. Sunny nuzzled his neck and then released him. She proceeded carefully, and deliberately, with her next batch of words. “Because.. there’s.. a lot I haven’t told you. I know that you know this. I was thinking about how scared you were last night.. and my first instinct was to make you feel better. I just.. got carried away. I wasn’t intentionally trying to deceive you,” she said honestly.

“Oh, um.. That does make sense.. Sorry mom..” he said regretfully, accepting her explanation.

Sunny placed a hoof on his back and smiled, “It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize,” she said soothingly, and his shoulders slumped.

Sunny internally shuddered; she had grown far too accustomed to deception. It cut her deep to see how badly she had damaged things with him. After spending so much time convincing herself that her lies were for Mystic’s benefit, it was far too easy to slip back into that mindset. It was like her charade was a poorly tightened knot, and she grit her teeth at the thought of its loose threads coming fully undone.

Mystic stayed silent and stared at her intensely, studying her face, and she met his gaze back with resolve. He smiled and nodded, content, but was still lost in a storm of dark thoughts swirling in his mind. “Well.. if you aren’t going to lie to me.. I-I want to know about dad,” he said firmly, looking at her directly.

“I.. know you do sweetie,” Sunny said. Sunny figured he would ask about Firelight the first chance he got. “But.. before I do, would you do me one favor?” she said, trying to assert her last shreds of leverage.

Sunny certainly didn't want him to feel coerced but was deeply concerned about the visceral reaction he had to his nightmare. It killed her not knowing the cause of his tears. She had caused him enough pain. The stars above would have to forgive her if she was wrong to push, because, despite what the doctor told her, and despite the lies she told herself, it was too hard not knowing how he felt anymore.

Mystic took a minute to consider it, but after seeing her genuine guilt in being called out, he accepted her condition. “I.. o-okay, mom. What is it? Then you promise to tell me everything?” he said cautiously.

“Yes, I absolutely promise. In fact.. I had a nightmare too.. But I just wanted to know what yours was about before I tell you mine. If you recall, you were going to tell me last night but..."

“Wait.. really?” Mystic asked, surprised. “You had a bad dream too?” he said.

“Yes, but.. I was focused on comforting you. Mystic you’re.. the pride and joy of my life,” Sunny said gently, her eyes glistening as they became damp. So.. please.. as your mother, I really need to know what upset you so badly,” she said worriedly.

“Okay, mom, I... I… I’ll try," Mystic said, voice cracking as he listlessly looked down, lost in thoughts that he often kept under lock and key. When he looked back up, he wore a look of a despondent colt fraught with raw fear and hurt.

Sunny, hoping to help ground him, leaned in close, and placed her hoof on his. Mystic uneasily accepted the gesture and remained tense, but not wanting to appear to be rejecting her affection, kept his back upright against the bed's large pillows as he faintly fidgeted with his other limbs. Mystic opened his mouth to reply, but quickly shut it, instead going silent for a moment. Did he really deserve it?

Mystic let out a long drawn-out exhale, completely relieving himself of all the air in his lungs, and breathed in and out a few times, “I-I-I was.. In a library, t-they forced me t-to do a spell I didn’t understand.. I-I lost.. C-control a-and..” Mystic’s voice became tiny and physically shrunk his body.

“Mystic.. What? Who forced you?” Sunny said, shocked and outraged, but kept her anger in check. Sunny never learned the details of what had happened since she never got the school’s report, and Mystic had always been too scared to tell her himself.

“I-I don’t know! I can’t remember! They were just some ponies in my class!” Mystic loudly said, snapping at her. “They were.. older than me. That’s all I know,” he said as his breathing became ragged and he shook a little. Sunny’s chest twisted in on itself, and her throat tightened. "I should have known!“ she thought, unsurprised that the bullies’ were foals that understood Mystic's developing biology.

“It’s okay, do your best. You.. were saying you lost control?” Sunny replied, urging him to continue with his memory.

“I.. yeah, I think,” Mystic said, growing more agitated. Sunny softly rubbed his back, and Mystic flinched by flicking his tail. “I-I don’t know what happened to me.. The magic.. I felt.. like it.. i-it did something to me when I cast the spell..” Mystic said with confused anger, annoyed that he wasn’t entirely sure how the spell affected him.

“What do you think it did? ..Sweetie, whatever happened, you’re safe now,” Sunny said, calmly and reassuringly. Mystic reluctantly recalled how he sunk into darkness and how he repeatedly failed to cast a basic illumination spell, his whole body trembling as he did so.

“Then.. Y-you.. you.. a-and dad.. were t-there too… ignoring me,” he said quietly, tears building up in his eyes, Sunny’s heart skipping a beat as she listened.

“W-why did you ignore me?!” Mystic said, practically growling as he clenched his teeth.

“What? Mystic, we’d never,” Sunny said, panicked, but he cut her off.

“TELL ME WHY!” he shrieked in a horribly morose combination of anger and grief as his facial muscles contorted and the veins in his neck bulged. Mystic began to full on cry and tiny blue sparks intensely fizzled off his horn, filling the air with a low electrical current, making the fur on both of their coats rise.

Sunny gathered strength in preparation, but she didn’t intervene, not yet. She knew this energy had to come out naturally. She exhaled and began to fill her magical reserves, priming them for the incoming torrent of chaotic energy. A pool of her golden aura built at the base of her horn, which made its way along the rings to the top, waiting calmly and patiently for her command.

As he cried, his small body shook violently as small arcs of lightning danced around his horn. The static electricity around him became volatile, instigating random bolts of mana to shoot off in random directions. “Mom, I need your help!” he shouted, with a visceral panic in his voice that she had never heard before. Sunny channeled her energy to counteract his, but couldn’t find a good moment to act.

“Mystic! You have to,” Sunny called out to him, but that proved useless, and a large beam of mana fired off from his horn. Reflexively, she summoned an absorptive barrier at the last second, taking in all of his rampant emotions that came from the beam.

“Mom! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that!!” Mystic screamed in fear. Every muscle in his body tensed up, and a stream of tears fell down his cheeks.

He began hyperventilating, and Sunny immediately sprung into action. She knelt down, placed her hooves on his shoulders, and locked eyes with him. “I know you didn’t! Honey, it’s important that you take deep breaths with me. Remember?” she said, projecting her voice with an unwavering confidence. Mystic moved his head up and down rapidly.

“Follow my lead. One…in. Two…out. Three…in, ” Sunny said firmly, beginning a breathing exercise they’d practiced before. “Good job! You’re doing great. One more time.”

Sunny continued to guide him with soft and rhythmic counting as she took in steady breaths through her diaphragm, her ribcage inflating and deflating, visually encouraging him to do the same. Mystic’s shallow, erratic heartbeats gradually steadied as he focused on the vivid bright green of his mother’s eyes. After a couple of minutes of deep breathing cycles, they synced with each other, and Mystic’s crying lessened into sniffles.

Warmth spread through Mystic’s body as his oxygen returned, allowing his taut muscles to loosen. Sunny smiled and closed her eyes, and Mystic followed her example. Mystic looked down, flushed, let out one final deep exhale, and with his body shaking a little, spoke in a pained whisper.

“M-mom I’m really really sorry.. About hiding this from you.. I mean.. I.. almost hurt you. But I did it because.. because.. The spell t-they forced me to do.. I think it m-messed up my magic in some way.. and I.. didn’t want to disappoint you and dad.. So I k-kept this from you,” he said, in strained fragments of words, and sniffled again, unable to continue.

Sunny’s face twisted up, deeply saddened by the profession of his deepest fears that she now finally understood. Sunny steeled herself against the self-blame she felt coming on and focused her mind on Mystic. Soothingly, she stroked the upper part of his mane and brushed away the stray strands of hair that covered his eyes.

“Mystic, sweetie, first off, don’t apologize. You have nothing to feel sorry for. Your father and I would never be ashamed of you, even if you truly couldn’t control your magic. We’d help you work through it, I promise,” Sunny said reassuringly, and nestled his cheek. “But.. as it turns out, I believe I know what’s going on here,” she said sagely.

“Y-you do?” Mystic’s eyes lit up with joy, and he stopped sniffling.

“Yes, indeed,” Sunny said, smiling. But, when she continued, her face dropped to a more neutral expression, “I.. don’t know whether to blame that academy or myself for not teaching you sooner but…” she paused to consider her language, and decided to use the proper terminology.

“Mystic, sweetie, you’re experiencing what’s known as emotionally-triggered magical flare-ups and they are perfectly normal for your age. It means you’re healthy, Mystic. And it also means my little boy is growing up,” Sunny explained and beamed, but deep inside, she felt a melting pot of different emotions, ranging from pride to regret to anger.

“But w-what about t-the spell and the…” Mystic sputtered in frustration, struggling to understand the scope of how the flare-ups affected him.

“Mystic, focus on my words and listen, alright?” Sunny replied in a calm voice. Mystic nodded, and tried to do as he was told. Sunny wrapped an arm around him, and he recoiled a little, “Odd..” she thought.

“Okay, well, it’s a little technical, but it's all about your body’s ability to regulate its magic and emotions at the same time. Let me try to explain, as your body learns to regulate its developing magical system, it's also trying to regulate the emotion-based framework it uses to power spells. The important part is, when the body is very scared, it activates the fight or flight response, and due to the dysregulation, it causes an uncontrollable burst of magic. I.. know it’s a lot. Are you with me?” Sunny questioned, not wanting to overwhelm him.

“Uh huh. I think so?” Mystic said, shaking his head yes, still looking unsure. “Hm, try to think of your magic existing in an expanding container that allows you to hold more of it as you age. The issue is, the strength of your magic is highly dependent on your emotions. Do.. you see what I am getting at?” she asked.

“Container..” Mystic said pensively. “Oh. You mean my magic's reserves? I think I learned about them in school.”

“That’s good! Then you’ll definitely understand this next part,” Sunny said, smiling. “As I said, your magic reserves expand as you age. Like those growth spurts you’ve been having lately,” Sunny said, and Mystic rolled his eyes. “But what about that fight or flight response you mentioned?”

Sunny sighed, wishing she had made him smile, “That’s your body’s natural response to danger. Normally, you don’t use all of your magic at once, so you automatically save it for later. But, when you’re afraid, your body opens up like a.. hidden compartment in them, giving you access to everything in case you need it. Except, your body doesn’t know how to manage the new amount of magic yet, and well, that’s what causes the outbursts. Does.. that all make sense?”

“Y-yeah, I think so. Thanks. B-but mom, how can I ever get better at controlling these outbursts? Should I just.. try to never be afraid? I-I don’t think I could do that…” Mystic said and frowned.

"No, sweetie, you’re right you couldn’t. Because that’s impossible. You can’t never be afraid. Feeling afraid is natural, and you shouldn’t ignore it. The goal is learning healthy ways to manage your emotions until your body grows a bit more," Sunny explained thoughtfully.

“O-okay.. But.. why did it go so wrong..?” Mystic asked.

“I suspect that.. That spell they made you cast, backfired on you, and your fear only made its effects worse. And I also suspect that they knew it would,” Sunny said, voice edging on sorrow. “Mystic those ponies.. took advantage of you,” she said with thinly veiled disgust.

Mystic’s throat tightened and said, “Oh.. um.. I.. yeah, I know, mom,” Mystic broke eye contact with her and kept his eyes fixated on a comb that was lying on her dresser, letting his shoulders sag as his face wore an expression of defeat.

Sunny’s heart leaped as she realized the stupidity of that last comment and quickly added, “Well.. What’s important is that you remember that none of it was your fault,” she affirmed authoritatively.

She was just so angry at his aggressors. She had to know more, and Sunny prodded further, “Mystic, if it’s okay for me to ask, do you know.. why they targeted you..? Was there any reason?” she inquired cautiously.

Mystic closed his eyes and sighed despondently, “Yeah.. it’s fine,” he said with trepidation. “Um.. I spoke up in class.. Like I um.. answered questions and stuff.. Like a lot. And I guess.. They didn’t like when I did that,” he said, leaving his eyelids closed and thoughts unfinished.

Sunny cursed to herself and thought regretfully, "Ugh, how could I have been so blind?”
“Mystic.. you know, I was just like you when I was younger,” she said, blinking away fresh tears.

“Y-you were?” Mystic said, surprised, and lay down beside her to comfort her. “It’s true. I was so eager in class, I wanted to show off.. and they made fun of me for it.. Uh, anyways, the point being, I know what it’s like, and I know you’re probably very confused right now,” she said, trying to console him while wiping her eyes.

“I.. yeah. I don’t get it. I never did anything mean to them,” Mystic said as his ears drooped, and Sunny patted his back, “I know it doesn’t make sense but someponies are just cruel.. It took me a long time to realize that,” she said.

“But.. you need to promise me something.. please don’t hide these things from me. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong. So, can you please tell me what happened after school?” Sunny pleaded.

“C-can’t you just trust me that I’m fine now? I wasn't lying,” Mystic said, agitated. "Besides, I told you everything I know.. and you.. haven't. Mom, you promised,” Mystic said and exhaled an unsteady breath.

“Mystic.. I.. I..” the bitter taste of salt water in Sunny’s throat became unmistakable, and the effort to hold back a tidal wave of tears felt insurmountable.

No apologies felt adequate because no words could describe her soul-crushing guilt. She had made mistakes no mother should ever make, and it left her paralyzed with fear. When he was in danger, she wasn’t there, and when he asked for honesty, she lied through her teeth so she could live in denial.

“I.. I’m.. Oh, Mystic.. I-I’ve f-failed you as a mother,” Sunny choked out, her whole body trembling as tears streamed out of her eyes and down her nose.

Mystic’s heart sank at the sight of his mother crying, and he hugged her as she buried her face in her hooves, feeling her quivering under her shoulders. “No, w-what? N-no, how could you say that? You didn't!” he said, scared by his mother's sobs. She always appeared to be in control.

“I-I’m so sorry,” Sunny said through incessant sniffles. As Mystic looked into his mother’s tear-stained eyes, he felt a sickening feeling arrive in the pit of his stomach, but asked his question anyway. “D-did something happen to dad?” he said shakily.

“Honey.. Well, I-I that is what I.. I mean, it’s likely that he..” Sunny gulped, “I-if you’d allow me to show you something,” she said frantically, struggling to string together a coherent thought in her distraught state.

Without specifying what she meant, Sunny said warily, “It arrived in a package shortly after you left for school. A letter and.. also.. something else I neglected to share, something you were probably curious about,” she said, as she leaned back. Her pale golden glow encapsulating the shiny silvery necklace around her neck. A small click from a latch was heard, and she held it up in front of him. “It was also in the package—”

“No! I can’t take something that dad gave you,” Mystic wailed in defiance.

“He wanted y-you to have it, Mystic,” Sunny said guiltily. “It’s a locket with your initials engraved in it. It w-was never meant for me,” she said, struggling to continue. “Here...”

Sunny relinquished it into his magic’s light blue aura for him to inspect, allowing him to see the inside of the heart-shaped metallic container. Mystic put his muzzle up to its smooth, shiny surface, revealing two amateurishly carved letters, an M and an H, and for the longest time, he stared at them, not saying anything.

“Why.. didn’t you give it to me then? Mystic asked insistently. “Please mom. You have to tell me. For both of us. For dad...” Mystic said as he looked her deep in the eyes.

“You have to believe me, I wanted to. I just.. couldn’t. Not then.. Because that would mean.. I’d have to first.. have to accept that.. he might not come back. And everything spiraled out of control from there, I.. I began telling myself.. No, convincing myself he might.. but.. but I knew what I’d done,” Sunny found it difficult to maintain eye contact, but she did, and her vision became wet and bleary at Mystic’s sad, pained stare.

“W-what you’ve done?” Mystic said with confused anguish. Sunny sniffled and said, “The letter.. You need to see it. To understand.”

Sunny stumbled off the bed and made her way to the dresser opposite the bed. Sunny pulled open the bottom drawer she had crammed the letter in, finding it crumpled up and tear-stained, precisely like the memories that were left of Firelight now. Sunny carefully took it out and returned to sit next to Mystic, pulling him close as she read it out loud.

To my beloved wife and son
Sunny Daze and Mystic Heart,

Sunny, my love, I'm writing this to tell you I'm being deployed for an assignment soon. You were right, I was reckless, and I know I could have been a much better father to him. I just pray that one day you’ll forgive me for my transgressions against our family. I don't know how long I'll be gone for, but I do know, you deserve to have a husband you can be proud of.

And Mystic, my little soldier, my son, I'm so proud of you, and I regret not spending more time with you. I know that you were having trouble finding your cutie mark, your purpose, which is why it pains me that I have so little time to write out this message. You see, I believe you have a special gift, Mystic. In my field, they call it having the heart of a healer. Unfortunately, I'm afraid anything else I say wouldn't be much help. The art of healing is unique to everypony. Mystic, you'll just need to have faith that you will discover what that means for yourself. As long as you have the courage to keep trying, I have no doubt you will.

Most importantly, I love you two more than anything else in this life, and I’d never let our bond be broken, regardless of what happens to me. Because, well, Sunny, do you remember what I told you all those years ago? The stars connect us to the past, the present, and to the future. There’s always been more to their twinkle. Just look up, and you'll see. I promise you this isn't goodbye.

Yours forever,
Firelight Dawn

A long silence fell over the duo until Mystic choked out between sobs, "Mom.. w-what really happened..? Between y-you and dad..? I-I.. dad never even mentioned that I might have a gift.."

Sunny gulped and shivered, "I suppose I.. should start with the time.. dad took you sledding for your birthday. Do you.. remember it?” she asked mournfully. "If at all..."

“I.. um.. uh..” he muttered and nodded slowly, “Yeah, I.. kind of do. My memory is fuzzy.. um I, dad was showing me how to do a spell.. but I.. I don't know, something bad happened when I couldn’t do it...” he said, grimacing.

“Mystic, the truth is.. you had a serious accident because of him, and I knew you were hiding that fact from me that night. So, of course, I asked you what your secret was.. and you told me, before bed, that dad had healed you from your injuries.. when you guys were playing around," Sunny said, struggling to continue."I was enraged that he put you in danger. But.. for the sake of our family.. we, ultimately, decided it’d be best for you to forget the memory. You were so young.. so we just thought it'd be for the best,” she said, becoming misty-eyed. "But that.. was a mistake. It sparked.. years of resentment.. and arguments.." she said, and began to grimly recount the fights she had with him, including the one in her recent nightmare. "I yelled at him Mystic.. said things no loving pony should ever say.. I.. I.."

Mystic began to catch out to what had unfolded and felt like a dark shroud had been lifted from his eyes, only for a weight to be placed on his heart, "Mom, it's okay.. we all say things we don't mean when we're upset," he said, desperately trying to console her.

"But.. it's not.. okay. If I hadn't yelled.. I may have been able to prevent him from leaving f-for this recent assignment.. To convince him of its dangers.. To convince him the last thing I needed was for him to feel like he had something to prove.." Sunny replied.

"Wait, what.. do you mean?" Mystic asked.

"Mystic.. your father was.. so very passionate, he was a.. gifted healer. So, when he enlisted in the Royal Guard, he did so because he wanted to help as many ponies as he could with his gift, a gift that he thought you might inherit one day. I think the reason he held back in telling you about it.. was to guide you himself.. it's.. even in your name, you know," Sunny said sadly, and Mystic's eyes widened slightly. "O-oh..." was all he managed as he looked down at the ruffled bedsheets.

"But um.. yes so.. that is why he was gone so frequently.. his work, kept him very busy.." Sunny said. "A-and.. about a m-month before we moved, he had been promoted recently, to a h-high-risk battalion..." she said, and sobbed, completely breaking down into a mess of tears, unable to look at her son.

“Mystic, I'm so so sorry I lied about all of this.. I know it's no excuse, but I didn't want you to blame yourself. And I.. wanted to deny he was gone.. so when we moved, it was to.. to.. run away, I guess. Ugh, Firelight h-he.. didn't even want us to move. Mystic I understand if.. you never want to forgive me for this."

Mystic placed his head against his mother’s chest, hugged her tightly, and then looked up at her from below. “Mom.. you're missing one thing though," Mystic said lovingly.

"H-huh..? W-what is that?" Sunny replied listlessly.

"Mom... He loved you. He loved us, and.. I forgive you. And.. so would he," Mystic said, sniffling. "I know now that you were just trying to protect me, both of you, and I won't allow you to think this was all your fault. So if.. if it's alright with you, I'd like to help you.. carry this burden. It will.. be easier if we do it together."

“Mystic I think.. that would be nice,” Sunny said, and for the first time in a while, she smiled. A true, genuine smile. They both did.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed my first story.

Alone in the Dark

Mystic forcefully pushed himself away from the table and jumped off the chair, making its old legs creak against the wooden floorboards, the impact resulting in a thud when he landed. Before Sunny could react, she saw his tail bristling in the air, and heard the loud echo of his small hoofsteps when he disappeared down the hallway.

Sunny dejectedly sighed, stood up, placed their bowls into the sink, and turned the water on. She took hold of a sponge and scrubbed Mystic’s bowl clean, watching as the white lather formed with the addition of the dish soap. Momentarily, she caught a glimpse of a light blue coloration in the froth and shook her head, dismissing it as tiredness. Sunny vigorously rinsed out the other bowl and attempted to find a moment of serenity in the mundanity of the chore. But, her body stiffened, and her mind wouldn’t allow her the refuge from a recurring fear.

It was letters at first, then, words. Terrible, cold, clinical words she wished she never read. The words formed into sentences, and the memory resurfaced, like the bubbles that gathered on their used dishes. Sunny remembered how she treated Firelight after she insisted they confront the Dean immediately about that horrible correspondence they received about a month ago.

=========================~♡~♡~♡~=========================

Dear Mr. Dawn and Mrs. Daze,

We are writing to inform you of an incident that your son was involved in on a scheduled semester-end research trip at the Canterlot Archives. The entire nature of which is not yet known to us, but our preliminary analysis suggests a misfire of a self-invoked form of invisibility magic. Per our procedures, an investigational report has been filed with the Department of Health and Safety to establish the cause fully.

Dean Primrose will be available to discuss the details after reviewing the full report.

Regards,
The Office of Equine Resources

“Again, I apologize but without having read the full report I can’t be certain. Statistically, he is unlikely to have been under serious harm. I assure you Mrs. Daze, the school takes every precaution to prevent danger,” the dean said flatly, keeping herself relaxed in the face of the troubled parents.

“I think we’ve heard enough. Thanks for your time, Ms. Primrose. We need to discuss this matter further now,” Sunny smiled politely and looked expectantly at Firelight.

“I… agree. Please, if you don’t mind,” Firelight forced out a smile of his own and briefly glanced with concern at his wife.

“Of course. I will remain here, at your service,” the dean nodded, thanked them cordially, and opened the door behind them.

“Sunny, what’s going on? Don’t you think we should wait for the report?” Firelight asked hesistantly once they exited the dean’s office. “Oh, what more would that tell us? Some trivial data analysis that they skewed?” Firelight looked down and saw her hooves shake in irritation. He reached his forehoof out to comfort her, but Sunny took a step back, and he dropped it to the ground. “Sun, I know you’re upset but,” he began.

“Don’t Sun me. But what, exactly? Do I need to remind you of the effects that such an advanced spell could have had on him?!” Sunny furrowed her brow and jutted her chin out, speaking with veiled condescension.

“No, I..” Firelight said but stopped himself, anger rising from beneath at her demeaning tone. “W-why are you doing that?" Firelight said, raising his voice. “Using that tone with me? I don’t appreciate you acting like I’m not taking this situation seriously.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t if you weren’t picking sides!” Sunny shouted.

“P-picking sides?” Firelight said softly, flabbergasted. “I’m trying to think rationally and you’re accusing me of what, disloyalty? Sunny, I am on your side, but I’m just trying to give them some reasonable doubt. You need to—I mean, we need to think about what’s...”

“Reasonable doubt?!” Sunny said irately, cutting him off. “We’re talking about the safety of our son!” she said, on the verge of tears. Sunny was always the fiery type, but after Mystic’s birth, that rapidly intensified when she became his mother. “Please… believe me,” she begged and hung her head low.

Firelight’s chest hurt at the sight of her luscious green eyes welling up with tears. He tentatively raised his hoof and placed it around her shoulders. She let him, and pushed her head into the crest of his neck.

“Of course I believe you.. W-what should we do?” Firelight asked his distressed wife. “I-I-I want to withdraw him a-a-nd I want to move away from Canterlot. You know I've never liked this town, and.. I-I don’t wan’t to raise him here anymore,” Sunny said between sniffles.

=========================~♡~♡~♡~=========================

Sunny had apologized for her outburst, and after having a few more lengthy discussions with Firelight, her mind felt at ease, but she still felt lingering doubt—especially now. Sunny had never heard Mystic sound so suspicious. The way he ran off in anger tore her up inside, but she felt vindicated by Firelight’s approval. In her heart, Sunny believed she was right.. she hoped that, in time, he would understand the protection they had aimed to give. After all, since they met in highschool, Firelight’s unwavering love and support always gave her the strength she needed to believe in her convictions.

=========================~♡~♡~♡~=========================

Back then, Sunny embodied the dorky nerdy stereotype, wearing a thick set of taped glasses and often forgot to brush her yellow mane, leaving it frizzed and unkempt. Sunny naively thought that all of her studying would earn the popular kids’ respect and that they’d appreciate her intellect. But, she misjudged them, only realizing later in life that ‘stupendous Sunny’ was an insult they used when she blurted out answers in class.

Firelight, on the other hoof, was a far more shy and sensitive pony in his youth. He clung to his parents longer than most foals, only socializing when they made him. Over time, he improved but still preferred spending his spare time on solo pursuits like journaling and board games. In his sophomore year, his parents bought him a gym pass, urging him to give the communal activity a chance so that he might meet ponies and stop him from coming straight home.

He was initially nervous but ended up enjoying the camaraderie he received from the other stallions. He also liked how the exercise regimens they recommended gave him a toned physique, and after months of strength-building, something happened he thought never would: mares started to notice and comment on how striking the muscles under his dark blue coat were. Their attention gave him confidence, although he was always intrigued by the eccentricity of one particular green-eyed pink-coated unicorn.

Whether it was a bad habit or not, Firelight found it amusing whenever she interrupted the lessons with her own theories and admired her willingness to push back. He wanted to introduce himself, but his timid nature swayed his method, and he decided to slip her a note about a problem he was working on. Luckily for him, she wrote back. However, he didn’t account for the teacher intercepting the note he passed back and giving them both detention.

Firelight cursed himself; his lack of foresight got him and the mare he liked into trouble. Now, she probably didn’t want to talk to him. When the afternoon came, he took his seat in the classroom, feeling defeated, but remembered some advice he received in the gym: ‘mares like humor.’ Firelight anxiously twirled a piece of paper on his desk and considered it. Eventually, the amber mare walked in and sat down a few seats away from him.

Firelight’s heart skipped a beat and he shuffled over to the desk next to her. Sunny was oblivious though, quietly working on some overdue assignments when she heard Firelight whisper. “Psst. Psst. Hey,” he called to her repeatedly. “Listen, you and me, we have a problem,” he said with false frustration laced into his voice.

Sunny’s heart sank, and she kept her head low to the desk, peeking up for possible exits. She had no intention of confronting some lowbrow stallion. She stayed put for the time being, still hoping he would leave her alone.

“You can ignore me all you want, but you’re the one who got me stuck here,” Firelight said plainly, trying to stay calm. Sunny pivoted her head to look at him, annoyance plastered all over her face, and he involuntarily began tapping his hooves on the ground. “What are you talking about? I don’t even know.. you.. Wait, I do know you..” Sunny’s voice trailed off when she saw the azure unicorn.

“Y-You passed a note to me!” she said accusatorily. “Yeah, and you passed one back,” he said quickly, biting his tongue. “So, I say, it’s your fault I’m here,” he said and began to laugh awkwardly under his breath.

“Something funny about that?” Sunny hissed, not understanding his change in mood. Firelight asked her a question of his own will, and she replied, trying to be helpful. “Yeah, actually, cause it didn’t even make sense..” he said reservedly.

“OH! I’m sorry my answer wasn’t up to your standards! Next time I’ll...” Sunny said, trying her best not to yell, making a couple of other ponies look over their shoulders at the two of them. Sunny shut her mouth and fumed.

“H-hold on! T-That’s not what I meant. I-if you had let me finish, I was going to say that it.. d-didn’t make sense to me. I was uh.. laughing at myself for not getting it,” he said earnestly.

Sunny looked down and blushed, “Oh, I see. It’s okay,” she said reassuringly.

“You’re really smart,” Firelight added absentmindedly, then swore under his breath for making that dumb comment. “Um, to be honest.. I-I wanted t-to talk to you.. That w-was my grand plan.. Not, uh, a-ccuse you of anything..” Firelight’s mind went blank as he stuttered repeatedly, embarrassed.

“It's totally cool. Don't worry about it. What's your name?” Sunny called out gently, hoping to win him back. The question he asked her was interesting, to say the least.

“Firelight Dawn,” Firelight choked out, his face covered by the greyish locks of his mane. “But uhm you can c-call me Firelight.”

“Firelight, huh? I’m Sunny Daze, like with a Z and an E,” Sunny said and giggled cutely, “Call me Sunny.” Firelight turned his head and connected his eyes with hers, not realizing a whole minute had gone by without him responding.

Wanting to break the silence and give him a hint, she pointed a hoof at the loose paper on his desk, stomach fluttering a bit at his intense violet eyes. “Hey.. well, I could help you with your report if you’d like,” Sunny said eagerly.

“Yeah, t-thanks, that’d be nice,” Firelight chuckled and grinned. “Yes!”, he cheered internally.

The last couple of weeks flew by for the two of them as they quickly became best friends, bonding over their initial misunderstanding. Neither of their parents objected to them dating; Sunny’s parents, being the traditional sort, hoped she’d find a nice handsome stallion to settle down with, and Firelight’s, were simply glad to see him happy. After the matter of informing their parents had been settled, Firelight introduced Sunny to a secluded grassy meadow, where, in the past, he reflected in solitary.

Under a blanket of stars, they discussed everything together, with only the cosmos as their witness. Sunny fell in love with the place, and Firelight as a result. They spent many long summer evenings there, sharing jokes about their geeky interests.

For Firelight, it was the stars, and Sunny became enraptured by his astrological insights and passionate musings on ancient literary heroes in the constellations. They decided, over the course of the summer, they would attend the same university and figure everything out later. After they graduated, the azure stallion and vibrant pink mare found themselves making wedding vows on those same gentle grasses six months later.

Two years after that, Sunny was a smiling mother, holding a precious blue unicorn colt in her hooves and Firelight his steadfast father.

=========================~♡~♡~♡~=========================

In the present, Mystic had a lot on his mind. He sweated nervously as he passed by a familiar portrait on the wall near his bedroom and glanced up at it, beginning to reminisce. Him and Sunny were standing on the well-manicured grounds of a preschool. It was Mystic's first day of kindergarten, and the wind that day had been exceptionally strong, making their manes blow around in silly directions and—it didn’t matter, it felt bittersweet now.

Mystic shook his head at the fond memory and paced in circles, then back and forth, gathering his feelings. He suspected Sunny was keeping something from him and was tired of being left in the dark. Despite the love he had for her, trusting her word was testing his patience. He craved his father’s wisdom and racked his brain for an insightful memory. Suddenly, he remembered another photo, one he often overlooked. It was hung at the end of the hallway, and Mystic approached the small table the photo stood on with determination. Intently focused on its details, he studied the photo and tried to remember everything.

=========================~♡~♡~♡~=========================

It was a frigid winter afternoon about five years ago, and Mystic had just turned six the previous day. Firelight promised, for his birthday, to take him sledding when the wind chill wasn’t sub-zero.

“C’mon, mom! Dad told me he had a really cool hill he wanted to show me!” a younger Mystic whined childishly. Firelight laughed at his son’s eagerness and winked at him. “Oh, are you sure, dear?” Sunny said cautiously, looking for a hint of reluctance in Firelight’s violet eyes. “Don’t worry, he’s tough, he can handle a little cold,” Firelight beamed and leaned over to kiss Sunny on the cheek.

Sunny gave him a peck back and considered Mystic’s cute pouty face; it was also something about her husband’s confidence, a part of himself he’d developed since they met all those years ago, is what made her relent.

“Oh, alright boys! Why don’t you hold your sleds up and I’ll take your picture?” Sunny smiled and Mystic’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“You’re the best, mom!” Mystic pulled his little blue sled up in front of him and held it in his hooves. Firelight kneeled down to Mystic's face level and left his sled in a state of levitation. “Oh you two look adorable. Stay right there! Let me grab the camera,” Sunny said happily before galloping into another room.

After Sunny was gone, Mystic whispered excitedly in Firelight’s ear, “Is it really the biggest hill in Canterlot?” Firelight leaned in and whispered back, “Something like that,” he said, eyebrows raised, and Mystic giggled.

“Hey, you guys know I can hear you, right?” Sunny said as she walked back into the small alcove. “Sharing secrets are we?” she said in a mock mistrusting tone. In reality, Sunny knew the hill wasn’t all that big, but Mystic didn’t know that.

“Never, dear,” Firelight stood up and brushed a hoof over some curls in her upper mane. In response, Sunny squinted and gave him a knowing look.

“Mystic here was just telling me how great you are at giving hugs, but, I think, he was a little embarrassed,” Firelight grinned mischievously, and Mystic’s body tensed up. “H-hey, I-I never said that!” he complained. Sunny faked a pouty face, similar to Mystic’s earlier one, “Oh.. so you don’t like my hugs anymore?”

Mystic’s face screwed up at her sad tone, and dropped his sled. “N-no, I-I-I do Mom,” he said, with a lump in his throat.

Firelight and Sunny exchanged a worried glance as Mystic tried his hardest to blink away tears. Sunny knelt down and stroked his forehead, feeling a little guilty she had provoked him in the first place, “I know, sweetie, I know. I didn’t mean it,” she reassured him. Firelight smiled, “We’re sorry Mystic,” they said in unison, in response, Mystic sniffled and nodded.

“It’s okay. I forgive you,” Mystic smiled meekly but still appeared confused. “We just wanted to teach you the value of honesty,” Sunny said and smiled. “But I-I.. you said something that wasn’t true,” Mystic looked towards his parents in frustration, who were twice his size, and waited for their explanation.

Sunny turned her head and nodded, subtly signaling to Firelight that she could handle his question. “Mystic, sometimes ponies don’t always say what they mean when they joke around. Do you understand?” she asked patiently, waiting for his reply. “I-I think so. But I-I.. I just didn’t find it funny,” he said, downtrodden and disappointed with himself.

“Oh honey, no, it’s our fault, don’t feel bad,” Sunny smiled and lifted his sled up, “Don’t worry. In due time, you’ll understand. Okay? Anyways, enough of that though, you’ve got some sledding to do.”

To reinforce her point, she leaned in to embrace him and accidentally pressed the sled up against Mystic’s body, “Owie! Wait, mom..”, he said in discomfort. “Sorry! ..Again,” Sunny retreated from her hug, looking a little worried. “I’m fine mom. It was just the sled,” Mystic laughed.

“Alright, come on, Sunny. I think the message has been received!” Firelight said as he tapped her shoulder. Sunny stood up and coughed. “I suppose you’re right.. Hold on! Before you go, can you guys pose for the picture again?”

Firelight and Mystic happily agreed to pose for a photo to commemorate their day of sledding. As they left their home, Mystic and Firelight waved goodbye to Sunny as they headed out into the wintry streets of Canterlot.

“Mystic, wait,” Firelight commanded, and he obeyed. Firelight noticed Mystic still struggled with manipulating small objects like zippers on his coat, and decided to help him out. “Dad! I could have done that,” Mystic groaned. “I know you could have, without a doubt.” Firelight said as he patted him on the back, “Sometime this week, heh. Mystic, I just.. I know you. You want to be all grown up, right?” Firelight took Mystic by the hoof and kneeled, getting down to speak with him on his level.

Mystic stopped in his tracks and began to stutter, stunned at his father’s vast perceptiveness. He knew his father was about to say something important when he did that. “I-I-I.. N-no.. Well.. It’s.. I..” he mumbled out. “I.. I just want.. to be like you,” he said while looking into his father’s intense stare, breaking eye contact a few times.

Firelight sighed. He didn’t want to fully acknowledge or give credence to the idea that Mystic should be just like him.

“Mystic, all you need to do now is be yourself. In the moment. And, even I ask for help when I’m having trouble with something,” Firelight said firmly, looking directly into his eyes. “How can I show that though..?” he thought. He glanced around and saw a mare holding some shopping bags with a foal trailing close to her side, walking past them, “Perfect.”

“Miss, one moment if you don’t mind. My son and I were wondering if you could point us in the direction of Sundown Park?” he called out, with his hoof raised to draw her attention.

The ochre mare smiled and slowed her stride to stop and talk with them, “Sure thing! All you need to do is make a left at the intersection and head towards the history museum. It’s a little past that, I believe,” she said smiling. “Awesome. Thanks so much!” Firelight said graciously. “No problem! C’mon now, Dusk,” The mare said to her foal as she trotted off.

“Wait, you told me you know.. Uh knew.. where to go,” Mystic asked, confused. “Hm. Yeah, I did say that. I guess your memory’s just better than mine,” Firelight chuckled and ruffled his son’s hair, making him giggle. Firelight hoped that meant his example would stick with him.

“Hey, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you lead us there?” Firelight proposed.

Mystic nodded eagerly. “Okay!” he exclaimed and took a step forward.

The two set off again and made their way past the snow-dusted golden domes and arches of the regal townhomes rising majestically over them. As they continued their stroll, ponies from ornate storefronts tried to flag down potential customers for their wares, mostly specials on hot cider and soup for the day. The towering spires of the royal castle also glinted in the distance, and Mystic wondered what it’d be like to live as its rulers. “Hey, Dad, what do you think it’s like? To be a princess, I mean?” he asked curiously.

“Good question. Let’s see, from what I’ve gathered, they aren’t too different from you and me,” Firelight said, without a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Huh? Wait, you really think so?” Mystic had seen Equestria’s rulers a couple of times, but they always presented themselves with an ineffable sense of eloquence and regal stoicism.

"Yeah.. In fact, I heard Celestia herself has a bit of a sweet tooth. One time, I heard she even ate a barrel full of her favorite candies.. by herself,” he said, as his mind attached itself to another thought as he stared at the castle.

Mystic shoved his hoof into his Firelight’s side, snapping his attention back to his son. “No way! You made that up!” Mystic laughed. “Hah. I’m being serious, buddy,” Firelight said, lightly shoving him back.

After some more light banter, they approached the frozen icicle-encrusted gate surrounding the hilly park. Mystic took one look at the hill, which to him, seemed to tower above the neighboring slopes, and gasped. “Woah, is that where we’re headed?” he said excitedly. “You bet!” Firelight said, guiding him through a thick accumulation of snow, passing the odd pony building a snowmare or sledding down the less extreme slopes.

Firelight and Mystic stood there momentarily at the base of the steep hill. Gazing upwards, they admired the crystalline reflection of the ice-laden grass that tapered off near the top. Occasionally, gusts of wind blew around the slope, creating a shiny white monument out of the mound.

“Okay, you ready?” Mystic said, getting antsy. Firelight sensed this and replied quickly, “Yep,” he said and turned his head to face his son. “By the way, I have something special I want you to try!” Firelight said with giddiness.

“Ooh what is it? I’m soo ready,” Mystic said, smiling. Firelight narrowed his eyes, attempting to create an air of tension.

“Mystic, it’s time.. I taught you.. how to teleport,” Firelight drew out his words, wanting to rile his son up.

“Woah.. you think I’m ready?” Mystic said, eyes wide, in awe. “Oh, absolutely! It’s actually not as hard as they say,” Firelight said and patted his Mystic on the head. “I-it’s not?” Mystic knew his father was a magic expert, so he knew he must be telling the truth.

“The trick is visualization, my friend. In other words, you use your imagination, like most spells. You see yourself in your current place, that’s A. Then, you see yourself in a new place, let’s call that B. Hey, are you following me?”

Firelight saw Mystic’s face go blank, causing him to worry and rethink his explanation. After a minute though, Mystic’s mind registered all of the details. “Place A.. and B.. Okay, like the alphabet?”

“Yes, exactly! Well, sort of, those are just names for the places you teleport to. Not the actual places,” Firelight said, trying to redirect the conversation. “Ok.. so.. well if they are names, then where are the places?” Mystic said.

“Excellent question. I’ll show you!” Firelight lit up his horn, and was instantly enveloped in a blaze of electric purple light. He finished his demonstration by reappearing at the hill's summit and then back at Mystic’s side. “Ta-da!” Firelight shouted.

“Oh my gosh. Dad that was amazing! But I don’t know if—” Mystic’s self-doubt kicking in. “C’mon, I thought you were my little soldier.” Firelight suspected he might try to back down. It reminded him of himself. “I-I am!” Mystic said, puffing out his chest.

“I knew I wasn’t mistaken. So, first things first, close your eyes,” Firelight instructed and placed his hooves on his shoulders. “Remember, I’m right here, you can do this,” Firelight said in a measured, encouraging tone. “Focus, son. Focus on where you want to go.”

Mystic followed Firelight’s instructions, shut his eyes, and tried to ignore the wind that picked up and was now howling around them. Mystic shivered, and his teeth chattered, but he did everything he could to stay focused in the moment. He gathered his waning strength and visualized the peak of the hill, being on top of it, on top of the world. He was happy there, his father was proud of him, until a gust of wind knocked him off.

“Mystic?!” Firelight shouted in terror as he ran up to him.

Mystic had phased out successfully but didn’t land on his hooves at the top of the hill. Instead, he teleported in the air above the hill and fell, somersaulting and rolling uncontrollably down the icy incline. By the time Firelight got to him, Mystic had slammed his head onto a patch of ice, giving himself a concussion.

“D-daddy.. I.. I’m.. s..sor..” Mystic began to say, but between buckets of frozen sludgy water, the words came out as choked cries. “Oh gosh, Mystic! What have I done?” Firelight said, horrified, as his son slipped out of consciousness. Firelight knew from Mystic’s near comatose state that he had accidentally forced him to use all of his magic reserves, meaning in these conditions, Mystic only had minutes before hypothermia kicked in.

Consumed with panic and guilt, Firelight frantically tried to revive his unconscious son by placing his horn near Mystic’s, transferring some of his energy to him directly. He was careless and foolish in assuming that the bitter cold would have little impact on Mystic’s magic reserves. Not only that, he had gravely overestimated Mystic's abilities.

It was a reckless error, and he was certain Sunny wouldn’t forgive him if she found out.