"Dad?"
"Hello, son."
"How are you? I... I thought you were dead."
"It takes more than a war to kill me."
"What are you doing here?"
"Coming to stop you."
"Stop me? From what?"
"From joining."
...
"Why?"
"I don't want you to join the war. I don't want you to die."
"Well, who else is going to join the war?"
"I don't know, but it will not be you."
"And you get to decide what I do when?"
"Since I became your father."
"Mom raised me herself after you left and decided not to even write a single letter to us."
"I would've. But I can't when I'm blind."
"Then have somepony else write it for you!"
"Look, this isn't why I'm here. I-"
"Want to take away my dream?"
"If your dream is to die protecting a country that barely values your life, then yes. I do."
"'Barely values your life' what do you mean by that?"
"Equestria doesn't care for us common ponies."
"Yes they do! They're smart enough to let us handle it on our own."
"And where does that lead you?"
"To be a smarter pony, to know that I worked for what I deserved."
"Only because they don't care to help you."
"War has changed you."
"Just like it will change you. If you go through with this, you will realize what I mean."
"So what, do you want me to sit back and see my country fall apart at the seams?"
"I want you to survive!"
"Who cares if I survive? All that would matter is that fought for my country's victory and my death doesn't go in vain!"
"You are my only kid!"
"That you neglected to raise!"
"Because I was forced to!"
"What... what do you mean by that."
"The Army does not care about family. If they did, I would have been here much sooner."
"So you want me to sit back and see the world get slaughtered by the dragons?"
"I want you to do your own research. About the war. How it started. Maybe, just maybe, you'll find the answer somewhere in there."
"I already know how it started. A rouge pony assassinated Dragon Lord Ember."
"Was it just that?"
"Stop with these cryptic things you are saying. You're starting to sound like a zebra."
"Heh. Funny."
"It's true."
"Huh? Oh, right."
"You know I'm still going to sign up, right?"
"Whatever you wish. Just make sure you do your research."
"Not a foal anymore."
"Maybe not now, but you were. You still are to me."
"Okay..."
"I hope to see you later."
...
"Dad... Before you go..."
"Yes?"
"Why couldn't you have somepony else write the letters?"
"Because I didn't know what to say."
...
"Tell mom I said hi."
"Daddy, you're back!"
"Yes."
"Why were you gone for so long?"
"A very long and tiring meeting."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Now, why are you out of bed?"
"I was waiting for you to come home!"
"Does your mom know you're awake?"
"No..."
"Then let's make sure she doesn't find out."
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Can you read me a story?"
"Sure."
"Get in bed and I'll get your story."
"Yay!"
"What story do you want?"
"I don't know."
"How about The Tale of the Two Sisters?"
"Which one is that?"
"The one with Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon."
"No."
“Come on, you love that one.”
“I have heard that one a lot.”
"Fine. How about Nightmare Moon's Redemption?"
"What does re-don-pi-tion mean?"
"It means to become a better pony after being evil."
"Is it scary?"
"It depends."
"Huh?"
"Are you brave?"
"I'm brave!"
"Then I think you would like this story."
"Um… I've heard it before... I think."
"Then what story do you want?"
"I dunno..."
"Well how can I read a bedtime story to you if-"
"What about that one?"
"Which one?"
"That one."
"Point to it."
"There."
"This one?"
"Yeah!"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Too... complicated, and long."
"Please?"
“I didn’t even know it was in here…”
“What?”
“Nothing.’
“Why can’t I hear it?”
"It's inappropriate."
"What does in-a-prop-e-it mean?"
"Something that isn't right for something."
"Why?"
"Because ponies long before us made words."
"Why is it in-a-pro-p-rite?"
"Because it's not made for little foals, like yourself."
"But-"
"Drop it."
"But-"
"Son, drop it."
"Fine."
"Now, what story do you want to hear?"
“The Tale of the Two Sisters is fine.”
“Okay. Let me just get it.”
“Okay.”
“There once were two Princesses that ruled over Equestria. One was named Celestia, the other named Luna. These two Princesses weren’t just normal ponies, however. They were Alicorns. They had the horn of a Unicorn and the wings of a Pegasus.”
“Were they born that way? Most stories say they were.”
“A common misconception, but-”
“What does miss-cun-sep-shin mean?”
“It means a lot more ponies believe something happened, even though something different actually occurred.”
“Huh. Could I become an Alicorn?”
“Mmm… Maybe. But if anypony else were to become an Alicorn, it would be you.”
“Why me?”
“Because you have something most ponies don’t.”
“What?”
“Something you wouldn’t understand right now. Maybe in the future. But right now, no.”
“Come on. Just tell me!”
“You wouldn’t understand right now.”
“Please! If you tell me, I swear I’ll go to sleep.”
“Determination.”
“... What?”
“Hey, Dad! Where are you going?”
“To work.”
“Will you be late like last night?”
“I hope not. That would be less time to spend with you.”
“Mmm.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
“Dad… just one more question.”
“Yes?”
“Why do you go to work?”
“If I were to explain it right now, then I would be late.”
“Will you tell me later?”
“Of course. Anything for you.”
“Dad?”
“Is that the kid that should be in bed by now?”
“Yes! Wait, no.”
“Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
“Daddy, I thought you said you weren’t going to be late.”
“Well, some things change.”
“Will you still tell me why you go to work?”
“Of course. Get in bed, and I’ll tell you anything about it.”
“Why do you go to work?”
“You see the house we live in, the bed you sleep in, the toys you play with, the food we eat? That all comes from working.”
“Why does it give so much?”
“Well, it itself doesn’t give all of that. You know the gold coins me and mommy have?”
“Yeah!”
“Well, work means we do jobs that help our entire world progress. In return, we get coins to help us progress and get things like food.”
“Oh… Work seems a lot less exciting now…”
“It can be. But if you find the right job for you, it could be really exciting.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Is your job exciting?”
“To some, yes. To me, not really.”
“Then why do you keep going?”
“Because it pays well.”
"Mommy, where is Daddy?"
"He's... far away."
"Will he come back?"
"Yes. Of course he will. Your dad is strong. Very strong."
"Where is he?"
"I already said, far away."
"But where is far away?"
"You've always had that curiosity in you, a lot of determination to figure out the answer."
"What?"
"It means you are a very smart foal, one who seeks to figure out life's questions, no matter the cost."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Yes. A very good thing, something other ponies will admire about you."
"Dad mentioned it is something not a lot of other ponies have."
"Your dad was right. Not a lot have these traits. You are very special for that. You will help with world blossom into a new Era, no matter how little it changes the the world today."
"Do you really think so?"
"I know so."
"How do you know?"
"Because anypony who takes a glance at you will think the same exact thing."
"Okay."
"Mom, it's been 3 months. Where is he?"
"Can today just be the day we celebrate your birthday?"
"He's never missed a birthday."
"He's fine. Don't worry. He'll be back soon. I promise."
"You said that last time."
"And I meant it."
"But he wasn't here. He hasn't been here since he left."
"Well, sometimes 'soon' can be long."
"How come?"
"Too much hope."
"How can you have too much hope?"
"Some ponies hope that the world will change soon, fast. Yet, it won't be soon. It won't even be a thing while we're still here."
"Mmm. So, where is Daddy?"
"I've told you many times. Far away."
"I don't know where "far away" is."
"You keep saying that, expecting the answer to be different. But as of right now, I have no clue where he is. So he is far away. From you. From me."
"Why is he far away?"
"To help our country survive."
Author's Note
This chapter was originally 232 words. It is now over 4x longer. I am proud of myself for that.
Now, this doesn't have war in it... Or does it? No no, this chapter doesn't mention it directly, but the next will.
