After much searching, Velvet found the latest volume of Daring Do sandwiched between an encyclopedia on the history of the Crystal Empire and a guide on how to train one's dragon. He had looked everywhere for this volume but they were sold out in all the other bookstores on the island. While he personally considered the Daring Do books to be no different from other adventure books following a treasure-hunting main character, there was something about the Daring Do books that felt...real. Either that or he was so willing to take his mind off his service in the Royal Guard that he somehow convinced himself that the Daring Do books were the most realistic adventure books he had ever read. He placed his hoof on the book but, just as he was about to pull it off the shelf, another hoof placed itself onto his. Velvet froze, his gaze following the intruding hoof until his eyes met those of a mare. Her frame was slender, her coat a soft turquoise hue, and her mane tumbled in gentle waves of silver and navy. Her violet eyes widened slightly as their hooves remained awkwardly pressed together on the spine of the book.

"Oh, uh, sorry!" she said, withdrawing her hoof with a bashful smile. "I didn’t think anypony else was looking for this book."

Velvet released the book from his grip and bowed his head, "No problem, ma'am. You can have it."

"No, it's yours," the mare said as she dismissively waved her hoof, "I insist."

"Are you sure?" Velvet asked, "We could always share."

The mare raised an eyebrow and gave Velvet a coy smile, "Share?"

"Yeah," Velvet replied, "We split the price between us and find somewhere quiet to read."

"I dunno," the mare coyly spoke, "I don't think I can read the entire book in one sitting."

"We don't have to," Velvet said, "We could make it a weekly thing."

"Like a book club?" the mare asked.

"Yeah," Velvet replied as he confidently approached the mare, "But just the two of us."

The mare extended her hoof, "Marine Capri."

Velvet extended his hoof and shook Marine's, "Velvet Judge."

Marine Capri's smile widened as their hooves shook, a touch of mischief dancing in her violet eyes. "Well, Velvet Judge, where do you propose we start this 'book club' of ours?"

Velvet felt a twinge of nervousness at her forwardness but quickly masked it with a confident grin. "There’s a café just down the street. Quiet, cozy… and they make a mean spiced chai."

Marine tilted her head, considering his suggestion. "Spiced chai, huh? You’ve got good taste."

Nine months have passed and Velvet still couldn't believe this was happening. Nine months since his third date with Marine. Nine months since they first met in that bookstore. And to think all those dates they had was just in the first month. The pounding of his heart drowned out everything as he galloped to the emergency room where Marine was held. He barged into the room and saw her pushing with whatever ounce of strength she had left. There was little time for him to catch his breath. He cantered to her and held her hoof in his as she roared in agony.

"Push!" the doctor commanded.

Velvet watched in anticipation as Marine squeezed his hoof even harder. Despite hearing nothing but the sound of his own heart and the screams of his soulmate, he managed to hear one single pop. Marine lessened her grip and slumped back, no longer in pain but in deep exhaustion. The doctor lifted up the baby for Velvet and Marine to see but, rather than joy at his newborn foal, Velvet felt...unnerved. It was as if the foal was a blank slate with nary a resemblance to both its parents. Nevertheless, it was his and he was gonna do right by his mare to give this foal the best possible life.

Another day, another box of bits Velvet had to carry onto a cart home or to the bank. The seccessionists of today's youth could say all they want about Celestia and her rule but there was no denying that the pension for his past service was very generous. It had been two years since Velvet had met Marine and they still had enough money to look after their three foals. As he arrived at his house, he saw Marine standing in front of him. Her turquoise coat drenched. Her mane no longer flowed. Her violet eyes empty.

"Honey?" Velvet asked cautiously, "Are you okay?"

"Tired," Marine monotonously replied.

Velvet looked at the waves of the ocean crashing behind Marine. Perhaps he was imagining things but it looked like there were two pony-shaped floats in the sea.

"Would you like a nap?" Velvet asked.

"No," Marine replied in the same monotone, "Tired of this play."

Velvet looked at the floats again. It was very distracting how much they looked like ponies. He looked back at his wife and saw there was a knife in her hoof.

"Baby," Velvet said with fear in his voice, "What are you doing with that thing?"

Marine lifted the knife to her own throat, "Need to sleep before the baby wakes up."

With a quick flick of her hoof, a shower of red sprayed all over Velvet. For a moment, time seemed to halt. The roaring waves behind Marine blended into an oppressive silence. He tried to wipe the blood away but it was no use. It was all so thick and it reeked of something gone-off. He got down on his knees and heaved, desperate to be sick. He needed to be sick. He felt like his stomach was going to burn if he wasn't sick. Suddenly, he felt two hooves on his chin and on the back of his neck. They weren't his and they sure as Tartarus weren't Marine's. And then...Crack!

Author's Note

Now you know why this fic is rated T.

It may not be real to the Mane Six but it's certainly real to the puppets.