Father of the Night 29: Promotions.


                                            =Father of the Night 29=


                                            >The three of you sit at the kitchen table together.

                                            >Well, less together, more "you vs him."

                                            >You and AJ sit on one end of the table, Bruce on the other.

                                            >The boy is staring down his snout at you, slowly tapping his hooves together in contemplation about what he had just heard.

                                            >"So...when you say "I was the Mare-Do-Well..." he begins.

                                            >Applejack clears her throat. "I mean that I dressed up and tried to fight crime, yes."

                                            >His eyes narrow, making you  and AJ pokerface as hard as you both are able.

                                            >"And you knew about this?"

                                            "Uh...I just found out recently, yeah."

                                            >Bruce sighs. "...Why did you wait until NOW to tell me?"

                                            >AJ sighs. "Because yer only nine years old, Bruce. And nine year olds shouldn't have ta do what you do."

                                            >Huh. That was the same thing she told you.

                                            >"Well you getting hurt is not an acceptable alternative to that, Miss Applejack." Bruce retorts.

                                            >Wait.

                                            >That was the same thing YOU said.

                                            >You must be rubbing off on him...

                                            >Applejack closes her eyes and nods. "Yeah...it wasn't my brightest idea, took Anonymous here to get it through my head."

                                            >You ruffle her mane a bit.

                                            "It won't happen again Bruce, don't worry about it."

                                            >Bruce sighs, rubs his own mane, and taps his hoof against the table. "Alright, yes, I don't have the energy to deal with this on top of everything else."

                                            >Whoa.

                                            >Guardian Mode: Engaged.

                                            "Something on your mind, buddy?"

                                            >The tapping stops. "You could say that..." Bruce says.

                                            >You look down at AJ.

                                            "Hey, let's go out to dinner, huh? Get your mind off whatever it is."

                                            >He sighs again. "If you think it will help..."


                                            -Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob7qQ55WZ-s-

                                            >Bruce sits across the table from you yet again, only this time with a more confused face than one of stern acceptance.

                                            >All around the three of you, annoying waiters and equally annoying mascots dance and prance around. Behind you a band was "tearing it up" as the manager said.

                                            >Such was the way of things at Uncle Moe's Family Feedbag.

                                            >You make a mental note to have Uncle Moe arrested if you can.

                                            >Bruce eyes a particularly large rat mascot with wary eyes as it dances around a nearby table with a screaming toddler.

                                            "Heh...sorry."

                                            >He snaps up and turns his head to you. "Sir?"

                                            "It was the only one around."

                                            >His face softens a tad. "No, it's fine it's...charming."

                                            >AJ digs into her platter of hay fries and shake next to you. "'Least the food's good!"

                                            >She had that right, it almost passed for real food.

                                            >"So how's things, Bruce?" AJ asks. "Make any new friends?"

                                            >Bruce shuffles a bit. "I've made some...pen-pals, yes. They live all over the kingdom."

                                            >"Well shoot! That sounds mighty fine. Where do they live?"

                                            >"Oh, one on a farm, the other...near the beach, one on an island, another in the desert." he says idly stabbing at his meal.

                                            "Wow. They're all over the place, huh?"

                                            >Bruce nods. "Yes...a rather odd band I've come into contact with."

                                            "You gonna meet up?"

                                            >He shrugs. "Maybe one day...if it's needed."

                                            >"Well how's school? Y'all learning new and interesting things?"

                                            >Bruce doesn't respond how you imagine he would.

                                            >Instead he sighs harshly and sets his fork down, just staring at his plate.

                                            >...Uh oh.


                                            >"...Bruce?"

                                            "Buddy?"

                                            >"It's nothing." he says.

                                            >Bullshit.

                                            "Horse apples."

                                            >"Anonymous! Language!"

                                            >Damn older sister instinct...

                                            >You turn back to Bruce.

                                            "What's up, boy?"

                                            >He sighs explosively. "We have to do a paper at school...on our parents and what they do..."

                                            >Oh...

                                            >...Yeah...

                                            >AJ and you lower your heads.

                                            >Damn. That was...heavier than you expected.

                                            "Write about...who they were."

                                            >You lift your head and look at the boy.

                                            "Not as who everyone else saw them as, but what -you- saw your parents as."

                                            >AJ nods. "Yeah! Ya gotta have some fond memories of yer mom and pop from around the house, away from all them prying city eyes."

                                            >Bruce continues to stare at his food, but nods a bit. "I remember when mother took me trick-or-treating for Nightmare Night..."

                                            >"Yeah? What about your pops?"

                                            >Bruce smiles a tiny bit. "I remember...father helping me with my tutoring...he was the one who taught me physics, for every action there was an equal and opposite reaction."

                                            >You nod in agreement.

                                            "See? You have a lot of stuff you can write about."

                                            >Bruce nods once then looks up and smiles. "It seems I do indeed. Thank you Anonymous, Applejack."

                                            >The two of you smile as you all dig back into your food.

                                            "...This hay is a bit undercooked."

                                            >"Why did you ask for -cooked- hay?"

                                            "It makes it go down easier."

                                            >Bruce sighs and AJ rolls her eyes.

                                            >"Sir, you are one of the oddest individuals I've met, and I dress up as a bat."

                                            >Gee thanks, boy.


                                            >Dinner passes and the three of you walk home.

                                            >You twist the key in the lock and head inside, shaking off the day.

                                            "I swear, if those mascots sang another song, I was going to SCREAM."

                                            >"You were gonna scream? And here I was plannin' ta buck him into the salad bar." AJ grumbles.

                                            "You overreact a lot."

                                            >"'Taint overreactin' THERE."

                                            >Bruce shuffles in quietly after the two of you. "...I liked it."

                                            >You both eye him.

                                            "It wasn't -that- bad."

                                            >"I heard worse."

                                            >The three of you share a laugh until AJ yawns.

                                            >"Sheeeeooot...I'm bushed, too early of a day today."

                                            >Bruce puts his hooves together and bows to AJ. "Thank you, Miss Applejack. I always enjoy seeing you."

                                            >She ruffles his mane. "Y'all be good, Bruce."

                                            >"Have a nice walk home, ma'am."

                                            >Heywait.

                                            "You know..."

                                            >AJ looks up at you.

                                            "You don't...like, HAVE to go home tonight, especially if you're tired."

                                            >She cocks an eyebrow but grins. "Y'all inviting me to spend the night at your place, Anonymous?"

                                            >Time for the patented Anon charm.

                                            "Sure. I may only have one bed that I also sleep in, but it's big enough for several people at a time. Believe me, I checked."

                                            >You throw in a wink.

                                            >That hangs in the air for a second before you and AJ share a deep laugh.

                                            >"Always a kidder."

                                            "Who say's I'm kidding~?"

                                            >"Anyone who MET ya."

                                            "You only have me there because it's so obvious."

                                            >A light chuckling draws your attention down.

                                            >"You two never fail to make me laugh." Bruce says.

                                            >You laugh yourself.

                                            "I'll take what I can get."

                                            >Bruce trots upstairs and waves to the two of you. "I need to go get started on my report now. goodnight Miss Applejack...goodnight dad."

                                            >You twist your head so fast there's a sonic boom, but Bruce is gone by the time you do.

                                            >That...that was...

                                            >Hehe...

                                            >You turn back to AJ all smiles.

                                            "Hear that...?"

                                            >Dad...