>Almost all of your lunch is gone.
>You really were not that hungry, but mamma says if you want to be big and strong like her, you have to eat regardless.
>She’s upstairs at the moment, getting ready.
>Just before lunch, one of her friends from work showed up to talk with her.
>They spoke in private, so you couldn’t hear what they talked about.
>Since then, she’s looked kinda upset.
>When you asked why she was, the answer was something about hard times.
>There seems to be a lot more of those lately, but you don’t know why, so of course you asked about that, too.
>She said the same thing as always: it will pass soon.
>Mamma hasn’t ever been wrong when she tells you something, so she has to be right about this.
>You set aside your bowl, then turn your attention to the sliced up orange.
>Taking a quick glance around to ensure you’re alone, you messily gobble it up.
>Although it’s fun to do, mamma doesn’t like it.
>She says you need to focus on being good and pure.
>You’re not sure what she means by that, because you always do both of those things all the time.
>Well, maybe not ALL the time, but it still should count.
>Perhaps she actually means it’s apart of growing up?
>Again, you’re not sure, it’s not like you know how growing up even works.
>Someday though, it will happen, though.
>After putting your dishes into the sink, you wash your hooves and face.
>“Oh good, you finished eating,” says a familiar voice from behind you.
>You wipe yourself up with a towel, then turn around as a smile grows across your face.
“Yes, mamma.”
>She starts walking towards you, to which you meet her halfway, and the two of you exchange a warm, gentle nuzzle.
>“That’s my girl, so polite.”
>Her words make everything feel lighter, like you could fly off into the air.
>Maybe not today, but you’ll eventually be able to fly just like her and every other pegasus can.
>“Are you all set, then?”
“Mhm!”
>She nods as she breaks the embrace, and you follow her out through the front door.
>The warm, summery afternoon greets you kindly, with the sun shinning brightly above.
>A swell of joy wells up from within your little chest.
>Deep down, you know that today is going to be even better.

>A lot of ponies are out today, just like mamma and you are.
>Some pegasus ponies can be seen working with the clouds in the sky.
>Others – namely unicorns and earth ponies – are either in the market or building new houses.
>More ponies are coming to live here soon.
>If they’re anything like the other newcomers, they’re going to be a bit… off.
>It’s not that they’re ugly or anything like that, it’s just that they are always tired and look really unhappy.
>You’ve overheard that they all seemed to have lost something important.
>No pony will tell what that was, though.
>Instead, the adults say that that those newcomers are coming from a bad place, far, far away.
>They’ll like it here, just like everypony else does.
>All the ponies are nice to mamma and you, in fact, every pony here is super nice in general.
>Any and all arguments are short lived.
>All ponies share in each other’s labors, which makes them stronger.
>And each pony is ready and willing to help another whenever, if ever.
>Most of all, all the ponies here are united, with them being close enough to be family.
>It helps that they’re all lead by your aunts and mamma.
>They do so much, like protect it, provide for it, and more.
>A lot of ponies say how they’re beautiful, smart, and strong.
>When it comes to your point of view, all of them just plain awesome.
>Hopefully when you get your cutie mark, you will end up just as awesome as them.
>Some ponies greet mamma and you as you two trot along the street.
>Usually, it’s with a good afternoon, or even a simple wave; a few salute mamma.
>She always returns the gesture with one of her own.
>You try to do it exactly like she does, but it’s never quite as cools as hers.
>You just have to keep practicing, and someday, you’ll get there.
>The walk comes to an end at a large, but fairly well-known, house on the far side of the village.
>This place is similar to most of the houses, though it has a fancier look to it.
>The two of you pass through the small front yard, and up to the door, then she lightly knocks.
>While waiting beside her, butterflies flutter inside of your tummy.

>The door opens, revealing a tall, white earth mare, with a blonde mane and tail, along with a set of icy blue eyes.
>A smile blossoms on her face, and her features soften as she looks at you both, “Good afternoon, Kyrie and Luftkrieg. What brings you two here?”
>Mamma nods with a slight smile, “Good afternoon to you as well, Aryanne. I know you’re busy, but an important errand has come up that I need to take care of, so I was wondering if you could watch Luft while I take care of it?”
>“I wouldn’t mind.”
>You can’t help but utter a tiny squee as you flutter your little wings.
>You knew you were right about today.
>“Thank you. I promise I won’t be gone for too long.”
>“It’s fine, I know how those errands tend to be with you,” replies auntie with a wave of her hoof.
>Nodding, mamma turns to you, and gives you a nuzzle that you eagerly return, “Please behave for aunt Aryanne while I am out, Luft.”
“I will, mamma. I promise.”
>Her smile widens, “I know you will.”
>As she steps away a short distance, with the best part about to come.
>Her big wings spread open wide, and her eyes dart around, then, with little to no effort, she takes off into the sky in a flash.
>She’s so incredibly fast as she soars across it, leaving nothing but a white blur in her wake.
>Your eyes linger on her for as long as they can as she vanishes into the distance.
>Someday, you want to be just as fast as her.
>Auntie comes to your side, and pats your head, “Come along, Luft.”
>You nod as you follow her inside.
>The outside may be big, but the inside of the house is even bigger.
>It has to be some kind of magic as to why it’s like that.
>Both of you enter the living room, which has a number of paintings that decorate some of the chocolate colored walls.
>Some of those paintings were made by auntie, while a few were made by you.
>Like the framed one by the fireplace – it’s of the meadow just a short distance from the village.
>That one was a really special, because it was made when every pony was gathered together for an festival.
>Other than the paintings, there is the huge bookshelves filled with books that sit along one side of the room.
>They are a mix of history, science, and poli-poli… grown up stuff.
>You’ve been told that you will have to learn all about that someday.

>“Have you been practicing your singing like we discussed?”
>You nod with a smile as you look to auntie.
>Her blue eyes are something really special to look at; they are so hard to not look away from, like a warm and inviting bed during winter.
>“Good, then let’s have you do a warm up.”
>She walks over to her grand piano nestled in the corner of the living room.
>It would be nice if you could play more, but the adults always say that work comes before that.
>You come up just next to her, and your ears perk up at the sound of several notes played in succession.
>For whatever reason, auntie always looks so serious when she does that.
>Her eyes go to you briefly, “Ready?”
“Yes.”
>Nodding, she starts off by playing a simple scale for you to follow.
“Doe, ray, me, fa, so, la, ti, doe.”
>“Again.”
“Doe, ray, me, fa, so, la, ti, doe.”
>Little by little, the warm up continues.
>Some parts are about holding higher or lower notes, while others are on breathing properly or some other stuff.
>It’s all really complicated, but it’s important to be able to sing at moment’s notice.
>Song is among the ways that ponies are bound together in harmony.
>Only ponies are able to use the magic of music, with no other living thing being blessed with that gift.
>School taught that, as did your aunts and mamma, too.
>The warm up ends with every bit of your little body buzzing with energy.
>That just goes to how true all of your lessons are.
>“You did wonderfully,” she says with a wide smile.
“Thank you, auntie.”
>With a kind nod, she pats your head, “You’re welcome.”
>She flips to another page of her music book, then hoofs you a sheet from it.
>“I would like you to sing this one, then we’ll move onto something fun, okay?”
>You look the sheet, and warmly recognize the song.
“Mhm.”

>Nodding again, she plays a few notes before actually starting.
~The sun on the meadow is summery warm~
~The stag in the forest runs free~
~But gather together to greet the storm~
~Tomorrow belongs to me~
>With each word uttered, the world around slowly melts away.
~The branch on the linden is leafy and green~
~The rage has deserted the sea~
~But somewhere a glory awaits unseen~
~Tomorrow belongs to me~
>Any previous thought about anything else passes.
~The foal in his cradle is soundly asleep~
~The blossom embraces the bee~
~But soon says a whisper;~
~’Arise, arise’~
~Tomorrow belongs to me~
>There is no fear nor no hate, and nothing is wrong; leaving only purity and love.
~Oh fatherland, fatherland, show us a sign~
~Your children have waited to see~
~The morning will come where the world is mine~
~Tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs to me~
~Tomorrow belongs to me~
>The last and final note of the song carries throughout the living room for a little while, lingering as if it were a memory.
>With it, a sense of invigoration floods into you, making everything else feel even greater than before.
>Auntie’s smile widens further, and she gives a light applause.
>You in turn, curtsy like you were taught to do.
>“Wonderful, simply wonderful. I swear, you get better every time you sing, Luft.”
>Heat floods into your cheeks as you look away from her.
“D-do you really think so?”
>Her hoof reaches under your chin, and draws you back into looking at her blue eyes.
>“I know so, little one.”
>She, like mamma, is always right.
>Shortly after practice, auntie gave you some cookies and milk.
>These cookies are much better than any other you have had before.
>It’s actually making it hard to not devour them all in one go.
>But you have to resist, because auntie would absolutely catch you and get upset.
>Even if you are in a different room from her, she some is always able to know.
>Her ability to seemingly know everything has to be another reason so many ponies look to her.

>“How are you enjoying those cookies?”
>You take a sip of milk before answering her.
“They’re super delicious, auntie.”
>“That’s good to hear. You know, these are new recipe that your aunt Franziska has made.”
“She really created these?”
>She nods slowly with a smile.
>You would have never guessed it, as aunt Franny hasn’t made any food before, or at least, not that you know of.
>Although she is super smart, she is your oddest aunt.
>Her way of talking is weird, and she is super messy, with her laboratory being the biggest, yet most chaotic place in the village.
>Mamma and you don’t go there often, though when it does happen, that place is always active, more so anywhere else.
>Aunt Franny will show you the stuff she is working on, even if you don’t understand any of it.
>There are times where she has you do some tests.
>They’re nothing like those you take in school.
>Like the one where you had to run on a treadmill while wearing an odd thing on your muzzle.
>Or that time when you were put into a harness, then had to beat your wings hard as a big fan blew against you.
>Then there was the thing involving all the different shapes and how they fit into a picture or something?
>All of it was so strange.
>Mamma doesn’t really like any of them, and often gets mad at aunt Franny when she has you do tests.
>You eat your last cookie, then finish your milk in a few big gulps.
“So what are we going to do now, auntie?”
>Her eyes flick over to the clock, and she rubs her chin slowly.
>A smile creeps up on her lips, “How do you feel about a round of hide and seek?”
>You sharply gasp as your wings flutter.
“I’d love that!”
>Uttering a small laugh, she nods, “I thought as much. Okay then, I’ll seek, and you go hide.”

>You rapidly nod, then take off while she takes care of your dishes and prepares.
>Even if this place is huge, there isn’t a whole lot of good places to hide in.
>But despite that, there have been times where you were able to elude auntie, so you’re not going to give up.
>To the second floor is where you venture, and it’s just as big the first.
>There are so many more rooms up here that you have had yet to explore.
>It’s strange that even though you have been here often, you still have not seen everything.
>A lot of rooms are forever locked, but it’s probably because no pony is ever supposed to go into them.
>Any of the places that you have hid in previous are ignored as you quickly move about.
>Whatever rooms you haven’t used yet are checked, but they don’t look like they have good hiding spots.
>There isn’t a whole lot of time left before auntie comes along, so you have to pick a place soon.
>One of the last rooms in the hallway is entered at random, with it being dimly lit.
>You look about, finding some boxes gathered together, along with several pieces of furniture covered in sheets.
“This furniture should work.”
>You just barely manage to get underneath a lounge chair as the telltale sound of auntie comes up the stairs.
>Your breathing slows, and your heart rate quickens.
>Some soft buzzing is in your ears, though you try to ignore it while listening for auntie.
>One of the doors in the hallway opens, and is accompanied with her muffled voice, “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
>This is always fun, and it’s hard not to giggle.
>Surely she won’t find you underneath here; it’s so small and unnoticed, it has to work.
>Then again, she has surprised you so many times before.
>Another door is opened, with this one being closer.
>A call out, similar to the one she made mere moments ago, follows it.
>She might be getting closer to you, but you are not at all worried.
>Excitement is on your mind, with it being strengthened by the fact that if you can elude her, she will give you a prize.
>Usually it’s candy, but there have been times where it was a toy, a book, or even-
>The door to your room opens, which makes you freeze.

>Auntie’s hooves softly clop on the carpet as she slowly enters.
>“Oh where, oh where could little Luftkrieg be?”
>You do your best to stifle a giggle that threatens to give you away.
>She keeps moving about the room, “Is she… here? No.”
>Even though you can’t see her completely, her hooves pass by your spot, “What about… here? Nope.”
>Continuing on, she goes to the door, “It seems she simply is not in here…”
>Ha! You knew you couldn’t be ca-
>“...unless.”
>Auntie seemingly vanishes from your sight.
>How did she do that?
>Never mind it, you have to rely on hearing out for her.
>Nothing comes about, save for the light buzzing and the racing of your heart in your ears.
>Without warning, you’re pulled out from you spot and into the light with a cry, “GOTCHA!”
“Eeep! Nonono! Please!”
>Auntie begins her assault on you without any mercy whatsoever.
“Hahaha! W-wait- hahah- aun-auntie! I-I ehehahahihi!”
>Laughter erupts from you as she tickles you relentlessly.
>Try as you might, any of your attempts to escape or resist are futile against your big, strong aunt.
>She slows down the attack with a grin, “Oh, are you giving up so soon?”
“Ahaha! Y-yes, please! I give, I give! Hihihi!”
>At that, she stops, though never loses her grin, “ Very well then, it seems you were punished enough, no?”
>As you rapidly nod, your blonde mane lightly bounces in your face.
“Yeah-huh.”
>Her grin fades into a soft smile, then she presses the tip of your muzzle with her hoof, “Boop.”
>Your cheeks turn bright red in an instant, contrasting your snow white coat.
“H-hey! Don’t boop me.”
>“And why not?” She says with a slight tilt of her head.
“Because…”
>She arches a brow, “Because…?”
>Seizing the moment, you shoot your hoof forward till it presses against her muzzle.
>You stick your tongue out.
“Because I will boop you right back!”
>Auntie’s smile widens further, and she shakes her head slowly as you withdraw your hoof, “I see that I underestimated your speed.”
“I’ve been practicing to be faster, just like mamma told me to.”
>“That’s excellent to hear. I’m sure that you’ll surpass one day.”
>A smile instantly overcomes your face.
“Really, do you think I can actually do it?”
>Nodding, she nuzzles you, “I am absolutely certain.”
>If auntie says it, then it must be true.

>As she stands up, you roll over and get back up on all four hooves.
>“How about we read a story, would you like that?”
“Yes, auntie.”
>She nods as the two of you leave behind the dusty, dim old room, and return downstairs to the living room.
>While she pokes around her bookshelves, you wait patiently on her couch.
>It’s very plush, with each cushion being rosy red, and every one of those has a gold design that lays across them.
>You’ve looked them over before, but never gave them much thought.
>The designs appear to be interlocking crosses that look almost exactly like auntie’s cutie mark.
>With one of your hooves, you idly trace one that leads to another, then another; seeming as if they can go on forever and ever.
>“Do you know what they mean?”
>You look up to see auntie’s smiling face, with a book held close to her.
“No, I don’t.”
>Nodding, she sits next to you, “I thought as much.”
>With a small, happy sigh, she traces one of the crosses like you are, “Each cross represents beauty, purity, and strength.”
>While still tracing them, her smile grows, “Furthermore, each one is of a pony; of whom, work together in harmony for the betterment of all.”
“They are?”
>“Yes indeed, Luft. Every pony is capable of such greatness.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
>Oddly, everything is starting to feel a bit heavier.
>“Mhm. Now then, are you ready to read?”
>You look to the book in her hold.
“Which one is it?”
>Her eyes fall to it softly, “It’s called: The valley of two Mares.”
>A small yawn leaves you as you shake your head.
“I’ve never heard of that one before.”
>“I’m not surprised that you haven’t, it’s an old tale. But, this a very special tale, and has to be shared with a special pony.”
>You give auntie a wide smile.
“Like me?”
>“Of course, you will always be special, more than you know.”
>She opens the book, and lets you snuggle up close to her.
>“Comfy?”
>Once more, another yawn leaves you when you nod.
>“A long, long time ago, in a valley far, far away. There lived a pair of pair of mares; one as white as snow, and the other, as red as a cherry.”
>As the story slowly unfolds, your eyelids keep closing for longer.

>It’s getting harder to focus on listening to auntie, but you keep trying, anyways.
>You yawn yet again, though she does not seem to mind, and just keeps reading to you.
>Her voice is always so nice to hear, especially when she reads a book.
>Something about it is relaxing, if not, calming, like that pond by your home.
>Your mind drifts to that place., where the dragonflies and other insects dwell.
>Those waters have small ripples that are memorizing to see.
>Mamma likes to take you there sometimes.
>Auntie’s voice begins to fade.
>Everything is giving away the more you sit here with her.
>Maybe if you just close your eyes for a bit, this feeling will pass.
>…
>…
>…
>Light murmuring comes, then goes.
>Soon thereafter, movement can be felt, which prompts you into your opening your eyes a little.
>You’re outside, with the world being much dimmer than it was earlier.
>In addition, it is moving by, yet somehow, you yourself are not physically moving.
>There is something else – you’re laying on something soft, with a strong scent that you perfectly know of.
>You crane your head a bit, though upon doing so, a silky blond ponytail, along with a white coat fills your vision.
“M-mamma?”
>She turns her head just enough for one of her emerald eyes to fall on you, “Yes, my dear?”
>If you’re out here with her, then that means…
“I’m sorry, I d-didn’t mean to fall asleep at auntie’s.”
>“It’s okay, you had a long day.”
“I did?”
>She nods as she looks forward again, and keeps walking along at a leisurely pace.
>If she say’s so, then it’s true.
>You tiredly look about, realizing that you’re laying on the space between her large, beautiful wings.
>This spot is always so nice, warm, and welcoming to be on.
>That comfort is enough to draw out a tiny yawn.
>One of her ears flick back, “You can go back to sleep if you like.”
>Considering how tired you still are, it’s impossible to not do just as she suggested.
>You curl up again, with your thoughts swiftly going elsewhere.
>Someday, when you get big and strong like her; you’ll lead and protect ponies like she does.
>Someday, every pony will be happy and united like they are here in the village.
>Someday, there will be no more fighting, just peace.
>Someday, someday…