>"Hey, Dashie! Can you help me out with this?"
>"Prism, I'm preparing something for Anon. I need an extra pair of hooves."
>"Hey Faye, let me run something by you..."
>Every day was the same for Faint Prism
>Even if she was left out of their activities, she was easily the most important part of their many schemes and plans
>Even with the open bickering and fantasizing they had about becoming mothers, she played along and did her part
>Work, play, rest
>All of it came to an end
>All it took was one day
>"Dashie, check it out! It finally worked!"
>Prism was enjoying some cinnamon black tea in a large mug
>She had bought a pink silly straw to drink through
>It made everything taste better
>The austere mare turned her gaze from the patio treeline t-
>She spat out what tea she still had in her mouth
"J-jacky, what in the world happened?!"
>Just yesterday, the yellow pony was as fit as ever
>Now she looks bloated to the point she's nearly three times as wide around the belly
>"I'm gonna be a mom! This morning Sparky used an x-ray spell and it's triplets!"
"I..."
>Never once did Prism imagine that a man could genuinely procreate with a pony
>Too much just did not fit
"I'm... excited for you. But how did it happen? It felt like just yesterday that you..."
>"Yesterday? I've been like this for months. Didn't you notice?"
"W... w-what?"
>Did she not only just now exclaim about her impending motherhood?
>Prism hopped up to her hooves, ignoring her tea
"I couldn't have ignored that. I'm sorry Jacky, I didn't know."
>"Yeah... I know..."
>Jacky sighed and trotted away
>She appeared more sad than irritated
"Wait, Jacky!"
>Prism followed, only to... where was she?
"Jacky?"
>It was like Anon's bedroom, but it was twice as big and twice as full
>Three beds, side by side
>A large entertainment center, covered in childish DVDs and... picture books...?
>On second thought, it wasn't at all like his room
>"Excuse me, you're in my way."
"O-oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, I was just..."
>Prism turned to face the young voice
>She could feel a severe chill go down to her heart
>It...
>It's Jacky!
>Just like she was when they were fillies
>The only difference was that her mane was long, long enough to nearly touch the floor
>Or maybe she was just that small
"Jacky! Your mane! You can't leave it that long, it'll get dirty!"
>The filly gave her a confused frown
>"...Mom says it's pretty. And dad told me that it's ok because I braid it when we leave so it doesn't hit the floor."
>Mom?
>Dad?
"Jacky... you've never had parents. Remember? It was just us."
>The filly gasped and ran off in a full sprint
>"Dad, a stranger's in the house! She said I don't have parents!"
>Prism followed the distraught foal
>Before she knew it, she's face to face with a yellow mare with her orange mane in a lopsided bob cut
>"...Prism?"
>"Who is it, Jack?"
>A man's voice
>Prism couldn't do anything but stand and watch in shock
>It was Anon and Jacky
>But they look... different
>More mature
"It's me..."

>"Woah, hey Faye! Man, where've you been? When did you get into town?"
"I... I never left, Anon."
>Jacky scoffs
>"Oh come on, don't tell me that stuff again."
>She pokes a hoof at Prism's chest
>"You high-tailed it out of here as soon as things got hard, as you've done before! You really let me down, you know that?"
>What made her tone turn so condescending?
>"Some big sister you are."
>"Mom, she's your sister?"
>The foal speaks out, protected and curled up in Anon's arms
>He has always been understanding
>"No, she ain't. Your aunt Sparky has always been there, she's the only sister I got."
>She couldn't say that
>She could never mean that
"A-anon. Please, explain what is going on. There has to have been some misunderstanding. I swear, I never knew!"
>Anon shrugs at the pegasus
>He pulls out the bracelet she made for him all those years ago
>Only the feathers have turned coal black
>"I don't know what to tell you, man. I asked you to stay but you just... well, you wanted to explore the world. I can't blame you for choosing your path. But you missed out."
"No, I didn't go anywhere!"
>"Sure. Well, we're having a cook out. Good timing I suppose. Wanna meet everyone else?"
>Rather than wait for an answer, he takes his foal and walks around a corner
>Jacky sighs again and clips through the floor until even the top of her head sunk below
"J-jacky, get back here! That's dangerous!"
>Without any further clue of where to go, Prism trots to follow Anon
>The corner leads into a cottage
>What
>How . . . ?
>How did she end up here?
>As confused as she was distressed, she galloped at full force toward the door
>She skidded to a stop and stomped her front hooves against the wood
"Anon?! Jacky! I didn't go anywhere that time, you two did!"
>Rather than hand or hoof, the door glows red and opens on it's own
>What met Prism was a pair of unicorns
>A red one with a dark streak through her equally red mane
>And a little red filly, with her mane cut prim and proper
>But it's too long and obstructs her eyes
"...Sparking Shine."
>The dull surprise in her voice causes the unicorn to squint
>"Oh. What are you doing here?"
>"What's she doing her, mother?"
"M-mother?! You? Was Anon serious about that...? How could he be so disgusting?"
>Prism had heard of their little pipedream about magic allowing procreation
>And, of course, she had heard plenty about Sparking Shine's "price" for helping
>What sort of two-faced man would agree to such terms?
>"That's father's name..."
>"Yes. It is. If you've come here just to insult Anon, go away. We have more important things than to give you money or listen to whatever you have going on now."
"M-me? Ask for money?"
>Prism couldn't even imagine debasing herself to such an extent as to ask for money
>She was well-employed
>...
>Right?
"Why are you all the way out here? Why aren't you at the house with Anon and Jacky? Don't tell me he banished you."

>"Mother, what does she mean by banished?"
>The filly had such a dull tone, barely tilting her head up toward her mother
>Her horn seemed so tiny, like it is jutting out from her mane just enough to seem like a mane ornament
>"She believes that your father is a man of low honor. Pay her no mind, please return to your studying. When I am done talking with her, we will test out your level two fire spell."
>The filly gave the most modest of smiles and nods
>"Yes, mother. I will exceed your expectations this time."
>Small as she was, she trotted in place like a wind-up toy and went off back into the fog of the interior
>"Thank you. Now you..."
>Sparking gave Prism a grimace
>"What is it you want?"
"I..."
>When did this happen?
>When did all of this happen?
"Please, Sparking Shine. Sparky. I... I feel desperately lost. Please, can you help me?"
>"...well, for old time's sake, I guess so."
>Sparking stepped outside of the cottage, her magic closing the door behind her
>"So... what. Do I pretend that you just magically popped up out of nowhere after a few years?"
>There was no answer to that
"...y-yes. Please."
>Sparking sighed and rolled her eyes
>"Alright. So. A few years ago, Jacky was pregnant with her three hay nippers. Shortly after, I was blessed as well with my bundle of magic."
>A hot blush spreads on Prism's face
"Y-your magic actually helped them conceive?"
>Sparking grins
>"To be honest? I never figured out how to help. But I think they just lucked out. And because none of us figured it out...well, I still helped."
"That's... horrible."
>Prism couldn't even try to hide her discomfort with that
>"Oh shut up. All of the things you did and led us into, who are you to say what is or isn't good? Starburst is everything I could never be and more. She's a natural magical expert. She's loved by both her mother and father."
"She has three-half siblings!"
>Sparking Shine looked at Prism as if she were looking at a broken microwave that could only go for five seconds before shutting down
>"...and? She loves them and her aunt. You just don't get it. You never did."
>With a roll of her eyes, Sparking turned her back to Prism
>If she walked off, she would no doubt be lost to time again
>Prism put a hoof against the unicorn's back
"No, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to insult your daughter. I just... I'm so lost."
>"Yeah... you are. Just go away. You're the only one who never got it. Stay here if you want. In two more days we'll be returning home anyway."
>Sparking huffed, shrugging off the hoof
>"If you're hard up for money, take something of mine and pawn it. Touch Starburst's books and there won't be enough of you to fertilize a daisy."
>All it took was one blink for the red mare to vanish
>Where even was the cottage?
>Where was their home?
>Where was Prism's own home?
>...
>She did have a home
>Didn't she?
>She looked down at her own hooves
>They're dirty
>Filthy
>Like she hasn't taken a bath in...
>Far too long

>"Oh hey, you're one of those talking ponies, ain't cha?"
>Prism looked up at the voice
>A male
>A human male
>"Hey there, sweetie... why don't you come home and take a bath? I'll even get you some dinner."
>His words are kind enough
>But the tone
>And the look in his eyes
>Just like those stallions
>Just like back then
"I... I'm waiting on someone."
>"Yeah? Who's coming?"
"...my mom."
>It was a silly excuse
>No one ever believed it
>But it usually worked
>"Huh... alright. See if I offer it again."
>Prism finally looked up
>Grey sky
>Buildings, skyscrapers everywhere
>Still the human world
>How long did she spend in this concrete labyrinth?
>She raised up her hoof
>...adult-sized
>This wasn't a flash back
>She was right back where she started
>Back in a gutter
>Back without a bit, or a dollar, or anything to her name
>Back without any power
>She slumped against a trash can
>She felt her soul drain from her body
>Not again
>She did her best for so long, for Jacky's sake
>But now?
>She had a full family
>Even that red tramp had made her own family
>But she was alone
>Again
>What did she do wrong?
>The longer she sat, the less strength she had
>The less strength she had, the less she cared that her mane had become filthy
>The less she cared that her coat was dirty and itched with insects
>Another man approached her
>This one wore a uniform with a large net
>"Hey there, girl... let's be easy and stay calm, ok? We gotta get you to the pound. Then maybe a good, hot meal. How does that sound?"
>What was she, an animal?
>A stray dog with wings?
>She glared at him but lacked the strength to speak
>She...
>She could speak
>Couldn't she?
>His hand went for something
>A syringe
>He jabbed it into her shoulder
>Prism lacked the energy to care
>"There we go. Just in case. Can't have you bite me, can you?"
>No...
>...She supposed that it would not be good if she bit him
>She could have...
>Diseases
>Her eyelids grew heavier with every heart beat
>Maybe
>This was always her fate
>Maybe
>This wasn't so bad
>It was what she grew up with
>It was what she felt the most comfortable with
>The others...
>They never needed her
>Prism's eyes roll into the back of her head
>"There we go. Such a shame..."
>The human grabs the limp body by the back of the neck
>"Maybe she was a runaway... oh well."
>There was no telling where Prism's body went
>There wasn't even a feather to leave a trace
>Eventually after that, no one remembered her name
>And all was right in the world