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askgs · 1 month ago

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Mildly long lore dump ahead?!

My tenth birthday was only made good, because of my father. He made sure I felt loved that day.

I woke up late that morning groggy, having nearly forgot I was turning ten. Walking downstairs, not expecting anything really. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into the kitchen/dining room. My dad was humming while cooking waffles. He swayed side to side to music only he heard. When he finally noticed me watching. He spun around with a smile, and a plate balanced on one wing.

"Oh Good morning Bud! Happy birthday!" He greeted enthusiastically. Holding out the waffles on his wing. I grinned back.

"Good morning Dad!" I chirped, sitting excitedly on the table. Using my magic to take the plate and put it in front of me. There was homemade whipped cream in a bowl next to a plate of assorted fruit, in the center of the table. Mom was noticeably nowhere to be seen. I shrugged it off. She was likely sleeping in too. I dolloped cream onto the waffles, before delicately placing apple slices on top.

Dad hummed a tune, serving himself before sitting across from me. "It's a big day! You're two digits now. Did you have anything you wanted to do today Ground Stone?" He asked, sipping his coffee.

I blinked halfway through taking my first bite. I shrugged "Get gifts?"

He laughed "Of course, You know the fairs in town? We could go there." I nodded, looking passed dad at the archway that went to the rest of the house. "Do you think mom would come? We could go as a family!"

Dad was good at saving face, but it slipped slightly. His smile flattering for only a moment. "We'll see bud. You can ask when she gets up if you want." Replying while taking another sip from his cup.

I nodded again, going back to eagerly eating. We ate quietly for a while. I was nearly halfway done, dad having finished, when there was a slam upstairs. We looked at each other silently. Dad knew something. I didn't know what, but his face twisted in a quick grimace.

Neither of us could say anything, as the sound of a door slamming open and closed came from upstairs. Dad smiled reassuringly at me. Just as Mom appeared in the archway. Her orange magic threw a crumpled paper at Dad's head. He barely reacted. Just turning to watch it land on the floor. "What the fuck is this Melon!" Mom snapped, glaring at the back of Dad's head. The stallion sighed, turning around to face the angry mare. "Can't this wait? It's someones special day." His voice was even as he spoke. She wasn't having any of it.

Hissing she retorted, "No! You started this Melon! You could've said nothing, and avoided all this drama. We can do this here, or in the other room. If your so worried about our son's feelings."

Dad picked up the paper ball with a sigh "Fine," He looked back to me, "Try to finish your breakfast alright?"

Than he stood, keeping the paper under his wing. Using the other to guide mom around the corner into the hallway.

I looked down at my waffles. The cream had melted into the little squares. They were cold, and my stomach did somersaults. There was noway I could eat. I pushed the plate away. Looking at it made the tricks my tummy did worse. Instead I listened to them argue from the hall. I couldn't make out the words. I wish he hadn't took the paper. I wanted to know what it said. Kicking my legs, i frowned. I wanted to see what was happening. So i hopped up and crept over to the entryway. Leaning out until I could just barely see them.

Dad was standing calmly. Mom was pissed. Leaning forward to press into dads space. A hoof tapping his chest. I could tell I was missing a lot, but I caught the end. Mom hissed "You don't know shit Melon." her nostrils flared.

"I know enough." Dad said simply.

She shoved him with her hoof, "I'll bleed you dry! You count your days Melon."

"If that's all, Ground Stone and I are leaving." Dad turned to leave, just catching sight of me as I fled. I could just catch Mom scoffing, as she stormed upstairs. The bedroom door slamming behind her.

Sighing, Dad came in and crouched down to my height with a small smile. "I'm sorry about that Bud. You ready to get going?"

I nodded quietly. He smiled again, guiding me up with a soft feathered wing. He didn't mention the abandoned breakfast.

The fair was funner than I could've imagined. There were dozens of games and rides. The games and snacks first. I played every game that caught my eye, toss the ring on the bottle, a shooting game with a fake gun, apple bobbing, and so many more. We only won one prize, a small pose-able action figure from a ball tossing game. The action figure was based on Daybreaker, with fiery mane and tail. Her wings even opened!

We rode as many rides as I could get on. Saving the Ferris wheel for last. I was most excited for it. I'd never seen Equestria from so high up! We were there so long, by the time we got to the Ferris wheel the sun had started setting. I smiled as the little cabin swung its way to the top. Stopping to give us a view of the fair grounds. Using telekinesis I held Daybreaker on the edge, so she could see the sun too. Dad was quiet, just enjoying the sunset.

I watched to, before my attention was grabbed by something colorful. A large balloon? it floated lazily over a distant treeline. Round and bright it bounced the sunlight back at me. I gasped kicking dad to get his attention. "What bud?" He asked. I pointed aggressively at what had become at least four balloons on the horizon.

"They know its my birthday!" I said with an excited grin.

He laughed, "Not exactly Bud. They are balloons, but they are special kind. Their hot air balloons."

I blinked turning to him curiously. "What are they doing than? They'll float away if they aren't tied down."

"There's ponies in them. Well being carried by them at least." Dad explained motioning with a hoof, "If you look below the balloon you'll see the basket the ponies are in. From their they can control the balloon. They were used a lot in prewar Equestria, as an easy form of air transport, for non pegasi."

I saw what he meant. Below the large patterned balloons were little squares. The baskets Dad had referred to.

"Could we ride one?" I asked, glancing at him. He smiled, as the basket we sat in swung into motion again. Beginning our descent back to the ground.

"We'll see." Is all he said. We left as soon as we were on solid ground again. I was practically bouncing in the passenger seat, as Dad drove to were he had been directed. He had asked someone working at the fair what they knew about the hot air balloons. They gave him directions, and we were on our way.

It was dark by the time we got there. Dad parked in a dirt clearing. A sign beside the gate the only thing to tell us we were in the spot. There were only two other cars in the clear, as we got out. I followed closely behind dad. We walked to the gate as a group came out. They talked happily to each other. One mare followed them out. Dad waved, but couldn't get a word out before the mare spoke.

"I'm sorry boys. We just finished for the day." She said with a frown, using her magic to lock the gate behind her. Not giving us another glance before walking to her vehicle.

I looked to Dad. My heart felt heavy in my chest.

Apologetically he said "Guess we'll have to go next time bud."

"You promise?" I asked.

"Pinky promise, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." He did the actions as he promised.

We ride home was quiet. The exhaustion from a busy day finally catching up to us. As we pulled in I noticed Mom's car was gone. Dad didn't mention it. Just helped me out and followed me inside. The only light on inside was the dining room one. It highlighted the table, and a stack of paper that sat in the middle. I went to see what it was, but Dad beat me to it.

He read the papers holding them in his hoof. His face got a little weird. I yawned "What is it Dad?"

He shook his head, tucking the stack beneath a wing. "Nothing you need to worry about Bud. Lets get you to bed. You've got school in the morning."

The next week every time I tried to sleep I couldn't. I would be kept up all night over hearing my parents bickering through the walls. Sometimes when I got home from school Dad would be home early, and they'd be arguing in the living room. If Mom wasn't there but Dad was. He would be sitting on the couch in front of papers with his head in his hoofs. He never explained why he was upset. They both just acted like life hadn't changed, but I knew it had. Something was happening that'd I hadn't been made privy to. After a month of listening to them argue. I came home from school and they were both on opposite sides of the couch. Mom was reading a book, and Dad had his head resting in his hooves. He perked up as I walked in. "Hey! How was school bud?" He asked motioning to the armchair across from them. I looked at it than back at Dad.

"It was fine." I lied; taking a seat in the chair. Not bothering to take my saddle bags off. Mom shut her book roughly. Glaring at Dad from her side of the couch.

"You're beating around the bush Melon. Remember like a band aid just rip it off, or I'll say it." She stated; crossing her forelegs over each other. Dad wrung his hooves together.

"Right, Bud we need to tell you something." he began "You're Mother and I-"

"Are-" Mom started, but Dad covered her face with a wing. Finishing his sentence before she could, "We're getting a divorce."

I was silent. Kind of just sitting frozen in my spot. I knew what that meant, at least in theory. The lunch lady at school told me she divorced her wife recently. (Something about gambling debts.) Dad closed his wings. Mom nodded along without a word. "I know you've got questions Ground Stone. Go ahead, ask away." Dad urged.

"Is it my fault?" it was the first question that came to mind. My recent birthday replaying in my head. Mom went to answer and Dad beat her to it. "No! Of course not Bud, it's more complicated than that. Just know it's not your fault at all." Dad reassured quickly.

I frowned, “Dose this mean you don’t love each other anymore?” The second most pressing questions to me.

Just barely I caught Mom say yes. Barely drowned out by Dad’s reply “No, it’s not that simple. We just don’t want to be married anymore.”

Frowning I looked at my hooves.

“Was that all you needed of me?” An irritated sigh from Mom.

Dad waved a hoof at her and she got up and left. I watched her go, before looking back to Dad. He looked tired.

After that life got worse. Dad was home less. Apparently when they had told me the divorce had gone into the grace period. Shortly after they went to the court house. I wasn’t inside for the proceedings. I only know the aftermath. Mom got the house and alimony. It took him two weeks to pack and leave. I insisted on living with him, but he explained that isn’t how it works. That'd they would have to go to court again for custody to be assigned. I cried hard when he left.

Tears streamed down my face as he let me go and went out the front door. As soon as it shut Mom knocked me upside the head. Telling me to quit belly aching. I hid in my room for the rest of the night.

The custody court I was to attend. Mom said I’d be testifying against dad. I didn’t totally understand. She made sure I said what she told me to. Smacking me anytime I refused. Until I stopped talking back. It didn’t matter how I argued. She knew what she wanted. She would be getting it.

I was sweating bullets on the stand. My eyes glued to Dad who sat beside his lawyer. Tears blurred my vision as I repeated what Mom had told me to say. I cried as I knew I was damming myself with each word. Dooming myself to live with my Mother.

The judgement in favor of Mother. Dad kept an even face. Mom put me in the backseat of her car. I kept my burning eyes on my hooves. Only glancing up as Dad walked up. He talked to Mom for a moment. She huffed, opening the door again.

Dad thanked her before turning to me. “Hey bud.”

I tackled him in a hug. He held me close. Sighing as he squeezed me. Whispering an apology in my ear before pulling back.

“You be good alright? Remember I love you.” He said with a smile. Kissing me on the forehead below my horn.

He no longer lived with us. I only saw him on weekends. Mom got worse.

#oc lore #mlp oc #My little pony oc #divorce #child abuse #foal abuse?#im proud of this #my wrtitng #creative wrting #original character #pony oc #mlp art #oc art #traditional illustration #sketchbook page

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