> They've started to collect "Daddy's bad words"
> It started at the county fair
> They had fun, getting their faces painted
> Cheating at ring toss with levitation
> The carrousel creeped them out
> Then a clown came up out of nowhere
"Fuck!"
> Bless their little hearts, they came to your defense
> NMM zapped the clown pretty good
> Sombra chased him to the mirror maze
> You aren't sure what Chrysalis did, but you could hear sobbing as you walked away
> You gave them all a big hug, and told them how brave they were, working together to defeat the evil clown
> Then Chrysalis looks up at you with her big green eyes and asks
"What does fuck mean?"
> 'It's a secret word only adults get to use'
> Sombra gives you a look
"But Hissy just said it."
> 'She used it wrong'
> NMM's eyes light up
"Fuck! That's the right way to say it, right father?"
> You do not need this right now.
> 'Guys, I need you to promise me to wait until you are an adult before you say that word.'
> NMM pouts.
"But I said it right and everything."
> You give them all a serious look.
> Sombra nods in understanding.
"It is too powerful for us right now, we might lose control and hurt somebody. Very well, dad, I promise."
> You hug your favorite son in the whole wide world
> 'I'm proud of you, Sombrerbro'
> The girls get jealous immediately
"I promise too!"
"No, I promise more!"
> You let go of Sombra and scoop up the fillies and sling them onto your shoulders
> 'I'm proud of you girls too. Now who wants some ice cream?"
> You thought that was that
> But no
> You open your eyes.
> it's 2:00 AM
> You feel a presence hovering over you
>'"Is that you, nom nom nom?'
> She drops from her cloud onto your chest
"Why weren't you scared?"
> You hug her tight
> 'I love you too much to be scared by you.'
> She nuzzles your chest, and quietly replies
"I love you too, daddy."
> Your heart melts
> But your eyes ache
> 'Awww, thanks. Now daddy needs to sleep, or he will be cranky tomorrow. Alright?'
> She gets to her hooves and hesitates.
"Can I stay with you?"
> You sigh, but not without fondness
> 'Alright. Goodnight sweetie.'
"Goodnight daddy."
 
> Day Hearts and Hooves
> Be Anon, trying hard not to be lonely
> Kids get back from school
> Manage a smile as you welcome them home
> As you help them out of their backpacks, Chrysalis keeps glancing at you
> Finally she says,
"Do you have a special someone, Daddy?"
> Keep that smile up, anon. For the kids.
> 'Not yet. You aren't thinking of setting me up with your teacher again, are you?'
> She shakes her head, and removes an envelope from her backpack.
> It barely reaches your hands before she runs off to her hive in the backyard
> What.
> Sombra and NMM exchange glances and head off to their rooms, bags of candy levitating from their backpacks
> You sit down on the couch, and open up the letter
> A ton of glitter pours out, getting all over the cushions an your pants
> You swear, you would kill these kids if you didn't love them so much
> The piece of paper has a rough drawing of you and Chrysalis in a big ol' red heart and the words,
"I want you to feel like those people in the movies - Your top secret admirer"
> You sigh, and chuckle weakly
> Such secret
> You walk out to the hole in the backyard
> Cheeselegs peeks out at you, and pouts.
> As you sit down nearby, she asks,
"Why didn't it work? You're supposed to stop being sad."
> She sinks down a little.
"Am I not good enough?"
> Oh, kid.
> As you lift her out of the hole, she squeaks in surprise
> You pull her into a hug.
> 'You are plenty good, it's just a gown-up thing, that's all.'
"I can be a grown-up!"
> And suddenly you are holding a woman.
> You put her at an arm's distance, and you recognize the form as the female lead from the last romcom you two saw.
> Not a bad choice
> Wait, can't think that way
> 'Honeybug, I need you to be you. I get lonely sometimes, and that's okay. But I would be much sadder if you tried to be something you are not.'
> She slowly shifts back to her real form.
"But being lonely hurts. I can feel it."
> You pull her in for a tight hug, and sigh.
> 'Can you feel how having you as a daughter makes it hurt less?'
> She rests her head on your shoulder
"A little bit."
> You pet her mane
> 'That's enough for me.'