I quickly check the knots on the leashes, and nod to myself as I decide that they can't get away - they're completely grounded.

Of course, I have every intention to let them go after a while. Just not right now. They've got to learn that what they did was bad. Oh, and I'll let Rainbow go before I let Celestia and Luna go - she didn't blow up my laptop, did she?

I rest against the tree and close my eyes with a sigh. Without Charles and Tratno here to help, I've been overloaded...of course, it's not like I'd rather spend my time without the ponies. I love them, and they're so freaking

Speaking of adorable, I look down at Fluttershy, who is walking around in the shade of the tree. She remains silent, as usual, as she plods through the grass. She sniffs at something, and picks it up with her mouth: it's a small flower. She brings it over to me, and paws at my hand to get my attention as she presents it. I smile at her as I take it, and ruffle her mane in gentle tender love.

"Thanks, Flutters," I say, softly. "It's beautiful." She flaps her wings once or twice in excitement, then hurries to find more flowers. I watch as she finds a bee, and quickly nuzzles it. It buzzes around her head, and lands on her nose. She sits down in the grass as she watches it with a fascinated smile.

"Daddy, look!" I look towards the source of the voice, and watch as Derpy Hooves jumps through the grass, coming up above the peaks of the green blades as she flaps her wings. "I'm doing it, I'm doing it!"

I smile as she bounds over to me, and catch her before she collides with the tree. "You sure are, sweety," I coo. "You're a great flier!"

"Not as great as me," Rainbow mutters, loud enough for us to hear. Derpy frowns, and I adjust her eyepatch a bit before speaking.

"Yeah, you're not as good as Rainbow Dash," I say, "but you're still really good!"

Derpy grins, and flaps her wings a few times. I let her go so she can practice her flying, and chuckle lightly as she collides with the barrier.

Ah, the barrier. The entire back yard has a huge part partitioned off for the ponies, and it's surrounded by a cube of mesh: so the ponies can't get out, and get hurt. They can't get caught in it if the Pegasus ponies fly too high, though: the mesh is very fine.

I wish I could explain the barrier a bit more, but I wasn't there when it was installed. That is, I was watching a movie with the ponies as it was installed, so I really have no idea how it stays there, even in super windy weather.

I smile as I feel a hoof pawing at my hand again. I look down, and see that Fluttershy has retrieved a few flowers for me, and is holding them in her mouth as she stares up at me with a small smile.

"Are these for me?" I ask as I accept them. She nods, and shows her teeth in a big grin. I look through them, and choose the prettiest one: a small, budding tulip.

"I'm going to give you the prettiest flower," I announce as I tuck the stem behind her ear. "For the prettiest little girl."

She giggles, and hugs my hand and gives it a quick lick before jumping away. I smile as she dives into the grass and watches few bugs jump around.

"So," I announce, turning to look at Celestia and Luna, who are currently facing away from each other, "let's talk, you two."

They both groan in irritation as they turn to face me. "What?" They growl.

"Don't use that tone of voice with me," I warn before continuing. "Now, I want you both to know that I'm very disappointed in you for tricking your sister like that."

Celestia frowns. "What are you talking about?"

"You mean when she tricked me?" Luna asks.

"I didn't trick you, it was your idea!"

"Stop," I command. They stop. "I mean Twilight. She told me that you told her to stand guard, and talked her into coming with you: you used her, and I'm very disappointed in you for doing that. You had her there so you could blame her for it, and we all know what that's called."

"Lying..." Celestia and Luna mutter simultaneously.

"Exactly. And what do I say about lies?"

"They make nice people cry..."

"And do you want nice people to cry?"

"No, Daddy..."

"Exactly. Now, I'm not mad at you for going downstairs to use the computer. I'm disappointed in you for tricking Twilight liked that, but I'm not mad. I'm mad at you for lying."

They look up at me in surprise. "You're not mad that we destroyed the computer?"

"No, not at all," I respond. "I can get a new computer, sweetheart. And all the stuff on it was stored on the Internet, so it's fine."

Celestia and Luna don't understand what that means, so I explain it. In detail.

"The Internet is made out of a bunch of computers that are wirelessly connected to one another. The database that results from this connection makes a bunch of stuff, and it can store all kinds of things! But do you know what people mostly use it for?" They shake their heads, and I smile. "For looking at funny pictures of cats."

They look straight ahead, their eyes zoned up as they struggle to understand the stupidity of humanity. I chuckle lightly as I turn back to Rainbow Dash, and raise an eyebrow in surprise.

Rainbow Dash is watching Fluttershy in caution as the latter plays with a bumble bee, letting it land on her hoof and then fly away with a bout of giggles.

"Bzzzz," Fluttershy mimics the bee. "Bzzzzzzzzzz..."

The bee floats around Fluttershy's head, and lazily lands on the flower behind her ear. Fluttershy grins as it collects pollen, and I smile as Rainbow Dash grabs my hand.

"What if it stings her?" She asks me.

"It won't sting her. Bees only sting if you attack them first, and I doubt that Fluttershy will attack it."

Rainbow nods, and I smile as Fluttershy approaches us.

"Bzzzzzzzzzz..." She whispers.

The bee comes out of the flower, and lands on my nose. I immediately tense, and my eyes widen: I must remain absolutely still.

OhGodohGodohGodohGod...

I hold my breath as I watch it in complete paralyzed fear. I hate bees. I hate them. Ever since I was chased by those wasps that day on a golf course...

After a few moments, the bee finally leaves and I'm left in peace. I let my breath go as it lands on Fluttershy's nose, and Fluttershy smiles at it. The bee then flies away, and the yellow Pegasus waves at it.

"I think you were afraid, Daddy."

I look down at Rainbow Dash, who is trying hard to suppress giggles. "Was not," I retort.

"Then why were you holding your breath?" She asks me.

"I didn't want to make it angry," I respond.

"Boo-hoo," Rainbow teases me. "You were afraid, Daddy."

I smirk at her. "And you weren't? If it had landed on you, I think you would've run away screaming."

She giggles. "Nah, I'd be fine."

I smile, and look down in surprise as Fluttershy climbs onto my lap. She curls into a ball, and starts to take a nap, her wings shuffling a bit in her little pony dreams. I smile as I rest a hand on her back, and close my eyes in relaxation. I promise myself that I won't fall asleep, so I can watch the ponies.

However, the relaxing atmosphere, the fatigue from getting up so early, and the pleasant giggling of the ponies serve to make that an impossibility. As I take a deep breath, I find weariness creeping up on me, and I'm just about to nod off when my phone buzzes against my thigh.

I take it out, and quickly open it, silently praying that Charles says he's on his way back from the U.N. meeting. Tratno will probably end up being reassigned to something, so I don't really know if he'll be coming back or not.

I open my messaging service, and read the text that I just received. It's from Charles, and it says that I have to get on Skype by five o'clock: the U.N. wants to speak with the ponies through a conference call.

I don't know what's stranger: the fact that they want to talk to the ponies, or the fact a that the members of the U.N. use Skype.

I wince as I text back, informing him that Celestia detonated my laptop during a tempter tantrum. He responds as follows:

"Holy fuck."

I chuckle lightly as I respond with "yep," and wait for the next text, which comes in a split second.

"Then use ur phone"

I respond with "k," and check the time: it's ten o'clock. Enough time to let Rainbow Dash stretch her wings for a bit...

I look down at the cyan Pegasus, and see that she's fidgeting. So, I reach down, and open up her leash, much to her delight.

After a quick hug and a wordless thanks, she flies off, flying right by the top of the netting, which isn't really that high up: it's up to the second floor of the estate.

I lean back on the tree as I watch my daughter fly, grinning as she does several barrel rolls and various other tricks: she's a natural at this.

As she flies, I find myself nodding off, and I struggle to remain awake.

However, it proves to be impossible, as my eyes stink like vinegar, and the ponies are all playing so peacefully...

What could go wrong?

Author's Notes:

This is mostly a Segway between 2 and 3, because we all know that shit will definitely go wrong in the Mactylan household.