I stood in Rarity's room, Jewel hanging from my chest as I pinned her against me. My arm was tucked under her forelegs, the half asleep filly swinging free from withers down. The loud buzz of Equestria's dial tone tittered away. I'd much perfected the Earth ring, but a phone was a phone across dimensions.

I let out a long yawn as Jewel started to slip out of my arm. I lifted a leg, boosting the filly up by her flank. "Don't fall...just-- Eeeeeugh, don't fall...." I covered my mouth with the phone as I yawned. "Come on...damn cable." I leaned against a wall, bound to a spot drilled into her wall. Archaic systems made obsolete over time, but far easier than sprouting poles from the earth. Every phone, internet, every system cable was buried deep underground and paved over in the years since my birth.

A loud double beep rang in my ear. "Hello?"

I took a deep breath and waddled back towards Rarity's bed. "Hey dad." I sat back, letting Jewel rest against my lap. "I've got time to talk...Mrs. Rarity is at the hospital for the night, so I figured I'd call."

My dad let out a long yawn. "It's a little late, don't you think?"

I looked over to the window, the sun was setting, but for everyone back home that was time to knock out. "Sorry, time behaves differently over here."

My dad laughed. "Hey, did you get the box yet?"

I scratched my head with the phone. "What box?"

"Oh, never mind then." He coughed into the phone. "So, how is it down home?"

I bit my lip. "I can see where you got the energy from--"

"Glass...it's not that bad."

"I know, I know." I pet Jewel's head as she curled up against me. "The people are, nice."

"Glass...."

"I'm being serious! A little overbearing at times, but intentions are good." I pet along Jewel's face, rubbing her lower jaw and scratching her chin. "...I have a marefriend."

A loud shuffling filled my ear. "What? Really?! Glass that's great!"

I shrugged, futility settling in moments later. "She's nice, nicer than Marin--"

"Well that's not difficult, son."

I laughed softly. "Yeah.... I wish it'd been different." I rubbed my eyes. "Her name is Darcy, she's interesting to say the least."

Things went quiet on my dad's end. "... That's good."

I bit my lip. "You were going to--"

"I know her dad. He's a real quiet kinda guy."

I nodded. "Quiet, yeah."

A loud sigh came from the other end. "Glass, why'd you really call? Because we both know it wasn't to say hi."

I lowered my head, staring at the white and maroon filly ball in my lap. "Who is she? I know... I couldn't tell Angle, but I know."

A long silence filled the air, hanging between us for a painful amount of time. "When that box comes, you'll get what you want. But you'll just have to wait. Now tell me about this girl, Darcy."

I shook my head. "You know, you have a way of--"

"It comes with being a dad. Now are you gonna talk with me, or bitch at me?"

My ass grew a bit warm at his words. "Fine.... She's tall, she's tanned, she's...she's got a problem with hooves."

"Can she walk?"

I shook my head. "Dad, she likes to play with hooves. It's not life threatening, it's just annoying." I rubbed my face. "She keeps taking her boots off and digging the side of her hoof into my shoes until they pop off."

My dad laughed. "That's cute, Glass, I didn't know you could be cute!"

I sighed away from the phone, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. "Anyways, things are going well. She hasn't struck me with anything weird or pushed, things are going well." I ran my hands through my hair.

"How long have you been with her?"

I took a deep breath, letting it out ever so slowly. "A month? Maybe a little less. It didn't take as long as I would have liked...but she's.... She's sweet, you know?"

"Glass, you can't stay out of a relationship. We all  know. I mean, you had your first fillyfriend in grade school."

I felt my cheeks heat up. "It's not like I try. I just don't like being alone is all--"

"Are you making friends?"

I closed my eyes and leaned back. "A few. A mare named Misty, her sister Dinky, Mrs. Rarity if you count her. Mason, Striker, Penn. Yeah, I talk with a lot of people now." I scratched my head. "Oh...I talk with a lot of people now...."

My dad laughed loudly. "Good, that's why we sent you down there. Now...it's late, and you should get the box soon. Call me when you get it, oh and get some sleep."

"Hey wai--" A loud click cut me off. "Bastard...." I hurried and put the phone down. "Could have at least waited to hang up on me." I cradled Jewel and stood up. "Come on, let's go." I slung her up, over my shoulder and walked out.

A quick walk into the opposite room was all I had. I set the filly down in her bed and put my hand against her forehead. "Alright...alright, do you need anything?"

Jewel splayed out atop her sheets, too hot to be tucked in. "Imaba...." She popped her eyes open and looked towards me. "...Where?" She looked around, breathing starting to pick up. "Where is it?"

I looked behind me, her pony doll stuffed in the corner. "Here." I stood up and scooped the piece up. I walked it back to the flailing filly and set it down next to her. "There--"

She yanked it from my hands, wrapping her hooves around it and turning to the wall. "Mine!" She nestled against the wall, her tail tucked under her legs.

I stared down at her. "Jewel, are you alright?"

I spotted a bright blue eye flitting towards me before flashing back to the wall. "...Jewel doesn't need you." She used her rabbit voice for the pony figure. "...Jewel is--"

I sat down next to her. "First time all alone with me?" I asked, running my hand over her side. She flinched under my touch, her leg contacting up towards her belly. "Do you want me to leave?"

Jewel let out a sharp whine. "...No...."

I kept rubbing her side, the soft white filly slowly relaxing. "Do you want me to do anything?"

Jewel huffed softly. "No!" She tightened up around her doll. "No."

I continued to pet her. "Do you want me to take you to your mom?"

Jewel went slack against her bed. "Jewel wants her daddy. I miss my daddy...now mommy's gone and you're here alone."

I closed my eyes and kept petting her. "I suppose I am." I took a deep breath and moved my hands around her midsection. "Come here--"

Jewel started to whimper and cry as I pried her up. "Stop it! Stop!"

I picked up the screaming filly and set her down in my lap. "We'll see your dad soon. I promise." I squeezed her against me, the Filly left to rub against my chest as I held her. "Jewel?"

"He's not good! He's all wrapped up!" Jewel shoved her hooves against my stomach. "I don't wanna see him! I don't--"

"Jewel, we'll go see him soon, I promise." I dug my fingers into her mane. "We'll go without your mom if you really want."

Jewel stopped pushing and stayed stable in my arms. "...She doesn't like me."

I ran my hand down the filly's mane, scratching the back of her neck. "She loves you."

"No she doesn't." Jewel buried her face in my shirt. "She yells at me--"

"She expects a lot from you, but she doesn't hate you." I scooted back on Jewel's bed and rested my back against the wall. "You should talk to her."

"... I'm scared...."

I laid the filly out over my chest, her bright maroon head leaned up against my chin. "It's okay to be scared. It's okay to be confused. But you need to talk to her." I sighed loudly and turned off the lamp near her bed with my magic. "We'll see your dad, and check on how you're feeling after." I held the filly loosely. "Now, get some rest, we have a big day soon enough." Next Chapter: Dinner Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 44 Minutes