A father should always be there for his children...his daughters.

A father needs to be a symbol for them. A pillar of strength, wisdom, charisma. Someone for them to look up to, to aspire to be.

But as time passes, things change. No matter how hard you fight against it, things will always change.

Sometimes your daughters gain a strength of their own, they began to leave you behind. They no longer needed you as a shield, they were plenty strong all by themselves.

Sometimes they excel in ways you couldn't even dream of, taking every challenge you knew and passing it by without a second thought. Sometimes you didn't want to accept it, that they were so much greater than anyone, so much greater than you. But you need to, you need to show them how proud you are that...they don't need you anymore.

Sometimes you can't help them. Sometimes you need to take them out of your life. You need to send them someplace where they'll be happier, where they could spread their joy to so many others. Sometimes you have be able to say goodbye, knowing just how long it will be before you'll see them again.

Sometimes your strength isn't what they need, sometimes all the effort you put towards protecting them only hurts them, makes them more vulnerable to the danger all around you. Sometimes you hurt them, and they hurt you right back. Sometimes you end up losing them, and you can barely bring yourself to try and get them back.

Sometimes your daughter tries to do too much with her life. Sometimes she ends up doing so much more than she can handle that she may up hurting herself. Sometimes you need to take her a step back from her life to help her realize her own limits.

Sometimes you makes promises you can't keep, and no matter how hard you try life end up taking all choices away from you. Sometimes you try with everything you have, put all your strength towards the goal of a happy family...and your children end up without a father.

Children need their fathers...at first...

A knock at the the door, who could that be?

But as time goes by, you might find...

The door opens, and you can't believe what you see...

That Fathers...

Hi dad! Guess what? You and mom get to spend a whole day with a Princess!

C'mon dad, I've got tickets to the Wonderbolt show in 10 minutes! Let's go! And after the show maybe...maybe we can finally succeed in cooking something together, I don't know...

Surprise dad! I hope you enjoy my patented "Daughter Is Here To You Visit You Out of The Blue" special party!

I...I got your letter dad. May I come in?

I do hope you have the time for a bit of tea father, it seems that all my orders have been put off for the next few days.

Need their daughters...

A pony stand atop that hill, in front of two stone markers. Silently, she taps the rim of her hat.

I miss you dad...though...not as bad as I used to. I still remember you know? I remember what you said, that you're always here with me. And you were right. I've got your hat, the home, the farm, everything. You're always watching out for us.

Don't worry, we're all okay. Our whole family is as happy as could be.

She pauses.

I promise.

Author's Notes:

I was planning to do a chapter concerning Spike and his 'father' figures. Another idea was a chapter for Mr. Cake considering he was basically another father to Pinkie Pie, but I've already written stories about the both of them and I feel I'd covering the same ground.

So this is it, a nice short simple ending that I hope fits.