"Is this thing on?" Acid asks as he messes with the very bulky video camra pointing towards the couch. Acid sits down on the couch after verifing the recording was on. "Hello," Acid says, smiling at the camra and waving at it.
"I'm Acid Flask," Acid says, placing a hoof against his chest. "But you already knew that," Acid says, rolling his eyes and waving his hoof dismissively. "If you're watching this, then I'm dead," Acid says, placing his hoof over his heart to try and calm it down after accidentally trying to imagin the thought. "Sad to say, this happens to everyone at some point. Even you Dox," Acid says, looking into the camra with a cheeky smile. "Ya, I see you smirking with your long life span because I'm the king slash queen of my race," Acid says in a mocking voice.
"I still don't know wich one you are suppose to be," Acid says, scratching his chin in thought before realising something.
"Oh! Right, the last will and testimony," Acid says, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "When I die, and I'll probably be the first to die," Acid admits as his hoof scratches against the scar on his stomach left behind from the cancer surguery. "I want everything I own to go to Moon. And if some how she dies first, I want the property to go to Dox and the money to be split up as evenly as possible between Dox and Midnight," Acid explains.
Acid flinches as a loud crash rings out from Dox and Midnight's bedroom. Acid face hooves as a high-pitched voice rings out. "Dad!" Acid's ears flop against his head as he sighs before they flop back up as his attitude changes.
"Dox!" Acid yells out as Dox and Midnight walk out of the bedroom and into the living room.
"Why do you assume it's me?" Dox asks as he walks up to Acid with Midnight close behind.
"Because Midnight yelled," Acid replies, looking at Dox with a dead paned exprestion. "So what happened?" Acid asks, looking down at Midnight.
"I wanted to ask him to play, but he kept just ignoring me," Midnight squeeks out.
"I was busy doing homework," Dox replies. "I even told her I was busy,"
"Then what was the crash sound I hurd?" Acid replies.
"That was me!" the muffeled voice of Moon from the bathroom rings out.
"Ok then," Acid respounds back with more questions then answers. "So why did you yell?" Acid asks, looking down at Midnight.
"He yelled at me," Midnight says, pointing at Dox.
"I sternly said no," Dox responds deadpand. Acid looks at Dox with a compeltly serios face. Dox sighs before turning to look down at his sister. "Sorry sis,"
"That's all right," Midnight responds with a big smile on her face. "Come on! Let's go play house!" Dox lets out another sigh before aking Acid.
"Do I have to?"
"You would be a bad big brother if you didn't," Acid responds back with a cheeky smile.
"I was afraid you were going to say that," Dox responds before turning around and fallowing his sister back to their room. Acid slowly shakes his head before turning to face the camra again.
"My kids are going to be the death of me," Acid mumbles with a fond smile. "Granted, they are the reason I'm still living," Acid says, looking down at the scar on his stomick again with a warm smile. "I hope this video won't have to be shown to Moon," Acid sighs as his horn lights up orange. The camra is enguphed in the same orange as he looks dead into the screen.
"Dox, I know you are watching this, and if that's so," Acid says, blinking away a few tears forming in his eyes. "Don't forget how much I love you. Can you do that for me?" Acid asks, feeling a bit aqured asking the camera for an answer it can not give. But somehow, he feels the confirmation in his chest that his little bug will keep the promise. "I love you my little bug," Acid smiles before he uses his magic to turn off the camera.
"You done in there?" Moon asks, peeking her head around the corner.
"Were are you listening to me?" Acid asks, looking over his shoulder at Moon as she walks over to him.
"No," Moon replies, shaking her head. "Just got out of the bathroom," Moon says, pointing over her shoulder.
"What was the loud crash?" Acid asks, standing up.
"We need a new toilet seat," Moon replies while a light blush forms on her face.
"How?" Acid stops himself, and her from answering, and just simply stating. "Nevermind," Moon lets out a little chuckle as Acid turns and walks over to the camera. He disassemble it and puts it away in the corner of the room. Acid pulls out the red film reel and places it on the shelf with the rest of the reels. "So what do you have planned this night?" Acid asks, turning around and looking up at Moon. Moon goes to talk, but is interrupted by a commotion in the hallway.
"I said I have to go," Dox says, walking into the living room with Midnight gripping onto his hind leg.
"No!" Midnight pleads to him. "Please stay, I'll be good,"
"It's not that," Dox says, squatting down to her level. "I have band practice to go to,"
"Since when?" Acid asks, looking up at Moon as Dox attempts to pull Midnight off of his leg.
"Since he needed to make new friends," Moon replies back.
"Smart thinking," Acid responds, smilgin and noding.
"Maybe you should do something with Midnight to distract her from her brother leaving," Moon says, pointing over to Midnight still clinging onto Dox. She had now progressed to bare hugging him around the chest. Locking his arms at his side as he struggles to get out.
"At least we know she's your kid," Acid chuckles at the amazing grip strength Midnight has on Dox. Acid walks over to the pair before looking down at Midnight and asking, "You want to go to the park?"
Midnight lets out a big gasp as her eyes widen before she yells out in joy, "Hustler Ectrin Lacking Lisser! Yes!" Acid and Moon chuckle as Dox snorts at the acronym.
"Maybe she should learn a better acronym for that," Moon wispears.
"Then let go of your brother and we'll head off," Acid replies to Midnight.
"Going to the park, going to the park!" Midnight says, letting go of Dox and jumping around Acid. Dox sighs before standing up again as Moon walks over to the group.
"Thanks," Dox says, smiling up at Acid.
"No problem," Acid responds back.
"I'll go grab my saddle bag and we will be on our way," Acid says, walking towards his bedroom.
"Park!" Midnight yells in excitement as Dox and Moon leave the house.
(Time Skip)
"Now go and play," Acid says to Midnight as he sits down on the bench. He watches as Midnight runs towards the nearby playground. Acid smiles as he leans back into the bench while crossing his arms over his chest.
"Well look who it is," a female voice coos, causing Acid to sit up and smile as his ears locate the direction the voice came from.
"Moondancer?" Acid asks in suprise, turning to look over his shoulder. Behind the bench is a yellow unicorn mare with glasses. Her red hair is tied up into a bun on the back of her head. She gives Acid a small smile as she makes her way around the bench before sitting down next to him. "Long time no see," Acid smiles, scooting over a bit to give her more room.
"It has been a while, hasn't it?" Moondancer asks.
"Last I saw you was at graduation, so I would say it's been a while," Acid responds. "What are you doing out here?"
"Twilight told me walking was good for learning," Moondancer responds, looking out at the park. "I don't understand how it helps me learn,"
"I think it's supposed to let your brain rest," Acid responds. "I use to just practice my fighting skills on the punching bag we had in the garage when I was feeling overwhelmed,"
"You can fight?" Moondancer asks, looking over at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Not very well, at least not with out my magic," Acid responds. "But ya I can fight,"
"So what brings you out here?" Moondancer asks.
"I brought my kid to the park so she wouldn't nag her brother," Acid explains.
"You have kids?" Moondancer asks, raising an eyebrow at him. Acid simply nods yes. "Who's the lucky mare… or stallion? '' Moondancer quickly corrects herself.
"A lovely mare named Blood Moon," Acid replies with a little chuckle. "I think you would like her,"
"Really?" Moondancer asks, tilting her head with a small smile.
"Ya," Acid responds, nodding his head. "She likes to be more to herself like you, but she breaks once you've warmed up to her,"
"Sounds like a lovely mare," Moondancer smiles. "Which one is yours?" Moondancer asks, looking out at the foals playing in the park.
"The one currently sliding down the yellow curvy slide by the small rock climb," Acid explains as Midnight slide down the slide.
"She's a bat pony," Moondancer wispears.
"What?" Acid asks, turning to the Moon.
"You married a bat pony," Moondancer says with a hint of pride in her voice.
"And that's bad?" Acid asks, very confused at her voice inflection.
"I've just heard it's hard to get a bat pony to love another pony other than another bat pony," Moondancer explains as she bashfully scratches the back of her neck. Quickly realizing how dum it sounded. "That's the stereotype at least,"
"It might be pretty true," Acid admits as he tries to think of any other pony bat pony couple. "But…" Acid stops as he spots Midnight talking to an older pony. "Hm…" Acid lets out as Moondancer follows his gaze.
"What's up with the old mare talking to your little filly?" Moondancer asks.
"That's what I was thinking," Acid responds, standing up and walking towards the two.
"Where is your mother?" the older mare asks Midnight.
"My dad is over there," Midnight points over to the bench before seeing him walking over to them.
"Are you sure he's your dad?" The old mare asked, looking over at Acid as he walked over to them.
"Not to be rude," Acid says to the mare. "But why are you talking to my daughter?"
"I'm just making sure she's safe," The mare responds with a smile."It's dangerous out here in the dark,"
"I know that," Acid responds. "That's why I'm here watching her. Now will you kindly leave my daughter alone,"
"Can't hurt to help," The mare responds before walking away.
"Was she bothering you much?" Acid asks, looking down at Midnight.
"No," Midnight responds back.
"Come to me if she comes back, or any other adult pony you don't know for that matter," Midnight nods before Acid turns back around and walks over to the bench.
"So what did the old mare want?" Moondancer asks as Acid sits down on the bench.
"Apparently she was just checking that Midnight was here with a parent,"
"You called her Midnight?" Moondancer smiles at the cute name.
"That was my wife's decision," Acid responds with a little smile. "I let her name her,"
"That's kind of you," Moondancer replies. "Midnight is a beautiful name for her,"
"It is," Acid smiles as he watches his little filly slide down the slide again with the biggest smile on her face. Acid sighs, his heart aching as he remembers when he was as small as she was. Nothing matters more in the world than who got on the swing first. "I never knew how much I could love someone until my daughter was born," Acid says with a small smile.
"That's a bit cheesy, even for you," Moondancer responds.
"I know," Acid responds, turning back to Moondancer. "But it's true," Acid sighs before continuing. "I thought I already had given so much love to my wife, but the moment I saw Midnight, I understood why my father always beat himself up over every little mistake he made," Moondancer listens intently as Acid's eyes drift down to the ground. "All I want to do for Midnight is to give her a better life, free from the mistakes I made,"
"But that's how we learn is through mistakes," Moondancer replies. Acid looks back up at Moondancer in confusion. "I use to hate the world. I thought ponies like you and Twilight would just pretend to be my friend just to ditch me later for new ones, but that wasn't true at all," Moondancer explains. "I learn, I adapted, I overcame,"
"And yet we still make the same mistakes over and over again," Acid responds back.
"Sometimes," Moondancer agrees. "But not always,"
"Dad!" Midnight yells out, causing Acid to straighten up and snap his head towards his daughter's yell. His heart races as he looks for her on the playground. He spots her getting cornered into an area under the playground by the same old mare from earlier. "Dad!'' Midnight yells as she tries to get away from the mare. The mare keeps blocking her from running away.
"Midnight!" Acid yells in fear as he quickly stands up. He runs over to the two, using his magic to short teleport Midnight away from the mare. Midnight runs over to Acid as he stops. His heart racing as he takes a few deep breaths. His head pounding as his eyes start to hurt a bit from the lantern lights.
"Damit, must have forgotten to put my horn amplifier on," Acid thinks as a migraine starts to slowly grow in his head. He pushes through as Midnight hids under him and behind his leg.
The mare turning around and trying to act innocent says, "I was…"
"No!" Acid yells in a bit more anger then he intended. The mare flinches at his reaction as he glares daggers at the mare. "I said to stay away from my daughter, but you didn't listen," Acid hisses before looking between his legs at Midnight. "You all right?" Acid asks, quickly changing daminer to worried. Midnight shakely nods her head. "Did she do anything to you?"
"She was trying to move me away from the park," Midnight responds. "She said you weren't my father," Anger well's up in Acid's chest as he hears what the mare was doing to his little filly.
"I was simply making sure you didn't kidnap her," the mare responds back.
"You don't think I'm her father?" Acid asks, looking back up at her as he places a hoof on his chest.
"No, it's just that stallions have a reputation too…"
"To kidnap?" Acid responds. "Anypony can kidnap, not just stallions. How about you just say what you're thinking,"
"You don't look anything like her," the mare says, conforming Acid's suspicion.
"It's more than that," Acid responds back. "Come one sweetie," Acid wispears into Midnight's ear. "We're going," Acid says before using his magic to place Midnight on his back. Acid turns around and walks away back towards the bench. "You alright sweetie," Acid says, looking back at her as she hugs his back. Midnight looks up at him before nodding. "Did she do anything to you,"
"Other than trying to make me leave with her, no," Midnight responds as Acid stops by the bench where Moondancer still sits.
"Sorry to cut our chat short, but I can't stay here with my daughter with that mare lingering around,"
"It's alright," Moondancer respond back.
"Hello," Midnight says, waving at Moondancer.
"Hello," Moondancer waves back with a little smile before turning back to Acid. "I'm going to stay and make sure that mare doesn't try the same thing on any of the other parents,"
"You better report her if she does," Acid responds before walking away.
"Of Course I will," Moondancer responds back.
"Bye miss!" Midnight says, waving Moondancer goodbye.
"Bye," Moondancer waves back before slumping into the bench. "Almost makes me want to have kids… almost," Moondancer clarifies to herself.
(Time Skip)
Acid mindlessly sips on his smoothing as he looks out the window. He watches as the very few ponies out at night walk in the light of the street lamps. He sighs as his mind wanders to the mare at the park.
"What would have happened if Midnight didn't scream for me," Acid thinks. "What if that mare had taken her away the first time? Was she really worried for Midnight, or was she just unnerved by the fact I'm not like the rest of the unicorns. It might be because I'm a stallion, or maybe because she thinks Bat Ponies only belong with Bat Ponies,"
"Dad?" Midnight mekly says, looking up at her dad beside her on the booth. "Dad," Midnight says again, a bit more worried at her father's ten mile stare. "Dad, you all right?" Midnight asks with great worry in her voice as she gently shakes Acid.
"Hmm?" Acid looks down at Midnight looking worriedly up at him. "Ya, I'm all right sweetie," Acid responds with a big smile as he wraps his arm around her back.
"You sure?" Midnight asks, wrapping her arms around his stomach while leaning her head against his stomach.
"I'm sure," Acid responds with a sweet smile. "So how has school been?" Midnight lets out a happy gasp as she quickly pulls away.
"I met this really cool stallion," Midnight starts as Acid sips on his smoothie. He smiles as he listens to her, almost incomprehensible, story.