The two women walked steadily toward the principal's office.
The hallway seemed longer than usual. Each step of the mothers echoed off the school walls, and the girl, curled up in Applejack's arms, felt the weight of the silence. She knew she wasn't there to receive praise.
Applejack gave Rainbow a firm look, who walked beside her, hands in her pockets and a carefree expression. She trusted that her daughter hadn't done anything wrong.
"What do you think she's up to again?" Applejack muttered, not taking her eyes off the approaching principal's office door.
"That's an interesting mystery," her wife replied with a small smile. "Our little one's got a lot of attitude."
"Attitude?" Applejack arched an eyebrow. "I call that trouble."
Rainbow shrugged, but before she could retort, they reached the door. The blonde sighed softly and knocked, feeling the girl move in her lap.
The principal opened the door with a serious, but not harsh, expression. She invited them in with a gesture, and the two mothers walked through the entrance.
Applejack sat in the first chair in front of the table, leaving the girl in the middle chair, while Rainbow sat on the other side.
“What happened this time?” Applejack asked straight to the point, while adjusting her daughter’s position.
The principal sighed, sitting in front of them.
“Well, nothing too serious, but…” She hesitated, looking at the girl, who was now trying to hide in Applejack’s neck. “This morning, during art class, she decided to use the paint… creatively.”
“Creatively?” Applejack repeated, already feeling an imminent headache.
Rainbow, for her part, seemed more curious than worried.
“What did she do? Paint the wall?”
“Not exactly.” The principal adjusted her glasses. ''She painted… other students.''
The silence lasted only a few seconds before Rainbow burst out laughing.
''She painted the kids?! That's amazing!'' she said, clearly enjoying herself.
Applejack glared at her partner, while the girl smiled at the break in the mood.
''It doesn't encourage it, Rainbow.'' Applejack grumbled before turning to the principal. ''And how did this happen?''
The principal took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure in the face of the colorful-haired woman's reaction.
''According to the teacher, she said that the classmates were “too boring” and that they needed more colors. And then she started painting on their arms and faces.
Applejack closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to gather patience.
''Let's talk to her about it.''
Rainbow was still laughing softly, muttering to herself:
''Too boring… That girl is awesome.''
Applejack gave Rainbow another meaningful look before turning her attention to the principal.
''Anything else?''
''That’s all.'' The principal smiled slightly. ''Like I said, nothing serious. But it would be good to encourage her to use her creativity on paper or on the screen… and not on people.''
Applejack stood up, taking the little girl’s hand.
''Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen again.''
Rainbow followed behind, still smiling. When they left the room, she finally spoke:
''You know, Jack, I kind of understand what she meant. Sometimes people need a little more color.''
''Rainbow.'' Applejack gave her a serious look, but her wife just shrugged.
The girl, now more relaxed, looked at Rainbow with a big smile.
''Did you like it?''
The woman winked at her, crouching down to her height.
''I loved it. But don’t tell your mother, okay?''
Applejack sighed at that, but even she couldn’t help but smile a little when she saw the connection between the two.
Even with the mischief, she knew that the little girl was learning and that, deep down, it was all part of growing up.
But before they could walk again, the door to the room further back was opened again.
“Could you come back here? I forgot something else.”
The principal called back, standing in the doorway.
The family looked at each other, their eyes finally landing on the girl, who sighed in annoyance.
They went back there.
“What did she do this time?” Rainbow's bored look was visible, even more so when it was her little one.
The girl, who had been watching the interaction in silence, was bouncing her feet nervously.
The principal, in turn, just looked carefully at the child.
She looked at the girl, who was now bouncing her feet more restrainedly, perhaps paying more attention, perhaps aware that her fate depended on the direction of that conversation.
“Well…” the principal began, choosing her words carefully. ''Actually, there was a small incident yesterday. Nothing serious, but I think you should be aware of it.''
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, now curious.
“Incident?” she asked, leaning forward slightly. “What kind of ‘incident’?”
The principal cleared her throat, as if to prepare herself for the reaction.
“She…” she paused, looking back at the child who now seemed to be trying not to smile. ''She climbed the tree in the playground to get a ball stuck in a branch. And… well, she ended up scaring some kids in the process.
Applejack snorted, running her hand over her face.
“Climbed the tree? Again?” she muttered, clearly exhausted by the repetition of the story. “We already told her to stop doing that.”
“And she scared the others too?” Rainbow finished, now looking at the girl with a mischievous smile. “You’re hopeless, huh?” The child finally looked up at her mothers, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“But no one else was going to get the ball… And I came down quickly. They only got scared because I jumped from the biggest branch, but I knew I would land well.” She stated happily.
The principal tried to maintain her composure, but Rainbow’s expression made it difficult. It was obvious that she was trying not to laugh, imagining her daughter jumping from branch to branch.
“She’s… determined, I’ll give you that,” the principal admitted, trying to soften the situation. “I just ask that she be more careful, she still doesn’t have a sense of her own strength. But maybe we can find safer ways for her to spend that energy. Maybe sign her up for a climbing class?”
Applejack sighed and crossed her arms, giving Rainbow a meaningful look.
“Climbing? Won’t that just give her more ideas?”
“Or make her a pro at it,” the colored-haired girl replied, winking at the girl, who let out a low chuckle.
The principal shook her head, resigned, as she watched the trio.
“I just ask that you talk to her. We don’t want any more ‘heroic jumps’ in the schoolyard.”
Applejack stood up, grabbing her hat that was resting on the back of her chair. And also the little girl’s backpack, leaving it on her shoulder.
“We’ll talk to her. I promise.” Rainbow also stood up, putting a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.
''And who knows… we can talk about this climbing idea later. How about it?'' she said, winking at the girl.
The principal sighed as she watched the trio leave. Even with all the problems, she couldn't help but feel that the little girl was in good hands. Or, at least, in the right hands for someone with so much energy.
The little family left the room. The girl walked with her mothers' hands, happy that she hadn't yet received a small punishment for her behavior.
''Climbing doesn't sound bad to me.'' Rainbow said, looking at the silent courtyard. ''But I still vote for running.''
Applejack rolled her eyes in disgust. She was afraid that her daughter would get hurt in this sport.
''It won't happen, she'll get hurt.'' She decided, taking the car keys out of her pocket.
''As if she wouldn't get hurt climbing, right?'' The other argued, stopping to pick up the child. ''What do you think of running, kitten?''
The child smiled at the idea, as she snuggled into his lap.
''I think it's cool!''
Rainbow let out a satisfied sigh, shaking her arm slightly.
''See, Jack? I win.'' She said happily.
Applejack smiled, shaking her head.
''You didn't even ask if she liked climbing, it didn't count. And she won't get hurt, she'll be strapped into the equipment.'' She said, activating the car's unlocking button with the remote.
Rainbow shrugged, holding the little girl firmly as she headed towards the car.
''You don't have to ask. Running is human instinct. And it's in her blood.'' She gave Applejack a confident look, who just rolled her eyes once more.
''It's in her blood,' huh?'' Applejack retorted, opening the car door to put the girl's backpack in the back seat. ''What's in her blood is your desire for trouble. She got that from you.''
Rainbow laughed, sitting the girl in the backseat and starting to buckle her seatbelt.
“It’s not trouble, Jack. It’s a spirit of adventure. She’s curious, she wants to explore. That’s so fucking good!” She said, ruffling the girl’s hair on purpose.
Applejack got into the driver’s seat, watching the two of them in the rearview mirror.
“Until she jumps from a tall tree and breaks her arm, right? Then I want to see where that “spirit of adventure” ends up.
“Please, it won’t happen.” Rainbow replied, closing the door and getting into the passenger seat. “Besides, if it does, you’ll teach her how to deal with it yourself. The best home doctor I know, I can tell you that.”
“Don’t joke about it, Rainbow.” Applejack replied, giving her a serious look.
“Okay, okay, sorry.” Rainbow raised her hands in surrender, although the little smile on her face still remained. “So, what’s it gonna be?” Climbing or running?
Applejack started the car's engine, staring ahead as she thought.
"I still think running is more dangerous. But if she wants to try both, we can make a deal."
The girl's eyes lit up with excitement as she leaned forward, even with the belt holding her back.
"Can I do both?!''
Applejack sighed, defeated by her daughter's infectious enthusiasm.
"Let's see. One thing at a time, young lady."
Rainbow punched the air, silently celebrating.
"Okay! So we'll start with running. Then rock climbing. And who knows, maybe in the future, something more extreme, like... bungee jumping!"
Applejack turned her head slowly, giving her partner an incredulous look. She maneuvered the car to the side.
"Rainbow Dash, for God's sake."
The girl laughed loudly in the backseat, and Rainbow winked at her.
"Relax, Jack. Our little one has a future. It's only a matter of time before she's as awesome as us. I mean, you're already fucking awesome, but the sky's the limit."
Applejack scolded her for the swear word, letting out a heavy sigh, but she couldn't help but smile.
Even though her wife's ideas were completely insane at times, she knew that her partner's energy and confidence were what made their family so unique.
"Just try not to turn this into a competition, okay?"
"Who, me? Never." Rainbow replied, with a mischievous smile.
Applejack just shook her head as the car drove down the road, their excited voices echoing through the vehicle. It was tiring at times, but she wouldn't trade that madness for anything.
It was never too much trouble after all.