36.

Silver looked at the trophy for second place Paradox got for racing her mother. He had placed it on a shelf with his thank you plaque for helping with putting up decorations in the town hall and a statue for most memorable performance in a Broadneigh play. She looked over at him as he leaned back on the couch and held Selene and Solana. Selene was placing her paws on his muzzle as he was making faces at her. Solana was napping on his chest.

“Do you ever feel like you were cheated out of a cutie mark?” Silver asked him suddenly.

He looked at her. “What?”

“You never got a cutie mark. Why?”

Paradox blinked. “I never dwelled on it.” He said. “I figure it’s because dad doesn’t have one and I’m a draconequus. Why do you ask?”

“No pony ever teased you or your sisters?” She asked.

He started to laugh. “Anyone teased Grace she’d predict their demise… and…” He paused as he slowly placed Selene on the couch as he sat up. “Why does Lilly seem to slip my mind?” He shook his head. “I guess it wasn’t that big of deal for us.”

“Do you think our little girls will get cutie marks?” She said as she walked over to him.

He looked at Solana napping on his lap and at Selene who was playing with strands of his tail running her paws along his hair and smiling. “The only thing not pony about them are their paws. They might get cutie marks or not… I’m not sure. What are you afraid of?”

“I’m afraid they’ll be teased about it.” She whispered.

He looked at her. “Silver, I don’t believe they’ll be teased, I’m sure they’ll get along with most of the ponies here in Ponyville.”

“I just want them to be happy. I don’t think they should worry about getting a cutie mark. If they don’t have to.” She looked at Selene.

“When they are older we’ll explain it to them if they ask. It’s all we can do.” He placed his paw down next to Selene and started to move his fingers fast along the couch to make her pounce on him. She pounced and dug her claws into him. “Ouch…” He whimpered. Selene giggled.

Silver laughed. “Serves you right. Teasing her.”

“I wasn’t teasing her, I was playing with her… Her claws are sharp.” Selene made a loud growling noise as she gripped his paw with her front claws and bit his thumb. “Hey!” Paradox yelped as he tried to extract his paw from her grip. She growled more and bit his other paw. He looked pitifully at Silver. “Help?”

Silver laughed and put her hooves up. “Sorry, this is between you and your daughter.”