Creating A Hive

The Argument

Lilac had everything ready. She had arguments for her point, along with counters for whatever argument her mom would have. Her mom would have plenty of those, Lilac could only hope she had enough solutions for it.

She set up her presentation in front of the fireplace in the living room. She had a display board- a sandwich board that she had seen humans use for science fairs- along with notes. She had a pointer stick for emphasis gifted to her by Princess Twilight Sparkle. The bookish princess had aided Lilac in her research.

Her parents arrived first, just before the set gathering time. Lilac waited for them to sit down before handing over drinks. Hot cocoa for her mom- complete with cream, apple juice for her dad- no ice, just frozen juice cubes, he didn't like it watered down with ice.

They accepted the drinks with grateful sighs. Both of her parents had argued with Dark Justice the night before. He hadn't wanted to personalize his room beyond 'hotel room chic'. Her parents had wanted it to feel more like a home than it was. Neither side went to bed easy.

Thought as she finished a sip, Raspberry stared at her daughter with a calculating gaze. "Bribes? Smart."

Thorax paused in his drinking. His eyes widened as he stared at his wife. She nodded, letting him finish.

Lilac nodded. "Learned from the best." She complimented.

"Compliments won't give you anything." Raspberry cautioned.

Her daughter accepted the criticism.

Killjoy strolled in just after the deadline. Lilac held up a cup as her aunt settled into a cushioned chair.

"I want to point out, I made this from a bottle that she left behind when she moved." Lilac warned. She showed her aunt the cup.

Killjoy took it, sipping at it. Her eyes widened. "You took my beer?"

"I already said I didn't have any." Lilac excused, when her parents gawked at her.

Killjoy barked out a laugh. "Bribes! I like it. Must be something bad if you gotta bribe us first."

Lilac said nothing.

Raspberry narrowed her eyes.

"Mom. Dad. Auntie." Lilac began. She grabbed her sandwich board, pressing a button she'd set up on the back. It played a familiar tune to the adults. "I have done the research. I know where you're going. After this presentation, I hope you will be on my side."

Raspberry sat up, understanding. "That's the Avengers theme."

"Yeah!" Killjoy yelled, sitting up too.

Lilac opened the board. It had pictures from the film glued on, along with documents to back her up. On the middle, presented as the title in purple letters was 'I want to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative'. References would give her bonus points.

"No." Raspberry argued, crossing her hooves over her chest.

"Mom-" Lilac reminded.

"No. You can't come." Raspberry declined.

"You promised you would hear me out. Are you going to break a promise to me?" Lilac reminded.

Raspberry gawked. Her brain had blue screened. Lilac was correct, which annoyed her deeply. What could she say in argument to that? She couldn't break a promise to her child- it just wasn't done.

The only reason Killjoy hesitated clapping for her niece was because she didn't want to break her sister from the blue-screen curse she was under.

Thorax just drank his apple juice.