> Chrysalis regularly tries to change into Sombra to get him in trouble
> Daily "who's the real sombra?", just get a ton of ringpops, Sombra loves ringpops.
> Chrysalis can't get away with nothing
> NMM loves to turn off the lights
> Resort to clap on lights, hooves can't get the right sound.
> When NMM gets sad, you toss a blanket over the both of you, and cuddle in the eternal night
> For Sombra's birthday, you get him a prism and a magnifying glass
> He only sets fire to his sisters' hair the one time, he is much more responsible now.
> Chrysalis watches TV and turns into her favorite character of each show.
> She spends hours in front of the mirror, looking at her lusterous mane, trying on different forms.
> While you are at work, she tries to boss her siblings around by turning into you
> They catch on pretty quick, Chrysalis can't get your voice right.
> Sombra has a huge stuffed animal collection, he arranges them in rows and pretends to be their king.
> Chrysalis starts collecting an army of dust bunnies to combat this threat
> NMM makes arms deals, a squirt gun here, a grabby claw there, the war only escalates.
> Each night, they declare a truce and race to see who will get to you first to get their teeth brushed.
> NMM she can do it herself, but she still likes it when she wins the race.
> After you change into your pajamas, you all pile into bed.
> It's a lumpy snuggle pile, but everyone gets comfortable and drifts off to sleep.
> NMM says "Good Night, Father."
> Chrysalis says "Don't worry, I told the bedbugs to stay away."
> Sombra is already asleep, and mumbles "crystaaalllllls"


> Breakfast: Pancakes
> NMM always cuts the pancakes into lunar crescents
> Sombra tries to make little castles, but he only really suceeds when you serve waffles
> Chrysalis rolls them up and stuffs them in her cheeselegs for later
> At the playground, the first thing they do is try to find the highest spot to perch
> After squeaking about who is the ruler of the playground, they scatter.
> Chrysalis looks at her reflection in the metal slides
> Luna usually goes to the swing set, going as high as she can before jumping off and gliding to the ground.
> She's very smug about her wings.
> Sombra annexes the sandbox, often ordering the other kids to help build the Sand Empire
> NMM always wins at hide and go seek.
> Chryslalis loves duck duck goose
> She changes into a goose every time (it's a pretty big goose, so she does alright)
> Sombra loves to play with the weird things, bells, speaking tubes, and so on
> Tic Tac Toe tournaments are fairly common, and highly competitive
> Afterwards, if they were good, they get a treat
> NMM gets cotton candy
> Chrysalis gets sweethearts (it gets pretty stale, but she doesn't mind)
> Sombra gets rock candy
> When you get home, you get out the sleeping mats
> They each get bundled up in a blanket as you read them a story
> While they nap, you clean up the dishes and counters
> When they wake up, they try to help you make dinner
> Sombra has the coveted use of the knife
> NMM is really good at mixing things
> Chrysalis likes mashing fruit
> After dinner, you all pile on the couch to watch a movie
> Chrysalis likes to act along with the movies she knows
> Sombra insists on absolute silence
> NMM claims the remote control as soon as possible
> She is careful to pause the movie whenever you have to answer the phone
> Even when the call goes on for a while, she stands her ground before her siblings' unrestfulness
> After the movie, it's time to brush everyone's hair
> Sombra tries to get out of it, but between your size and his sisters, you catch him pretty easily
> Chrysalis likes to lay her head on your lap as you brush her mane, making an odd purring sound
> NMM insists on having her mane styled in a different way every night
> You are now an adept bobby pin user
> Some days, it feels like more than you can handle
> But as you fall asleep with three little terrors nuzzled up against you, that makes it all worthwhile.

> They get a little older
> NMM develops a huge crush on Batman
"You do not understand, father. I am going to marry Batman."
> Chrysalis digs a "bugs only" hive
> If left unattended, Sombra can and will make couch forts in seconds.
> They each have their own room
> NMM spends all her money from yard work on an insane amount of glow in the dark plastic stars
> She insists she is too old for bedtime stories, but when you read to Chrysalis, she listens from behind the door.
> Chrysalis has replaced her dust bunny army with Barbie dolls
> You end up installing some hooks in the ceiling, and tying a simple web of rope up there
> When she's done playing with the Barbies, she puts them back in their boxes and hangs the boxes from the rope
> Sombra's room is a trap.
> Lego's everywhere.
> While the things he makes are pretty cool, he still leaves a heavy spread of Lego piece caltrops on the floor.
> The kids have learned that your feet are much more sensitive to that sort of thing than their hooves
> Sombra's bed is always base when they play tag, the cheaters
> After much consideration, you get them a turtle.
> Chrysalis is in charge of finding slugs to feed A'Tuin.
> Once, when she came back from slug-gathering, she chased her siblings around the house with her muddy and slug filled hooves.
> After some serious scolding, careful removal, and the gentle attentions of the garden hose, she was allowed to come back inside.
> Sombra likes to make little Lego cities and put them on A'Tuin's shell
> NMM takes the responsibility of turning the heat lamp on and off very seriously.

> Every once in a while, each kid gets a day alone with you
> Chrysalis goes to watch a romcom in the theater
"Everybody tastes so good daddy!"
> NMM goes to the observatory
"Whoever is in charge of the stars is terrible."
> Sombra goes to the science center
"Can we have a volcano in our backyard?"
> Keep thinkin', kid.
> The trampoline is bad enough
> Whoever gets on first starts a king of the hill type thing
> Goodness knows how many scrapes you've bandaged, bumps you've kissed better
> It's a pretty big trampoline too, it's not like they all wouldn't fit
> You know this because sometimes, when they think you aren't there, they will all jump on it
> Sometimes they drive you crazy like that
> They have other ways too
> One day you get home, and there is a pool of red in the kitchen
> One heart attack and Olympic sprint later you find Sombra squeezing ketchup around a barbie
> He freezes, looking at you with a deer in the headlights expression
> You break open your economy pack of aspirin and down two little helpers
> Sombra casually puts the bottle on the floor
> It takes him a while to clean up the mess, and you take the barbie and put it in the throne room of his favorite castle set
> He is not happy to hear the king has been deposed, but he takes it like a man.
> Later he convinces Chrysalis to play, it gets pretty Game of Thrones
> Doctor Sparkle Barbie retains the throne through cunning and intimidation
 
> They have their quirks too
> NMM likes to perch on top of the fridge
> As you go about your business, she commands you to do what you are about to do
> She gets fussy when you do something else, but also very smug when you do what she says
> Chrysalis says she is going to marry you when she grows up
> She names all her ken dolls "Anon Jr."
> She gets very territorial when women come around
> Which isn't often, but still
> Sombra collects glass
> You are very strict; he has to keep the collection in the garage, and clean up after himself
> One day you find him making a stained glass portrait of your odd little family
"This is how you are supposed to remember important things."
> It takes a lot of work, but you install it in the place of the living room window
> You're pretty proud of the little guy.
 
> Chrysalis is getting better at voices
> She practices with the radio
> You play a game where you name a song and she sings at least the chorus
> Bohemian rhapsody gives you chills, like you really are in the presence of Freddie Mercury
> NMM has taken to sitting on the roof at night
> You talk with her as you two gaze up at the stars
> When she falls asleep, you carefully carry her to bed and tuck her in
 
> You regret showing them the X-men
> They whined, begged, threatened, commanded, and partially funded for you to get a wheel chair
> You and your not-bald head
> Sombra is Magneto
> He learns chess precisely for this purpose
> He knows he's supposed to say something ominous and meaningful, but what comes out is
"You are probably going to burn dinner"
> Or
"You should get us popsicles. For the good of mutantkind."
> Chrysalis is Mystique
> She doesn't quite get what the deal is
> She just flops around on the couch and looks at you with half-lidded eyes
> NMM is Storm
> "Magneto" and "Mystique" regularly plead for you to make her stop with the lightning already
> You touch your temple and tell her to play nice
> She rolls her eyes, and contents herself with floating around on her own little cloud


> They've started to collect "Daddy's bad words"
> It started at the county fair
> They had fun, getting their faces painted
> Cheating at ring toss with levitation
> The carrousel creeped them out
> Then a clown came up out of nowhere
"Fuck!"
> Bless their little hearts, they came to your defense
> NMM zapped the clown pretty good
> Sombra chased him to the mirror maze
> You aren't sure what Chrysalis did, but you could hear sobbing as you walked away
> You gave them all a big hug, and told them how brave they were, working together to defeat the evil clown
> Then Chrysalis looks up at you with her big green eyes and asks
"What does fuck mean?"
> 'It's a secret word only adults get to use'
> Sombra gives you a look
"But Hissy just said it."
> 'She used it wrong'
> NMM's eyes light up
"Fuck! That's the right way to say it, right father?"
> You do not need this right now.
> 'Guys, I need you to promise me to wait until you are an adult before you say that word.'
> NMM pouts.
"But I said it right and everything."
> You give them all a serious look.
> Sombra nods in understanding.
"It is too powerful for us right now, we might lose control and hurt somebody. Very well, dad, I promise."
> You hug your favorite son in the whole wide world
> 'I'm proud of you, Sombrerbro'
> The girls get jealous immediately
"I promise too!"
"No, I promise more!"
> You let go of Sombra and scoop up the fillies and sling them onto your shoulders
> 'I'm proud of you girls too. Now who wants some ice cream?"
> You thought that was that
> But no
> You open your eyes.
> it's 2:00 AM
> You feel a presence hovering over you
>'"Is that you, nom nom nom?'
> She drops from her cloud onto your chest
"Why weren't you scared?"
> You hug her tight
> 'I love you too much to be scared by you.'
> She nuzzles your chest, and quietly replies
"I love you too, daddy."
> Your heart melts
> But your eyes ache
> 'Awww, thanks. Now daddy needs to sleep, or he will be cranky tomorrow. Alright?'
> She gets to her hooves and hesitates.
"Can I stay with you?"
> You sigh, but not without fondness
> 'Alright. Goodnight sweetie.'
"Goodnight daddy."
 
> Day Hearts and Hooves
> Be Anon, trying hard not to be lonely
> Kids get back from school
> Manage a smile as you welcome them home
> As you help them out of their backpacks, Chrysalis keeps glancing at you
> Finally she says,
"Do you have a special someone, Daddy?"
> Keep that smile up, anon. For the kids.
> 'Not yet. You aren't thinking of setting me up with your teacher again, are you?'
> She shakes her head, and removes an envelope from her backpack.
> It barely reaches your hands before she runs off to her hive in the backyard
> What.
> Sombra and NMM exchange glances and head off to their rooms, bags of candy levitating from their backpacks
> You sit down on the couch, and open up the letter
> A ton of glitter pours out, getting all over the cushions an your pants
> You swear, you would kill these kids if you didn't love them so much
> The piece of paper has a rough drawing of you and Chrysalis in a big ol' red heart and the words,
"I want you to feel like those people in the movies - Your top secret admirer"
> You sigh, and chuckle weakly
> Such secret
> You walk out to the hole in the backyard
> Cheeselegs peeks out at you, and pouts.
> As you sit down nearby, she asks,
"Why didn't it work? You're supposed to stop being sad."
> She sinks down a little.
"Am I not good enough?"
> Oh, kid.
> As you lift her out of the hole, she squeaks in surprise
> You pull her into a hug.
> 'You are plenty good, it's just a gown-up thing, that's all.'
"I can be a grown-up!"
> And suddenly you are holding a woman.
> You put her at an arm's distance, and you recognize the form as the female lead from the last romcom you two saw.
> Not a bad choice
> Wait, can't think that way
> 'Honeybug, I need you to be you. I get lonely sometimes, and that's okay. But I would be much sadder if you tried to be something you are not.'
> She slowly shifts back to her real form.
"But being lonely hurts. I can feel it."
> You pull her in for a tight hug, and sigh.
> 'Can you feel how having you as a daughter makes it hurt less?'
> She rests her head on your shoulder
"A little bit."
> You pet her mane
> 'That's enough for me.'


> Then there was the time you got sick.
> For days.
> NMM declared quarantine
> If you got up to do something, she would dutifully proceed you, calling out
 "Contagion!"
> Levitating anything that had come into contact with you
> Early on, you wisely designated Sombra as the official food preparer
> Not that the other two don't try, but after a glass of very pulpy orange juice and thirty mangled oranges, you put your foot down
> Chrysalis has taken it upon herself to be your personal nurse
> So you always have a thermometer in your mouth
> She honestly thinks having a thermometer in your mouth will make you get better
> Part of that is occasionally taking it out, looking at it, shaking her head, and then returning it.
> She also throws a tantrum if your meal isn't chicken noodle soup
> Sombra answers the door most times
> It's usually one of the many mothers you've accidentally befriended at the park
> Casseroles for days
> The kids don't mind getting fussed over too much
> God help any of those ara aras if they try to dote on you, though
> Chrysalis goes full jealous, insisting she does all the nursing around here, thank you very much
> Nice thing about being sick, you can play vidya without guilt
> Mariocart tournaments gets pretty intense, finally you claim Peach to keep the girls from fighting over her
> Zelda games are almost like storytime
> The kids regularly take naps during the endless terrain crossings
> Honestly, you aren't immune either
> When you finally do get well, it's with a heavy heart
> You rather like spending more time goofing around with the kids
> Oh, and you have to return all those casserole dishes
 
> Your ears ache for a "Are we there yet?" Or "I'm booored"
> But there is no way your kids would be so normal
> Chrysalis is floating her sticky jelly beans mere inches away from Sombra's mane, jealous of his front seat
> Meanwhile, he is playing a nonstandard game of chess with NMM
> Some of the pieces are from that old HeroQuest game, others from monopoly
> The thimble is over the head of the bishop, so Sombra now controls it
> You think
> The next rest stop, you are going to put your foot down, Sombra really doesn't need to be riding shotgun
> It's just another one of their weird little dominance contests
> Which is to say, Sombra won the barbie games
> Ice skating was super effective against  veterinarian, and black death Kelly just swept the rest
> Point is, the car is pretty quiet, except for Chrysalis's ominous giggling
> 'Honeybug, if you put those in his hair, I will cut them out and you will have to eat them. Got it?'
> She pouts, and pops a jelly bean into her mouth
"Whatsh sho great about the ocean anyway?"
> 'It's just something you have to see at least once in your life.'
> Cheeselegs isn't convinced, but she amuses herself with making pictures on the windows out of the bugs that splatter on your windshield.
> Sometimes, you wish you had magic, but then again, that's what child labor is for
> You make it to the beach with minimal fuss, only a few toys thrown out the window and lost to the endless highways
> You could only listen to Sombra's tickle-me-Elmo for so long
> He mourns the loss of his interrogation specialist
> Once they're out of the car, the kids are pretty happy
> Though they do squirm a bit when you put the sunscreen on them
> and then they're off
> Sombra begins immediately, conscripting from the other kids on the beach
> Chrysalis pokes at the dead crabs in the sand
> NMM gazes at the large waves coming in with trepidation
> You walk to her
> 'Want to swim?'
> She glances at you, then tentatively steps into the shallow water
> A wave almost immediately surges past, and she scrambles back with a surprised squeak
> You laugh and back into the water, holding out your arms
> 'C'mon, I'll keep you safe.'
> She hesitantly steps toward you, then dashes into your arms
> You pick her up, and hold her tight as you go deeper into the salty water
> Once she gets used to the bobbing surge of the waves, she relaxes her death grip on your torso
> You pull her along by her hooves, and NMM grins as she cuts through the water
> Before long, she's swimming on her own, and riding the waves to the beach
> You decide to check on Sombra, only to find him resting in imperial splendor on a throne of sand and buckets
"Welcome, dad, to the kingdom of Silica. I have much to show you."
> Everywhere a kid is piling sand up, or digging ditches, fortifying against the inevitable high tide
> Behind heaped up walls, a more delicate work is continuing
> Sombra walks among his architects and artisans, leaving a compliment here, a suggestion there, and nearly bursting with pride
> You have to admit, it is an impressive city, but you've left Chrysalis alone long enough
> You find her in the middle of a bunch of divots in the sand, carefully drawing on a smoothed out spot
> She sees you and beams
"Daddy, come look at what I've found!"
> You get to about the middle of her odd little field, and then her horn glows green
> The putrid remains of too many crabs rise up out of the sand and start massing around your legs, struggling to climb
> 'Son of a Bitch!'
> The zombie crabs fall away, and your daughter claps her bughooves
"I got another one! Dumbra is going to be so jealous!"
> 'Just, just clean up the crabs alright?'
> You scrub your legs in the ocean, then head for your towel
> Chrysalis follows you, the crabs shuffling off into their holes
> You gaze out over the water, waves dazzling in the afternoon sun
> She settles down by you
> 'What do you think so far?'
> She looks down at her hooves
"It's not so bad."
> You smile, absentmindedly keeping an eye on your other kids
> 'How about you go get Nighty and Somby and we'll have a nice treat?'
" 'Kay!"
> And off she goes
 
> Several Popsicles apiece and a couple hours later, it's time to go
> Sombra had his dramatic moment, grimly witnessing the collapse of his kingdom under the relentless waves, and crying out to the uncaring sky
> NMM rode the cresting wave herself, tackling him off of his throne
> Not to mention the nearly endless hours of rinsing to get the sand off and the salt out
> Chrysalis blushing the entire time, as you poked the sand out of her Cheeselegs
> As you drive away, the setting sun illuminates the tuckered out forms of your kids, napping on top of each other in the backseats
> Definitely something you have to see at least once in your life.