Lilac and golden long hair were held in the beautiful woman's hands, being carefully and meticulously groomed with a comb.
She skillfully divided these soft, smooth strands of hair into several sections, braided them, and secured it with a purple ribbon.
"There you go."
Meteora looked at her handiwork with satisfaction, gazing affectionately at the young girl's face in the mirror, which resembled her own by seventy percent.
"This is a new braid Mommy just learned, Little Laura, what do you think?"
"Mm, it's pretty good."
Aurora Glint replied absentmindedly, her eyes fixed on her phone, her two thumbs typing quickly on the screen to reply to messages.
Seeing this indifferent reaction, Meteora wore an expression of being accustomed to it, but asked as if casually.
"Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Anton said his tires were slashed, right around the time school was ending for you."
Aurora Glint's typing hand suddenly paused.
"I heard you took a classmate's car home in the afternoon, which is why you arrived home so late?"
"...Mm."
Aurora Glint stared at her phone, feigning composure, pointlessly opening one app after another, then exiting them.
She could feel her mother watching her; she dared not look up, afraid that her mother would see through the guilt in her eyes.
"Aurora."
Aurora Glint felt the palm on her shoulder press down with slightly more force due to emotional agitation, but it seemed restrained, as if worried about hurting her.
"I don't object to you associating with your friends, but I hope you can pay attention to the occasion, the time, and the nature of your activities. Those overly dangerous projects really scare me."
The hand on her shoulder trembled slightly, and then she embraced her only daughter with lingering fear.
Aurora Glint couldn't help but look up to meet her mother's gaze in the mirror, seeing the exhaustion in her eyes.
Clearly, she had suffered from insomnia all night again due to inexplicable worry, and a wave of guilt accompanied by depression suddenly pressed against Aurora Glint's chest.
"Aurora, I hope you can understand our feelings. I just don't want my child to suffer any harm, nor do I want you to do anything dangerous where I cannot see."
Aurora Glint's breathing became heavy; her mother's embrace was warm and gentle, yet she felt as if something was choking her.
Aurora Glint really wanted to refute Meteora, saying that she had only gone to play some indoor recreational activities with friends to relax, and it wasn't as terrifying as she imagined at all.
"...I know, I will come home on time today."
Thinking that her mother would never understand her perspective, her emerald green eyes dimmed, and she answered perfunctorily as usual.
"I'm going to be late for school, I'm leaving now."
Aurora Glint broke free from Meteora's embrace, grabbed her school bag, said goodbye to her mother, and left the house. Only after sitting in the private car did she breathe a sigh of relief, gazing out the window with irritation.
Since she was young, she had lived this kind of life. Everything she did had to be under their watchful eyes, for fear that she might get a bump or a bruise.
This made Aurora Glint feel like some fragile object; if she suffered the slightest bump, her parents would want to send her to the ICU.
The "wildest" thing she had done growing up was probably yesterday, having a friend slash their driver's tires, and then going indoor rock climbing and go-karting with friends.
And in the sixth grade, acting on her own, she ran off with friends to the Everfree Forest dozens of miles away to participate in a camping activity.
While it was said to be acting on her own, it was actually a social activity the school allowed students to sign up for independently. But she was never allowed to participate, and that was the only time she couldn't help herself.
However, just after one night, the next morning she was picked up and taken home by Aster, who had rushed over from the city.
Aurora Glint could not understand her parents' excessive concern for her, as if she would die at any moment.
"..."
Thinking of something, Aurora Glint's mood became even more complicated.
She was indeed not her parents' first child, but her older sister had passed away long before she was born, and Aurora had no memory or feelings for her.
But because of this, her parents poured all their attention onto her, making Aurora Glint feel immense pressure.
Sometimes Aurora Glint couldn't help but think that if she were still alive, would her own life be easier? At least there would be someone in front to take the heat, and her life wouldn't be so stifling.
However, Aurora Glint couldn't imagine that scene, and she didn't want anyone else to discipline her either.
The car gradually slowed down as it approached the destination. Seeing the dark buildings of Crystal Prep Academy embedded with crystal decorations, Aurora Glint's mood improved slightly.
School was the only place where she could escape her parents' surveillance; it was the freest place for her, where she didn't have to listen to anyone's commands.
And this was a privilege she had traded with the school's headmistress.
Crystal Prep Academy's Principal Cinch was easy to deal with; as long as she could produce the grades she wanted, anything she did at school would not be known by her parents.
For example, last year she helped the Shadowbolts win the chess championship at the Friendship Games; that wasn't difficult. Then, she used that to trade for the opportunity to participate in social activities behind her parents' backs, although she was quickly discovered.
Moreover, her grades in all subjects were quite good; although she couldn't compare to that nerd senior in the upper grades named Twilight Sparkle, dominating the junior high division was no problem.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to do whatever she wanted at school.
Aurora Glint tore off the ribbon on her head, let down the hairstyle her mother had carefully braided for her, and tied it into a casual ponytail. She also loosened her collar, draped her school uniform jacket over her shoulders, and unwrapped a lollipop to put in her mouth.
She really couldn't wait to see the expression on those student council seniors responsible for checking grooming standards—that annoying look of being unable to do anything about her.
* The car slowly came to a stop after arriving at the destination.
* The car door was opened.
Aurora Glow jumped out of the car impatiently and threw herself into the arms of Aurora, who was already waiting at the station.
"Sister!"
"Little Aurora?"
Looking at Aurora Glow, who was constantly acting spoiled on her, Aurora felt a bit surprised.
It wasn't that she was surprised that Aurora Glow would appear in Ponyville without warning; after all, this little girl was used to being lawless, and only Meteora at home could keep her in check.
So Aurora was surprised that Meteora had actually failed to keep an eye on this little one.
"Little Aurora said that Aunt Meteora agreed to let her go on a long trip, so we brought her along."
Twilight Sparkle followed behind, carrying her luggage and Spike, having gotten off the train. Seeing Aurora's surprised expression, she said somewhat embarrassedly. After all, it happened suddenly, and Aurora Glow wouldn't let her tell Aurora.
Upon hearing this, Aurora could roughly determine what had happened. She looked at her little sister with a scrutinizing gaze, and she immediately turned her head away, feeling guilty.
This little one could fool Twilight Sparkle, but she couldn't fool her big sister.
Out of understanding for her sister, Aurora was certain that Aurora Glow must have acted before obtaining parental consent.
The letter she sent home did not invite Aurora Glow to visit Ponyville, because she indeed intended to use the entire spring break to study Supernatural Magic with Twilight, and considering she might not be able to look after her sister, she had left the invitation for next time.
"What's wrong, sister? I came to see you, aren't you happy?"
"Of course I'm happy, my cute Little Aurora, I just feel sorry for you."
Aurora looked at Aurora Glow with a smile, saying contradictory words, but she knew that Aurora Glow would definitely understand what she meant.
'When spring break ends, don't drag me into it when Mom deals with you.'
'Do you really have the heart to let your sister face all of this alone?'
Aurora Glow immediately launched her cute offensive, trying to get her sister to plead for her.
The only one in the family qualified to have an equal say with Meteora was Aurora. In the past, when she and Dad caused trouble, as long as Aurora was present, the father and daughter could at least receive less punishment.
'She's so cute.'
It must be said that Aurora Glow really knew how to use her advantages, and it was no wonder Meteora loved to dress up these little ponies so much.
"...We'll talk about it when the time comes."
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